We have asked our C@TL attendees to consider doing a survey to help them uncover their spiritual gifts. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is to help believers understand the special talent (s) God has given them to use within the kingdom. The second is to help them better understand themselves. There are times when you think you are gifted in one area, when in fact you are gifted in another. This was the case for me. When I came to understand my true gifting, it was like the blinds had been lifted from my eyes. I could see why God had made me the way I was and I understood why I had been struggling with certain personality traits.
As a child, my one and only area of trouble was my mouth. If I thought it, I said it. Didn't matter where I was, who I was with, whether it was appropriate, or who it might hurt/offend. It just came right out. Often times, it wasn't necessarily so much the words but the "tone" as my mother would say. That carried right over into my adulthood. Now, people had tried to get me to understand this "flaw." There was my mother through disciple, my friends or lack thereof because of arguments, teachers, employers, etc, etc, etc. I just wasn't getting it. I truly didn't see how it was causing a problem. I just thought, well I am not saying anything untrue just stating the facts or what someone else didn't have the guts to say.
When I became a Christian, I wanted to learn everything I could about "the life". I read through the bible. I attended Christianity 101 classes at our church. I asked questions all the time. We had friends who attended another church and Heather told me she was going to be teaching a class for ladies on spiritual gifts if I was interested. Well, I was and I did and I was floored when I went through the material. I did not like what I discovered. I cried about it, talked to Heather about it, talked to my husband about it and even tried to pretend it wasn't the true. But, in the end, that is exactly was it was - truth.
I had always thought I was something more creative. There isn't a craft that I don't either love or wouldn't want to try. Having people over for a meal and serving them great food and making them feel welcomed is something I do very well. I also thought I was a really great singer and I played the piano as well. Well I do play the piano fairly well and I can sing, but I am not a "singer". So the bottom line, I have some talent when it comes to hospitality, music and other creative interests, but it was not what turned up as my God given spiritual gifts.
Early in my walk, I had a co-worker who was instrumental in helping me along. He and my girlfriend Terry (who initially brought me to the Lord) were there every time I worked to answer questions and make suggestions. His name was also Terry. He felt early on that I would be an intercessory pray-er. He even asked the Lord to "let the heart of an intercessor be born" when he prayed over me one time. Well I have already posted about prayer and how I struggle in that area, so yet again not really an area of gifting for me. I was told through friends that Terry (the guy) was a prophet. At that time, I didn't understand gifting and thought that a little off the deep end. I mean, when you look at people today who say they are "prophets" you are usually seeing them on the news in a not so favorable light if you get my drift. I just let that sit on the back burner.
Well letting it sit on the back burner was no longer an option after taking Heather's class. You guessed it, my number one spiritual gift was prophecy. Now for all of you who are thinking "she is nuts", let me give you a quick definition of prophecy. The word prophecy is from the Greek and literally means the forth-telling of the will of God. Now be clear about this - it is the 'FORTH' telling not the 'FOR' telling. The Greek is 'pro' for forth and 'phemi' to speak. It is "to speak forth the message of God to His people." It is used in the bible in several places: Roman 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.
Let's clarify a few other points. I believe the bible is the complete word of God. That means the story has been written, the end is known and there is NOT a new word to come from the Lord about this path. This also means I do NOT believe there is a person (s) here on earth that can add to what has already been written. Now that does not mean God doesn't speak to people, but it does mean He will not be telling a new story or adding to the one He has already provided. There isn't any further prophecy to take place regarding those matters. I also believe if someone tells you they have a "new" word from God about events which will take place, they are lying. If they tell you they know the date the world will end or when Christ will return, they are lying. God is very clear in Matthew 24:36, "But concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (ESV)
Take a few moments today to read about gifting in 1 Corinthians 12. Tomorrow, I will finish my part of the story and how it has affected and changed my life.
In His service
Mally
As a child, my one and only area of trouble was my mouth. If I thought it, I said it. Didn't matter where I was, who I was with, whether it was appropriate, or who it might hurt/offend. It just came right out. Often times, it wasn't necessarily so much the words but the "tone" as my mother would say. That carried right over into my adulthood. Now, people had tried to get me to understand this "flaw." There was my mother through disciple, my friends or lack thereof because of arguments, teachers, employers, etc, etc, etc. I just wasn't getting it. I truly didn't see how it was causing a problem. I just thought, well I am not saying anything untrue just stating the facts or what someone else didn't have the guts to say.
When I became a Christian, I wanted to learn everything I could about "the life". I read through the bible. I attended Christianity 101 classes at our church. I asked questions all the time. We had friends who attended another church and Heather told me she was going to be teaching a class for ladies on spiritual gifts if I was interested. Well, I was and I did and I was floored when I went through the material. I did not like what I discovered. I cried about it, talked to Heather about it, talked to my husband about it and even tried to pretend it wasn't the true. But, in the end, that is exactly was it was - truth.
I had always thought I was something more creative. There isn't a craft that I don't either love or wouldn't want to try. Having people over for a meal and serving them great food and making them feel welcomed is something I do very well. I also thought I was a really great singer and I played the piano as well. Well I do play the piano fairly well and I can sing, but I am not a "singer". So the bottom line, I have some talent when it comes to hospitality, music and other creative interests, but it was not what turned up as my God given spiritual gifts.
Early in my walk, I had a co-worker who was instrumental in helping me along. He and my girlfriend Terry (who initially brought me to the Lord) were there every time I worked to answer questions and make suggestions. His name was also Terry. He felt early on that I would be an intercessory pray-er. He even asked the Lord to "let the heart of an intercessor be born" when he prayed over me one time. Well I have already posted about prayer and how I struggle in that area, so yet again not really an area of gifting for me. I was told through friends that Terry (the guy) was a prophet. At that time, I didn't understand gifting and thought that a little off the deep end. I mean, when you look at people today who say they are "prophets" you are usually seeing them on the news in a not so favorable light if you get my drift. I just let that sit on the back burner.
Well letting it sit on the back burner was no longer an option after taking Heather's class. You guessed it, my number one spiritual gift was prophecy. Now for all of you who are thinking "she is nuts", let me give you a quick definition of prophecy. The word prophecy is from the Greek and literally means the forth-telling of the will of God. Now be clear about this - it is the 'FORTH' telling not the 'FOR' telling. The Greek is 'pro' for forth and 'phemi' to speak. It is "to speak forth the message of God to His people." It is used in the bible in several places: Roman 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.
Let's clarify a few other points. I believe the bible is the complete word of God. That means the story has been written, the end is known and there is NOT a new word to come from the Lord about this path. This also means I do NOT believe there is a person (s) here on earth that can add to what has already been written. Now that does not mean God doesn't speak to people, but it does mean He will not be telling a new story or adding to the one He has already provided. There isn't any further prophecy to take place regarding those matters. I also believe if someone tells you they have a "new" word from God about events which will take place, they are lying. If they tell you they know the date the world will end or when Christ will return, they are lying. God is very clear in Matthew 24:36, "But concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only." (ESV)
Take a few moments today to read about gifting in 1 Corinthians 12. Tomorrow, I will finish my part of the story and how it has affected and changed my life.
In His service
Mally
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