Even though the original
intention was not to do an in depth discussion of spiritual gifts, it has
become imperative for a second post along the same line.
In this post I will be
providing an answer to this question: How do I recognize or develop my gifts?
To answer this question,
it is important to point out that there is really no scriptural passage that
teaches us about discovering our gifts. The passages I referred us to in the
last post- the 2 chapter 4s and the 2 chapter 12s (Ephesians 4, 1st Peter 4,
Romans 12 and 1st Corinthians 12) just teach us to go ahead and use our gifts.
I have come across a number
of tools that have been developed by different Christian Ministries/Ministers
to help people identify their gifts. Essentially, they consist of series of
questions aimed at helping believers in Christ identify their specific areas of
gifting. A simple Google search of the term "spiritual gifts tool"
will yield some good results.
However, I have found the
following simple points helpful both personally and in the lives of other Christians
in the process of recognizing and developing gifts with a view to playing the
specific roles God has us to in our lives:
1. Be aware of the complete package of
gifts/abilities in your life.
This complete package of
gifts/abilities includes the following:
a. Natural gifts: By natural gifts, I mean abilities endowed
genetically, transmitted to us through our parents and present from birth.
Such natural gifts also need to be developed. Musical gifts, writing
skills, linguistic abilities, mechanical aptitudes, e.t.c. are examples of
such gifts.
b. Learnt or acquired abilities: These are specific abilities we may
not necessarily have been born with but have been learnt through
vocational training or education. For instance, I have acquired a number
of skills in my medical training. Some of us have learnt how to play
musical instruments, while others have acquired communication skills.
c. Spiritual gifts: These as defined in last week's post are
supernaturally endowed gifts which were not transmitted genetically
through our parents but by the operation of the Holy Spirit in our lives
as believers in Christ. One way to identify what these could possibly be
would be to consider areas of ministry in which we received sincere commendation
from other believers about how well we did. Other ways would be to
identify areas of service/ministry in which we feel most comfortable in
and have received sincere feedback about how well people were blessed by
our service. All these would be pointers to possible areas of our
spiritual giftings.
2. Yield the whole of your life to God for
His use.
Many of us
compartmentalize our lives and only offer some aspects of ourselves to God. We
must however learn as Scriptures teach us to present the whole of our lives to
God for His use. Whether natural gifts, acquired skills or spiritual gifts, we
ought to present the totality of our beings to God for His use (see Romans
12:1, 1st Peter 4:1,2)
3. Take available opportunities for service.
Philip and Stephen were
picked as deacons in the early church (Acts 6:1-5). Unlike in some modern day
churches where being a deacon is more of a prestigious church title, being a
deacon at that time was a menial task. Their role involved sharing food and
supplies among the large number of church members who needed it. Philip went on
to become an Evangelist to Samaria and beyond (Acts 8 and 9). Stephen himself
was without doubt a man full of faith and fervent in the Spirit (Acts 6:5, 8). His
speech recorded in Acts 7 shortly before his martyrdom indicate he was also
filled with the knowledge of God and probably had a communicative gift. Yet
these men did not refuse the opportunity to be of service in the early church
as food stewards.
Barnabas who initially
partnered Apostle Paul in missionary work was originally named Joses. He was
named Barnabas (meaning son of exhortation) by the apostles as a testimony to
his ability for speaking or exhorting people (Acts 4:36, Acts 11:23). But
again, the first mention of Barnabas was in respect of his giving (see Acts
4:36, 37).
I have learnt that it is
in the place of sincere devotion and service to God that our specific giftings become
apparent and are sharpened. I remember serving with devotion in the Technical
Crew and Music Unit of my Campus Christian Fellowship group as a Medical
Student in the University. It was in that process I recognized the specific
gifts of grace God has placed in me. I also learned to gradually allow God to
sharpen and develop those abilities in me.
I hope these points will
be helpful to you as they have been for me and many others with whom I have
shared them with. Remember again like I wrote last week: you are not gift-less.
Use your God-given gifts well.
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