How To Discern Spiritual Gifts

Learning about our spiritual gift(s) is a fascinating subject because it allows us to learn something new about ourselves.

A spiritual gift is something God has chosen for you personally so that you can serve and use your distinctive aptitude to assist the church on earth advance.

God has chosen people to carry out his mission. For reasons only he knows and understands, he chose this course of action. From a human standpoint, we may question if this was the wisest move. After all, the sky is the limit when it comes to what God could have accomplished. He had the option of speaking to lost people through angels. He surely utilized them on a number of major instances in the Bible. Alternatively, God could have produced a particular breed of messengers who would never let him down—a breed of messengers who would never fail him “He needed a “sin-proof” instrument to faithfully broadcast his Word. God, for that matter, could have just stuck his head through the sky and shouted, “Hello, universe! You're not God, and I'm God!” God, on the other hand, has chosen men and women to carry out his mission among humanity.

We must make advantage of everything that Jesus Christ has made available to us as we seek to follow and be utilized by him. The gifts of the Spirit are one of Jesus' greatest gifts to his church and to us as individuals. Why has he lavished these blessings on us? The Bible says this about the crucial role they play in believers' lives:

Spiritual Gifts Help Us to Grow in Christ's Knowledge. Some people get infatuated with spiritual abilities rather than Jesus as a result of being sidetracked by them. Instead of signs and marvels following believers, Christians began to follow signs and wonders. This is an indication of immaturity spiritually. A. B. Simpson, a Christian author and pastor, wrote these wise words:

Spiritual gifts aren't the goal; they're the means to get there. They aren't toys to be enjoyed; they are tools to be used in construction and weapons to be used in combat. When we use them for God's glory rather than our own, we will be more effective.

Spiritual Gifts Should Be Employed. It is possible to squander a gift. However, by doing so, you defy God and deprive the church of a blessing. As a result, we must make use of the gifts he has bestowed upon us. Indeed, it must be an affront to God for us to dismiss a gift that the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon us by claiming that it isn't vital enough to use.

In the Body of Christ, each Spiritual Gift has a unique role to play. Every gift that God has given to the church, the body of Christ, is significant. Some gifts, like preaching, teaching, and prophecy, may appear to be more vital than others, like hospitality and service. All of these gifts, however, have been given by God to build up his church. None of these gifts should be dismissed or taken for granted.

So, what spiritual gifts has God bestowed upon his people? Here's a rundown:

ADMINISTRATION: The capacity to use planning, organization, and supervisory skills to guide a church or ministry toward the successful achievement of God-given goals.

APOSTLE: A person who is sent to spread the gospel to new places. You may have heard of missionaries who go to different places to help spread the gospel; these individuals are known as apostles. An apostle can also serve as a leader for other churches or ministries, as well as provide spiritual guidance.

DISCERNMENT: The ability to distinguish truth from falsehood by determining if a behavior or teaching comes from God or from an unholy source.

EVANGELISM: The ability to effectively preach the gospel message, particularly to nonbelievers.

EXHORTATION: The ability to provide encouragement, comfort, and support in order to assist someone in becoming all that God intends them to be.

FAITH: People who have this gift have such faith in God's power and promises that they can maintain their faith no matter what is thrown at them. They can also defend and advance their beliefs by standing up for the church and their faith.

GIVING: Those who have this gift are especially willing and able to share whatever resources they have without expecting anything in return.

HEALING: God's ability to repair others' bodily, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

HELPS: This gift allows someone to support or assist members of the body of Christ so that they can focus on ministering to others.

HOSPITALITY: The ability to make anyone, even strangers, feel at ease in one's own house or church as a way of discipleship or service.

KNOWLEDGE: This is a gift given by someone who actively seeks to understand the Bible. This individual might also appreciate examining scriptural facts.

LEADERSHIP: This ability identifies a person who can stand in front of a congregation, direct the congregation with care and attention, and motivate them to achieve the church's objectives.

MERCY: This is the defining characteristic of someone who is sensitive to the plight of others. It shows up in the form of compassion and encouragement, as well as a desire to help someone who is in need.

PROPHECY: The ability to communicate God's message to others. This can occasionally include foresight or visions of the future. This ability should only be used to encourage or warn others.

SERVING:A gift for identifying tasks that the body of Christ requires and utilizing existing resources to complete them.

SPEAKING IN TONGUES: The miraculous ability to communicate in a language other than one's own (one that has not been learned).

TEACHING: The ability to successfully teach from the Bible and transmit it to others for their spiritual growth and knowledge.

WISDOM: The ability to sort through facts and data in order to figure out what has to be done for the church.

It's worth noting that not every Christian believes God still bestows all of these spiritual abilities. Some believe that certain talents, such as speaking in tongues, were passed down just at a time in biblical history when they were needed and are no longer needed now.

• Did any of the above descriptions strike a chord with you as you read them? It's possible that's the gift or gifts you've received.
• You can ask your Christian friends to tell you about the gifts they see in you—they can frequently see what you can't and can tell you about the skills God has given you.
• You can pray about it; if we ask God to guide us toward whatever gifts He has given us, he will do so.
• Some churches provide classes to help you find your spiritual gifts. Check with a church leader to see whether this is something they provide.
• You can also take an online spiritual gifts exam, which you can locate by searching online. But a word of caution: these tests aren't always accurate, so take the results with a grain of salt and keep praying for the answer.

While we're pursuing our spiritual gifts, it's easy to lose sight of Jesus. They can easily become idols to us, therefore don't let this distract you from the only person who matters.

Furthermore, once we identify the gift or gifts we possess, we may become pigeonholed within them. You don't have to be a pastor just because you have a gift for teaching! Each gift has various applications, and your mentors, friends, and church leaders may assist you in determining how to effectively apply those remarkable God-given abilities.

You may also discover that your gifts evolve over time. For example, you can discover that you gain the gift of faith as you grow in your religion. This just indicates that your faith in Jesus is growing stronger, and you're getting more secure in sharing your beliefs. However, as we grow older, gain insight, have new experiences, and continue our walk with the Lord, our spiritual abilities will alter as well. Consider it as a software update from God!

Start using your gift(s) to praise God once you've determined which one(s) you have. You are furthering the Kingdom of God by volunteering in a ministry or around your church with your spiritual gifts. That is true regardless of how minor the task appears to be.

You'll be shocked at how fortunate your time will be if you find a location to serve (volunteering is frequently referred to as “serving”) that utilizes at least one of your abilities. You may have seen how simple it is for you; God has given you a heavenly gift that you are naturally gifted at, and it just comes effortlessly to you! You might be shocked by how much you appreciate exercising your new gift muscle as well.

Ask a leader at your church where volunteers are needed and explore what would be a good fit for your skill set. If you have the gift of mercy, for example, a hospital or jail ministry would be a good fit for you. Alternatively, if you have a natural sense of hospitality, greeting new people or setting up for events can be the greatest fit. You might be an excellent complement to a prayer ministry if you have the gift of exhortation.

Remember that your gifts can be used in a variety of ways, so don't feel obligated to do something just because it appears to be appropriate for your gifts on the surface. If an assignment isn't bringing you delight, look for anything else to accomplish. Joy is a good indicator of what your gift is; if an activity makes you happy, you've discovered your expertise and fit.

Now go find out what gifts God has given you and put them to good use in the Kingdom!

The New Believer's Bible is specifically created to aid new Christians in reading, studying, and comprehending the Bible. It has characteristics that aid Christians in growing and deepening their faith while also laying the groundwork for their new life in Christ.

Where to Put Your Spiritual Gifts to Work: Practical Advice on Finding Your Ministry Niche

How do I know what spiritual gift I have?

We are all born with the ability to develop our intuition and receive spiritual direction. The first step is to recognize that you have a talent. The more you accept the fact that you are receiving direction, the more powerful and recognizable your messages will become. If you've had any of the following feelings, try these simple action steps to help them come up in more powerful, positive, and useful ways.

How do you know that you have the gift of discernment?

How can you tell if you have the ability to discern? Here's a clue: Those with the spiritual talent of discernment are able to see right through smokescreens and impediments to the truth.

God is the source of discernment's gift. The truth taught in His word is the source of discernment. The discernment that results from strong knowledge, comprehension, and a firm conviction in God's word is based on solid knowledge, understanding, and a firm belief in God's word.

How do you get spiritual discernment?

Because every decision must be made in line with God's will, Christian spiritual discernment can be distinguished from other types of discernment. Christian discernment is defined as a decision-making process in which an individual discovers something that can lead to future action. God leads the individual through the process of Christian spiritual discernment to help them make the greatest decision possible. In Christian spiritual discernment, the greatest approach to arrive at the best option is to look for internal and outward indicators of God's action and then apply them to the situation at hand. Christian discernment also places a strong emphasis on Jesus and making decisions that are consistent with Jesus' teachings in the New Testament. Christian discernment differs from secular discernment in that it focuses on God and Jesus while making decisions. Ignatius of Loyola is widely regarded as a master of spirit discernment. Ignatian discernment is named after Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), who developed his own distinct method of Catholic discernment. Ignatian discernment focuses on perceiving God in all aspects of life and uses a series of Spiritual Exercises to help people make better life decisions. The Spiritual Exercises are intended to assist those who are confronted with a significant life decision. Identifying the issue, spending time to pray about the choice, making a wholehearted decision, discussing the choice with a mentor, and lastly trusting the decision made are the seven steps of discernment to be followed.

How do you practice discernment?

The difficulty is that we sometimes wait until there's a major issue at stake before engaging in discernment – and then we're completely unfamiliar with the process when everything seems to be on the line. It's not a pleasant environment to be in.

Thankfully, God can work with us in any location, at any time, and in any manner. But, by making discernment a strong habit in our life, we can better equip ourselves to address the major questions.

Imagine attempting to interpret a gourmet soufflé recipe when we've never learnt to fry an egg. It'll be a lot more challenging this time!

Learning to discern entails developing the practice of using discernment in our daily lives, in both big and small matters.

Practice talking to God about the simple things in your life. Practice listening – He might not speak to you the same way he speaks to others. If you've never listened before, don't expect to be able to hear right away.

Get to know yourself — your inclinations, your tendencies, and your regular approaches to circumstances. You can modify properly if you know yourself.

Practice observing — observing your own reactions to opportunities, challenges, and other people's reactions. How can you learn if you don't pay attention?

Keep a journal, meet with a friend or mentor on a regular basis, and find a way to observe the trail you're leaving behind. We learn more about ourselves over time than we can see in the present.

Making discernment a habit relieves stress when presented with a major decision, such as who to marry, where to live, or what to do. Instead of being a novice, you'll be well-versed in the art of discernment.

However, there is one caveat: don't expect to become an expert in discernment overnight. It takes several years! And, for the sake of the great questions, don't even make it your objective to be adept at discernment.

Even if we believe we have made all of our major life decisions, discernment is a lifelong process that never ends. Learning to appreciate the process is key to making it a habit.

How many types of discernment are there?

Ignatius' criteria for discerning spirits are divided into four categories: (1) seven attitudes or personal qualities necessary for authentic spirit discernment, (2) three different “times” or conditions in which decisions are made, (3) seven practical techniques that can aid in the discernment process, and (4) some guidelines for determining whether a given inner movement or desire is from a good or evil spirit.

How do I ask God for discernment?

Dear heavenly Father, you count our hairs and determine our days; you hang the stars and feed the birds; you open and close doors that no one can open or close. Surely, we can put our faith in you when it comes to making significant decisions, or any decisions for that matter. We're through a similar season right now, Father, and we're aware that we're not alone. For the sake of your honor, we will trust you with generous wisdom, straight roads, and quiet hearts.

We adore you for being the God of decision-making. It is your choices, not ours, that determine the outcome. We'll make plans, but we'll entrust our actions to you. We'll pray, but we'd like you to direct our prayers to heaven. We'll seek advice, but you may count on you to veto any incorrect or incomplete information from our closest friends and mentors. We'll read through the Bible, but not for proof passages, but for you, Father. All we want and need is for you to come along.

Free us from the paralysis of analysis—desiring to make the right decision more than being virtuous; desiring to be known as smart people more than knowing you. Free us from the idolatry of believing that there is just one “ideal” option in every scenario. Free us from making decisions based solely on our comfort and the approval of others, or out of fear of their condemnation. Allow us to understand that good decisions do not always result in the most straightforward outcomes, especially at first. Allow us to make decisions without second and twenty-second thoughts.

Father, we know that your will is our sanctification—our becoming more and more like Jesus—in ALL things, whether it's wisdom about purchasing or selling, vocation or vacation, this place or that place, this person or that person. Give us this zeal; make it our pleasure.

So, Father, when we trust you with the opening and closing of doors in front of us, make us more and more like Jesus. Everything we eat and drink is for your glory, as are our whatevers, whenevers, and wherevers. Amen.