From Week 10, Leadership Development training for University Fellowship of Christians.
It is far more accurate to say that you’ve been “had” by a gift from the Spirit rather than you possess a gift. You do not own it. It is not for you to decide how or when to use it. It is God who does his work in and through you to be a gift to others as he accomplishes his kingdom purposes for the common good of his church.
In fact, a spiritual gift might only be available to you for a season and then removed as God wills.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 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. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Some corners of the church over the past 60 years have sought to create a formula for discovering your spiritual gifts. Much like one would do an online personality quiz to discover which Star Wars character you are, people are drawn to discovering their spiritual gifts in the same way.
If it were only so easy!
In fact, Scripture doesn’t speak of Spiritual Gifts in this way. Paul writes to different churches with a list of gifts and no two lists are exactly the same. Even Peter’s list of spiritual gifts is different. This leads one to assume that gifts are given by God to do his will for the common good of his church in a contextual way: different gifts for different people in different places. In fact we have records of missionaries like Amy Carmichael in India working with unreached communities who are gifted for only a season with gifts like physical healing that draw people to hear the good news of Jesus. And then God removes that gift but his work continues.
By contrast, the fruits of the spirit … love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control ... are for everyone for all times. It is FAR better to grow in and devote yourself to developing these fruits of the spirit than aspiring to achieve a level of heightened spiritual performance.
How many times have we heard of or seen a talented leader or teacher fall away due to festering sin in their lives?
So how do you know how God might gift or use you at any time?
Affinity: What do you feel drawn to in serving God’s kingdom? What energizes you? What are you passionate about? Do you feel the buzz of the joy of worship when you’ve taken a friend through the book of Mark showing her Jesus for the first time?
Opportunity: Where is there a need at church? Could you help? Open yourself up to trying lots of different things! Whether you’re young OR old. It is God who gifts to achieve his work. Show up and join him.
Ability: Talents are not the same as Spiritual GIfts but they can definitely be used by God and should be cultivated for the service of others and out of love for God’s community.
If you’re not sure where to start, talk to your minister or Bible study leader or any of the Uni Fellowship staff. They will be delighted to have that conversation with you and plug you in where they see God is at work and his spirit at work IN you. In fact, don’t be shocked if someone at Uni Fellowship or church taps you on the shoulder and asks you if you’d like to join a ministry team. They’ve seen the spirit at work in you and value you as a member of the body of Christ.
We all play a role in God’s kingdom whether great or small, each of immeasurable value to the body of Christ. You might be disappointed that this video didn’t help you unlock your personal Spiritual gift. But I hope that you have a renewed wonder about how God achieves his work in and through his people. I hope you continue cultivating those fruits of the Spirit and show up and say, God use me!
“Use me where I am at the University to point my friends and classmates to Jesus. Gift me however you see fit. Here I am, use me.”
At University Fellowship of Christians we are in a unique position to speak into the University realm of conversations and ideas and worldviews and point those who are questioning, confused by the world's lack of answers where authenticity becomes the ethical standard.
Christians and churches (both local and further afield) partnering with us in this important work makes a massive difference in young people's lives as staff and students are showing up and are here for these types of conversations.