BY Argie Simonis
"For who makes you to differ from another? and what have you that you did not receive? now if you did receive it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it?" 1Cor. 4:7
This is a very good reminder to help us walk humbly. Any good we can find in ourselves is a gift from God. The Lord gives us gifts not because we are good or because we deserve them, but because He is good. Gifts are gifts, not wages, and are given
"for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" Eph. 4:12
and
"all these works that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." 1Cor. 12:11
"And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?" 1Cor. 12:28-30
In addition to the nine gifts of the Spirit that Paul mentions in 1 Cor. 12 that we studied in the previous messages, there are other gifts:
"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching;
Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness." Rom. 12:6-8
Paul here mentions 7 gifts:
- prophecy
- ministry
- teaching
- exhortation
- giving
- administration
- mercy
Paul's purpose here is to show that different people in the body of Christ have different positions or functions.
I must point out again that all believers can function in the gifts mentioned here, but that does not mean that this is also their ministry, or in other words, their calling.
For example, everyone can and should teach others, but that does not make them teachers. The difference between teaching and preaching is that the preacher declares the Word of God, while the teacher explains it.
Paul also said "you can all prophesy one by one" (1 Corinthians 14:31), but he also made it clear that not everyone is called to be a prophet (1 Corinthians 12:29).
Likewise, all believers are to show mercy and give, but some people are given supernatural gifts in these areas.
- All believers are called to serve one another with love, but the gift of ministry or service, is a supernatural ability and grace that the Lord gives to a person to serve, help and minister to others.
- The gift of prompting
Exhortation is part of the preaching of the Word:
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine." 2Tim. 4:2
- The gift of giving (or offering) concerns people whom the Lord gives a special grace to make money in order to financially support God's work. We are all called to give to the Lord from our possessions:
"Every man according as he purposes in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver." 2Cor. 9:7
but here Paul tells us that those who have a ministry of giving (offering) should be generous in giving.
- The gift of administration could refer to any of the many positions of authority within the church. This reveals that although everyone has some degree of authority, there are individuals who are given a gift of ministry to rule, or what we would commonly call "management" today.
- It is certain that all believers should show mercy and give, but some people are given supernatural gifts in these areas. This is what Paul is describing here. Regarding the gift of offering, he said that offering should be done with simplicity. Those who rule should be diligent in what they do and those who have the gift of mercy should administer it with joy.
- I would also like to mention the artistic gifts:
"See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship." Exodus 31:2-5
There are many gifted artists around the world, but not all of them dedicate their gift to the Lord.
Those whom the Lord has called to a specific ministry, even in the area of arts (music, theater, cinema) are to help and empower believers to be able to better share their faith with the world. Then all together as one body become witnesses of our Christ and people are saved.
And since shepherds do not beget sheep, but sheep beget sheep, in the following messages we will look at the ministry gifts from Ephesians:
"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers,
"for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" Eph. 4:11-12
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