Have you ever been asked that question before? So, do you? Do you know your Spiritual Gift? And, if you do know your Spiritual Gift what are you doing with your mysterious and precious Gift from the Holy Spirit? Read with me and let’s discover, together. Michael J. Young, pastor, teacher, evangelist Whitestone Fellowship
These supernatural graces, are given to individual Christians by the Holy Spirit with the purpose of building up the Body of Christ which is The Church and are needed to fulfill the mission of the Church. Spiritual Gifts enable Christians to serve the Lord and His Church. Two important Truths have been lost over time and this loss is rendering God's Church as ineffective in Her missions and is, in fact, soiling His Bride. Truth #1. The Church has become grossly self-serving. It is through Spiritual Gifts that God empowers and enables us to serve Him and to serve His Church, which is His Body. We are, as Christians, to serve the Lord and His Church. We are not here to be served. Jesus, Himself, said, "...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve...” and that is our calling also. Truth #2. You and I are The Body of Christ, that is we are "The Church". We have become accustomed, over the last two millennium (beginning with Constantine) with the idea that we 'go to church', but that is impossible in God's Kingdom and in His economy because we are The Church. Jesus transformed the practice and attitude of 'going to church' or even having externals things to convict or to defend us. Those requirements are now written on our hearts and in our consciences. Jesus created His Church - His Body - and made it so the whole Body fits together - perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. The Holy Spirit now lives IN us to guide us - His Body - to convict us, defend us and to empower us. We must BE the Body, The Church, and behave as such, or we simply are not following Jesus, No matter what you believe or say or do, otherwise, you are not a follower of Jesus and you should not call yourself by the Holy and set apart name (Christian) if you do otherwise. We are saved by God's grace through faith in Jesus and called to serve. We are God's church. Here is a list of the Gifts which God gives His Body. Which is yours? Can you imagine how different things we be in The Church and the world around us if we engaged and used these Gifts, daily?
1. Prophecy 1. Word of wisdom 1. Apostle 2. Serving Ephesians 4:11 1. Apostle 2. Prophet 2. Prophet 3. Teaching 2. Word of knowledge 3. Teacher 3. Evangelist 4. Exhortation 3. Faith 4. Miracles 4. Pastor 5. Giving 4. Gifts of healings 5. Kinds of healings 5. Teacher 6. Overseer 5. Miracles 6. Helps 7. Mercy 6. Prophecy 7. Administration 7. Distinguishing between spirits 8. Tongues 8. Tongues 9. Interpretation of tongues Here is a more detailed description and function of the Gifts: Apostle: The title apostle comes from the Greek word apostolos which means "a messenger, one sent forth with orders". It refers to one who has been delegated authority by another in a foreign land. Apostles were the first leaders of the Church; they were commissioned by Jesus to initiate and direct the preaching of the gospel. (There is no passage in the Bible saying this gift was temporary nor that is has ceased) Prophet: In the New Testament, the office of prophet is to equip the saints for the work of service through exhortation, edification, and consolation (1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Corinthians 14:3 Ephesians 4:11). The prophet's corresponding gift is prophecy. Prophecy is "reporting something that God spontaneously brings to your mind". Prophecy is addressed to the human understanding “he who prophesies speaks to men,” Corinthians 14:1-25. The prophet “edifies the church” (14:4). Evangelist: An evangelist is one who devotes himself to preaching the gospel. In the New Testament, evangelists preached from city to city, church to church. Pastor: This term derives from a Greek word for "shepherd". Pastoral Gifts include integrity and compassion. (The tasks of a Near Eastern shepherd were to watch for enemies trying to attack the sheep to defend the sheep from attackers to heal the wounded and sick sheep to find and save lost or trapped sheep to love them, sharing their lives and so earning their trust. During World War II, a shepherd was a pilot who guided another pilot whose plane was partially disabled back to the base or carrier by flying alongside him to maintain visual contact. Teacher: Someone who devotes his or her life to preaching and teaching the Christian faith. When teaching is provided for the Church by God, two gifts are actually given—to the Church is given a teacher and along with the teacher comes a divine capacity to teach.
there are many types of ministries and service to the Church, this then describes a broad array of gifts rather than a single gift. Exhortation: The ability to motivate Christians "to patient endurance, brotherly love, and good works". Giving: Those with this gift share their own possessions with others with extraordinary generosity. While all Christians should be givers, those possessing this gift will go beyond this normal giving. Overseeing: This gift speaks to the various roles found in the Church. While many think of roles such as administration, management of funds, strategy planning, etc. as functions outside of the supernatural realm, in reality individuals in these positions are just as in need of supernatural empowerment as are ministers of the gospel. Mercy: Possibly identical to the gift of helps, the mercy-shower possesses a ministry of visitation, prayer, and compassion to the poor and sick. Word of wisdom: An utterance or message of wisdom supernaturally granted to an individual. For Paul, wisdom refers to "the knowledge of the great Christian mysteries: the Incarnation, Passion, and Resurrection of Christ, and the indwelling in the believer of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2; Ephesians 1:17)". Word of knowledge: The knowledge referred to is often said to relate to understanding Christian doctrine or scriptural truth. It is sometimes said to be connected with the ministry of teachers. Faith: This refers to that strong or special faith "which removes mountains, casts out devils (Matthew 17:19–20), and faces the most cruel martyrdom without flinching". It is distinguished from the "saving" and "normal" Christian faith. Gifts of healings: The ability to supernaturally minister healing to others. The plural indicates the variety of sickness healed and the many forms the gift takes, such as healing by anointing with oil, by the laying on of hands, by saying the name of Jesus or by the sign of the cross. Working of miracles: The performance of deeds beyond ordinary human ability by the power of the Holy Spirit. Visions. An outpouring of this gift is prophesied in Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17 and is expected to increase and be of great value in the "last days".
manifestation—whether it emanates from a good or evil spirit. It seemed to have been particularly associated with prophecy as it would be necessary to know whether a prophetic utterance was truly inspired by God. Tongues: The supernatural ability of speaking an unlearned language. Paul seems to have distinguished between the public use of the gift (which must always be interpreted) and the private use which was for the spiritual strengthening of oneself. (Among Christians there is a discussion as to whether tongues were/are always xenoglossy, which is speaking an unlearned human language, or whether it also included/includes glossolalia, which is speaking an unlearned and allegedly non-human language of heavenly or angelic origin). Interpretation of tongues: This gift always follows the public exercise of the gift of tongues. In 1 Corinthians 14, the Apostle Paul required that all speech in Christian worship should be intelligible. This required that speech given in an unknown tongue be interpreted in the common language of the gathered Christians. Helps: This gift has to do with service to the sick and the poor. Possessor of this gift has a "spiritual burden and a God-given love for the needy and afflicted". Administration: Also called the gift of governing, the Greek word translated "governments" is kubernesis, the verb form of which means "to steer" or "to be a helmsman". This gift then refers to the God-given capacity to oversee or guide the Church through storms and difficult seas. (NOTE: Many versions of the Bible and many theologians and bible teachers say the word "leader" or "leadership" is a Spiritual gift. That is a misunderstanding of the correct word and intention of the word "overseer". ) There are many places you can find and take a Spiritual Gifts test. Here is a good one: https://spiritualgiftstest.com/spiritual-gifts-test-landing/ https://whitestone2020.com/spiritual-gifts/
I am a practicing Christian, a disciple of Jesus, a husband of over 50 years, a father and a grandfather, a business man, a veteran and a friend to all who will have me. I have served or am serving, at various times, as an Evangelist, a Pulpit fill pastor, an Associate Pastor of Evangelism and as Senior Pastor of a church plant. My passion is practicing and teaching the Bible, building small groups, reaching the lost with the message of the Gospel of Jesus, recovering the straying Sheep of God and the gathering together the Called of God, in neighborhoods, business settings and in churches by equipping other Christians. Caption I have authored a few small books and I have a background in professional business management, finance and investments. I am glad to meet you, even if it is virtually. Write me at any time and let's become friends. Whitestonefellowship1@protonmail.com View all articles on Wordpress by Michael Young, Sr. https://whitestone2020.com/
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