You know about natural gifts in music, sports or the arts.
We refer to successful people as talented or gifted in one or more areas in life. One person might look under the hood of a car and intuitively understand what to do, while someone else might effortlessly express themselves on paper.
Then there are chefs, financial wizards, and artists who excel without seeming to try.
Spiritual gifts are very different and expressed through your natural gifts (or talents). You plant churches using your natural gift of carpentry. You serve as a church administrator through your natural gift of leadership. You guide people in understanding of the Word through your natural teaching gifts or abilities.
Here are 8 ways to understand spiritual gifts.
1. There are at least twenty-two spiritual gifts listed in the Bible, with six identified as the Gifts of the Spirit in Isaiah 11:2-3 and nine listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10.
2. Every believer has a gift. (1 Corinthians 12:6-7)
3. You receive your gift(s) when you accept Jesus as your savior. (2 Timothy 1:6)
4. Spiritual gifts can be lost, just like any natural talent that goes undeveloped. (Matthew 25:14-30)
5. Spiritual gifts can be used carelessly and decimate your walk with Christ. (1 Corinthians 14)
6. Some spiritual gifts are of higher value, but you can’t allow pride to shadow your spiritual talents. (1 Corinthians 12:31)
7. You can’t pick and choose your gifts. They are given at the discretion of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:7)
8. Your spiritual gifts will mature through practice and training. (Romans 12:4-6)
Here are 5 questions you can ask to discover your gifts from the Holy Spirit.
1. Have I prayed for direction in finding my gifts?
2. Where am I being successful in my Christian ministry?
3. What gifts do other people remark on (or see) in my life?
4. Which gifts jump out at me when I read the list in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10?
5. Do I enjoy practicing those gifts?
In 1 Timothy 4:14 in the New International Version of the Bible, Paul advises:
“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.”
Practicing your spiritual gifts will provide opportunities for the Holy Spirit to help you excel as the new person you’ve become.
God wants you to succeed. Recognizing your spiritual gifts is key to your success.
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