Discovering Our Spiritual Gifts

By Temitope Obasohan

1. SELF EVIDENT MANIFESTATION
Here, the gifts are clearly manifested to the degree that is unquestionable. A saint with the gift of prophecy will manifest utterances which bring edification, encouragement and comfort.
One with the word of wisdom will be used of the Lord to bring forth solutions to tough problems.
One with the gift of helps will take his/her place graciously beside and with a visionary.

2. KNOWLEDGE
Spiritual gifts can best be understood and utilized when there is knowledge. 1Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 were written to provide knowledge. Spiritual gifts often flourish where there is sufficient light cast on the subject matter. The truth sets free when it is known.

3. PRAYER
Earnest prayer will lead the saint to receive from God revelation and manifestation of spiritual gifts given. Matthew 7: 79.

4. OPPORTUNITIES
Spiritual gifts manifest when the saint is faced with an opportunity where natural abilities fail to deliver.
Opportunities have a way of drawing out to the fore what was hidden previously. Philip was content to be a deacon in the Church at Jerusalem.
When persecution drove him to Samaria, the opportunities presented by a dark, unreached environment drew out the Evangelist in him!

5.IMPARTATION/LAYING ON OF HANDS
Just as the Holy Spirit is imparted by laying on of hands, so can spiritual gifts that are dormant can be activated when senior ministers who are well endowed with grace and capacity lay hands to pray.
Paul told Timothy not to neglect the spiritual gifts he received when hands were laid on him.

6. PROPHECY/REVELATORY GIFTS
1 Timothy 4:14 also suggests that a spiritual gift can be discerned through prophecy. If the prophetic utterance is true, there will be a resonance in the spirit and a stirring up of what was dormant. Other revelatory gifts can “see” gifts.

7. SOVEREIGN PATTERN OF GOD
God is at liberty to reveal the gift He has blessed you with according to the way He communicates to you. As our personalities and attitudes vary, so will God speak to us in various ways.

The key is that His sheep shall hear His voice! John 10: 27. As an individual, cultivate a close relationship with God so that you can hear Him clearly.