I am amazed and humbled by what God does through me using the gifts the Spirit gave me. The older I get the more I am aware that they are God-given abilities, not skills or talents I developed on my own. God have given me a unique combination of gifts, just like He blends the basic colors to form an unending amount of colors and hues. For example, I am gifted in the areas of teaching (“Knowledge,” “Teaching,” “Preaching”) and organization (“Administration”). That enables me to research, write and organize these blogs. I also am able to counsel (“Wisdom”) and minister in spiritual warfare (“Exorcism”). These are all combined together in my unique blend of gifts and talents. On the other hand, I am very poor at witnessing (“Evangelism”) and prayer (“Intercession”). That does not mean I am not responsible to do them, as all believers are, but it does mean they don’t come naturally to me and I’m not very effective at them – but I still do my best with them. I thank God for others gifted in those areas to balance out my gifts in the Body.
How can I discover my spiritual gifts? There are many good web sites that have tests you can take to help you find your spiritual gift mix, but it’s really very simple. Think of what you enjoy doing at church or with other Christians. Where would you choose to serve? What interests you? As you try your hand at some of these things, where do you find yourself effective? What do others admire about you and ask you to do? Work in those areas, using your gifts in or out of church. It takes time to train and refine them so be patient. Look for ways you can be trained, mentored or in any way improve what you do. I’m very introverted and don’t like public attention but God gave me a strong burden to teach youth when I was young. As I stumbled along I eventually got experience and training so I was more efficient and effective. Just like a talent you may be born with, a spiritual gift also takes time and training to improve and become better at something.
It’s important each believer knows and uses their gift for the health of the Body. Every Christian and every gift is important. Have you ever hurt your little toe walking in the dark at night? How much does that one tiny piece of bone and flesh affect the rest of your body? Or suppose a car had some parts that weren’t functioning? That would cut down on the effectiveness of the rest of the parts, no matter how well they did their job. Some may be more essential, like leadership in a church, but each one has its part and is important. There are no extra or unnecessary parts. That’s why the whole Body suffers when a Christian droops out of church and isn’t part of a local body, or lives in sin and doesn’t let the Sprit work through them.
A good army is composed of many soldiers who have different positions, weapons, tasks, assignments and responsibilities. But they work together to form an unbeatable unit. If they don’t function well together they will be defeated. They don’t fight alone but in harmony with others. That’s the way God designed the church. We need each member of the Body to use their gift for the benefit of all. No Christian can function as God created them to function on their own. You are part of the greatest army in the world. Are you doing your part? Is it stronger because of you or are you a weak spot where the enemy is able to infiltrate? (There will be more about spiritual gifts in future blogs.)
1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
What would God say about how you are using the gifts He gave you? How do you feel when you give someone a special gift and they set it aside and don’t use it?
How can you better use your gifts for the Body of Christ and glory of God?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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