Identifying Your Spiritual Gift Series

Spiritual Gifts part 2

Identifying your spiritual gift

In the last couple of weeks we have been looking at the issue of spiritual gifts. Last week we looked at ‘Using your gifts to serve others’, this week we are looking at ‘identifying your spiritual gift’.

It can be difficult in life to find your place, your purpose. What function did God specifically create you to do? Why are you specifically here on earth for? How do you know what God intends to use you for? We are all so different and unique.

The gifts of nature are infinite in their variety, and mind differs from mind almost as much as body from body.

Marcus Fabius Quintilian

Ancient Roman, Philosopher (35 – 100 A.D.)

Today I am preaching from the whole book of Ephesians. To look at the general themes of the book and how it can help us find out spiritual gifts.

This letter has so many great truths in it.

Whenever you read the Word of God you should always try to see to whom it is addressed. Is it to an individual or to a church? This will help with your understanding and interpretation of it.

The Ephesians letter is to a church. This changes the context of much of what we can first assume.

Let us look at the whole book today.

Whatever the letter is talking about it must be in the context of it having been written to a church. A group of people is to respond to it. They may have things to do personally, but it is still talking to them in relationship with others. Paul speaks of unity, and it is easy to understand how we are all to relate to one another. But when he speaks of spiritual warfare we have often looked at it as if he is speaking to us as individuals. This is not the case. We are to put on the whole armour of God as a group.

THE MAJOR THEME

Every letter in the New Testament has one major theme. In Romans it is the story of salvation. In James it is faith and works. In Philippians it is joy.

The major theme of Ephesians is God’s spiritual gifts working through us and our response to it.

Chapters 1-3 speak of God’s work on our behalf.

Chapters 4-6 speak of our work for God.

However, there is also a progression of thought that we need to see, for it will help us in our understanding of moving from prayer to praise to worship and serving God with our spiritual gifts.

Identifying your spiritual gift

1) Finding your spiritual gift, starts with the Holy Spirit

2) Finding your spiritual gift is about trust in Jesus Christ

3) Rest in the presence of God

4) Unity in the Spirit

5) Spiritual gifts lead to greater joy

6) Stand firm against evil

1) Finding your spiritual gift, starts with the Holy Spirit

13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14

The Holy Spirit makes a man a Christian, and if he is a Christian through the work of the Holy Spirit, that same Spirit draws him to other Christians in the church. An individual Christian is not Christian at all

R. Brokhoff (Lutheran Minister, Professor Emory University, 1913 – 2003)

When a thing is sealed we can make some assumptions about it.

1. In the case of a bottle of water we look for a seal. The seal means that the water is pure. There is a guarantee on the contents. There has been no tampering with the contents. The suppliers of the water are saying that it was right when it left the plant. They are also telling you that it should still be o.k. when you buy it.

2. In the case of a document, a seal tells us everything in it is legal and above board. So, the downpayment of the Holy Spirit into our lives establishes that we are pure. The contents are guaranteed. They cannot be tampered with. Also, everything is legally established.

This is what took place at our conversion. Having been instructed to set us apart for God’s business the Holy Spirit did this by sealing us. He was tying us in with God on an eternal basis. Our spirit is now safe by His work in us. No longer could the devil cause us any permanent or eternal damage. God came into us and this meant that we were now the temple of God.