#007 – The Gift You're Afraid to Claim (And Why Heaven Disagrees)

Welcome, Family

What if the very thing you're afraid to claim about yourself is exactly what God wants to use?

Last Friday, Antoinette asked a question that silenced our Bible study—not from lack of answers, but from the weight of truth:

You could feel everyone wrestling with the same internal battle. We've been taught to be humble, to avoid pride, to not think "too highly of ourselves."

But what if downplaying God's gifts isn't humility at all—it's fear disguised as righteousness?

This week, we dove deep into spiritual gifts. Not the flashy, stage-ready ones. The real ones.

The ones buried beneath shame, fear, and childhood wounds. The ones God wove into your DNA before you took your first breath.

If you've ever whispered to yourself, "I'm not gifted enough" or "I don't have anything special to offer," this message is your invitation to think again.

This Week's Bread

• 🔥 This Week's Word: What Heaven calls a gift (and why you can't lose it)

• 💬 Quote to Carry: "You are a masterpiece—because of your Maker"

• 📖 Faith in Action: 4 steps to uncover the gifts you're hiding

• 🪑 Your Seat is Saved: Father's Day special gathering details

• 🙏 Prayer Corner: Celebrating breakthroughs and God's faithfulness

THIS WEEKS WORD
What Heaven Calls a Gift

Here's what I've learned in decades of ministry: the people who say "I don't have anything special to offer" are usually the ones God uses most powerfully.

Scripture settles this debate in Romans 11:29: "The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."

Let that sink in. Irrevocable. No returns. No exchanges. No expiration dates.

You didn't earn these gifts, so you can't lose them. God doesn't operate like a retail store with a generous return policy. When He gifts you, it's permanent.

But here's the deeper theological truth: these gifts aren't random personality traits or natural talents. They're divine assignments wrapped in human form.

The Greek word charisma (spiritual gift) shares the same root as charis (grace)—meaning your gifts are literally grace-deposits from God for the benefit of His people.

The enemy of our souls has convinced too many believers that spiritual gifts are either:

• Reserved for the "super spiritual"

• Something you discover through mystical experiences

• Mainly about speaking in tongues or healing the sick

All lies.

Your gift might be the way you listen that makes people feel heard. The way you organize that brings order to chaos.

The way you encourage that lifts spirits from despair. The way you teach that makes complex truths simple.

Remember Jesus' parable of the talents in Matthew 25? The servant who got in trouble wasn't the one who tried and failed—it was the one who buried what he'd been given out of fear.

Stop burying your gifts because you think they're not "spiritual" enough.

QUOTE TO CARRY
The Deeper Truth

FAITH IN ACTION
4 Steps to Discover Your Spiritual Gifts

You don't need a spiritual gifts inventory to get started (though we have one if you want it). You just need a willing heart and eyes to see what God is already doing through you.

Step 1: Ask God Directly
Seriously. He wants you to know more than you want to find out. Pray specifically: "God, show me how You've gifted me to serve Your people."

Step 2: Notice What Feels Natural but Produces Supernatural Results
Pay attention to moments when you're operating in your sweet spot but seeing results that seem bigger than your effort. That's often your gift zone.

Step 3: Ask Trusted People This Question
"What do you see me bring into the room that changes the atmosphere?" Listen to patterns in their answers.

Step 4: Follow the Fruit
Where do you see God using you to help, heal, encourage, or equip others? That's usually where your gifts are flowing.

Your gift might be mercy that draws the broken. Wisdom that guides the confused. Leadership that mobilizes the stuck. Hospitality that makes strangers feel like family.

Because what heaven calls a gift, hell wants you to dismiss.

YOUR SEAT IS SAVED
👔 Father's Day Special Edition Bible Study

📅 Friday, June 13th | 8–10 PM EST

Next week's gathering centers on honoring fatherhood in all its forms: biological, spiritual, and chosen.

Whether you're celebrating, grieving, or still working through complicated relationships with father figures, there's space for your story.

Join us on Zoom

We need volunteers! We're collecting:

• 📸 45-second video messages or memories about dads/father figures

• ✍️ Poems, prayers, or devotionals about fatherhood

🎥 Missed last week’s Bible study?
We kicked off a powerful conversation around spiritual gifts: what they are, how to recognize them, and why the enemy wants you to overlook yours.

It was one of our most honest, Spirit-led discussions yet. 🙌

📺 Catch the replay here:
👉 Watch the video

PRAYER CORNER
This week our hearts overflowed with gratitude

Let's pray together:

This Week's Prayer Requests:

• 🙏 For the freedom to gather and worship openly in this nation

• 🎓 For our sister being accepted to Duke Medical School (we're so proud!

• 📖 For the reminder that God's gifts come without regret or expiration

FROM LAST FRIDAY'S STUDY

Questions That Changed the Room

Our community wrestled with some powerful questions last week. Here are the ones still echoing:

1. What does heaven consider to be a spiritual gift?

2. What does heaven consider to be a calling on your life?

3. Can you speak about God in such a way that it causes other people to want to know him too?

Your turn: Which of these questions hits closest to home for you? Reply and let us know: your honesty might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.

📅 SAVE THE DATE

📍 June 15 – Financial Literacy Workshop (In-Person, 2–5 PM)
📍 Ongoing – Volunteer opportunities available! Drop your name in the chat this week, or reply to this email.

FINAL WORD

There's a reason it's called a gift. You don't work for it, you receive it. You don't earn it, you unwrap it. You don't hoard it, you use it in love.

The enemy will whisper that you're too broken, too busy, or too behind to be used by God.

But the truth echoes louder: You are a masterpiece because of your Maker.

After five decades in ministry, I've seen God use the most "ordinary" people to do extraordinary things. Not because they were perfect, but because they were available.

Your gifts aren't random—they're assigned. Your calling isn't accidental—it's intentional.

Let's stop burying our talents and start stewarding them.

📣 Keep the Flow Going
💌 Forward this to someone who needs to know they're gifted
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🧎‍♂️ Need prayer?

We got you. DM us on Instagram and we'll lift it up together.

💬 Reply to this email

Yep, we actually read them. Let us know what hit, or what you want to dig into next.

With you always,
Mogaka Events Ministry

P.S. Your gifts aren't mistakes—they're on purpose. Let's steward them like the treasures they are.

✨ Sponsored by Atlanta Young Adult Community Bible Study
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