Spiritual Gifts

What Spiritual Gifts have been given to me? In Romans 12:4-6, the Bible clearly states that we have each been given Spiritual Gifts: “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.”

If I have been given these gifts, how can I discover what they are? Often people ask this question because they want God to make these gifts evident. Begin with prayer. Ask God to guide you in discovering what your gifts are. “Trust in the Lord with 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

Your next step should be to study the following Biblical references in relation to particular gifts:

Romans 12:4-8 (giving, leadership, mercy, prophecy, service, teaching)

For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job teaching. If you are a preacher, see to it that your sermons are strong and helpful. If God has given you money, be generous in helping others with it. If God has given you administrative ability and put you in charge of the works of others, take the responsibility seriously. Those who offer comfort to the sorrowing should do so with Christian cheer.

1 Corinthians 12 (administration, discernment, faith, healing, helps, knowledge, prophecy, teaching, wisdom)

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the same Spirit for the common good. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; someone else may be especially good at studying and teaching, and this is his gift from the same Spirit. He gives special faith to another, and to someone else the power to heal the sick. He gives power for doing miracles to some, and to others power to prophesy and preach. He gives someone else the power to know whether evil spirits are speaking through those who claim to be giving God’s messages or whether it is really the Spirit of God who is speaking. Still another person is able to speak in languages he never learned; and others, who do not know the language either, are given poser to understand what he is saying. It is the same and only Holy Spirit who gives all these gifts powers, deciding which each one of us should have. Our bodies have many parts, but the many parts make up only one body when they are all put together. So it is with the “body” of Christ. Each of us is a part of the one body of Christ.

Ephesians 4 (Apostle, evangelism, pastor, prophecy, teaching)

Some of us have been given special ability as apostles; to others he has given the gift of being able to preach well; some have special ability in winning people to Christ, helping them to trust him as their Savior; still others have a gift for caring for God’s people as a shepherd does his sheep, leading and teaching them in the ways of God. Why is it that he gives us these special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God’s people will be equipped to do better work for him, building up the church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity; until finally we all believe alike about our salvation and about our Savior, God’s Son, and all become full grown in the Lord, yes, to the point of being filled full with Christ.

Talk Next, talk with your Pastor, your Christian friends, and your family. Try to discover the ministries that provide you with a feeling of fulfillment, indicate your most effective performance, provide you with the most affirmations from others concerning your abilities in certain areas, and that which you have desire and passion. John Ortberg refers to this group of people as your clearness committee.

Bob Buford talks about low cost probes. He suggests that you explore your effectiveness in the area where you feel you are being called. This might involve mission trips, teaching a Sunday School class, volunteering in a ministry or launching a new ministry.

Finally, you can expand your spiritual comfort zone. Step out your comfort zone a little each day. An example might be calling someone that you have been avoiding out of fear, speaking the truth to someone, expressing your faith to someone who does not know God, etc. “God has a purpose for your life. “He loves you, He chose you, and He wants great things for you. Feel the wonder as you follow His calling . . .” in your spiritual gift search. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say to Him, ‘I used everything you gave me’.” Erma Bombeck

For more information and an example of a Spiritual Gifts Inventory, click here.

Once you get to the site, click on Spiritual Gifts Handouts for a scoresheet then click on Spiritual Gifts Inventory for actual questions.

Susan Pleasants, Director of Visitation, Gifts and Graces visitation@tabumc.org