I was thinking about the situation about someone we know and also in human's life.
Then came this title to me-Do not feed the monkey!
Pray before reading as this can get confrontational. Confrontations of this nature is good so take it with a good heart.
This friend whom we know lets call him James for now. James is a case of being lost and filled with wrong spirits due to things that happened to him in his past. Sad is such a case but sympathy is to be shown not pity.
There are a lot of people who went through and goes through injustice, pain, suffering, torment, abuse etc in this human experience call life. None of us escapes the consequences of what Adam and Eve done. None of us are spared. The thing is that in life, we may not control what happens to us as life is such that we are all linked together. In another words we are built for relationship by our Creator God. What we do and say do not just affects that person alone but also people around as well. It is selfish and foolish to think and say that " its my life, i do and say what i want". We may not control what happens but we can control how and what we become from it.
The key word is responsibility. We are to be responsible to how we react, how we talk, how we think, how we feel, how we live. One cannot simply place the blame on the things and happenings in our life for doing so is not taking responsibility. Not being a good steward. Part of being a good and faithful steward and servant is to be responsible first and foremost of ourselves.
What are we feeding our lives with? Negative or positive thoughts? Defeat or victory? Strength or frailness? Pain or joy? Resentment or surrender? Humility or pride?
We see signs that reads "do not feed the monkeys" and there is a reason why it is there. It is there for the purpose of boundary meant to protect the monkeys and the people wanting to feed the monkeys. Monkeys are wild and meant to survive by finding and getting their own food. So by us humans going in and feeding them, it upsets the natural balance and the way they were created to be. When we feed the monkeys we make them adopt the new pattern that they can get food from people and not find and get for themselves so when times comes when they is no one to feed them, because they lose the ability to survive on their own they end up dying of hunger. How sad is that? Not only that. When we feed the monkeys, because they are wild and the action of feeding them causes them to turn aggressive and injure the person feeding them and also snatching food from the person.
All that starts from the good intention that we have. We may have good intentions and there is nothing wrong with it but we must have wisdom otherwise what started out with good intentions can turn nasty and turn it's head to bite you back.
Intentions are never good enough even if it is good.It has to be done with wisdom. What you think may be good for that person might just become the very thing that becomes the catalyst to the grown of the root issue in the person.
Especially women are to be extra careful in this matter. As women are born with maternal instinct so naturally you would want to nurture and be like a caring figure to the person. You see a hurting person and go "ohhh so poor thing, i shall come and help you and love you". Women are to be extra careful when the person in need of attention is a guy. Guys in such stage are vulnerable and when anyone is in a vulnerable stage he/she is reaching out and grabbing whatever that is in reach to cling onto. If he/she clings onto pain, anger, bitterness, things, or a person then it is unhealthy but if he/she clings onto God then it becomes the turning point. Anything other than that will fall short.
When we go beyond supporting and encouraging the person in pain we end up "feeding the monkey" and he/she loses the ability to fight and stand for him/herself and to draw from God. If you feed the monkey you end up as his/her source of strength.
Thursday 16 August 2012
Thursday 19 July 2012
Made Strong
I love Eric Ludy's sermons! :-) TGIF = Today God Is First ! I pray that their latest sermon "Made Strong" will have you guys recharged & strengthed up for the days ahead!
http://ellerslie.com/Sermon_Directory.html <--- link here for more sermons, Elias! do check out the classics on the manly stuffs' sermons!
http://www.setapartgirl.com/home.html <----- Ariel, this is for us! this is by Eric's wife .. Leslie Ludy :)
Delivered by: Eric Ludy
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/45697524" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>
http://ellerslie.com/Sermon_Directory.html <--- link here for more sermons, Elias! do check out the classics on the manly stuffs' sermons!
http://www.setapartgirl.com/home.html <----- Ariel, this is for us! this is by Eric's wife .. Leslie Ludy :)
Delivered by: Eric Ludy
This message packs a powerful Gospel punch, deeply
challenging us all to place our confidence in the Strength of Israel, Jesus
Christ, rather than the strength of this world. Everyone wants to be strong, but
few of us are willing to become strong on God's terms - through dependency and
faith. But, true indomitable strength is found only through embracing the
opportunity that weakness affords.
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/45697524" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>
Monday 16 July 2012
Just a tip
I learned this from Rick Warren.
There is a war going on and the battlefield is in you. We are constantly fighting our conscience. When you decide to be a man's conscience, guess who he gets angry at?
He takes all the anger he's fighting against himself and his own conscience and his own ethics and he turns it on you. Don't try to be somebody's else god or somebody's conscience.
"You should, you must, you ought to etc"1-Never use words like these because the person will turn all attention against fighting you who represents his conscience. It doesn't work.
There is a war going on and the battlefield is in you. We are constantly fighting our conscience. When you decide to be a man's conscience, guess who he gets angry at?
He takes all the anger he's fighting against himself and his own conscience and his own ethics and he turns it on you. Don't try to be somebody's else god or somebody's conscience.
"You should, you must, you ought to etc"1-Never use words like these because the person will turn all attention against fighting you who represents his conscience. It doesn't work.
Getting to where you're going
"... continued the work with half the men holding spears, from
the first light of dawn till the stars came out." Nehemiah 4:21b (NIV)
While it's true that God ultimately accomplishes His purposes in ways far beyond what we can ask or imagine, we have a part to play in His plans. God recently had me read the book of Nehemiah to see how one of His servants accomplished the huge task of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.
I came away with a deep appreciation for my part of success—organization, communication, energy, delegation and hard, hard work. Scripture actually says that Nehemiah and the Israelites "...continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out." (Nehemiah 4:21b NIV)
I've been guilty like many Christians in talking about my calling and spiritualizing "trusting God" without being willing to follow Him in obedience into the day-to-day labor required to build His Kingdom.
How about you? Is something keeping you from doing the work? Perhaps you're faced with paralyzing questions posed by fear? "What if I try and fail?" "What if nobody else believes in me?" "What if God doesn't show up?" or worse "What if I've misheard God and am missing His will?"
Or, are there distractions and time-wasters that take your focus off of what you know God's wants you to do?
It's taken me many years to come to a place that I find the thought of working toward my calling encouraging rather than discouraging. I'm encouraged that it doesn't take innate genius or prodigal gifting to fulfill my calling. I don't have either of those.
In an article published in The New York Times, David Brooks wrote about the place of hard work in success.
He shared:
"The key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not a divine spark ... Instead, it's deliberate practice. Top performers spend more hours (many more hours) rigorously practicing their craft."
A study cited in the same article said that musicians who were said to be virtuoso practiced 10,000 hours; 5,000 more than those simply considered to be good.
It reminded me of something I'd heard in an interview with my friend Lysa TerKeurst. She said that many people ask how she became a New York Times bestselling author overnight. Her answer was simply, "Through 17 years of hard work. I determined that I would do all that I could do while completely trusting God to do what only He could do."
I'm called to become an increasingly effective communicator for Christ, not so that people can stand in awe of Amy Carroll but so that they can stand in awe of the One I speak about—Jesus. I'm called to help other women to grow too. I can't do that unless I'm a life-long student, learner and worker.
What's your calling? Are you doing the work? My definition in this case is simply moment-by-moment, day-by-day obedience to God's Word and the leading of His Spirit. Some days that will look like moving forward while other days it will be stillness, waiting and listening. Either way, let's start working right now!
Dear Lord, thank You for the calling on my life. Even though parts of my heart are nervous and struggle, I want to do the work and walk in obedience to You. Thanks for helping me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Reflect and Respond:
"Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." ~Thomas Edison
Pray for freedom from fear or distractions. Plan for time to work on your calling. Prepare your heart to hear from God.
Power Verse:
Proverbs 31:17, "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks." (NIV)
© 2012 by Amy Carroll. All rights reserved.
While it's true that God ultimately accomplishes His purposes in ways far beyond what we can ask or imagine, we have a part to play in His plans. God recently had me read the book of Nehemiah to see how one of His servants accomplished the huge task of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.
I came away with a deep appreciation for my part of success—organization, communication, energy, delegation and hard, hard work. Scripture actually says that Nehemiah and the Israelites "...continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out." (Nehemiah 4:21b NIV)
I've been guilty like many Christians in talking about my calling and spiritualizing "trusting God" without being willing to follow Him in obedience into the day-to-day labor required to build His Kingdom.
How about you? Is something keeping you from doing the work? Perhaps you're faced with paralyzing questions posed by fear? "What if I try and fail?" "What if nobody else believes in me?" "What if God doesn't show up?" or worse "What if I've misheard God and am missing His will?"
Or, are there distractions and time-wasters that take your focus off of what you know God's wants you to do?
It's taken me many years to come to a place that I find the thought of working toward my calling encouraging rather than discouraging. I'm encouraged that it doesn't take innate genius or prodigal gifting to fulfill my calling. I don't have either of those.
In an article published in The New York Times, David Brooks wrote about the place of hard work in success.
He shared:
"The key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not a divine spark ... Instead, it's deliberate practice. Top performers spend more hours (many more hours) rigorously practicing their craft."
A study cited in the same article said that musicians who were said to be virtuoso practiced 10,000 hours; 5,000 more than those simply considered to be good.
It reminded me of something I'd heard in an interview with my friend Lysa TerKeurst. She said that many people ask how she became a New York Times bestselling author overnight. Her answer was simply, "Through 17 years of hard work. I determined that I would do all that I could do while completely trusting God to do what only He could do."
I'm called to become an increasingly effective communicator for Christ, not so that people can stand in awe of Amy Carroll but so that they can stand in awe of the One I speak about—Jesus. I'm called to help other women to grow too. I can't do that unless I'm a life-long student, learner and worker.
What's your calling? Are you doing the work? My definition in this case is simply moment-by-moment, day-by-day obedience to God's Word and the leading of His Spirit. Some days that will look like moving forward while other days it will be stillness, waiting and listening. Either way, let's start working right now!
Dear Lord, thank You for the calling on my life. Even though parts of my heart are nervous and struggle, I want to do the work and walk in obedience to You. Thanks for helping me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Reflect and Respond:
"Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration." ~Thomas Edison
Pray for freedom from fear or distractions. Plan for time to work on your calling. Prepare your heart to hear from God.
Power Verse:
Proverbs 31:17, "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks." (NIV)
© 2012 by Amy Carroll. All rights reserved.
When you don't know what to say
"The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." Nahum 1:7 (NIV 1984)
Recently a moving truck pulled up to my friend's house. Sometimes moving signifies something exciting and new. Sometimes it doesn't.
This move signified an end. A few hours into the process of emptying her home, the movers carried out her wedding portrait and asked, "Are you taking the photographs separately?"
"Yes," she said, the irony not escaping her. Separately. That was how she'd be living now. Separate from their neighborhood. Separate from her husband. Separate from the way she thought life would be.
She took the wedding portrait and a feeling of confusion washed over her. Through her tears she called me and said, "I don't know what to do with this portrait. What do you do with things that have no place anymore? We built a life together and now there's no more together."
I knew better than to throw out a quippy bit of Christianese. Someone once told me as I stood over my dying sister's bedside, "You just have to let go and let God." They meant well. But it infuriated me. No, I wouldn't throw out something just to fill the uncomfortable silence. Trite sayings weren't going to curl up in bed with her and hold her unglued heart.
Maybe you've been there. Whether you were the one sitting in the midst of confusion or the one trying desperately to know what to say, I understand. Sometimes we just have to acknowledge that good feelings won't be there for a while. And when there's no way to feel better in the moment, we have to place our feet on the only solid ground there is—God's truth.
His truth won't shift with feelings.
His truth won't drown in a sea of tears.
His truth won't leave you even when your gut honest cries don't sound so Christian.
I finally said, "I don't have answers, but I do have prayers. And I'm going to write out conversations I have with God so you'll know He's not being silent right now. He sees you. He hears you. And through His truth He will comfort you."
I pulled out my Bible and poured out the hurt and sadness. "God show me the right truths. Use my hand to write out some comfort from Your Word for my friend."
Me: Lord, it's hard to watch my friend hurt so much. She begged You to help save her marriage and honestly we're confused why it still fell apart.
The Lord: Does Job 17:11 express the way you're feeling? "My days have passed, my plans are shattered, and so are the desires of my heart." (NIV 1984)
Me: Lord, don't You see her tears? If seeing her sadness breaks my heart, it must break Yours too.
The Lord: Recall the beauty of trusting the only One who can see what is and what is to come. Nahum 1:7... "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." (NIV 1984)
Me: I do trust You. But for everything to end like this is so hard. It just seems pointless.
The Lord: Nothing I allow you to go through is pointless. Even in the midst of hurt I will work good for her: now and in the future. I still have a grand plan for her. Proverbs 19:20-21... "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." (NIV 1984)
Me: I just need to know why she has to go through this.
The Lord: You don't have to have answers. You just need to trust. Isaiah 55:9b ... "My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (NIV 1984)
Me: But what about the desires of her heart Lord?
The Lord: I am the only one who knows the full scope of those desires. I'll give her new desires and help her so those desires come to pass. Just encourage her to trust Me and make wise choices. Psalm 37:3-4 ... "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." (NIV 1984)
I sent this written out conversation with God to my friend. My note didn't fix her hurt or answer her questions. It didn't give her a place to put those things that seemed to have no place right now. But it did get her to open up God's Word and start having conversations with Him for herself. And as she moves on, this is a good first step to take.
Dear Lord, I lift my hurting friend to You. For You are the only One who can ultimately lift her up. Through all the ups and downs in life, may she trust You in a very personal way. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Reflect and Respond:
Trust meets every circumstance with the assurance of God's promises.
What is a disappointment you've walked through lately? Write the verses above on index cards to carry with you and write the words "I believe" after each one.
Power Verses:
Psalm 37:3-4, "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." (NIV 1984)
Recently a moving truck pulled up to my friend's house. Sometimes moving signifies something exciting and new. Sometimes it doesn't.
This move signified an end. A few hours into the process of emptying her home, the movers carried out her wedding portrait and asked, "Are you taking the photographs separately?"
"Yes," she said, the irony not escaping her. Separately. That was how she'd be living now. Separate from their neighborhood. Separate from her husband. Separate from the way she thought life would be.
She took the wedding portrait and a feeling of confusion washed over her. Through her tears she called me and said, "I don't know what to do with this portrait. What do you do with things that have no place anymore? We built a life together and now there's no more together."
I knew better than to throw out a quippy bit of Christianese. Someone once told me as I stood over my dying sister's bedside, "You just have to let go and let God." They meant well. But it infuriated me. No, I wouldn't throw out something just to fill the uncomfortable silence. Trite sayings weren't going to curl up in bed with her and hold her unglued heart.
Maybe you've been there. Whether you were the one sitting in the midst of confusion or the one trying desperately to know what to say, I understand. Sometimes we just have to acknowledge that good feelings won't be there for a while. And when there's no way to feel better in the moment, we have to place our feet on the only solid ground there is—God's truth.
His truth won't shift with feelings.
His truth won't drown in a sea of tears.
His truth won't leave you even when your gut honest cries don't sound so Christian.
I finally said, "I don't have answers, but I do have prayers. And I'm going to write out conversations I have with God so you'll know He's not being silent right now. He sees you. He hears you. And through His truth He will comfort you."
I pulled out my Bible and poured out the hurt and sadness. "God show me the right truths. Use my hand to write out some comfort from Your Word for my friend."
Me: Lord, it's hard to watch my friend hurt so much. She begged You to help save her marriage and honestly we're confused why it still fell apart.
The Lord: Does Job 17:11 express the way you're feeling? "My days have passed, my plans are shattered, and so are the desires of my heart." (NIV 1984)
Me: Lord, don't You see her tears? If seeing her sadness breaks my heart, it must break Yours too.
The Lord: Recall the beauty of trusting the only One who can see what is and what is to come. Nahum 1:7... "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." (NIV 1984)
Me: I do trust You. But for everything to end like this is so hard. It just seems pointless.
The Lord: Nothing I allow you to go through is pointless. Even in the midst of hurt I will work good for her: now and in the future. I still have a grand plan for her. Proverbs 19:20-21... "Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." (NIV 1984)
Me: I just need to know why she has to go through this.
The Lord: You don't have to have answers. You just need to trust. Isaiah 55:9b ... "My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (NIV 1984)
Me: But what about the desires of her heart Lord?
The Lord: I am the only one who knows the full scope of those desires. I'll give her new desires and help her so those desires come to pass. Just encourage her to trust Me and make wise choices. Psalm 37:3-4 ... "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." (NIV 1984)
I sent this written out conversation with God to my friend. My note didn't fix her hurt or answer her questions. It didn't give her a place to put those things that seemed to have no place right now. But it did get her to open up God's Word and start having conversations with Him for herself. And as she moves on, this is a good first step to take.
Dear Lord, I lift my hurting friend to You. For You are the only One who can ultimately lift her up. Through all the ups and downs in life, may she trust You in a very personal way. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Reflect and Respond:
Trust meets every circumstance with the assurance of God's promises.
What is a disappointment you've walked through lately? Write the verses above on index cards to carry with you and write the words "I believe" after each one.
Power Verses:
Psalm 37:3-4, "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." (NIV 1984)
Spiritual gift assessment
This is from Renee Swope's book-A confident heart. I recommend getting this book from fishpond.com.sg!
Spiritual Gift Assessment
In Chapter 8 of A Confident Heart, I talk about the importance of discovering, understanding and embracing the unique way God made you!! There are five ways you are already equipped for God’s purpose and calling! Your spiritual gift(s) is one of them. To help you discover what spiritual gifts you have, here is a free spiritual gift assessment.
Respond to each statement below according to who you are, not who you would like to be or think you ought to be. As you read them, think to yourself: How true are these statements of me? What has been my experience? To what degree do these statements reflect my usual tendencies? This survey has 96 questions and each is very important, so try not to miss out on any! When you're finished use the scoring sheet to see what your gifts are.
Respond to each statement below according to the following scale:
0 = Not at all; never
1 = Some of the time; once in a while
2 = Most of the time; usually true
3 = Consistently; definitely true
1. ____ I like to organize people, tasks, and events.
2. ____ I can readily distinguish between spiritual truth and error, good and evil.
3. ____ I communicate the gospel to others with clarity and effectiveness.
4. ____ I tend to see the potential in people.
5. ____ I find it natural and easy to trust God to answer my prayers.
6. ____ I give liberally and joyfully to people in financial need or to projects requiring support.
7. ____ I enjoy working behind the scenes to support the work of others.
8. ____ I am approached by people who want to know my perspective on a particular passage or biblical truth.
9. ____ I empathize with hurting people and desire to help in their healing process.
10. ____ I enjoy spending time nurturing and caring for others.
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
11. ____ I am able to communicate God's Word effectively.
12. ____ I am often sought out by others for advice about spiritual or personal matters.
13. ____ I am careful, thorough, and skilled at managing details.
14. ____ I frequently am able to judge a person's character based upon first impressions.
15. ____ I consistently look for opportunities to build relationships with non-Christians.
16. ____ I enjoy reassuring and strengthening those who are discouraged.
17. ____ I have confidence in God's continuing provision and help, even in difficult times.
18. ____ I give more that a tithe so that kingdom work can be accomplished.
19. ____ I enjoy doing routine tasks that support the ministry.
20. ____ I receive information from the Spirit that I did not acquire through natural means.
21. ____ I can patiently support those going through painful experiences as they try to stabilize their lives.
22. ____ I have compassion for wandering believers and want to protect them.
23. ____ I can spend time in study knowing that presenting truth will make a difference in the lives of people.
24. ____ I can often find simple, practical solutions in the midst of conflict or confusion.
25. ____ I can clarify goals and develop strategies or plans to accomplish them.
26. ____ I can see through phoniness or deceit before it is evident to others.
27. ____ I am effective at adapting the gospel message so that it connects with an individual's felt need.
28. ____ I give hope to others by directing them to the promises of God.
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
29. ____ I believe that God will help me to accomplish great things.
30. ____ I manage my money well in order to free more of it for giving.
31. ____ I willingly take on a variety of odd jobs around the church to meet the needs of others.
32. ____ I am committed, and schedule blocks of time for reading and studying scripture, to understand biblical truth fully and accurately.
33. ____ I enjoy helping people sometimes regarded as undeserving or beyond help.
34. ____ I like to provide guidance for the whole person - relationally, emotionally, spiritually, etc.
35. ____ I pay close attention to the words, phrases, and meaning of those who teach.
36. ____ I can easily select the most effective course of action from among several alternatives.
37. ____ I can identify and effectively use the resources needed to accomplish tasks.
38. ____ I tend to see rightness or wrongness in situations.
39. ____ I invite unbelievers to accept Christ as their Savior.
40. ____ I reassure those who need to take courageous action in their faith, family, or life.
41. ____ I trust God in circumstances where success cannot be guaranteed by human effort alone.
42. ____ I am challenged to limit my lifestyle in order to give away a higher percentage of my income.
43. ____ I see spiritual significance in doing practical tasks.
44. ____ I have insight or just know something to be true.
45. ____ I have great compassion for hurting people.
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
46. ____ I can faithfully provide long-term support and concern for others.
47. ____ I like to take a systematic approach to my study of the Bible.
48. ____ I can anticipate the likely consequences of an individual's or a group's action.
49. ____ I like to help organizations or groups become more efficient.
50. ____ I receive affirmation from others concerning the reliability of my insights or perceptions.
51. ____ I openly tell people that I am a Christian and want them to ask me about my faith.
52. ____ I strengthen those who are wavering in their faith.
53. ____ I am convinced of God's daily presence and action in my life.
54. ____ I like knowing that my financial support makes a real difference in the lives and ministries of God's people.
55. ____ I like to find small things that need to be done and often do them without being asked.
56. ____ I have suddenly known some things about others, but did not know how I knew them.
57. ____ I can look beyond a person's handicaps or problems to see a life that matters to God.
58. ____ I enjoy giving guidance and practical support to a small group of people.
59. ____ I can communicate scripture in ways that motivate others to study and want to learn more.
60. ____ I give practical advice to help others through complicated situations.
61. ____ I enjoy learning how organizations function.
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
62. ____ I can identify preaching, teaching, or communication which is not true to the Bible.
63. ____ I openly and confidently tell others what Christ has done for me.
64. ____ I like motivating others to take steps for spiritual growth.
65. ____ I am regularly challenging others to trust God.
66. ____ I give generously due to my commitment to stewardship.
67. ____ I feel comfortable being a helper, assisting others to do their job more effectively.
68. ____ I discover important biblical truths when reading or studying scripture which benefit others in the body of Christ.
69. ____ I enjoy bringing hope and joy to people living in difficult circumstances.
70. ____ I can gently restore wandering believers to faith and fellowship.
71. ____ I can present information and skills to others at a level that makes it easy for them to grasp and apply to their lives.
72. ____ I can apply scriptural truth that others regard as practical and helpful.
73. ____ I can visualize a coming event, anticipate potential problems, and develop backup plans.
74. ____ I can sense when demonic forces are at work in a person or situation.
75. ____ I seek opportunities to talk about spiritual matters with unbelievers.
76. ____ I am able to challenge or rebuke others in order to foster spiritual growth.
77. ____ I can move forward in spite of opposition or lack of support when I sense God's blessing on an undertaking.
78. ____ I believe I have been given an abundance of resources so that I may give more to the Lord's work.
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
79. ____ I readily and happily use my natural or learned skills to help wherever needed.
80. ____ I confidently share my knowledge and insights with others.
81. ____ I enjoy doing practical things for others who are in need.
82. ____ I enjoy patiently but firmly nurturing others in their development as believers.
83. ____ I enjoy explaining things to people so that they can grow spiritually and personally.
84. ____ I have insights into how to solve problems that others do not see.
85. ____ I set goals and manage people and resources effectively to accomplish them.
86. ____ I see most actions as right or wrong, and feel the need to correct the wrong.
87. ____ My conversations with non-believers usually leads to me telling them about my faith.
88. ____ I enjoy practical or topical teaching that I can apply to everyday life.
89. ____ I live with confidence because I know that God works daily in my life.
90. ____ I feel compelled to support missions with my money and time.
91. ____ I am excited and willing to serve others when I am needed to do so.
92. ____ I recognize cultural trends, teachings, or events which contradict biblical principles.
93. ____ I try to have a loving attitude and let others know that I care about them.
94. ____ I feel the need to protect others from doing the wrong things so they can grow stronger in their faith.
95. ____ When others misuse or misinterpret Scripture, I get upset.
96. ____ I am humbled when others seek my counsel.
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
Directions for Scoring:
Add up each column and write your score next to the corresponding letter. Once you have done this you can check the key below to see what gift each letter represents.
Scoring Matrix
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
A____ B____ C____ D____ E____ F____ G____ H____ I_____ J____ K____ L____
A. Administration/Ruling
B. Discernment
C. Evangelism
D. Exhortation
E. Faith
F. Giving
G. Helps/Serving/Ministering
H. Knowledge
I. Mercy
J. Pastor
K. Teaching
L. Wisdom
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
Spiritual Gift Definitions
Administration/Ruling
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to organize, administrate, and promote the various affairs of the local church's ministry to direct them effectively. A local church cannot grow beyond a certain point without the ministry of these individuals. See I Corinthians 12:28 Romans 12:8, Titus 1:4-5
Apostleship
This is the spiritual gift that refers to certain men called by Christ Himself and given special power to charter the newly formed church. See Ephesians 4:11, I Corinthians 12:28 See also Acts 1:22, I Corinthians 9:1
Discernment
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to know with without a doubt whether a statement or behavior is of God, Satan, or man. See I Corinthians 12:10, Acts 5:3-6, Acts 16:16-18, I John 4:1
Evangelism
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables particular Christians to share the Gospel to unbelievers and burdens Christians about soul-winning. All Christians are called to witness for Christ whether they have this gift or not. See Ephesians 4:11, Acts 8:5-12, Acts 21:8, Acts 8:26-40, Matthew 28:18-20
Exhortation
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to deliver challenging and encouraging words. See Romans 12:8, Acts 11:23-24, Acts 14:21-22, Acts 15:32
Faith
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit provides Christians with great confidence to believe and expect great things from God. See I Corinthians 12:9, Romans 5:1, Romans 12:3, Hebrews 11
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
Giving
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to accumulate and give large amounts of their finances to the glory of God. See Romans 12:8, Acts 4:32-37, Galatians 4:15, Phillipians 4:10-18, II Corinthians 8:1-5
Healing
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit uses certain Christians to restore physical or mental health to the sick or demon possessed.
See I Corinthians 12:9, 28, 30, James 5:13-16
Helps/Serving/Ministering
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit empowers certain Christians to render practical help in both physical and spiritual matters. Serving one another, like evangelism, is a calling of all Christians, but there are some who have a special desire to serve, and receive great blessing from it. See Romans 12:7, I Corinthians 12:28, Galatians 6:1-2
Interpretation of tongues
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit gives certain Christians the ability to clarify and interpret messages uttered in an unknown language. See I Corinthians 12:10
Knowledge
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit gives certain Christians the supernatural ability to understand God's Word and to effectively communicate it to others. See I Corinthians 12:8
Mercy
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to minister to and have compassion for those who are suffering or afflicted.
See Romans 12:8, Luke 10:30-37
Miracles
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit empowers certain Christians to perform events that are outside the realm of nature. See I Corinthians 12:28
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
Prophecy
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit empowers certain Christians to receive revelation of events in the future. See Romans 12:6, I Corinthians 12:10, I Corinthians 14:1-5, Ephesians 4:11, I Corinthians 14:30-33, I Peter 1:20-21
Pastor/Teaching
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to preach and teach the Word of God and to take responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a body of believers. See Ephesians 4:11, I Peter 5:1-11
Teaching
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables particular Christians to communicate and clarify the details and truths of God's Word for others to learn.
See Romans 12:7, Ephesians 4:11
Tongues
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables a Christian to supernaturally speak a previously unknown language. See I Corinthians 12:10, I Corinthians 12:30, I Corinthians 14:4, I Corinthians 14:39, Acts 2:4, Acts 19:6
Wisdom
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit empowers particular Christians with a supernatural understanding of God's Word and the will to apply it to life situations. See I Corinthians 12:8, James 3:13-17.
Spiritual Gift Assessment
In Chapter 8 of A Confident Heart, I talk about the importance of discovering, understanding and embracing the unique way God made you!! There are five ways you are already equipped for God’s purpose and calling! Your spiritual gift(s) is one of them. To help you discover what spiritual gifts you have, here is a free spiritual gift assessment.
Respond to each statement below according to who you are, not who you would like to be or think you ought to be. As you read them, think to yourself: How true are these statements of me? What has been my experience? To what degree do these statements reflect my usual tendencies? This survey has 96 questions and each is very important, so try not to miss out on any! When you're finished use the scoring sheet to see what your gifts are.
Respond to each statement below according to the following scale:
0 = Not at all; never
1 = Some of the time; once in a while
2 = Most of the time; usually true
3 = Consistently; definitely true
1. ____ I like to organize people, tasks, and events.
2. ____ I can readily distinguish between spiritual truth and error, good and evil.
3. ____ I communicate the gospel to others with clarity and effectiveness.
4. ____ I tend to see the potential in people.
5. ____ I find it natural and easy to trust God to answer my prayers.
6. ____ I give liberally and joyfully to people in financial need or to projects requiring support.
7. ____ I enjoy working behind the scenes to support the work of others.
8. ____ I am approached by people who want to know my perspective on a particular passage or biblical truth.
9. ____ I empathize with hurting people and desire to help in their healing process.
10. ____ I enjoy spending time nurturing and caring for others.
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
11. ____ I am able to communicate God's Word effectively.
12. ____ I am often sought out by others for advice about spiritual or personal matters.
13. ____ I am careful, thorough, and skilled at managing details.
14. ____ I frequently am able to judge a person's character based upon first impressions.
15. ____ I consistently look for opportunities to build relationships with non-Christians.
16. ____ I enjoy reassuring and strengthening those who are discouraged.
17. ____ I have confidence in God's continuing provision and help, even in difficult times.
18. ____ I give more that a tithe so that kingdom work can be accomplished.
19. ____ I enjoy doing routine tasks that support the ministry.
20. ____ I receive information from the Spirit that I did not acquire through natural means.
21. ____ I can patiently support those going through painful experiences as they try to stabilize their lives.
22. ____ I have compassion for wandering believers and want to protect them.
23. ____ I can spend time in study knowing that presenting truth will make a difference in the lives of people.
24. ____ I can often find simple, practical solutions in the midst of conflict or confusion.
25. ____ I can clarify goals and develop strategies or plans to accomplish them.
26. ____ I can see through phoniness or deceit before it is evident to others.
27. ____ I am effective at adapting the gospel message so that it connects with an individual's felt need.
28. ____ I give hope to others by directing them to the promises of God.
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
29. ____ I believe that God will help me to accomplish great things.
30. ____ I manage my money well in order to free more of it for giving.
31. ____ I willingly take on a variety of odd jobs around the church to meet the needs of others.
32. ____ I am committed, and schedule blocks of time for reading and studying scripture, to understand biblical truth fully and accurately.
33. ____ I enjoy helping people sometimes regarded as undeserving or beyond help.
34. ____ I like to provide guidance for the whole person - relationally, emotionally, spiritually, etc.
35. ____ I pay close attention to the words, phrases, and meaning of those who teach.
36. ____ I can easily select the most effective course of action from among several alternatives.
37. ____ I can identify and effectively use the resources needed to accomplish tasks.
38. ____ I tend to see rightness or wrongness in situations.
39. ____ I invite unbelievers to accept Christ as their Savior.
40. ____ I reassure those who need to take courageous action in their faith, family, or life.
41. ____ I trust God in circumstances where success cannot be guaranteed by human effort alone.
42. ____ I am challenged to limit my lifestyle in order to give away a higher percentage of my income.
43. ____ I see spiritual significance in doing practical tasks.
44. ____ I have insight or just know something to be true.
45. ____ I have great compassion for hurting people.
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
46. ____ I can faithfully provide long-term support and concern for others.
47. ____ I like to take a systematic approach to my study of the Bible.
48. ____ I can anticipate the likely consequences of an individual's or a group's action.
49. ____ I like to help organizations or groups become more efficient.
50. ____ I receive affirmation from others concerning the reliability of my insights or perceptions.
51. ____ I openly tell people that I am a Christian and want them to ask me about my faith.
52. ____ I strengthen those who are wavering in their faith.
53. ____ I am convinced of God's daily presence and action in my life.
54. ____ I like knowing that my financial support makes a real difference in the lives and ministries of God's people.
55. ____ I like to find small things that need to be done and often do them without being asked.
56. ____ I have suddenly known some things about others, but did not know how I knew them.
57. ____ I can look beyond a person's handicaps or problems to see a life that matters to God.
58. ____ I enjoy giving guidance and practical support to a small group of people.
59. ____ I can communicate scripture in ways that motivate others to study and want to learn more.
60. ____ I give practical advice to help others through complicated situations.
61. ____ I enjoy learning how organizations function.
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
62. ____ I can identify preaching, teaching, or communication which is not true to the Bible.
63. ____ I openly and confidently tell others what Christ has done for me.
64. ____ I like motivating others to take steps for spiritual growth.
65. ____ I am regularly challenging others to trust God.
66. ____ I give generously due to my commitment to stewardship.
67. ____ I feel comfortable being a helper, assisting others to do their job more effectively.
68. ____ I discover important biblical truths when reading or studying scripture which benefit others in the body of Christ.
69. ____ I enjoy bringing hope and joy to people living in difficult circumstances.
70. ____ I can gently restore wandering believers to faith and fellowship.
71. ____ I can present information and skills to others at a level that makes it easy for them to grasp and apply to their lives.
72. ____ I can apply scriptural truth that others regard as practical and helpful.
73. ____ I can visualize a coming event, anticipate potential problems, and develop backup plans.
74. ____ I can sense when demonic forces are at work in a person or situation.
75. ____ I seek opportunities to talk about spiritual matters with unbelievers.
76. ____ I am able to challenge or rebuke others in order to foster spiritual growth.
77. ____ I can move forward in spite of opposition or lack of support when I sense God's blessing on an undertaking.
78. ____ I believe I have been given an abundance of resources so that I may give more to the Lord's work.
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
79. ____ I readily and happily use my natural or learned skills to help wherever needed.
80. ____ I confidently share my knowledge and insights with others.
81. ____ I enjoy doing practical things for others who are in need.
82. ____ I enjoy patiently but firmly nurturing others in their development as believers.
83. ____ I enjoy explaining things to people so that they can grow spiritually and personally.
84. ____ I have insights into how to solve problems that others do not see.
85. ____ I set goals and manage people and resources effectively to accomplish them.
86. ____ I see most actions as right or wrong, and feel the need to correct the wrong.
87. ____ My conversations with non-believers usually leads to me telling them about my faith.
88. ____ I enjoy practical or topical teaching that I can apply to everyday life.
89. ____ I live with confidence because I know that God works daily in my life.
90. ____ I feel compelled to support missions with my money and time.
91. ____ I am excited and willing to serve others when I am needed to do so.
92. ____ I recognize cultural trends, teachings, or events which contradict biblical principles.
93. ____ I try to have a loving attitude and let others know that I care about them.
94. ____ I feel the need to protect others from doing the wrong things so they can grow stronger in their faith.
95. ____ When others misuse or misinterpret Scripture, I get upset.
96. ____ I am humbled when others seek my counsel.
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
Directions for Scoring:
Add up each column and write your score next to the corresponding letter. Once you have done this you can check the key below to see what gift each letter represents.
Scoring Matrix
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
A____ B____ C____ D____ E____ F____ G____ H____ I_____ J____ K____ L____
A. Administration/Ruling
B. Discernment
C. Evangelism
D. Exhortation
E. Faith
F. Giving
G. Helps/Serving/Ministering
H. Knowledge
I. Mercy
J. Pastor
K. Teaching
L. Wisdom
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
Spiritual Gift Definitions
Administration/Ruling
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to organize, administrate, and promote the various affairs of the local church's ministry to direct them effectively. A local church cannot grow beyond a certain point without the ministry of these individuals. See I Corinthians 12:28 Romans 12:8, Titus 1:4-5
Apostleship
This is the spiritual gift that refers to certain men called by Christ Himself and given special power to charter the newly formed church. See Ephesians 4:11, I Corinthians 12:28 See also Acts 1:22, I Corinthians 9:1
Discernment
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to know with without a doubt whether a statement or behavior is of God, Satan, or man. See I Corinthians 12:10, Acts 5:3-6, Acts 16:16-18, I John 4:1
Evangelism
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables particular Christians to share the Gospel to unbelievers and burdens Christians about soul-winning. All Christians are called to witness for Christ whether they have this gift or not. See Ephesians 4:11, Acts 8:5-12, Acts 21:8, Acts 8:26-40, Matthew 28:18-20
Exhortation
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to deliver challenging and encouraging words. See Romans 12:8, Acts 11:23-24, Acts 14:21-22, Acts 15:32
Faith
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit provides Christians with great confidence to believe and expect great things from God. See I Corinthians 12:9, Romans 5:1, Romans 12:3, Hebrews 11
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
Giving
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to accumulate and give large amounts of their finances to the glory of God. See Romans 12:8, Acts 4:32-37, Galatians 4:15, Phillipians 4:10-18, II Corinthians 8:1-5
Healing
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit uses certain Christians to restore physical or mental health to the sick or demon possessed.
See I Corinthians 12:9, 28, 30, James 5:13-16
Helps/Serving/Ministering
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit empowers certain Christians to render practical help in both physical and spiritual matters. Serving one another, like evangelism, is a calling of all Christians, but there are some who have a special desire to serve, and receive great blessing from it. See Romans 12:7, I Corinthians 12:28, Galatians 6:1-2
Interpretation of tongues
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit gives certain Christians the ability to clarify and interpret messages uttered in an unknown language. See I Corinthians 12:10
Knowledge
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit gives certain Christians the supernatural ability to understand God's Word and to effectively communicate it to others. See I Corinthians 12:8
Mercy
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to minister to and have compassion for those who are suffering or afflicted.
See Romans 12:8, Luke 10:30-37
Miracles
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit empowers certain Christians to perform events that are outside the realm of nature. See I Corinthians 12:28
This is available as a download at www.ReneeSwope.com under Free Resources for A Confident Heart.
The assessment was created and donated by: ElevenTalents.com & SpiritualGiftsTest.com. Used with permission.
Prophecy
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit empowers certain Christians to receive revelation of events in the future. See Romans 12:6, I Corinthians 12:10, I Corinthians 14:1-5, Ephesians 4:11, I Corinthians 14:30-33, I Peter 1:20-21
Pastor/Teaching
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables certain Christians to preach and teach the Word of God and to take responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a body of believers. See Ephesians 4:11, I Peter 5:1-11
Teaching
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables particular Christians to communicate and clarify the details and truths of God's Word for others to learn.
See Romans 12:7, Ephesians 4:11
Tongues
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit enables a Christian to supernaturally speak a previously unknown language. See I Corinthians 12:10, I Corinthians 12:30, I Corinthians 14:4, I Corinthians 14:39, Acts 2:4, Acts 19:6
Wisdom
This is the spiritual gift where the Spirit empowers particular Christians with a supernatural understanding of God's Word and the will to apply it to life situations. See I Corinthians 12:8, James 3:13-17.
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