Let’s begin by reading Ephesians 4:7-8, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”  This assures us that every believer on the Lord Jesus Christ has been a gift or gifts to serve the Lord with. 

We read of some of the gifts of the Lord in Ephesians 4:11-12, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”  We read of other gifts in Romans 12:5-8, “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.” 

In 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 we have different manifestation of the Spirit in the believers’ lives.  That says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”

We know that every believer is indwelt with the Holy Spirt.  Ephesians 1:13 tells us, “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also AFTER THAT YE BELIEVED, YE WERE SEALED WITH THAT HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE.”  Through our gifts and the Holy Spirit, the Lord will manifest Himself in our lives…and will use each one of us to minister one to another.

We are instructed in 1 Timothy 4:14 to, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee…”  To neglect in this instance means to be careless about or have no regard for the gift that is within us.  This teaches us that our gift/gifts have to be exercised so that we might become more proficient at using it.  In other words, we need to start using the gifts the Lord has given us.  We effectively do that when we take advantage of the occasions the Lord gives us to serve Him.  Perhaps we come in contact with someone who is not saved…we use that occasion to witness about Christ.  Perhaps we know someone who needs to be more fully instructed in the Word of God…we use the gift the Lord has given us to teach that individual.  However, we know that to GIVE OUT the Word of God, we must first TAKE IN the Word of God by being faithful students of the Word. 

Let me encourage you to pray and ask the Lord to help you exercise the gift He has given you.  When you ask in faith, the Lord will bring you into circumstances to serve Him so that you might use your gift/gifts.  Of his opportunities to serve the Lord, the Apostle Paul said, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” (1 Corinthians 16:9).  The Lord will provide you with the opportunities to serve Him, but Satan will try to stop your service, perhaps by trying to convince you that you are not needed.  Do not let that hinder you. 1 Corinthians 12:22 assures us that, “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, ARE NECESSARY.”  If you are a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, you have been given the ability to serve Him.  You have a gift or gifts.  Be before the Lord to exercise your gifts so that you might fulfill your role in the body of Christ.  (394.4)