This blog is about : You Are Not Just Talented, You Are Spiritually Gifted

“I want to make a difference in the world.”

And I am not that special for saying that. Most of us want to leave an imprint on the world that makes it better. Sure, maybe our ambitions are vastly different. Some of us dream of influencing the WHOLE world while some of us see OUR world as the people we aim to influence. Nevertheless, all of us want to make a good difference. And that’s a good thing! God wants that for us too.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)

It is not unique to Christianity to talk about the ways in which we are wired. Whether we are talking about our innate personality, our cultivated talents, or our developing passions, we all are interested in seeing how we can make a difference in the world.

“God never wastes anything. He would not give you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences unless he intended to use them for his glory.” – Rick Warren

Yet there is a difference between all of those things and the ways in which we are spiritually gifted.

You are not just talented, you are spiritually gifted. Gifted by the capital “S” Spirit.

Look at what Paul says.

Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed… 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, r and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-11, NIV)

We are not talking about “spiritual” as some nebulous, impersonal energy. Rather, spiritual gifts come exclusively from the Holy Spirit. He is the source and sustenance of spiritual gifts. Having the Holy Spirit is a necessary prerequisite to unleashing our spiritual gifts.

Each of us is purposed to make a contribution in this life that echoes into eternity. This means that we each have an assignment, and we each need to see and accept that assignment if we are going to fulfill the calling of our lives. You and I can talk circles around purpose all day, but at the end of the day there is something crucial to understand.