THE DANGER OF DORMANCY IN GIFT USAGE III

THE DANGER OF DORMANCY IN GIFT USAGE III

MAY 9, 2026

TEXT: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” (1 Timothy 4:14)

Today, we shall bring to an end the topic we started on Tuesday regarding the issue of gifts. We shall discuss biblical characters whose gifts were properly utilized for the benefit of the Kingdom, as well as practical steps to develop one’s gifts.

BIBLICAL CHARACTERS

1. David: David had a natural musical instinct right from his youthful age. In fact, his harp-playing ability was positively harnessed to allay the manifestation of the demonic spirit that always ravaged Saul after the Spirit of God departed from him. This gift was not dormant. Rather, he built on it and ended up writing thousands of Psalms that believers still refer to today for all manners of things such as comfort, warfare, praise, adoration, etc.
2. Daniel: Daniel was gifted in dream and mystery interpretation. He interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams and also interpreted the mysterious writing on the wall during Belshazzar’s reign. He did not allow this gift to remain dormant. He tapped into more wisdom from God and proceeded to distinguish himself administratively as well. He was so wise and excellent that he enjoyed favour in the sight of Darius by being appointed the chief among the three presidents who were placed in charge of the 120 satraps appointed by King Darius. It takes only a diligent man who constantly develops his gift to enjoy favour in the sight of four great kings in a foreign land, namely: Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus.
3. Joseph: Joseph was endowed with the gift of dream interpretation. He noticed it early in life and connected to the God of Elijah to sharpen it further. He came into prominence when he interpreted the dreams of the chief butler and the chief baker. This gift ultimately made way for him, ushering him into the office of the prime minister in a foreign land where he had zero affiliation.
4. Solomon: Aside from Solomon’s urge to always be around women, Solomon was not devoid of gifts, and he developed those gifts fervently. He was gifted with wisdom and proverbial utterances, and he never left them dormant. He wrote thousands of proverbs and even contributed to the book of Psalms too.

HOW TO DEVELOP OUR GIFTS

1. Pray for divine activation. (James 1:5). Tell God to direct you appropriately concerning where, when, and how your gift should be utilized.
2. Soak yourself in the Word. Studying the Word can give you insight into how you can boost and improve your gifts to avoid dormancy. (Psalm 119:105).
3. Never stop learning. In the academic world, the day you stop researching is the day you stop growing. Their motto is: “You either publish or perish!” The same thing applies to our God-given gifts. The day you stop learning practical ways to improve your gift, then you are welcome to the club of gift dormancy.
4. Submit to spiritual guidance, counseling, and mentorship. Never have the feeling that you can do it on your own. Move close to people who have navigated the same terrain as yours and learn from them the techniques that helped them survive.

In conclusion, every good gift comes from God. God’s part is to give; ours is to improve. God does not give a gift without a significant purpose. It is our responsibility to develop and properly utilize this gift.

SEARCHLIGHT: A gift untapped and unused is, at the very least, a destiny delayed or shattered.

PRAYER: MY FATHER, let my gifts profit the Kingdom, in the mighty name of Jesus.

BIBLE READING: 2 Chronicles 12–14, Titus 2

PASTOR MICHAEL OMOLE