Affirming Spiritual Gifts

“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.” -Eric Liddell, Chariots of Fire (1981)

How do you know your spiritual gifts? How do you really know?

Have you ever done one of those spiritual gift surveys? I’ve done quite a few. If you’re like me and have done more than one, you’re probably even more confused. This survey said I have the gift of administration and teaching! But wait, this survey says I have pastoring and prophecy. I just did another one that says I have the gift of praise and of service. I’m so confused!

There’s a fundamental problem with all of these surveys. No, there’s more than one problem... They’re made by man. They have to categorize gifts. They use different gifts in some than in others (do we use the list in 1 Cor 12, Rom 12, or Eph 4? The Pentecostal or Mainline groupings?). They assume the power of GOD in a person’s life can be discerned by a list of standardized questions.

Don’t hear me wrong, I’m not anti-spiritual-gift-questionnaire. But I think there’s a less flawed method. Or at the very least a qualifier of sorts. --> The body of Christ.

If you’ve ever had someone within the body come up to you and speak clearly and deeply into your life, and in so doing they recognize and affirm a particular gift in your life, take it to the bank. Just because a piece of paper that bases its belief on how you see yourself calls you a prophet, if nobody sees that gift in you, it’s probably not there.

So should we go around asking each other? I suppose you could. But I’d trust unsolicited advice more than putting someone on the spot to name something.

Instead, I’d promote sharing what God shows us regarding others more often, but with a word of caution. Don’t just become a happy encourager, telling everyone you see that they are God-gifted to do whatever you see them do. Watch, pray, confirm in your own heart with God, and then by all means go tell someone in the body you have a relationship with about the gift that you see in their life. Your affirmation may be incredibly freeing for that person. To be told I’m good at something I love, better yet gifted by God... wow, sign me up!

To Tell A Story

Do you ever read the book of Acts and get a little discouraged? I do.

Take for instance Stephen (Acts 7). Does that name ring a bell? Think alliteration. Stephen = Stoned. Not Woodstock, but big rocks. Pounding into his head. Over. And over. And over. Till he’s dead. Not a good way to go. But do you know what’s amazing about Stephen? Right before the rocks start flying, Stephen gives one of the most amazing, succinct accounts of the epic story of God all the way from Abraham up through the coming and death of Jesus Christ. And yet, it doesn’t read like a script that was memorized to be regurgitated, but a tailor-made and historically accurate story that perfectly fit his audience (Jewish leaders) and would have forced further thought into the minds of those listening.

I’m blown away every time I read the story of Stephen. But then this thought pops into my mind: I could never do that. I don’t have talent like that. Maaaybe I could memorize the story as Stephen told it. But could I re-tell it in such a way as to be understood by any particular audience? Could I take the story of God and show an african villager how it relates to his life? A post-modern painter? A dock-worker? An heiress to the royal throne? And then there’s the whole situation of Stephen’s circumstances... HE WAS ABOUT TO BE KILLED! Would I be thinking straight enough in that situation to tell the most important story ever told? Or would I be flashing my American passport and waiting for marines to swoop in and save me?

Here’s two more examples which come from Paul. In Acts 17, Paul’s in Athens. Athens is at this time a city known for its gods, idols, religiosity, philosophy. He sees statues and idols to gods everywhere. He’s Paul, so he has a reputation. He’s pressed by some people who don’t want him around, and he finds himself in the middle of a bruhaha. With everyone watching and listening he stands up and says ‘You know what I saw today? An idol to an unknown god. I’ll bet you Athenians would like to know this unknown god... (dramatic pause) I know him!’ And then he proceeds to tell them all about the power of the one true God and how it is desperately important they know Him. The other example comes later, when the Jews arrest Paul (Acts 22). He’s put on trial, and he takes the opportunity to tell his story: how God met him, grabbed him, changed him, and sent him. And like Stephen, he does it in such a way that the people around him hang on every word. Again, I’m flabbergasted at the lyrical and situational beauty of it all. But I could never do that.

Or could I?

Today I read a simple little verse in Luke: “When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (12:11-12)

This verse is Jesus talking, and right before this He says that all who confess Him before others on this earth will be confessed to angels by He himself. Jesus knows my life. He knows the mess of it. He knows every little part and He knows better than anyone the total unworthiness of myself and my actions. And yet He will be the one in heaven who stands up and says ‘this man is worthy to be here, and let me tell you why...’ The angels will be waiting for only one answer to follow, ‘because he knows ME.’

And this same Jesus who proclaims us worthy also promises that when we’re in those tight spots before the multitudes, His spirit will give us every word we need. Listen to the spirit inside of you, His story is in there dying to get out.

Our Debt is Paid

The Church at Tatesbrook corporately knows

• that the church is not a building
• that debt is sin
• the wages of sin is death
• that we can not pay our own debt

Clearly, the tiny financial debt that was incurred on July 15, 1983 seems rather trivial to talk about compared to the Debt of sin for which we were forgiven, but it helps to remind us how long it takes for us to work our way out of a parable of the Debt.

The Church at Tatesbrook corporately thanks the people, ministries and banks that have helped us meet together week after week on the corner of Appian Way and Trent Blvd for over 25 years.

• Founding members of the church who sacrificed time, money and materials to buy some land, build a building, and begin to worship, disciple, pray and fellowship together.
• Elkhorn Baptist Association
• Pikeville National Bank
• Community Trust Bank
• Ukranian Church
• Cornerstone Church
• Lexington Christian Fellowship
• Fifth Third Bank
• Tatesbrook Neighborhood Association
• Members who committed not to expand or expend until the financial debt was paid.
• Many servants who faithfully offered talents without pay or without increase

In the new testament, Jesus Christ describes to us the kingdom of God in many parables. A great number of those referred to money and management of resources because everyone could understand that.

Being "out of debt" financially as a church organization recognized by the state of Kentucky and the Southern Baptist Convention is not as big a deal as the principles that we have learned. God wants a relationship with us that is not distracted by debt. After all, that was Satan's original intent, to distract us from God.

Above all, I am thankful that our Debt was forgiven forever on a cross.