Turning the page…
Turning the page…
Glory · The Holy Spirit
You discover your gift the way God has always grown His servants: by serving, with the Body, in love. The New Testament says every believer has received a gift to use for the good of all, that the gifts are diverse and mostly ordinary, and that they are given to build up the church. Look at what Scripture names, see what God has already placed in your hands, serve where you can, and let the Body of Christ affirm what it sees in you. Gift discovery grows out of faithfulness, not revelation.
https://glorystudy.com/questions/discovering-my-gift · Scripture quoted from the World English Bible
Romans 12:1-8
As you read: Paul lists the practical gifts after the call to surrender: prophecy, service, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, showing mercy, each used soberly.
1Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
2Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
3For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
4For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function,
5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
7or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching;
8or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
1 Peter 4:7-11
As you read: Each has received a gift; use it to serve one another, that in all things God may be glorified.
7But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
8And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
10As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.
11If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
As you read: The Spirit distributes to each as He wills, and each member is placed in the body just as God desired.
1Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.
2You know that when you were heathen, you were led away to those mute idols, however you might be led.
3Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says, “Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit.
4Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord.
6There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all.
7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.
8For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit;
9to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit;
10and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages.
11But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.
1 Corinthians 14:1-12
As you read: Whatever gift you pursue, the goal is the same: 'seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.'
1Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
4He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
5Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.
6But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?
7Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?
8For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
9So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.
10There are, it may be, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
11If then I don’t know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.
12So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
Matthew 25:14-30
As you read: The master gives each servant something and expects them to use it; faithfulness over a little is what is rewarded.
14“For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them.
15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.
16Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.
18But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.
19“Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them.
20He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.’
21“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
22“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.’
23“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter.
25I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’
26“But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter.
27You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.
28Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents.
29For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.
30Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Peter assumes it: 'As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.' Paul says to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good, and the same Spirit distributes to each one separately as He wills. Even receipt of the gift is grace: 'to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.' You are not a bystander in the body.
“As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.”1 Peter 4:10
“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.”1 Corinthians 12:7
“But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.”1 Corinthians 12:11
“But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”Ephesians 4:7
When Paul lists the gifts, most of them are not spectacular: prophecy, serving, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, and showing mercy. In the longer list, alongside miracles and tongues, he includes helps and governments. God places each member in the body just as He desires, and most of us are placed in humble, daily service. So look where God has already fitted you, in capacities and opportunities He has given, not only at the flashy.
“Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching; or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”Romans 12:6-8
“God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.”1 Corinthians 12:28
“But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired.”1 Corinthians 12:18
The measure of a gift is what it does for others. Paul says, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, 'seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly,' and Peter says that whether one speaks or serves, the aim is 'that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.' A gift is a channel for grace, not a trophy for the self. The test of your gift is not how impressive it looks but how much it serves.
“So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.”1 Corinthians 14:12
“But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.”1 Corinthians 12:7
“If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”1 Peter 4:11
Gift discovery is not primarily a revelation; it is discovery in action. In the parable, the master gave each servant something and then expected faithfulness with it; the faithful servant, not the idle one, heard 'well done, good and faithful servant.' Serve where the need is, use what is in your hand, try what Scripture names, and let the Body of Christ confirm what it sees in you. Gifts become known as they are used.
““His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’”Matthew 25:21
“Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;”Romans 12:6
“As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.”1 Peter 4:10
Above all things, Peter says, be earnest in your love, for love covers a multitude of sins. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control, and Paul's whole chapter on gifts ends by showing the still more excellent way of love. A gift without love is nothing. Pursue Christlikeness, and your gift will find its proper place in a life that loves.
“And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.”1 Peter 4:8
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”Galatians 5:22-23
“But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.”1 Corinthians 13:13
“Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”1 Corinthians 14:1