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Motivational Spiritual Gifts and how Jesus illustrates them

As a Server He worked with His hands as a carpenter, He washed His disciples feet and said the greatest is the servant. He exhibited a great amount of energy in his 3.5 year ministry. How He kept going is an amazing feat. If you'd like the Biblical references for these, email me and I'll send them to you.

As a Teacher He continuously taught as He went. The crowds would gather, He would sit and teach. He taught at synogogues and on the hill sides in boats and as He walked along. He fulfilled the Law. He taught Truth because He is the Truth the Way and the Life. He quoted Scripture, but He never overwhelmed with His knowledge. Often times, His disciples would wait until the crowds dispersed and then ask what His teaching meant. John 14 is a good example. He was intelligent, curious and self-controlled (He made the whip He used to drive out the moneychangers.)

As an Exhorter He taught people how to live a victorious life The Beattitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. He gave positive illustrations in His parables and teachings and He gave step by step instructions such as in Matthew 18:15-17 15 "If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him--work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend. 16 If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. 17 If he still won't listen, tell the church. If he won't listen to the church, you'll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God's forgiving love. He accepted people as they were such as the robber on the cross who was with Him that day in Paradise. His own life was a witness to the truth... He lived what He preached.

As a Giver He fed the 5000 and the 4000. There were 12 baskets left over after He fed the 5,000 men and un-numbered women and children. That miracle was all about sufficiency. He will absolutely provide sufficient for us. When He fed the 4,000 that was all about abundance. He gave His energy to others such as when the woman touched the tallit of His prayer shawl and she was healed from her 12-year illness. He told John the Baptist when John questioned, that the blind see and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed the deaf hear and the dead are raised, the wretched of the earth have God's salvation extended to them. He gave His life so that we might live.

As an Administrator He chose and organized His followers, not only the twelve but also the 70 as in Luke 10. He was highly motivated to finish His mission. He recognized His authority came from God and He exercised that authority. He delegated jobs to His workers. He endured criticism from those opposed to His mission. He took responsibility -- the ultimate responsibility -- for the weaknesses and the sins of those who follow Him.

As a Compassionate Person He showed love towards the rich young ruler whom He knew would turn from Him and reject Him. (Mark 10:21) He was not only aware of people's physical needs, but He supplied them. He was alert to emotional and psychological needs. Matthew 9:36 36 When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. He expressed emotion when He wept. He mourned over Jerusalem. He was alert to the needs of His followers to "Come with Me to this quiet place and rest."

There are so many more that there is no space to write them all. I'm quite sure you could think of several just halfway thinking about it. Every Christian a Minister -- Why we have our Motivational Gifts

Every Christian a Minister…

Just for fun, see if you can determine how each gift would react or handle the situation oulined below.

An illness keeps a woman bedridden for a month. If each of her seven immediate neighbors has a different motivational gift, how will each one express love to her? Fill in the blanks.

__________ will take over meals, offer to do housework, run errands, mow the lawn.


____________ __________ will ask how she feels, empathize, hug, weep, stay by her bedside.


___________ will find it hard to relate to her, but will take a good book and tapes.

____________ will go right over and encourage her, share uplifting Scripture.

_______________ will find out what she needs and organize the neighborhood to meet the needs.

________________ will bring food and other gifts, spend time talking and listening.

________________ will pray with her and privately for her healing, strength and endurance.


Do not think that your Gift is an excuse for not diving into a specific ministry. "Oh, that isn't my gift! I can't do that!" Not true. God gives each of us an added dash of other gifts so we can "fill in" for those who are walking in the flesh or are not working their ministry that God prepared for them to do way back at the foundation of the world.

However... filling in is totally different than continuing and/or taking over!

Several years ago, my Dad died. There were so many financial gifts given to the church in memory of him. The Stewardship Committee and the Deacons asked Mom what she thought Dad would have liked done with all that money. After she prayed it through, she felt that God was leading towards a children's ministry outreach through God's Mission Center. It was an ambitious, but great idea. All the workers just volunteered. My Mom looked at me expecting me to fall into this ministry with heart, soul and body just like it was my own God-ordained ministry.

I told her I'd help out for a few days, but it was absolutely not my calling or my ministry. I told her that if I stepped in, that I'd be taking someone else's place and that wasn't what God wanted. Four years later I was still doing Sonshine Kids every Saturday morning.

After the first year, it was still fun so I didn't have a problem. During the second year, I began dreading Saturdays so I prayed that if God wanted and needed me there to please change my attitude. He did. The third year another lady came in to help who relieved me greatly so I didn't have to do everything (when I say I was doing everything -- I mean leading the group on Saturday mornings. I did not have to prepare the lessons or gather materials). So, I could miss a Saturday or two when I had college tests or to study. Not quite so bad.

The fourth year, I was in complete dread. I was angry. I resented my Mom and the kids and most especially the ministry. When working in a ministry and it becomes a Two-ton-Tilly that you are dragging up a mountain trail... be advised that you are not operating within God's will.

STOP

Don't think that you can use your feelings as an excuse. You must make sure that you have no unconfessed sin or that you are walking in the flesh because that can cause the same kind of reaction. Discontent is a major indicator of your path diverging from God's will, so it is imperative that your feelings are laid at God's feet for Him to sort out.

Be very sure before you quit the ministry that it is what God wants you to do, otherwise you'll never be at peace until you get everything straight with Him. If you would like to read more practical applications of the 7 gifts, go to Practical Applications

This study was taken from Charles Stanley's sermons and from Don and Katy Fortune's book Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts Their website is www.heart2heart.org

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

Pretzel Love-Psalms 91:14