Spiritual Gifts – Paul Nordman

Fan the Flame Within

It was a cringe-worthy moment, for sure. God had chosen Saul to be Israel’s king, saying to the prophet Samuel, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”¹ When it came time to introduce the sovereign to his subjects, however, Saul “was not to be found.”² They inquired of the Lord as to Saul’s whereabouts, to which God replied, “He has hidden himself among the supplies.”³ So the people “ran and brought him out.”⁴ Talk about an inauspicious beginning! The man was anointed to lead, but he chose instead to hide.

The Bible teaches us “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts”⁵ and they are “given to each of us so we can help each other.”⁶ The Spirit is “the source of them all,”⁷ and “He alone decides which gift each person should have.”⁸ Leadership is one such gift,⁹ and there are a host of others — teaching, helps, encouragement, and evangelism, to name a few.¹⁰ So, again, we all have at least one spiritual gift, the Spirit apportions them just as He chooses, and by them we help each other. Some of us know our spiritual gifts, and for those who do not, there are various resources to help you discover them, including your fellow believers who are closest to you.¹¹

Then regardless of what gifts we have been given, Peter exhorts us to use them. “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another.”¹² Now, it is easy to forget about the gifts imparted to us or to neglect them, leaving us less effective in Kingdom work, so twice the apostle Paul redirected his young protégée Timothy back to his spiritual gifts: “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you,”¹³ and again, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received.”¹⁴

What might it look like when we all operate in the power of our spiritual gifts? Paul gives us a glimpse: “If God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”¹⁵ Imagine the impact when each of us “fans into flames the gifts God has given us.”

So let’s not neglect our gifts or hide from serving in them. Instead, may we discover them, remember them, stir them up, and use them boldly. Today.

Father, send Your Spirit to reveal the gifts given to each of us, and lead us to serve boldly in Your power wherever You direct us today. Be glorified in your Church. In Christ we pray. Amen.

¹ 1 Samuel 9:17 NIV
² 1 Samuel 10:21 NIV
³ 1 Samuel 10:22 NIV
⁴ 1 Samuel 10:23 NIV
⁵ 1 Corinthians 12:4 NLT
⁶ 1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT
⁷ 1 Corinthains 12:4 NLT
⁸ 1 Corinthians 12:11 NLT
⁹ Romans 12:8
¹⁰ Note: To develop a list of spiritual gifts, see 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11, and 1 Peter 4:9-10.
¹¹ Note: “Discover Your Spiritual Gifts the Network Way” by Bruce Bugbee is an example of a spiritual gifting discovery resource.
¹² 1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV
¹³ 2 Timothy 1:5-7 ESV
¹⁴ 1 Timothy 4:14 NLT
¹⁵ Romans 12:6-8 NLT

Your Calling and Your Gifts

Before she passed away, Sue led a group of women who call themselves the Beacons. This gang of big hearts still gathers monthly to piece and sew fabric squares into patterns and then hand-tie layers together into quilts for distribution to the poor in the Appalachian foothills in Southeast Ohio. The Beacons have a limited budget, so receiving donations of cotton fabric is always a plus. That’s were Sue came in, for while sewing was not among this leader’s skill sets, procurement of donated fabric was. “I can’t sew, but I can beg,” she would quip. The irony was rich: the leader of a quilting group, unable to sew but humble enough to ask store managers for remnants.

This story reminds us that we all in the body of Christ have different gifts, for we saw in Sue what we heard from Paul: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.”¹ Yet in Sue, we see more than just the differences among us; we grasp the wisdom behind them, the beauty of our submission, and the confidence to thrive in our uniqueness. There is no reason to envy the gifts and callings of others, for no matter our role, it is vital and worth our all. Again, Paul challenges us, “So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”²

Ours, then, is to accept our differences, embracing our role, celebrating our gifts, and living boldly in the confidence that God knows what He is doing in us and through us. So, if public speaking terrifies you, but you mentor well one-on-one, engage deeply. If you cannot endure a short-term mission trip, but you can intercede for those who do, pray boldly. If you do not fully understand the troubles besieging others, but you have the compassion to come alongside them, then care sacrificially. Your roles and your gifts are all part of God’s plan. So be bold, and rejoice. You are gifted and equipped for whatever God has in store for you today.

Father, thank You calling me into Your kingdom work. No role is unimportant nor any obedience unfruitful, so lead me into whatever You have for me to do today. I trust You. In Christ I pray. Amen.

¹ 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
² Romans 12:6-8 NLT