If you have committed your life to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit has gifted you. Specifically, the Bible says that your spiritual gifts are to be used to build up the church. When we use our gifts together, the church grows and we all benefit. 

 

Each Spiritual Gift Has a Special Place in the Body of Christ

Every gift that God has placed in the body of Christ, the church, is important. Some gifts may seem more important than others but God has given all of these gifts to build up his church. It’s important for Christians to discover what their spiritual gifts are so they can use them in ministry.  

 

What are the spiritual gifts that God has given to his people?

ADMINISTRATION: The ability to help steer the church, or a ministry, toward the successful completion of God-given goals, with skills in planning, organisation, and supervision.

APOSTLE: A person sent to new places with the gospel. You may have heard of missionaries going to different countries to help spread the Word; they could be described as apostles. An apostle can also provide leadership to other churches or ministries and offer advice on spiritual matters.

DISCERNMENT: The wisdom to recognize truth from untruth by correctly evaluating whether a behaviour or teaching is from God or another, ungodly source.

EVANGELISM: The ability to successfully communicate the message of the gospel, especially to nonbelievers.

EXHORTATION: Competence in offering encouragement, comfort, and support to help someone be all that God wants them to be.

FAITH: People with this gift have such great confidence in the power and promises of God that they can stand strong in their belief, no matter what may try to shake them. They can also stand up for the church and for their faith in such a way as  to defend and move it forward.

GIVING: Those who have this gift are particularly willing and able to share what resources they have with pleasure, and without the need to see them returned.

HEALING: A capability used by God to restore others, be that physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually.

HELPS: Someone with this gift is able to support or assist members of the body of Christ so that they may be free to minister to others.

HOSPITALITY: A natural ability to make people—even strangers—feel welcome in one’s own home or church as a means to disciple or serve them.

INTERCESSION: The act of interceding between two or more parties. This could include prayers, petitions, or mediation between parties at variance, with a view to reconciliation.

INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES: A gift where you hear somebody speak in an unknown tongue, and you are given the meaning of that tongue.

KNOWLEDGE: This is the gift of someone who actively pursues knowledge of the Bible. This person may also enjoy analysing biblical data.

LEADERSHIP: This aptitude marks a person who is able to stand before a church, to direct the body with care and attention, and to motivate them toward achieving the church’s goals.

MERCY: This is the defining trait of a person with great sensitivity for those who are suffering. It manifests itself in offering compassion and encouragement, and in a love for giving practical help to someone in need.

MIRACLES:  The gift of miracles is the divine strength or ability to alter the natural outcomes of life in a supernatural way through prayer, faith, and divine direction.

MUSIC: This gift enables a person to be skilled vocally and/or instrumentally, to help lead others to seek the heart of God.

PROPHECY: The ability to speak the message of God to others. This sometimes involves foresight or visions of what is to come. This skill should be used only to offer encouragement or warning.

SERVING:  A talent for identifying tasks needed for the body of Christ and using available resources to get the job done.

SHEPHERDING:  As a gifted shepherd, you have the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by overseeing, training, and caring for the needs of a group of Christians.

SPEAKING IN TONGUES: The supernatural ability to speak in another language (one that has not been learned).

TEACHING: The skill to teach from the Bible and communicate it effectively for the understanding and spiritual growth of others.

WISDOM: The gift of being able to sort through facts and data to discover what needs to be done for the church.

 

How do we determine which gifts God has given us?
 

As you were reading through the descriptions listed above, did any resonate with you? Perhaps that could be the gift or gifts you have been given.

You can ask your Christian friends which gifts they identify in you—very often they can see what you cannot and can observe which skills God has divinely assigned to you.

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You can pray about it; if we ask God to lead us toward whatever gifts He has given us, he can make it clearer to us.

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You can also take an online spiritual Gifts Game, or contact the church office for a hard copy. Please use the results as a guide only, and be sure to keep praying about the outcome, and remember it is very easy to lose sight of Jesus while we’re in pursuit of our spiritual gifts. Sometimes they can become idols to us, so don’t allow this to take your eye off the only one who matters.

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Additionally, once you determine which gift or gifts we have, you can become a little pigeonholed within them. There are multiple uses for each gift, and your mentors, friends, and leaders at RBC can help you decide how best to use those amazing God-given skills of yours.

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And you may find that your gifts change over time. For example, you might find that as you grow in your faith, you receive the gift of faith. This just happily means that you’re becoming a stronger person in Jesus and are increasingly able to talk about your faith in a confident way. But as we age, gain wisdom, have new experiences, and journey further with the Lord, we all inherently change, and therefore, so may your spiritual gifts. Think of it as God giving you a software update!
 

So, what are we to do when we know what our spiritual gifts are?

 

Once you determine which gift or gifts you have, start using them to glorify God. By using your spiritual gifts to volunteer in a ministry or around your church, you are moving the Kingdom of God forward. And that applies no matter how small the job may seem.

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Find a place to serve or volunteer that uses at least one of your gifts, and you’ll be amazed at how blessed your time will be. You may notice how easy you find it; God has given you a divine gift that you are inherently good at, and it just comes naturally! You may be surprised at how much you enjoy flexing that new gift muscle too.

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The best place to start is at church; if you haven’t already, please complete this online Gift Game, or contact the church office for a hard copy. This will help you determine your gifts! Once you have completed it, it should help guide you as you fill in our Skills Survey. To complete this either online, or receive a hard copy, please get in touch.

 

Remember that your gifts can be used in many ways, so don’t feel like you should do something just because it looks, on the surface, as if it’s perfect for your gifts. If an area you are volunteering or serving at isn’t filling you with joy, find an opportunity that does. Joy is a great indicator of what your gift may be; if a task makes you happy, that’s a good sign you’ve found your skill and fit.