What is My Gift?

June, 2006

by: Tim Carns

The last few months we have been considering how we can fulfill our obligation to “work properly” in the body (Eph 4:15-16) so that Christ will cause growth in each believer here at Calvary Bible Church. We left off last month discussing one of the means is by exercising your spiritual gift. As we learned previously, using your gift in the church is not an option, but a mandate.

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

Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly (Rom 12:6).

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good… But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills (1 Cor 12:7, 11).

The verses surrounding these passages also reveal the various gifts that the Holy Spirit has given. While some of them ceased following the time of the apostles (such as miracles, healing, tongues, apostleship, and interpretation of tongues), the Scriptures teach that there are a whole host of gifts that believers possess today (such as teaching, faith, service, administration, evangelism, pastor, exhortation, giving, mercy, and discernment). The operation of all these gifts within the body is essential for the growth of every believer to be more like Christ. Any who fail to exercise their gift leave holes in the body that need to be filled. For example, if those with the gift of service fail to serve to the capacity that God has gifted them that means more work for others in the church. Likewise, if those with the gift of mercy do not employ their gift then many who are hurting in the body will not receive the encouragement they need during difficult times. Those gifted to teach need to be using their gift to feed God’s people His Word. On and on it goes. Every gift God has provided needs to be in use. Otherwise God would not have seen fit to provide it. I like to think about what it would be like here at Calvary if every believer here were maximizing the use of their gift. Imagine what this church would be like!

So the question that you need to answer at this point is not, “Do I have a spiritual gift?” Rather, it should be, “How am I using my spiritual gift?” How are you employing your spiritual gift for the common good of your brothers and sisters in Christ here at Calvary? Some of you may have been down this road before and you’re saying to yourself, “I know God has given me a gift, and I know that I need to be using it. But, what I need to know is how do I find out what my gift is?” Well, I am glad you asked. Though the Bible teaches that each believer does have at least one gift, it doesn’t explicitly tell us how we determine what our specific gift is. I don’t know how many Spiritual Gift surveys, inventories, or tests I have taken in my quest to find out my gift. One of the easiest and most profitable ways to know your gift is to find a ministry you might be interested in and then serve in whatever needs there are in that ministry. Calvary has a host of ministries that could always use another servant, such as missions, food, Compass, children’s, youth, women’s, Hope Again, the new building, greeters, ushers, college, technology, audio/visual, music, men’s, host, shut-ins, Beverly Manor, and the list goes on and on. Then, as you see fruit from your service and others confirm you seem to be gifted in that area, you are likely on the path to finding your spiritual gift. So, don’t wait! Pray to the Lord for the guidance and the desire to serve in a ministry here and then get to it. There’s so much that needs to be done! As we consider a body with every part working properly (Eph 4:16), spiritual gifts aren’t the only means which God uses to cause growth in the believer. God has also … uh oh. I guess I ran out of space. Stay tuned…