Discovering spiritual gifts - Fr Reynold Corcino

The following are from Fr Reynold's Talk on Spiritual Gifts during the Spiritual Empowerment Retreat 31 Oct 2009 at St Joseph's Conference Centre, Bringelly.   Used with permission.

What are they?

CHARISMATA (Letters of St. Paul)

·          God’s gift of salvation – Rom 6:23

·          Blessing, encouragement, comfort – 2 Cor 1:11

·          Special ability to minister with effectiveness and power  – Rom 12:6; 1 Cor 12:4; 1 Peter 4:10

Spiritual Gifts VS Human Talents

Importance of rediscovering spiritual gifts

1. Helps one to determine God’s will for one’s calling

2. Mobilizes the entire Church for mission

3. Assists one in setting priorities for study, growth and ministry

4. Gives each a sense of dignity and self-worth

5. Enables one to receive the gift ministries of others

6. Fosters unity in the community

Gifts of the Spirit

1. Wisdom – the ability to make decisions and give guidance that is according to God’s will

2. Knowledge - the ability to have an in-depth understanding of a spiritual issue or situation

3. Faith – being able to trust God and encourage others to trust God, no matter the circumstances

4. Healing – the ability to use God’s healing power to restore a person who is sick, injured or suffering

5. Miracles - the ability to perform signs and wonders that give authenticity to God’s Word and the Gospel message

6. Prophecy – the ability to proclaim a message from God

7. Discernment - the ability to determine whether or not a message, person or event is truly from God

8. Tongues - the ability to speak in a foreign language that you do not have knowledge of, in order tocommunicate with someone who speaks that language

9. Interpretation - the ability to translate the tongues speaking and communicate it back to others in your own language

10. Administration – the ability to keep things organized and in accordance with God’s principles

11. Giving - the ability to contribute their material resources to the work of the Lord with liberality and cheerfulness.

12. Helping - having the desire and ability to help others, to do whatever it takes to get a task accomplished

13. Mercy – the ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals (both Christian and non-Christian) who suffer distressing physical, mental or emotional problems, and to translate that compassion into cheerfully done deeds which reflect Christ's love and alleviate the suffering

14. Missionary - ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to ministerwhatever other spiritual gifts they have in a second culture.

15. Evangelism – the ability to share the gospel with unbelievers in such a way that men andwomen become Jesus' disciples and responsible members of the Body of Christ.

16. Leadership - the ability to set goals in accordance with God's purpose for the future and to communicate these goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish those goals for the glory of God.

17. Exorcism - the ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to cast out demons and evil spirits

18. Service – the ability to identify the unmet  needs involved in a task related to God's work, and to make use of available resources to meet those needs and help accomplish the desired results

19. Exhortation - the special ability to minister words of comfort, consolation, encouragement and counsel to other members of the Body in such a way that they feel helped and healed

Keys to discover gifts

·         Desire

-Which gift would you like to develop inyour life?

·         Joy

-Which area of service appeals most to you?

·         Effectiveness

-Which area of service seems to produce the most blessing or help to others?

-Where do people mostly respond positively to your service?

How gifts are discovered

1. Believe that you have at least one gift

2. Desire to know and to use your gifts

3. Allow yourself to be controlled by the Spirit through your desire to obey

4. Have confidence that you will want to serve

5. Be willing at all times to serve in the area of your gift as well as the other areas of service required of all the members

6. Look for the wisdom and advise from elders

Friendly Reminders

1. They are gifts from God

2. They are given to be used

3. Anyone who receives a gift of the Spirit is responsible for how it is used

4. You’re not responsible for the gifts you don’t have, only for the ones God gave you

5. They are to be used in a way which builds up the community as an expression of God’s love

6. Gifts are not proofs that someone if more “spiritual” than others

How not to use gifts

1. If not used for what they are for

2. Used for personal gains

3. Used to harm others

4. Deliberate choice not to help someone

Challenge: What really counts

·         No gift higher than LOVE

1 Cor 13:1-3 “If I could speak all the human and angelic tongues, but have no love, I would only be sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, knowing secret things with all kinds of knowledge, and had faith great enough that can move mountains, but had no love, I would be nothing. If I gave up everything I had to the poor and even gave up my body, but only to receive praise and not through love, it would be of no value to me.”

Copyright 2009 Fr Reynold Corcino, Kalibo, Aklan