Gifts

Ephesians 4:10(AMP) And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers.

Have you ever watched Antiques Roadshow on PBS? It’s fun to see how they look at every detail of a piece for the telltale signs of value. Value appears to be affected by the physical condition, where the piece was made, who made it, if the artist signed it, etc.

Recently, I dreamed that I had a small, dirty coin that represented my gifts. I wanted to know how much my gifts were worth so I went to an appraiser. Two other women were there with their clean, shiny coins to have their gifts appraised as well. We sat down, facing the appraiser.

The appraiser told the first woman her gifts were worth about $4,500-$5,000. She got very excited and danced up to where the appraiser was sitting to get her coin. The second woman was told that her gifts were valued at $8,000-$10,000. She was stunned. She took her coin and just sat and looked at it in amazement. The appraiser then handed my dirty coin back to me. She apologized and stated that my gifts were not worth anything. I was devastated.

When I woke up from this dream, I began to pray. I already knew what the dream meant. I also knew the dream wasn’t just for me.

As silly humans, we very often place value on things and people that don’t really match their TRUE value. Deciding a person’s value based on how they look, what they wear, what they drive, where they live, which family they come from, their occupation, etc. is all very messed up.

For the person that really wants to be used by God, being called to intercessory prayer may not seem to matter as much as the one with the gift of prophecy or the gift healing. I’ve been guilty of placing higher value on some gifts and less value on others. But the Lord changed my mind. Here is what 1 Corinthians 12:4-11(TLB) says about it:

Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all.

There are different kinds of service to God, but it is the same Lord we are serving. 

There are many ways in which God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work in and through all of us who are his.   

The Holy Spirit displays God’s power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church.

That certainly summed it up for me. Every ability, every service, every work we are given to walk in, God did it and God uses it to display His power as a means of helping the entire church. Awesome!

It goes on to say:

To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; someone else may be especially good at studying and teaching, and this is his gift from the same Spirit.

He gives special faith to another, and to someone else the power to heal the sick. 

He gives power for doing miracles to some, and to others power to prophesy and preach.

He gives someone else the power to know whether evil spirits are speaking through those who claim to be giving God’s messages—or whether it is really the Spirit of God who is speaking.

Still another person is able to speak in languages he never learned; and others, who do not know the language either, are given power to understand what he is saying. 

It is the same and only Holy Spirit who gives all these gifts and powers, deciding which each one of us should have.

It is very important for us to use the gifts God has given us for His glory. If you’re not sure what your gifts are, pray and ask God to reveal it. He will. He wants us to function just as the different parts of our bodies function. Each part has its own role to play. Play the part God has given you to play with everything you have. The Body depends on you!