The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
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<strong>The</strong> first deacons (seven <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m) were appointed by <strong>the</strong> laying on <strong>of</strong> hands. Though <strong>the</strong>y were<br />
already men "full <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong> and <strong>of</strong> wisdom" and had been selected for that reason, never<strong>the</strong>less<br />
hands were laid on <strong>the</strong>m (Acts 6:6) and both Stephen and Philip later manifested spiritual gifts in<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir effective ministries (Acts 6:8,10,15) and had wider ministries than serving tables.<br />
Michael Griffiths in his book, Grace <strong>Gifts</strong>, makes <strong>the</strong> following interesting points:<br />
“This raises <strong>the</strong> interesting question <strong>of</strong> exactly when spiritual gifts are imparted which,<br />
strangely enough, is a question not <strong>of</strong>ten asked. We do not need to insist that spiritual<br />
gifts are sovereignly imparted once for all at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> new birth, although this<br />
is partly true. <strong>The</strong>se two verses in <strong>the</strong> Pastoral Epistles encourage us to believe that<br />
charismata may be given within <strong>the</strong> church where <strong>the</strong>y are to be exercised. It may also<br />
be correct to see a gift more as a part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> whole manifestation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> grace <strong>of</strong> God<br />
given to <strong>the</strong> whole congregation and less as a personally possessed piece <strong>of</strong> property." 2<br />
V. EXPERIMENT WITH AS MANY AS YOU CAN<br />
Discovering gifts is in some ways very much like discovering natural talents. You would never<br />
know you had music talent unless you tried it. Experimentation is a very important factor in<br />
finding what your gifts are.<br />
Don't be afraid to experiment, to try various ministries. Fear <strong>of</strong> failure is <strong>of</strong>ten <strong>the</strong> biggest<br />
hurdle to discovering spiritual gifts.<br />
You will never find your gifts by playing it safe!<br />
You must be unreservedly willing to do anything if you are to know <strong>the</strong> fullest use <strong>of</strong> your<br />
spiritual gifts. Willingness to try something new may uncover a gift you never knew you<br />
possessed.<br />
One way to begin is by looking to see what needs <strong>the</strong>re are around you. <strong>The</strong>n try to do<br />
something to meet those needs. What are some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people with whom you are in<br />
contact? What are <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> church to which you belong. Find out where and how you can<br />
be useful in any way, and do it.
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