Spritual Gifts

[MorpheusJS]

I was chatting with my friend and we started talking about spiritual gifts. She made the comment that she wished she could find hers. At first I was surprised because of the way she said it, but then I realized that I didn't really know what mine was either. So I did some research and found out that I one of my top gifts is the gift of faith. I have a lot of faith that God will provide whatever I need whenever I need it, and that no matter what happens he is in charge of the big picture. But then I started to wonder, is this something that I can apply to every day life or is it just the way I am? Should I have to do something to utilize this gift? Or is having faith the gift itself? I'm starting to think that just having faith is a gift in itself because I have seen how watching someone with strong faith can help someone else's faith. What do you guys think?

Edited December 26, 2005 by MorpheusJS

[Ovedya]

I think that the Lord places each of us in His Body as He wills, not as we will, and not as we might prefer or desire (1 Cor. 12:18)

I think that all members of the Body should desire spritiual gifts, but especially that they may prophesy (1 Cor. 14:1) for the building up of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 14:12) (To prophesy is more than simply foretelling the future. It is to speak as a representative of the risen Christ: 1 Cor. 11:4; 12:10; 13:2; 14:3-6; 39;)

I think that, above all, a new believer in Christ, young in the faith, should first seek to be built up in the church by pursuing the Lord with all those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Tim. 6:11).

Wait on the Lord.

[jamie]

I thjink that the Lord places each of us in His Body as He wills, not as we will, and not as we might prefer or (1 Cor. 12:18)

I think that all members of the Body should spritiual gifts, but especially that they may prophesy (1 Cor. 14:1) for the building up of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 14:12) (To prophesy is more than simply foretelling the future. It is to speak as a representative of the risen Christ: 1 Cor. 11:4; 12:10; 13:2; 14:3-6; 39;)

I think that, above all, a new believer in Christ, young in the faith, should first seek to be built up in the church by pursuing the Lord with all those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:22; 1 Tim. 6:11).

Wait on the Lord.

I agree, 'seek first His kingdom' He will add everything else as an overflow to those who love Him. It will come naturally.

[other one]

My grandmother died several years ago from brain cancer, and it was really not a pretty sight. We suffered along with her as her her body just quit working one little piece at a time.

One day, after her death, mom and dad was visiting some people there that were long time friends when my mom made the comment to dad that she didn't understand why God would let Grandma suffer so much and just not take her on. Mom was more than just a little upset with the Lord.

A nurse there came over to my mother and told her how much my grandmother's faith and holding to the Lord as she slowly fell apart was such an uplift to everyone there that mom would really never know how many people my grandmother touched, both that worked there, and was staying there and people who came to visit their families and friends as they were recovering or dieing in that rest home.

My grandmother had that gift of faith that you speak of, and it can be a great help to others as they watch you go through life and how you interface with them. It is important and very special in my eyes. Grandmother touched people her whole life, but I didn't realize it until she was gone and a stranger pointed it out to me......

So thank the Lord for your gift. It may not be as glamorous as some of the others, but it is the foundation that Christianity is built on. .

[Guest NewPilgrim]

Faith is a gift that we all receive. However the scripture also says that God gives to each his measure. So what does that mean? Well as best as I can figure it, we all have enough faith to get through whatever life will throw at us individually, but I believe that God grants a greater prominence of faith to some, that is to say that others see a great deal of faith in them which serves as great example and an encouragement to others. You will probably meet Christians whose ministry seems to be mostly one of insight, or one of kindness, or one of faithfulness etc... and I think these prominent features of a persons ministry have a great deal to tell us about the spiritual gifts

[Ovedya]

Faith is the free gift of God which is given to all believers the moment that the believe. However, the measure of faith given to us is for our functioning within the Body of Christ. You will find that, Biblically, it is right to refer to gifts in terms of their funtions within the Body, just as Paul does in 1 Cor. 12-14 respectively. So don't think of the gifts apart from their function within the Body, because truly the gifts are the functions of the members within the Body, for it's growth and maturity. (cf. Eph. 4:7-16)

In the most simple terms you are an member of an enormous organic Body functioning according to where you were placed by God, and faith is your "Power Bar," filled with the riches of Christ Jesus. The more you eat of Christ, the more faith is imparted to you; the more you function in the Body, the more the Body grows and matures.

[MK202002]

I was taught that one believer can use several gifts. But God may call him or her to use one more than the other, too build a particular ministry. But just do what God says, and you'll be ok. It was Peter that healed the beggar at the gate and used the gift of miracles to raise Dorcus from the dead. Acts 3 and 9.

Yes, you have to exercise, if you will, everything God gives you. Faith comes through hearing the word, Romans 10:17

1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.