The final game of the World Cup of soccer (or football, depending on where you live), is watched by over 1 billion people. Many a passionate fan would be delighted to be in the stadium to watch the game. But viewing a match surely can’t compete with playing in one. And how can playing in one compete with scoring a key goal? Being an active part of the winning team is the ultimate experience.

This is the invitation that comes to all believers: come participate in the mighty works of God! Engage in the greatest enterprise in history; be a part of building the Church of Jesus, for this is an eternal body. This building will stand and never crumble into ruin. This was God’s plan before the foundation of the earth. You are given the great privilege of entering the field of play!

The Holy Spirit has given special endowments to every Christian by enabling us to be effective in our service to Him. These abilities are called “the gifts of the Holy Spirit” (Heb. 2:4). By calling them “gifts” we know that we have not earned them, nor are they a sign of heightened spirituality. They are given because of the graciousness of the Holy Spirit.

Out of the Holy Spirit’s love and graciousness He has given each Christian special abilities intended to be used to build His Church. A spiritual gift is an ability empowered by the Holy Spirit that can be used to glorify Jesus.

You don’t have to become a spiritual elite to exercise your gift. You must confess Jesus as Lord, and because of His great love for you, you are born of the Spirit, or baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dispenses gifts to you because you belong to the family of God.

Every spiritual gift is a portion of the ministry of Jesus. In other words, the ability that the Holy Spirit has given you is the ability to reproduce a part of His ministry. While it is true that none of us can do what Jesus did, the ministry of Jesus is being carried on throughout the earth as all believers exercise their spiritual gifts.

We know that we can’t navigate the ministry of Jesus on our own. In His infinite wisdom, the Holy Spirit has designed each gift so that it requires the others.

God has deliberately given gifts so that the answers to your prayers come through members of your church. If you don’t use your gifts, they will go without. If they don’t use their gifts, you will go without. In this way God has determined to speak to you and them. Without being in relationship with each other, we may feel estranged from God. It was designed to function in this way!

You have a unique calling on your life. You have a mission. You have a role to play in Christ’s Church that only you can play. But what is that role? Once you discover your spiritual gifts, you will discover the unique role the Holy Spirit desires for you to play.

If you don’t know your spiritual gifts, you need to start a Bible study! Here are the passages you need to study: 1 Corinthians 12–14, Romans 12:6–8, and 1 Peter 4:11.

God bless you as you do so.

For more on Spiritual Gifts and how God speaks today, get Dr. John’s book: “Who Speaks for God?” (Free E-Book)