Hi all,

this may be regarded as add-on to the thread "Discussion in church today". I am wondering these days, how do the gifts of the spirit operate in a congregation? How do you recognise your gift and then how do you use it for the profit of the Body.

I've heard one pastor saying, that the Bible does not show us a method how we can find out our gift. We just have to get to work and it will become clear what is our gift.

But I was thinking too on:
Acts 13:1,2 / "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers...As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. "

1 Timothy 1:18 / "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; "

1 Timothy 4:14 / "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. "

Could it be that somebody receives by prophecy a hint or a revelation for what his minstry shall be? (like Paul and Barnabas) And are not the gifts God's enablings for the ministry that we have to carry on?

Hi, I believe that identifying folks with gifts would present a challenge to the average insecure pastor. Think about the gift of prophecy. If there were multiple prophets in a church, where does that leave our one man system?

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

You see what Paul was saying there in 1 Cor 14? The evidence of God really being among us is when multiple people prophecy. This is when the secrets of the heart are identified in the unbeliever and evidence that God is really among us.........bro Frank

I take a little bit different view than some. I don't think, when discussing the spiritual gifts, that a person simply has been given "a gift" and needs to find out what that gift is. For example, I do not believe that certain people "have the gift of healing" resident within them.

I do believe that God has preordained and destined each person to fulfill His call for their lives. In that sense you have an eternal destiny that was intended before time began. When we are born again, we need to seek God in every area of our lives, allow Him to change us into His image, and in doing so we will begin to realize that destiny. I believe that one of my jobs as an elder is to recognize those callings and help people come into maturity in those things.

The scriptures you llsted have to do, in my opinion, with what I just referenced. These gifts are anointing and calling on a person's life. For a few, that might be evangelist, pastor, prophet, teacher, apostle. For most that might be something else. I know one man whose anointing is making and giving money through business. I know another who such an encourager. I know others who are gifted in administration and leadership in the body.

Spiritual gifts, as listed in 1 Corinthians, are nine supernatural gifts. I believe any spirit filled believer might be used of God in these gifts from time to time as the Holy Spirit directs. In my function as an elder, I might be called upon by the Holy Spirit to lay hands on a person for healing, or I might be given a word of knowledge about a person or for a person. These come, not because it is my gift, but because God wants to anoint me in that moment to do that task as a part of me fulfilling His call for my life.

Hope that perspective helps.

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Travis

Dear saints,

Great question!

In my entire (relatively short) relationship with Christ Jesus (I’m 42, “asked Jesus into my heart” at 6, re-committed at about age 20, then experienced either being truly born again, or “baptism of the spirit” at age 27), no other teaching on the gifts listed in Romans 12 has helped me like the one at the link below.

The brother who taught this series is admittedly “out there” on some theological/doctrinal things (who isn’t, but Christ Jesus himself?). But this teaching contains a treasure trove of practical insight into how God creates each individual with what he calls “redemptive gifts”. He teaches they are distinct of other spiritual gifts in other passages, but you can listen and discern/test for yourselves, if you so choose.

https://theslg.com/cd-albums/78-the-redemptive-gifts-of-individuals.html

What I (and many others) have gleaned from this practical teaching has helped us understand each other better, function in the body in a more healthy way (giving grace to one another!), and provide a glimpse into God’s design of each living stone He creates!

These teachings land on people in different ways, some recoil, some reject, some listen multiple times and eventually are built up, and for others it “clicks” right away (I was one such person, who weeped upon listening to it...but that’s par for the course for me when I perceive certain teachings to have the aroma of Christ).

Anyway, I submit it here with a tremendous desire for your edification in Christ Jesus, and if even just one person listens to the teaching and is built up in Christ Jesus, I believe that will be a blessing to the body of Christ wherever you are!

But as with all things, proceed with caution and abiding in Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit, our Teacher of all truth!!

P.S. if anyone (especially Greg) has reason for concern about me posting the link, by all means, I welcome your feedback and removal of it.

With heartfelt love for you all,

Hm, ok... I don't have this perspective. I do believe that the Lord can use anybody to prophesy for example, but that does not mean that the person is a prophet. That's my undestanding. And I think that God gives us gifts, according to His own will, which would enable us to fulfill the ministry He has given us.

Something very interesting happened these days: I was at a conference and while talking with one of the boys there, getting to know each other - he asked what am I studying. I said, medicine. And he went like, "Ah, that's you - medicine and missionary!" And he said, that he read about a certain woman that has been a doctor and a missionary in India, but he could not remember her name. Later on, while still talking on missions, he added "Perhaps God can use your gift there (on the mission field)." And I frankly, am not sure what is the gift he meant. Word of wisdom? Word of knowledge? Actually very few people know that I've been thinking of missionary work since my teenage years (16./17.). But it seems to me that if it is the will of God, the time has not yet come.

Anyways this relatively short conversation makes me still think a lot about my mission in life, my ministry... and how do I function in the Body. It's so easy just to go to church and get back home, going through the motions - but is the Lord using me to answer one's prayer, to supply needs, to encourage, to correct? Or am I just using the Body for myself? Surely the life of the Body does not consist in just listening to sermons (although we need that too..)

Hope you get what I am thinking about.

Blessings, and thaks for your response!
Esther

Thanks for the link! Perhaps you will be disappointed to hear that I will not listen to it. It's just too expensive for a student :D.

Anyways, I still believe and hope that God will give answers to the questions I have. By His Spirit He will guide us into all truth (John 16:13)

Blessings,
Esther

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Travis

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Lisa