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Spiritual Gifts 


Spiritual Gifts 

{4} Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ's body.
{5} We are all parts of it, 
and it takes every one of us to make it complete,
 for we each have different work to do.
 So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.
{6} God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well.
Rom 12:4-6

It is the same and only Holy Spirit who gives all these gifts and powers, 
deciding which each one of us should have.
 {12} Our bodies have many parts,
 but the many parts make up only one body when they are all put together. 

So it is with the "body" of Christ. 
{13} Each of us is a part of the one body of Christ. 
Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. 
But the Holy Spirit has fitted us all together into one body. 
We have been baptized into Christ's body by the one Spirit, 
and have all been given that same Holy Spirit.

 {14} Yes, the body has many parts, not just one part. 
{15} If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," 
that does not make it any less a part of the body. 
{16} And what would you think if you heard an ear say, 
"I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye"? 
Would that make it any less a part of the body? 

{17} Suppose the whole body were an eye--then how would you hear? 
Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything? 

{18} But that isn't the way God has made us. 
He has made many parts for our bodies 
and has put each part just where he wants it.
 {19} What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part! 
{20} So he has made many parts, but still there is only one body.

 {21} The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." 
The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." 
{22} And some of the parts that seem weakest and least important 
are really the most necessary. 
{23} Yes, we are especially glad to have some parts that seem rather odd! 
And we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen, {24} while of course the parts that may be seen do not require this special care. 

So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honor and care 
are given to those parts that might otherwise seem less important. 
{25} This makes for happiness among the parts, 
so that the parts have the same care for each other that they do for themselves. 

{26} If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it,
 and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
 {27} Now here is what I am trying to say: 
All of you together are the one body of Christ,
 and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.
1 Cor 12:11-27 (TLB) 

So then the question arises, What are your spiritual gifts?. What part of the Body of Christ are you? What function are you supposed to fulfill in God's great scheme of things? 

In order to help you assess what spiritual gift or gifts you may have that the Holy Spirit wants to put to use in the Body of Christ, here is a website which gives an on-line "inventory" test which you can use to attempt to determine which spiritual gifts God has given you that you may not be aware of.

The website is called......"Spiritual Gift Assessment Tool"
and is to be found at     http://www.lhbc.org/gifts/Serv/gift.html    . 

The test itself is found at that website, and below are given some descriptions of the gifts themselves. At the website is also found examples where these gifts may be applied in the modern church.

God Bless you as you Serve Him this day.

In Christ........brother bob.........<><

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Exerpts from the Spiritual Gift Assessment website:

Descriptions of gifts...

Administration 
The ability to understand what makes an organization function, and the special ability to plan and execute procedures that accomplish the goals of the ministry. People with this gift: develop strategies or plans to reach identified goals; assist ministries to become more effective and efficient create order out of organizational chaos-, manage or coordinate a variety of responsibilities to accomplish a task; organize people, tasks, or events. 

Apostleship 
The ability to start and oversee the development of new churches or ministry structures. People with this gift: pioneer and establish new ministries or churches; adapt to different surroundings by being culturally sensitive and aware: desire to minister to unreached people in other communities or countries; have responsibilities to oversee ministries or groups of churches: demonstrate authority and vision for the mission of the church. 

Craftsmanship 
The ability to creatively design and / or construct items to be used for ministry. People with this gift: work with wood, cloth , paints, metal, glass, and other raw materials; make things which increase the effectiveness of others' ministries; enjoy serving with their hands to meet tangible needs; design and build tangible items and resources for ministry use; work with different kinds of tools and are skilled with their hands. 

Creative Communication 
The ability to communicate God's truth through a variety of art forms People with this gift use the arts to communicate God's truth; develop and use artistic skills such as drama, writing, art, music, dance, etc., use variety and creativity to captivate people and cause them to consider Christ's message; challenge people's perspective of God through various forms of the arts; demonstrate fresh ways to express the Lord's ministry and message. 

Discernment 
The ability to distinguish between truth and error, to discern the spirits, differentiating between good and evil, right and wrong. People with this gift: distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, pure motives from impure; identify deception in others with accuracy and appropriateness; determine whether a word attributed to God is authentic: recognize inconsistencies in a teaching, prophetic message, or interpretation; are able to sense the presence of evil. 

Encouragement 
The ability to present truth so as to strengthen, comfort, or urge to action those who are discouraged or wavering in faith. People with this gift: come to the side of those who are discouraged to strengthen and reassure them; challenge, comfort, or confront others to trust and hope in the promises of God; urge others to action by applying Biblical truth; motivate others to grow; emphasize God's promises and to have confidence in His will. 

Evangelism 
The ability to effectively communicate the gospel to unbelievers so they respond in faith and move toward discipleship. People with this gift: communicate the message of Christ with clarity and conviction; seek out opportunities to talk to unbelievers about spiritual matters; challenge unbelievers to faith and to become fully devoted followers of Christ; adapt their presentation of the gospel to connect with the individual's needs; seek opportunities to build relationships with unbelievers 

Faith 
The ability to act on God's promises with confidence and unwavering belief in God's ability to fulfill his purposes. People with this gift: believe the promises of God and inspire others to do the same; act in complete confidence of God's ability to overcome obstacles; demonstrate an attitude of trust in God's will and his promises; advance the cause of Christ because they go forward when others will not; ask God for what is needed and trust him for his provisions. 

Giving 
The ability to contribute money and resources to the work of the Lord with cheerfulness and liberality. It does not ask, "How much money do I give to God?" but, ³How much of Gods money do I keep?" People with this gift manage their finances and limit their lifestyle in order to give as much of their resources as possible; support the work of ministry with sacrificial gifts to advance the Kingdom; meet tangible needs that enable spiritual growth to occur, provide resources, generously and cheerfully, busting God for his provision; may have a special ability to make money so that they may use it to further God's work. 

Helps 
The ability to accomplish practical and necessary tasks which free-up, support, and meet the needs of others. People with this gift: serve behind the scenes wherever needed to support the gifts and ministries of others; see the tangible and practical things to be done and enjoy doing them, sense God's purpose and pleasure in meeting everyday responsibilities; attach spiritual value to practical service; enjoy knowing that they are freeing up others to do what God has called them to do. 

Hospitality 
The ability to care for people by providing fellowship, food, and shelter. People with this gift provide an environment where people feel valued and cared for, meet new people and help them to feel welcomed; create a safe and comfortable setting where relationships can develop; seek ways to connect people together into meaningful relationships; set people at ease in unfamiliar surroundings. 

Intercession 
The ability to consistently pray on behalf of and for others, seeing frequent and specific results. People with this gift: feel compelled to earnestly pray on behalf of someone or some cause; have a daily awareness of the spiritual battles being waged and pray; are convinced God moves in direct response to prayer, pray in response to the leading of the spirit, whether they understand it or not exercise authority and power for the protection of others and the equipping of them to serve. 

Knowledge 
The ability to bring truth to the body through a revelation or biblical insight. People with this gift: receive truth which enables them to better serve the body: search the scriptures for insight, understanding, and truth; gain knowledge which at times was not attained by natural means; have an unusual insight or understanding that serves die church; organize information for teaching and practical use. 

Leadership 
The ability to cast vision, motivate, and direct people to harmoniously accomplish the purposes of God. People with this gift provide direction for God's people or ministry; motivate others to perform to the best of their abilities; present the "big picture" for others to see; model the values of the ministry; take responsibility and establish goals. 

Mercy 
The ability to cheerfully and practically help those who are suffering or are in need, compassion moved to action. People with this gift- focus upon alleviating the sources of pain or discomfort in suffering people; address the needs of the lonely and forgotten; express love, grace, and dignity to those facing hardships and crisis; serve in difficult or unsightly circumstances and do so cheerfully; concern themselves with individual or social issues that oppress people. 

Prophecy 
The ability to reveal truth and proclaim it in a timely and relevant manner for understanding, correction, repentance, or edification. There may be immediate or future implications. People with this gift: expose sin or deception in others for the purpose of reconciliation; speak a timely word from God causing conviction, repentance, and edification; see truth that others often fail to see and challenge them to respond; warn of God's immediate or future judgment if there is no repentance: understand God's heart and mind through experience he takes them through. 

Shepherding 
The ability to nurture, care for, and guide people toward ongoing spiritual maturity and becoming like Christ. People with this gift: take responsibility to nurture the whole person in their walk with God; provide guidance and oversight to a group of God's people; model with their life what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus; establish trust and confidence through long relationships; lead and protect those within their span of care. 

Teaching 
The ability to understand, clearly explain, and apply the word of God causing greater Christlikeness in the lives of listeners. People with this gift communicate Biblical truth that inspires greater obedience to the word; challenge listeners simply and practically with the truths of scripture; present the whole counsel of God for maximum life change, give attention to detail and accuracy, prepare through extended times of study and reflection. 

Wisdom 
The ability to apply spiritual truth effectively to meet a need in a specific situation. People with this gift: focus on the unseen consequences in determining the next steps to take, receive an Understanding of what is necessary to meet the needs of the body; provide divinely given solutions in the midst of conflict and confusion; hear the Spirit provide direction for God's best in a given situation; apply spiritual truth in specific and practical ways. 

       
      The "Spiritual Gift Assessment Tool"  is to be found at  http://www.lhbc.org/gifts/Serv/gift.html    

      Copyright 1997-2000, Lake Highlands Baptist Church. All Rights Reserved.
      This site last updated on 04/28/00
     
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IXTHEUS CHRISTIAN DEVOTIONALS 
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God Bless You.....brother bob.......<><

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