Finding Your Place
The Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts upon us. These are special, specific abilities that God gives us when the Holy Spirit enters into our lives. The Body of Christ here on Earth (aka The Church) has a huge job! Jesus told us to win the world for him. That’s our mission according to Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Because of the magnitude of this mission, we must be fully capable and fully equipped to carry it out. It is for this ultimate goal spiritual gifts are given to us!
Each of us is born with natural talents and abilities, but all too often they were used for ungodly and selfish purposes. Now being born into the Kingdom of God, we need specially ordained and blessed abilities to do our work for the Lord. Our natural talents given at birth are insufficient to accomplish spiritual goals for God’s purposes. With our new birth in Christ, we receive these abilities and enablements to do the tasks God has called for us to do.
The Grace of Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual gifts are also considered as an extension of the grace of God. Roman 12:6 says, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us…”. They are a result of God’s unmerited and underserved favor, making our lives richer and more meaningful. These gifts are only available to Believers who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ because only Believers can receive God’s Spirit…the Holy Spirit!
This, in part, is what makes the family of God so unique and so special. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do more than we could ever do alone. Spiritual Gifts add to our identity in the Body of Christ, making each of us a critical component to the church. Possessing these wonderful gifts of grace from God should make you feel special and give you a sense of connection with God like you’ve never felt before!
It's All About Family
In no shape or form are spiritual gifts given to benefit us as individuals. On the contrary, spiritual gifts are all about benefiting the Family of God (ie. Body of Christ; The Church). Check out these scriptures:
1 Corinthians 12:4-7 - "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
Ephesians 4:12 - "…to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
1 Peter 4:10 - "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others..."
Your spiritual gifts come with accountability and responsibility. We all are part of something greater than ourselves and we are counting on you to do your part. Notice what Romans 12:3-5 tell us, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
We are one body, but many members (read more: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30). You are more important than you realize. Find your place in the Body of Christ by discovering what your spiritual gifts are. Once you learn what your gifts are, utilize them by functioning and operating in that gift. As Romans 12 says, 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
List of Spiritual Gifts
Apostleship—The church sends apostles from the body to plant churches or be missionaries. Apostles motivate the body to look beyond its walls in order to carry out the Great Commission (1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11).
Prophecy—The gift of prophecy is proclaiming the Word of God boldly. This builds up the body and leads to conviction of sin. Prophecy manifests itself in preaching and teaching (1 Cor. 12:10; Rom. 12:6).
Evangelism—God gifts his church with evangelists to lead others to Christ effectively and enthusiastically. This gift builds up the body by adding new members to its fellowship (Eph. 4:11).
Teaching—Teaching is instructing members in the truths and doctrines of God’s Word for the purposes of building up, unifying, and maturing the body (1 Cor. 12:28; Rom. 12:7; Eph. 4:11).
Shepherding/Pastor—The gift of shepherding is manifested in persons who look out for the spiritual welfare of others. Although pastors, like shepherds, do care for members of the church, this gift is not limited to a pastor or staff member (Eph. 4:11).
Leadership—Leadership aids the body by leading and directing members to accomplish the goals and purposes of the church. Leadership motivates people to work together in unity toward common goals (Rom. 12:8).
Administration—Persons with the gift of administration lead the body by steering others to remain on task. Administration enables the body to organize according to God-given purposes and long-term goals (1 Cor. 12:28).
Knowledge—The gift of knowledge manifests itself in teaching and training in discipleship. It is the God-given ability to learn, know, and explain the precious truths of God’s Word. A word of knowledge is a Spirit-revealed truth (1 Cor. 12:28).
Wisdom—Wisdom is the gift that discerns the work of the Holy Spirit in the body and applies His teachings and actions to the needs of the body (1 Cor. 12:28).
Discernment—Discernment aids the body by recognizing the true intentions of those within or related to the body. Discernment tests the message and actions of others for the protection and well-being of the body (1 Cor. 12:10).
Exhortation—Possessors of this gift encourage members to be involved in and enthusiastic about the work of the Lord. Members with this gift are good counselors and motivate others to service. Exhortation exhibits itself in preaching, teaching, and ministry (Rom. 12:8).
Faith—Faith trusts God to work beyond the human capabilities of the people. Believers with this gift encourage others to trust in God in the face of apparently insurmountable odds (1 Cor.12:9).
Service/Helps—Those with the gift of service/helps recognize practical needs in the body and joyfully give assistance to meeting those needs. Christians with this gift do not mind working behind the scenes (1 Cor. 12:28; Rom. 12:7).
Miracles – Ability to call on God to do the supernatural, revealing God’s power in extraordinary ways. (1 Corinth 12:10)
Mercy—Cheerful acts of compassion characterize those with the gift of mercy. Persons with this gift aid the body by empathizing with hurting members. They keep the body healthy and unified by keeping others aware of the needs within the church (Rom. 12:8).
Giving—Members with the gift of giving give freely and joyfully to the work and mission of the body. Cheerfulness and liberality are characteristics of individuals with this gift (Rom. 12:8).
Hospitality—Those with this gift have the ability to make visitors, guests, and strangers feel at ease. They often use their home to entertain guests. Persons with this gift integrate new members into the body (1 Pet. 4:9).
Speaking in Tongues - Speaking under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit in a language he or she has not learned. (1 Corinth 12:28)
Interpretation of tongues – Special ability to interpret what is spoken in tongues so everyone can understand (1 Corinth 12:30)
Discovering Your Spiritual Gift
How do you discover your spiritual gift? It’s a process. Remember these gifts come from God, and its through seeking His will for your life that spiritual gifts He’s given you become clear. So here are 5 simple steps for discovering your spiritual gifts.
- Seek God – Commit your entire gift discovery process to prayer.
- Work in the ministry – By working in ministry and serving others, the spiritual gifts that God has bestowed upon you will come to bear, sometimes even before we realize it.
- Experimentation - Try using an assortment of spiritual gifts. It is difficult to know you have a particular spiritual gift unless you have put it into practice. Ask your church leadership if there are opportunities or spaces for you to discover if you have a particular gift.
- Look for confirmation - Since gifts are given for the edification of the Body, other believers are and excellent source of validation. The church family should be able to clearly confirm if you are operating in your spirit gift, as they will feel the impact in their own spiritual life within the context of the congregation.
- Take Gift Survey/Assessment - Spiritual gift assessments can give you a very good indication of what your gifts might be. Keep in mind this is simply a tool. It is the Holy Spirit who truly reveals our spiritual gifts to us. However, if you take more than one survey and the same gifts rise to the top, that is a pretty good indicator.
When you are done with your course, return to the Newcomers Portal to take your spiritual gift surveys!
Newcomers Lessons List
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