Spiritual Gifts

Do you have a spiritual gift?
You do have a spiritual gift. In fact, you probably have more than one. Many Christians, however, serve at less than their fullest potential because they do not recognize, develop, and express the gifts that God has given to them.

The Holy Spirit graciously grants differing gifts or capacities to members of the body of Christ. Each gift is given for the purpose of carrying out the mission and ministry of the church. Paul sums up the meaning and place of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7:
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. And there are varities of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (NASB)

The gifts of the Spirit are functional. They make possible Christian ministries. And as the need for new forms of ministry may arise, they are matched by whatever gifts may be required.

Wisdom
The ability to gain insight into practical application of God's truths to specific situations. The gift of wisdom is found in 1 Corinthians 12:8.

Knowledge
The ability to discover, understand, clarify, and communicate information that relates to the life, growth, and well-being of the church. The gift of knowledge is found in 1 Corinthians 12:8.

Teaching
The special ability to study God's Word and to communicate spiritual truths in such a way that they are relevant to the health and ministry of the church and in such a way that others will learn. The gift of teaching is found in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:28-30, & Ephesians 4:11.

Leadership
The special ability to set goals in accordance with the will og God, communicate those goals to others, and motivate others to work together to achieve those goals.
Leadership is found in Romans 12:8, & 1 Corinthians 12:28.

Prophecy
The ability to receive a message from God and then to communicate that message to others through divinely anointed utterance. Prophecy is found in: Romans 12:6, 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28-29, & Ephesians 4:11.

Spiritual Discernment
The ability to know which actions and teachings that are claimed to be of God are actually of God. (and not human or satanic) This gift is found in: 1 Corinthains 12:10.

Exhortation
The special ability to comfort and encourage others as well as to motivate others to right actions. This gift is found in: Romans 12:8.

Shepherding
The ability to build up, equip, and guide Christians in spiritual growth and maturity. This gift is found in: Ephesians 4:11.

Faith
The special ability to affirm God's power to intervene in the world today and to be a part of this intervention through prayer and the Spirit's power. This gift is found in: 1 Corinthians 12:9.

Evangelism
The ability to comprehend the lost condition of people in the world and to present Christ effectively so that persons will accept salvation in Jesus. This is found in: 1 Corinthians 12:28-29 & Ephesians 4:11.

Apostleship
The ability to share God's message of reconciliation; to start new Bible-study groups and churches; or to cross cultural, language, or racial barriers to present the gospel.

Miracles
The special ability to serve as a human intermediary through whom God works to bring about events that cannot be explained by natural law. This can be found in: 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28.

As you plan to use your spiritual gifts, consider praying first.
Some fail to use their gifts due to disobedience in their lives. Disobedience blocks the use of the gifts of the Spirit. Both disobedience to God and a spirit of unwillingness to be used can cause spiritual gifts to lie dormant. Some fail to use their gifts, because they never realize they have a particular gift and never seek their gifts.
Pray that God will guide you as you seek your gift and put it to use.

Prayer To The Lord

Our Father who art in Heaven...
YES?
Don't interrupt me. I'm praying...
BUT YOU CALLED ME.
Called you? I didn't call you. I'm praying.
Our Father who art in Heaven...
THERE YOU DID IT AGAIN.
Did What?
CALLED ME. YOU SAID, "OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN..." HERE I, AM. WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?
But I didn't mean anything by it.
I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day.
I always say the Lord's Prayer.
It makes me feel good, kind of like getting my duty done.
ALL RIGHT. GO ON.
Hallowed by thy name.
HOLD IT. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
By what?
By "HALLOWED BE THY NAME."
It means...it means...good grief, I don't know what it means.
How should I know?
Its just part of the prayer.
By the way, what does it mean?
IT MEANS "HONORED," " HOLY", "WONDERFUL".
Hey, that makes sense.
I never thought about what Hallowed meant before.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
DO YOU REALLY MEAN THAT?
Sure, why not?
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Doing? Nothing, I guess.
I just think it would be neat if you got control of everything down here like you have up there.
HAVE I GOT CONTROL OF YOU?
Well, I go to church.
THAT ISN'T WHAT I ASKED YOU.
WHAT ABOUT THAT HABIT OF LUST YOU HAVE?
AND YOUR BAD TEMPER? YOU'VE REALLY GOT A PROBLEM THERE, YOU KNOW.
AND THEN THERE'S THE WAY YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY...ALL ON YOURSELF. AND WHAT ABOUT THE KINDS OF BOOKS YOU READ?
Stop picking on me!
I'm just as good as some of the rest of those phonies at the church.
EXCUSE ME...I THOUGHT YOU WERE PRAYING FOR MY WILL TO BE DONE.
IF THAT IS TO HAPPEN, IT WILL HAVE TO START WITH THE ONES WHO ARE PRAYING FOR IT. LIKE YOU, FOR EXAMPLE.
Oh, all right!
I guess I do have some hang-ups.
Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others.
SO COULD I.
I haven't thought about it until now, but I really would like to cut out some of those things. I'd like to, you know, be really free.
GOOD, NOW WE'RE GETTING SOMEWHERE. WE'LL WORK TOGETHER...YOU AND ME. NOW, SOME VICTORIES CAN TRULY BE WON. I'M PROUD OF YOU.
Look Lord, I need to finish up here.
This is taking a lot longer than it usually does...Give us this day our daily bread.
YOU NEED TO CUT DOWN ON THE BREAD TOO...YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT AS IT IS.
Hey, wait a minute!
What is this, "Criticize Me Day?" Here I was doing my religious duty, and all of a sudden you break in and remind me of all my hang-ups.
PRAYING IS A DANGEROUS THING. YOU COULD WIND UP CHANGED YOU KNOW. THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET ACROSS TO YOU. YOU CALLED ME, AND HERE I, AM. IT'S TOO LATE TO STOP NOW. KEEP ON PRAYING. I'M INTERESTED IN THE NEXT PART OF YOUR PRAYER. WELL, GO ON.
I'm scared to.
SCARED? OF WHAT? I KNOW WHAT YOU'LL SAY. TRY ME AND SEE.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
WHAT ABOUT JOE?
See, I knew it? I knew you would bring him up! Why he's told lies about me, cheated me out of money...He never paid back that debt he owes me. I've sworn to get even.
BUT YOUR PRAYER...WHAT ABOUT YOUR PRAYER?
I didn't mean it.
WELL, AT LEAST YOU'RE HONEST. BUT IT'S NOT MUCH FUN CARRYING THE LOAD OF BITTERNESS AROUND INSIDE, IS IT?
No, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even. Boy, have I made some plans for ol' Joe. He'll wish he never did me any harm.
YOU WON'T FEEL ANY BETTER. YOU'LL FEEL WORSE. REVENGE ISN'T SWEET. THINK OF HOW UNHAPPY YOU ARE ALREADY. BUT I CAN CHANGE ALL THAT.
You can? How?
FORGIVE JOE. THEN I'LL FORGIVE YOU. THEN THE HATE AND SIN WILL BE JOE'S PROBLEM AND NOT YOURS...YOU MAY LOSE THE MONEY, BUT YOU WILL SETTLE YOUR HEART.
But Lord, I can't forgive Joe.
THEN I CAN'T FORGIVE YOU.
Oh, you're right! You always are. And more than I want revenge on Joe, I want to be right with you. .. All right! I forgive him. Help him to find the right road in life, Lord. He's bound to be awfully miserable, now that I think about it. Some way, somehow, show him the right way.
THERE NOW! HOW DO YOU FEEL?
Hmmm....not bad. Not bad at all, In fact I feel pretty great. You know, I don't think I'll have to go to bed uptight tonight for the first time since I can't remember. Maybe I won't be so tired from now on because I'm not getting enough rest.
YOU'RE NOT THROUGH WITH YOUR PRAYER...GO ON.
Oh, All right...And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
GOOD...GOOD. I'LL DO THAT. JUST DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE TEMPTED.
What do you mean by that?
QUIT HANGING AROUND THE WRONG PLACES, WATCHING INAPPROPRIATE MOVIES AND TELEVISION, LISTENING TO SINFUL CONVERSATIONS; HANGING AROUND THE PLACES WHERE PLAYBOY AND PLAYGIRL ARE SOLD. CHANGE SOME OF YOUR FRIENDSHIPS. SOME OF YOUR SO-CALLED FRIENDS ARE BEGINNING TO GET TO YOU. THEY'LL HAVE YOU COMPLETELY INVOLVED IN WRONG THINGS BEFORE LONG. DON'T BE FOOLED. THEY ADVERTISE THEY'RE HAVING FUN, BUT FOR YOU IT WOULD BE RUIN. DON'T USE ME FOR AN ESCAPE HATCH.
I don't understand.
SURE, YOU DO, YOU'VE DONE IT...LOTS OF TIMES. YOU GET CAUGHT IN A BAD SITUATION, YOU GET INTO TROUBLE AND THEN YOU COME RUNNING TO ME. LORD, HELP ME OUT OF THIS MESS, AND I PROMISE YOU I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN. " YOU REMEMBER SOME OF THOSE BARGAINS YOU TRIED TO MAKE WITH ME?
Yes, and I'm ashamed Lord. I really am.
WHICH BARGAINS ARE YOU REMEMBERING?
Well, when the guy next door saw me backing away from the neighborhood bar...I told my wife I was going to the store...I remember telling you, "Lord, don't let him tell her where I've been. I promise I'll be in church every Sunday."
HE DIDN'T TELL YOUR WIFE, BUT YOU DIDN'T KEEP YOUR PROMISE, DID YOU?
I'm sorry Lord, I really am. Up until now I thought if I just prayed the Lord's prayer everyday, then I could do what I liked. I didn't expect anything to happen like it did.
GO AHEAD, FINISH YOUR PRAYER.
Oh yes...For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD BRING ME GLORY? WHAT WOULD MAKE ME REALLY HAPPY?
No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you. I can see what a mess I've made out of my life, and I can see how great it would be to really be one of your followers.
YOU JUST ANSWERED THE QUESTION.
I did?
YES, THE ONE THING THAT WOULD BRING ME GLORY IS TO HAVE PEOPLE LIKE YOU TRULY LOVE ME. AND I CAN SEE THAT HAPPENING BETWEEN US. NOW THAT SOME OF THESE OLD SINS ARE EXPOSED AND OUT OF THE WAY...WELL, THERE'S NO TELLING WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER.
Lord, let's see what we can make of me, OK?
YES, LET'S SEE

Author Unknown

Does God Still Speak To Men?

A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study.
The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice. The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?"

After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways. It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. Sitting in his car, he just began to pray, "God.. If you still speak to people speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey."

As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought, stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?"

He didn't get a reply and started on toward home. But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk. The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli. "Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk."

It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home. As he passed Seventh street, he again felt the urge "Turn down that street."

This is crazy he thought and drove on pass the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down seventh street. At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will". He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in a semi-commercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed.

Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street." The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat. "Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid."

Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk. Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here."

He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away. The man was standing there in his jeans and T-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem to happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep.

"What is it?" The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." The man took the milk and rushed down a hall way speaking loudly in Spanish. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face. The man began speaking and half crying, "We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk."

His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I ask him to send an Angel with some...Are you an Angel?" The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face. He knew that God still answers prayers and that God still speaks to His people.

Author Unknown

"Give Thanks"
Courtsey of AngelWinks Cards

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