How to Know Your Motivational Gift
by MarilynHickey
This lesson outline was given out in 1983, at the School of the Word Bible College in Jefferson City, MO. It was sent to them by Marilyn Hickey.
Marilyn Hickey is truly a teaching motive and has written many books. She also has a daily television broadcast on the Trinity Broadcast Network.
Romans 12:6-8 – Ministry GiftsGoal:[1]. To know what your ministry is
[2]. To know others’ ministry
Romans 12:3-5 – When you are born again, you are given one spiritual motivation but this motivation can be used in all the ministry gifts.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 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.
(Romans 12:3-8, KJV).
Spiritual Motivations
1. Prophecy Motive – Insight into Body of Christ, sees both good and evil.
2. Serving Motive – Meets practical needs of the Church.
3. Teaching Motive – To get people into the Word, to clarify the truth of the Word.
4. Exhortation Motive – Stimulates spiritual growth, loves to counsel people.
5. Giving Motive – Loves to give and see others give.
6. Organizing Motive – Sets goals and gets things done.
7. Mercy Motive – Feeler of Body, feels emotional needs.
Prophecy Motive
Characteristics (Should be developed)
1. Expresses message verbally
2. Discerns motives of people – insight
3. Identifies evil
4. Experiences brokeness (intercession)
5. Uses scripture validation
6. Wants outward evidence
7. Frank in speaking
8. Concern for program of God
9. Wants people to point out their “blind spots”
Misunderstandings (Things to eliminate)
1. Frankness can be viewed as harshness
2. Interest in groups instead of individuals
3. Loves gimmicks
4. Focus on right and wrong can be seen as intolerance
5. Emphasis on public appearance (hard to have close friends)
Examples: John the Baptist – Noah – Jonah – Ezekiel
Serving Motive
Characteristics (Should be developed)
1. Knows likes and dislikes
2. Detects practical needs
3. Meets needs quickly
4. Has physical stamina
5. Willing to use personal funds
6. Needs sincere appreciation
7. Wants to see a job done, does extra work
8. Involved in a lot of activities because can’t say no
9. Likes short-range goals, not organizers
Misunderstandings (Things to eliminate)
1. May appear to be pushy
2. Avoids red tape, will do it themselves
3. Upset with others when they don’t have the same motive
4. Difficult to accept service from others
5. Hurt if appreciation is not forthcoming
6. Desire to help others can interfere with God’s dealing with people
7. Gets sidetracked with others’ needs and may miss God
8. Meeting practical needs are not spiritual, may miss spiritual needs
Examples: Martha – Ruth
Teaching Motive
Characteristics (Should be developed)
1. Has natural ability, spiritual call
2. Loves Word Study
3. Tests the knowledge of those who teach them
4. Loves to do research
5. Validates new information
6. Teaches in systematic manner
7. Takes scriptural illustrations over personal illustrations
Misunderstandings (Things to eliminate)
1. Emphasis on scriptural interpretation may eliminate practical application
2. Research may seem to be dependent on study books
3. Use of knowledge in testing people may seem to be pride
4. Details of research may be unnecessary when teaching
5. Often lack warmth
Examples: Paul – Copeland – Hagin – Capps
Exhortation Motive
Characteristics (Should be developed)
1. Desires to see steps of action
2. Wants practical application, not turned on to informational things
3. Likes to teach on tribulation – always wants a spiritual lesson
4. Likes individual acceptance
5. Teaches human experience and relates it to the Word
6. Enjoys seeing people take steps of action
7. Grieved with teaching that isn’t practical
8. Delights in conferences and counseling
Misunderstandings (Things to eliminate)
1. Emphasis on steps of action may seem to over-simplify the problem
2. Desires to win non-Christians by example
a. Live life to relatives and friends
b. Witness to strangers
3. Use of scripture for practical application may take it out of context
Examples: Peter – Moses – Barnabas
Characteristics (Should be developed)
1. Has ability to make money
2. Desires to give to ministries
3. Likes to motivate others to give
4. Wants to meet needs others may have overlooked
5. Enjoys meeting needs without pressure
6. Experiences joy when his gift is an answer to prayer
7. Depends on the Lord as his source
8. Concerned that gift be of high quality
9. Desires to feel a part of the ministries he gives to
Misunderstandings (Things to eliminate)
1. Need to deal with large sums of money may seem carnal
2. Desires to control the work – don’t put strings on gift
3. Attempt to motivate others to give could appear stingy
Examples: Abraham
Organizing Motive
Characteristics (Should be developed)
1. Ability to see overall picture, long-range goals
2. Motivated to organize only what he is asked to do
3. Desires to complete task quickly and not put it off
4. Aware of resources available before starting a job
5. Has ability to know who can do a job
6. Assumes responsibility if no one else is around
7. Endure reactions from others – even when they don’t approve
8. Loves to see a completed task
9. Desires to move on to a new challenge
Misunderstandings (Things to eliminate)
1. Ability to delegate may appear to be laziness
2. Willingness to endure reactions from others may appear as callousness
3. Has tendency to neglect to tell why he has set up the goal
4. Views people as resources instead of seeing them as people
Examples: Moses – Joseph – Nehemiah
Characteristics (Should be developed)
1. Ability to feel joy or distress
2. Attracted to people in distress
3. Want to remove hurts – love puts itself out to be hurt
4. Greater concern for mental distress than physical distress
5. Sensitive to words and actions
6. Ability to discern motives of people
7. Enjoys unity with others of like minds
Misunderstandings (Things to eliminate)
1. Avoidance of firmness may appear as weakness
2. Some believe they are lead by emotions, not reason
3. Attraction to those upset can be taken wrong – should be men to men and women to women
Examples: Hosea
To contact her ministry write to:
Marilyn Hickey Ministries
P.O. Box 17340
Denver, CO 80217
(303) 770-0400
Prayer Center: (303)796-1333