Balancing the Gifts of the Spirit

[.chrys.]

I'm looking for someone to talk with about balancing the gifts of the spirit. I understand that some are given to teaching, to witnessing, to prophesying, to administration, et cetera. Still, I'm having a hard time learning how to make a balance of these talents/gifts.

How can a person be given more to one gift than another, and still find comfort (rest) in the Lord.

Looking for a teacher.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

~Witness

[Elijah2]

I'm looking for someone to talk with about balancing the gifts of the spirit. I understand that some are given to teaching, to witnessing, to prophesying, to administration, et cetera. Still, I'm having a hard time learning how to make a balance of these talents/gifts.

How can a person be given more to one gift than another, and still find comfort (rest) in the Lord.

Looking for a teacher.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

~Witness
God's Will, will be done.

Love in Christ

[Dace]

God hand made each of us unique to fit into a precise role in heaven. and on earth we can fit into differnt roles in the body of the church, using our specific gifts and strengths to serve God.

I'm not sure there is supposed to be a balance.

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. ..." Rom12:4-5

How can a person be given more to one gift than another, and still find comfort (rest) in the Lord.

what exactly do you mean by comfort (rest) in the lord? can you elaborate?

[Sennaria]

I'm looking for someone to talk with about balancing the gifts of the spirit. I understand that some are given to teaching, to witnessing, to prophesying, to administration, et cetera. Still, I'm having a hard time learning how to make a balance of these talents/gifts.

How can a person be given more to one gift than another, and still find comfort (rest) in the Lord.

Looking for a teacher.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

~Witness

God gives out His gifts according to the measure of faith. For example, take the following from Matthew Henry.

(2.) Because God deals out his gifts in a certain measure: According to the measure of faith. Observe, The measure of spiritual gifts he calls the measure of faith, for this is the radical grace. What we have and do that is good is so far right and acceptable as it is founded in faith, and flows from faith, and no further. Now faith, and other spiritual gifts with it, are dealt by measure, according as Infinite Wisdom sees meet for us. Christ had the Spirit given him without measure, Joh_3:34. But the saints have it by measure; see Eph_4:7. Christ, who had gifts without measure, was meek and lowly; and shall we, that are stinted, be proud and self-conceited?
(3.) Because God has dealt out gifts to others as well as to us: Dealt to every man. Had we the monopoly of the Spirit, or a patent to be sole proprietors of spiritual gifts, there might be some pretence for this conceitedness of ourselves; but others have their share as well as we. God is a common Father, and Christ a common root, to all the saints, who all drive virtue from him; and therefore it ill becomes us to lift up ourselves, and to despise others, as if we only were the people in favour with heaven, and wisdom should die with us. This reasoning he illustrates by a comparison taken from the members of the natural body (as 1Co_12:12; Eph_4:16): As we have many members in one body, etc., Rom_12:4, Rom_12:5. Here observe, [1.] All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the head of the body, and the common centre of their unity. Believers lie not in the world as a confused disorderly heap, but are organized and knit together, as they are united to one common head, and actuated and animated by one common Spirit. [2.] Particular believers are members of this body, constituent parts, which speak them less than the whole, and in relation to the whole, deriving life and spirits from the head. Some members in the body are bigger and more useful than others, and each receives spirits from the head according to its proportion. if the little finger should receive as much nourishment as the leg, how unseemly and prejudicial would it be! We must remember that we are not the whole; we think above what is meet if we think so; we are but parts and members. [3.] All the members have not the same office (Rom_12:4), but each hath its respective place and work assigned it. The office of the eye is to see, the office of the hand is to work, etc. So in the mystical body, some are qualified for, and called to, one sort of work; others are, in like manner, fitted for, and called to, another sort of work. Magistrates, ministers, people, in a Christian commonwealth, have their several offices, and must not intrude one upon another, nor clash in the discharge of their several offices. [4.] Each member hath its place and office, for the good and benefit of the whole, and of every other member. We are not only members of Christ, but we are members one of another, Rom_12:5. We stand in relation one to another; we are engaged to do all the good we can one to another, and to act in conjunction for the common benefit. See this illustrated at large, 1Co_12:14, etc. Therefore we must not be puffed up with a conceit of our own attainments, because, whatever we have, as we received it, so we received it not for ourselves, but for the good of others.
2. A sober use of the gifts that God hath given us. As we must not on the one hand be proud of our talents, so on the other hand we must not bury them. Take heed lest, under a pretence of humility and self-denial, we be slothful in laying out ourselves for the good of others. We must not say, “I am nothing, therefore I will sit still, and do nothing;” but, “I am nothing in myself, and therefore I will lay out myself to the utmost in the strength of the grace of Christ.” He specifies the ecclesiastical offices appointed in particular churches, in the discharge of which each must study to do his own duty, for the preserving of order and the promotion of edification in the church, each knowing his place and fulfilling it. Having then gifts. The following induction of particulars supplies the sense of this general. Having gifts, let us use them. Authority and ability for the ministerial work are the gift of God. - Gifts differing. The immediate design is different, though the ultimate tendency of all is the same. According to the grace, Charismata kata tēn charin. The free grace of God is the spring and original of all the gifts that are given to men. It is grace that appoints the office, qualifies and inclines the person, works both to will and to do. There were in the primitive church extraordinary gifts of tongues, of discerning, of healing; but he speaks here of those that are ordinary. Compare 1Co_12:4; 1Ti_4:14; 1Pe_4:10. Seven particular gifts he specifies (Rom_12:6-8), which seem to be meant of so many distinct offices, used by the prudential constitution of many of the primitive churches, especially the larger. There are two general ones here expressed by prophesying and ministering, the former the work of the bishops, the latter the work of the deacons, which were the only two standing officers, Phi_1:1. But the particular work belonging to each of these might be, and it should seem was, divided and allotted by common consent and agreement, that it might be done the more effectually, because that which is every body's work is nobody's work, and he despatches his business best that is vir unius negotii - a man of one business. Thus David sorted the Levites (1Ch_23:4, 1Ch_23:5), and in this wisdom is profitable to direct. The five latter will therefore be reduced to the two former.

Sennaria

[salida]

Constant--

The Holy Spirit gives us the desire to do certain gifts more. Also, there is a time and season for everything. For example, years ago I was a sunday school teacher but its not Gods will that I do this today. Sometimes he wants you to use another gift more at a certain season and a different one in another season. Sometimes two gifts at once. God gave us these gifts and so He helps us coordinate them according to His Spirit and purpose.

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

I have been graciously given the gifts of both prophecy and teaching. However, I find it difficult to exercise both at once because they operate in totally different "atmospheric conditions" if you will.

[Macca]

I'm looking for someone to talk with about balancing the gifts of the spirit. I understand that some are given to teaching, to witnessing, to prophesying, to administration, et cetera. Still, I'm having a hard time learning how to make a balance of these talents/gifts.

How can a person be given more to one gift than another, and still find comfort (rest) in the Lord.

Looking for a teacher.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

~Witness
Witness,
If you find that you need more info, please feel free to pm me and we can discuss this at length without too much interuption.

[jlaylo]

Witness,
Pray more so that the Holy Spirit will show you the way.. GOD BLESS :)

[Reyanah]

A created being can never control the gifts or the Spirit of the living God. The only way to have control is let God be in the drivers seat all the time and with and in and through and for Him everything else works out.

[.chrys.]

First, thank you all for responding to this query. Had I realized there were more responses, I'dve read them sooner! (Still experiencing navigational difficulties.)

what exactly do you mean by comfort (rest) in the lord? can you elaborate?

Sure, Dace! What I'm talking about is burning out. Spending all one's efforts on one particular gift, while neglecting other ones. For example, a teacher may spend all his time teaching--thinking he is doing the work of the Lord--but neglecting the "call" to be a spiritual prayer warrior. There is unrest in the soul; an uneasieness of sorts; an unbalance.
________

Sennaria, thank you for supplying these instructions. Some of it makes sense to me. Other parts are not so clear.

God gives out His gifts according to the measure of faith.

In reading Romans 12:6, I am inclined to believe that God gives us spiritual gifts according to the grace He's given us--not according to our faith. It is according to our measure of faith, however, that we are to use our spiritual gifts.
_________


salida, I especially appreciate this word from you: The Holy Spirit gives us the desire to do certain gifts more.

This gives me hope that the Holy Spirit can and will guide me in the everyday choices of how to serve the Lord best--and that the Holy Spirit can and will guide me in the more life-changing choices as well.

Do you know of any scriptural evidences pointing toward this promise?

___________


Moriah, as always, thanks for hitting the nail on the head.

In the first part of this post, I've mentioned an example of a teacher and a spiritual prayer warrior. Furthermore, the gifts could be anything, really: teaching/prophesying; tongues/encouraging; wisdom/faith. Some gifts just don't seem to harmonize well with others.

How does one know when to be the hand, when his experience has always been to function as the foot?

____________


Macca, thanks for the invitation. You may hear from me soon!
____________


jlaylo, I think this is the best advice yet! (But, I really, really do appreciate the efforts of those who've responded--sometimes prayer just doesn't seem to answer my neverending questions.)

____________


Reyanah, I agree that we cannot control the dispensation of gifts. What do you make of 1 Cor. 14:12? It speaks to my heart that we are to seek to have those gifts which will edify the church.

_____________


Blessings to you each!
~Witness

[Dace]

Sure, Dace! What I'm talking about is burning out. Spending all one's efforts on one particular gift, while neglecting other ones. For example, a teacher may spend all his time teaching--thinking He is doing the work of the Lord--but neglecting the "call" to be a spiritual prayer warrior. There is unrest in the soul; an uneasieness of sorts; an unbalance.

I see what you mean, I know Christians who fit that bill actually.
Hmmm, I'm not sure, I think God ultimately has things in hand and maybe we just need to trust that we'll be shown when and where to practice our gifts, . I can only imagine the holy spirit giving us this knowledge, or perhaps through another Christian in the spirit, or maybe angelic prompting... well I guess It can't hurt to pray for guidance :prayer:

At the end of the day I don't think we should necessarily expect to feel completely at peace with God until we're in heaven.

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

Moriah, as always, thanks for hitting the nail on the head.

In the first part of this post, I've mentioned an example of a teacher and a spiritual prayer warrior. Furthermore, the gifts could be anything, really: teaching/prophesying; tongues/encouraging; wisdom/faith. Some gifts just don't seem to harmonize well with others.

How does one know when to be the hand, when his experience has always been to function as the foot?

First one needs to determine whether God, in fact, has made him a hand and is calling him to be a hand. There must be a sense of discernment between what is of the flesh and what is in the Spirit. And that's something I cannot give you an instruction manual for, unfortunately. It requires an actual experience of walking in the Spirit -- even just a TASTE of that experience -- to be able to tell the difference internally (and from there on, discernment is always being refined, of course -- I do not imagine that because I've had a taste of this and it's now much clearer to me, means I will never make a mistake. But I'm less concerned about making one because my mind is more settled in the knowledge that it is God who is able to keep me from falling and God who is able to make me stand.)

Assuming it is God who has given multiple giftings and callings I would say it becomes a matter of the right thing at the right time, and not to break the atmosphere of one to shift gears to the other. Also to avoid insularity, spiritual inbreeding and bias, it is helpful to have one gift by one enhanced by the gift of another. Thus if one is speaking in tongues, instead of them interpreting it themselves, it is edifying to have another interpret, because this provides a second-witnessing and confirmation of the message. If one has prophesied it is edifying to have another provide testing from the scriptures -- this proves the prophesying and avoids any occasion for accusing the prophet of skewing scripture to suit his message for example. If one has brought forth a Word of knowledge perhaps another can provide some teaching to follow it up and ground that seed in the recipient. And so on. Thus one plants, another waters, another weeds, but it is the same God who gives the increase. We are meant to function as a resurrected body of lively stones in harmonious wholeness and unity in the Holy Spirit. God's work is most amazingly performed when we all have our very different fingers in it all moving in One direction: His.

[IXOYE5]

First one needs to determine whether God, in fact, has made him a hand and is calling him to be a hand. There must be a sense of discernment between what is of the flesh and what is in the Spirit. And that's something I cannot give you an instruction manual for, unfortunately. It requires an actual experience of walking in the Spirit -- even just a TASTE of that experience -- to be able to tell the difference internally (and from there on, discernment is always being refined, of course -- I do not imagine that because I've had a taste of this and it's now much clearer to me, means I will never make a mistake. But I'm less concerned about making one because my mind is more settled in the knowledge that it is God who is able to keep me from falling and God who is able to make me stand.)

Assuming it is God who has given multiple giftings and callings I would say it becomes a matter of the right thing at the right time, and not to break the atmosphere of one to shift gears to the other. Also to avoid insularity, spiritual inbreeding and bias, it is helpful to have one gift by one enhanced by the gift of another. Thus if one is speaking in tongues, instead of them interpreting it themselves, it is edifying to have another interpret, because this provides a second-witnessing and confirmation of the message. If one has prophesied it is edifying to have another provide testing from the scriptures -- this proves the prophesying and avoids any occasion for accusing the prophet of skewing scripture to suit his message for example. If one has brought forth a Word of knowledge perhaps another can provide some teaching to follow it up and ground that seed in the recipient. And so on. Thus one plants, another waters, another weeds, but it is the same God who gives the increase. We are meant to function as a resurrected body of lively stones in harmonious wholeness and unity in the Holy Spirit. God's work is most amazingly performed when we all have our very different fingers in it all moving in One direction: His.


Hello ConstantWitness, :hug:

Moriah_Conquering_Wind, has given you Light to your path, with the Oil in her lamp. The Wisdom and Knowledge from His Throne has shared with you, I and others, I have not seen in a long time. I am edified by the words Moriah has spoken. And His Truth has ministred to us through her Today 08:26 PM.

Thank you Moriah for being a willing vessel speaking at His Service for the Body of Christ. :groupray:

[.chrys.]

First one needs to determine whether God, in fact, has made him a hand and is calling him to be a hand. There must be a sense of discernment between what is of the flesh and what is in the Spirit.

No manual, eh. Hmm. It is back to prayer then.

In a PM from another, it was shown to me that not all the things I'd thought were "gifts" were indeed gifts--but rather some really are nothing more than abilities.

Thanks for your help Moriah, et al,

I will wait on the Lord.

~Witness

[IXOYE5]

No manual, eh. Hmm. It is back to prayer then.

In a PM from another, it was shown to me that not all the things I'd thought were "gifts" were indeed gifts--but rather some really are nothing more than abilities.

Thanks for your help Moriah, et al,

I will wait on the Lord.

~Witness


Originally Posted by Moriah_Conquering_Wind http://www3.christianforums.com/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.christianforums.com/showthread.php?p=28933478#post28933478)
First one needs to determine whether God, in fact, has made him a hand and is calling him to be a hand. There must be a sense of discernment between what is of the flesh and what is in the Spirit. And that's something I cannot give you an instruction manual for, unfortunately.

___________


ConstantWitness,

If I may give an example:
Lets us use a waitress for an example,
The Study of Etiquette for use in life's every day events. It discusses different types of dining, entertaining, table settings and proper attire for various functions. Learning Etiquette will provide you with the knowledge, self-confidence and skills needed for a successful social and business life. It provides expert advice and a practical guide for all ages.

In this we can say, So does the Word of God, the Scriptures to all aspects of how to serve, live a Christian and Godly Life. As does the Gifts we receive as tools given by the Holy Spirit to communicate with God and serve other in our walk with Christ.

So the study of Etiquette only goes as far as the waitress’s attitude, the person who they are or are not. Their smile, Love for others, serving others, giving and contending to the needs of those they serve. Some people the serve may need to be cheered up, some can not be cheered for that is who they are. Yet with all of the Waitress’s ability, they are to willingly serve with joy, peace and understanding what the Etiquette ways are to serve and comfort those they are serving.


For so is the Spirit of a person, Etiquette will only be a useful as the word that has been studied and leaned by the one studying that words of Etiquette.

So is the Gifts of God and the Holy Spirit who manifests the Gift in one Heart, If you have the Holy Spirit within you.

The balance is who you are, not what you want to be.
The balance is how you want to serve with the abilities you have from what you are.
The balance is not all gifts or talents, because we all differ in who we are.
The balance is the use of those Gifts according to “YOUR FAITH” between you and God, and the Holy Spirit in you.

All of us who are Spirit filled have never changed who we are in the flesh, nor can we.

But I still am IXOYE5 - Martin a man, still a prisoner in the flesh and prone to sin in the flesh, yet by the renewing of my mind, set free by the Grace of God through the redemptive blood of His Son Jesus Christ, baptized and born again into a new Spiritual creature trying to balance how I Move, Walk, Live with all my being and with guidance from the Gift of the Holy Spirit do I have this balance to sustain me until this mortal body the flesh is Quickened by the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ!


Yet the balance is by “FAITH”, in "Spirit and Truth" in God, Christ and the Holy Spirit apart from the fleshly man that we still are, yet put away by the Power and Grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and His Gift we have received by Grace and not of works of the flesh. :groupray:



Shalom

[.chrys.]

Thank you, Martin.

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

Thank you Moriah for being a willing vessel speaking at His Service for the Body of Christ. :groupray:
Thank you for your kind encouragements, Martin! Assuredly, the joy in doing so is all mine. Let's thank God for His willingness to share so generously with us and His amazing love that He trusts the communication of His heart and His truth to imperfect vessels like ourselves, that He blesses us and lifts us into Himself, and causes us to walk in His Spirit! For truly, truly, without Him, we are nothing. :bow:

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

All of us who are Spirit filled have never changed who we are in the flesh, nor can we.

Amen ... indeed, it is ALL His work in us, from beginning to end. In the fullness of time, CW. In the fullness of time.

[IXOYE5]

Thank you for your kind encouragements, Martin! Assuredly, the joy in doing so is all mine. Let's thank God for His willingness to share so generously with us and His amazing love that He trusts the communication of His heart and His truth to imperfect vessels like ourselves, that He blesses us and lifts us into Himself, and causes us to walk in His Spirit! For truly, truly, without Him, we are nothing. :bow:

....:hug:
...:groupray:

[IXOYE5]

Thank you, Martin.

....:hug:
...:groupray: