Understand Your Spiritual Gift

 

    When you understand your personality and your spiritual gift(s), then you can really start understanding who you are in Jesus.  You understand how much you need him.  You realize that you are nothing without him.  

    If you want a significant life, then you have to start seeking how to live it for Jesus instead of your comfort.  You are a part of a church, but you live life as an individual.  It is easy to get caught up in your own stuff and loose focus.  That is why going back to the basics or the roots helps you refocus and recharge.  It always comes back to love: God's love, your love for others, and love for self.

    It is important to understand your personality and spiritual gift(s) to know your role in the church.  If you fail to do this, then you will never fully receive the abundance that God has given you.  Write down your personality and spiritual gifts somewhere where you can go and reference it occasionally.  Life happens and it will not be something that you remember all the time.  Writing it down for reference can be reassurance when you need it or redirection if you start going down a path that was not meant for you.

    Your personality and spiritual gifts will help you find your place in the church.  They will open up opportunities and close doors not meant for you.  You can fill needs at times, but do not allow being a substitute to become your ministry.  God has already carved your path in your ministry.  All you have to do is follow.

    If you do not learn your personality or spiritual gifts, then you will never fully understand your purpose in this world.  There will be holes in the church that were meant for you, so the church is not as strong as it could be.  You will feel kind of lost, like you can't quite find your place.  Find your place for your own peace, but also to benefit the church.  Start moving and it will become more clear as you go.  

Romans 1:10-12 & 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 14:1-4

Learning Spiritual Gifts

 

    If you really want to know about spiritual gifts, then all you have to do is go to your Bible.  They are all listed and defined there.  You just need to know where to look.  Most people don't have all that memorized, so go to the back of your Bible and look in the concordance for spiritual gifts.  That is a good starting point.  It will probably lead to a deeper look in other areas.

    You will only have spiritual gifts if you are a true Christian.  They are a gift from the Holy Spirit upon salvation.  He gives them to you for the good of the church, not your own desires or benefit.  Each Christian will have at least one spiritual gift, but probably more than one.  It is important that we try to use them for the church and not ourselves.

    Spiritual gifts are not the same thing as the fruit of the Spirit.  Fruit of the Spirit is what is produced when you use your spiritual gifts.  The fruit of the Spirit comes naturally when you are following Jesus. Spiritual gifts are supernatural.  Spiritual Gifts are an attribute to life according to God's grace, but given by the Holy Spirit.  

    The role of a Christian is to go out and tell the world about Jesus, so they will become believers.  Then they are to be baptized in the name of Jesus.  Do not leave them on their own.  Make them disciples, so they will mature and become an useful part of the church.  We use our Spiritual gifts to fulfill our role and build up the body of Christ.  

    Since there is order and reason for all that Jesus did on earth, so is there order and reason to Spiritual Gifts.  Find delight in what God has given you.  You may be able to speak about prophecies (teaching), have prophecy, servant mindset, encouraging spirit, gracious (giving) heart, kind perspective, or leadership.  

    We are to take our responsibilities serious.  Use wisdom to give advice, knowledge to teach, faithfulness to help the church, and healing to ease pain.   Use miracles to confirm prophecy, discernment to reveal good and evil spirits, and languages to interpret the truth.  When we put the people together with the different gifts, it makes up the body of the church.  We all share the same Spirit, but with different gifts.

      The Spiritual Gifts can be titled as apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, and teachers.  Each are important roles, but hold different responsibilities.  Each equip the church, but done in different ways to produce mature Christians.  It only works if it is done in holy love.

    Do not ignore your spiritual gift(s).  Instead, give yourself over to them and see how you progress.  Allow them to influence all aspects of how you live, so you stay true to your salvation and the church.  Be bold and courageous while living out love and self-discipline.  

    If you need something, then ask God for it.  He will not rebuke you.  He will be pleased that you came to Him.  As long as you pray in faith , then you will receive what you ask.  

Psalm 37:1-4, Proverbs 16:2, John 15:5-8, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:7-13, Galatians 2:9-10, 5:22-23, Ephesians 4:11-16, Colossians 3:16-17, 1 Timothy 4:14-16, 2 Timothy 1:5-7, James 1:5-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11& Jude 1:22-23

Understand Yourself

 

    Every personality type is important.  They all add to the grand scheme of life and work for God's church.  God created us individually for a purpose, but also to work together as a church.  If we work together as through the Holy Spirit we will produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

    To know yourself, you need to know your personality.  Understand the strengths and weaknesses that it brings, so you can find opportunities to serve the church and grow as a Christian.  This is a journey.  It will not happen in a day.  If you are not a Christian, then you get to start fresh with getting to know God and why He made you who you are.  

    Understanding who you are will help you understand your purpose in life.  It will open your eyes to how you experience life.   Your feelings are influenced by your personality, so ask yourself what does my personality contribute and how does it hold me back in life?  Are you open to new experiences and opportunities?  

    Finding your place is a process.  It starts with knowing your personality, who you are, and learning your spiritual gifts.  If you do not know your spiritual gifts, then take an inventory quiz.  (Same with your personality.  Spiritual gifts are gifts from the Holy Spirit only given to true Christians to serve and build up the church.  

Exodus 3:7-11, 4:1, 18:24-27, 32:11-14, Matthew 14:27-30, 16:16-23, John 18:10-11, Romans 4:4-17, Galatians 2:11-13, 5:22-23, & Ephesians 4:14-16

Understand Your Personality

 

    It is important to know your personality to understand who you are and appreciate other people's differences.  We have some people in the Bible that we can study to understand different personalities: Paul (dominant), Peter (influential), Barnabas (steadfast), and Moses (conscientious).  Each person was used in a great way by God, but all were used differently.

    Each personality type has it's strengths and weaknesses, but God can use both.  God can use the weaknesses to show people His strength.  If you understand your personality, then you can see how God can use you in a productive way.

    The dominant personality is typically someone who is direct, assertive, and results- oriented.  They come across confident, decisive, and focused.  Paul is one of the most impactful people in the Bible because most of the new testament was written by him.  However, he can also come across like a know-it-all or hard headed.  

    The influencer is typically outgoing, enthusiastic, and persuasive.  They come across as social.  They are charismatic, so people tend to follow.  That describes Peter well.  He would leap in before thinking, so it did get him into some trouble.  However, he was someone people wanted to follow and know.

    The steadfast personality is calm, patient, and a team player.  They are stable, cooperative, reliable, and supportive.  Barnabas is a great example.  He was a great leader used by God to get people to work together.  However, he is overlooked a lot because his personality didn't demand the spotlight.  They lead by building other people up.  Barnabas used his personality to balance out Paul.

    The conscientious personality is analytical, detailed-oriented, and focused.  They comes across almost robotic because they systematic, methodical, and precise.  Moses was this leader, but he led a nation out of bondage.  His weaknesses were self-doubt and frustration with the people.  

Acts 2:1-13, 4:36-37, 9:1-2, 9:26-30, 13:44-45, 14:19-25, 15:36-41, 16:9-10, & 20:22-24

Personality

 

    What do you think about when it comes to personality?  The English word "personality" comes from the Latin Word "persona".  Persona derives from the verb "personare".  Personality is a part of the internal you.  It is expressed outwardly through emotions and traits that characterize who you are.  Who you are is how you act and what you do.

    Your personality is a gift from God.  It is proof of how complexly you are made.  It is also a mark of how God created you individually.  You are not a cookie cutter duplicate of another person.  You are your own person created out of love by God.

    God gave you your personality for a purpose.  It may be fun to draw people in.  It may be warm to make people feel safe.  It may be focused to be a problem solver.  It could be intense to get to the point.  Whatever is dominant in your personality, it is meant to be used to serve God and the church.

    Your personality will grow and mature as your grow and mature with God.  It is a life journey together.  If you can embrace this, then you can enjoy who you are without wishing you were more like someone else.  

    Your personality becomes more fine tune when you become a Christian because you start becoming more like Jesus.  Your personality will take on traits of those that you spend a lot of time with.  If you are invested in your relationship with Jesus, then it is natural that you become more like him.  

    As Christians our personalities should be used as iron sharpening each other.  Moses and Aaron, Mary and Martha, Paul and Barnabas, Jesus and his disciples are examples of how being in each other's lives can make your personality stronger to accomplish God's purpose.  It is the differences in their personalities that made it work.  Work on understanding your own personality and those closest to you to appreciate the differences and to do great things for God's glory.      

Proverbs 4:23, 25:28, Jeremiah 1:4-6, Matthew 12:33-37, & Luke 6:43-45

Guidance of God's Will

 

    God loves us enough to predestine our entire lives, calls us, justifies us, and guide us.  He does not leave us alone in this world to figure things out for ourselves.  He is actively involved in our lives.  He leads his people by guiding us through life to accomplish His purpose designed for each and every one of us.

    God will reveal our offensive ways, so we will repent and follow Him to eternity in Heaven.  His path is the right way.  He counsels to lead us to glory.  We make our plans, but God will guide the steps of those who follow Him.  He directs our hearts to His love and Jesus' endurance.  

    God directs people directly and indirectly.  His direct guidance comes through spoken revelation, visions, dreams, prophets, and the apostles.  His indirect guidance comes from God's Word, conscience, conviction, providence, wisdom, and counsel.  The Bible times were mostly direct guidance.  We have the Holy Spirit to help us with the Bible today, so we mostly receive indirect guidance.  

    God's Word provides direction and clarity to situations we live today.  It convicts us to be obedient.  God's providence shows us how all things work together for the good of those who follow God according to His plan.  God's wisdom is given to those who ask for it.  It provides understanding to His commands, reveals the hidden treasure of Holy fear, success through integrity, and protection by understanding righteousness and justice.  

    Seek God's counsel and you will gain in the area you seek.  Ask yourself where you struggle in life.  That is where you need to seek God's guidance.  Go to God about work, marriage, your church, and everything else to seek guidance.  When He provides it, be ready to act, make changes, or surrender hidden sins.  Pray, meditate, and make time for God.

Psalm 23, 78:40-55, 139:19-24, Proverbs 2:1-11, 3:5-6, 16:9, John 15:9-17, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, & James 1:5-8

God's Will Part 3

 

    The nature of God's will have aspects of who God is.  His sovereign will is known only by Him, but He does reveal aspects.  It can't be changed or manipulated.  It covers good and evil meaning he has control on what is allowed.  It controls life, time, and history.  

    His commanded will is discovered in the Bible.  It is your choice to embrace or reject it.  It only encompasses His goodness and holiness.  It provides guidance in how to live life.  It is up to us to learn and understand Him.  He already knows us.  We reveal how much we understand God's character through obedience.

    God works in our lives according to what is good.  He sanctifies us and helps us resist evil.  He warns us about doing things that will not benefit us.  The most important warning is that we will not enter heaven without faith in Jesus.  

    We are expected to live out that faith in obedience.  He promised that whatever He started in us, He will complete. It all start with salvation.  All of His plans for us are good, abundant, and hopeful.  It is our choices that decide if we will get those benefits or not.

    If you know God and trust him, then you will follow Him.  Keep His mandates, statues, ordinances, and commands out of love for God.  You may suffer for God's will, but your faith will be rewarded.  God will take care of you and your soul.  

    Know that if it is God's will, then it will happen.  Nothing you say or do will change that.  It is in your best interest to try to understand Him to understand His will.  He will reveal to you what you need to know and you are accountable for what you do know.

Deuteronomy 11:1-4, 29:29, Psalm 25:8-10, Proverbs 3:5-6, Jeremiah 29:10-14, Matthew 7:21-23, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Ephesians 5:15-20, Philippians 1:3-6, 2:12-18, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8, James 4:13-17, 1 Peter 4:14-19