“Gifts”

By: Kristin England; ©2001

Gifts from God are far greater than any earthly gifts we could ever receive. This month Kristin England talks about Spiritual Gifts: gifts given by God to be used in His kingdom. Take the test to see where your gifts lie, then get busy using them. This is part twenty-five of a series dealing with the after-effects of abortion.

continued…

Christmas was such a bore for me that year. I went right to sleep Christmas Eve and didn’t even care if I was the first one in the living room the next morning or not. Of course everyone knows that all kids in grammar school are supposed to be excited about Christmas morning. They want to see what Santa has left them under the tree. Well, this particular year was an exception to the rule for me. The problem was I had been a snoop. While all alone in the house I had found all my presents hidden in the back of the hall closet. I had carefully opened each one to see what was inside, and then taped them back. No one ever knew what a sneak I had been. (But they know it now!) I had taken all the fun out of the Christmas day by doing things my way.

Since that Christmas I don’t even try to guess what is in the packages. As we age we learn that the joy truly is in the giving and not the getting. When we open gifts all by ourselves we take the joy from the giver. God gives us special gifts and we mustn’t leave them under the tree. When we open our Spiritual Gifts and use them, we bring glory to God.

God gives each one of us the gift of the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. “…The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Each and every child of God has a spiritual gift. I used my spiritual gift before I learned about the gifts. For me there is no greater blessing than to be used for His purpose. I did what the Holy Spirit was leading me to do and a soul was saved because of my obedience. Later I learned about the spiritual gifts in Mrs. Harwood’s class and realized what my gift was. Romans 12:6-13 tells us of spiritual gifts: “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

Gifts from God are far better than any earthly gifts we could ever receive. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.” (James 1:16-18)

And now I want to give you a warning. Just like when I opened my Christmas gifts when and how I wanted, if we open our Spiritual Gifts when and how we choose and use them under our power, then we will be fruitless. We must use our gifts at God’s perfect timing as He directs us. When I’m serving God with my spiritual gift and following the leading of the Holy Spirit, then I am even more assured that God has never stopped loving me and that he has forgiven my sin of abortion. Being used by God to bring glory to Him gives us great joy and blessings. Psalm 29:11: “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”

I still love to give presents at Christmas time and see all the happy faces but I don’t care about opening gifts for myself. I’ve already received the best gift of all, Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19)

Below is a test to help you begin the path of finding and using your gift:

 

Spiritual Gifts Self-Evaluation Test

As you read the following statements place a number (0-5) beside each statement to indicate whether or not that statement properly describes you and your interests and abilities. Low numbers indicate a weak interest or ability in an area of ministry. High numbers indicate the opposite.

___1. I am socially active and get along well with others at all times.

___2. I have the ability to understand spiritual truth when I read the Word of God.

___3. I enjoy sharing spiritual truths with others.

___4. I enjoy telling others what Christ has done for me either in word or in song.

___5. I find it somewhat easy to present Bible truths in a simple, easy to understand manner.

___6. I find satisfaction in giving comfort to those who are troubled or in sorrow.

___7. I enjoy doing odd jobs around the church.

___8. God has given me a special ability to make money.

___9. I know when and how to delegate tasks to other people.

___10. I enjoy doing little things for people who cannot take care of themselves.

___11. I find it easy to believe God’s promises in spite of adverse circumstances.

___12. I believe salvation is the greatest gift of all.

___13. I am able to put together biblical facts to show a truth.

___14. Others look to me for spiritual help.

___15. I don’t mind speaking/singing before people.

___16. My insights into God’s Word are received with interest by those with whom I share them.

___17. My friends seek me out whenever they need a shoulder to cry on.

___18. I am not bothered by the fact that others receive recognition for accomplishments to which I have contributed as a helper.

___19. My giving consistently is above ten percent of my income.

___20. I am able to organize people in order to accomplish complicated tasks.

___21. When told of another’s misfortune, I know what kind of aid is required.

___22. I am not easily discouraged concerning God’s ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

___23. I enjoy attempting to persuade non-Christians to place their faith in Jesus Christ.

___24. I enjoy spending many hours studying the Bible.

___25. I understand how the Word of God applies to everyday life.

___26. When I speak or sing for the Lord, people are often blessed.

___27. I enjoy thinking of new and more effective means of communicating God’s Word to others.

___28. I have been successful in encouraging other Christians to continue on during discouraging times.

___29. I am often called upon when someone needs a simple practical task performed.

___30. I am often deeply moved to contribute to meet the financial needs of others.

___31. In an organization, I prefer to lead a group.

___32. I sense satisfaction in working to alleviate the suffering of other people.

___33. Other Christians have been inspired by my ability to trust God.

___34. My heart is continually burdened for unsaved friends, relatives, and acquaintances.

___35. I enjoy studying history, geography, languages, and people.

___36. I can help people with their problems by using the Word of God.

___37. I am willing to stand-alone for what is right.

___38. Other believers have expressed appreciation for my teaching ministry to them.

___39. I find myself often involved as a counselor in counseling situations with others.

___40. I feel more at ease as an assistant than as a leader on a church related project.

___41. Giving money to my church or another worthy cause honestly is a joy to me and not drudgery.

___42. I have been successful in the past in organizational planning and decision-making.

___43. I feel an unusual compassion for those with physical or spiritual needs.

___44. The humanly impossible promises of God are not difficult for me to believe.

___45. When I share the gospel with the unsaved, often they respond favorably.

___46. I can usually give an answer from the Bible to those who have a question concerning the things of God.

___47. I know what choice to make when it relates to the will of God in my life.

___48. When there is error committed, I feel the urgency to speak out against it.

___49. I enjoy studying the Bible, especially with the prospect of sharing my insights with other members of the church.

___50. My optimistic outlook on seemingly bleak circumstances has encouraged others not to despair.

___51. I feel a sense of satisfaction when other people succeed as a result of my assistance.

___52. I am willing to make financial sacrifices so that the cause of Christ can be extended by it.

___53. I enjoy the responsibility for the success or failure of a group or organization.

___54. I enjoy visiting in hospitals and/or rest homes.

___55. I have great confidence in God’s ability to answer my prayers.

 

Now that you have completed your evaluation of the above statements, transfer your grade numbers to the blocks below, which correspond with statement numbers. Next, add up the numbers for each line.

 

QUESTION NUMBER					TOTAL	GIFT
1	12	23	34	45		Evangelism
2	13	24	35	46		Knowledge
3	14	25	36	47		Wisdom
4	15	26	37	48		Prophecy
5	16	27	38	49		Teaching
6	17	28	39	50		Exhortation
7	18	29	40	51		Helps
8	19	30	41	52		Giving
9	20	31	42	53		Administration
10	21	32	43	54		Mercy
11	22	33	44	55		Faith

Part 26