{"id":3635,"date":"2019-06-06T14:10:57","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T14:10:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wpmu.azurewebsites.net\/nlt\/?p=3635"},"modified":"2021-12-08T09:21:39","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T09:21:39","slug":"how-to-use-the-gifts-god-has-given-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.tyndale.com\/nlt\/2019\/06\/06\/how-to-use-the-gifts-god-has-given-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use the Gifts God Has Given You"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Note from the Life Application Study Bible<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing\ncertain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out\nwith as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve\nthem well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage\nothers, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you\nleadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift\nfor showing kindness to others, do it gladly.\u201d (Romans 12:6-8, NLT)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Just take a look at the beautiful world around us; God\u2019s love of diversity is evident. Just as there are differences in his earthly creation, there is also variety in the spiritual gifts he has given us. Though we all have different gifts, the goal is the same\u2014to give glory to the giver. Read more about God\u2019s gifts from the Life Application Study Bible<\/a>:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look at the list of gifts in Romans 12:6-8 and imagine the\nkinds of people who would have each gift. Prophets are often bold and\narticulate. Servers (those in ministry) are faithful and loyal. Teachers are\nclear thinkers. Encouragers know how to motivate others. Givers are generous\nand trusting. Leaders are good organizers and managers. Those who show kindness\nare caring people who are happy to give their time to others. It would be\ndifficult for one person to embody all these gifts. An assertive prophet would\nnot usually make a good counselor, and a generous giver might fail as a leader.\nWhen you identify your own gifts (and this list is far from complete), ask God\nand others how you can best use them. At the same time, realize that your gifts\ncan\u2019t do the work of the church all alone. Be thankful for people whose gifts\nare completely different from yours. Let your strengths balance their\nweaknesses, and be grateful that their abilities make up for your deficiencies.\nTogether you can build Christ\u2019s church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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God gives us gifts so we can build up his church. To use them\neffectively, we must: <\/p>\n\n\n\n