The Holy Spirit

Help finding your gift(s)

Study 8

So did the gifts become clearer to you after studying last week?

We first looked at what the gifts were, then we looked at the definition of each gift from the Vine's Dictionary, and last week we looked at each gifts used in the bible.

This week we will take another look at the gifts and put them in a way we can relate to our lives today.

Let's start out in:

Romans 12:6-8 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

These are called the motivational gifts. They are the gifts that drive you or establish you in the church.
Simply the things that get you involved or started in the church.

So how can we relate these gifts to us today?

Let's do it in two ways.
First lets look at an example of a situation that could happen today, and through this situation we will look at what your response might be.
Your response will help you to determine what your motivational gift may be.
The second example we will look at what makes you mad or upset in the church.

For the first example, let's use an illustration.
Suppose you're at a dinner party at your friend's home, or even a bible study.
Let's say that this is at Sharon's house (or use a name of someone that is a friend to you, I just made this one up).
At the end of the dinner or bible study, there is always dessert.

Now I got your attention.

So, Sharon is now walking in with the most beautiful triple layer chocolate cake piled high with strawberries and whipped cream.
As she walks in, she trips over a loose piece of carpet and the whole dessert now falls to the floor.

The question is, how would you respond?

Once again your response will help you determine what your motivational gift is.

The following is the gifts, and a simple definition of the gift, and then if you had this gift, what your response may be.
As you read each response, it does not have to be a word for word response, it's only an example.

So let's get started:

"

Prophecy/Prophet - Proclaims God's word, or uses Gods word in a situation. Will be direct i.e. This is what the word of God say's. Will not always agree with the majority, but will say this is what God's word says, or God is telling us or directing us to do this.

Your Response would be: I knew that was going to happen.

"

Ministry/Service - Knows and meets the practical needs of others. This person is the unseen person.

Your Response would be: I'll clean it up.

"

Teaching/Teacher - Communicate the word of God. Put it into simple terms that all can understand.

Your Response would be: That was the wrong dish, let me show you the proper way.

"

Exhorts/Exhortation - Motivates, Encourages, builds up people.

Your Response would be: Great way you did that, the way the cake just floated through the air, you should take this act on the road.

"

Gives/Giver - Ability to earn money, and invest it in the kingdom of God.

Your Response would be: I'll go out and buy a new dessert.

"

Leads/Leader - Organize, motivates others.

Your Response would be: Bob, help clean this up. John go get another dessert. Jill, check to make she's OK.

"

Mercy - Identify and the desire to meet the needs of those hurting.

Your Response would be: Don't feel bad; I've done that before.

Did you see your response in these examples?
If you did, then this may be the Spiritual gift that drives you.

Maybe you kind of did, but you're still unsure.
The next example may help you out.

This again is based on Romans 12:3-9 and the motivational gifts.

Let's look at what may make you upset.

"

Prophecy/Prophet : A Prophet gets upset when people compromise with the world, or walk in gray areas close to the edge. Teachers who Skim through the word, not proclaiming the truth i.e. cults who misuse the word of God.

Acts 3:22-23 (NLT) 22 Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.' 23 Then Moses said, 'Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be cut off from God's people and utterly destroyed.'

Ministry/Service : If you have the gift of service or ministry, what would get you upset is when things in the church, just aren't getting done, or when the church doesn't see or respond to needs i.e. people, facility, ministry etc.

Acts 6:1-3: 1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 "Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;

Teaching/Teacher : The gift of teaching or teacher gets upset when the word of God is skimmed over or misused. Or when the word of God is not followed. People who substitute experience for sound doctrine or base their decisions on feelings and not the word of God.

2 Tim 2:24-26 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Gives/Giver : The givers pet peeve is when the needs of the church are not met financially, or people misuse or can't handle their money. Maybe a church is going into debt etc.

Acts 5:1-4 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

Leads/Leader : A leader will find things that are not in order. They check the bulletin and point out errors. They will get upset when there is disorder in the church, such as arguing, or the people in the church going in different directions.

Ezek 3:17 "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me:

Mercy : Someone with the gift of mercy gets upset when there is no unity in the church, or people's needs are not met. They grieve when conflicts happen or are not resolved.

Matt 25:43-46 43 'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' 44 "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' 45 "Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' 46 "And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

So are things more clear now?
If not, be patient, God will show you when it's time.
Next week we will start to look at each gift individually starting with the gift of Word of Wisdom and Knowledge.

Always remember that:
The most important gift is the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Without this gift, you cannot receive any of the other gifts.
You can receive Jesus right now just pray this prayer:

Jesus, I admit I am a sinner. I know the only way to the God is through you, because you died for my sins.
Jesus, be my Lord and Savior. Come into my life and change me.
I believe that you are the Son of God, and you are now my Lord and Savior.
Thank you Jesus for what you did for me, help me to tell others what you did for them also.
In Jesus Name. AMEN

If you just prayed that prayer you are now a Christian, Welcome to the Family of God.

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Who is the
Holy Spirit?

What the
Holy Spirit does
in our lives.

What the
Holy Spirit
does in
our lives
(part II)

Prayer

Prayer
(part II)

Intro to
the gifts of
the
Holy Spirit.

Intro to
the gifts
of the
Holy Spirit
(part II)

Intro to
the gifts
of the
Holy Spirit
(part III)

Intro to
the gifts
of the
Holy Spirit
(part IV)

Word of
Wisdom
& Word of
Knowledge.

Faith