I am reviewing and preparing some notes I have on spiritual gifts for our youth group meeting this evening. While it seems that many in Christendom are content to “get serious” about serving Christ & the church once they’ve graduated high school / college and established a career, I see teen-agers as perfectly capable of utilizing the gifts that the Holy Spirit gives them in their teen years. The verses we are working on in our memory work for this evening have been 1 Peter 4:10-11. “…as each one received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak as it were the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen…“
The 1 Peter passage is not the only passage in scripture that indicates we (all believers in Christ) have received a gift for serving God and others; 1 Corinthians 12 also has the same claim. We notice there that the Holy Spirit gives us gifts as He wills, and there is an expectation that the body be edified through the outworking of these gifts. I think that many make excuses as to why they are not utilizing their gifts, and this, in my estimation, is a dangerous place to find oneself.
What would be the valid reasons for not wanting to exercise the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given you? I can think of a few, and prayerfully, this may spark some discussion of the use of gifts. I welcome your comments. Here are a few of the reasons why gifts are not being used in the church:
- The person expected to use the gift is not a believer, hence the lack of ability to us a gift in service to others.
- The person expected to use the gift is in direct disobedience of scripture in the unuse of the gift, and is in knowledgeable rebellion against God.
- The person expected to use the gift lacks discernment as to what their gift is, how it can build up the body, etc
- Lack of proper teaching of spiritual gifts leads many to this place of confusion. Because their is uncertainty of what, how and why we should be using our gifts, many fail to implement their giftedness in serving others. They fail to realize the goal of using all gifts: the glorification of God.
Tim Challies had a good post on Spiritual Gifts recently, you can find it here. Let me challenge you to examine your heart as to what your gift may be, and examine how you can use your gift in the church for God’s glory.
Thanks for this post. After 15 years of being a Christian, I’m just now learning how to use my spiritual gifts. Prayer and practice have been most helpful. One reason I didn’t use my gift before was that I felt afraid of stepping into someone’s life (my gift is discernment). But God has shown me there’s a way to do this without judgment, in love. Sometimes He only asks me to “interfere” by praying for that person. Prayer to be in tune with the Holy Spirit is essential.
Thanks for stopping by Anna. I think you’ve realized an important part of using spiritual gifts: prayer and practice. As we continue to submit to God & His Word, we will continue to grow in the practical application of our gifts. God bless!