GIFTS AND CALLINGS OF GOD
The Biblical Word of God reveals that God’s greatest gifts to us are his loving Son (John 3:16) and his impowering Spirit (Act 2:4, 38-39). And the Bible tells us that through these two divine persons, God gives us other gifts to employ in the work he calls us to do..
GIFTS OF GOD THROUGH THE SON AND SPIRIT
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… And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues…Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12).
The Bible goes on to tell us that love is the most excellent way: Love “is not self-seeking” (1 Corinthians 13:4). But love seeks to please God—to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind; and to love others as the Lord has loved you (Luke 10:27;John 13:34).
CALLINGS OF GOD THROUGH THE SON AND SPIRIT
God uses the gifts he has given us by his Son and Spirit to achieve God’s purpose of our living land proclaiming the gospel to all people—to those inside and outside the walls of synagogues and churches. Jesus Christ, who is our perfect example, proclaimed the gospel inside and outside synagogues of his day. The Lord expects Spirit-filled believers to follow his example as they obey his command to proclaim the gospel to the world (I Corinthians 11:1). Christ commands his followers:
- “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).
- “ Go [a]therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:1-20).
RECOGNIZING OUR GIFTS AND RESPONDING TO OUR CALLINGS
Some are gifted by God to proclaim the gospel mainly from the pulpit and inside the church; others are more gifted to proclaim the gospel outside the walls of the church.
All in the church may not be gifted to “preach like Paul” or to “sing like angels.” But all Spirit-filled believers are gifted and called to take the saving gospel of Jesus Christ to every creature, as God give them opportunity. God may give some believers the opportunity to do work for him inside church buildings, such as preaching. teaching, singing, edifying, etc. However, many believers are given opportunity to reach people for him outside church walls—people in our homes, people on our jobs, people who are sick or shut-in, people in our local communities and people elsewhere.
Corinthians 12 tells us that the church is like a body. All the members of it’s body are important to do the work of God most effectively
We need to pray for the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit to recognize our individual God-given gifts and respond to God’s calling according to his will–as Jesus did (Luke 22:42). And God who sees all we do will reward us in heaven according to how we do his will (Matthew 25:21).
