EIGHT REASONS WHY EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW THEIR SPIRITUAL GIFT!

For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. 1 Cor. 3:9

Last time we answered the question:

WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT?

Spiritual gifts are the hands of God.

2. A spiritual gift is a supernatural capacity.

3. A spiritual gift is a supernatural desire.

4. Spiritual gifts are the tools for doing the work of the ministry.

5. A spiritual gift is the source of joy in your Christian life.

6. A spiritual gift is a divine Motivator.

7. A spiritual gift divinely influences your motives or reasons for doing things.

8. A spiritual gift is a divine calling and responsibility.

9. Spiritual gifts are the building blocks of the church.

EIGHT REASONS WHY EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW THEIR SPIRITUAL GIFT

1. Knowing your spiritual gift helps you understand God’s will for your life.

· Spiritual gifts are tools given by God for doing the work of the ministry.

· Understanding your gift in light of this principle will enable you to make decisions about where to serve God, how to serve Him, and in many cases, help you choose your occupation.

· But in all cases, it will help you set priorities for your life.

· What God has called you to do He has gifted you to do, and what He has gifted you to do He has called you to do.

2. Knowing your spiritual gift helps you know what God has not called you to do.

· The more I understand what God has not called me to do, the more I understand what He has called me to do.

· No doubt, recognizing what you are not supposed to do can be as important as recognizing what you are to do.

· If you realize God has not given you the gift of “mercy,” you can easily turn down a position that would require that gift, without worrying that you might miss God’s calling.

3. Knowing your spiritual gift relieves you from serving out of “duty.”

· If the truth were known, many active church workers have no business doing what they are doing.

· They are only doing it because the pastor asked them to, a committee elected them, or they feel obligated to do something; but they are not serving where they were gifted.

· Christians have many reasons for serving in areas that keep them busy but not fulfilled.

· It boils down to this: many serve out of duty instead of God’s calling.

· By discovering and utilizing your God-given gifts, it will reduce your chances of serving out of duty, and allow you to serve through the joy of your calling.

4. Knowing your spiritual gift helps you understand how the Holy Spirit works through you.

· God has chosen people through which to do His work here on earth.

· Dr. Elmer Towns teaches a principle he calls “the division of labor,” based on 1 Corinthians 3:9, which states, “For we are laborers together with God.”

· His principle simply states that “God will not do what He has commanded you to do, and you cannot do what God has reserved as His authority.”

· Certain areas of ministering to people are reserved as His authority or duty.

· Certain areas of ministering to people are reserved by God to be done by people, and God will not step into these prescribed boundaries to do your job for you.

· Spiritual gifts are God’s provision for the Holy Spirit to minister to people, through people.

· Without spiritual gifts people can minister one to another only in the flesh.

· You and I are the only vessels the Holy Spirit uses to accomplish His work here on earth.

· We must yield ourselves to the Spirit and learn as much as we can about how the Holy Spirit works through us.

5. Knowing your spiritual gift fills a deep inner need or void in your life.

· Your spiritual gift will complement this inner need God has placed in you.

· Stop and think for a minute of the most miserable, unhappy person you know.

· Without a doubt that person is very self-centered and only does for others when it benefits him or her in return.

6. Knowing your spiritual gift builds unity among Christians.

· When you understand the characteristics of spiritual gifts, you see how gifts influence your desires, motivation, and behavior.

· You will begin to realize why other people do not always see things, or react to a situation, the same as you would.

· It’s all part of God’s plan.

· The different gifts complement each other.

· Understanding spiritual gifts will also prevent you from imposing your gift or lifestyle on others and will help you recognize God’s individual calling for your life.

· Unfortunately, too many Christians are living God’s will for someone else’s life rather than their own.

7. Knowing your spiritual gift equips you to fulfill God’s purpose for your life.

· Understanding your spiritual gifts gives you a clearer understanding of God’s purpose for your life.

· God has created each one of us uniquely and has given us different gifts, talents, personalities, temperaments, and passions to outfit us to accomplish His unique purpose for each of us.

· True significance in life comes when we discover and apply that purpose and calling.

· Introducing spiritual gifts in Ephesians 4:1, Paul exhorts us to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (kjv).

· Today when we use the term “vocation” we are referring to our job or career.

· It actually takes in all aspects of our life, career, family, ministry, hobbies, etc.

It’s our calling in life.

In fact, later translations of Scripture define the word “vocation” as “calling.”

· Your calling in life is the purpose for which God made you.

· It has been said, “Career is what you’re paid for, but calling is what you’re made for.”

8. Knowing your spiritual gift adds to your self-acceptance.

· Undue guilt is the greatest tool Satan uses to keep Christians from living up to their potential.

· Many believers consider themselves unspiritual because they cannot live up to someone else’s expectations.

· Trying to live up to others’ expectations of you always equals failure if your expectations are not in line with what God expects of you.

· Think of the greatest Christian you know. Now consider this: God has called you to do what this person cannot do.

· Your God has given you a special endowment that suits you perfectly for your special position on the Team.

PURSUING GOD’S STEWARDSHIP

· In reality, spiritual gifts involve God’s stewardship.

He assigns us certain tasks.

King James Version Chapter 12

18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

· He equips us to do them in a manner that brings glory to Him and fulfillment to us.

King James Version Chapter 4

10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

King James Version Chapter 4

11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth:

King James Version Chapter 4

that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

· God could send a legion of angels to do his work here on earth. But, he doesn’t.

· He elected to use you and me because if we are not using our gifts to serve others, we are incomplete and will never receive the blessing and fulfillment He has in store for us.

· God has also given you a gift, but it is up to you whether or not you open it.

· It is your birthday present, given to you by God at the time of your spiritual birth.

· Once you open it and examine it, you too may be surprised.

· Don’t miss out on the blessings God has for you.

· Your challenge is two-fold.

· First, you are to do as commanded in 2 Timothy 1:6: “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you”(kjv).

· And second, to do as admonished in 1 Peter 4:10: “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” ( kjv).