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Adult Class

Being An Influence For Christ Class 6

December 2007-February 2008

            From the beginning of this study, we noted that our commission to influence others for Christ is often blocked by some wrong presuppositions we hold. We do not have to be dynamic, zealous, “walking Bible dictionaries” confronting people with the gospel and demanding immediate response. We need to be ourselves and help others move one or more steps closer to committed discipleship to Jesus.

            In the last session, we saw that people are at different levels in their spiritual journeys. Once we understand where they are, we can help them progress to the next level. Always we realize that God is responsible for conversion and that our only task is to point to Him while living a life consistent with the faith we profess. Evangelism is a process, not a single event. We need to be a part of the process for others.

            Unfortunately, many Christians are derailed by a long-held and cherished presupposition about their own abilities. Many Christians believe that unless they have all the relevant Scriptures about all key doctrinal points memorized and ready at a moment’s notice, they have nothing helpful to offer anyone. By means of this lie, the devil has prevented many, many Christians from helping others come to faith—or even to grow and develop in their own discipleship.

            The way we help others to move closer to Jesus is by exercising the spiritual gifts that God has given us. This is the center of the Scriptural approach to the Christian life. As we begin to shift our thinking to the examination and use of the spiritual gifts we possess, we must first understand clearly what spiritual gifts are, and what they are not.

            Spiritual gifts are special empowerments that God provides to us to develop and use us in His service and to His glory. At the dawn of the church age, these included miraculous abilities to speak, heal, discern truth, proclaim the will and word of God and perform other startling signs and wonders. After the death of the apostles, who had the power to bestow those miraculous abilities, those gifts passed out of the life of the church. There are many, many other spiritual gifts that remain in the church, though. These gifts are not abilities, earned achievements, proof of our salvation or status symbols of Christian life. Nor are these gifts given to only one person in the church.

Why do we have these gifts?

            Biblically, spiritual gifts are given to every Christian and are to be used in order to further the work of the church, to the glory of God. In any discussion of spiritual gifts, however, natural questions are raised.

How can I determine my spiritual gifts?

            Typically, the exercise of your spiritual gifts is found at the intersection of your abilities and your opportunities. When God gives you the ability to encourage (Romans 12:8) and the opportunity to lift a discouraged brother or sister, you can be sure that you are presented with the spiritual gift of encouragement. God has brought your abilities to that opportunity and He expects you to exercise your gift to the upbuilding of the body!

            But how can you determine what your gifts are before being confronted with a need? Dr. Evertt Huffard, of Harding University Graduate School of Religion, offers these guidelines:

1. Think about your past. Who were the people important to you? Where were you when you did good service for God in the past? What did you do in His service? How was God at work in your life then and there?
2. Evaluate your ministry involvement. How have you done? What were your successes or failures? Why did things work well or badly? If you have not been involved in ministry in the past, accept any opportunity for ministry now. Trial and error will help you determine how God has blessed you.
3. When you know a gift or gifts, use them more frequently. That will very often lead to newly discovered gifts.
4. Look at the “gift lists” in the passages we noted above. Identify which of these gifts describes you. How have you used that gift or those gifts?

            In all this discussion, it is imperative that every Christian use the gifts given by God to His service and to His glory. Only when others can see Christ at work in us will we be able to influence them to desire this life for themselves.