Discover Your Gift

Holy Spirit I pray that you fill my sails. Let nothing be of me, but of you. Help me and protect me from wrongfully interpreting your word. Show me your ways and guide me in responsibly studying the bible. Thank you for wonderful resources, commentaries, and dictionaries to help me gain a more accurate understanding of your word. Thank you providing me with your Holy Spirit that leads me to understand your love, forgiveness, and grace. Thank you that even your salvation message can be understood by a child. As a writer and encourager of your word I pray that you keep me accountable to sharing only truth that comes from you. Amen

I am not a pastor or bible scholar, so I often read the bible and become intimidated by sharing what the living word of God is teaching me. I want to make sure that I am interpreting the scripture in the correct way before I “share” what I believe God is teaching me. Understanding that I will be held accountable and not wanting to mislead anyone.

I have been taught to study scriptures within the context of the time period, culture, and who the author is addressing. If not careful we can pull a verse and make it mean whatever we want it to mean. This is so dangerous. Regretfully, I am sure I have unknowingly been guilty of proof texting. However, since starting this blog I feel a great responsibility to check my words. Never wanting to pull scripture and make it my message instead of God’s message.

As I was reading 1 Timothy, and reflecting on my recent job change, and desire to make the most of my spiritual gifts I was touched in a new way by 1 Timothy 4:14-15.  I decided to dig deeper to make sure I was interpreting it correctly and encouraged to find that God had indeed spoken to my heart.

“Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.”  1 Timothy 4:14-15

*Neglect ~ ἀμελέω ameléō, am-el-eh'-o; to be careless of: —make light of, neglect, be negligent, no regard.

As I child I was always taught not to neglect the spiritual gifts the Lord gives. In case you have not heard, when you become a believer in Jesus Christ he gives you a spiritual gift. Sometimes more than one. Read 1 Corinthians 12 with me.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

One way we NEGLECT our gifts is by not taking the effort and time to know and understand what they are. You have a gift, so do not make light of it. Many churches, mine included, offer resources to help you uncover what our church calls your SHAPE. By looking at your Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences you can gain a better grasp of what God has equipped you to do for the body of Christ.

We are given gifts from God.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;” 1 Corinthians 12:4

*The Gift~ χάρισμα chárisma, khar'-is-mah; a (divine) gratuity, a (spiritual) endowment, i.e. (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty: —(free) gift.

~the gift of divine grace

~the gift of faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue

~grace or gifts denoting extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating on their souls by the Holy Spirit

“But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.” 1 Corinthians 1:7

If you knew you had a gift waiting for you to open, would you leave it sitting to gather dust? Take the time this week to unwrap and uncover what your spiritual gift is. When we walk in our spiritual gifting we find joy. We get to take part in God’s work.

This next word really grabbed me.

*Practice~ primarily, "to care for"

(a) "to attend to, practice," 1Ti 4:15, RV, "be diligent in" (AV, "meditate upon");

(b) "to ponder, imagine," Act 4:25.

When we discover our gifts, we must diligently practice them. Ponder them, mediate upon them, imagine how God can use them. Don’t just let it work itself out. Take care to invest in maturing your gift. God wants us to be diligent. To work hard. I know many pastors who say their very first sermons were somewhat of a flop. That doesn’t not mean they did not have the gift of preaching. It just means they were called to take their gift and practice. We can do the same thing.

Look at a few of the gifts given in the bible.

Encouragement, giving, leadership, mercy, prophecy, service, teaching, administration, discernment, faith, healing, knowledge, miracles, evangelism, and there are more!

Do not neglect the gift you have. Be diligent, practice, and now immerse yourself into that gift.

*Immerse~ to know how, to be skilled in

to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to (1Th. 5:12)

Gain some skill. Receive some mentorship. Seek others who share your gift and practice it alongside them. Learn how to best use your gift for God’s glory.

And by the grace of God we will progress in our gifts.

*Progress~ progress, advancement, προκοπή prokopḗ, prok-op-ay'; progress, i.e. advancement (subjectively or objectively): —furtherance, profit.

In Paul's letter to the church of Philippi he uses the same word for progress that is used in 1 Timothy 4:15

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,” Philippians. 1:25

To progress, to advance, also brings joy!

And this is where I want to leave you. I challenge you to read 1 Timothy. I challenge you to find a Spiritual Gifts Test, (S.H.A.P.E) being one of my favorites, and learn your spiritual gifts.  Then, start practicing. Do not neglect your gift. God has designed you and me to be active working members in the body of Christ. We have work to do. Let's get started! 

*www.blueletterbible.org