Serving With Your Gift

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1Pe. 4:10)

When we think of gifts, we often think of talents.  There is a difference between natural talents and the gift of grace that Peter is referring to.  Even as we all have received natural talents, we also, as believers, have received a gift of grace.  This gift is spiritual in nature because it allows us to administer God’s grace to others.  As different members of the Body of Christ, we release this grace in various ways, but it is always God’s help to someone in their time of need (Heb. 4:16).  To be effective in our ministry, it is more important that we learn how to serve with our gift than it is to know what our gifting is.  Our gift will become apparent as we allow Christ to live through us.

There are three types of gifts of grace.  These are all mentioned in 1Corinthians Chapter 12.  First, there are the charismatic gifts which the Spirit distributes to each one as He wills (1Cor. 12:4,11).  Then there are ministry gifts which Christ gives to equip His Church (1Cor. 12:5; Eph.4:11).  Lastly, there are “diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all” (1Cor. 12:6).  These activities (or functions) are listed in Romans as prophecy, serving, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading, and showing mercy (Rom. 12:6-8).  In the verse above, Peter is referring to our function gift.  Although there are only seven function gifts listed, we can function in all of these, but our individual gift will be a combination of any of these. 

Our function gift influences how we operate in the gifts of the Spirit and the type of ministry gift we may be called to.   Since it is foundational to how we serve the Lord, we must apply ourselves diligently to its proper use.  Let me state again that the way to operate in our gift is not to first discover what it is, lest we resort to striving in the flesh.  “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith” (Rom. 12:6).  What Paul is saying concerning the foundational gift of prophesy applies to all the gifts.  We have access to grace by faith (Rom. 5:2).  We also have access to grace through humility.  “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (Jas. 4:6).  This is the reason why Paul begins the discussion of function gifts with the exhortation to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1).  As we learn to live crucified to this world and alive to God through Christ, we express God’s grace in the form He has determined for us (Gal. 2:20).  We must draw from the anointing that He has given us (1Jn. 2:27).  “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.  If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.  Amen.” (1Pe. 4:11).

How we think affects how we walk.  No longer seeing ourselves from a human perspective, but from God’s perspective, will help us to walk in humility and faith.  “Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2Cor. 5:16,17).  As living stones, we are being built into a spiritual house (1Pe. 2:5), a holy City.  “The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.  The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones…” (Rev. 21:18,19).  We are precious stones, designed to reflect God’s glory (Rev. 21:11).  I like how John describes this reality which is not yet visible to the world: “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1Jn. 3:2,3). 

Experiencing the anointing in our lives is not all that is required to fulfill our calling.  After Saul was anointed to be king, he became a new man and began to prophesy with the prophets (1Sam. 10:6).  His heart, however, was not right and he became rebellious.  We are responsible to be pure vessels, “sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” (2Tim. 2:21).  Our natural talents and personalities are the vessel containing the grace that we serve to others.  We express God through our natural life.  To be prepared for the Master’s use includes purity of heart, availability, and preparedness.  Besides maintaining a strong devotional life, we can also develop our natural talents.  For example, the teacher should develop and practice good study habits (2Tim. 2:15).  The vessel is not the gift, but it delivers the gift.

Here is a confession to help you serve with the special gift God has given you.  To be successful, Joshua was exhorted to meditate day and night on the Word of God (Josh. 1:8).  This word “meditate” means to ponder and to mutter (speak to yourself).  Please take the time to prayerfully ponder and confess this meditation.

With Christ, I am crucified to this world.  I am no longer my own but have been purchased by the precious blood of Jesus.  The life I now live, I live by faith “in” Christ.  I am a new creation, a member of His spiritual body, which is His temple.  I renounce selfishness and choose to serve others in love.  Through grace by faith, I abide in the anointing He has given me.  As a precious living stone in His Holy City, I reflect His glory with the spiritual ability He has given me.  I yield myself to God as a living sacrifice so that Christ may live though me and manifest the Father’s good, acceptable, and perfect will.  Amen.