Spiritual Gifts

[Blue Knight Max]

God gives each of us specific, tailor made functions. Spiritual Gifts are divine enablements-special God given abilities-that entrusts to each of his people in order to involve them in the task of advancing his purposes. Simply put, God has made each and everyone of us a "specialist" in some area of ministry.

In 1 Corinthians 12 the Apostle Paul says that there are varieties of gifts but the same Holy Spirit. A variety of ministries-ways that gifts can be expressed-but the same Lord, and a variety of effects and results but the same God. Spiritual Gifts assure a high quality of ministry even with the multiplicity of needs and tasks. Spiritual Gifts remind us that the body of Christ is not a one or two person show-it's a team. Every believer is given at least one spiritual gift for the advancement of God's purposes.

We are also called to serve in areas where we may not be especially gifted. Regardless of our gift mix, all of us are called to be involved in evangelism, mercy, giving and many others. However, we can make a special contribution in the areas where we are gifted. To the extent that you pursue the discovery of your gifts, you will be a blessing. To the extent that you don't, you rob the body.

My gifts are in music and I am actively involved in my Church's music ministry as the band director and co-director for the choir. I am also involved in Drama and sound engineering.

The end of days are here and everyone needs to use their gifts to bless others and save souls.

So, what are your gifts? How are you contributing to the body of Christ? How are you helping your Church grow and spread the good news?

Or are you just attending sunday services keeping the pew nice and warm and then go home?

 

[gashin]

This may sound weird, but I think my gift is making people feel comfortable. I'm a really accepting person and I don't have strong opinions on anyone/anything (only Christ!) so I can easily talk to anyone and start up a conversation. I just joined my current Church three months ago, and though it is predominantly ethnic Korean, I've formed strong friendships already and am now a Bible teacher and one of the leaders for the English services. I think that that God gave me this gift because he wants to use me as a Missionary in the future to reach out to Catholics/Atheists.

 

[kcr]

I think that falls under mercy and giving, Kevin.

Mine is discernment. Gets me in trouble sometimes

 

[steven.rn]

I think that falls under mercy and giving, Kevin.

Mine is discernment. Gets me in trouble sometimes

Better you than me- I don't have the rest of what it takes to follow through on it unless I get an on the spot anointing for it.

Working in medicine, I feel like I get used like a wrench He picks up out of his toolbox whenever He needs it.

When I was an aide, I was watching a psycho in one bed who just slept; an old russian man was in the other bed in the room. I noticed over all those days none of his children came to visit him. I cleaned him up from time to time as my direct charge was sleeping. I have a few different languages under my belt, so I went to talk with him.. the most he could say was "aaahh" "uhhh" from time to time.

You get seized. I said out of the blue I was there on behalf of all his children; the ones he knows and the ones he doesn't know, and thanked him for all his efforts during his life, and thanked him for working to build the church after he came here, and thanking him on behalf of the Lord who understood his efforts and is always willing to forgive his sins. I prayed the Lord's prayer with him in church Russian, and told him a story about how they used to sing about the Lord's resurrection in that language when I was a kid, and I remembered it well- as I sang that hymn, (Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs, bestowing life) and as I sang, this mostly mute man crooned along with me in his very best "uuuhhhhhhs and aaarrsss" in the most musical way he could. I left quite amazed and knew all those comments weren't from me. I couldn't have made that stuff up.

It was such a sweet scene, full of grace. I went home. Ivan, as I'll call him, had just had a feeding tube placed because he was having trouble swallowing, and needed to be fed and hydrated via that tube to avoid getting food or water down his lungs. Still, as I was musing on the sweetness of the Lord's presence there, I got this spooky feeling- uh oh, did I just give this guy the green light to die?

He passed 10 minutes before I arrived the next day. The nurses commented on what a peaceful passing it was.

Of course, that has nothing to do with me- I felt as blessed as Ivan did to be there when the gift showed up, shared between us- and it makes you feel kind of like a wrench pulled out of a box, used, and returned.

Which is just fine by me- I'd rather be a specialty tool used on occasion by the Spirit rather than the "Team leader - Engineers foreman" for the opposition.

Since then, with no other planning on my part as an RN, all my circumstances steered me toward Hospice- and I work with those who know they are dying (we are all facing immanent mortality, it's just most folks ignore it / don't want to realize it / etc., yet) and I could repeat stories like the above, very varied in details, many times over.

I don't know if everyone knows their gift or gifts- I suppose some do and some don't; but openess to being used by the Lord in season, out of season, sitting on the bench from time to time, giving what we think we should be giving in effort and time and stewardship- or just being willing to be a box end wrench, whatever- is important.

There's a lot to be said about "gifts"- use the ones you know, and wait on the ones you don't know. Samson knew he didn't have the gift of strength anymore- but that hairless dude collapsed a pagan stronghold nonetheless.

Steve

 

[beckah54]

Wonderful story and testimony, Steven.

I would love to hear more stories like that. It encourages me to know some of the different ways He is using each of us to encourage other Christians and to show His love to those that don't know Him (yet!) Please tell us more when you get time.

I think my strongest gift is helps, as I enjoy being in the background and serving others.

Speaking of moving out of your comfort zone, I went on two mission trips to Ukraine. I was so nervous about presenting the gospel because I was afraid of messing up and bringing shame instead of Glory to the Father. I found that the message is simple and He is with you each step of the way.

I fell in love with the Ukrainians, I felt deep compassion for the horrors some of them had lived through. I'm not an evangelist or a missionary, but Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and in Him, I can't fail. I can do whatever He enables me to do.

And I will praise Him all the days of my life.

 

[steven.rn]

Wonderful story and testimony, Steven.

I would love to hear more stories like that. It encourages me to know some of the different ways He is using each of us to encourage other Christians and to show His love to those that don't know Him (yet!) Please tell us more when you get time.

I think my strongest gift is helps, as I enjoy being in the background and serving others.

Speaking of moving out of your comfort zone, I went on two mission trips to Ukraine. I was so nervous about presenting the gospel because I was afraid of messing up and bringing shame instead of Glory to the Father. I found that the message is simple and He is with you each step of the way.

I fell in love with the Ukrainians, I felt deep compassion for the horrors some of them had lived through. I'm not an evangelist or a missionary, but Jesus is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and in Him, I can't fail. I can do whatever He enables me to do.

And I will praise Him all the days of my life.

Near a century of persecution for believers in the USSR- I can't even imagine the number of martyrs.

 

[beckah54]

Yes, one sweet old lady was telling me of the horrors under the German rule. That she looked for her small daughter and could not find her. Later she found out that her neighbors had killed the little girl, cooked and ate her. They were all starving. I could only hug her and try to show how much love and compassion I had for her. I had never imagined the horrors that go on in other parts of the world on a daily basis. The mission trip woke me up fast and made me realize how blessed all of are that were born in America and how blind we are to the horrible acts done to fellow human beings.

This is a quote from a book about the German occupation;
People arriving from Kiev say that the Germans have placed a cordon of troops around the huge grave in Babi Yar where the bodies of 50,000 Jews slaughtered in Kiev at the end of September 1941 are buried. They are feverishly digging up corpses and burning them. Are they so mad as to hope thus to hide their evil traces that have been branded forever by the tears and the blood of Ukraine, branded so that it will burn brightly on the darkest night?
—Vasilii Grossman, Red Star, October 1943

I walked around that monument and on the ground those Jewish people were buried under and I will never forget the grief that filled my soul. My heart continues to break for them.

 

[VaporInTheWind]

Speaking of moving out of your comfort zone, I went on two mission trips to Ukraine. I was so nervous about presenting the gospel because I was afraid of messing up and bringing shame instead of Glory to the Father. I found that the message is simple and He is with you each step of the way.

Have you tried the "Way of the Master" training? It really gets you out there and comfortable witnessing to others. It was such a blessing to this tumble tongued believer

 

[beckah54]

Yes, I actually have the book and loaned it to a member of the church I attend. I do like the way they give to present the gospel.

The trips I went on were more structured, giving you a phamplet to read when presenting the gospel. Made it easier for the translators to follow.
It was a very good presentation and it takes away the fear of misquoting something when you're nervous.

Thanks for the suggestion, as I really liked the book. Maybe I need to read it again.

Blessings!

Have you tried the "Way of the Master" training? It really gets you out there and comfortable witnessing to others. It was such a blessing to this tumble tongued believer