Supporting Each Other in Using Our Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts are abilities, talents, or capacities given to believers by the Holy Spirit. Such gifts are meant to be used for the edification of the entire body of Christ and to fulfill God’s purposes and bring Him glory. If you’re seeking guidance on how to understand and use your spiritual gifts, Laguna Christian Counseling can help you on this journey.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another the ability to distinguish between spirits; to another various kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. – 1 Corinthians 12:4–11, ESV

How often do we consider how we can encourage our fellow believers in the use of their spiritual gifts?

Advantages of Spiritual Gifts

He did it so that they might prepare God’s people to serve. If they do, the body of Christ will be built up. – Ephesians 4:12, ESV

• To minister to one another  The purpose of our spiritual gifts is to care for the needs of other saints in the body of Christ. They are not meant to be for self-aggrandizement but for the health and growth of the church.
• To bear testament to God’s glory  Even in Jesus’ time, the manifestation of the supernatural was one of the ways the masses were converted and convinced of God’s might. All uses of spiritual gifts will direct those who observe them to glorify God.
• To manifest God’s power  Each gift serves a unique purpose in the body of Christ and serves to manifest the work of God in and through His people.

What Can Hinder Spiritual Gifts From Being Used by God’s People?

Many things can hinder our spiritual growth. Remember the story of when Samuel was called by God to begin his journey as one of the greatest prophets in the Bible?

A third time, the Lord called, ‘Samuel!’ And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am; you called me.’ Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, ‘Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”‘ So Samuel went and laid down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling, as at other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’ – 1 Samuel 3:4–10, ESV

Many of us would be hard-pressed to even realize we have a spiritual gift or how to nurture and grow it for the edification of the body of Christ. Just like little Samuel, when we are growing in our faith we will need guidance to recognize how we can serve, and commit ourselves to doing so.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. – Luke 12:48, NIV

It is our duty as members of the body of Christ to use our gifts and not selfishly refuse to exercise them or think more highly of a different gift that we don’t have and pursue that instead.

Dangers Present in Recognizing Our Spiritual Gifts

• People with a gift for teaching can become overly intellectual and may neglect personal relationships.
• People with a gift of prophecy may come across as blunt or insensitive, with potential for pride.
• People with a gift of leadership can struggle with delegation and may become overly controlling.
• People with gifts of service can push themselves too hard and neglect other obligations.

Questions to Ask to Help Someone Identify Their Spiritual Gift

What if someone doesn’t even know they have a special God-given ability? Those of us in church leadership positions or those of us who have matured in the faith have the important task of helping fellow believers identify their abilities.

Encourage members of your congregation to learn what scripture teaches regarding spiritual gifts and to pray for wisdom to see how God has gifted them to serve the church.

Ask them questions like:

Which acts of service do you do that give you a great sense of peace?

A great indicator of where someone’s giftedness lies may be found when we identify activities that they feel passionate about, give them peace, and are generally good at. Doing what one is called for produces joy when they are doing it, and they usually do it well.

Example: David’s spiritual gift was music and poetry, which led him to write over 70 psalms! He loved to use his gift to express joy for the Lord.

And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn. – 2 Samuel 6:14-23 ESV

Which areas of concern within the church move you the most or make you feel like you want to help make things better?

You may encourage them to try to pursue their areas of interest in service, then constantly check in on them to see if they are thriving or need more support. Generally speaking, if we simply get involved in the life of the church and serve the people of God, we will find ourselves using our spiritual gifts naturally.

Example: Paul had a great spiritually prompted ability for teaching and apostolic authority, and he used it to encourage gifts in others.

For I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gifts to strengthen you. – Romans 1:11, ESV

Have you asked the Spirit how He would use you?

The Holy Spirit who gives you gifts does so for the good of the church. We can encourage each other to pray and ask Him to show us how He would have us serve the body.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. – I Corinthians 12: 4-7, ESV

We all have a role to play as Christians, although some have roles that tend to be more visible than others. Encourage your brothers and sisters in Christ to seek Him for wisdom and to selflessly serve the church with the abilities the Spirit has given them.

This site has many trained Christian counselors who can help nurture the gifts God has given His children. Contact our office today for yourself or refer someone who might be struggling to understand or use their gift, with the support of Laguna Christian Counseling.