This is part two of spiritual gifts – the Information.  How can we discern our gift?

First of all PRAY.  Ask God to lead you and call you into the area He has for you (yesterday’s post).  When you sense that calling, then ask God how He has gifted you.  Then read Romans 12.  I think this passage summarizes the gifts very well (vv 6-8).  1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 have lists but what I call the “core” gifts are in Romans 12.  Permit me to summarize and ask you to begin to pray for yourself (and friend or spouse) about this.  Generally Romans 12 gives us the operative gifts, 1 Corinthians 12 gives us the administrative gifts, and Ephesians 4 gives us the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Also, this information is not all my own.  This is from many years of reading and thinking.  Tomorrow I will give some resources that have been helpful.

  • Prophesying – A prophet tends to see things black and white. He is very concerned about telling the truth.  He is not so much concerned with “before-telling” (prophesy) as much as “forth-telling” (speaking the truth).  A prophet sees things clearly but needs to operate by love.  He tends to talk too much.  They also stress the need to “Know your Bible.”  I have noticed that a Prophet frequently marries a person with Mercy. Peter was probably a Prophet.  Every generation needs a prophet to bring us all back to Scripture.
  • Service – A Servant tends to see needs and is quick to meet them.  My mother-in-law is a servant and instinctively knows if a person takes sugar AND cream with their coffee or how much butter you want on your bread (if any at all).  This person is quick to meet practical needs.  But they also need someone to help them know when to say “no” because they are always busy.  Andrew was probably a servant.  We have a lot of these at our church.  Just stay after a Wednesday night meal or after the Venue worship on Sundays and see who are the first ones to start picking up stuff and moving chairs.  The rest of us who don’t serve simply don’t understand that we’re supposed to be servants too!
  • Teaching – A Teacher is not so much able to speak in front of people nor do they really like standing in front of people (that would be more of a prophet) but they do know where to find information and how to structure it to help folks understand things.  Teachers must get over themselves and start teaching!  Luke was a teacher.
  • Encouraging – Exhorters or encourager’s can bring people together and know how to spur people onto spiritual growth and service.  This may be my gift or my secondary gift if we have a secondary gift.  Barnabas and Paul were encourager’s.  You can look at how Barnabas went to Tarsus and got Paul and brought him into the ministry (Acts 11:25,26).  You can see how Paul constantly encouraged others to “follow me as I follow Christ,” etc.  They also talk a lot.  They also need Prophets because they need to be reminded of Biblical truth and be more rooted in the Biblical perspective.  If an encourager gets out of balance, they will tend to sound “new age” or worldly in my opinion.  Many prosperity gospel preachers suffer from this I think.
  • Leading – Leaders or administrators have a knack for knowing who is good at certain skills and getting people into the jobs they do best.  Nehemiah was a leader.  They like to build things and see things get done. They’re very practical and quiet and give themselves to the bigger picture without regard for personal reward.  I know my Dad is and I think Buddy is probably a leader.
  • Mercy – This is the person those with emotional problems go to first.  John the Beloved was mercy.  They also gravitate toward prophets because they sense they need a prophet’s perspective.  A mercy needs a prophet or two in their lives because they also need to learn to say “no” and give themselves time to recharge.

Please understand that all the gifts should be desirable for all people because we are to be rooted and grounded in love.  All the gifts must be practiced in community in order that we might learn all the gifts and achieve balance spiritually. We are to be working to build all the gifts into our lives and learn from each other (1 Corinthians 12:31).  BUT, we will have a primary motivation or desire in some particular area.  One way to tell what you are is to imagine how you would react to someone being in the hospital… would you?

  • Tell them they are in sin and need to get right with God?  Then you’re a prophet. Prophets basically mow everyone down with their Biblical Uzi and pick over the bodies later!
  • Go and cut their grass, feed the dog, and get their mail? Then you’re a servant.
  • Research their disease, talk with the nurses, and get the scoop from their doctor and give the patient a full report?  Then you’re probably a teacher.
  • Give them a Joel Osteen devotional book, a comic book, and several Bible verses about their situation, and pray for them?  Then you may be an encourager.
  • Get everyone out of the room so the person could rest, make sure the servant finished the grass, check on the doctor’s schedule, call the church to make sure the person is on the prayer list, and ask the patient if their boss had been notified (or something to that effect), then you may be a leader.
  • Get down on your knees crying and begging God for the patient to be healed and bring six deacons over to pour oil on them?  Then you’re probably a mercy.

Do you see how this builds the body?!  It’s a great thing when a plan comes together.

Where are you on that list?  Do you even care?  If you don’t care, go back one step and get CALLED.  Tomorrow, the Analysis.