Many Members=One Body

     Thanks to Mary Kate and Abigail, we now have some idea of what spiritual gifts are and how to find them. Let's say that after months of soul searching, you believe that God has revealed your gift to you.

...Now what?

     In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul speaks to the church in Corinth about their eagerness to speak in tongues and to have manifestations of the Spirit, and over and over he exhorts the Christians to "build up the church" using what they have been given. He makes it clear that it's fine if all the members can speak in tongues, but if they all speak at once just for the sake of it, there would be chaos in the church, and that would most definitely not be beneficial to the members. 

     We are each given gifts according the perfect wisdom of our Creator, and what better way to use it than to build up the body of Christ? It will both bring glory to God (one of the reasons why we were made) and bless the church. 

       Paul also makes it clear that there are many different gifts and many different ways to utilize them. After all...

     "The body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”---1 Corinthians 12:14-21

     Since there are so many different kinds of people all brought together by Christ in His church, there is bound to be some diversity. Keeping with the Biblical analogy of "the body," think for a moment about how many different basic parts make up your body: hand, foot, eye, ear, nose, mouth, tongue, heart, stomach, liver, etc. Consider how drastic the differences are between the roles that these parts play for your body. And these are the basics. 

     Suppose that we replaced the body parts with gifts, as if they were specific people. Using the list that Abigail provided in this post as a guide, allow me to reword this passage:

   
     "For the body does not consist of one 'kind of person' but of many. If 'Administration' should say, "Because I am not good at 'Miracles', I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if 'Mercy' should say, "Because I am not 'Evangelism', I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were 'Leadership', where would be the 'Followers'? If the whole body was a 'Teacher', where would be the 'Listeners'? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member (or all alike), where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 'Miracles' cannot say to 'Giving', " I have no need of you," nor again the 'Pastor-teacher' to 'Administration', "I have no need of you."

   Do you see it? No one gift is really better than the others. Sure, every church really needs a pastor in order to function, but what's a pastor without a congregation to listen? We are all very different members of the same body, but we can all come together and use what we have been given.   

    No matter what your "area of expertise" is, you can use it to serve your church and to build up the body of Christ. Do you love music? Try putting together a song to sing with your friends for special music and bless those around you. Love little ones? Why not volunteer to work in the nursery or Sunday school?  Like computers and technology? Maybe you could help record sermons or work the lights. The possibilities are nearly endless. 

     How can YOU serve your church with what God has given you? 

                                  

                                Hannah 

How to Find Your Spiritual Gift

Have you ever wondered whether or not you have a spiritual gift?

I have been studying this topic in Bible school, asking hard questions and delving into the unique ways God has equipped me to further His kingdom. Though I usually think of something spectacular and special whenever I consider spiritual gifts, I know that Paul wrote about them to believers like you and me. Just because you've never spoken in tongues, performed a miraculous healing, or proclaimed a prophecy doesn't mean that you don't have a gift of the Holy Spirit! But how do you know which one you have?

As Mary Kate explained on her post about what the Bible says about spiritual gifts, all of them come from God, and it is up to Him to choose which one each person receives. Unlike natural talents, spiritual gifts are not genetic. It's not something you inherit from your parents, it's just what it sounds like: a gift from the Holy Spirit to you. Isn't it great to know that if you are a Christian then you have a special ability straight from God? He knows what your future looks like and He knows how He created you, so this gift is absolutely perfect for you.

Here are some of the gifts mentioned in Scripture: 

• Administration
• Apostelship
• Distinguishing between spirits
• Evangelism
• Exhortation
• Faith
• Gifts of healing
• Giving
• Helps
• Interpretation of tongues
• Leadership
• Mercy
• Miracles
• Pastor-teacher
• Prophecy
• Serving
• Teaching
• Tongues
• Word of knowledge
• Word of wisdom

If you type "spiritual gift" into Google you'll come up with many tests, questionnaires, and analyses that will supposedly reveal the way God has equipped you to work for Him. These can be useful for determining your strengths--I just took one and found that I ranked high in hospitality, service, and giving--but is this an ironclad word from the Lord? 

Not necessarily. I think that we have to be careful to not limit ourselves only to those areas where we appear to be gifted, because we might have a gift lying dormant, just waiting for the opportune moment to be recognized. Also, we might not be given a gift once and for all and never get another one. We can actually pursue some spiritual gifts rather than others (1 Corinthians 14). Something that test results might not take into consideration is that gifts need to be cultivated. If you have the gift of teaching, it's not guaranteed that at the moment of coming to faith in Christ you will become an absolutely fabulous teacher. You'll have to hone that gift just as you'd hone a natural talent. 

So a test won't tell you everything, but there are other ways of discovering your gift. Here's a process that I would encourage you to follow with me as I stumble along this learning experience toward using my spiritual gifting:

1. Look inside: Consider taking a test or inventory of your gifts.
2. Read and pray: Dwell on the Word and talk with God to get an idea of His purpose for you.
3. Ask others: See if someone else recognizes a gift in you.
4. Don't focus on it: Stand strong in the knowledge that God has equipped you for His purposes, but don't get fixated on what your gift is. If you don't find out right now, have patience! It may not be the right time.

Whatever your gift is, I encourage you to embrace such an amazing life, such an adventure, such a mission, that you cannot do it without using everything God has given you. 

Have you struggled with finding your spiritual gift? 

Do you have any advice for someone who wants to discover theirs?

What The Bible Says About Spiritual Gifts

If you've grown up in church, you've most likely heard of "spiritual gifts." Maybe people have even praised you for your spiritual gifts before. But what exactly is a spiritual gift? And how is it different than our natural talents?

In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Paul, under direction of the Holy Spirit, explains what these gifts are:

"God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful: wise counsel, clear understanding, simple trust, healing the sick, miraculous acts, proclamation, distinguishing between spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. All these gifts have a common origin, but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. He decides who gets what, and when."

How cool is that? In this passage, we learn several things about spiritual gifts:

1. Paul made it very clear that all spiritual gifts come from God. This one is kind of obvious - I mean the word itself implies other-worldly influence. Jesus is the only one who can bless you with your spiritual gifts. This means that Unsaved people may have talents, but only those who know Jesus have spiritual gifts.

2. We also learn that every saved person has a spiritual gift. At this point, you may be wondering what yours are, or if you even have one. That's where I am right now. BUT...

3. Spiritual gifts may not be given to you right away. The end of this passage states that "[God] decides who gets what, and when." This implies that not everyone is born with their gifts.

4. Paul shows us that our spiritual gifts can only be exercised through the spirit. If we are living in a way that is unpleasing to Him, He cannot work through us. Our gifts can only be exercised when we have full belief in the power of the spirit and what He can do through you.

5. And finally, we see that we should be unashamed of sharing our gifts. Why should we be if it's not through our strength anyway? When we use our gifts, people should see the Glory of God, not the glory of us. 1 Peter 4:10 says "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."

Don't doubt the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us. If we just have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can move mountains! Just imagine what he can do though us if we learn to use of gifts for His glory!

What are y'all's spiritual gifts? How do you use them on a daily basis to serve Him?