This past Sunday, I taught from Ephesians 4 where the Apostle Paul describes a team of spiritual coaches (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, Teachers) who are committed to helping every person in their local body of Christ discover and employ their spiritual gifts. This is a major way that we devote ourselves to "the fellowship" - one of the five devotions.
So what are spiritual gifts? Gifts given to every Christian for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. These unique graces are given on top of the grace of salvation. They are special gifts lavished on us by a loving Father and we are never more alive and in the zone than when we are putting these gifts to work in obedience to Christ.
So here's where I usually begin with teaching the gifts. Romans chapter twelve:
4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
1. Prophesying - This gift is able to foretell and forth tell. Foretell, as in cast a God inspired vision for individuals or for the church at large. Forth tell, as in speak truth to an individual or the church even when it hurts. Notice that there is a warning to do this only in proportion to "his faith" meaning that this person should be careful to not let there mouth get in front of their life and to be careful to speak only when prompted by the Spirit.2. Serving - This gift sees needs and meets them. Very practical and behind the scenes.
3. Teaching - This gift is able to communicate the truth of the Bible in a way that is memorable and relevant.
4. Encouraging - This gift is able to help others move forward by specifically pointing out strength or weakness.
5. Giving - This gift enables a person to be a conduit for God's resources. They freely give away resources because they are fully confident that God will provide more.
6. Leadership / Administration - This gift enables a person to analyze a situation, strategize a plan to meet the needs of that situation, and mobilize others to execute the plan.
7. Mercy - This gift enables a person to empathize with someone who is hurting - entering into their pain which brings comfort and hope to the hurting person.
Each of the above seven gifts describe ways that all Christians are to serve in the church, but each Christian is also uniquely skilled to employ a certain combination of the gifts (see also 1 Corinthians 12).
So how do I discover which one's I have? Ask yourself these questions:
1. What things am I really passionate about when it comes to serving others?
(helping broken people (mercy); correcting error or communicating vision (prophecy); explaining truths (teaching); getting concrete tasks done (service); organization and delegation (leadership); resourcing ministry (giving); cheering others on (encouragement).
2. What things do I do well?
As in, what things have you done in the ministry of the church that have been fun and fruitful.
3. What things do people tell me I do well?
If you can't think of any encouragement that you've received from others in a specific area, ask someone you trust what they think. It is impossible for any one of us to see ourselves clearly. God's designed it this way so we will be interdependent - one of the important reasons for the diversity of these gifts.
Now go put your gifts to work!
