Discover the Spiritual Gift in You

Discover the Spiritual Gift in You

by Raymond Cross

Copyright 2016 Raymond Cross

ISBN# 9781310965548

Smashwords Edition

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Table of Contents

Preface

About the Author

Testimonials

Chapter One – Unwrapping God’s Gifts

Chapter Two – Benefits of Gifts

Chapter Three – The Essence of Romans 12 Gifts

Chapter Four – The Motivational Gift of Prophesy/Prophesying

Chapter Five – The Motivational Gift of Ministry/Serving

Chapter Six – The Motivational Gift of Teaching

Chapter Seven – The Motivational Gift of Exhorting

Chapter Eight – The Motivational Gift of Giving

Chapter Nine – The Motivational Gift of Administering

Chapter Ten – The Motivational Gift of Showing Mercy

Chapter Eleven – Putting Romans 12 Gifts in Their Biblical Context

Chapter Twelve – Discovering Your Motivational Gift

* Personal Motivational Spiritual Gift Analysis

Chapter Thirteen– Understanding All Categories of Biblical Gifts

Chapter Fourteen – The Activities of God

Chapter Fifteen – The Administrations of the Son

Chapter Sixteen – The Manifestation of the Spirit

Chapter Seventeen – The Constructive Use of Gifts

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Preface

In terms of formatting:

> Square bracketed words inserted in Bible verses give alternate and, I believe, more accurate translations.

> Capital letters in transliterated Greek words indicate the proNUNciation emphasis.

> Masculine pronouns represent both genders for the sake of conciseness only. Gifts are distributed to male and female without discrimination. Both genders are referred to at times only for emphasis.

> Gift descriptions include more gift comparisons as the book proceeds to help differentiate between gifts that might be confused.

> Illustrations by Duane Hall.

> While motivational gift characteristics are tendencies, they will be expressed as though assured behaviours to avoid annoying repetition of expressions such as: inclined to, tends to and bent towards.

> Unless otherwise noted Bible quotations are from the Authorized King James Version.

> Other Bible translations are used in instances where they more accurately communicate the meaning of the original Greek.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

During more than thirty years of pastoral ministry in Ontario, Canada, Ray travelled teaching Spiritual Gifts Seminars in Baptist Churches, in the denominational headquarters of the CBOQ and in the Baptist Leadership Education Centre.. Responses have been consistently positive with churches reporting greater personal consideration and care, better coordination, and increased unity and ministry effectiveness.

Ray Cross earned a Bachelor of Theology from Ontario Bible College (now Tyndale University College and Seminary) and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Trent University. He is happily married to Diane, two children, three grand children. Retired from pastoring, he skates several times a week and is a guest minister on cruise ships.

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Testimonials Concerning

Ray’s Spiritual Gifts Seminars

> It’s amazing to see God’s Word opened in this way.

> Discovering my spiritual gift was like taking off the last layer of wrapping paper to discover a wonderful treasure. It opened a whole new world for me. By seeing the world through the eyes of spiritual gifts you see why each person thinks the way they do, understand their strengths and weaknesses and appreciate how we fit in the body of believers.

> A common sense approach to God’s Word along with common sense presentation…the light went on; I knew what my gift was.

> I felt like I was picking up pieces of myself and putting them together like a puzzle.

> It has opened a whole new way to relate to others.

> The best teaching I have ever had. I’ll travel hundreds of miles to experience these kinds of spiritual truths.

Rev. Dr. Orville Daniel BA, PhD (New Testament)

Ray obviously studied the subject of spiritual gifts carefully, by prolonged concentration on biblical passages and by reading many books reflecting various Scriptural interpretations, viewpoints and ecclesiastical practices – a well balanced presentation.

Rev. Bazil Metz, MRE, BA, MDiv, MSC,

Lay Training Coordinator, CBOQ

Ray opened up a whole new vista and did it in a gracious and sensitive manner. Your input was thorough and inspirational, and gave each one a great deal to chew on for a good slice of the future.

Rev. Robert L. Muse BA, BD, MTh

Pastor and New Testament Professor, Ontario Bible College

1. Our people were really stimulated to get into the Bible and to research the whole gifts theme.

2. Many were encouraged to accept their gifts according to the grace of God and to allow God to take away their guilt for not being effective in other areas of ministry.

3. The general affirming of each other’s gifts was increased greatly.

4. The pastor was greatly encouraged because more of the laity seemed willing to accept the fact that he did not possess all of the gifts himself.

5. Many have developed a real prayerful concern for our Body life.

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Chapter One

Unwrapping God’s Gifts

Picture yourself being offered an unexpected gift, a wonderful gift, and it is God offering it. Can you imagine it?

What would you do for such an opportunity? Surely the opportunity of one wish by rubbing an old lamp pales in comparison with this. So what would you do with such an opportunity—What...Would...You...Do? Would you accept the gift God has prepared for you? Would you enthusiastically unwrap it? Would you say thank you? Or, would you dare to turn God away? Would you dare to refuse God’s gift? Would you dare to tell God that He got it wrong, that God’s gift doesn’t suit you?

I am convinced that God is more excited about His gift-giving than we are about our gift-giving and receiving at celebrative family occasions. For us they’re times for picture taking, cakes and candles. We sparkle things up with colourful paper, bows and tags. And we enthusiastically unwrap our gifts as well. In God’s mind it is the same for His spiritual gifts to us? God has designed them for our good and is excited to give them to us. He knows they are good and perfect gifts for us because they are expressions of His knowledge of how we work best. As expressions of God’s love they’re intended for our good in every way. God gives them to provide meaning for our living. God gives them to empower us. These are gifts God is giving us—What...Can...Be...Better...Than...That? And God helps us to understand how they work so we may value them, use them properly and, appreciate gifts others receive as well.

Biblically understood, properly positioned and prayerfully implemented God’s gifts produce the blessings God intends—peaceful relations and productive participation in the great enterprise of God-honouring and uplifting life and ministry.

Why Learn About Spiritual Gifts?

Like gifts given to us by others, God’s gifts come with guidance, kind of like the booklet that tells us how to put a gift together and how to use it. Those of us who have tried to bypass these steps, especially with those simple presents our children receive, know the frustration and humiliation endured when we try to put things together without reading the directions. So God gives us guidance in His Word to help us understand and use His gifts.

Some might ask, Can I not be useful to God without understanding spiritual gifts?

Of course you can. Cannot spiritual gifts work through me even if I do not understand them? Certainly. Why then should I concern myself with learning about spiritual gifts?

First, since every Christian has been exposed to the issue of spiritual gifts, we all have an opinion concerning spiritual gifts that influences our spiritual life, whether we realize it or not. The question is whether our theology is Biblical, truly spiritual, constructive and productive for us, for important people in our lives and for God’s glory. If God has provided for our giftedness He intends for us to understand and to use that provision. What He has provided is for our good.

Clearing the Fog

For me, it is not only the cohesive influence of self discovery spiritual gifts offers that excites, but the dispelling of a thick fog surrounding the whole issue of biblical gifts in general. When I began this, despite intense desire and earnest effort, biblical gifts remained perplexing to me for years. The more I sought to understand gifts through courses, books and experiences, the less I understood—confusion reigned. I was discovering that, as Proverbs 25:2 declares, It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

We could well ask why God might make it so difficult to sort through a theology of gifts. Surely God wants everyone to understand everything in the Bible, so everything in it should be simple and clearly evident to all – right?. If so, why do we hire skilled professional pastors to study and help us interpret and understand the Scriptures? After all, this is God’s Word, God’s message to us, and God has clearly declared, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,... as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Is. 55:8-9 NIV) So it should not be surprising to discover that there is more to the evident than is evident. It should not be surprising that the Bible is at times challenging to understand.

In this case I am suspicious that God views gifts of great value. So much so that he packages and wraps them like we do our gifts, to enhance their perceived value. God wants us to draw close to Him and search His Word so He can help us unwrap intimate secrets He has woven into us. So the process of gift discovery will plunge us into a CSI type of drama—the same type of sensitivity to every clue, and carefully lining up meanings and patterns to expose facts and resolve issues, but first I want you to relax and enjoy the fruits of discovery as we relish the sweet delights of self discovery in the Romans 12 gifts

Fleshing Out Giftedness

Discerning the essence of each Romans 12 gift involves soul-searching. Scripture provides an outline but it takes individuals to fill this in with colouring based on their personal particulars. For each person, gift blends with temperament, talent, preference, ability, character and training so that even those with the same personal gift differ widely in their expression of it. No matter how we might be categorized each one of us is unique. So, if you will not be you, no one else will, and our world will be forever impoverished by the loss.

To understand our Romans 12 personal biblical giftedness, gift factors must be differentiated from other components, then catalogued and prioritized. Each gift brings its own challenge concerning which characteristics are primary and which secondary. In my quest to understand these Romans 12 gifts I sought to project myself into each, that I might briefly look through that gift’s eyes, feel with its heart, think through its mind and serve with its hands. For this I am deeply indebted to our Lord, His Word and to gifted individuals who have helped me see their gifts from their perspective so I may paint the gifts for you.

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(Student Bible Learning Paper, Copyright 1973 G/L Publications, Glendale, CA)

Chapter Two:

Benefits of Gifts

Totally exhilarating—after I discovered my personal spiritual gift I wanted to shout and cry—in fact, after class I did both.

I felt as if I were picking up pieces of myself and putting them together like a puzzle.

These are typical responses to my Gift Seminars through the years. I know how they feel. Each seminar I relived the thrill of discovering my personal biblical giftedness, a thrill that has matured into perpetual enthusiastic appreciation for my gift due to all the benefits this knowledge has contributed to my personal life, ministry and relationships.

Those who discern their personal gift may reap dividends promised in II Timothy 1:6 7: less fear, more power, more love and a sound mind. (Evidence to be presented later supports that gift here is a Romans 12 gift.)

6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

7. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Less Fear

Testimonials...

In the last week I have seen more clearly God's purpose for my life....I have come to appreciate that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14). I am now able to appreciate my uniqueness rather than fearing it. My relationship with the Lord has grown by knowing how lovingly He has prepared me for the tasks ahead.

Realizing...my spiritual gift has helped me to see myself in a different light. I now have a clearer picture of the role God intends me to play in the church