Do You Know What Your Spiritual Gift Is?

I will always appreciate and love good ministry application from the Old Testament and I freely confess that is because Christ is a thread and/or a picture that we find in all 66 books of God’s Word. After all Christ is the Alpha and Omega and all that entails etc. Over the years I tried to take notes on solid teaching found in both the Old, Christ is the Alpha and Omega and all that entails, and the New Testament. Some are decades old and some recent, but in the spirit of 2 Timothy 2:2, I like to share them from time to time. God may not call you to be a shepherd, but he might want you to teach or preach if he is gifted for that work. The scriptures show us that even non-platform duties or so-called menial tasks in the church should be done by men who have a strong spiritual testimony in your gathering. Read Acts Chapter 6, the first few verses. All gifts should be exercised in a fellowship and not just by the shepherds or elders but by others God has called to preach and teach or lead a Bible study. Recently, in our Family Bible Hour, which we have replaced our Sunday School with for the purpose of keeping families together, mature men have been called and allowed to share the word of God. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Sunday School, but our gathering found this to be better. Also, during our midweek meeting, if a man is led to give ministry from the Word of God, he can arise, go to the pulpit, and share what God has put on his heart. Remember, not one man has all the gifts. On the other hand, only those called by God to share should share, and even if you’re gifted, you still don’t get up in the flesh, only in the spirit. In reference to 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 13, not all the early church gifts are with us today, but public preaching and teaching help an administration, I believe, to name a few. Do we not have eyes, ears, feet and hands in our physical bodies, and are they not all necessary? So, too, is the church made up of brothers and sisters God has given gifts to at conversion to be useful for the saints when they gather together. However, not only men God authorizes to preach and teach in Christ’s church. So if your elders or pastor are good at one duty in the church but not in the others, relax and give them help and not just a hard time. In 10 years, I witnessed the hiring and firing of four pastors because the leadership thought the pastors, because they are paid, should have all the gifts and be able to handle everything from A to Z in the church. Christ wants a diverse body, not a top-heavy single person to carry the load. God-given gifts should not be neglected and should be listened to or shared by godly men, for the days are evil, and the Lord is coming back soon. God bless, Deacon-X.