Yes! God gives you gifts and passions to help grow His kingdom and deepen your relationship with Him as His child. Why is identifying your spiritual gifts important? Identifying these unique gifts can be the starting point to understanding God’s purpose for your life so you can glorify Him in the most fruitful way. They give you practical ways to walk in the Spirit and live a Christ-filled life.
Key takeaway: God has a unique plan and purpose for you. Identifying your spiritual gifts helps you see that plan more clearly.
The Struggle Many Christians Have
Do you struggle with identifying your spiritual gifts? You are not alone. Many Christians don’t know where to start. They might have talents and knowledge in an area, but the passion and motivation aren’t there.
When identifying your spiritual gifts, ask these questions…
- Have I asked the Holy Spirit to speak to my heart about God's gifts for me?
- What are my passions?
- What are my talents?
- Are the gifts mentioned in the Bible (see Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12) resonating in my soul?
- What gifts do others see at work in me?
These questions do not substitute a spiritual gifts test or inventory, but they can start the wheels turning in your mind so that you will know when God is revealing them to you.
After identifying your spiritual gifts and operating in them, you can be…
- Faithful to God’s plan for your life
- Fruitful in your work
- Joyful and passionate in what you do
Has God Given You a Spiritual Gift?
Yes! The Bible clearly states that each child of God has a purpose and a calling for His kingdom. It is also clear that our callings and purposes are unique. We are “individual members” as part of the body of Christ.
- “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”—Romans 12:6-8
- “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord…there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…”—1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-7
When Paul wrote to the Roman and Corinthian churches, he wanted them to know the main reason the gifts of the Spirit were given was to glorify God and profit the body. He also wanted them to see the diversities and purposes of the various spiritual gifts but to know they are from the same Spirit.
Because of God’s gracious love, identifying your spiritual gifts can bring you peace and fulfillment. It isn’t the primary purpose, yet it is a supernatural outcome. God weaves your unique personality and life experiences into your spiritual gifts to build up the faith of others, and, as a result, you are also encouraged.
4 Reasons Identifying Your Spiritual Gifts Are Important
- Reveals God’s Plan for Your Life
You’ve likely prayed and asked God to show you His plan for your life. Identifying your spiritual gifts will often reveal the first steps of His plan. The spiritual gifts He gives you are tools to accomplish His will, both for the kingdom and in your life.
A spiritual gifts test is a great first step to identifying your spiritual gifts. Through a series of questions, you can appreciate how God has uniquely wired you and others for His purposes. The questions will also show the numerous ways God’s gifts are manifested in the lives of Christians.
- Reduces Burnout
Have you ever felt obligated to serve because you have a natural talent in an area? Perhaps you are an elementary school teacher and feel “responsible” to be a part of children’s ministry. Simply because you are in the teaching profession does not automatically make you responsible for teaching in a church setting, but it doesn’t rule it out either.
Maybe you feel like you “should” serve because you have extra time in your schedule. However, the more you get involved in a specific ministry, you find there is a lack of passion.
If you’ve ever served in an area that God has not called you to be in, you have likely experienced burnout. Can God still use you in that area? Sure! He works all things together for good. However, the fruit might not be as sweet if it isn’t God’s will for you.
When you walk in alignment with God’s will for your life and know the spiritual gifts He has bestowed on you, you will be able to endure the tough times, and good fruit will be the result.
This is why identifying your spiritual gifts is important. Sometimes it is easier to identify the areas where God is not calling you. Then you can eliminate those areas, trusting that God will use you elsewhere.
- Shows How the Holy Spirit Works
Identifying your spiritual gifts is the first step to knowing God’s will for your life, but it is also a way to appreciate others in the body who have gifts that differ from yours. When you start to see each person in the Church is uniquely gifted, it clears away criticism and judgment and gives way to creativity, appreciation, and encouragement.
The Holy Spirit ministers through us to others. Without the spiritual gifts, we are simply ministering in the flesh and attempting to take on responsibilities outside of God’s will. The Holy Spirit works within each of us, equipping and uniting us as one (1 Corinthians 6:17) but in different ways so that we do not become prideful in our giftings.
As Christians, we have different jobs and giftings, which yield different results. Paul writes to the Corinthians, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it” (1 Corinthians 3:6-10, emphasis added).
- Helps to Build Community
Scientific studies have found that those who help others and are part of a community live longer, more fulfilled lives. These findings didn’t start with science; they started with God. Science is simply proving the law of Christ and the love of God.
God designed us to be in a community. When His children are in a community and united in Him, He is glorified, and others are built up. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
When we bear each other’s burdens, use our spiritual gifts to build each other up, and dwell in unity, great blessings are the result.
- “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! … For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forevermore.”—Psalm 133:1,3
- “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”—Romans 15:5-6
Now What?
Are you ready to…
- Discover God’s plan for your life?
- Be refreshed and reduce burnout?
- See how the Holy Spirit works in the body of Christ?
- Build community?
Then start here. Identifying your spiritual gifts allows you to be fruitful in serving God and others and encourages you in your own faith journey.
