Power Tools of the Believer

Introduction

We have been seeking God for His empowerment for service and to redeploy as a working, viable extension of God’s Kingdom and Power.

Some questions we have to ask are;

What does the power of God look like when it shows up?

How can we keep the gifts of God through the Holy Spirit in operation instead of seeing them seem to disappear from the Church repeatedly?

What are the specific gifts mentioned in Scripture and is that an exhaustive list?

Romans 12:3–8 NKJV

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

One of the distinctives of the Pentecostal movement is its emphasis on the supernatural gifts of the Spirit at work in the church today.

In the latter half of the twentieth century, many people from every denomination embraced these gifts, giving rise to the charismatic movement and then to the “third wave” (evangelicals who do not identify themselves as Pentecostals or Charismatic but who advocate signs and wonders).

Diverse theories and practices, including some misuse and abuse, have accompanied this renewal of spiritual gifts.

Experience does not trump Scripture. Everything we do must be in alignment with the Word of God or we will find ourselves in rebellion and in error.

While experience must not be our authority, it serves a vital role in developing a practical understanding of this subject.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the early Pentecostals discovered the biblical teaching about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, and the gifts of the Spirit, and they sought to receive and implement these truths.

As God poured out His Spirit with signs following, what they once found obscure, mysterious, or merely theoretical suddenly became a clear and living reality.

As they followed the leading of the Spirit, they corrected misconceptions and abuses by referring back to the Bible and its explanation of the purpose and operation of spiritual gifts.

Spiritual Gifts

The Bible teaches that every believer is, and should function as, a vital part of the body of Christ.

God has bestowed many gifts upon His church.

He has endowed the members with special abilities and ministries for the benefit of the body as a whole, both locally and worldwide.

Three passages in the New Testament—Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and I Corinthians 12—list some gifts that God has granted the church.

Romans 12 discusses abilities, talents, or functions that God gives to all believers.

Ephesians 4 identifies special offices of leadership and ministry that God has given to the church.

In I Corinthians 12 we find supernatural signs, wonders, and miracles that occur by the direct operation and power of the Holy Spirit.

For the sake of clarity, we will label these three lists respectively as the service gifts, the ministerial office gifts, and the supernatural gifts.

In this message we will discuss the service gifts and ministerial office gifts; later we will be looking at the supernatural spiritual gifts of I Corinthians 12-14.

The three lists of gifts are as follows:

Romans 12:6–8 NKJV

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

The Service Gifts (Romans 12:6-8)

1. Prophecy

2. Ministry

3. Teaching

4. Exhortation

5. Giving

6. Leading (ruling in KJV)

7. Showing mercy

Ephesians 4:11 NKJV

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

The Ministerial Office Gifts

An office-bearer who wants something other than to obey his King is unfit to bear his office.

Abraham Kuyper

1. Apostles

2. Prophets

3. Evangelists

4. Pastors

5. Teachers

If we listen to the instruction of Scripture we must remember that our talents are not of our own making, but free gifts of God.

John Calvin

You cannot have the gifts of Christ apart from the government of Christ.

Alexander Lindsay Glegg

1 Corinthians 12:8–10 NKJV

for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

The Supernatural Spiritual Gifts

Supernatural living through supernatural empowering is at the very heart of New Testament Christianity.

J. I. Packer

1. Word of wisdom

2. Word of knowledge

3. Faith

4. Gifts of healings

5. Working of miracles

6. Prophecy

7. Discerning of spirits

8. Different kinds of tongues

9. Interpretation of tongues

The gifts of the Spirit have nothing to do with personal ambition or career orientation. They are not given to build individual reputations, to warrant superior positions in the local church, or to demonstrate spiritual advancement. They are not trophies, but tools—tools for touching and blessing others.

John Wimber

It is natural to be religious; it is supernatural to be Christian.

Anonymous

We also find in I Corinthians 12:28-30 a list that combines elements from each of the preceding categories:

1. Apostles

2. Prophets

3. Teachers

4. Miracles (also “workers of miracles,” verse 29)

5. Gifts of healings

6. Helps (similar to “ministry”)

7. Administrations (“governments” in KJV, similar to leading or ruling)

8. Varieties of tongues

9. Interpretation of tongues (verse 30).

The Service Gifts

Romans 12:3–8 NKJV

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

He who does not seek and find God everywhere, and in everything, finds Him nowhere and in nothing. And he who is not at the Lord’s service in everything, is at His service in nothing.

A. W. Tozer

The Greek word for “gifts” here is charismata, the plural of charisma.

It is also used of the nine spiritual gifts of I Corinthians 12.

This word is related to charis, or “grace,” which refers to the free, undeserved blessing and work of God. The connotation is that these gifts are free, unmerited, miraculous endowments from God.

In the context, Paul cited seven examples of his thesis.

His manner of presentation reveals that the list of gifts here is not exhaustive but representative or illustrative of the ways God uses individuals in His church.

There are many other aspects of Christian service that this passage does not specifically identify.

These are truly gifts from God and not merely human attainments. While there are some natural human abilities that correspond to this list, at least in part, even the talents we receive from nature and nurture have their ultimate source in the design, purpose, and grace of God.

The first in the list, prophecy, means a divinely inspired utterance, or speaking under divine unction to edify others.

It does not necessarily involve a prediction of the future.

It can refer specifically to a supernatural public message in the language of the audience (I Corinthians 14:29-31), but here it seems to have the more general meaning of anointed testimony, proclamation, or preaching. (See Acts 2:17; I Corinthians 14:3; Revelation 19:10.)

Lay preachers, including those who speak at services in various institutions such as jails and nursing homes, are a good example of this gift in operation.

If someone has this gift, he should exercise it in proportion to his faith—as much as his measure of faith will enable him.

Perhaps this statement means he should testify or preach in agreement with the faith (the doctrine or body of belief).

Ministry means service to others, particularly service in or through the church.

Some people are especially gifted with an attitude and ability of service in certain capacities.

The Greek word is diakonia, which is a broad word that covers a variety of service, work, or assistance.

It can also refer specifically to the work of a deacon, who helps with the business and organizational matters in a local church. (Acts 6:1-6; I Timothy 3:8-13.)

Then there is the gift of teaching, or instruction.

Home Bible study teachers and Sunday school teachers are good examples of people who operate this gift.

Exhortation means giving encouragement or comfort.

Some people exercise this gift by public testimony, while others do so primarily by personal contact of various forms including friendship, telephone calls, letters, and cards.

Joses was so well-known for this gift that the apostles gave him the surname Barnabas, meaning “Son of Encouragement.” (Acts 4:36; 9:26-27.)

The gift of giving is sharing material blessings with others and with the church.

The KJV says to give with “simplicity,” but most commentators understand the underlying Greek word to mean “liberality, generosity.”

It can also mean “singleness of heart, sincere concern.”

Some people are blessed significantly more than others with the means and opportunity to give to God’s cause.

They should not consider their material blessings to be a sign of superiority but a gift of God for the purpose of assisting His kingdom in a special way.

They should not be selfish but generous, recognizing that in God’s plan they have greater ability and responsibility to give than most others.

Leading, or ruling in the KJV, speaks of direction, guidance, and influence within the church. Leaders are to exercise their role with diligence, carefulness, and earnestness. God has ordained rulers or leaders in His church. It is important to submit to human authority in the church (Hebrews 13:17), as long as human leaders exercise their authority under God according to the guidelines of His Word. The church needs various people with leadership and administrative ability. In addition to the pastor and pastoral staff, the successful congregation will have capable leaders over various departments and activities as well as influential opinion makers and role models who may or may not have an official position.

Showing mercy means being merciful and kind to others. It can include visiting the sick, helping the poor, and assisting widows and orphans. (See Matthew 25:31-46; Galatians 2:10; James 1:27; 2:15-17.) A person who fills this role should do it cheerfully, not in a begrudging, mournful, or patronizing way.

To some extent, every mature Christian should be able to function in the seven areas just listed. All Christians are to be an effective witness, to serve, to encourage, to give, and to show mercy. All should have some basic ability to instruct unbelievers in the plan of salvation and to lead new converts in the ways of the Lord. This passage tells us, however, that each Christian has some area of special strength, given by God. While we should always “be ready for every good work” (Titus 3:1), we need to discern what our strong points are and use them effectively. To summarize, each Christian has a particular gift, role, or function in the church, or possibly several of them. Whatever God has given him to do; he should exercise it to his full capacity but always with humility.