Benevolence, Christian Education, clerical, communications, counseling, discernment, hospitality, outreach, prayer, service-oriented ministries, shepherding, speaking, staffing, staff-support, teaching, visionary leadership ministries, worship — 17 different ministry areas listed at: Ministries to Serve in Using Your Spiritual Gifts — And, within those areas, many different tasks need to be accomplished.
God Empowers Believers with Spiritual Gifts to Accomplish Different Kinds of Ministry
God has provided different spiritual gifts so all of these varying kinds of ministries can be accomplished effectively through His power. We each have a part to do, using our gifts.
Some then pose the question of whether that exempts them from ministry for which they aren’t gifted. Is spiritual giftedness an excuse for not being benevolent or hospitable, for not witnessing, etc.?
Spiritual Giftedness Is Not an Excuse for Exemption from Different Ministries
If we make a list of all the gifts found in the key passages on spiritual gifts (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4; 1 Peter 4), with the exception of tongues and interpretation of tongues, we can find counterpart commands for all believers to participate in activity similar to what would be accomplished through those different gifts. People with the corresponding gift, however, will usually be more effective, devote more time and energy, and see greater results in a given area than those without the gift. Yet, to an extent, as God gives opportunity, we are all to evangelize, teach, serve, show mercy, etc.
Consider evangelism as an example. Believers with the spiritual gift of evangelism will look for opportunities to tell others about Jesus. Their main ambition and priority in ministry will be evangelizing. Likewise, the primary focus of Christians with other spiritual giftedness will be on ministry using their gifts. Yet, because we’re all commanded to be His ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:18-20 and witness (Acts 1:8; Matt.28:19-20), we still “make the most of every opportunity” (Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5) to share the Gospel with others. Spiritual giftedness isn’t an excuse to disobey God’s commands about evangelism.
So, yes, do look for ministries that provide the best fit according to your giftedness. Focus your time and energy there, relying on God’s power to work through you for His glory. But, also stay open to God’s leading to step outside of your gifting and do your part to meet needs. Trust His Spirit to guide and enable you in the moment rather than using your spiritual giftedness as an excuse for failing to follow His prompting.
Hello, my name is Andrew. I just took the test to see which Spiritual Gift God has given me… and I got Exhorter as a result. What areas are the best fit ministries for this gift?? I believe I also carry the gift of faith and the gift of wisdom. I want to grow more in my gifting. What are some weak points (blind spots) of these 3 gifts? How do these three gifts work together? And what are some areas where I can use my gift more effectively in and outside the church? I also have surrounded myself with those with the Prophetic motivational gift. I tend to clash with them often, but they have helped me grow tremendously in my walk with my Lord Jesus!! Thank you for this blog, it has helped me tremendously to understand my own gifting and use it more effectively and pray that it will be as much of a Blessing as it was to me, and to many others in the future!
Hello, Andrew. I praise God this has be so helpful. Here are some thoughts about your questions:
The best fit for using the gift of exhortation for you may be different than someone else. Other factors will enter in. Let me suggest you read the article, I Know Some Servants . . . with the Spiritual Gift of Exhortation, as well as the comments in that post, and see if anything resonates. Some possibilities could be counseling, teaching, training or equipping ministry, leading a small group, discipleship, support group, etc. There could be opportunities for these in or out of the church. Coming along side of people with encouragement and admonishment to reach their potential in the Lord can be verbally in person or through phone contacting or video chat. It could also happen through writing.
With the gift of faith, in situations where there are significant obstacles to overcome, you would tend to inspire others to trust God, anticipating what He can do. Someone with this gift might find themselves spurring others on in new ministry initiatives or special projects. Prayer is definitely an avenue to express this gift which can be done in or out of the church.
People with the gift of wisdom are often sought out for counsel or as a consultant which can be useful in almost any kind of ministry in or out of the church.
The gift of faith and wisdom are rarely stand-alone gifts. They often compliment other gifts, flavoring how those gifts are used. So, combined with the gift of exhortation, it would suggest a strong leaning toward providing counsel, consultation, mentoring, or discipleship that not only builds people up but is quite practical and motivational.
Probably the biggest thing to be careful of with this gifting is that you can get so overloaded with people demands in ministry that other important relationships can suffer, as well as tasks that need to get done. Setting boundaries can be difficult but necessary at times. Another issue might be that with such a strong motivational ability, it could be easy to slip into pride about one’s ability to move people. To guard against this, we need to constantly remind ourselves that spiritual gifts are given by God’s grace and power. When truly using our spiritual gifts, it’s Him at work, not us.
What you wrote about your interaction with people with the gift of prophesy can happen because you would take a different approach to helping people. Someone with the gift of exhortation takes a more consoling and encouraging tone whereas someone with the gift of prophecy would tend to be more confrontational and what might at times even sound condemning. When serving with someone gifted to have a different approach, it can be a good thing when we let God bring the needed balance through what we both have to offer rather than fight against each other.