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What's So Spiritual about Your Gifts?
The Old Testament is our "kindergarten" for understanding the pattern of the Holy Spirit's gifting and work. That pattern is this: God gives an assignment to a person; then the Holy Spirit is given to equip him or her for the assignment. The proof of the Spirit's presence is that the person is able to complete the assignment effectively through the supernatural enabling of the Holy Spirit. Truly understood and embraced, the Holy Spirit's gifts allow the Church to be Christ-centered, to maintain unity and oneness of heart, and to practice genuine, powerful love.
WHAT EXACTLY HAVE YOU BEEN GIVEN?
Surprises are in store when we explore biblically what spiritual gifts really are, how they fit with our natural strengths and talents, and how they match our calling and assignments from God. This book will help restore the Holy Spirit to the center of your understanding and practice of spiritual gifts, and set you free to serve God as never before.
Story Behind the Book
The Old Testament is our "kindergarten" for understanding the pattern of the Holy Spirit’s gifting and work. That pattern is this: God gives an assignment to a person; then the Holy Spirit is given to equip him or her for the assignment. The proof of the Spirit’s presence is that the person is able to complete the assignment effectively through the supernatural enabling of the Holy Spirit. Truly understood and embraced, the Holy Spirit’s gifts allow the church to be Christ-centered, to maintain unity and oneness of heart, and to practice genuine, powerful love.
From the Hardcover edition.
WHAT EXACTLY HAVE YOU BEEN GIVEN?
Surprises are in store when we explore biblically what spiritual gifts really are, how they fit with our natural strengths and talents, and how they match our calling and assignments from God. This book will help restore the Holy Spirit to the center of your understanding and practice of spiritual gifts, and set you free to serve God as never before.
Story Behind the Book
The Old Testament is our "kindergarten" for understanding the pattern of the Holy Spirit’s gifting and work. That pattern is this: God gives an assignment to a person; then the Holy Spirit is given to equip him or her for the assignment. The proof of the Spirit’s presence is that the person is able to complete the assignment effectively through the supernatural enabling of the Holy Spirit. Truly understood and embraced, the Holy Spirit’s gifts allow the church to be Christ-centered, to maintain unity and oneness of heart, and to practice genuine, powerful love.
From the Hardcover edition.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2004
37 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 15, 2020
I discovered this book through a Facebook study. My two take aways:
1) Spiritual Assessments are not accurate because they tend to measure our earthy gift and talents, which of course are from God, but may not be our spiritual gifts because...
2) The Holy Spirit can use us in ways we could never imagine, making us step out of our comfort zone of working within our natural gifts and talents and equip us to do the word of God.
Had I discovered this book at any other time, I may not have had a strong connection to it, but as I am currently feeling called to create something that is not in the area of what I would have considered my spiritual gifts, I am so glad I read it now. Now I feel more encouraged that despite my shortcomings, if I allow God to work through me, The Holy Spirit will help me to accomplish this seemingly huge project.
1) Spiritual Assessments are not accurate because they tend to measure our earthy gift and talents, which of course are from God, but may not be our spiritual gifts because...
2) The Holy Spirit can use us in ways we could never imagine, making us step out of our comfort zone of working within our natural gifts and talents and equip us to do the word of God.
Had I discovered this book at any other time, I may not have had a strong connection to it, but as I am currently feeling called to create something that is not in the area of what I would have considered my spiritual gifts, I am so glad I read it now. Now I feel more encouraged that despite my shortcomings, if I allow God to work through me, The Holy Spirit will help me to accomplish this seemingly huge project.
October 16, 2018
This is a refreshingly different take on working with our spiritual gifts. The book focuses on understanding the Holy Spirit who gives us the gifts and why the gifts are given rather than doing an inventory style book about gifting‘s. I would classify this as essential reading for both new and experienced Christians who want to live in God’s will and feel a connection with Christ.
February 23, 2022
I picked this up thinking it would be a quick, simple read. What I found was an insightful and convicting Bible Study. The Blackabys do a terrific job of focusing our thoughts on the work of the Spirit and the role of our gifting. Particularly where they do and do not intersect. Challenging, Biblical, thoughtful, and clear. What an excellent little book.
December 22, 2020
Awesome help for floundering faith.
Straight truth about your walk with the Lord. If it's not in obedience, as this book points out, then he is not your Lord. Savior maybe, but not Lord. Thankfully, this book helps you get there.
Straight truth about your walk with the Lord. If it's not in obedience, as this book points out, then he is not your Lord. Savior maybe, but not Lord. Thankfully, this book helps you get there.
August 24, 2019
Awesome
Very profound. Redirected my thought process outward rather than myself. With the holy Spirit all things are possible. Amen. The end.
Very profound. Redirected my thought process outward rather than myself. With the holy Spirit all things are possible. Amen. The end.
February 3, 2020
Good book. Easy reading.
Good book. Easy reading. Author gives a different perspective to spiritual gifts. Practical with supporting verses and examples and food for thought.
Good book. Easy reading. Author gives a different perspective to spiritual gifts. Practical with supporting verses and examples and food for thought.
November 22, 2020
A study on spiritual gifts that was sometimes too restrictive for me.
March 14, 2021
A book every Christian should read --- more than once. A tiny book with so much to say.
February 18, 2023
Pretty good short book
Want to read
March 28, 2023Bought March 24, 2023 at Newmarket Mission Store
January 20, 2025
very good, explained very well about your gifts..not talent
April 16, 2012
What's Sp Spiritual About Your Gifts is about shifting the focus away from talents, abilities, and other (possibly traditional) gifts to focus on God the Holy Spirit as the gift. Some of the implications of that--that the Holy Spirit is the gift--are outlined in seven brief chapters. I will mention two that particularly stuck out to me: First, if the Holy Spirit is the gift, then our relationship with God the Father, Son, and Spirit is directly related to our gifting--God works through us when we are in relationship with him. ("If you do not walk in the Spirit, you do not have a spiritual gift." (18, emphasis in original) Secondly, although we should not ignore our talents, abilities, and passions when we operate within our comfort zones, we get the glory; God working through the power of his Spirit glorifies him. This has an implication when we think about spiritual gift inventories. While I don't think that they (H. Blackaby and M. Blackaby) intended to imply that spiritual gift inventories are useless (if for no other reason than because in a later chapter they note the importance of identifying how God has worked in and through you as "spiritual markers"), they do caution that such tests "shouldn't be used as a guide for how God desires to use you in the future . . . ." (28) After all, we are to be working in God's abilities, not our own.
Although short--and sometimes leaving me wanting the Blackabys to flesh out their ideas a bit more--this is a good reminder that pursuit of God does not come naturally for me; is not a competition to be the best, but a pursuit of a pure heart that can be used by God; and that knowledge of God's will requires actions. I got hints of Chan's Forgotten God, Hybels' Whispers, Furtick's Sun Stand Still, and probably many other books that I cannot remember. But while I may have wanted more, it is nice that What's So Spiritual makes its point very quickly--using just over 90 pages. It leaves me time to not overthink its point. And that point is: focus on the giver, for he is the gift.
Although short--and sometimes leaving me wanting the Blackabys to flesh out their ideas a bit more--this is a good reminder that pursuit of God does not come naturally for me; is not a competition to be the best, but a pursuit of a pure heart that can be used by God; and that knowledge of God's will requires actions. I got hints of Chan's Forgotten God, Hybels' Whispers, Furtick's Sun Stand Still, and probably many other books that I cannot remember. But while I may have wanted more, it is nice that What's So Spiritual makes its point very quickly--using just over 90 pages. It leaves me time to not overthink its point. And that point is: focus on the giver, for he is the gift.
December 23, 2014
This was an easy read, short, and very insightful. I opened my bible numerous times while reading this book and found that the biblical references were spot-on.
This book leads us to think beyond our known spiritual gifts, with a pointing towards God (and away from a self-ownership mindset). The reason we have gifts to begin with is for Him to complete His work through us.
I recommend this book to anyone that desires to understand the true meaning of spiritual gifts.
This book leads us to think beyond our known spiritual gifts, with a pointing towards God (and away from a self-ownership mindset). The reason we have gifts to begin with is for Him to complete His work through us.
I recommend this book to anyone that desires to understand the true meaning of spiritual gifts.
November 17, 2021
One interesting point that this book expounds on is if a non-Christian takes a spiritual gift inventory and then becomes a believer a month later and the inventory results are the same, are those spiritual gifts or talents? The authors propose that the Holy Spirit is the gift and when we do things outside of our talents, that is when we see His gifts in us. Interesting perspective.
December 3, 2014
This book was enjoyable. They made some very good and encouraging spiritual points. My only complaint is that some chapters did not include enough scripture to back up their claims. It's a short read with interesting and thought provoking information. I would recommend it.
September 14, 2008
This is an excellent book. A MUST read for any born-again Believer. It totally altered my misguided idea of the HOly Spirit's role in my life and gave me a renewed zeal for obedience to Him.
Read
July 28, 2011one good point: lets you know that your gifts can also be where you are weak, not just where your natural abilities lie
Want to read
May 27, 2013Made me think of areas of my life that I keep for myself. Oh how I need to be completely surrendered
January 10, 2013
It's a short book. It's good for what it aims to address, but of course there is so much that you can say about the Spirit of God.
January 14, 2014
one of the best books i read on the spiritual gifts! the author is simple and biblical!
Read
February 7, 2015Short book but soooo full of great and godly information that a true Christian needs to read and digest. What truth!!
October 24, 2015
Eye opening!!! This book has helped me to truly know when the Holy Spirit is giving me an assignment. Thank you!!!
February 25, 2014
An excellent reminder about where your spiritual gifts come from and for what purpose.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews