Ministering Our Gifts

by Michael Elliott, Manchester, England | Category: The Holy Spirit | Sept 1993

The Scriptures clearly teach that each individual member of the Church the Body of Christ is given a spiritual gift, for we read in I Corinthians 12:6,7, "there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all. But to each one Is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit

Those gifts were primarily meant to find their expression within churches of God and the purpose of this article is to develop Scriptural examples of some of those gifts and to encourage personal identification and diligent exercise of such gifts.

Purpose of the Gifts

Spiritual gifts are specifically dealt with in five places in the New Testament: Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-1 1; Ephesians 4:7-12 and 1 Peter

4:10,11. Some gifts were given to fulfil God's special purposes at the beginning of this present dispensation in the establishing and development of the churches of God, and were often associated with miraculous power as evidence of God's presence in their midst. Other gifts continue to find expression today and are the manifestation of the Spirit's presence in the believer. These gifts are given, that in both personal and corpo~ate testimony, we might know the Spirit's blessing in our work for the Lord.

As we develop our subject it is necessary to give a Scriptural definition of the word "gift". The Greek word used in passages noted above,

and elsewhere, is charisma meaning, "grace, favour, kindness" (Young). We can see, therefore, that the bestowal of such a gift is entirely God's prerogative. We have no right 10 question His decisions in these matters, but we do have a responsibility to discern and develop whatever gifts we have been given.

We are stewards and have heen given responsibility to use our spiritual gifts to our Master's benefit and glor'y', knowing that one day we shall stand before Him to answer to Him as to how we 4'traded" on His behalf.

In I Peter 4:10 we read, "According as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God". We note, first of all, that the principle is, "according as a man hath, not according as he hath not" (2 Cor. 8:12), for God holds us responsible for what He has entrusted 10 our care. That is why Peter refers to those who are, "good stewards of the manifold grace of God". We are stewards and

have been given responsibility to use our spiritual gifts to our Master's benefit and glory, knowing that one day we shall stand before Him to answer to Him as to how we "traded" on His behalf. There are two passages in the New Testament where, in each case the Lord Jesus Christ tells the parable of a man going to a far country, who before leaving, calls his servants to instruct them as to their responsibilities in his absence. It is interesting to note that in Matthew 25:15 we read that the servants were given varying amounts of money, "to each according to his several ability", whereas in Luke 19:13 the ten servants each received an identical amount of money, but each being given the commandinent, "Trade ye herewith till I come". There seems to be a powerful lesson here in respect of the gifts we receive from God. In Matthew the Lord would teach, and it is self-evident, that we cannot expect, nor do we all have, the same gifts and responsibilities in our spiritual service for God. In Luke He is clearly demonstrating, as we noted in I Corinthians 12:7, that all believers have been given gifts which they are personally responsible to exercise. All will one day answer to the Lord Jesus as to how they used their gifts during His absence. Solemn thought indeed! but we should take encouragement from the fact that in both passages faithful service brought the commendation, "Well done". So Peter exhorts his readers in the matter of "ministering" their gifts. The word for ministering is

the Greek word diakoneo meaning to act as a deacon, or to serve, the emphasis being on the work to be done rather than the relationship between lord and servant. Thus we see that there is a God-given responsibility to minister our gifts amongst the people of God.

Variety of the Gifts

What gifts should we expect to see manifest today? The five main passages previously noted give Scri~ tural examples of the gifts we should expect to see manifested in the Church the Body and more particularly amongst the people of God. In Romans 12:6-8 Paul deals with four gifts:

1. Prophecy - literally "the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God" (Vine). This is not the same as prophecy which was received by the apostles and prophets as being the revealed word of God in some particular matter, but rather the delivering of a message from God as a result of prayer and meditation upon the Scri~ tures.

2. Ministry - envisages the work of serving in the exposition of the Word, for example Acts 6:4, but also carries the thonght of compassionate love towards others fmding expression in practical service to their needs, as in deacon service.

3. Teaching - to give instruction. The word is used some 95 times in the New Testament. Paul says to Timothy regarding certain matters, "These things command and teach" (1 Tim.

4:11).

4. Exhorting - the word means to call on, entreat or encourage. Paul exhorts us 10 pray for all men, as in 1 Timothy 2:1. The writer to the Hebrews speaks of the need for daily encouragement (Heb. 3:13). Of course, those who encourage need to ensure that their lives measure up to what they are encouraging others to do.

Gifts noted in the other passages include 1 Corinthians 12:28:

1. Teachers - those able to handle aright the Word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15).

2. Helps - giving assistance, particularly to the weak and needy (Vine).

3. Governments - the work of oversight under the direction and control of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 20:28).

We have already referred to I Peter 4 when looking at ministering our gifts. Specifically in verses 9-11, however, Peter refers to:

1. Using hospitalify - literally a lover of strangers. See also I Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:8.

2. Speaking the oracles of God speaking God's utterances.

3. Ministering as of the strength which God supplieth - serving with the strength that God gives.

Discerning and Using our Gifts

We now need to challenge our own hearts firstly to identify what our gifts might be and secondly as to their use and development in Christian service. Solomon tells us, "A man's gift maketh room for Him, and bringeth him before great men" (Prov. 18:16). We have previously noted that we all, brethren and sisters, receive a gift

through the indwelling holy Spirit. Brethren have the opportunity and responsibility to exercise their gifts by leading in prayer and worship within the context of service in the house of God. Sisters learn to exercise their gifts in subjection to their brethren. However, no matter which assembly with which we are linked, no matter whether there are few or many on the assembly roll, there is a work of God for us all to do.

One of the gifts we noted in Romans 12:8 was that of exhorting. This is a gift we can all be exercised about, particularly in the matter of exhorting each other in the use of our individual gifts from the Lord, for we all need encouragement in the work of the Lord. Within the local assembly overseers have a responsibility to discern gift among the saints and encourage its use and development. The apostle Paul look a great personal interest in the spiritual development of a young man called Timothy. His words to Timothy should be of encouragement to us all no matter what our age or spiritual experience. "Neglect not the gift that is in thee

Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all" (1 Tim. 4:14,15); then he adds in verse 16, 'Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee".

Finally, in all that we do, or may be exercised to do for the Lord, we need to have a prayer burden. Romans 12:3

makes it clear that we need to make a realistic assessment of our abilities for it is "according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith". Our

brethren and sisters can give helpful encouragement but ultimately we need to know the Spirit's leading through prayer.

Michael Elliott, Manchester, England | Sept 1993
The Holy Spirit