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| You are Gifted |
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A several years ago Howard Gardner wrote a book entitled Frames of Mind in which he offered a new paradigm on how one should look at a person’s intelligence. The old theory categorized people into two categories, those who are smart and those who are not. Gardner countered the old idea, with a new one that stated that everyone is smart, just in different ways. The premise of his theory is not that if you're smart, but how you're smart.
I am currently taking an introductory Hebrew class now, that is, quite frankly, over my head. Normally I do very well in my studies, but this class has got me stumped. I have encountered an area that I am definitely not gifted in (There are many more, lol), which is the gift to learn foreign languages. Deep down I know that no matter how much I study, I will never be an expert, or even half way proficient for that matter, in this discipline. Why? It is because this is not my gifting. There are areas such as theology, biblical studies etc. that come much easier.
So what’s my point? My point is that it is not a matter of if we are gifted, but how we are gifted. God has given you and me an assignment which is to use the gifts He has given us to further His kingdom. It is up to us to discover these gifts that God has given. To quote a friend’s blog, “You have everything you need to fulfill your God-given destiny. God has already put in the talent, the creativity, the discipline, the wisdom, and the determination. It's all in you. You are full of potential. But you have to do your part and start tapping into it. You have to make better use of the gifts and talents that God has given you.” May we all discover and use God’s gifts for His glory.
If you would like, take the spiritual gifts test and share what your gifts are.
http://elmertowns.com/spiritual_gifts_test/
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| Great points. I failed greek so bad in Bible college, that I dropped out and never wanted to go back. Thankfully I came to my senses seven years late. By then greek wasn't required. Anyways, as a day student I really struggled, but as a night student, I had a 4.0. I am a gifted story teller and writer. I am terrible at memorizing facts. I've come to accept that about myself. Thanks for the reminder and the encouragement. |
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JayKTX |
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November 05, 2007 at 7:28pm |
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| Sometimes it is easier to recognize someone else's gifts than our own. But you are right, God has made a deposit in each of us. Thank you for your honesty. |
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Pastor Tim you are so right. I could always recognize and appreciate some one else's gift, but never thought I had any. Now in my older years, I can appreciate what God have given me, and I work hard to use it for His glory.
Sorry to hear about the Hebrew.... I took Greek, 9weeks, 4nights a week for 4hours each night. Oh yeah, I so remember that pain... but it is true...no pain.. no gain. Since I never took Hebrew, it's got to be easier than Greek.
Pastor Aminata |
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Ragland |
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November 06, 2007 at 2:10am |
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Hello Tim, Long time no blog from you. Indeed I was anxiously waiting for one from you. You are so right. God blesses our talents I agree with you. Praise God. |
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Denise |
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November 06, 2007 at 4:35am |
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Thanks Pastor Tim,
I am praying for that insight, I know God has given me talents but I don't know that I have tapped into how I should be used. Thank you for this blog, it helps me to remember to press on and do what I feel God is leading me to do. |
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| Well put Pastor and well taken to heart! i will pray for you as you come more disciplined in that calss. |
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Brad, Jay, Pastor Aminata, Ragland, Restore, Denise, thanks you guys fro your comments. When I wrote this blog I forgot to include the spiritual gifts test that one can take online. The web address is http://elmertowns.com/spiritual_gifts_test/.
I thought it might be cool, if anyone would like, to share what their gifts are. |
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| Thanks Keith. Knowing your heart for evangelism, I bet I know what one of your gifts is. |
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I scored highest on the gifts test on teacher, exhorter, shepherd, prophet, administrator |
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MaKelly |
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November 06, 2007 at 5:28am |
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Pastor Tim
I'm glad your back, every time you post a blog it's a blessing, I think by now everyone on mychurch can guess one of my gifts, I love doing it. Thanks for sharing |
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JessIAm |
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November 06, 2007 at 9:37am |
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I'm in an odd mood, so I'll talk about the language I learned. I remember just enough Spanish to order two spicey chicken tacos =D I went to Chico Calvary Chapel when I lived in Chico California. Thier take on spiritual gifts is: start volunteering - whatever you're best at, that's probably your gift. I scored highest on exhortation and service. |
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Jess, you can speak better Spanish than I can. I can order two chicken tacos. I am not sure how to say spicy. (pecante maybe. Where is my wife when I need her.) I would have guessed exhortation. You are very good at encouragement.
Makelly, you are definitely an encourager. It's off to Chicago this weekend.
Restore, I took it a while back and scored differently. I think I may take it again too. |
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JessIAm |
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November 06, 2007 at 9:50am |
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Quero dos tacos del pollo, mas picante quel Diablo. I want two chicken tacos, more spicey than satan. =D I'm glad God made me a character ;)
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Deb |
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November 06, 2007 at 10:10am |
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| I have been learning what my gifts are as I go. I have discovered some things and have put them to good use in my church and my life. We just have to know who we are. Sometimes it is good to stretch ourselves, like you are with trying to learn Hebrew. Sometimes we are so lost when we do stretch ourselves, that we learn what we are NOT supposed to do. lol Enjoyed reading this blog. Thanks. |
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Jess, now that's a hot taco.
Deb, The longer I walk with the Lord the more I realize what I am gifted to do and what I am gifted to do. Regarding my future, Hebrew is definitely in the cards. lol
I ran across some definitions of spiritual gifts
Definitions from Dr. Earl Radmacher and Gordon McMinn Teaching gifts. -Prophecy: setting before people the Word and wisdom of God persuasively.
-Encouragement: drawing alongside to comfort, encourage, rebuke, and lead someone into insight toward action.
-Teaching: laying down in a systematic order the complete truth of a doctrine and applying it incisively to life.
-The message of wisdom: Locating formerly unknown principles as well as combining known principles of God's Word and communicating them to fresh situations.
-The message of knowledge: Arranging the facts of Scripture, categorizing these into principles, and communicating them to repeated or familiar situations.
-Service Gifts. Contributing: Giving most liberally and beyond all human expectation. Mercy: Being sensitive or empathetic to people who are in affliction or misery and lifting internal burdens with cheerfulness.
-Helps: Seeing tasks and doing them for or with someone in order to lift external burdens.
-Distinguishing spirits: Detecting a genuine or spurious motive by distinguishing the spirit-source behind any person's speech or act.
-Evangelism: Communicating the gospel with power and persuasiveness as well as equipping the saints for evangelism.
-Leadership Gifts. Leadership (executive ability): Standing before people and inspiring followers by leading them aggressively but with care.
-Administration (legislative ability): Standing behind people to collect data, set policy, and develop plans which will guide a course of action with wisdom.
-Faith: Seeing through any problem to the Ultimate Resource.
Today in the Word, July, 1990, p. 19. |
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JessIAm |
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November 06, 2007 at 10:36am |
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| A few years ago, I scored very high in teaching. As I've gained confidence over the last few years, I've become more active in how I apply my teaching gift. In my case at least, a confident teacher has become an exhorter. |
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To me, the gift of prophecy (not the office of prophet) is someone who will speak to the issues of the day. Towns defines the gift of prophecy as follows. "Proclaim God’s Word boldly to build up the church and lead to conviction of sin."
The following are the definitions of the spiritual gifts that are on the spiritual gifts test that I posted earlier.
Definition of Spiritual Gifts: Special, specific empowerments (gifts) given by the Holy Spirit to us, at our conversion, which we exercise with ease and effectiveness to build up the entire body of Christ.
1. Administration – Lead the body by steering others to remain on task. Enable believers to organize according to God-given purposes and longterm goals. 2. Apostleship – Motivate the body to look beyond its walls in order to carry out the Great Commission. Plant Churches and serve as missionaries. 3. Discernment – Aid the body by recognizing the true intentions of those within or related to the body. Test the message and actions of others for the protection and wellbeing of the body. 4. Evangelism – Lead others to Christ effectively and enthusiastically. Build up the church by adding new members to its fellowship. 5. Exhortation – Encourage members to be involved in and enthusiastic about the work of God; often good counselors. Motivate others to serve 6. Faith – Trust God to work beyond the human capabilities of people. Encourage others to trust in God in the face of apparently insurmountable odds. 7. Giving – Financially support with joy and generosity the work and expansion of the church. 8. Hospitality – Make visitors, guests, and strangers feel at ease and comforted. Often use their home to entertain guests. Integrate new members into the church.
9. Teaching – The God-given ability to learn, know, and communicatethe precious truths of God’s Word. 10. Leadership – Direct Christians to accomplish the goals and vision of the church. Effectively communicate the mission and vision – inspire others to follow. 11. Mercy – Characterized by cheerful acts of compassion. Empathize with hurting people. 12. Prophecy – Proclaim God’s Word boldly to build up the church and lead to conviction of sin. 13. Service/Helps – Recognize practical needs in the body and joyfully give assistance to meet those needs. Do not mind working behind the scenes. 14. Knowledge – Alert to the spiritual welfare and development of other believers by sound biblical teaching and advice 15. Shepherding – Instruct members in the truths and doctrines of God’s Word for the purposes of building up, unifying, and maturing the church. 16. Wisdom – Discern the work of the Holy Spirit in believer’s lives by the practical application of the Scriptures. A Spiritual Coach. |
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Interesting test. These are my top five scores.
teacher 100 exhorter 98 helper 94 mercy shower 90 evangelist 83
Pastor Aminata |
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Joey |
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November 06, 2007 at 2:28pm |
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| Pastor Tim and you are smart, well versed and a good teacher. I am going to get some guts and take the test |
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Joey |
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November 06, 2007 at 2:48pm |
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mercy shower
evangalist
exhorter
giver
helper |
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top 3:
exhorter 180,
mercy shower 167,
helper 148
Good test. I took one similar about 15 years ago and discovered I was weak in giving (Scrooge McDuck was actually a childhood hero of mine) I prayed and my giving changed after God's heart (127) Always room for improvement in all cases, God is inexhaustible.
More recently after years as a practitioner in the medical field and becoming desensitive to death and grief, I prayed for God to endow me in that area also. It had gotten so bad, that when the Spirit of God came upon me to raise someone from the dead (my first time), I didn't care if he stayed living as long as he had a home in heaven. But thank God for change..
Greek was pretty easy for me, The Hebrew is more of a challenge, although easier than Chinese. I was learning two kinds when I was in China, but I'm pretty fast at languages. (God's Word in Genesis is very evident in the origion of the language (see http://www.wbschool.org/Chinese.swf )
Next stop Aramaic... |
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| That was a good word. i know my gift are helping and mercy. but I also enjoy encouraging people and praying for them. |
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JessIAm |
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November 07, 2007 at 8:45am |
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| It's funny how gifts can work. My gifts are exhortation, teaching, and serving. Whenever I've gone street witnessing, I pick the people I talk to at random. They always turn out to be backsliden or immature Christians. |
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Gene |
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November 07, 2007 at 7:11pm |
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Since everyone seems to into tests, I thought I'd add another to the list.
This one will also allow you to download and print a copy of the test.
One thing I learned is that your gifts do not change much - but they evolve. A gift that is underused will grow and flourish when exercised. PT, I'm not sure that this works for learning a language though. lol |
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Pastor Aminata, you definitely have the gift of teaching!
Restore, Joey, Victorious, Woman of Joy, I will pray that God would use you mightily in your gifting.
Job, I agree, but that would need another blog.
Jess, you said it best. God puts us in positions where our gifts can be used best.
Gene, thank for the link. After I post this comment, I plan to check it out. |
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Well to my knowlege We've never met but I consider you a friend, so that should count for something. I took that test my scores ranged from 24 to 16 with mercy shower and helper being the highest scores. I'm thinking when newcomers come to Christ we need to help them to open up those presents and play with them.
Love,
your buddy dave |
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Dave, I consider you a friend as well. Your gift of mercy is being used greatly with newcomers to Christ. The gift is also really effective in ministry to addicts which is a ministry that you are involved in. God puts us in areas where we can be most effective. God is good.
I appreciate you brother,
Pastor Tim |
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Sue |
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November 09, 2007 at 10:34pm |
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| | | Gift | Measure of Spiritual Gift | Score | | evangelist | | 27 | | prophet | | 27 | | shepherd | | 24 | | helper | | 23 | | exhorter | | 22 | | teacher | | 20 | | mercy shower | | 17 | | giver | | 16 | | administrator | | 11 |
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Your two highest gifts (gift mix)
EVANGELIST: That special ability to lead unsaved people to a knowledge of Christ. The evangelist has a passion for souls, a clear understanding of the gospel and a tendency to be confrontational in approaching people because of the urgency of the task (Eph. 4:11-14; II Timothy. 4:5; Acts 21:8; Acts 8:5,6).
PROPHET: That special ability to see the influence of evil as did the Old Testament prophets and warn God’s people of its damage. The prophet has a deep passion to defend God’s reputation, stand for issues. She uses negative motivation, i.e., “thus saith the Lord . . .” (I Cor. 12:10,28; Eph. 4:11-15; Rom. 12:6). What does your profile mean?
1. The higher your score in an area (i.e., score 75 to 100), the more gifted you are in that gift.
2. Remember that lay people tend to have lower scores than full-time workers.
3. Don't be discouraged by a low score and don't give up your attempt to use that gift. You can grow in any ability or spiritual gift.
4. Watch for two or three highest gifts. Compare these strengths (called your "gift mix") to see how they work together. As an illustration, strength as a shepherd (group leader) and strength as a teacher, means you will lead a group by teaching.
5. Concentrate on our strengths in serving Christ, not your weaknesses. Total Christian service will strengthen weak gifts, but don't focus all your energies on them. |
I definitely agree with the first gift. But the last should be second for sure and the mercy shower should be at the bottom :) Great post Tim! |
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Evangelist - Awesome!
Regarding your gifting as an administrator, I would agree that it should be way up there. You have a real gift for administration and organization. |
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