Spiritual gifts

The Bible teaches that beyond our natural talents, the Holy Spirit equips each believer with one or more 'gifts', a special ability that was not yours naturally but most often that are not 'contradictory to who you are'.

One of the most specific tools God uses in helping a person come to realize what spiritual gifts they have been endowed with are other fellow believers in your local assembly. Not only may there be those whom God has given the gift of discernment or prophecy to help you, but the assembly will function as a sounding board - they are the ones who are always in contact with you, and they can just tell! For example, if you feel you have the gift of singing, they will very quickly tell you if you don't have that gift! Always be humble enough to ask others, especially leadership and those to whom you are accountable, to confirm whether you have or do not have certain gifts.

This being said, let us list and briefly elaborate on a number of gifts.

Preaching
Publicly communicating God's Word in an inspired way that convinces unbelievers and both challenges and comforts believers.

Prophecy
"Speaking human words to report something God brings to mind." Note: all prophecies need to be tested to see if they are from God (1 Thessalonians 5:20,21).

Evangelism
Communicating the gospel to unbelievers in a positive, non-threatening way, and sensing opportunities to share Christ and lead people to faith.

Missions
Adapting to a different culture in order to reach unbelievers and help believers from that culture.

Apostle/Church Planter
Starting new churches and overseeing their development.

Teaching
Educating by clearly explaining and applying the Bible in such a way that causes them to learn.

Encouragement / Exhortation
Motivating God's people to apply and act on biblical principles, especially when they are discouraged or wavering in their faith. Bringing out the best in others and challenge them to develop their potential.

Wisdom / Knowledge
Understanding God's perspective on life situations and sharing those insights in a simple, understandable way. Explaining what to do and how to do it.

Discernment
Distinguishing right from wrong, truth from error, and to give an immediate evaluation based on God's Word. Discerning whether the source of an experience is Satan, self, or God's Spirit.

Service
Recognizing unmet needs in people, and taking the initiative to provide practical assistance quickly, cheerfully, and without a need for recognition.

Mercy
Detecting hurt and empathizing with those who are suffering. Providing compassionate and cheerful support to those experiencing distress, crisis, or pain.

Hospitality
Making others, especially strangers, feel warmly welcomed, accepted, and comfortable. Coordinating factors that promote fellowship.

Pastoring / Shepherding
Caring for the spiritual needs of a group of believers and equipping them for ministry. Nurturing a small group in spiritual growth and assuming responsibility for their welfare

Giving
Generously contributing resources to the needs of others.

Music / Worship
Celebrating God's presence through music, either vocal or instrumental, and leading the church family in worship.

Arts & Crafts
Building, maintaining, or beautifying the place of worship for God's glory. Expressing worship through a variety of art forms.

Intercession
Praying for the needs of others over extended periods of time on a regular basis. Persisting in prayer and not being discouraged until the answer arrives.

Healing
Praying in faith specifically for people who need physical, emotional, or spiritual healing, and see God answer. Sensing when God is prompting you to pray this kind of prayer.

Miracles
Praying in faith specifically for God's supernatural intervention into an impossible situation and see God answer. Sensing when God is prompting you to pray this kind of prayer.

Praying with my Spirit (Tongues / Interpretation)
Praying in a language understood only by God or one who is given the gift of interpretation at that time.

Leadership
Clarifying and communicating the purpose and direction ("vision") of a ministry in a way that attracts others to get involved. Motivating others by example to work together in accomplishing a goal.

Administration / Organisation
Recognizing the gifts of others and recruiting them to a ministry. Organizing and managing people, resources, and time for effective ministry. Coordinating many details and executing the plans of leadership.

Faith
Trusting God for what cannot be seen and acting on God's promises, regardless of what the circumstances indicate. Willingness to risk failure in pursuit of a God-given vision, expecting God to handle the obstacles.

Pray for God to reveal to you which gift(s) He may be wanting you to exercise, and see which ones not only are attractive to you, but also ones in which you find yourself now nearly uncontrollably always exercising! We are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and the Holy Spirit has unleashed in you new potential and direction since the day you were born again. Look back to the day of your conversion and begin to note what you since then have been doing differently for the glory of God. You can be pretty sure that this is in line with your spiritual gift(s) !

Note that in summary, the Apostle Peter virtually sums up all the gifts into two categories, either 'speaking' or 'serving'. Listen to what he writes in 1 Peter 4:10,11:

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

The following sections on Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experience, will also be confirming factors for the spiritual gifts you have - very rarely will you be asked by God to do something contrary to who you are. But please note, God can sometimes totally overrule who you are for the sake of someone else - consider that God used a donkey to talk once! (Numbers 22:30).