Let’s cut straight to the heart of the matter… It seems that in this season, God is prompting His church and His disciples about the importance of reaching out to and engaging with local communities to demonstrate the love of God through practical social action. It’s as if God wants to remind all Christian believers that His has Gifted you for Action, social action.
What is a Spiritual Gift?
As a human being, we were created with a heart for and to worship God. We not only worship God through our acts of worship—singing, prayer, fasting, fellowship, and so on—but we also worship God by the way we live our lives, and the way we are when we are in service to the people around us, for Him.
Scripture tells us in Romans 12:6-8, “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly; if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed; if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching; or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others, with cheerfulness.” (AMP)
A Spiritual Gift therefore, is a special attribute, given by the Holy Spirit, to every member of the body of Christ, according to God’s grace, for use within the context of the Body. Spiritual Gifts are given to certain members of the body to edify the body of Christ, spread the Gospel and advance the Kingdom of God.
What does Gifted for Action mean?
When you ‘know’ and accept your Spiritual Gifts, and the more you are involved in tasks that put them to good use, whether at home, in the workplace, in the local church or more generally in the community, you will have more times where what you are doing will seem natural and enjoyable. When you are able to approach tasks in this way, whatever they are, you will definitely be more effective and impactful in what you do.
By discovering what God has gifted you with, knowing and understanding what they are and what He wants you to do with them, and then by faith, doing what He has called you to do, is ultimately how you will worship and give honour to Him.
How can you put your Spiritual Gifts into action?
Interestingly, not only are we gifted with Spiritual Gifts, but we are actually commanded to use them. “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)
Spiritual Gifts are often visible in two distinct areas of life: a) in the local church environment; and b) everywhere else (in the home, work or in your local community).
A) Use them in your local church or place of worship:
You can use your Spiritual Gifts within your own church, in service to members of your local congregation and the surrounding neighbourhood.
If you realise that you are not actively serving in your church, speak to your minister or pastor about your giftings and how you would like to use them in the church, and give them an opportunity to get you involved in a way that puts your gifts to best use.
B) Use them everywhere else, in the home, at work, and in your local community, even at the grocery store:
Spiritual Gifts are not only meant for use within the church body. As an ambassador of Christ, Gifts are given so that you can build up every single person you meet, in whatever situation you find yourself, in the many different aspects of your life, especially in the workplace.
Put your trust in the Lord and in faith. Ask Him for guidance as to how you can use your Gifts for Him… then get ready as the opportunities to put them to use start flowing in your direction!
The Gifted for Action™ Development Programme
The Gifted for Action™ Experience is an interactive, experiential and practical vocational programme for Christian believers who want to discover their purpose; desire to do more for God through their lives; and engage in social action that positively impacts other people’s lives.
A central theme of the programme involves understanding:
- What Spiritual Gifts are;
- Why they are given to believers;
- What your specific Gift mix is; and have
- Opportunity to plan how to put your Spiritual Gifts into practical use
You are Gifted for Acton™ too
The Gifted for Action™ journey is all about you as an individual Christian believer having more of an impact in whatever environment you find yourself operating in. If you are in any doubt about what that could mean for you, just look at what one man and twelve people did some 2,000 years ago… and then imagine the impact on the world today, of the same man, you, and other like-minded Christian believers, each following the leading of the Holy Spirit and putting their Spiritual Gifts into action in many different ways.
If you want to find out more about our organisation and how we support you or the organisation you represent, please visit our About page on our website.
If you have any questions, please free to Contact us and we’d be happy to help you.
In the meantime
Stay blessed.
Oenca Fontaine
Online Leadership Academy
Creator of Gifted for Action™
Author, Coach, Mentor, Trainer and Consultant
Oenca is a an author, coach, training and consultant. Specialising in leadership and talent development within the public, private and voluntary sectors. Working with the local authorities and the police service for a number of years, she has been recognised repeatedly for outstanding leadership and professionalism when working with client organisations.