Spiritual Gifts pt6: Exercising All

By Bill Gothard

In the initial excitement of discovering your spiritual gift, you may incorrectly conclude that you cannot exercise any of the other gifts. The ultimate expression of every gift is personified in Christ. The more we become like Him, the more we will express each gift in a balanced manner, even though we will use them all from one basic motivation. It is only as we learn the skills of the other six gifts that we will be able to sense our own gift effectively.

Each of us is commanded in Scripture to perform the functions of all seven gifts regardless of what our particular motivation may be.

1. PROCLAIMING TRUTH (prophet)

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men” (1 Corinthians 14:1,3). “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).

2. SERVING OTHERS (server)

“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). “'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me'“ (Matthew 25:40). “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24).

3. INSTRUCTING OTHERS (teacher)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

4. ENCOURAGING OTHERS (exhorter)

“…exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). “…Exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

5. SHARING WITH OTHERS (giver)

“Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38). “Distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality” (Romans 12:13).

6. ORGANIZING (organizer or ruler)

“[Every father must be] one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?)” (1 Timothy 3:4-5). “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32). “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).

7. SHOWING MERCY (mercy)

“Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:12-14).

THIS SERIES IS CONTINUED…