What is Your Redemptive Gift?

Redemptive gifts! We all were created with them; heart motivations, natural tendencies, weaknesses etc. Secular Psychiatrists will use terms such as personality traits to determine where we are mentally, but the truth is that God created us all with specific motivational gifts, and He did so in order to fulfill his plan for the body. Whether or not you're a believer and whether or not you're using your gift for good or evil, everyone was created with one of these...and for a Godly purpose.

Have you always felt like the black sheep? Have your friends and family mocked you or even shunned you because something about you irritated them? Have you ever been misunderstood or perhaps even misunderstood yourself? Let's dive in and see just exactly how you were made!

To Get Started

You'll find these gifts listed in Romans 12:6-8; prophet, servant, teacher, exhorter, giver, ruler, and mercy. I will break each one down for you here; including the natural bents, major weaknesses, and biblical examples of people who had each gift. It's natural for everyone to have traits similar to all of the gifts, but Jesus was the only one who had 100% of all of them. The most efficient way to discover how you were made is to read through the lists to determine the characteristics that most strongly describe you. There WILL be one that dominates all of the others. Once you've discovered your gift, ask the Lord to help you; this isn't just about knowing who you are, but being able to recognize your weaknesses and seek the help of the Holy Spirit to not walk in the abuse of your gift. I also STRONGLY encourage families to learn their individual gifts and the gifts of each other. If you allow, this will help give you a greater understanding of why the person is the way they are, so as to maintain unity. Oh, an don't be surprised if God puts you in situations on purpose that are outside your comfort zone. He wants us all to be well rounded and be assured that every trait of every gift is important!

PS...When you see the term "Free Money"; it means the thing that comes easiest to the person, something God gave a supernatural abundance of.

PROPHET

• Tends to see things in black and white, right and wrong.
• Is committed to truth. If it is right and God has said it, the prophet is committed to go regardless of whether anybody follows.
• Takes initiative, enjoys things that are new. Perfect at restoring order out of chaos verses maintaining things.
• Is verbally expressive and can be compulsive about it.
• Processes quickly. Has an opinion on everything and is quick to share it.
• Judges and evaluates everything, even situations that do not directly impact him.
• Knows no fear; fearless with boldness. Not intimidated by the unknown or change; they adapt very quickly to change, people and situations are out of sight out of mind.
• Needs to have a goal, a reason to live, an objective.
• Cannot tolerate having no options.
• Is extremely generous but can give impulsively and unwisely at times.
• Shifts gears quickly from one direction to another. Can be here and then there.
• A visionary; sees eight steps in the future. Can see the end from the beginning and the process necessary to get there.
• Is fiercely independent and competitive.
• Requires full disclosure of facts. Has a compulsion for honesty, integrity, and transparency.
• Is intolerant of perceived rebellion, hypocrisy, and denial, especially in leadership.
• Sees behind the scenes; recognizes the truth about what's really happening in a situation or group. 
• Able to establish within about 6-10 seconds if someone is lying or if something more is going on than what seems to be; especially in high ranking leaders. Can spot a phone or fake almost instantly; especially in leadership.
• Is hard on himself. Tends to find it difficult to forgive himself.
• Has to make sense out of everything, even unreasonable situations.
• Can be unsentimental about relationships.
• Has a passion for excellence in himself and others. Is driven to excel and challenge others to be their best.
• Can cross and break international barriers, with the ability to communicate on many levels.
• Has the largest range of emotions than all the other gifts. Has intense, passionate extremes in emotions; their highs are ultimate highs and their lows are intensely low. Redemptive prophets tend to be extreme in their thoughts, responses, and reactions. They are highly animated and demonstrative.
• Bases faith on the principles of God's Word. "God said it. I believe it."
• Can embrace a problem and figure out how to repair it. Can rebuild, not just criticize.
• NEEDS times alone to refuel, re-energize and process.
• Has a passion for restoration. Sees the damage of sin and the restoring power of God.
• Is drawn to brokenness and can rebuild a broken life. (A wounded redemptive prophet often jumps from one relationship to another and is drawn to others who are wounded)
• HATES injustice.
• Is quick to celebrate what God has done. Has a passion for celebration.
• God often calls the prophet to a higher level of sacrifice in his personal disciplines, faith, and commitment.
• Can go through seasons when God is silent. These seasons of silence are designed to build a deeper root system of faith for greater fruit in the future.
• Faith is a Prophet's "Free Money"

Major Weaknesses

• Judgmental. Critical toward others and even more critical of themselves.
• Unforgiving. Not willing to overlook the failures and weaknesses of others.
• Bitterness. The enduring battlefield for the prophet. Can have an unforgiving spirit that is destructive.
• Non-relational. Tends to value principles and truth as more important than relationships.

Biblical Example of a Prophet - Peter

Peter demonstrated zeal, passion, impulsiveness, and verbal expressiveness. He was the first one to speak in a group more often than anybody else and was a spokesman for the early church (Matt 15:15; 16:16; 17:4; 19:27; John 6:38; 13:6; Acts 2:14; 3:12; 4:8; 11:4). Prophets are intolerant of rebellion and hypocrisy, especially in leadership. Peter confronted Ananias and Sapphira in the early church (Acts 5:1-12). The prophet desires justice, which can lead to unforgiveness. Peter asked how many times he had to forgive those who sinned against him (Matt 18:21). The prophet is hard on himself when he fails. Peter publicly confessed his sinfulness (Luke 5:8). He wept bitterly after he denied Jesus (Luke 22:62).

The prophet makes a quick response to truth or revelation. The prophet has a basic boldness when facing the unknown. Peter asked Jesus to bid him to come to him walking on the water (Matt 14:28). For the prophet, truth can be more important than relationships. Peter's motivation for staying with Jesus was that he had the truth; he would stay even if others left him (John 6:67-69). The prophet is articulate in defining right and wrong, black and white. On Pentecost Peter preached that the Jews had crucified Jesus (Acts 2:23). The prophet tends to correct others who are not their business to correct. Peter rebuked Jesus for telling the disciples that he was going to die (Mark 8:31-32). The prophet tends to have to go through more difficulty than others. Peter was willing to suffer shame for the truth of the gospel (Acts 5:29-42).

SERVANT

• Sees external needs of comfort and food and is quick to meet those needs.
• Is a team player. Is relatively free from the desire to build his own kingdom.
• Is very practical. Is committed to the present moment to meet present needs.
• Has difficulty saying "no" to competing demands. Usually over-committed in scheduling.
• Finds it hard to accept excellence in his work, to affirm himself, or to receive affirmation from others. Tends to find something to apologize for when serving others.
• Has few enemies.
• Sees the best in others.
• Has high loyalty to family.
• Is not easily angered except when someone hurts a friend or family member. 
• Tends to save stuff, but not in a particularly organized manner.
• Is totally trustworthy and reliable.
• Works very hard, often to the harm of their physical health.
• Can make excuses to justify others' bad behavior. Can become enablers, especially to immature people. Wise servants learn to empower, not to enable others.
• Tends to spoil children, meeting too many needs too often. An immature servant may be in denial regarding their children's shortcomings.
• Attracts dishonor, especially in the home. Tends to be the one who is talked down to and has jokes made about them. A servant seems to allow this to happen.
• Is competitive in areas that are considered safe to the servant, such as games or children's sports teams. Otherwise dedicated to seeing others succeed more than himself.
• Has purity of motive. Is straight-forward, honest and can be trusted.
• Prefers not to be visible. Does not desire the spotlight.
• Can be in a sinful environment without getting personally defiled (example: Esther).
• Tends to be exploited by others. Tends to have a victim mentality.
• Responds well to truth.
• Can struggle with issues of shame. May believe they deserve to be the victim.
• Wrestles with self-worth. Tends to believe that "I'm not worthy. Others are more worthy."
• Desires to empower others to achieve their best. Greatest fulfillment comes in knowing he enables somebody else to do their work. Is drawn to pray for leadership and make them successful.

Major Weaknesses

• Battle for self-worth. Doesn't see his innate value and doesn't believe God's truth about himself or his call.
• Worry/anxiety. Takes on other people's problems and worries about the problem.
• Enabling. Does a task instead of teaching others to do it and releasing it to them.

Biblical Example of a Servant - Esther

We see the redemptive gift of servant in Esther. Servants work well with others and live relatively free from the desire to build their own kingdom. Consequently, they have few enemies and may enjoy a high level of favor. When it came time for Esther to go before the king the first time, Scripture says that "she requested nothing... and Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her" (Esther 2:15). Most people, when elevated to a position such as Esther, would have the tendency to be very demanding of their subordinates. Not Esther. She "requested nothing" and gained favor in the sight of all who saw her.

Servants see the external needs of comfort and are quick to meet those needs. When Esther heard that Mordecai was in sackcloth, her first response was not to ask why. Instead, she sent garments to clothe Mordecai and take away his sackcloth (4:1-3). Servants are very loyal and trustworthy, particularly with leaders. When Esther found out about a plan to kill King Ahasuerus, she exposed the plot, thus saving his life (2:22-23).

Servants wrestle with issues of self-worth and tend to regard others as more worthy than themselves. Servants tend to feel unqualified for spiritual leadership. Esther had a low estimation of her ability to influence the king. When Esther heard Mordecai's words stating, "Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?", she set aside her legitimacy issues and began to rise to her God-given position of authority (4:9-11).

Servants have a high loyalty when it comes to family. When Mordecai was persuading Esther to rise up, he used Esther's loyalty to her family name to persuade her (4:12-14). Servants focus their energy on bringing life to others and empowering them to achieve their best. Their greatest fulfillment is in knowing they enable somebody else to do their work. The actions of Esther empowered Mordecai and the Jewish people. Although Esther's plea before King Ahasuerus ultimately saved them, she stepped aside and let Mordecai and the Jewish people take the spotlight (Esther 8-9).

TEACHER

• Needs to validate truth for himself. It is at the core of who he is. Loves knowledge.
• Does not receive new things immediately. Looks at things from different angles.
• Wants firsthand details. Values precision in sharing details. Sometimes overkill of details.
• Processes and makes decisions slowly. Can slow down impulsive people who jump to conclusions.
• Is a very safe person emotionally and is sometimes confused with the gift of mercy. The difference is the teacher tends to be led by their head and mercy to be led by their heart.
• Has a deep commitment to family and loyalty to leaders.
• Seen as safe because he is patient with those in sin. He is willing to lay out the whole picture and allow the other person to choose to do what is right and be reconciled.
• Resists using personal stories and illustrations when speaking or preaching. Prefers dealing with pure doctrine in a theological way. Loves Greek and Hebrew.
• Tends to be unwilling to begin a process until he can see the end of the process.
• Can be immobilized by fear or risk. It can keep him from obeying God.
• Has a wonderful sense of humor.
• Tends to be the last one to speak in a group. He will listen and observe, seeing things from all angles, then summarize the whole picture.
• Does not reject new ideas immediately. Does not go forward as quickly as visionaries.
• Tends not to take the initiative to confront what is wrong. Can be too tolerant of sin.
• Prefers the old, established, validated ways. Preserves history.
• Looks for more validation. Seeks out more credentials to attest to his competence.
• Tends to feed his mind, more than his spirit. There may be perceived dryness as he dispenses truth with intricate details.
• Tends toward selective responsibility. Can be extremely responsible and reliable in one area, but does not carry that same behavior over to other areas.
• Is unwilling to impose responsibility on others. Finds it difficult to compel someone to do what is right. His natural tendency is to explain, reason and put forth truth, expecting or hoping the other person will pick up the truth and act on it voluntarily.
• Is not easily swayed from the truth. Can keep the more impulsive gifts in check. Serves as an anchor.
• Wants to verify truth with his natural wisdom. May lead to struggle with intellectual pride.
• Can have difficulty with emotions because of a desire to rationalize, explain, and systematize how he feels.
• Relies heavily on knowledge. Thinks that knowledge is the inside track, and if he has knowledge, he has intimacy. Thinks the more he knows about God, the closer he is to God.
• Has the ability to seamlessly move from one topic to the next when talking. Unhealthy teachers will talk incessantly selfishly; talking for hours at a time, changing subjects many times with no breaks or chance for anyone else to talk. 

Major Weaknesses

• Passive. Unwilling to impose responsibility on others. Can be soft on sin and too patient with people who are doing wrong.
• Struggles with issues of timeliness and responsibility in selective areas. Procrastinates on practical things.
• Wants to live by sight, not by faith. Wants to know the end of a process before he begins.
• Intimacy and prayer may be a major battle for the teacher. Tends to pursue a doctrinal system rather than intimacy with his Father.
• Can be hoarders; they take comfort in having "things" around them. If they don't grow in the Lord, their tendency is to have too much stuff that they never use.

Biblical Example of a Teacher - Luke

The teacher has a compulsion to validate truth. Luke carefully explained his reasons for writing (Luke 1:1-4). The teacher establishes truth by firsthand investigation. Luke had to go to the primary source for perfect understanding (Luke 1:3). The teacher tends to validate new truth with established truth. Luke connected the present with the past and at points referred back to the prophet Isaiah (Luke 2:25-38; 3:4; 3:23; Acts 1:1). The details of historical accuracy are important. Luke used six historical references to establish when the birth of Jesus happened, when one would have been sufficient (Luke 2:1-5; 3:1-2). He recorded that Jesus was 30 years old when he began his ministry (Luke 1:23). The teacher values systematic sequence in events reported. Luke wrote the fullest and most orderly narrative of the life of Jesus and the early church (Luke 1:3; Acts 1:1).

For the teacher, background is important to the whole picture. Luke gave the back story, whereas Mark began his gospel with John the Baptist (Luke 1-3:19). The teacher values firsthand information and eyewitness accounts, therefore Luke joined Paul on his missionary journeys (Acts 16:10). A teacher does not give an opinion without a thorough thought process. Luke highlighted the way Mary, the mother of Jesus, pondered things in her heart (Luke 1:39-56; 2:19, 51). A teacher is a safe person for the marginalized people in the culture. Luke showed that Jesus valued all kinds of people. He wrote more about women, the sick, the poor, tax collectors, sinners, and outcasts like the Good Samaritan (Luke 4:18-19; 5:12-13; 8:1-3; 10:30-37; 13:10-17; 15:11-32; 16:22; 17:11; 23:27, 43).

EXHORTER

• Has the ability to cross every kind of barrier (social, racial, economic, religious) and relate to people wherever they are.
• Is horizontal in his focus and intensely people-oriented. Has never met a stranger.
• Has the ability to share his faith easily and in difficult situations.
• Has a big vision for reaching the world. Most world-changers in world and religious history were exhorters.
• Is capable of having disagreements without alienating others.
• Is skilled in creating and sustaining relationships at all costs.
• Enjoys being around people. Is extroverted, outgoing, a party looking for someplace to happen.
• Is a master communicator. Teaches from real life examples and is very practical.
• Does teamwork well. Is a great networker.
• Is very flexible and quick to see opportunities. Is willing to abandon their plan to go for a new opportunity.
• Is not intimidated by new ideas and new truth.
• Is a visionary. Tends to see a broader picture, the largest number, etc.
• Can seem superficial due to their light-hearted attitude and ability to work a crowd.
• Tends to govern by relationship, persuasion, and majority opinion of people, not by principle.
• Tends to start things and move on.
• Is attuned to the feelings of people and the time frame needed for them to embrace a new idea.
• Is tactful and able to speak to people in a gracious way to bring them along.
• Is a master of reconciliation.
• Is concerned with communicating God to people. Gets to know who God is, then communicates him to people.
• Will open his heart and be vulnerable in order to open the hearts of others.
• Struggles with a lack of discipline with time.
• Has good intentions, but often with no follow through; falls short in the tyranny of the urgent.
• Sees spiritual lessons in personal pain and suffering.
• Struggles with not being willing to risk offense, alienation, or rejection. The immature exhorter is unwilling to confront sin. A righteous exhorter will hold a high standard of holiness and bring those around him to that same standard.
• Works hard and is intensely busy. Functions on little sleep. Is involved in many projects.
• Can surround himself with people willing to cover for his weaknesses.
• Recognized as extremely outgoing; the social butterfly.

Major Weaknesses

• People-pleaser. Unwilling to confront because of fear of rejection. Does not like confrontation and often sweeps things under the rug.
• Poor time management. Tends to take on too much.
• Compromises; settles for doing what is good, instead of God's best.

Biblical Example of an Exhorter - Paul

Exhorters can reconcile diversity in a community. A good example is Paul, who worked with all kinds of people (1 Cor 3:1-3; 9:19-23). All of 1 Corinthians 7-8 is instruction on how to relate to others in regard to marriage relationships, singleness, unbelieving spouses, circumcision, slavery, food sacrificed to idols, and weaker brothers. Righteous exhorters become all things to all men in a good sense, but others can be carnal and superficial. Paul related to diverse people for the gospel (1 Cor 9:9, 20-23). An exhorter's biggest challenge is not being a slave of popularity. Paul repeatedly argued that he was not a people-pleaser or seeking his own good, but that he followed Christ (1 Cor 4:3-4; 1:17-31; 3:4-5, 21-23; 7:23; 10:31-33; 2 Cor 4:5-6). Exhorters do teamwork and networking well. Paul enlisted a network of support that spread the message widely. He was always talking about his teammates (1 Cor 3:6-9; 16:19-20; 2 Cor 1:11; 13:11; 8:22-24). Paul lead by consensus, persuasion, and appeal (1 Cor 8:8-11; 10:1-2; 13:10).

Exhorters desire to start things and move on. Paul continually went to new places to start churches (1 Cor 3:10). Righteous exhorters hold a high standard of holiness. Paul called for a high standard of holiness and corrected immorality that the Corinthian church was condoning (1 Cor 3:16-17; 5:1-13; 6:13-20; 7:1; 11:27-29). Exhorters can be sensitive to criticism from within the group. Paul repeatedly defended his ministry and apostleship to his critics (1 Cor 9:3; 2 Cor 1:12; 6:3; 8:20-21; 11:5-33; 12:1-21). Paul defended his wisdom from God (1 Cor 2:6-16). Exhorters can take a conciliatory tone on controversial subjects. Paul used persuasion in making his arguments, not authority (1 Cor 12:1, 7, 11).

Exhorters teach practically, from real life examples. For Paul, it was important that people understand what he was trying to say (2 Cor 1:8-10, 13-14, 23). Paul opened his heart to open the hearts of others (2 Cor 6:11-13). Paul's passion was to receive from God and communicate him to people (1 Cor 11:23). Paul had a big vision for the world and could get others to share the vision and his values (2 Cor 10:15-16; 8:16-18).

GIVER

• Has a generational worldview. Is focused on trying to prepare the way for his family and others after him.
• Is nurturing. Creates a family environment to foster relationships.
• Has a heart for sharing their faith, but tends not to do it personally. Wants to empower others to do the work of evangelism.
• Is very independent. Stands alone. Does not look to other people for help and sometimes not even to God.
• Resists being conned, manipulated, or guilt-tripped into action. Tendency to feel manipulated when others withhold information from him.
• Is able to relate to a wide range of people.
• Desires to empower other people's productivity.
• Desires to keep his own life private.
• Is not confrontational by nature.
• Is keen at finding unseen options, solutions, and resources.
• Is opportunistic in seizing an available moment.
• Finds favor in terms of money. Resources flow to him.
• Gives well and wisely, not impulsively.
• Tends to be frugal with family members which can cause friction.
• Tends to find bargains, good deals, or discounts before making purchases.
• May tend to see money as a source of security.
• Lives in the present and future. Tends not to learn from the past. Does not like to be confronted on issues that are more than a week old.
• Likes to keep all options open as long as possible. Hesitates to accept absolutes in circumstances, maybe even in the Bible.
• Is a natural networker. Has an ability to bring people together and persuade them to do things.
• Is pragmatic and practical.
• Is a peacemaker. Can work with people who have conflicting views and theologies. Can sustain ideological tension in a group or project. Provides a place of safety.
• Is involved in a diversity of projects, interests, and activities. Is multi-focused.
• Can birth, nurture, and protect new things and new ideas. New things arise and grow at a greater pace than other gifts; the gift to propel new ministries.
• Can struggle with gratitude due to present focus and short memory.
• Does spiritual things, but sometimes not from the right motivation.
• May avoid risk because of a tendency to rely on self rather than God's resources. Faith may seem hard for the giver.

Major Weaknesses

• Independence. Does not need others. May not acknowledge needs to God.
• Hypocrisy. May appear to do the right things, but may not deeply pursue holiness.
• Control and manipulation. Desires to control based on fear of the unknown and risk. Tries to manipulate God and people.
• Struggles to focus and stay engaged; especially when it's important. They tend to roam a lot; unable to stay in one place for long periods of time. 

Biblical Example of a Giver - Job

The giver's focus is not solely on his own generation; he intentionally tries to prepare the way for his family after him. Job offered sacrifices for his family (Job 1:5). A giver does God's work with the resources that he receives from God, recognizing that God is his source. Job said, "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." Job understood how to be a steward of God's funds to minister to the needs of the community. He provided for the poor, the widow, the fatherless, and the stranger (Job 31:16-23, 32). A righteous giver does not put his trust in money. Job said that his security was not in gold (Job 31:24-26). The giver recognizes that God gives him responsibility in the community. He is a steward in abstract things like wisdom or favor and tangible things like money for the needy. Job had the intangible wealth of influence in the community (Job 1:2; 29:7-11, 21-25).

The giver's life is to be characterized by stewardship before God in every way. Job lived in high justice, high holiness, and great ethical behavior in everything that he did (Job 1:8; 29:14-17). The battlefield for the giver is putting himself at risk and allowing God to intervene. The virtue that is the opposite of that stronghold is faith to believe that God knows what he is doing. When Job had lost everything but his life, he did not understand or like what God was doing, but he maintained that God had a right to do what he was doing because he was God (Job 1:21; 42:2-6). God is not interested in how much money a giver can accrue. God wants to establish a relationship with the giver through his supernatural intervention in his life (Job 16:20-21; 29:4). When a giver is living in good stewardship, he recognizes that his life is in God's hands, and he can take it whenever he wishes. When Job was sitting on the ash heap of his life, he said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15 NKJV).

RULER

• Thrives under pressure and puts the people around him under the same pressure. This can be either motivational or abusive. Redemptive prophets have the ideas and the process to carry it out; rulers have the capacity to do the carrying out.
• Is skilled at time management. Controls his time and gets the job done.
• Can be loose on ethics when the end justifies the means.
• Does not ask "why" questions.
• Pulls together a group based on loyalty to the mission. Causes the group to own a problem together.
• Can value loyalty more than competence.
• Can use imperfect people and draw the best out of them without allowing their brokenness to damage the goal of a project or group.
• Takes a vision and puts together an effective plan. Is an implementer, not a visionary.
• Is not into blaming himself or others. Wants to figure out how to fix it when something goes wrong.
• Is an empire-builder. Wants to make anything bigger and better.
• Doesn't look to others for solutions. Owns his own problems. Does not look for help.
• Focuses on the immediate task.
• Is not easily distracted from a task.
• Can be task-oriented and fall short in nurturing, shepherding, and correcting what is spiritually wrong.
• Involved in all kinds of projects. Enjoys diversity.
• Does not need the affirmation of other people when he has made up his mind.
• Can do a disproportionate amount of work with the given resources.
• Struggles with doing things in his own strength versus relying on God's power and plan.
• Takes on more tasks than is normally possible to complete in the time that he has.
• Can struggle with proper focus. Is he doing the thing that God called him to do, or is he just doing things to stay busy?
• Is willing to be vindicated by God, and not man.
• Can withstand strong opposition.
• Can have very strong personalities that appear impersonal or caring.

Major Weaknesses

• Insensitivity. Since he is goal-oriented, he may fail to nurture those around him and may apply pressure without moderation.
• Ethics and integrity. The end justifies the means.
• Compromises; settling for his agenda instead of God's agenda.

Biblical Example of a Ruler - Nehemiah

The story of Nehemiah provides a great example of the ruler gift. The ruler gravitates to positions of responsibility. Nehemiah held a high position as the cupbearer to the king (Nehemiah 1:11). The ruler gets the big picture of how to repair a broken situation. Nehemiah listened to the reports about Jerusalem and knew what needed to be done to repair the walls (1:2-3; 2:5). Nehemiah had the ability to know what resources were needed to accomplish the task and gathered them (2:4, 7-9). He did not need the affirmation of others when he had made up his mind. He withstood strong opposition (2:10, 19-20; 4:1-9). Nehemiah knew what to delegate and what to do himself (2:11-15; 4:18b; 7:1-3; 13:11, 19, 30). He pulled together a diverse team to own a problem (2:16-18; 3:1-32; 4:6).

The ruler can use imperfect people to do a large and complex project. Nehemiah used priests, Levites, goldsmiths, perfume-makers, rulers, women, home owners, merchants, temple servants, city people, and country people to rebuild the wall (3:1-32). He brought together a team based on loyalty, and the people worked with all their heart (4:6). Nehemiah worked people very hard to accomplish the goal (4:21-23) and met every obstacle with practicality. When the people were afraid of being attacked and did not want to continue the work on the wall, Nehemiah armed the people and set up an alarm system with trumpets to warn of danger so that they could continue to work (4:9-18). He required loyalty from Jews who were taking advantage of the situation, thus freeing the people to complete the job without hindrance (5:1-13).

A mature righteous ruler does things by God's strength, although his natural talents and gifts are impressive. Nehemiah did not rely on his own strength but prayed to God for wisdom and strength (1:4-11; 2:4, 8, 18, 20; 4:4-5, 9, 14-15; 6:9b, 16). One of the battlefields of the ruler is choosing to do his own plans versus choosing to do God's plans. Nehemiah did what God had put into his heart to do for Jerusalem (2:12; 7:5). A righteous ruler is not easily distracted from the God-given task. Nehemiah was completely absorbed in the task because of reverence for God (6:2-4; 5:15b-16, 19). A ruler gets results disproportionate to the time and resources spent on a project. The wall was completed in 52 days (6:15). Nehemiah was willing to be vindicated by God, and not man. He ended with a cry to God for vindication (13:14, 22, 29, 31).

MERCY

• Gets along with everybody easily. Rarely has enemies. Often knows a whole lot of people, but has few closely intimate friends.
• Is admired and respected.
• Is a safe person for those who are wounded. Can make everyone feel safe sharing their hurts. Can be approached by complete strangers.
• Can take initiative toward wounded ones. Knows who is feeling rejected or wounded.
• Has a huge number of acquaintances and people who enjoy him but only a few who are close friends. Shares everything with intimate friends.
• Craves intimacy of soul and physical touch. Desires hugs and physical contact.
• Tends to be slow to make transitions based on emotional processing. Does not like rapid change without time to process.
• Hears from God but has difficulty explaining the "why." Operates on subjective and intuitive feelings.
• Makes decisions based on his heart.
• Hates to confront. Wants to keep people from hurting and protect them from pain.
• Does not like to choose sides between two people. Does not want to say one is right and one is wrong.
• Prone to appear indecisive because he does not desire to hurt anybody. Having to choose between people's opinions can be paralyzing.
• Can become a people-pleaser and enabler. The immature mercy may compromise by doing whatever is necessary to make people around him happy with him.
• May attract abuse and exploitation because of his kindness, niceness, and willingness to allow injustice to happen.
• Has a deep strain of anger, which appears rarely and usually in the context of loyalty to someone else. Tends to take up an offense for a third party.
• Is drawn to gift of prophet. Opposites attract: decisiveness of prophet balances the indecisiveness of mercy. Prophet needs the softening influence of mercy.
• Prone to stubbornness. May acknowledge that what he's doing is not God's will and yet not change. Can choose to be life-giving when he wants to, how he wants to, and where he wants to, but can stubbornly resist doing all the things that God has called him to do.
• Can easily enter into the presence of God. Has a predisposition to worship.
• Often has not resolved the fathering issues in his life.
• May see all pain as bad. May flee pain and keep others from the discipline of God when he intends to build maturity and wholeness through discipline.
• Prophets have the broadest range of emotions; Mercy's are the most sensitive of all the gifts. Men who are mercy's are often mistaken for being homosexual due to their extreme sensitivity, and particularly paired with woundedness.
• Does not adapt to change easily or quickly; they need time to mentally and emotionally process before moving on. 
• By nature, they have extreme levels of compassion.

Major Weaknesses

• Impurity. Desire for intimacy and physical touch may lead to impurity.
• Enabling. Wants to protect others from pain.
• Compromise. Willing to live with mixture of holy and unholy without calling people to do what is right.
• Non-confrontational. May tolerate abuse and exploitation because he is willing to allow injustice to continue.

Biblical Example of a Mercy - John

The apostle John is a beautiful example of the mercy gift. A mercy has ability to sense genuine love. John uses the word love more than any other writer in the Bible (the books of John and 1, 2, 3 John, especially 1 John 2:5; 3:1, 11, 14, 16-18, 23; 4:7-12, 16-21; 5:1-3; 2 John 6; 3 John 1, 6). A mercy speaks the language of love. John often used terms of relationship and endearment in his letters (1 John 2:1, 7, 12-14, 18; 3:2, 7, 13, 18; 4:1, 4, 7; 5:21; 2 John 5; 3 John 1, 2, 5, 11). A mercy needs deep friendships with mutual commitment and is drawn to the gift of prophet. John spent a lot of time with Peter who had the gift of prophet (John 19:26; Mark 14:33; Luke 22:8; Acts 3:1-11; 4:13-19; 8:14; Matthew 17:1). A mercy wants physical closeness and quality time (2 John 12). John was frequently found next to Jesus (Matthew 17:1; John 13:23; Mark 10:35-37; 13:3; 14:33; Luke 8:51; 1 John 1:1, 3).

A mercy measures relationships by love. John identified himself as the disciple Jesus loved (John 19:26; 20:6; 21:7; 21:20). John valued fellowship in relationships (1 John 1:3; 2:24, 27; 3:1, 24; 5:19-20). A mercy tends to take up an offense for someone they love. John was fiercely protective of Jesus and his ministry (Mark 9:38; Luke 9:54). A mercy tends to be sensitive to the emotional needs of others. John wrote about emotional needs, such as fellowship, joy, love, fear, torment, and confidence (1 John 1:4; 3:11, 14-18, 21; 4:7-12, 18; 5:14; 2 John 4). A mercy tends to be a follower and not given to boldness, until pushed in a corner. John did not want to be a leader, but when he was challenged he would rise to the occasion. (Acts 4:13, 19). A mercy is concerned with the heart message, not the head. John frequently spoke of people's hearts (1 John 3:20-22; 5:10; Rev 1:3). Worship comes easily for a mercy. John wrote the magnificent worship scenes in Revelation (Rev 4:1-11; 5:1-14; 15:2-4; 19:1-10; 22:8-9).

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There are many resources that provide details on each gift and in my significant research, I have found that they pretty much all say the same things; with a few grammatical differences. Watch Arthur Burk's YouTube teachings on the seven redemptive gifts; he breaks them down clearly and shares examples of each gift.