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Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/28/2009 2:26:51 PM
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Grace-N-Mercy
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This morning, I was completing some career assessments for a class I'm taking and added a SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT to my tasks. But I started asking myself if I have truly put my spiritual gifts to use for Him or for my career. So I thought I'd see if anyone else experiences this. And why you think this is? Are you not using your gifts at all, or not to their fullest extent? What do you think you need to do about this?
For myself, I think that I use my gifts sparingly and not to their fullest extent. I believe that my career is my calling and do use my gifts there extensively. I am also going to school to build on my skills and gifts, but I've been guilty in the past (and even the present) of not fully using my gifts. For instance, one of my gifts is teaching, but I've let bad experiences, lack of time, and lack of confidence hold me back. I've also spent time pursuing other gifts that were not as strong, and trying to find a place to fit in to a new church. The experience has left me discouraged. So I think I need to step up and build on my two strongest gifts and use them in the church as well as in my career.
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/28/2009 2:49:52 PM
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drmark
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quote:
But I started asking myself if I have truly put my spiritual gifts to use for Him or for my career. Hmm, I've never really thought of using spiritual gifts in one's secular work. Certainly we need to do everything for the glory of God, but I've always considered spiritual gifting primarily for spiritual matters and service. Interesting thought...
_____________________________
Jeremiah 31:31-34. The time is NOW, fellow saints!
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/28/2009 2:54:58 PM
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Grace-N-Mercy
Posts: 4321
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quote:
ORIGINAL: drmark
quote:
But I started asking myself if I have truly put my spiritual gifts to use for Him or for my career. Hmm, I've never really thought of using spiritual gifts in one's secular work. Certainly we need to do everything for the glory of God, but I've always considered spiritual gifting primarily for spiritual matters and service. Interesting thought...
I was thinking that if we have the gift of teaching, then we might incorporate some spiritual teaching into our work. My main gift is exhortation and I have worked in social work/counseling for years. The two go hand-in-hand.
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/28/2009 6:09:30 PM
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Liveloved
Posts: 1811
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A spiritual gift is for use in the edification of other believers. I use mine for the purposes as God intends.
However, if you are looking at the traditional organized church as your place of using your gifts, you may be disappointed. Oh, certain gifts are welcomed. . . whether or not they are true giftings or just people doing what they feel led to do. The organized church has all kinds of jobs that need to be done.
But that is a very different thing than spiritual gifts and their purposeful use as God intends. For example, the Apostle Paul told people to earnestly desire the gift of prophecy. . .
Have you desired the gift of prophecy?
Have you found an organized church where the leadership honors this gift among its members?
That is only one gift. But any of the giftings that threaten the pride or power of the leadership will not be lifted up. It is part of the reason we see so little power in the church today. The believers are leaving the organized church.
_____________________________
Liveloved
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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/28/2009 11:30:58 PM
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rgod
Posts: 1918
Joined: 4/25/2005
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quote:
This morning, I was completing some career assessments for a class I'm taking and added a SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT to my tasks. But I started asking myself if I have truly put my spiritual gifts to use for Him or for my career. So I thought I'd see if anyone else experiences this. And why you think this is? Are you not using your gifts at all, or not to their fullest extent? What do you think you need to do about this?
I thought about this a little while ago when I ran across a book that talked about this - using your spiritual gifts and your natural gifts in your career. It was really quite eye opening. I do use my spiritual gifts in the type of work that I'm doing now, but few of my natural ones, which is frustrating. Actually, I use my spiritual gifts often - in my every day life - and since my job is part of my life I use it there too. I have a teaching gift, word of knowledge, prophecy, helps, mercy, and exhortation - all to varying degrees. I just pay attention to the promptings of the Holy Spirit - and many times, I'll say things to people, knowing things about them even if I haven't met them. Like, one day I was talking with this lady that I'd just met and I felt like she wanted to quit her job, but that it wasn't time for her to leave. So, we kept chatting, and she responded in a way that confirmed what I thought. I was able to share some things with her and she was blessed. Recently, someone came to me and was crying about an issue. The Lord kept giving me things to comfort her and kept showing me pictures of her life and giving me prophetic words for her. Every time I thought I was finished talking to her, more would come up, over and over again. It ended up being a preparation for some things that happened next in her life. I find that I use teaching naturally - when I find out something, I teach it to co-workers. And my entire job now is one of helps. I think that I use my gifts because I don't really see my career as separate from my life. I am definitely not using my gifts to my fullest extent because they've not yet been developed. I think I need to learn more about using them.
GNM, I think that our gifts just naturally flow from us as we trust the Holy Spirit. For example, let's say that you, as a counselor to be, have the gifts of mercy, encouragement, teaching, and word of knowledge - and maybe evangelism. Well, as people come into your office, you'll not only be able to empathize and help them overcome emotional problems, but your questioning and talking with them will be all that more strategic because you'll be able to know the right things to ask. As you follow your "hunches" the Holy Spirit will confirm and then you'll be able to minister to them deeply. Your teaching gift might assert itself in your love for cognitive-behavioral therapy for example, which has teaching at its core. Or you might find yourself writing workbooks for others in the field or teaching a class on the side. As an exhorter, you might work best in places that aren't the hard-core mental health places where there is very little hope. You might find yourself needing to work with "lighter" clients that you can help with your encouragement. And, you might also find yourself leading people to Christ. Somehow, the people will be open to hearing about Christ from you - where they might not be that way with another person.
quote:
However, if you are looking at the traditional organized church as your place of using your gifts, you may be disappointed. Oh, certain gifts are welcomed. . . whether or not they are true giftings or just people doing what they feel led to do. The organized church has all kinds of jobs that need to be done.
But that is a very different thing than spiritual gifts and their purposeful use as God intends. For example, the Apostle Paul told people to earnestly desire the gift of prophecy. . .
Have you desired the gift of prophecy?
Have you found an organized church where the leadership honors this gift among its members?
That is only one gift. But any of the giftings that threaten the pride or power of the leadership will not be lifted up. It is part of the reason we see so little power in the church today. The believers are leaving the organized church.
Liveloved - While I understand what you are saying, I partly agree and partly disagree with this. For the record, I've been to many charismatic churches and attend a home church weekly as well as a more traditional church structure. I think that the church segregates itself by gifts, which is unfortunate, because all of the gifts are needed. You are more likely to find acceptance of the sign gifts if you are in a non-denominational church or a home group than you do in traditional churches. But I don't think it is quite that cut and dry. I've always maintained a dual track - a more charismatic track along with a more traditional one. There are many, many, many believers in both places. There are also prophetic people, people who work miracles, and more in both churches. I personally have been to churches, both denominational and non-denomination as well as home groups that encourage prophecy. In fact, the two churches that I go to now encourage it - which is why I'm there as I need to learn. They just encourage it differently. In the more traditional church, the leader is a true-blue, bonafide prophet. The pastor is too. Their gifts operate differently; the bishop tends to see things on the national stage, where the pastor ministers to people more personally. As members, we are not discouraged from prophesying, although there isn't a lot of training concerning this and few opportunities to step out. A lot of this is because the bishop spends a lot of time on love and on unity - on encouraging one another. I personally can think of several churches in the area that have prophetic gifts classes and offer opportunities to practice that gift. Vineyard churches do tend to encourage prophecy and the other sign giffts. The home group that I belong to is all about nurturing and stepping out in this gifting as well.
I pray that you can find a church in your area that will accept the prophetic. Have you tried looking at Elijah List? Lots of articles and mostly they are hawking their wares, but sometimes you can find information about churches there. If nothing else, it is worth a try!
_____________________________
We are His portion and He is our prize, drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes! If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking ...
- Kim Walker "How He Loves Us"
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/29/2009 12:08:53 AM
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Grace-N-Mercy
Posts: 4321
Joined: 5/2/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rgod
quote:
This morning, I was completing some career assessments for a class I'm taking and added a SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT to my tasks. But I started asking myself if I have truly put my spiritual gifts to use for Him or for my career. So I thought I'd see if anyone else experiences this. And why you think this is? Are you not using your gifts at all, or not to their fullest extent? What do you think you need to do about this?
I thought about this a little while ago when I ran across a book that talked about this - using your spiritual gifts and your natural gifts in your career. It was really quite eye opening. I do use my spiritual gifts in the type of work that I'm doing now, but few of my natural ones, which is frustrating. Actually, I use my spiritual gifts often - in my every day life - and since my job is part of my life I use it there too. I have a teaching gift, word of knowledge, prophecy, helps, mercy, and exhortation - all to varying degrees. I just pay attention to the promptings of the Holy Spirit - and many times, I'll say things to people, knowing things about them even if I haven't met them. Like, one day I was talking with this lady that I'd just met and I felt like she wanted to quit her job, but that it wasn't time for her to leave. So, we kept chatting, and she responded in a way that confirmed what I thought. I was able to share some things with her and she was blessed. Recently, someone came to me and was crying about an issue. The Lord kept giving me things to comfort her and kept showing me pictures of her life and giving me prophetic words for her. Every time I thought I was finished talking to her, more would come up, over and over again. It ended up being a preparation for some things that happened next in her life. I find that I use teaching naturally - when I find out something, I teach it to co-workers. And my entire job now is one of helps. I think that I use my gifts because I don't really see my career as separate from my life. I am definitely not using my gifts to my fullest extent because they've not yet been developed. I think I need to learn more about using them.
GNM, I think that our gifts just naturally flow from us as we trust the Holy Spirit. For example, let's say that you, as a counselor to be, have the gifts of mercy, encouragement, teaching, and word of knowledge - and maybe evangelism. Well, as people come into your office, you'll not only be able to empathize and help them overcome emotional problems, but your questioning and talking with them will be all that more strategic because you'll be able to know the right things to ask. As you follow your "hunches" the Holy Spirit will confirm and then you'll be able to minister to them deeply. Your teaching gift might assert itself in your love for cognitive-behavioral therapy for example, which has teaching at its core. Or you might find yourself writing workbooks for others in the field or teaching a class on the side. As an exhorter, you might work best in places that aren't the hard-core mental health places where there is very little hope. You might find yourself needing to work with "lighter" clients that you can help with your encouragement. And, you might also find yourself leading people to Christ. Somehow, the people will be open to hearing about Christ from you - where they might not be that way with another person.
Hey, rgod!! I agree that we can use spiritual and natural gifts (thanks for the clarification) in our work. I don't think we need to make a distinction or leave our spiritual gifts at the door, so to speak, when we enter our workplaces. Our jobs definitely blur with our personal lives at times. If I am working with a lady who is a Christian, then I may use teaching, exhortation, or any number of things as the Holy Spirit guides. It is so important that we don't leave the Holy Spirit at the door; as long as we are working with people and working for Him, we can use our gifts. I guess I'm feeling a bit discouraged these days coming up on a birthday and feeling a little "behind".  Plus with the career assessment assignment, I'm trying to come up with a list of career options very much like the ones you just listed. Did you take the inventory I posted?
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/29/2009 4:54:01 PM
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Liveloved
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quote:
I just have the burn-out factor blocking the way. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this, and what did you do to get past it?
Just wondering what you mean by 'the burn-out factor'??? (Can you be more specific?)
And rgod, thanks for the thoughtful reply to my post. I have seen the separation you are describing. . . and it has led to greater imbalance in the church. IOW two ends of the continuum rather than one unified continuum functioning as God intends. Our gifts are given for the purpose of bringing about the balance that is needed. My husband and I have snatches of it in our Wednesday fellowship group and other groups we are involved in but I just have not seen it in the organized church.
The need is for mature, godly men and women who love Jesus and are committed to know Him and live Him in humble, nurturing relationships with one another thus making Him known to the world as well. Yes, there are a few in every church but I am seeing many leave the organized church.
_____________________________
Liveloved
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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/29/2009 5:12:01 PM
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Focusing
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Hi Liveloved!
The work I do and have done for many years is extremely detail oriented. After working intensely for so many hours a day, I just feel like I need a break ... I need to get outside and do something entirely different. While I love what I do, and it is stimulating intellectually, by the time I leave the office I'm ready to be doing something entirely different. Which leaves me with a serious lack of desiring to dig into a Bible study or help a pastor with research (which is something I would love to do). I hope that makes more sense. It's very frustrating to me in my spiritual growth these days as well .... but that may be an entirely different subject altogether!
Question: what do you mean when you say people are leaving the "organized church"? Just trying to understand the phrase. Are you referring to denominational churches?
< Message edited by Focusing -- 9/29/2009 5:20:47 PM >
_____________________________
11/21 is the 11th Annual National Survivors of Suicide Day
Please remember to lift those in prayer who have lost a loved one to suicide
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/29/2009 8:04:07 PM
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Liveloved
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Focusing
Hi Liveloved!
The work I do and have done for many years is extremely detail oriented. After working intensely for so many hours a day, I just feel like I need a break ... I need to get outside and do something entirely different. While I love what I do, and it is stimulating intellectually, by the time I leave the office I'm ready to be doing something entirely different. Which leaves me with a serious lack of desiring to dig into a Bible study or help a pastor with research (which is something I would love to do). I hope that makes more sense. It's very frustrating to me in my spiritual growth these days as well .... but that may be an entirely different subject altogether!
Question: what do you mean when you say people are leaving the "organized church"? Just trying to understand the phrase. Are you referring to denominational churches?
In response to your first paragraph, Focusing, I would say the Lord is leading you into rest. Alot of what we often do (in the name of and for Jesus) is because we are not resting in Him and striving rather than trusting. He gifts us in certain ways but sometimes He uses our gifts to lead us further towards Him and into that rest that we long for (and think we have?). Anyway, I am speaking from the distance and do not know the particulars of your life, but I know He intends this for good and that you will be the better for it.
By organized church, I mean anything with a name over the door. Many have gone to home fellowship groups. Others visit various churches but involve themselves with people, not programs. And others are wondering where they belong. . . and find not a place.
_____________________________
Liveloved
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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/30/2009 9:08:26 AM
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RJR_fan
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My "day job" is technical writing, an occupation that rewards attention to detail, a preference for oversimplifying, and an ability to discern overall patterns, then pick the shortest, most direct way through the forest of details. If you can also communicate with vivid word pictures, you can excel in this career.
I "translate the garbled utterances of engineers into English."
Our church tolerates a great deal of fake charisma at this point -- folks praying in tongues over the microphone, but not offering an interpretation -- to the extent, I believe, of squeezing out real charismatic ministry. But, the dissertation I'm working on now requires all the prophetic anointing I can bring to the task! Prayers appreciated!
_____________________________
Blogging my way through the Turkish New Testament
Meet my beloved mentor, RJR
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/30/2009 9:45:51 AM
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Elena1030
Posts: 2105
Joined: 6/21/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: drmark
quote:
But I started asking myself if I have truly put my spiritual gifts to use for Him or for my career. Hmm, I've never really thought of using spiritual gifts in one's secular work. Certainly we need to do everything for the glory of God, but I've always considered spiritual gifting primarily for spiritual matters and service. Interesting thought...
Well, one could have Christian coworkers.
Actually, all of those in my department are... I work in a denominational agency... in publishing.
Glad to see another writer in the mix here, RJR_fan (and G-N-M too!).
My day job is copyediting. And as part of my job, I help other editorial people in my department (and from other publishing areas in our division) understand the rules and guidelines we adhere to in styling, proofreading, and editing our content. So my spiritual gift of encouragement (at least, I think I have this gift) comes into play. Especially since we publish resources for churches. Everything we do impacts the Kingdom in some way.
I don't understand a whole lot about charismatic gifts, since many in my denomination tend to be cessationists (a topic for a totally different folder, of course).
As far as seeing all sorts of gifts working in concert to nurture and build up the Kingdom... I think I've "seen"/experienced snatches of this. I'll try to remember some anecdotes and come back and describe them.
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Prayer thread for singles who desire to marry someday
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/30/2009 10:04:21 AM
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Grace-N-Mercy
Posts: 4321
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Elena1030
Glad to see another writer in the mix here, RJR_fan (and G-N-M too!).
My day job is copyediting. And as part of my job, I help other editorial people in my department (and from other publishing areas in our division) understand the rules and guidelines we adhere to in styling, proofreading, and editing our content. So my spiritual gift of encouragement (at least, I think I have this gift) comes into play. Especially since we publish resources for churches. Everything we do impacts the Kingdom in some way.
Thanks for including me, but I don't see myself as much of a writer... yet. That's coming, though. It's definitely something I have a passion for as a way of communicating the gospel to others. In fact, I can see myself working for a Christian association in the near future, but I'm trying to piece together my natural and spiritual gifts to find the best fit for myself in this ministry.
Recently, I read an article about a copyeditor and the kind of work she does; it cannot be easy to send a piece back to the author with corrections. I can imagine that the gift of encouragement really comes in handy.
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/30/2009 4:04:59 PM
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Elena1030
Posts: 2105
Joined: 6/21/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Grace-N-Mercy
quote:
ORIGINAL: Elena1030
Glad to see another writer in the mix here, RJR_fan (and G-N-M too!).
My day job is copyediting. And as part of my job, I help other editorial people in my department (and from other publishing areas in our division) understand the rules and guidelines we adhere to in styling, proofreading, and editing our content. So my spiritual gift of encouragement (at least, I think I have this gift) comes into play. Especially since we publish resources for churches. Everything we do impacts the Kingdom in some way.
Thanks for including me, but I don't see myself as much of a writer... yet. That's coming, though. It's definitely something I have a passion for as a way of communicating the gospel to others. In fact, I can see myself working for a Christian association in the near future, but I'm trying to piece together my natural and spiritual gifts to find the best fit for myself in this ministry.
You're welcome!
And yes, you ARE a writer. Embrace the label. 
quote:
Recently, I read an article about a copyeditor and the kind of work she does; it cannot be easy to send a piece back to the author with corrections. I can imagine that the gift of encouragement really comes in handy.
Yes, it works that way in book editing.
Works differently with what I do -- I don't edit books... but curriculum.
I do encourage my writers in other ways, though. Especially during writers conference (which is next week!!!).
And when they want us to pray for them, we do. And we send cards when our writers are ill or are hospitalized or have a death in the family. So we as a dept. do encourage.
I think there are many, many, many ways to be used by God in our spiritual gifts -- maybe even without being aware that that's how He's using us -- even in our workplaces... even if they are secular workplaces.
_____________________________
Prayer thread for singles who desire to marry someday
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 9/30/2009 4:13:43 PM
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Liveloved
Posts: 1811
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quote:
I think there are many, many, many ways to be used by God in our spiritual gifts -- maybe even without being aware that that's how He's using us -- even in our workplaces... even if they are secular workplaces.
And this is the very point, Elena. If it is truly God's gift to you (or me or whoever), we will be living it out wherever we are. It's certainly not a conscious thing. As J. Oswald Sanders said 'if you think you're being used of God, you're probably not' (my paraphrase). IOW the self consciousness implies self doing rather than God doing.
We can't help but live out the gifts He has given us when we are walking by the Spirit. And there's no awareness of 'me' here.
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Liveloved
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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 10/1/2009 9:24:18 AM
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CoeurdeLeon
Posts: 4185
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quote:
And why you think this is? Are you not using your gifts at all, or not to their fullest extent? What do you think you need to do about this?
I took the assessment and was a little surprised only because what I think of as my primary gift wasn't on there so it made me see some gifts that I've never thought about or necessarily seen as gifts before.
I definitely use the gift this assessment placed at the top for me in my work, in my home and in my social interaction. As a matter of fact, if it were not for this gift (leadership), I wouldn't be able to do what I do (self-employed with employees/raising kids on my own). I have a lot to be thankful for!
I have, for a variety of reasons, not been using this gift within a church congregation for several years. My circumstances and some bad 'church people' experiences have made me apathetic toward being involved in what happens in a church building.
I do consider my interaction on CW as church fellowship. We are, after all, the Church. After shirking the using of at least some of my gifts (being a taker and not a giver so to speak) I see now from taking that assessment that what I've seen as merely doing what comes naturally and 'just being myself' over the past couple of years has really been putting my gifts to use more so than when I first joined. I want to consider this some more because I hadn't thought of it in this way prior to this thread.
Thanks, G-N-M, you've giving me some things to think about!
_____________________________
Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion.
What have we to fear?
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 10/1/2009 10:51:21 AM
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Grace-N-Mercy
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quote:
ORIGINAL: CoeurdeLeon
quote:
And why you think this is? Are you not using your gifts at all, or not to their fullest extent? What do you think you need to do about this?
I took the assessment and was a little surprised only because what I think of as my primary gift wasn't on there so it made me see some gifts that I've never thought about or necessarily seen as gifts before.
I definitely use the gift this assessment placed at the top for me in my work, in my home and in my social interaction. As a matter of fact, if it were not for this gift (leadership), I wouldn't be able to do what I do (self-employed with employees/raising kids on my own). I have a lot to be thankful for!
I have, for a variety of reasons, not been using this gift within a church congregation for several years. My circumstances and some bad 'church people' experiences have made me apathetic toward being involved in what happens in a church building.
I do consider my interaction on CW as church fellowship. We are, after all, the Church. After shirking the using of at least some of my gifts (being a taker and not a giver so to speak) I see now from taking that assessment that what I've seen as merely doing what comes naturally and 'just being myself' over the past couple of years has really been putting my gifts to use more so than when I first joined. I want to consider this some more because I hadn't thought of it in this way prior to this thread.
Thanks, G-N-M, you've giving me some things to think about!
I'm intrigued... what did you consider your primary gift? There are other tests out there... the first one I took had about 15 or so gifts, but it wasn't quite as helpful. But yeah, using more than one test is a great way to see things in a different light. So I'm glad to see this test gave you a little something to think about. Right now, I'm taking a career counseling class and doing my own assessments... wow, talk about a growth process. I'm seeing things differently and uncovering some dreams I had somehow pushed down.
I agree that we are, collectively, the Church, and I have seen you using your gifts to lift up and encourage others... that's what this is about. The one thing coming to mind is the thread you started in Women Only dealing with being inappropriately touched. That is just one way our gifts can be used to lift up the Body of Christ.
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 10/2/2009 10:11:06 PM
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Gazingstock
Posts: 85
Joined: 5/30/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Grace-N-Mercy
This morning, I was completing some career assessments for a class I'm taking and added a SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT to my tasks. But I started asking myself if I have truly put my spiritual gifts to use for Him or for my career. So I thought I'd see if anyone else experiences this. And why you think this is? Are you not using your gifts at all, or not to their fullest extent? What do you think you need to do about this?
For myself, I think that I use my gifts sparingly and not to their fullest extent. I believe that my career is my calling and do use my gifts there extensively. I am also going to school to build on my skills and gifts, but I've been guilty in the past (and even the present) of not fully using my gifts. For instance, one of my gifts is teaching, but I've let bad experiences, lack of time, and lack of confidence hold me back. I've also spent time pursuing other gifts that were not as strong, and trying to find a place to fit in to a new church. The experience has left me discouraged. So I think I need to step up and build on my two strongest gifts and use them in the church as well as in my career.
Very few of us have the drive, means, or the opportunity to use our gifts full time. God knows this. While it is perfectly good, and, it is expected that we show the light which God has given us, our daily life may not tolerate much of it. It's important to be content within our personal sphere of influence, which is by God's design, and not allow negative reactions to our efforts to discourage us, but rather to mature and sophisticate us.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the Earth. -Psa 46:10
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Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual [ones]. -1Cr 2:13
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 10/4/2009 12:44:44 AM
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Covaan_Meshuga
Posts: 3177
Joined: 6/8/2005
From: being knit together in my mother's womb
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I already knew what my spiritual gift is: helps. But I took the test and came out with "prophecy" and "teaching" on the top with the same scoring. NOT! Service is likely what the KJV calls "helps," and that came out next.
Yes, I use my gift where I worship and in my career, which is as an admin for a pastor. I have always used my gift in the places where I have worshiped, but I never was really totally happy in a job until I was able to use it there as well.
I have had more fun using my gift! It is mixed with a gift for some art, so I have often found myself creating objects: donkeys (several life-like ones that could be ridden, some small and one that was full life-size, all furry and comfortable to ride upon ), scene back-drops, charts, art with moving parts that taught lessons, newsletters, bulletins, cards, postcards, posters, bulletin boards, message boards, etc.
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While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 10/11/2009 7:13:40 PM
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wawhoo73112
Posts: 177
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: ...darkness, into light...
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Grace-N-Mercy
This morning, I was completing some career assessments for a class I'm taking and added a SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT to my tasks. But I started asking myself if I have truly put my spiritual gifts to use for Him or for my career. So I thought I'd see if anyone else experiences this. And why you think this is? Are you not using your gifts at all, or not to their fullest extent? What do you think you need to do about this?
For myself, I think that I use my gifts sparingly and not to their fullest extent. I believe that my career is my calling and do use my gifts there extensively. I am also going to school to build on my skills and gifts, but I've been guilty in the past (and even the present) of not fully using my gifts. For instance, one of my gifts is teaching, but I've let bad experiences, lack of time, and lack of confidence hold me back. I've also spent time pursuing other gifts that were not as strong, and trying to find a place to fit in to a new church. The experience has left me discouraged. So I think I need to step up and build on my two strongest gifts and use them in the church as well as in my career.
Spiritual Gifts
1.Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.
2.You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
3.Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.
4.There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5.There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
6.There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7.Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
8.To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
9.to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
10.to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
11.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
One Body, Many Parts
12.The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
13.For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
14.Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15.If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
16.And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body.
17.If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
18.But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
19.If they were all one part, where would the body be?
20.As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21.The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"
22.On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
23.and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,
24.while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,
25.so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
26.If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27.Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
28.And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
29.Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
30.Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret?
31.But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way..........LOVE
According to the scriptures above, a spiritual "gift", is a manifestation of the Spirit of God, and as such, is therefore not something which is actually "ours" or something for which we can take the credit when it comes forth.
"Using" our spiritual gift, is just allowing the Spirit to manifest HIMSELF through us, and making ourselves available for such manifestings.
It is HE - THE SPIRIT - Who manifests HIMSELF through us for the common good, and just as one cannot control the wind, nor do we control Him in a "commanding" way.
We can recognize the ways in which HE has manifested Himself through us in the past, and incline our hearts and "selves" to be available" for/to those types of opportunities, like teaching in your case, BUT
Because the Spirit is within us, He can also make manifest ANY of the spiritual "gifts" through us at any time, for the common good.
To say that you are guilty of "not fully using your gift", is just saying that you have not been trusting the Spirit to manifest Himself through you....and with that in mind, remember that a horse cannot be "lead" ANYWHERE, unless that horse is first MOVING in some direction - ANY direction - LOL!
Lastly, your career is not your "calling", your calling is to love one another as Jesus has loved us...
your calling is you {and all of us} having been given a ministry of reconciliation...
A ministry in which God is reconciling the world to Himself through His Son living in us, you included...
A ministry which does not need location, for it is present in you everywhere you walk, live, and visit....
and so everywhere you go, pray, pray saying: " I am an open vessel of your Spirit Father, help me to be more sensitive to your leading, and available in mind and heart to manifest your Spirit to this world and to Your church for that which You deem to be good."
Hope some of this helps, Bob~
< Message edited by wawhoo73112 -- 10/11/2009 7:20:30 PM >
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B  B
...Within our willing obedience, His will is worked through us...... and where His will is done.....there has His kingdom come........
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 10/11/2009 7:53:47 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
Posts: 3177
Joined: 6/8/2005
From: being knit together in my mother's womb
Status: offline
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I could be wrong, but I thought that biblically, a calling was the call to salvation, not to specific ministries.
???
_____________________________
While in prayer or praise, I am only as devoted to G-d as I am in my most private moments.
Abiyah, if you had known them as G-d knows them, you would have answered them differently.
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 10/20/2009 2:10:12 PM
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teacher1982
Posts: 190
Joined: 10/11/2009
Status: offline
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Does every Christian have a Spiritual Gift? I don't think that I do. There are nine gifts of the Spirit and I know that I don't have any of them.
I have never been given a talent either.
Some of us just need to sit on the pews and be the congregation and listen to all the others who have gifts, I guess.
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RE: Spiritual Gifts - Do you use yours? - 10/20/2009 2:41:23 PM
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Grace-N-Mercy
Posts: 4321
Joined: 5/2/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: teacher1982
Does every Christian have a Spiritual Gift? I don't think that I do. There are nine gifts of the Spirit and I know that I don't have any of them.
I have never been given a talent either.
Some of us just need to sit on the pews and be the congregation and listen to all the others who have gifts, I guess.
1 Corinthians 1:7 says "Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed."
You do have a spiritual gift, you may not see it, though. It may not be flashy, it may not be what you would like it to be, but you do have a gift. And sometimes our gifts must be developed through prayer and practice. Most who have the gift of evangelism are not polished evangelists as soon as they are saved.
What God wants is a willing heart and gift willing to be used. He wants to take who you are, and the gift that you have, to use for Kingdom work. We have various gifts, some are the hand, some are the kneecap. They're all important, though some may work behind the scenes.
Matthew 5:14 says "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
No matter what you do in the church, you should let it shine. Do you serve? Work in the kitchen or in preschool ministry. Do you teach (as your screen name suggests)? Then maybe mentor a child, teach an instrument, or go on the mission field and teach farmers new irrigation methods.
The church is in need of people with a willing heart who are able to fill a need. I had not been using my music in the church... I now am doing that. I had not been using my gifts of encouragement and teaching within the church... I am now on the way to doing that.
Be encouraged, my friend! You do have a gift that God has given you. Now all you have to do is discover it. 
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I'm ashamed to admit it, but it's the truth. I would love to work with this particular pastor, he is an awesome man from whom I believe I could learn enormously ... I just have the burn-out factor blocking the way. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this, and what did you do to get past it?
