We’ve been talking about spiritual gifts at church for the past few weeks and I’ve been so curious about what mine are. Especially since I feel like I’m in a season of grey. I don’t know which direction I should go or what God would like me to do to help advance his Kingdom.
All too often I’m blind to my gifts. I take them for granted because, at times, I feel like they are more of a curse than a blessing because I have no clue how to use them or I see me using my gifts to further selfish wants.
So, I found a free online spiritual gifts quiz. In doing the Team Ministry Gifted To Serve Quiz I learned my top three gifts and the ways that God uses them to minister to me. It’s no surprise that my Type A personality has Administration as number one.
A spiritual gift is the primary channel by which the Holy Spirit ministers to us. He has given us all a supernatural capacity to serve God and further his Church. Our Spiritual gifts are a divine calling with a divine responsibility.
My Gifts
Administration (To Steer a Ship): No shocker here! I love being organized, planning and living a structured life. This is also the gift I use the most to seek my own way and hold on too tightly to the things I am “controlling” in my structured life.
As an administrator you are a take-charge person who jumps in and starts giving orders when no one is in charge. You will put a plan on paper and start delegating responsibility. You may lean toward organizing things, events or programs, OR toward organizing people, emphasizing personal relationships and leadership responsibilities. In the first case, you usually organize details and have people carry them out. In the second case, you tend to organize people and rely on others to take care of the little things.
Now, this is also followed by some ‘warning’ and way this gift can be used to harm instead of hurt. For example taking too much control, being frustrated with others because they don’t work with the same structure as I do or having a hard time taking responsibility for my mistakes. (honestly, I’ve crossed over to the other side of taking responsibility – I see everything as my fault because I must not have ‘organized’ it right)
My favorite part is when they tell some of the best ways to use the gift. When administration is your top gift, some things you’d excel at are project leaders, vacation bible school director, committee or board chairman, business manager, camp director, assistant pastor…
Exhortation to encourage – How to person: Again, no shocker. I’ve you’ve listened to my podcast or read the blogs I’ve posted, I always have a – “This is how you apply it” section. I believe strongly in personal growth so if I see a gap in my life – I find ways to grow it and find the encouragement to develop it.
As an exhorter you are a very practical person, a good counselor, tolerant of others, serious-minded, orderly, and usually impulsive. You are expressive in a group setting; the group listens when you speak. You are comfortable working one-on-one or in groups. You are enthusiastic and talkative and enjoy encouraging others.
The warnings in this gift were eye-opening to me. It’s fun to kind of know something about yourself and then read something that makes your thoughts more clear. These warnings are surrounding the enthusiasm to help people leads to interrupting and not fully listening. “Satan will attack this gift and cause pride in your motivational abilities.” That is so true. The ability to encourage people and my overly structured life definitely cause pride in my heart at times as I seek others to “get with the program” and look for instant results.
Shepherding: Again, I see this and the other two, and it’s no surprise that I love to teach my girls, write this blog and have a podcast. I have a strong desire to help others find the healing that I have found, so, here I am encouraging others to find healing and anchor their worth in truth.
As a gifted shepherd, you have the Spirit-given capacity and desire to serve God by overseeing, training, and caring for the needs of a group of Christians. You are usually very patient, people-centered, and willing to spend time in prayer for others. You tend to be a “Jack of All and Master of ONE,” meaning you are usually dominant in one of the speaking gifts (evangelist, prophet, teacher, exhorter) as well. You are often authoritative, more a leader than a follower, and expressive, composed, and sensitive. Your pleasing personality draws people to you.
What are your gifts, take the quiz and learn about your supernatural abilities.
Evangelism ~ Prophecy ~ Teaching ~ Serving ~ Mercy-Showing ~ Giving
Once you’ve learned your gifts – examine ways that Satan is attacking them. Be sure to use your gifts for God, not for personal gain. They are, after all, our supernatural super powers. We all have free will to use our gifts for good or evil.
Personal growth and discovery is so fun, isn’t it!?
