“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” (1 Cor. 12:4-5 NIV)

When you become born again by receiving Christ, (John 1:12 & John 3:3) God gives you at least one spiritual gift, and sometimes several. (1 Cor. 12:11)

To help you and others!

These wonderful gifts are provided to help you grow in your relationship with God and to help you be effective in helping others, too.

You can find these gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:11.

God gives these gifts for a number of great reasons:

To equip His children for service. To build up His church. To bring unity in faith. To bring knowledge of Jesus. To bring spiritual maturity. And, to bring the whole measure of fullness in Christ. (1 Peter 4:10 and Eph. 4:11-12)

You must “stir them up” and then put them to work, so both yourself and others can benefit from them!

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you…” (2 Tim 1:6a NKJV)

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV)

Sometimes when a HUGE problem comes suddenly and unexpectedly, (this happens to everyone from time to time) you need to remind yourself of this great promise! “cast ‘all’ your care upon him!” This means every care, every worry, or concern, no matter how small or how big!

Where you will get the best results

The word “cast” means to throw something in a specific direction. A fisherman casts where he believes he will get the best results. In the same way, our best results (solution) to any and all problems will always come from God! When you “cast” your care on him, He will help you! And, He even gives the reason why He will help you; “Because he cares for you!”

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” (Eph. 1:18 NIV)

It’s a problem that has been around for a long time and still is the same today! You don’t know what you don’t know! And if you could see into the spiritual world you would be astounded at what you would see!

Army of Angels!

There is a story in the Old Testament, that tells how the king was mad at the prophet Elisha, and sent his armies to attack him. When Elisha’s servant saw the armies coming he was afraid. But Elisha wasn’t concerned or alarmed because he knew something that his servant didn’t know. “And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6:17 NIV)

They were surrounded and protected by God’s army of angels!

In the same say, our promise is saying “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” (Eph. 1:18 NIV)

You have so much readily available to you as a follower of Christ! Open your spiritual eyes and see!

“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.” (1 Chron. 4:10 NIV)

This short, heartfelt prayer by an old testament man named Jabez, was answered positively by God.

And, why may you ask, did God agree to what Jabez was asking?

First, he asked God! That’s right, he actually brought his request to God in prayer! Sadly, many don’t receive blessings from God simply because they don’t bother to ask Him! “You have not because you ask not.” (James 4:2 KJV) In order to receive from God, you must actually ask him!

Second, he “cried out to God” passionately. His prayer was sincere, heartfelt and genuine! God’s word says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16 KJV). The wonderful advantage we have as New Testament believers, is we are made righteous through the blood of Jesus!

Third, he was very specific and clear about what he wanted and asked God for. Because he asked clearly and specifically, God could answer clearly and specifically as well. Unfortunately, many don’t ask that way. The Bible says, “Let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6b NKJV).

To recap (with one addition)

1) Pray!

2) Be genuine, passionate and sincere.

3) Be specific. Make it very clear what you are asking for.

4) Use Jesus’s Name. As New Testament followers of Jesus Christ who have been given the right to come “boldly to God.” (Heb 4:16), you must pray in Jesus’s Name! That seals it! And, that is another great promise you can thank God for!

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph.2:10 NIV)

This is a promise that I personalize and say to myself every day as part of my positive confession routine.

I say it this way:

“I am God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus, to do good works which He has prepared in advance for me to do!”

By repeating this passage in first person, I am doing several things. First, I am making this promise mine! Secondly, I am stating it as though it has already been done for me (and it has been done already “in advance.”) Thirdly, I’m recognizing in this promise that God has created me for a specific purpose that I am able to do because he has prepared both it and me to do it.

Activate your faith

Believing and confessing these things personally is an active part of faith! It activates the promises and makes them happen!

“For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39 KJV)

You are loved unconditionally by God!

That is a fact! And, His love for you was paid for and guaranteed for you by Jesus’ death on the cross! The payment was made, and it can never be “unpaid!” And, there is absolutely nothing that can, or will ever, be able to separate you from His great love! That’s a promise!

“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” (Col. 2:9-10 NIV)

You have more than enough!

The fullness of the deity lives in bodily form and in Christ you have been brought to fullness! You cannot get fuller than full! And, because He is the head over every power and authority, you can rest, assured that you have more than enough of His provision to cover every possible thing!

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Col. 2:6-7 NIV)

By faith!

You received Christ as Lord by believing in Him and coming to Him by simple faith. You must continue to grow and to be built up and rooted in Him in exactly the same way, by faith. And, you do this by reading and meditating on His Word every day. As you meditate (think deeply and personally about) His Word, your thoughts and your behavior begin to change. You will begin to spill over (overflow) with thankfulness! And, because of what He has done for us, we have a lot to be thankful for!

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Cor. 10:13 NKJV)

Everybody faces temptation on occasion, even Jesus did (and, He did so without sin!).

Four promises in one!

There are four really great promises built into this one passage that you can completely count on during any time of temptation.

First, God won’t allow anything “uncommon to man” to tempt you. It won’t be something unusual, strange or weird that temps you. It will be only “common to man” stuff that ordinary people usually are faced with.

Second, “God is faithful” and you can count on His help in dealing with any temptation the devil sends your way. God will always send His help and guidance.

Third, God limits what the enemy can do to you. God won’t allow the enemy to put more on you than “what you can withstand!”

Fourth, God will “make a way for you to escape any temptation so that you can bare it”. Knowing that God promises that there will always “be a way of escape,” you can then confidently look for it, find it, and use it!