How did you discover ur spiritual gifts?

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mar09

Senior Member
#1
Sep 17, 2014
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#1
presidente said:
I've got mixed feelings about spiritual gifts tests. I met a young man and a friend of mine, after I met him, told me he'd just come to faith and that he'd had to go through deliverance or something like that. He had just taken a spiritual gifts tests and was depressed. He was a plumber, and according to the test, what he was gifted in was fixing stuff around the church building. I tried to encourage him that God can use him in ways he hadn't considered. But he was depressed and it didn't seem to sink in. But I saw him about a year later and he was talking to our mutual friend, saying how God was using him, how he was going around ministering to different people.

Some of the so-called spiritual gifts tests are rather poor. If you like to start new things, they say you have the apostolic gift. If you identify things that are wrong and point it out, they say you have a prophetic gift. That's based on a misunderstanding of what these gifts are. Misunderstandings of scripture can result in bad, invalid tests.

I am not necessarily against all spiritual gifts tests. But I think you could discover your gifts better by examining yourself, asking God to show you your gifts, and asking other people who know you.

And you might have some gifts you don't know about because you haven't been in many situations for them to manifest. When I was in my early '20's, I started attending a church plant that met in a home where people would pray for each other, for half an hour, or maybe an hour. I started praying about details of people's lives I didn't naturally know about, and they'd tell me about it. I realized I was being moved to pray about these things. Later on in my life, I was praying for a man at a retreat. I prayed about his ministry there where he lived, about his ministry in India, and for a car for his family. I had met him once and didn't know him. He told me when he prayed quietly about his ministry here, I prayed for that out loud. When he prayed for his ministry in the US, I prayed for that out loud. He prayed about his car which had a wheel that was making loud noises, and I prayed for that. He was a grad school student and probably didn't have a lot of money. He ended up replacing that used care with another one that was better.

I think what I was doing fits in the category of exercising the word of knowledge. Whatever you label it as, if I hadn't spent time ministering to people by praying with them, I might never have discovered that gift. If you never tried to pray or minister to the sick, when would the gifts of healing ever have an opportunity to manifest in you?

My advice is to pray about it, meditate on the word, but also to minister to others. Pray with people. Encourage people. Gifts are given for the common good, for one part of the body to minister to others. So minister to other people if you want to see the gifts you are praying for and other gifts manifest in your life and you want to identify them.
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Depleted said:
I think the tests help greatly. At least it pinpointed what gifts I have and what I don't have. No need to waste time doing what I stink at (Teaching.) After that, I found the different ministries going on in the churches I've been in, (or other churches connected to them), got over getting nervous, and pitched in. If it wasn't me, that usually became clear within 3 months, so try something different. (Wasn't good at prison outreach, Word of Knowledge, or anything related to kids either. lol)

Took me a mere 10-15 years to figure out what my gifts are that way, and I've been useful one way or another ever since.

Added bonus: No one has ever had to sit through one of my teachings and fallen asleep or had a stroke because it made absolutely no sense. :eek:
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Mooky had a spiritual gifts thread in april, but i am starting this now to ask esp how you discovered ur spiritual gift(s). This is not specifically abt 1 Cor. 12.1-11. I wanted to ask this in particular because idk if the spiritual tests/evaluations are conducted in ur church or not. Some say it is not necessary to do the test, for we can know our gifts and use them as the Spirit leads. But some may not even know their giftedness, or confused. Would not the Lord use us 'more' if we too knew our direction? For example, as a child i have loved music, but that is not a spiritual gift really, and for a long time i have not used that for ministry except some years i did accompany in worship service. Like lynn, however, i did not think teaching was my specific gift, altho i wanted that=).

I am not too sure, but for me, it was many yrs ive been attending before i had one such evaluation in a church, and wonder when u had such in church, and would it not be good if believers are led to something to evaluate their gifts early in their spiritual walk? Dont you think some/many? are confused and not effective because we like or want to do something, are gifted in something else, and/or someone or something is hindering us from doing our ministry or service for some reason? Pls give me time to retrieve more info on spiritual gifts not specifically in the passage mentioned above. But i can remember some like administration, mercies, giving, singlehood... as significant spiritual gifts that we sometimes take for granted or overlook but equally needful in the Body of Christ.

Thanks for reading.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#2
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
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0
#2
I discovered one by finally accepting that God was NOT going to give it to me, at all... then WHAM!.... I was instrumental in letting Him heal 6 people, at one time, through my obedience.
 
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NoNameMcgee

Guest
#3
#3
(just marking this so i get notifications... i hope people share)
 
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Depleted

Guest
#4
#4
Well, quoting me makes this easier and quicker. lol

I was in our first church for five years. They didn't have an assessment for gifts, so I blundered through every ministry they offered, (except music, because just-no. I'm tone deaf, and have two notes I can sing. You know the notes. They're used with foghorns.) So I spent five years frustrated and useless.

The next church we joined, (and we were moving a lot and our theology was beginning to change, so finding a church was easier than finding a church we could belong to), did have a booklet that tested us on which gifts we might have. Three months in that church before I found my spiritual wings and took off in gifts that work for me!

But here's the kicker. The reason I had such trouble is mine aren't the stuff ministries are made around. I stink at evangelizing as well as teaching. I'm a follower, not a leader. No to in front of people talking. (I make a lousy first impression.) And no-can-do tongues. My gifts are administrative, (you need bookkeeping or organizing paper or crews, I'm your gal), helps, and mercy ministry.
 
G00WZ

G00WZ

Senior Member
#5
May 16, 2014
1,313
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#5
I wouldn't call it a gift, its more like an affinity for some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit , when discovered? since i was in diapers. As i got older some of them became more apparent, but even with an affinity for them its all about doing Gods will.. Some people are looking for gifts, but really the Holy Spirit has all of the gifts, not the person. Someone completely submit to the spirit has all of them, because Holy Spirit has them.. and wherever there is a need to use them they can, even if they have no affinity for any of the gifts. Everyone in Christ has them, its just a matter allowing Holy Spirit to move.. It is a spiritual thing, and some people prefer to stay away from it though, and in doing so they turn off the potential.
 
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mar09

Senior Member
#6
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
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#6
Thank you for the replies, and coming posts=). Now i am recalling some others classified as s.gifts: helps, mercy, missionary, hospitality, intercession, martyrdom...

But i sure wish there was more time now, coz i must run to catch a ride. Hope to come back later=).
 
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oldethennew

Banned
#7
Feb 28, 2016
11,311
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#7
The HS opens our hearts along and along in our journey, so that we do become familiar
with each gift as we grow - but of course, it is at our Heavenly Father's order that we
learn to recognize them and use them...'One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus'...
 
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Nick_Galusha

Banned
#8
May 2, 2017
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#8
I think you discover them just the longer you walk with God. Also sometimes they will change, God may replace one gift with another like moving you out of healing and into prophecy. I've heard of that happening lots of times. I believe when God is ready You will see them work. That's how God started using Word O Knowledge in my life.
 
M

mar09

Senior Member
#10
Sep 17, 2014
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#10
NoNameMcgee said:
(just marking this so i get notifications... i hope people share)
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Hello jaime,
I hoped more ppl would have shared, but i also had the feeling that maybe not that many active members might have done a spiritual assessment?? You know, Christian churches here are not as numerous as in your country, and a lot are still small churches after some yrs esp in Catolico-sarado (strict catholic) areas here who would not allow the word to grow in their hearts or be watered by others. So while some older Christians strive to share the gospel as much as possible, it seems spiritual gift assessment are not always prioritized. Idk but in my case, it was more than 10 yr before i first heard abt such assessments. A young Christian for too long, i was not able to use or maximize my gifts either.

When a similar but shorter version of analyzing and identifying our gifts was done in the church we go to recently, at first i thought i already knew so what need for that. But as i studied the results, i see there have been some change in what the Lord has been leading and teaching me esp. the past few yrs. For one, Service and exhortation were not in my gifts the first time i did it, but now they are, and while i realize God has definitely taught me to serve, the other rather scares me! Hospitality or welcoming ppl/strangers at home is still far from being a part of me. But since i have not the results with me just now, i sure would come back to this thread, hoping to hear from you and others on how they discovered their spiritual gifts.
 
M

mar09

Senior Member
#11
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
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#11
Nick_Galusha said:
I think you discover them just the longer you walk with God. Also sometimes they will change, God may replace one gift with another like moving you out of healing and into prophecy. I've heard of that happening lots of times. I believe when God is ready You will see them work. That's how God started using Word O Knowledge in my life.
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Hello nick,
Yes, God does help us discover His gifts. I did mention abt some changes in what i thought were my gifts many yrs ago to what i am able to do now. But churches could also do their part in helping young believers find areas where they may be strong and where God is leading them. Thanks for the input. And welcome to cc... you are quite new here.
 
M

mar09

Senior Member
#12
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
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#12
WineRose said:
Idk if I even have any at this point.. :/
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Wine,
I cant remember when you were saved, but whatever, there should be some latent gifts there you will find to use for the body of Christ in His good time. Of course the tests should not limit us to think only those are our gifts, but there are some like Celibacy, which some singles find no problem with and can still serve the body without fear or temptation of falling when it comes to controlling emotions and desires, which is very specific for singles. I mentioned martyrdom in post no.6, and think that is a real difficult gift to have, but we know how many Christians have endured for the Lord to the point of laying down their lives as a sacrifice for others. Ive located copy of those old spiritual gift test conducted in church we attended yrs ago, and thought i could share more by and by (well i hope soon!). It is just so early where i am, and in fact need to get more rest before starting and moving on with the day=)).
 
J

joefizz

Guest
#14
#14
WineRose said:
Idk if I even have any at this point.. :/
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Well you have a way of turning a terrible seeming situation into a more uplifting or at least somewhat happy situation!
so I'd say you have a spiritual gift,perhaps the gift of being a spokesperson for God,as you go alongside God you'll find out!
 
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Nick_Galusha

Banned
#15
May 2, 2017
64
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#15
You may not now. most people don't really see them work until just before its time for them to start ministering. i didnt see mine start until late last year when i got the baptism of the holy ghost
 
M

mar09

Senior Member
#16
Sep 17, 2014
4,927
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#16
These are the spiritual gifts often recognized in the Church:

Spiritual Gift Possibilities in Key Bible Passages
Romans 12
exhortation
giving
leadership
mercy
prophecy
service
teaching

1 Corinthians 12
administration
apostle
discernment
faith
healings
helps
knowledge
miracles
prophecy
teaching
tongues
tongues interpretation
wisdom

Ephesians 4
apostle
evangelism
pastor
prophecy
teaching

Misc. Passages
celibacy
hospitality
martyrdom
missionary
voluntary poverty

This was the 'test' we had in church many yrs ago.
http://myeikon.com/pdf/houtsspiritualgifts.pdf

It may interest some to try if they havent figured out where God may be leading them. I wish others who had some such assessment would share how they started with their gifts, if they havent yet. Recently there was the 2-page one i found, but idk how helpful that really is.
 
WineRose

WineRose

Senior Member
#17
Jan 3, 2017
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Row A, Column 9
#17
mar09 said:
These are the spiritual gifts often recognized in the Church:

Spiritual Gift Possibilities in Key Bible Passages
Romans 12
exhortation
giving
leadership
mercy
prophecy
service
teaching

1 Corinthians 12
administration
apostle
discernment
faith
healings
helps
knowledge
miracles
prophecy
teaching
tongues
tongues interpretation
wisdom

Ephesians 4
apostle
evangelism
pastor
prophecy
teaching

Misc. Passages
celibacy
hospitality
martyrdom
missionary
voluntary poverty

This was the 'test' we had in church many yrs ago.
http://myeikon.com/pdf/houtsspiritualgifts.pdf

It may interest some to try if they havent figured out where God may be leading them. I wish others who had some such assessment would share how they started with their gifts, if they havent yet. Recently there was the 2-page one i found, but idk how helpful that really is.
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I've read through this list, and I have almost none of these gifts... :/

Now, I would go into detail...but then we would be here for 9 hours, so you can ask me any questions about this, and I will tell you why I stand by that statement.
 
Desertsrose

Desertsrose

Senior Member
#18
Oct 24, 2016
2,824
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#18
mar09 said:
Mooky had a spiritual gifts thread in april, but i am starting this now to ask esp how you discovered ur spiritual gift(s). This is not specifically abt 1 Cor. 12.1-11. I wanted to ask this in particular because idk if the spiritual tests/evaluations are conducted in ur church or not. Some say it is not necessary to do the test, for we can know our gifts and use them as the Spirit leads. But some may not even know their giftedness, or confused. Would not the Lord use us 'more' if we too knew our direction? For example, as a child i have loved music, but that is not a spiritual gift really, and for a long time i have not used that for ministry except some years i did accompany in worship service. Like lynn, however, i did not think teaching was my specific gift, altho i wanted that=).I am not too sure, but for me, it was many yrs ive been attending before i had one such evaluation in a church, and wonder when u had such in church, and would it not be good if believers are led to something to evaluate their gifts early in their spiritual walk? Dont you think some/many? are confused and not effective because we like or want to do something, are gifted in something else, and/or someone or something is hindering us from doing our ministry or service for some reason? Pls give me time to retrieve more info on spiritual gifts not specifically in the passage mentioned above. But i can remember some like administration, mercies, giving, singlehood... as significant spiritual gifts that we sometimes take for granted or overlook but equally needful in the Body of Christ.Thanks for reading.
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Hi Mar,


I've never been tested in any of the churches we've attended.


The gifts of the Spirit are supernatural. How can any questionnaire help you to determine your gift since the gift is determined by the Holy Spirit because He gives to the body of Christ the gift that He wants them to have.


Also, I've heard some say that some receive a gift for a time or for a purpose and then the gift is over with.


We all have natural gifts we're born with. A test would show a person what his natural gifts are.


And as we look throughout the scriptures, we see where God called men who were not gifted and He gave them the ability to carry out His desires, but they received power from God Almighty.


I have a fried who spoke about this just last week. She was given the test to take and she thought it was stupid (her words). I hope that doesn't make anyone upset. I'm just repeating what she said. She ended up looking through the questions, but not answering them and threw the test in the trash. She kind of thinks it's a waste of time.


It seems to me that spiritual gifts can only be revealed through the power of God. And when you have a gift, wouldn't we know what it is because we would end up walking in that gifting.


It we have a gift of mercy, we show mercy. If it's helps, we help others. If it's teaching/pastoral, they do it. If you can heal, you pray for someone and the person is healed. If you have the gift of tongues, you speak in tongues, etc. :)
 
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Tinuviel

Guest
#19
#19
I imagine I will never will know what mine is. If I did, that knowledge would probably get in the way of doing it :p. So my motto is: "whatever your hand finds to do, that do heartily as to the Lord." It's a good motto, I think I maybe read it somewhere once...:p
 
Desertsrose

Desertsrose

Senior Member
#20
Oct 24, 2016
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#20
Tinuviel said:
I imagine I will never will know what mine is. If I did, that knowledge would probably get in the way of doing it :p. So my motto is: "whatever your hand finds to do, that do heartily as to the Lord." It's a good motto, I think I maybe read it somewhere once...:p
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Hi Tinuviel,


You said what I said so much more simply. What we do is our gifting! :)
 
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