Spiritual gifts relate to our lives, other people’s lives, the local church, and the body of Christ as a whole. Therefore, identifying and understanding God-given spiritual gifts should be a high priority in every Christian’s life. Let’s consider how you can benefit from knowing your own spiritual gift. Knowing your spiritual gift…
1. Knowing your spiritual gift helps you understand God’s will for your life.
Spiritual gifts are tools given by God for doing the work of the ministry. Different people are given different gifts to handle different tasks. Thus, if God gives you a hammer, He wants you to drive nails, not cut boards. If He wanted you to cut boards, He would have given you a saw rather than a hammer. Understanding your gift in light of this principle will enable you to make decisions as to where to serve God, how to serve God, and in many cases, help you choose your occupation. But in all cases it will help you set priorities for your life.
What God has called you to do He has gifted you to do, and what He has gifted you to do He has called you to do.
2. Knowing your spiritual gift helps you understand how the Holy Spirit works through you.
1 Corinthians 3:9 says, “For we are laborers together with God.” This division of labor is simply stated, God will not do what he has called you to do and you cannot do what God has reserved for Himself to do. God works through his children to accomplish His work here on earth. When you use the spiritual gift given you by God, allowing God to minister through you, you literally become co-laborer with God.
3. Knowing your spiritual gift helps you know what God has not called you to do.
After selling my business of fourteen years, selling my home, moving my wife and three children 300 miles away to prepare for the ministry, probably the greatest discovery I ever made was that God had not called me to become a pastor.
The more I understand what God has not called me to do, the more I understand what He has called me to do. No doubt, recognizing what you are not supposed to do can be as important as recognizing what you are to do. If you realize God has not given you the gift of “mercy,” you can easily turn down a position that would require that gift, without worrying that you might miss God’s call. The same is true with all the gifts.
4. Knowing your spiritual gift relieves you from serving out of duty.
If the truth were known, many active church workers have no business doing what they are doing. They are only doing it because the pastor asked them to, a committee elected them, or they feel obligated to do something; but are not serving where they were gifted.
Christians have many reasons for serving in areas that keep them busy but not fulfilled. It boils down to this; many serve out of duty instead of God’s calling. When you use the gift God has given you, you will be able to operate at maximum fulfillment with minimum frustration – and will find the true area for which God has gifted.
5. Knowing your spiritual gift fills a deep inner need.
Have you ever visited a hospital? You may have met the mean old nurse who bites your head off every time you sit on a patient’s bed. But overall, a hospital is a place where you find a staff of people who are getting more fulfillment out of life than the average person. Why? Because they are in the “people-serving business.” They are willing to wrap their lives in the lives of other people. They are meeting an inner need that God has put into the souls of all men, Christians and non-Christians alike. Your spiritual gift will complement this inner need God has placed in you.
6. Knowing your spiritual gift builds unity among Christians.
When you understand the characteristics of spiritual gifts, you see how gifts influence your desires, motivation, and behavior. You will begin to realize why other people do not always see things, or react to situations, the same as you would. It’s all part of God’s plan. The different gifts complement each other.
Understanding spiritual gifts will prevent you from imposing your gift or lifestyle on others and will help you recognize God’s individual calling for your life. Unfortunately, too many Christians are living God’s will for someone else’s life rather than their own.
7. Knowing your spiritual gift equips you to fulfill God’s purpose for you life.
God has created each one of us uniquely different. He has given us different gifts, talents, personalities, temperaments, and passions to outfit us to accomplish His unique purpose for each of us. True significance in life comes when we discover that purpose and calling and use them in our careers and ministries. It has been said, career is what you are paid for; calling is what you are made for.
8. Knowing your spiritual gift adds to your self-acceptance.
Recently, a man who had just discovered his spiritual gift said, “I love to teach, and I teach every chance I get – I’ve never done anything in the church but teach. I really don’t want to do anything but teach – nor do I intend to do anything but teach. If I go for any period of time without teaching, I become irritable and hard to get along with. I’ve taught for years, but you know something – for the first time in my life I don’t feel guilty because I’m not a pastor.”
Undue guilt is the greatest weapon Satan uses to keep Christians from living up to their potential. Many believers consider themselves unspiritual because they can’t live up to someone else’s expectations. Trying to live up to others’ expectations of you always equals failure if your expectations are not in line with what God expects of you. Think of the greatest Christian you know. Now consider this: God has called you to do what this person cannot do. Your God has given you a special endowment that suits you perfectly for your special position on His “team.”
Your challenge is to do as commanded in 2 Timothy 1:6, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you” and equipped you.
For the longer version of this article, CLICK HERE
Dr. Larry Gilbert is founder and chairman of Ephesians Four Ministries, and founder of ChurchGrowth.org. For more on spiritual gifts, see Dr. Gilbert’s books from which this article was excerpted Your Gifts: Discover God’s Unique Design for You (for individuals and small groups) and Team Ministry: Gifted to Serve (for pastors and group leaders) published by ChurchGrowth.org Copyright © 2015 ChurchGrowth.org. Other Team Ministry spiritual gifts resources are shown below, including the Your Gifts Spiritual Gifts Survey. For a free online Spiritual Gifts Survey, click here
Permission granted to copy, forward, share, post and reproduce everything in this article, please include this link Source: ChurchGrowth.org, CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE
Here are more free articles, one for each of the nine Team Ministry Spiritual Gifts…
Each of these nine Team Ministry Spiritual Gift articles was excerpted from the book Your Gifts: Discover God’s Unique Design for You.
You are gifted.
Discover more about your spiritual gifts and each of the nine team gifts.
For individuals and groups.
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Spiritual Gifts Can Unleash the Power of Everyone!
Lead others to discover their spiritual gifts.
For pastors and group leaders.
Read This Book Now, eBook Instant PDF Download, Click Here
Read This Book with Your Group of Pastors and Shepherds, Bulk Pricing for Groups, Click Here
18 Comments. Leave new
Thank you…I’ve often wondered what my “calling” is, other than telling others of my hope when asked.
Excellent article! As the person overlooking our Church membership, and the Church facing attendance challenges, I gain a lot by what Ephesians Four Ministries has to offer. Thank you!
This information about knowing my spiritual gifts is interesting to me. I want very much to know what my spiritual gifts are.
Thank you!
You see I suffer from major depression and PTSD since the death of my son – but according to an article it’s because the enemy has come in – after years on drugs and alcohol 19 years ago the Lord saved me – and then my son was murdered and I didn’t leave the Lord because I knew I wouldn’t live without him.
But lately I’ve been going through things at church. I was on the prayer ministry as I know that I’m a prayer warrior – but all of a sudden they started trying to cast out demons – no training just do it – well I know I wasn’t called for that – just to pray. When I first saw it happen I ran from the prayer room (and so did some of the Asst. Ministers).
Then my pastor started preaching on the fact that if we take anti-depressants or anxiety drugs we don’t know Jesus. Well what about someone who has cancer or arthritis or heart disease????
But now I’m praying that the Lord send me to a good church. There’s a great Baptist church that I used to belong to, but by me being Caucasian and this being an all African American church I felt out of place. But lately I feel like the Lord is leading me back there.
Oh and now my pastor is doing a 2-month series on the end times and showing horrific pictures. Rhonda I’m scared to death – Do I have Jesus or not – just because on this medicine – and is the writer of the story correct when she says if you have emotional problems it’s because of Satan.
GOD I NEED HELP AND PRAYER PLEASE – I CAN’T GIVE UP NOW –
Love, peace and blessings always,
Cherlyn
Cherlyn please remember 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” We need to realize that we are on a battleship and not a cruise ship in life. There are many casualties in this battle of and for life. The first battle is the enemy trying to keep us from coming to know Christ as our Lord and Savior. And when he loses that battle, the second battle is to prevent us from becoming effective soldiers. The second battle is all about us becoming aware of and finding our calling. Unfortunately, the more aware we become, the more the battle intensifies.
Your church does not sound very healthy. Please visit another church that is rooted in the word that will fight for you in this battle of life.
Also, please visit http://www.nobleheart.com and join the secret garden. I think you will like it there.
Cherlyn I hope you are still reading these. I think what Grayson below said was very sound. Additionally remember that often mental issues are the result of a chemical imbalance in your brain, just like pneumonia is a result of a virus in your body. Major depression and PTSD can be part of our body’s reaction to a huge stressor, which then affects the chemical imbalance, resulting in mental disturbances. I urge you, if you haven’t already done so, to find a good Christian doctor who can help explain this better than I. Being on antidepressants does NOT mean that you don’t have Jesus. You have Jesus in your life based on you asking Him into your life. Period. Don’t let someone tell you that isn’t true.
I also agree with Grayson that your church doesn’t sound very healthy and that you should look for a new one, if you haven’t already done so. A church that celebrates God and His son Jesus and celebrates the Holy Spirit. Hugs.
Cheryl, I lost my baby girl on 3/8/15 suddenly of an infection! At first I was ashamed of being on an antidepressants, but realized that God gave someone the insight to create it. Also, I have been close to checking into a mental institution several times over the last 18 months. I see a Christian counselor who prays with me and encourages me that I still have purpose! God definitely confirmed that. Don’t lose your faith! I have always had a strong desire to praise God and I have continued to do so…… so guess what? The heat has been turned up hotter, but God keeps me. He sends strangers to encourage me because most don’t understand child loss! I agree with the others, find a healthy church and if you are feeling led back to your old church, God will take care of you. Thanks for letting me share❤
I find the article about the spiritual gifts very interesting and useful. Thank you for sharing.
How often should we take the Spiritual Gift Test?
Or is it just a one time test. One of my instructor in school mentioned he has taken the test a few times and found it to be helpful.. I have taken it once so far for a class at Liberty University.
The most dominant gift will always be the first, or perhaps second, but the other strengths may vary depending on stage of life and experiences. So you may take the analysis more than once, but we do not recommend taking it numerous times within a short time period.
When you respond to the statements, be sure to go with your first thought. Do not “overthink” and do not answer how you “think” you should. Be honest as this is an evaluation to help you, not a test to prove your knowledge.
I really needed to read the 8 reasons for spiritual gifts. It helped me understand a lot of things I’ve been going through, with everyone saying “there’s no such thing.” It’s good to understand. Thanks for clearing that up.
It is hard to be fruitful and effective if you do not know your spiritual calling. However, is the spiritual calling only limited to clergy work and not our vocations?
Our spiritual gifts and calling are related to every area of our life, not just life within the ministry or the church. We are Christians 24 hours a day, every day. God works through the spiritual gifts and abilities He has given us to make a difference wherever we are…whether at home, in the church, in the community, in the business world, at work, at school, at play. We have to be willing participants in what He wants to do through us. We are to be “salt and light” in this dark world, showing the love of God and offering the hope of Christ to those around us (through our actions, through our words, through our lives).
For further insight, and ideas for using your gifts, see Team Ministry: Gifted to Serve (for pastors/church leaders) or Your Gifts: Discover God’s Unique Design for You (for individuals/small groups) and the Your Gifts Spiritual Gifts Survey. Additional YOUR GIFTS books on each of the nine Team gifts are available through ChurchGrowth.org and wherever Christian books are sold.
Cindy – Thank you for clarifying that “our spiritual gifts and calling are related to EVERY area of life, not just in the ministry or the church.” That is so liberating!
Oh wow yes! Awesome this is great thank you. thank you for allowing God to speak as well show you the meaning of understanding your true gifts. it means so much to me I am wanting to research more and more, but truly get even more from the LORD.
Yes, it is important to know our spiritual gifts and also to distinguish those from the natural talents God has given us. The Holy Spirit gives each believer a gift according to God’s will and purpose which is over and above those natural talents and it is when we are “filled” with the Spirit that those spiritual gifts can be most effective but we must do our part and use those gifts accordingly.
The article is spot on! I am seeking permission to reprint it in our church publications. Please let me know if that is permitted.
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