How do we know?....

[mercedes_kikay]

How can we tell what are giftings, callings and annointings are?....
And also what are the ramifications of getting identityfrom giftin instead of calling?... Thanks!!

 

[Gracealone]

That is a hard one for often we don't see any good thing in ourselves.

A Christian friend may say something along this line maybe, You always seem to have an encouraging word." Or your so willing to help, even tho your busy too, or things like that.
Others may see in us, what we don't see.
Gifting from God, I feel may just come as a natural bent, or hearts desire.
You may see a need, and desire to fill it.....could be just that simple.
Ask Jesus about it, see what he reveals.

 

[Coconut]

I hope my answer does`nt seem to take away from the importance of gifts and callings in the body...

But I believe the ramifications of getting our identity from either gifts or callings is a great hindrance to the flow of the Spirit in our lives (or His anointing if you will) There is nothing that will deaden our Spiritual life faster than taking out eyes off Christ and putting them on ourselves.

As followers of Christ, we should get our identity from Christ alone...how can a gift or calling make me anything, when I can do nothing without the gift giver, the one who calls me?

If Christ chooses to do anything through me, is it still not all His doing and nothing of myself?

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.


1Co 2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

 

[Gracealone]

Yes, you are right in what you say, but I also agree with the desire to know our giftings.....
Wasn't Timothy encouraged to stir up the gift within him?

Yes, Of course, we have nothing of ourselves, and all in Christ.
Our spiritual gift attest to that.

I would desire to know mine, for I dont have the slightest idea, and knowing we each have been given one, makes me wonder.....?

Has God no desire to use me?

Maybe even in helps? doesn't matter just want to serve in the capacity he chose for me, so I can understand the desire to know.

It isn't a focus on SELF, but a desire to serve the Lord. That':friends:s the way I see it, anyway.

 

[Boanerges]

First we know that the gifts the Holy Spirit gives always supply the power for the calling He places. He gives those gifts severally as He wills according to the purpose that He has for each member of the body that the body as a whole may be edified.
The gifts of the Spirit are freely given and a gift can never be earned or worked up to. Truly they flow freely in our lives as we yield to the Giver of those gifts. As one finds himself walking in the Spirit (completely lead and empowered by the Holy Spirit) the gifts that have been imparted will quite naturally rise to the surface. A word of knowledge, the gift of faith,and etc, all these will arise as the Holy Spirit Himself directs your steps.
Perhaps more emphasis should be placed on the fruits of the Spirit that the gifts though. Anyone can move in the gifts though he be immature (see 1 Corinthians for examples) in his faith but real spiritual maturity is demonstrated in bearing the fruits of the Spirit. One who has yielded to the point of bearing much fruit will generally quite naturally be moving in the gifts as well.

 

[Gracealone]

Truth and wisdom there.....amen

 

[Coconut]

Yes Timothy was instructed to stir up the gift within him...that instruction is oft only partially quoted ...

1Ti 4:14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

2Ti 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

It seems to me the "gift" I need to fan into flame within me is the Holy Spirit...and I believe the natural result of the Spirit filled life will be to be used in whatever capacity the Spirit desires at any given time...
I dont recall any Prophets ever having laid laid their hands on me and imparting a Spiritual blessing to me...but I know I have the Holy Spirit...
and if He desires to use me He will...so does that have anything to do with my knowing I have a gift...or simply my willingness to submit to His will?

1Co 14:1 It is love, then, that you should strive for. Set your hearts on spiritual gifts, [BBE translates: desiring to have the things which the Spirit gives] especially the gift of proclaiming God's message.
...(3) those who proclaim God's message speak to people and give them help, encouragement, and comfort.

It also seems to me, according to the above instruction, that i`m being told to desire to SERVE. I have a hard time correlating that with desiring a gift so I can say, hey look at me, I have a GIFT, or look at my gift.

I see a lot of people saying "I`m a Prophet" ~ but if anyone thinks "I" does`nt seek to glorify its own office, instead of the Holy Spirit...the "Prophet Paul" could teach them a thing or two...[2Co 12:7]

2Co 10:17 But as the scripture says, "Whoever wants to boast must boast about what the Lord has done." For it is when the Lord thinks well of us that we are really approved, and not when we think well of ourselves.

2Pe 1:3 His divine power [Holy Spirit] has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
2Pe 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2Pe 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
2Pe 1:6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
2Pe 1:7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2Pe 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I think it still all, even desiring spiritual gifts, goes back to "that I might know HIM"

---------- Post added at 11:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:08 AM ----------

Well said Boanerges - you posted while I was pondering

 

[Boanerges]

Yes Timothy was instructed to stir up the gift within him...that instruction is oft only partially quoted ...

1Ti 4:14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

2Ti 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

It seems to me the "gift" I need to fan into flame within me is the Holy Spirit...and I believe the natural result of the Spirit filled life will be to be used in whatever capacity the Spirit desires at any given time...
I dont recall any Prophets ever having laid laid their hands on me and imparting a Spiritual blessing to me...but I know I have the Holy Spirit...
and if He desires to use me He will...so does that have anything to do with my knowing I have a gift...or simply my willingness to submit to His will?

1Co 14:1 It is love, then, that you should strive for. Set your hearts on spiritual gifts, [BBE translates: desiring to have the things which the Spirit gives] especially the gift of proclaiming God's message.
...(3) those who proclaim God's message speak to people and give them help, encouragement, and comfort.

It also seems to me, according to the above instruction, that i`m being told to desire to SERVE. I have a hard time correlating that with desiring a gift so I can say, hey look at me, I have a GIFT, or look at my gift.

I see a lot of people saying "I`m a Prophet" ~ but if anyone thinks "I" does`nt seek to glorify its own office, instead of the Holy Spirit...the "Prophet Paul" could teach them a thing or two...[2Co 12:7]

2Co 10:17 But as the scripture says, "Whoever wants to boast must boast about what the Lord has done." For it is when the Lord thinks well of us that we are really approved, and not when we think well of ourselves.

2Pe 1:3 His divine power [Holy Spirit] has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
2Pe 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
2Pe 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
2Pe 1:6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
2Pe 1:7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2Pe 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I think it still all, even desiring spiritual gifts, goes back to "that I might know HIM"

---------- Post added at 11:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:08 AM ----------

Well said Boanerges - you posted while I was pondering

Well said yourself my friend. If we love first and foremost the rest will indeed follow!

 

[Swordman]

How can we tell what are giftings, callings and annointings are?....
And also what are the ramifications of getting identityfrom giftin instead of calling?... Thanks!!

You simply go to the source from whom all such things originate.

All those psychobabble programs out there that assume your personality is the indicator of your giftings and calling, well, that's all they are.

Anyone who has ever taken the time to read their Bibles knows that the Lord chose some of the most unlikely characters to do His work.....men who argued against doing what they were instructed because of speech impediments, and simply, "Why me, Lord....."

Just ask Him. He'll answer you.....unless you're not listening.