This is the series in a nutshell!I hope that it is encouraging to you as much as the experience for me to share was in my life!
Elevate: IDENTITY CRISIS SERIES PART 3
By Tam Odom
Let me begin with the benefits of this series…
Week 1 – Discovering how God wired you (and other people)!
Week 2 – Learning where your Spiritual Gifting came from and what kind of gifts God might have given you!
Week 3 – Right now – How does your Passion fit in with how you are designed by our HOLY God?
Ephesians 4:12 – “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so the Body of Christ may be built up.”
Week 1
Lion – domineering, bold, confrontational, decisive, not easily discouraged
Otter – inspiring, encouraging, exaggerates, impulsive, life of the party, disorganized
Golden Retriever – Peacemaker, patient/tolerant, indecisive, supporter, loyal
Beaver – planner, analytical, insecure, self-deprecating, worker, logical, dependable
When we understand OUR personality I when we begin to understand and appreciate others.
Example: Jon is an EXTREME OTTER and I am an EXTREME BEAVER personality type. Jon likes to be social and time isn’t really an issue and details aren’t all that important, right? I like to be productive and orderly and on time and very detailed, because that’s is the only way we’ll get this done, right? NOPE! Once I realized how GOD wired him and wired me – VERY DIFFERENTLY then I learned how to work with him better because I appreciate his strengths that complimented my weaknesses.
Week 2
Jon spoke talked about Spiritual Gifting. The word he focused on was the greek word Charis which means God’s Grace, and also the greek word Charisma which means gift. Your spiritual gifting is a GIFT to you through God’s grace! Jon pointed out a couple of the gifts that God gives to people through the Holy Spirit.
Romans 12:6-8…I Corinthians 12:8-10,28-30….Ephesians 4:11….
Administration
Helps
Giving
Knowledge
Wisdom
Mercy
Encouragement/Exhortation
Teaching
Pastor/Shepherd
Leadership
Discernment
Faith
Evangelism
Service
Hospitality
Prophecy
Week 3
PLACE is simply one (of many) assessment tools that help you discover your personality, gifting, abilities, passions and life experiences. This is not the HOLY SPIRIT…It is just an assessment and is not 100% accurate every time. I believe over time your gifting and passions will develop or change depending on your life circumstances and experiences.
How many of you are PASSIONATE about something or someone?
If you were put in a room with people from all over the world, with all kinds of brokenness, ranging from infants to elderly seniors…whom would you be most drawn to communicate with?
Do you have that one person? What is the trouble? What age are they? Where have they been?
Now – Answer this – What has happened in your life that might have pushed you towards this people group?
What would you do to be able to serve or help this passion that is deep within your heart?
Anything! Right?
Those of you who are having a tough time finding that passion for one or two things…This is where you are in the identity discovery process. This is where we want to really help you!
HOLY DISCONTENT – What is that ONE thing that just wrecks your heart? If it wrecks your heart then it more than likely wrecks God’s heart! Now you have to develop that!
Typically, you see some of the same gifting with certain personality types. This is not to say it is the only way it can be because I have seen some pretty unique combinations.
Lion – leadership, wisdom, discernment, prophecy
Otter – faith, encouragement, leadership, giving
Golden Retriever – encouragement, evangelism, wisdom, mercy, helps
Beaver – administration, helps, knowledge, service
So do you guys see how this could drive you to your major? To your ministry? To your relationships?
When you discover how God’s designed you then you want to find a career that you would find JOY in doing every single day. Not just for the paycheck (which is nice!), but with an Kingdom Building mindset.
- If you have a Lion or Golden Retriever personality with the gift of encouragement/exhortation or pastor/shepherd you might think about Counseling
- If you love youth aged students and your personality is otter and your gift is evangelism – then you might want to join the youth ministry outreach group at your church.
- If you are a Beaver and you have the gift of administration you might want to go into accounting or architecture because those are professions that require significant amounts of details. If you have some underlying Golden Retriever or Otter personality with this combination you might want to go into management.
- If you are a counselor with an otter or golden retriever personality and you lack the gift of discernment then you probably want to find someone with discernment or a lion personality who will help hold you accountable to not emotionally drain yourself.
You see how this can be such a benefit to you and those you’re working with to really know and FLOW in that gifting?
If you are in management, a senior pastor over a church staff, leader on your team, human resource director, or work with delegating projects to others then I would highly suggest you learn how to use people’s gifting to strengthen the team.
What does this mean to me if I am looking for that special someone in my life? I’ve been asked if I am an Otter then what personality should I marry? NONE OF THEM!
We have to dwell on 1 Corinthians 12:12 when it tells us that each part of the body makes up the BODY. When you are looking for your future mate, don’t look just at personality. Whether you are going into the ministry or NOT you should always be looking for someone who has a gifting that compliments yours. If you lack administration or discernment then you surround yourself with someone who has those gifts!
