spiritual gifts

by Joel Brady- August 2002

Seek the understanding of the Holy Spirit. (Each gift is a conformation of who God is and what He's doing in individual's lives.)

Seek the encouragement of friends committed in the development of His body and His bride. (This point is where we surround ourselves with 2 to 4 fellow believers who encourage and replenish. The basic fact is that God use us to build up the body of Christ. Let us build up each other by investing in our time, prayer and encouragement. This will solidify the church as a cohesive unit of we as we invest in our future together.)

Seek a path to walk. (We are to use our gifts as builders of the kingdom. Each of us has a unique and very distinct journey that Christ wants us to use our gifts on, for us to search this out with the encouragement of others will not only benefit the church but our lives as well. Our passion is to use them in encouragement for believers and as a testimony to the lost.)

Seek a guide to walk with in encouragement and accountability. ( Find a partner or partners {2 to 4} to do this gifted life together. We are to never lose sight of the fact that we are the body of Christ and that none of these parts are greater then the other. With healthy encouragement and accountability it will help us to have a clear perspective on our goals and who we as individuals actually are. Accountability will look different to all but all should search out this friend.)

Seek a healthy diet of persistence. (Make sure that in using our gifts we are taking the appropriate time for us. Ministry is not about how much you do just that you do what God has called you to do. In our groups of accountability let us seek God to help us understand when someone needs to slow down or run a little faster. Never stop using these exciting gifts of the Spirit but use them in a way that glorifies and builds up the kingdom and friends, we are to be proper stewards of what God has given us, let us do this together.)

Seek God. (Always revert back to #1) 1 Timothy 4. Get the word out. Teach all these things. And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed keep that dusted off and in use.