How Do I Find Out What My Spiritual Gifts Are?

How do I find out what my spiritual gifts are best is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Gabriel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Our phone lines are open and you can call us in the next 25 minutes with your question. At 833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts and you can email us at questions@corechristianity.com first up today let's go to a voicemail from Marilyn who called in yesterday just coming wondering how that are letting an old answer/how right less in general, you know, each branch I you might say now I am really what wheat we don't have a different law per se am you think about that revelation of God's law for us for the whole world and how Jesus summarized the law to love God perfectly and to love our neighbor as ourselves, and we do continue as Christians, even as those were born again to sin against the Lord every day, in thought, in word and indeed, and for some people.

For some believers that they continue to struggle with some of the sins that they struggled with. Prior to exercising faith in Jesus Christ. I think about the expectation that Paul gave to the Galatians in Galatians chapter 6 verse 20 says brothers. If anyone is caught in any transgression, you are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, less you to be tempted was interesting.

There is an in the context Paul had just described in the previous chapter that the fruit of the flesh.

Things like sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, sorcery, so on and so forth. Because look, if any of you if there is anyone among you who gets caught up in this, again, restore them in a spirit of gentleness and so wasn't out of the question that in Paul's mind that genuine believers will still wrestle with these kinds of things.

And of course we repent we can return to the Lord.

We get back up. We we asked for forgiveness and wheat.

When we receive the forgiveness that the Lord gives to us and I think if I think of Peter P Peter struggled with the same sins over a long period of time throughout his life he me he denied the Lord Jesus when Jesus was being crucified, and the fear of man was deep in Peter's heart and then later in his life when he is confronted by the apostle Paul in Galatians chapter 2. This is described in a Paul.

Paul confronts him in any system will Paul writes this and in Galatians 2, verse 11 but when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned for before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles, but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party to which he still had the fear of man. If if Peter struggled with the same sins throughout his life, brothers and sisters.

You might struggle with the same sins throughout your life to that doesn't mean you're not a Christian. That doesn't mean you're not saved it just means we fight, we continue to fight against the sin that the lust of the flesh that we experience that are described in Galatians chapter 5 I think that's a good list. If you're looking for a list but ultimately our hope is in the gospel in Jesus and his shed blood. And so that's where we take comfort thank you for that question and thank the Lord for Romans 81. There is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus.

Right. That's, that's right. And that's not me that's one of the most comforting versus I think in all of Scripture, but one that we should go to time and time again, this is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. Let's go to Duncan calling in from Ottawa, Canada.

Duncan, welcome to the program I been around for quite some time and wrong for Christian to do yoga only for relaxation purposes and so long as you're not brainwashed into thinking you're a little dog now only one day you will grow to be a big God Duncan. Thank you for that question. So long as we don't call yoga. I say we can refer to is biblical bending or that kind of thing and maybe recite Bible verses as we do the stretches I was a joke, but I will say it really depends you. Nine.

I know that some of these things are rooted in pagan beliefs, New Age spirituality, but I also know that there there may be some studios yoga studios were that's is not a part of it where people are gathering together to basically exercise to break a sweat or maybe it's something that you do on your own. Do I think that if you're if you're stretching you're going to be influenced by these demonic pagan forces, but even if your you're completely unfamiliar with that stuff will not think there's anything I don't think there's anything wrong with that but I think you have to be discerning. We really desperately need discernment today in our day and age, and in one concern is that believers genuine Christians are being discerning and in what it is that they're engaging in so I I've heard you know that there are yoga studios were that's a part of that unit is not just stretching, but they're also chanting and doing some of these other things that that is that is concerning to me.

I think that we should avoid that. But if it's something you're doing on your own you're just getting some exercise breaking a sweat and it's helping you. I don't think that there's anything to worry about their brother.

Thank you for your question.

What about cold yoga versus hot yoga?

Yeah, I don't go to this is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. Just a reminder that we are a listener supported ministry. So we count on people just like you to keep us on the air. We would love to encourage you to join our inner core. Those of the people that support this program on a regular basis and you know what you will be entitled to some exclusive resources including a regular devotional from pastor a drill and the book core Christianity.

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Let's go to Philip from Pearl and Texas hi Philip, welcome the program. Hi Philip, body and God will in the garden. Hey Philip, that is an excellent question, we are referring to the early chapters of the book of Genesis and I'm so glad that you asked about this because I'm just about to begin preaching through the book of Genesis at the church that I pastored so I've been looking at these passages, in particular in Genesis chapter 1 verse 26 makes very clear it says God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and there are a few different ways of thinking about Nino being made in the image of God. First is the sort of function or office, you think about the fact that man is called to rule to exercise diminutive fact that that verse could be translated let us make man in our image, after our likeness, so that they might have dominion almost as the sort of purpose clause.

Philip is as describing what it means to be in the image of God is this, as is, as this role is this calling to rule in imitation of God, but you also have this sort of ethical understanding of being made in the image of God that is that were called to reflect God's holiness is righteousness is truth.

Actually, the apostle Paul when he talks about being renewed in the image of God in and through Jesus Christ in places like Ephesians 4 and in Colossians chapter 3 he talks about being renewed in knowledge, righteousness and holiness. And so this to Philip is a part of being made in the image of God.

But even as you mention are our bodies are in one sense, a reflection of the image of God. Now we know that God doesn't have a body.

Jesus, the eternal son of God assumed humanity took a body to himself. But in one sense even even our bodies is as a part of the original creation or are called to image that were supposed to.

Philip reflect God's goodness and glory in the world around us were like these mirrors that are that are meant to communicate the goodness of God as we love and serve and care for the world that God has created. Now you asked another really good question.

There you know-if I did have a body. How can he walk in the garden like that could just be a figure of speech is not saying that God had a body there and he was he was walking around but but it's this idea of this intimate relationship that existed there between Adam and Eve and God in the garden. It was as if the Lord was right there walking with them. We oftentimes will talk about walking with the Lord today as well. We live in the presence of the Lord, if you will, and so that doesn't necessarily mean that God had a body we we would say no, that's not the case. Is this figure of speech that's being used there in the early chapters of Genesis and so thank you so much for your questions Philip and may the Lord bless you. Thanks much Philip for being a regular listener to core Christianity love hearing from the young people who listen to this program and are studying God's word.

It's very exciting let's go to roll in from St. Louis, Missouri, Roman what your question for pastor. Israel, all am a believer that and the question and I didn't have an answer for in the question was adamant he was opposed to being that God made the first. In the world. How did we come up with all the other races like tiny roasting in Germany in and that sort so that it be great: thank you so much for that question.

So yeah, we believe that God created Adam and Eve in the garden that they had children and that those children began to populate the earth and then you have the flood and then God begins to rebuild as it were, through Noah and his descendents. You get all the way up the Genesis chapter 11 with the Tower of Babel where these languages are confused and people are spread abroad throughout the face of the whole earth, and a one passage I think that you can look at Roland that it helps to talk about. This is in the book of acts acts chapter 17. Beginning in verse 24.

Listen to what the apostle Paul said this is is is he's preaching to a group of philosophers actually sharing the gospel with them. He says to them. Acts 1724. The God who made the world and everything in it being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself skewed since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything and he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined a lighted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place that they should seek God and perhaps feel their way toward him, and even find him, yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for in him we live and move and have our being. As even some of your own poets have said, for we are indeed his offspring.

It's a Paul makes it very clear there.

God created from one-man all of humankind, and he made from that one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, and God himself in his providence determined if you will, the boundaries of their dwellings. Why so that they might seek him. Isn't that beautiful God.

God intends for the nations to seek him and and we have these pictures of heaven given to us in the book of Revelation the kingdom of God. It's every tribe and tongue nation gathered around the throne of God worshiping God and the Lamb. I mean, it really is this beautiful picture. And so that's how the Bible speaks to this question Roland and Ben. Maybe that's a verse that you could show to your brother thanks brother you're listening to core Christianity confusing with pastor Israel Sanchez would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Here's the phone number it's 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 what to tell you about a special court guide that we have available today and it really will help you understand the final book of the Bible.

Yes, if you haven't got a hold of this yet. Make sure you do get a hold of this. It's a free resource on the book of Revelation we know that a lot of people have questions about the book of Revelation. It's one of those books is just intriguing to so many people I remember is a newer Christian.

It was one of the first books I wanted to study because I want to know the secrets of the end of the world that kind of a thing, and maybe you have those kinds of questions as well get your hands on five things you should know about the Bible's final book. Again, this is a free resource and you can get a hold of it and Bill is can let you know how here's what you do you go to our website. Core, Christianity.com/final book. You can also call us at 833-843-2673 for help getting this one, or any one of our offers.

Again, it's absolutely free and will help you understand the book of Revelation. Five things you should know about the Bible's final book. Let's go to a voicemail that we received with the question about spiritual gifts so question how do we find out our spiritual also-rans exhausted and let you be doing that once again. Okay, so 33 questions there. How do we find out what our spiritual gift is. I remember back in the day taking one of those. It was like a spiritual gifts finder test that kind of a thing, and I think it said that I was a prophet and something else I'm not sure so so you're blessed to listen the prophet a drill on the radio and I'm just joking but I would say that's not the approach don't do one of the spiritual gifts test, you know those kinds of things I think really we find out in the context of the Christian community as you're a part of the church as your your growing together with other believers. Naturally, in one sense, by the by the grace of the Holy Spirit in your life, you'll begin to to serve in particular ways. I think that are indicative of how it is that your giftedness it's really important that we understand the circuits in another one of your questions there. It's really important that we understand that the gifts that God gives to us are not for us. They're not about making us great there about the edification that is the building up of the body of Christ and Paul makes that absolutely clear in places like first Corinthians chapter 12 and so so now are those listed are given in places like first grade. In chapter 12 exhaustive list of spiritual gifts. That is our are those list describing all the gifts that there are.

I don't think so.

You have a list in first radiance 12.

You also have another list that's a little bit different in Romans chapter 12, then you have Paul describing these various offices or callings within the church, apostle, Prophet teacher evangelist in Ephesians chapter 4 is I would say look, if you're if you're wondering what's my spiritual gift get plugged into Christian community and and begin to serve and see where it is that that you fit there are different gifts. Like Paul says gifts like administration, teaching, exhortation, mercy, and I and I actually don't think that you know having one gift means that that's good to be your gift for your entire life necessarily action in first Corinthians 14, Paul talks about praying for and desiring gifts. If if you struggle with hospitality that kind of a thing or being generous prayed that the Lord would gift you in that way so that you might be more hospitable, so that by the grace of the spirit, you might be more generous. We can pray for these things and I think it's really important for us to understand that as well, but I would say again that the key is recognizing that these are gifts that come from the Lord. We can ask for particular gifts and we should understand that these gifts are for us, primarily before for the broader body of Christ and that's why it's so important for us to be in local churches. That's Paul's entire point in first grade. In chapter 12 that that were all different parts of the body.

You as an individual I as an and in an individual, I'm not the body of Christ. I'm a part of the body of Christ itself arrived on our own. Not a part of good churches are a part of a church at all.

We can't grow the we were intended to grow it would be like a severed hand off on it so it is just that that that doesn't work were each individually members of the body of Christ and together as we serve the Lord and serve one another. We grow the body builds itself up in love.

That's the language that Paul uses in Ephesians chapter 4, and so thank you so much for for that question want to encourage you to to just continue to press into the life of the local church and as you do that with other people will probably be able to see. Hey, I really think you're gifted in this way, or in that way as they begin to see the gifts that the Lord has given to you and so may the Lord bless you.

I'm so glad you pointed out that our gifts are designed for service.

They're not designed for self-glorification there to serve the body of Christ and glorify God. Amen.

Let's go to Rhonda who is calling in from Dixon, Missouri Rhonda, welcome to core Christianity hey Rhonda are you there hey thanks for calling us with your question sister struggling.

I am a terrible rat what my prayer life with my reading will the word and studying. I just want to know if you you know give me some Scriptures to get me back on point.

Well thank you. And you know what Rhonda I I know that you're not alone.

The fact of the matter is, it seems like there are seasons and times that we feel like were doing really well Lamb in the word and I'm reading and it's really bad if benefiting me encouraging me and I'm consistent and it just seems like you know as as I open up the Bible, God is speaking to me and then there are other times where it just feels so dry and I'm struggling to open up the word and it's the same with prayer we can really struggle, as you say get in a rut and I think this is one of the reasons why. Like when Paul writes to Timothy, he encourages Timothy to exercise train himself in godliness because sometimes that's that's how it feels. It feels like training like exercise you.

Nobody wants to just go to the gym.

Typically, at least I don't is is not the thing that you derive the most joy and pleasure and that you do it because you know it's beneficial and I think sometimes that's how that's how reading the word and prayer is we do it because we know that it does benefit us that even if we don't feel like anything is happening in the moment something is indeed happening is the word of God is washing over us as were praying to the Lord, even when were having a hard time, and I found Rhonda that what can be really helpful when were struggling is just going back to the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 6 where he taught us how to pray our father in heaven, hollowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. I think if that's the only prayer you have. If you just have that if you just take that and say Lord I'm in a pray this I don't feel like I have my own words, use the words that Jesus gave that is wonderful and nothing you can do with that prayer with the Lord's prayer Rhonda's you can just meditate on each passage of each phrase and just go deeper and deeper. What does it mean for God to provide for us to give us this day our daily bread meditating on the forgiveness of God see it really is this wonderful, wonderful thing. It's a gift that Jesus gave to us and so I found when I'm struggling with formulating my own prayers.

It's going to those prayers. Using Scripture as a sort of guide. I think that's important. Go to the book of Psalms the psalmist. Often times Rhonda said to the Lord.

I don't feel you. It's as if you're distant. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.

We can identify with those prayers brothers and sisters we really can.

We should take them and we should make them our own. And so I found that that can be helpful.

I feel spiritually dry for like a don't have any of my own prayers will taking God's word and praying the word of God back to the Lord aligning our own hearts with what God is revealed in his word.

I think that's that's really really important. I would just encourage you look again it it it can be difficult. It can sort of feel tribe but that consistency really is key and there are seasons that we go through. I found that you as you continue to press through opening the Scriptures does mean you have to read you know 10 chapters a day. That kind of thing you just meditating on one verse can be so encouraging and life giving and so on. I want anything to encourage you with that and actually I just think right now what I'd like to do is pray for you and pray for all those because like I said you're not alone in this. There there are so many believers who feel the same way that you do run until we pray for you, let me pray for all of us really father, thank you thank you Lord for the gift you've given to us in your word that you reveal yourself to us so clearly that you reveal your gospel to us so clearly. Thank you for the gift you've given us in prayer that through your son Jesus. We can approach you boldly and yet Lord, we confess that often times we don't take advantage of these gifts that you've given to us in our hearts are cold, they feel dull sometimes. Would you help us Lord, would you help us to by the grace of your spirit call upon your name with thanksgiving with confession of sin with joy and to open your word and to read it less Rhonda with this Lord be with her filler with your spirit. Lord, and encourage her today. I pray in Jesus name brothers and sisters we all can be encouraged by that and ultimately God loves you and forgives. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together