Developing Your Spiritual Gifts

“What should I do after graduation?” is one of the most difficult decisions of life young people face. Even committed young people in the midst of several options ask “how can I know God’s will? Where can I get involved?” God guides through the Bible and He uses the Holy Spirit, parents, friends and elders or leaders in the church. You may have wondered that during our LYE screening I asked most of you this question, “What is your Spiritual Gift?” In your puzzled expression I sensed the need for enlightenment.


Not knowing our Spiritual gifts will lead to discouragement, defeat, despair, wasted time, treasures and talents. Spiritual gift is like a map or road sign to a lost and confused traveler on a highway.


What must you do to discover your spiritual gifts?
1. Pray. Not to ask for the gift but to reveal it to you (Phil 4:6,7).
2. Study. God has dispersed his spiritual gifts at least one to every believer upon salvation and not on the basis of spiritual maturity or education. You will find the list of gifts in I Cor. 12; Rom. 12; Eph. 4; and 1 Peter 4. They are given for the edifying of the body (Eph. 4:11,12) and not the self (1 Cor. 13:5). If you have confirmed to be gifted as a teacher, then you will not be contented in just reading books you choose on teaching but you will enroll at CBMS.
3. Delight in the Lord. He will place within your heart desires the areas of service consistent with your spiritual gifts (Psa. 37:4). But a desire does not necessarily mean a gift. It will have to be confirmed by your ability.
4. Develop. The discovery of your gift has a corresponding assurance that God gave you teachers, pastor or elders to help you develop your gifts (Eph. 4:11) and are reliable to evaluate your God-given ability. Our heart is deceitful above all things (Jer.17:9). We may confuse spiritual gifts with natural talents which are possessed at birth. Such talents should be dedicated to the Lord to be used for His glory. Ability improves and develops with practice. In seeking to develop your gifts you have to be available. Never refuse an opportunity to serve such as assisting in nursery, teaching in Sunday school, joining adult soul winning, working at CAM projects, visiting sick people, and encouraging weak members.


Serve. In my early Christian life our church offered us Sundays filled with services - teaching children, visiting, counseling, cleaning a school classroom for our Sunday service and then before going home at night, arranging the furniture back to the original position. Preparing and arranging for summer and “winter” (or December) church camps and vacation Bible school gave us also exhausted nights in bed but our hearts were bursting with excitement for souls saved, new contacts, encouragement of broken heart and edification of fellow believers. The personal blessing of God to my soul and ministry were used by our Lord to assure me of His direction. Blessings accompany the spiritual gifts exercised in the energy of the Holy Spirit. Obviously it was not concluded in a two-day conference or a four-day youth camp but God works in weeks, months, and even years!


Young people, do not be impatient but rather pray, study, delight in the Lord, develop the gift, and serve. Never Quit!