| Talent is defined as: "Natural endowment or ability of a | | | | active with His people by living among them in the |
| superior quality". The word talent comes from a Greek | | | | Tabernacle while they were in the wilderness. God |
| word that also tells us about something of great value | | | | wanted the Tabernacle to be designed, adorned and |
| as described in Matthew 25:15-30. | | | | furnished in a specific way and was going to |
| Talent for artists is the skill and natural ability to create. | | | | accomplish this through a creative team from among |
| It can be enhanced by training and practice. Being | | | | the Israelites that He selected. Although these artists |
| anointed is the very power of God that uses that | | | | had natural skill, ability, and know-how, they could not |
| talent to accomplish God's purpose or plan. | | | | complete the task according to God's plan unless they |
| In the scriptures the actual practice of anointing was to | | | | used the understanding and wisdom that the Spirit of |
| apply oil to a person or a thing. Anointing did have its | | | | God empowered them with (Exodus 31:3-4). |
| uses for ordinary purposes such as with scented oils | | | | Anointed is further defined: |
| or protecting leather, and for medical purposes for the | | | | * Being able to do what you normally can't do. |
| sick or the wounded (although not necessarily with oil). | | | | * When the super (the power of God) comes upon |
| Sacred anointing was to dedicate a thing or person to | | | | the natural (the talent). |
| God. The oil symbolized the Holy Spirit, empowering | | | | An example of trying to accomplish a task with talent |
| them for a particular assignment in the service of God. | | | | alone and no anointing is how the Israelites created the |
| "Messiah" from the Hebrew word "mashiah", and | | | | golden calf. The calf was created with artistic talent, |
| Christ from the Greek "christos", meaning "the anointed | | | | skill, experience and ability to be used in a feast for the |
| one" or the one who is empowered to do the | | | | Lord (Exodus 32:5), but the anointing was not there. If |
| assignment (in this case, redeem mankind back to | | | | these artists were making an effort to surrender |
| God). | | | | themselves and their talent to the Spirit of God, I think |
| So what does this have to do with artists? God has | | | | they would have seen that this use of their talent did |
| given artists the raw talent to create. Again, training | | | | not please God, but rather was a sin against God. |
| and practice help refine that talent. But when it comes | | | | So how does the talented artist flow in the anointing? |
| to doing an assignment or accomplishing a task for | | | | The names of the two artists whom God used to |
| God involving your creativity, it can ONLY be done | | | | head up the "Art Direction" of building the Tabernacle |
| with the empowerment from God working with the | | | | and the Ark of the Covenant help to remind us: |
| basic talent. No matter what level of natural skill and | | | | "Bezalel"- whose name means "in the shadow of El |
| experience an artist has, they can not accomplish | | | | (God)". You can not be in the shadow of God unless |
| something of Kingdom value (God' s plan) without | | | | you are in the presence of God. Keeping regular quiet |
| yielding your talent to the Holy Spirit. | | | | time with God keeps us in tune with the plan of God. |
| God uses His people in order to accomplish His plan. | | | | "Aholiab"- whose name means "Father's Tent", a man |
| He especially uses the gifts and talents that he has to | | | | under authority. Obedient. As the Spirit of God reveals |
| placed in you to accomplish a plan through you. | | | | His direction for the use of your talent, you will be |
| A biblical example of this can be seen in Exodus 31:1-11. | | | | challenged to walk out the plan and obey. |
| God's plan was to demonstrate that He is present and | | | | |