DEVELOP YOUR GIFT
- Sermon By: Apostle Jackson Kgopolo
- Categories: Faith, Gift, Hope, Pray, The word of God
Through encounters with diverse people, of different natures, characters, and builds—the man of God came to a profound realization that many are chasing after things that bring them no true profit. Moved by this insight, he sought the Lord in prayer, asking God to make him a man of difference. He emphasizes that without this distinction, one will only act out of circumstance rather than purpose, a key reason as to why many fail to progress in life.
Apostle Kgopolo stresses that anything done without sincerity of heart lacks endurance and cannot withstand the test of time. Just as gold must pass through fire to be refined, so are we to face various trials in life.
When he sought divine guidance on how to walk in his calling, the Lord instructed him:
“Develop your gift.”
In this, he urges believers to focus on nurturing their God given gifts, while others chase temporary pursuits, for it is these gifts that will establish their legacy and draw others in the future. True focus, he explains, arises from internal growth within one’s gift.
Many claim to operate in power, yet when challenges arise, they falter because they lack genuine spiritual depth. They are easily swayed by worldly possessions, enslaved by what they own rather than mastering it. Apostle Kgopolo highlights a critical distinction, that those controlled by their possessions are often talented but not gifted.
To illustrate, he explains how some prioritize wealth building, only to be controlled by its pressures, leading to pride and fractured relationships with spouses and children. This happens when wealth takes precedence over character. In contrast, a gifted person prioritizes and protects their name, understanding that true influence flows from integrity and divine purpose.
Talent cannot be passed down, but a gift can endure for generations. This is often seen with artists, who when they pass away, their legacy rarely continues through others. Yet with a gift, it is different. In this the man of God speaks of his mentor Senior Prophet T.B. Joshua ( honourable memory), whose divine gift has produced many successors who carry on his legacy to this day.
Do not marry someone who is merely talented but not gifted, especially if you yourself are gifted.
A vision must collide with a gift to create a lasting name, just as alluded by the scripture in the book of Proverbs which says; “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.”
Do not waste your time chasing wealth – build your gift instead.
Those who seek to make a name for themselves are deliberate in their choices.
A question to ponder on;
What are you investing your life into?
If you cultivate wealth, wealth will carry you.
If you cultivate beauty, beauty will carry you.
But if you cultivate your gift, your gift will elevate you.
Ecclesiastes 7:1 alludes to us that a good name is better than precious ointment – that is, it surpasses wealth or material possessions. A man of true worth is one who seeks to build others up. Consider David, who built his name while tending his father’s sheep in the wilderness. Because he cultivated integrity and faithfulness in obscurity, God exalted him to kingship, making his reputation so strong that none could oppose him.
If you focus on amassing riches rather than building your name, you risk being forgotten by future generations. A good name endures whereas worldly wealth fades.
Your talent alone cannot make your name great—only your gift can. A true gift ensures that your name is remembered long after you are gone.
God takes notice of those who diligently build and steward their gift. As written in Mark 1:29-31, even the Apostle reminds us that growth requires action. If you refuse to step beyond your comfort zone, if you neglect the work that favors your destiny, your name will never rise to greatness.
