Let’s Open Some Gifts!
The land is conquered and the nation of Israel
Now, as we look at the last half of chapters thirteen through twenty-two, we see God dividing up the Promised Land to the Israelite tribes. To each tribe is given a plot of land: to the farmers… farmland; to the herders… land for their livestock to graze; for the lumberjacks… woodland; for the puppy lovers… puppy-land. To each group, according to their need, they were given the appropriate land to do what they were equipped to do.
Isn’t that great! God knew what each people group did well, and then provided them with the perfect land to do their thing. The same thing happens when we enter our Promised Land of the Spirit-filled life. God will look at the gifts and talents He has given you and me, and then provide us with all the tools we need to do our thing.
Gifted to Succeed
In Romans chapter twelve there is a list of seven gifts: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy. All who have given their lives over to the Lordship of Christ have at least one of these gifts. Everyone who wants to use their gifts has been given the tools and the opportunity to do what they were created by God to do. Knowing what your gift is and how to use it is very important when you are seeking to serve God effectively. So in this chapter, let’s look at each gift and try to focus in on which one you have been given.
Prophecy:
Those with this gift are generally a bit on the harsh side. They are the people who tell others the things they don’t want to hear but need to hear. They aren’t the most popular people around, but to those they help they are highly respected. Generally, they struggle with speaking the truth in love. But they also have an uncanny ability to find and expose the lies of saten.
Ministry:
People with the gift of ministry serve people in practical ways. They are generally the people who set up the chairs, mop the floors, bring the food, and take out the garbage. They are very valuable—and often underappreciated. Generally they deal with signs of depression because they serve continually and are seldom noticed. But they have a great sense of what needs to be done and are willing to roll up their sleeves to do what others don’t want to do.
Teaching:
Those with the gift of teaching have the ability to make the complex simple. They are typically good communicators and are well liked. They very much struggle with pride because they are patted on the back so often, but they generally are good public speakers and help groups of people navigate life.
Exhortation:
People who have the gift of exhortation or encouragement do for individuals what teachers do for groups. They have the ability and desire to come alongside individuals to encourage and motivate them to become all that God has designed them to be. They are generally soft-spoken optimists and very popular. They sometimes have problems with negative confrontation, but when they overcome that they are excellent at speaking the truth in love.
Giving:
A person who uses his or her gift of giving will enable the truths of God to go out and reach others. Let’s be honest, money is required for just about everything in life. God knew this would be the case, so He gave some people the gift of giving. Givers are generally successful and generous. They sometimes struggle with discernment of where to give, but their generosity enables people with different gifts to use those gifts effectively.
Leadership:
Those with the gift of leadership are typically executive-types who have the ability to organize and facilitate ministry. They are usually two or three steps ahead of everyone else, seeing and solving problems before they happen. They struggle with being power hungry, but are great at organizing chaos.
Mercy:
The person who has the gift of mercy is usually very emotional. He or she will laugh when others are laughing and cry when others are crying—feeling their pain and offering a shoulder to cry on. This type of person struggles with making emotional decisions, but is a great listener.
Jesus exhibited all of these gifts fully, and each disciple of His (including you and me) has been given at least one. Some have one defining gift and maybe one or two secondary gifts; others simply have just their defining gift. God has equipped everyone according to their ability and will give us opportunities to use our gift(s) if we allow Him to.
How do we know which gift(s) we have? Most likely you already have an idea which gift you have simply by reading their descriptions. But there are a couple of other ways of determining your gift(s). The first is by placing yourself in this story:
A ten-year-old boy named Gregory comes to you in tears. He was out playing baseball with his friends when they got a little rambunctious. In the heat of the game Gregory threw his bat, hitting a passing car and breaking its windshield. He is devastated and sorry for what he did and very scared of the consequences of his actions. What do you do… what is your initial reaction?
-Someone with the gift of prophecy will probably be a bit harsh and rebuke Gregory, explaining that along with bad behavior come consequences.
-Someone with the gift of ministry will probably get a broom and go out into the street to sweep up the broken glass—and then give directions to the owner of the car on where to get the windshield replaced. This person will then call the repair shop to find out if they are open and if they are available to fix the car.
-A person with the gift of teaching will pull Gregory and his friends aside and teach them about anger control, giving them practical steps on how to better handle the situation in the future.
-The person with the gift of exhortation will pull Gregory close and encourage him that it isn’t as bad as it seems right now. He or she will assure Gregory of his or her willingness to help him through this time, and will encourage Gregory to do better the next time.
-A giver will pull out his or her wallet and offer to pay for the damage to the car.
-A leader will make sure the broom is there for the minister, that the driver of the car has all the needed contact information, and that Gregory’s parents are contacted and brought up to speed on the incident.
-Meanwhile the person with the gift of mercy will be holding Gregory in his or her arms, comforting him and empathizing with his experience.
Wouldn’t life be grand if we all came together and used our gifts to help others? I know from this story that my primary gift is teaching; one of my secondary gifts is exhortation. I also know from this story that I don’t have the gift of mercy or the gift of prophecy. My first response would be to try and help Gregory and his friends learn from the mistake. Then I would offer my support to Gregory in case he needed any help in the future.
What would your first response be? The answer to that question will give you a very big clue about what your gifting is.
Another way that I’ve learned to identify your gift(s) is to ask yourself to complete this sentence: If I were given absolute control over all decisions made at my church, I would…
-A prophet would desire that more truth about sin and the consequences of sin be proclaimed and proclaimed boldly from the pulpit.
-Those with the gift of ministry would want the church to focus more on meeting the needs of the community. They would like to see the church more involved in practical acts of service like washing people’s cars, feeding the poor, and child care for single moms.
-Those with the gift of teaching would work toward having more classes where the Word of God is taught clearly and concisely. They would also fight to have the Bible in its entirety taught from the pulpit.
-Someone who has the gift of exhortation would like for the church to concentrate more on one-on-one discipleship. He or she would want to put into place small group discussions and seek to follow up with anyone interested in learning more.
-Those with the gift of giving would try and get the congregation more active in giving personally and as a body. They would seek to give to the needy that which is received in tithes and offerings.
-The leaders of the group would want more organizational structure, a chain of command, and better communication. They would seek to pay down debt, invest for the future, and build infrastructure.
-Someone who has the gifting of mercy would want to start a hospice program, a homeless mission, and a drug rehabilitation center. He or she would seek to get the church more involved in counseling and helping the hopeless in the community.
The Bible tells us that we are all one body. He put us together for a reason and He gives us all the tools we need to accomplish His will through us. But just as a human body, the church body works best when everyone is working together, not at odds. Under the leadership of Christ we need to humble ourselves and come together, understanding that each body part is important. In doing so, we can overcome evil with good.
Start Using Them
How do we start using the gift(s) that have been given to us?
This is the bottom line… you know you have a gift, but perhaps you don’t feel empowered to use it. You may be scared or shy—and for you that is a huge hurdle to jump. You may be comfortable in your inactivity, and though serving sounds great, you don’t want to give up any personal time or space. Or, maybe you’re like I was for the longest time and you don’t have any confidence in your gift… You know you have a gift, but you are pretty sure that you’ll embarrass yourself by using it.
There are a number of reasons why we don’t use our gifts… but can I tell you… when you find and begin to use your gift, you will find that God will use you in ways that were previously unimaginable to you. So how do you start?
Well, that’s what the book of Joshua is all about. We started with the nation of Israel on the east side of the Jordan River ; on the outside looking in. By a step of faith, the water parted and they entered the Promised Land. God gave them victory over their enemies and rest for their souls, and they were able to settle into a life of service.
How do we start using our gifts? We take a step into the water. God has this wonderful gift that He has given you, so step out in faith and start to use it. Prophets, speak the truth in love… ministers, serve people in practical ways… teachers, teach the Word… exhorters, encourage and disciple those around you… givers, give liberally... leaders, lead faithfully… and merciful ones, show mercy to those who need mercy.
We live in an egocentric society. We all want our agendas to be the main agenda and we want it done our way. But if we work together as one body, using the gifts God has given each of us while seeking to accomplish God’s agenda, we can and will accomplish great things for Him and glorify His name! Boy… wouldn’t that be great?
Romans 12
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
