present3Have you ever given someone a gift and then seen it ignored or even re-gifted?  When you give a gift to someone else your desire is to see that it is appreciated and it is disheartening to see your gift ignored.   How do you think God feels when we don’t use or don’t even know that He’s given us a gift?

God gives to each believer at least one spiritual gift.  Spiritual gifts may be defined as “special abilities distributed by the Holy Spirit to every believer according to God’s design and grace for the common good of the body of Christ” (Network, p. 25).

The Apostle Peter teaches us that we should use our gifts to serve one another,

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.  (1 Peter 4:10)

There are four primary passages in the New Testament that lists spiritual gifts:  Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 28-30, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:10-11.

Romans 12:6-8
 exhortation
giving
leadership
mercy
prophecy
service
teaching
1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30
administration
apostle
discernment
faith
healings
helps
knowledge
miracles
prophecy
teaching
tongues
tongues interpretation
wisdom
Ephesians 4:11
 apostle
evangelism
pastor
prophecy
teaching
1 Peter 4:10-11
serving
speaking
Other Gifts
celibacy
hospitality
martyrdom
missionary
voluntary poverty
As you review those lists, you may wonder, “What is my spiritual gift?”  The following questions may be helpful to you:
  1. What do I enjoy?
  2. Where do I see fruit?
  3. Where do I receive positive feedback?
This website also provides helpful information for determining your spiritual gifts:  http://www.spiritualgiftstest.com/
When you are using your spiritual gift you’re in the zone.  You sense meaning and purpose in your life.  Rather than feeling drained it fills your bucket.  You don’t suffer burnout when you’re doing something you love.  When you’re in your sweet spot it energizes you, you’re in a state of flow.  Psychologist Mihaly Cziksentmihalyi defines flow as “a state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience is so enjoyable that people will continue to do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.” (Cskikszentmihalyi, 1990, p.4)
Don’t miss your opportunity to serve God by using your spiritual gifts.  God’s going to build His church, if you’re not using your spiritual gift you’ll forfeit your role. Spiritual gifts are God’s gift to you, what you do with them is your gift to God.  If you bury your talent you’re making a grave mistake.  The Apostle Paul reminds us,

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  2 Timothy 1:6

RickAssociate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

Follow me on twitter:  rickhiggins5