Spiritual Gifts V

Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.”

Yesterday, from looking at Matthew 7:7-8 in the original Greek, we learned that the verbs ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK are all in the present tense. The present tense in the Greek adds continuity to the verb; therefore we can correct the translation to read, “keep on asking”, “keep on seeking”, and “keep on knocking”. If we desire to correctly identify our Spiritual gift then we must be persistent and “keep on asking”. If we are asking persistently, then we must also be “listening” persistently. God will absolutely answer your prayer, but if we are not “listening”, then we will never get the answer. Let me explain what I mean by “listening”. To be listening means that you have to be cognizant of the manner in which God will answer your prayer to reveal your Spiritual gift. This is where “keep on seeking” becomes the key that unlocks the door.

STEP 5 “KEEP ON SEEKING”; Get Involved!

As we continue to “keep on asking” through persistence; we must also “keep on seeking” with the same persistence. When we persistently seek for the answer to prayer, God promises that we WILL find what we are seeking. “Listening” for an answer is knowing where to “seek for the answer”. “Not listening” for the answer is not knowing where to seek the answer. We must know what to look for and we must know where to look.

THE BIBLE
Of course the first place to look when you are seeking for answers from God is His Word. If we truly want answers then we must study. We should always “listen” for correspondence between our prayers and the things that God reveals to us through His Word. The Bible is the very breath of God; every word authored by God the Holy Spirit, so to pray without opening the Bible to “seek” for an answer is to ask of God without allowing Him to speak. After we ask God to reveal to us our Spiritual gift we must maintain the Spiritual desire to obtain the answer. If you are looking for answers from God, then it only makes sense to “seek” for the answers within the Word.

SITUATIONS
You must be alert to the situations in which God continues to use you for His purpose. Basically this takes thinking from Divine viewpoint. Take a minute right now to think of how God uses you. Are you consistently in situations in which you find yourself regularly giving the gospel? Are believers drawn to you for a better understanding of God’s word? Do you find yourself teaching a lot? Do you find that you are placed in situations in which you are able to influence people to accomplish goals? Are you frequently encouraging people? Or it may be that you don’t like to take charge, but you don't have a problem doing anything you are asked, in fact, you feel led to always help out. Are you placed in situations in which you are being used devise and execute organized plans? Are you drawn to all aspects of different types of ministries? Do people who need comfort in affliction often seek your encouragement? Do you feel led to give and have been blessed with the resources to do it? What kinds of situations are you being placed in consistently? This is requires looking at the situations that God is placing you in from “His eyes”. This involves knowledge of your sphere of influence on others, whether at church, work, the store, home, etc. There may be certain experiences going on your life, which would tend to lead you one way or another. We may find that the way we respond in certain situations (when we are under control of the Holy Spirit) has been supernaturally discerned.


LISTEN TO OTHER MATURE BELIEVERS
Many times other, more mature believers who understand Spiritual gifts will be able to confirm your gift as they observe its function and its results. Friends and family may be able to “see” what you haven’t allowed yourself to “see”. Listen to their input which may give you enlightenment in identifying your Spiritual gift.

GET INVOLVED
Try a variety of situations. It is a great idea to get involved in different types of ministries within the local body. Volunteer to help out someone that you know is involved in ministry. By getting involved with all types of ministry the Holy Spirit will make it clear as to which gift you are performing supernaturally. Be open to anything. Just because you don’t like to speak in front of a crowd does not mean that God hasn’t given you a speaking gift. Just because you are an introvert and shy dies not mean that God is not calling you to leadership. Remember this gift is SUPERNATURAL. You may have to step outside of your natural “comfort zone”, in order to identify what God has given you to perform supernaturally. For example, you may have never been a good listener or counselor, but you find that more and more people coming to you and sharing their problems. Be open to what God wants from you and not what you want for yourself or what makes you feel comfortable.

God wants to use us, but we will never be used by Him in the fullest way until we know our gift and have committed it to Him. Your gift was never given FOR you. It was given to assist someone else. Look for supernatural ways in which you make a difference for God in a person’s life. I believe that a person who is Spirit filled and consistently submitting to the will of God will come to discover their gift with a certain amount of ease. The key is to get involved in the ministries and activities where you see Spiritual gifts operating within your church. Or you can start a ministry out of your house and invite people for prayer, bible study, or fellowship. This may open your eyes as to what the Holy Spirit has given you. “Keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and it shall be opened to you.” Apply the 5 steps consistently and I have no doubt that you will identify your Spiritual gift.