HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT
The following guidelines will help you discover your spiritual gift or gifts:
STEP ONE – Be Born Again: You must be born again. Spiritual gifts come through the new birth just as natural talents come through natural physical birth. If you are never born in the natural world you will not have natural talents. If you are not born again in the spiritual world you cannot be given spiritual gifts: Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)
STEP TWO – Receive The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit: Guidelines for how to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit were given in Chapter Four of this manual.
STEP THREE – Know The Spiritual Gifts: If you do not know what spiritual gifts exist, you will not be able to recognize the one(s) God has given you. The lessons you studied in this course have equipped you to identify the various gifts available to believers.
STEP FOUR – Observe Models Of The Gifts: As you are considering what gifts you might have, it is helpful to observe mature models of the various gifts. A “mature model” of a spiritual gift is a believer who has been effectively using a gift for an extended period of time. For example, talk with someone who has the gift of teaching. Question them as to how they knew they had the gift, how they began to use it, and ways they are continuing to develop their gift. Do the same for the other gifts. Learning how others discovered their gifts and observing mature models of the gifts in action will help you identify your own gift.
STEP FIVE – Seek A Spiritual Gift: Desire a gift and fast and pray for it. The Bible tells us to seek spiritual gifts: But covet [desire, seek] earnestly the best gifts… (I Corinthians 12:31) We each have at least one gift, but this verse implies we can also seek a gift which we do not now possess.
STEP SIX – Laying On Of Hands: Have your spiritual leader lay hands on you and pray for God to reveal your spiritual gift: Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (I Timothy 4:14)
Note: As a result of Steps One through Six God may reveal your spiritual gift. If this does not happen, proceed with the following steps.
STEP SEVEN – Analyze Your Spiritual Interests: The areas in which you find great joy in serving God are often those for which He has gifted you. Just as a gift you receive in the natural world brings joy, so do spiritual gifts. You must have a “passion” or “burden” [great interest or desire] for a certain ministry in order to serve God effectively. For example, a person with the gift of administration can use it to organize and direct anything. He could administer a church, a Christian school, a drug rehabilitation center, etc. But he must have a burden or passion for the ministry where he uses his gift. If he has no interest in a Christian school, he will not last long even though he has the gift of administration.
Answer the following questions to help determine your spiritual interest or burden:(NB:This is not an exhaustive list. It only gives you an idea)
1. What kind or group of people do you feel most attracted to? (If you are called to a particular group of people, your spiritual gift will relate to their need. For example, if you feel a call to children and want to see them learn about God, you may have the gift of teaching).
2. What areas of need cause a strong emotional stirring in you? (When God calls you to meet a specific need, you will often feel a strong emotional stirring within).
3. If you could not fail, what would you desire to do for the Lord? (God honors personal desires).
4. Complete this sentence: “I have a growing restless conviction from within that I should get involved in…” (Such convictions are often God speaking to your spirit about an area in which He wants you to serve).
5. I am certain God has definitely called me to a specific area of ministry. It is… (If you know the specific area of ministry to which God has called you, it will be easy to determine your spiritual gift. God always provides the necessary gifts to enable you to fulfill the call. The “For Further Study” section of this lesson will assist you in recognizing your spiritual calling).
6. What gifts bring you the most joy in thinking about them or using them? (For example, do you enjoy teaching? Do you enjoy being hospitable and having people into your home? Are you often moved to give large sums of money to God’s work?)
STEP EIGHT – Analysis By A Christian Leader: Have a Christian leader analyze your spiritual abilities. Ask the following questions and record the answers:
1. In what areas of Christian service have you observed me to be effective?
2. Based upon this observation of my effectiveness, what spiritual gifts do you believe I might have?
STEP NINE – Analyze Your Past Christian Service: Analyze your past ministry. Answer these questions:
1. In what areas of Christian service have you ministered in the past?
2. In which of these were you effective?
I pray the King of Kings reveals to you more of who He is so you can become effective in your ministry.