The How: Spiritual Gifts

“Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:10-11‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/1pe.4.10-11.HCSB

While studying Spiritual Gifts in Gods Word, preparing for these blogs, instead of feeling more educated on the subject, I’m feeling more inadequate. (There are so many different takes on Spiritual Gifts. There are many reputable studies on the subject that just need a simple search. If you need some guidance, please comment your request and I’ll do my best to direct you to the correct source.)

What do we know for sure?

God blessed all His Children with at least one Spiritual Gift, many times more than one
All Spiritual Gifts are to be for Gods Glory
All Spiritual Gifts are to be exercised with Love
We, Gods children need to work with each other using the gifts God has blessed us with
We have several different lists of some special Spiritual Gifts in Gods Word
Even two people with the same Spiritual Gift will use it differently according to their personality, talents, and Gods purpose
We should never compare ourselves to anybody else, but focus on Gods will for our purpose.

What about the How? What does that look like?

How do we use our Spiritual Gifts?

How do we know what our Spiritual Gifts are?

These are two very important questions. The answer to both are the same.

The fourth answer is something I learned from a Bible study, several years ago. Of all the Bible Studies I’ve had the privilege to read and learn, this one still has the most lasting effect on me. It is the catalyst used to open my eyes to listening to God. I highly recommend this study to all Christians! Discovering God by Dr. Blackaby.

Pray
Read Gods Word
Listen to God
Be aware of your surroundings, see where God is working and join in.

The first three answers may sound familiar.
The fourth answer is something I learned from a Bible study, several years ago. Of all the Bible Studies I’ve had the privilege to read and learn, this one still has the most lasting effect on me. It is the catalyst used to open my eyes to listening to God. I highly recommend this study to all Christians! Discovering God by Dr. Blackaby.

I’m not saying that this Bible study is better than all other Bible studies. But it was definitely used by God to reach me and feed me what I needed at the time. And I still use the lessons to this day.

This is another example of how God uses His children’s talents and gifts to encourage and lift. This is working together for Gods Glory.

This is why I continue to write these blogs and work on books. Dr. Blackaby has no idea who I am. He has no idea that I read his Bible Study. The powerful effect it made in my life has reached out to others. It has reached out to lives that I have no idea are being touched. It’s all for the Glory of God! Not ours.

Now yes, Dr Blackaby has a much larger audience than mine. But we don’t know who needs Gods message. Maybe, just maybe, the person who needs to hear about Gods Love and be encouraged will have never read Discovering God, or any other Bible Study? Maybe, just maybe, that one person who needs Christ in their life reads this one single blog post, which will change their life forever. Maybe God will use this single blog post to tell them how much God Loves them? Or maybe this one single blog post will give Gods child the extra push of encouragement needed to step out in faith to use their spiritual gift. Maybe…but God knows. And whether 1 or a trillion people read this blog, I’m writing it out of obedience to our Lord and savior. He uses all of us, to His Honor and Glory!!

I have many friends who are skilled in English, the written word, Gods word, and education beyond my imagination. I am very aware of this and am intimidated by the thought of them reading my books and blogs. And that has stopped me from doing more than I should be doing. But, as long as I keep my eyes focused on God and His purpose for me, I will keep writing. For I know without a doubt that God can use my scribbling to make our world a better place. To encourage and lift all people up to Gods greater purpose! To God our Heavenly Father be the glory! Through the blood of His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, may we be about Gods business!

“And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:11-12‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/72/eph.4.11-12.HCSB

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 to one is given a message of wisdom

through the Spirit,

to another, a message of knowledge

by the same Spirit,

to another, faith by the same Spirit,

to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

to | Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) | Download The Bible App Now

Romans 12:6-8 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts:

If prophecy,

use it according to the standard of one’s faith;