When we finished up our series on Elder Qualifications a couple weeks ago, I mentioned that teaching is a spiritual gift. Not everyone will have the gift of teaching, but every member will have a spiritual gift.

Several people said afterward they would like to learn more about spiritual gifts and what gift they might have. I preached on this subject a few years ago if you want to hear more, but here are a few main points I would bring out:

1. Every member has a gift. If you are a genuine Christian, then Christ’s Spirit dwells inside of you, and you are uniquely gifted by God. This gift was sovereignly endowed by God and needs to be cultivated and exercised for the building up of the church. There are several passages in the Bible where you can find a list of spiritual gifts: Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor. 12:8-10, 28, 29-30; Eph. 4:11; 1 Pet. 4:11. Here is a comparative chart of all 18 gifts mentioned in Scripture.
2. Don’t underestimate your gift. You may think, “I’m too old, or too busy, or too afraid of people to use my gift.” But God can still use you. Don’t compare yourself to others or undervalue your gift. Many gifts can be exercised far away from the spotlight. You will probably never see your liver or pancreas, but they are essential to your survival. In the same way, some gifts may seem “less honorable,” but they are no less important (1 Cor. 12:22-23).
3. Don’t overestimate your gift. In reality, everything you have is a gift. Paul asks, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Cor. 4:7). And the answer is, “Absolutely nothing.” Because everything you have came from God. So keep things in perspective and remember your spiritual gift is on loan from God. It is not for your glory, but for His.
4. Pray for opportunities to serve. The first step to identifying your spiritual gift is to pray for opportunities to serve. I guarantee that if you humble yourself before God and ask Him for direction, He will open up a door for you to use your gifts.
5. Have a servant’s heart. Be patient and available to help. Help anywhere and everywhere that help is needed. Don’t have a consumer mentality (“this is what I want”) but rather a servant’s heart (“how can I help?”).
6. Take a spiritual gifts test. There is a free one online here. Now, bear in mind, these tests are not fool-proof. And they’re certainly not biblically required. The Holy Spirit was doing just fine for almost two-thousand years before these tests came along. If you take one, you’ll notice that they are more a survey of what you enjoy doing and perceive about your own abilities. They can’t factor in the essential role of others in the Body of Christ to affirm your gifts (see #7 below). Nevertheless, the questions are interesting, and the results can be surprisingly accurate. If you’ve never done a spiritual gifts analysis, it may be one helpful way to “think with sober judgment” (Rom. 12:3) about your gifts. (FYI when I took one a few years ago, it said I was gifted in Pastor/Shepherd, Teaching, and Administration, and for the most part, I think that’s accurate)
7. Listen to the Body of Christ. Remember, we are all members of one Body, with Jesus Christ as our Head. Often, the greatest way to discern your gift is to ask other people in the church. Listen to the advice of others. Seek their feedback and even their criticism. Notice what things they delegate to you. Watch for areas where God brings blessing and fruitfulness. In particular, cherish the counsel of older men and women in the church who know you well. These people love you and want to help you serve the Lord.

These seven points should help get you started. It may take you months or even years to find your “niche.” But most important, just do something. Get busy doing kingdom work. As long as you are serving faithfully in the church, God will be glorified.

Question: What spiritual gift(s) do you think you have? How did God reveal this to you? Click here to leave a comment.

Photo credit: Ciccio Pizzettaro

Before a man or woman can join the US Marines, they must first pass a series of written and physical examinations. The ASVAB measures a recruit’s mental abilities and will determine their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS). A criminal background check ensures the person is in good legal standing and will not be a threat to national security.

After a full examination by a physician, each recruit must also pass an Initial Strength Test (IST) involving pull ups, crunches, and running. In addition, the Combat Fitness Test (CFT) is an annual test to ensure each enlisted troop and officer stays in good shape and ready for the physical and mental strains of war.

Only then, after all these tests have been completed will a recruit be declared “Fit for Duty” and be ready to begin the rigors of Basic Training.

The Bible teaches that a spiritual leader, too, must pass a series of tests before he is qualified to lead in the church. These are recorded in 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1; and 1 Peter 5.

Over the past couple months, I’ve been preaching through the qualifications in Titus 1. These are especially pertinent for our church as we begin a transition to biblical eldership. If you missed any of the messages or would like to hear one again, you can find them using the links below:

Rise Up, O Men of God – An urgent plea for male leadership at home and church.

Titus 1:5 Fit for Duty, pt. 1 – Character – A leader must first be above reproach (no audio available).

Titus 1:6 Fit for Duty, pt. 2 – Family – What happens in the home is a good indicator of how a man will lead the church

Titus 1:7 Fit for Duty, pt. 3 – Discipline – Pride and a hot temper have no place in the church — especially among leaders.

Titus 1:8 Fit for Duty, pt. 4 – Love – A leader must have a love for strangers, for good works, and for restraint.

Titus 1:8 Fit for Duty, pt. 4 – Love, continued – A man of God will love what is right and holy.

Titus 1:9-16 Fit for Duty, pt. 5 – Doctrine –  A leader must be committed to knowing and defending sound doctrine.

Photo credit: Slagheap

Wash, Rinse, Repeat. These directions used to appear on shampoo bottles, but over time, they’ve become a symbol for any mundane, never-ending activity.

Does your life follow a similar cycle? Wake, Work, Sleep, Repeat.

For many, that’s what life is about, with short breaks in between to escape the daily grind.

But God says we were created for more — much more! According to Ephesians 2:10, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” God made you and saved you for a special purpose—to worship Him in love and obedience.

1 Corinthians 10:31 puts it this way: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” What? You mean I can eat to God’s glory? I thought only “spiritual” things like reading my Bible and going to church glorified God! Certainly, those things are important, but when God’s glory is our goal, every activity becomes an act of worship.

The morning commute. Filing paperwork. Changing a diaper. Fixing the car. Playing with the kids. Serving at church. Whatever you’re involved with, it is not a brainless waste of time. It’s a new opportunity to serve the living God.

Photo credit: Josh Kenzer

If you ever plan to visit Singapore, be sure to leave chewing gum off your packing list. “Smuggling” gum into the country carries a $5,000 fine and up to one year in jail. This is just one of many legal oddities around the world. It’s also forbidden to feed the pigeons in Venice, to play pinball in South Carolina under the age of 18, or to spit publicly at Daytona Beach.

I’ve been reading lately through the book of Deuteronomy, and some of its laws sound equally strange: Do not plow with an ox and a donkey together (Deut. 22:11). Do not wear cloth of wool and linen mixed together (22:12). Do not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk (14:21).

So many rules! But none of them were arbitrary. God was not a cosmic killjoy trying to make life miserable for the ancient Jews. He was looking out for their well-being. “What does the LORD your God require of you … but to keep the commandments and the statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?” (Deut. 10:13). God was protecting His people from their pagan neighbors and setting them apart as a holy people. He was trying to spare them much guilt, pain, and regret.

Many Jewish customs and laws no longer apply to us today because they were fulfilled in Jesus (Matt. 5:17). Yet the New Testament still includes many duties: We are called to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44), to read our Bibles (Rev. 1:3), to stay sober (Eph. 5:18), to remain sexually pure (1 Thess. 4:3), and to gather for worship (Heb. 10:25).

God’s rules are always for His glory and for our good. They test our faith and prove our allegiance to God. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).

Even if we don’t understand God’s laws, we can rest assured He has our best interests in mind. And that should turn any duty into delight.

This article first appeared in today’s edition of our local newspaper, the Hi Desert Star.

Question: What commands has God used to test and grow your faith? Click here to leave a comment.

Photo credits: Alissa Walker, Todd Bolen