Spiritual Gifts & Discovery

An important principle of leadership that God wants to build into our lives is the principle of identification. In order to function and operate effectively within our church and our community we need to know who we are. If we do not know who we have been called to be how will we ever operate in our ministry and our gifting?

Jesus had no doubt about His identity. In the gospels eighteen times Jesus defines Himself when He says "I am…" and then precedes to tells us who He is. He didn't let other people define Him. He defined Himself. He said, I am the Light, I am the Truth, I am the Way etc. He knew exactly who He was.

If we are going to be an effective leader we have to start with this foundational issue of knowing who you are. If we don't know what God has made us to be then we are going to fall into some very common traps.

We will allow other people to manipulate us with their expectations. In other words, we will allow other people to mould us into the image they want us to be instead of what God meant for us to be. If we don't decide who we are, other people will. God has a plan for our lives but so does everybody else.

We will live a phony life. When we don't know who we are we act one way at home and another way at church. We don't really know who we are. As a result we usually end up living a lie.

We create high stress levels because of expectations on us. Stress happens when we don't know what we were made to be. When we are trying to please everyone else, our energy is drained from going so many directions at once.

We will always compare our efforts with others. God says over and over again in scripture there's nobody else like us in the world. God didn't make us to be anybody else. When we get to heaven God isn't going to say, "Why weren't you more like so and so?" No. He's going to say, "Why weren't you more like you? I made you to be you and you weren't meant to be anybody else." Whenever we start comparing ourselves to anybody else two things happen. One is we'll always find somebody who is doing a better job than we do and therefore will become discouraged. Two, we'll always find somebody that we're doing a better job than and can get full of pride and ego. Pride and discouragement keep us from being what God meant for us to be.

We will end up copying others: God does not want clones. We all start off as originals but a lot of us end up as carbon copies of other people. If we are going to be leaders which influence others, and this is what God wants us to be, we must first become comfortable with who we are. We must not try and be anybody else.

It is the responsibility of every believer to find, develop, and exercise the gifts and talents which have been given to them.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTING?

• Spiritual gifts are prominent in Scripture

One of the ways we can measure the importance of a principle or a doctrine is to determine the amount of space devoted to it in the Bible. Subjects or doctrines which are merely implied are surely of less significance than those clearly stated. Matters mentioned infrequently should not be regarded as crucial as those frequently dealt with. Using this standard of measurement, the subject of spiritual gifts is a vital one, for we find gifts addressed specifically in four major portions of Scripture: 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14; Romans chapter 12; Ephesians chapter 4; and 1 Peter chapter 4. In addition to these central passages, spiritual gifts are mentioned elsewhere in the Bible.

• Spiritual gifts have an elementary nature

When the book of First Corinthians was written, it was addressed to those who were obviously not very mature in the faith. There were many forms of carnality cited by Paul in this epistle. The things of which Paul wrote in this book were not matters of the ‘deeper life,’ but rather the elemental truths of the Christian life. Due to the emphasis on spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians, we conclude that the doctrine of spiritual gifts is important and that it is foundational and fundamental to the Christian life.

• Spiritual gifts are a matter of individual stewardship

When Peter spoke of spiritual gifts in his first epistle, he considered them a matter of personal stewardship. "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10). Peter meant that just as we must give account of our use of the material things God has placed under our control, and just as we must give account of the use of our time, so we must also be accountable for the use of our spiritual gifts.

• Knowing your spiritual gift(s) will enable you to find your place of ministry in the local church

Since every Christian has a particular function in the body of Christ, and since our spiritual gifts equip us to carry out this function, knowing our gifts help us to plug in to the ministry of a local church. The thrust of the first half of Ephesians chapter four is that the effective functioning of the body of Christ is dependent upon the contribution of each individual part of the body. Spiritual gifts enable us to carry out our task within the body of Christ in a way which no one else can. Using the analogy of the physical body in 1 Corinthians chapter twelve, Paul reinforced this same concept. Every part of the body is essential to the well-being of the body. When one member fails to do his part, the body suffers.

• Knowing your spiritual gift(s) will enable you to determine your priorities

One of the most common problems we all face is having more things to do than we have time to do them. Paul indicates in Romans 12:3-6 that we should make the use of our spiritual gifts a priority in our lives. In simple terms, when we have too many things to do we must choose to function in the area of our spiritual gifts. You must know your spiritual gifts to set these priorities.

WHAT ARE THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS?

The ministry of Spiritual Gifts originates in the New Testament, commissioned by our Lord Jesus Christ. After He established His church on the earth and ascended to Heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to equip His church with power and spiritual gifts (Greek — charismata) so that His disciples could continue to carry out His ministry objectives. While there are certain gifts of a spectacular nature that are often given greater attention, the New Testament mentions at least 21 that are provided to the church.

A spiritual gift is the God-given capacity of every Christian to carry out his function in the body of Christ. A spiritual gift literally refers to a specific favour or special gift given to a Believer (Romans 5:15; 6:23) to empower them with a special talent and/or an ability to better serve the church and glorify Christ (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 7:7; 12:4-7; 13:8-13; 28-30; Ephesians 4:7-12; 1 Peter 4:10). These gifts are to edify the church, serve the community, and build personal character and maturity. These gifts are also a responsibility, as they direct us to sacrificially serve others as Christ has served us.

These gifts are generally assigned to one of three categories:

• Ministry (office) gifts: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher.
• Motivational (practical) gifts: Service, Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy, Helps and Administration.
• Charismatic (spiritual) gifts: Wisdom, Knowledge, Discernment, Prophecy, Tongues, Interpretation, Faith, Healing and Miracles.

These gifts appear across the key New Testament passages as follows:

Romans 12:

• Exhortation, Giving, Leadership, Mercy, Prophecy, Service, Teaching

1 Corinthians 12:

• Administration, Apostle, Discernment, Faith, Healing, Helps, Knowledge, Miracles, Prophecy, Teaching, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues, Wisdom

Ephesians 4:

• Apostle, Evangelist, Pastor, Prophecy, Teaching

DEFINITION OF EACH GIFT

• Administration (1 Corinthians 12:28): This means to steer the body toward the accomplishment of God-given goals and directives by planning, organizing, and supervising others (Greek word: kubernesis – to steer, guide, helmsmen).
• Apostle (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:28): This means to be sent forth to new frontiers with the gospel, providing leadership over church bodies and maintaining authority over spiritual matters pertaining to the church (Greek word: apostolos – 'apo'=from 'stello'=send; one sent forth).
• Discernment (1 Corinthians 12:10): This means to clearly distinguish truth from error by judging whether the behaviour or teaching is from God, Satan, human error, or human power.
• Evangelism (Ephesians 4:11): This means to be a messenger of the good news of the Gospel (Greek word: euaggelistes – preacher of gospel; eu=well, angelos=message – messenger of good).
• Exhortation (Romans 12:8): This means to come along side of someone with words of encouragement, comfort, consolation, and counsel to help them be all God wants them to be (Greek word: paraklesis – calling to one's side).
• Faith (1 Corinthians 12:8-10): This means to be firmly persuaded of God's power and promises to accomplish His will and purpose and to display such a confidence in Him and His Word that circumstances and obstacles do not shake that conviction.
• Giving (Romans 12:8): This means to share what material resources you have with liberality and cheerfulness without thought of return.
• Healing (1 Corinthians 12:9,28,30): This means to be used as a means through which God makes people whole either physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually.
• Helps (1 Corinthians 12:28): This means to render support or assistance to others in the body so as to free them up for ministry.
• Hospitality (1 Peter 4:9,10): This means to warmly welcome people, even strangers, into one's home or church as a means of serving those in need of food or lodging (Greek word: philoxenos – love of strangers; 'philos'=love; 'xenos'=stranger).
• Knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8): This means to seek to learn as much about the Bible as possible through the gathering of much information and the analyzing of that data.
• Leadership (Romans 12:8): This means to stand before the people in such a way as to attend to the direction of the body with such care and diligence so as to motivate others to get involved in the accomplishment of these goals.
• Mercy (Romans 12:8): This means to be sensitive toward those who are suffering, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally, so as to feel genuine sympathy with their misery, speaking words of compassion but more so caring for them with deeds of love to help alleviate their distress.
• Miracles (1 Corinthians 12:10,28): This means to be enabled by God to perform mighty deeds which witnesses acknowledge to be of supernatural origin and means.
• Missionary (Ephesians 3:6-8): This means to be able to minister in another culture.
• Pastor (Ephesians 4:11): This means to be responsible for spiritually caring for, protecting, guiding, and feeding a group of believers entrusted to one's care.
• Prophecy (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10; Ephesians 4:11): This means to speak forth the message of God to His people (Greek word: prophetes – the forth-telling of the will of God; 'pro'=forth; 'phemi'=to speak).
• Service (Romans 12:7): This means to identify undone tasks in God's work, however menial, and use available resources to get the job done (Greek word: diakonia – deacon, attendant, 'diako'=to run errands).
• Teaching (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11): This means to instruct others in the Bible in a logical, systematic way so as to communicate pertinent information for true understanding and growth.
• Tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10; 14:27-28): This means to speak in a language not previously learned so unbelievers can hear God's message in their own language or the body be edified.
• Interpretation of Tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10; 14:27,28): This means to translate the message of someone who has spoken in tongues.
• Wisdom (1 Corinthians 12:8): This means to apply knowledge to life in such a way as to make spiritual truths quite relevant and practical in proper decision-making and daily life situations.

HOW CAN I DISCOVER MY SPIRITUAL GIFT(S)?

• Examine your natural abilities

Look for those ministries in which others affirm your abilities. Have you ever taught someone how to do something that you could do with your eyes closed? It may have seemed simple to you, but complex to them. What is that natural talent or ability you have that others do not?

• Examine your desires

Examine your desires. Simply ask yourself, "What do I want?" If God gifts you a certain way, it is reasonable to assume that He will with that gift also give you the desire to exercise it. Psalm 37:4 says "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." When you decide to serve God, He will actually give you the desire to do what you were created to do. You will know it is a God given desire because it will line up with His Word.

• Examine your passion

Passion is the zeal, enthusiasm, excitement and intensity you feel about things that are important to you. Passion is what will stir you to action. What bothers you the most? God may be calling on you to find a solution to a problem or to be a solution to a problem. Decide what's really important in life. Paul wrote, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful…" (1 Corinthians 10:23). Some things are not wrong, but they're just not necessary. They waste time. We might not have time to pursue every dream, so we must choose to spend time on what's important. Successful people learn to eliminate nonessentials, those things that won't matter 10 years from now. Invest your life in those things that will outlast you, on those things that will stir your passion.

• Examine the evidence

What is evident in your life on a day to day basis? What are you successful in without even trying? If you have been successful in encouraging, comforting, or even patiently rebuking people in the Lord, your gift may be exhortation. Look for those areas in ministry in which you feel the most fulfilled and are the most effective.

Where do you get results? This is probably where you are gifted. In Luke 13:6-9, Jesus gave us a time guideline for how long it should take to "try something out," such as a job, career, business or ministry. He gave an example of a man who had a fig tree in his vineyard and had been checking for three years to see if it was producing fruit. Luke 13:6-9 "Then Jesus used this illustration: 'A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig! Cut it down. It's taking up space we can use for something else.' 'The gardener answered, 'Give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, you can cut it down.''"

• Examine the opportunities

Examine the opportunities God has given you. What career or ministry do you feel the peace of God about pursuing? Philippians 4:6-7 says to pray with thanksgiving and let your request be known to God, and He will bring you peace about the things that concern you. Let the peace of God in your spirit man guide you and confirm His will for your life.

• Envelope the process in prayer

The Lord will lead you to an identification of your gift(s) if you allow Him to guide and direct you in all your endeavours. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6) "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

What is the witness of the Holy Spirit in your spirit? God will confirm the plan He has for your life. He will sometimes speak through dreams and visions; the Word of God, through wise counsellors etc. He will make sure He gets the message to you in one way or another. Are you listening? To hear and recognize His voice clearly, you must position yourself by spending time seeking Him, diligently praying and studying His Word.

• Complete an assessment

Assessment tools can be helpful in the process of discovering your spiritual gifts. The key is to let God have the final word. Gift inventories can be fallible. First, they are man-made not divinely inspired. Second, the test is taken by human beings who may be influenced in their responses by a variety of factors which could hinder accuracy. Therefore, use any spiritual gift analysis as a tool rather than an end. Test the results through prayer and further experience in ministry areas utilizing the gifts you are said to possess. Seek God's confirmation.

SUMMARY

God has given every person in the Body of Christ a special gifting and talent that they need to operate in.

There are many different gifts listed in the Bible, some of these places the person in a prominent position where they preach, teach and use the pulpit to influence people. However there are other ministries that influence by service, by acts of mercy and encouragement.

None of these gifts are superior to another. Each individual needs to lead and influence with the gifting that they have been given without comparing themselves to others. Without trying to be someone else because of recognition. Our ministry is not to bring glory to ourselves, our gifting are given so that we can minister to God and others and bring Him glory.

When we understand this heart motivation and when we become comfortable in our gifts and talents then the eye will operate as an eye and not as a foot and the hand will operate as the hand and not the mouth. This will lead the Body of Christ to becoming effective within their community, their city and the nation.