FINDING YOUR GIFTS
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant" (1 Corinthians 12:1). Spiritual gifts are often set aside when confused with the perfecting of natural talent.
I have read through a lot of material on the subject of finding your spiritual gifts. The intellect of man always seems to have some natural, logical explanation for taking out the supernatural. Most teachings on Finding Your Spiritual Gifts would better be titled, Finding Your Natural Talents.
Gifts of the Spirit are spiritual, not natural. You cannot find your spiritual gift by finding what you are naturally good at. Chances are your spiritual gifts will have nothing to do with what your natural talents are. When we are weak, He is strong. Your natural strong points are probably not your spiritual strong points. How can anybody be good at working miracles? If somebody were to have the gift of miracles, could anybody say that it was because they were good at it? Our natural strengths are almost never our spiritual strengths.
The prophet Amos recognized this when God called him to prophesy, he said in Amos 7:14-15, "...I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdsmen and a gatherer of sycamore fruit: And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the LORD said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel."
He was good at being a herdsman and gathering fruit, but being a prophet, that was something new__it was spiritual. It is not something that is hereditary, or by any means a naturally developed ability.
Gifts of the Spirit go beyond human boundaries. They enable a change of circumstances for a higher purpose. God uses spiritual gifts to alter the natural course of events.
There are many gifts of the Spirit and nine of them are clearly listed in 1 Corinthians 12. You cannot pick and choose which one of the nine best suits your religious preference and then leave the others out. God’s Word is not partially inspired, every word is pure.
Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights. All nine of the gifts that are listed in 1 Corinthians 12 are good and perfect.
The Pharisees of today say that it is wrong to seek signs and wonders and miracles. The Bible says to pursue them. "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts..." (1 Corinthians 14:1).
The disciples prayed for miracles, they sought the Lord for signs and wonders. They prayed in Acts 4:29 –31, "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thy hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness." Did God shake the place in His disapproval, or His approval?
To seek an experience is good when you seek to experience God.
Pastor Tilson
