I love going to church. I love being a part of a community that loves Jesus and strives to live by His’ example. I loved learning more about the bible through the applicable messages my pastor’s shared. I also loved serving the church and playing a role where I could build people up to know the Lord. Being a youth leader for five years and a young adult’s leader for a year was a fantastic experience, but never in my life did I EVER think I would become a preacher or be a part of the worship band, until now…
Our ministry this month in India is to preach, share our testimonies, pray for people and lead worship. I never imagined myself to be leading in any of these roles, but because the need here is to build up the church, I had no choice but to accept the challenge. In 1 Corinthians 14:12b, it says that “Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.” The more time I spend with the Lord and read His Word, the more He is equipping me in these roles and convicting me of things He wants me to share with the congregation. The more I practise preaching or playing the guitar during worship, the more I come to realise that these roles are not as scary as they look and God is allowing me to excel in some of these gifts. I most definitely did not think my sporadic purchase of a guitar last month in Ireland would be needed “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14b).
Every day in our village, we have the morning and early afternoons off where we get to re-energise and spend time in the Word. I have noticed that God always speaks to me no matter which passage I read, whether it is in the Old or the New Testament. I can find applicable messages every single day and I am able to use them in my preaching or in my testimonies since “…we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord…For God…made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:5-6). In the evenings, we drive to different villages, attend their prayer meetings for a few hours, pray for every single person and then share a late meal together. During these meetings, we get to share the truths about who Jesus is and the love that He gives to everyone through our preaching, testimonies and worship songs.
Even though my spiritual gifts are faith, administration and hospitality and I never desired the spiritual gift of teaching, prayer or worship, I am here on this race to serve others and not myself. Therefore, I eagerly accept these new gifts as ones that I need to work and strive towards because they are what are needed to further the ministry here in India this month.
What are your spiritual gifts? Can you use them to build up your community of believers or are there other areas in your church that need your help, even though they are not your strengths? I encourage you to seek them out and challenge yourself to take on a role that you may not excel in but will build up your community.
