What are your Spiritual Gifts?
Here are some excerpts to help you understand the various gifts of the Spirit.
Descriptions of gifts...
Administration
The ability to understand what makes an organization function, and the special ability to plan and execute procedures that accomplish the goals of the ministry. People with this gift develop strategies or plans to reach identified goals, assist ministries to become more effective and efficient, create order out of organizational chaos, manage or coordinate a variety of responsibilities to accomplish a task, organize people, tasks, or events.
Apostleship
It is the ability to start and oversee the development of new churches or ministry structures. People with this gift pioneer and establish new ministries or churches, adapt to different surroundings by being culturally sensitive and aware, desire to minister to un-reached people in other communities or countries, have responsibilities to oversee ministries or groups of churches, demonstrate authority and vision for the mission of the church.
Craftsmanship
It is the ability to creatively design and or construct items to be used for ministry. People with this gift work with wood, cloth , paints, metal, glass, and other raw materials, make things which increase the effectiveness of others' ministries, enjoy serving with their hands to meet tangible needs, design and build tangible items and resources for ministry use, work with different kinds of tools and are skilled with their hands.
Creative Communication
It is the ability to communicate God's truth through a variety of art forms. People with this gift use the arts to communicate God's truth, develop and use artistic skills such as drama, writing, art, music, dance, etc., use variety and creativity to captivate people and cause them to consider Christ's message, challenge people's perspective of God through various forms of the arts, demonstrate fresh ways to express the Lord's ministry and message.
Discernment
It is the ability to distinguish between truth and error, to discern the spirits, differentiating between good and evil, right and wrong. People with this gift, distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, pure motives from impure, identify deception in others with accuracy and appropriateness, determine whether a word attributed to God is authentic, recognize inconsistencies in a teaching, prophetic message, or interpretation, are able to sense the presence of evil.
Encouragement
It is the ability to present truth so as to strengthen, comfort, or urge to action those who are discouraged or wavering in faith. People with this gift, come to the side of those who are discouraged to strengthen and reassure them, challenge, comfort, or confront others to trust and hope in the promises of God, urge others to action by applying Biblical truth, motivate others to grow, emphasize God's promises and to have confidence in His will.
Evangelism
It is the ability to effectively communicate the gospel to unbelievers so they respond in faith and move toward discipleship. People with this gift, communicate the message of Christ with clarity and conviction, seek out opportunities to talk to unbelievers about spiritual matters, challenge unbelievers to faith and to become fully devoted followers of Christ, adapt their presentation of the gospel to connect with the individual's needs, seek opportunities to build relationships with unbelievers.
Faith
It is the ability to act on God's promises with confidence and unwavering belief in God's ability to fulfill his purposes. People with this gift, believe the promises of God and inspire others to do the same, act in complete confidence of God's ability to overcome obstacles, demonstrate an attitude of trust in God's will and his promises, advance the cause of Christ because they go forward when others will not, ask God for what is needed and trust him for his provisions.
Giving
It is the ability to contribute money and resources to the work of the Lord with cheerfulness and liberality. It does not ask, "How much money do I give to God?" but, how much of God’s money do I keep?" People with this gift manage their finances and limit their lifestyle in order to give as much of their resources as possible, support the work of ministry with sacrificial gifts to advance the Kingdom, meet tangible needs that enable spiritual growth to occur, provide resources, generously and cheerfully, busting God for his provision, may have a special ability to make money so that they may use it to further God's work.
Helps
It is the ability to accomplish practical and necessary tasks which free-up, support, and meet the needs of others. People with this gift, serve behind the scenes wherever needed to support the gifts and ministries of others, see the tangible and practical things to be done and enjoy doing them, sense God's purpose and pleasure in meeting everyday responsibilities, attach spiritual value to practical service, enjoy knowing that they are freeing up others to do what God has called them to do.
Hospitality
It is the ability to care for people by providing fellowship, food, and shelter. People with this gift provide an environment where people feel valued and cared for, meet new people and help those to feel welcomed, create a safe and comfortable setting where relationships can develop, seek ways to connect people together into meaningful relationships, set people at ease in unfamiliar surroundings.
Intercession
It is the ability to consistently pray on behalf of and for others, seeing frequent and specific results. People with this gift, feel compelled to earnestly pray on behalf of someone or some cause, have a daily awareness of the spiritual battles being waged and pray, are convinced God moves in direct response to prayer, pray in response to the leading of the spirit, whether they understand it or not exercise authority and power for the protection of others and the equipping of them to serve.
Knowledge
It is the ability to bring truth to the body through a revelation or biblical insight. People with this gift, receive truth which enables them to better serve the body, search the scriptures for insight, understanding, and truth, gain knowledge which at times was not attained by natural means, have an unusual insight or understanding that serves die church, organize information for teaching and practical use.
Leadership
It is the ability to cast vision, motivate and direct people to harmoniously accomplish the purposes of God. People with this gift provide direction for God's people or ministry, motivate others to perform to the best of their abilities, present the "big picture" for others to see, model the values of the ministry, take responsibility and establish goals.
Mercy
It is the ability to cheerfully and practically help those who are suffering or are in need, compassion moved to action. People with this gift - focus upon alleviating the sources of pain or discomfort in suffering people, address the needs of the lonely and forgotten, express love, grace, and dignity to those facing hardships and crisis, serve in difficult or unsightly circumstances and do so cheerfully, concern themselves with individual or social issues that oppress people.
Prophecy
This is the ability to reveal truth and proclaim it in a timely and relevant manner for understanding, correction, repentance, or edification. There may be immediate or future implications. People with this gift, expose sin or deception in others for the purpose of reconciliation, speak a timely word from God causing conviction, repentance, and edification, see truth that others often fail to see and challenge them to respond, warn of God's immediate or future judgment if there is no repentance, understand God's heart and mind through experience he takes them through.
Shepherding
This is the ability to nurture, care for, and guide people toward ongoing spiritual maturity and becoming like Christ. People with this gift, take responsibility to nurture the whole person in their walk with God, provide guidance and oversight to a group of God's people, model with their life what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus, establish trust and confidence through long relationships, lead and protect those within their span of care.
Teaching
The ability to understand, clearly explain and apply the word of God causing greater Christ-likeness in the lives of listeners. People with this gift communicate Biblical truth that inspires greater obedience to the word, challenge listeners simply and practically with the truths of scripture, present the whole counsel of God for maximum life change, give attention to detail and accuracy, prepare through extended times of study and reflection.
Wisdom
It is the ability to apply spiritual truth effectively to meet a need in a specific situation. People with this gift, focus on the unseen consequences in determining the next steps to take, receive an Understanding of what is necessary to meet the needs of the body, provide divinely given solutions in the midst of conflict and confusion, hear the Spirit provide direction for God's best in a given situation, apply spiritual truth in specific and practical ways.
Here are some excerpts to help you understand the various gifts of the Spirit.
Descriptions of gifts...
Administration
The ability to understand what makes an organization function, and the special ability to plan and execute procedures that accomplish the goals of the ministry. People with this gift develop strategies or plans to reach identified goals, assist ministries to become more effective and efficient, create order out of organizational chaos, manage or coordinate a variety of responsibilities to accomplish a task, organize people, tasks, or events.
Apostleship
It is the ability to start and oversee the development of new churches or ministry structures. People with this gift pioneer and establish new ministries or churches, adapt to different surroundings by being culturally sensitive and aware, desire to minister to un-reached people in other communities or countries, have responsibilities to oversee ministries or groups of churches, demonstrate authority and vision for the mission of the church.
Craftsmanship
It is the ability to creatively design and or construct items to be used for ministry. People with this gift work with wood, cloth , paints, metal, glass, and other raw materials, make things which increase the effectiveness of others' ministries, enjoy serving with their hands to meet tangible needs, design and build tangible items and resources for ministry use, work with different kinds of tools and are skilled with their hands.
Creative Communication
It is the ability to communicate God's truth through a variety of art forms. People with this gift use the arts to communicate God's truth, develop and use artistic skills such as drama, writing, art, music, dance, etc., use variety and creativity to captivate people and cause them to consider Christ's message, challenge people's perspective of God through various forms of the arts, demonstrate fresh ways to express the Lord's ministry and message.
Discernment
It is the ability to distinguish between truth and error, to discern the spirits, differentiating between good and evil, right and wrong. People with this gift, distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, pure motives from impure, identify deception in others with accuracy and appropriateness, determine whether a word attributed to God is authentic, recognize inconsistencies in a teaching, prophetic message, or interpretation, are able to sense the presence of evil.
Encouragement
It is the ability to present truth so as to strengthen, comfort, or urge to action those who are discouraged or wavering in faith. People with this gift, come to the side of those who are discouraged to strengthen and reassure them, challenge, comfort, or confront others to trust and hope in the promises of God, urge others to action by applying Biblical truth, motivate others to grow, emphasize God's promises and to have confidence in His will.
Evangelism
It is the ability to effectively communicate the gospel to unbelievers so they respond in faith and move toward discipleship. People with this gift, communicate the message of Christ with clarity and conviction, seek out opportunities to talk to unbelievers about spiritual matters, challenge unbelievers to faith and to become fully devoted followers of Christ, adapt their presentation of the gospel to connect with the individual's needs, seek opportunities to build relationships with unbelievers.
Faith
It is the ability to act on God's promises with confidence and unwavering belief in God's ability to fulfill his purposes. People with this gift, believe the promises of God and inspire others to do the same, act in complete confidence of God's ability to overcome obstacles, demonstrate an attitude of trust in God's will and his promises, advance the cause of Christ because they go forward when others will not, ask God for what is needed and trust him for his provisions.
Giving
It is the ability to contribute money and resources to the work of the Lord with cheerfulness and liberality. It does not ask, "How much money do I give to God?" but, how much of God’s money do I keep?" People with this gift manage their finances and limit their lifestyle in order to give as much of their resources as possible, support the work of ministry with sacrificial gifts to advance the Kingdom, meet tangible needs that enable spiritual growth to occur, provide resources, generously and cheerfully, busting God for his provision, may have a special ability to make money so that they may use it to further God's work.
Helps
It is the ability to accomplish practical and necessary tasks which free-up, support, and meet the needs of others. People with this gift, serve behind the scenes wherever needed to support the gifts and ministries of others, see the tangible and practical things to be done and enjoy doing them, sense God's purpose and pleasure in meeting everyday responsibilities, attach spiritual value to practical service, enjoy knowing that they are freeing up others to do what God has called them to do.
Hospitality
It is the ability to care for people by providing fellowship, food, and shelter. People with this gift provide an environment where people feel valued and cared for, meet new people and help those to feel welcomed, create a safe and comfortable setting where relationships can develop, seek ways to connect people together into meaningful relationships, set people at ease in unfamiliar surroundings.
Intercession
It is the ability to consistently pray on behalf of and for others, seeing frequent and specific results. People with this gift, feel compelled to earnestly pray on behalf of someone or some cause, have a daily awareness of the spiritual battles being waged and pray, are convinced God moves in direct response to prayer, pray in response to the leading of the spirit, whether they understand it or not exercise authority and power for the protection of others and the equipping of them to serve.
Knowledge
It is the ability to bring truth to the body through a revelation or biblical insight. People with this gift, receive truth which enables them to better serve the body, search the scriptures for insight, understanding, and truth, gain knowledge which at times was not attained by natural means, have an unusual insight or understanding that serves die church, organize information for teaching and practical use.
Leadership
It is the ability to cast vision, motivate and direct people to harmoniously accomplish the purposes of God. People with this gift provide direction for God's people or ministry, motivate others to perform to the best of their abilities, present the "big picture" for others to see, model the values of the ministry, take responsibility and establish goals.
Mercy
It is the ability to cheerfully and practically help those who are suffering or are in need, compassion moved to action. People with this gift - focus upon alleviating the sources of pain or discomfort in suffering people, address the needs of the lonely and forgotten, express love, grace, and dignity to those facing hardships and crisis, serve in difficult or unsightly circumstances and do so cheerfully, concern themselves with individual or social issues that oppress people.
Prophecy
This is the ability to reveal truth and proclaim it in a timely and relevant manner for understanding, correction, repentance, or edification. There may be immediate or future implications. People with this gift, expose sin or deception in others for the purpose of reconciliation, speak a timely word from God causing conviction, repentance, and edification, see truth that others often fail to see and challenge them to respond, warn of God's immediate or future judgment if there is no repentance, understand God's heart and mind through experience he takes them through.
Shepherding
This is the ability to nurture, care for, and guide people toward ongoing spiritual maturity and becoming like Christ. People with this gift, take responsibility to nurture the whole person in their walk with God, provide guidance and oversight to a group of God's people, model with their life what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus, establish trust and confidence through long relationships, lead and protect those within their span of care.
Teaching
The ability to understand, clearly explain and apply the word of God causing greater Christ-likeness in the lives of listeners. People with this gift communicate Biblical truth that inspires greater obedience to the word, challenge listeners simply and practically with the truths of scripture, present the whole counsel of God for maximum life change, give attention to detail and accuracy, prepare through extended times of study and reflection.
Wisdom
It is the ability to apply spiritual truth effectively to meet a need in a specific situation. People with this gift, focus on the unseen consequences in determining the next steps to take, receive an Understanding of what is necessary to meet the needs of the body, provide divinely given solutions in the midst of conflict and confusion, hear the Spirit provide direction for God's best in a given situation, apply spiritual truth in specific and practical ways.
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