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Ixtheus Christian Devotionals |
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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me at ixtheus@execpc.com
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