The Gifts and Ministry of the Believer

Wednesday night Series #1

6/18/2003

1 Peter 4

7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.[1]

-The Lord has placed in every Christian a grace or gift from Him to bless the Lord, the church, and the world.

-Every one of us has a ministry:

TO GOD

(Acts 13-NKJV- “Now ain the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: bBarnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, cLucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, d“Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work eto which I have called them.” 3 Then, fhaving fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”)

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TO THE CHURCH

(Galatians 6: 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

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TO THE WORLD

(Matthew 28-18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in a the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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2 Corinthians 5

18 /All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. [5]/

-Everyone has a ministry in these three areas.

-In our study we are going to talk about ministry but also gifts.

-The purpose of gifts as we see in our opening Scripture from 1 Peter 4:10 is to use the gifts we have received to serve others.

-There are differences of opinion about how many types of gifts there are.

-We can get so stuck on the definitions that we miss the point.

-The point or motive is SERVICE.

EXAMPLE from Jim Hockaday: We only have one place where the spiritual manifestations are defined-1 Cor 12. Yet we see the disciples ministering like Jesus and doing the works. They saw things from the authority and “normal ministry experience” of Jesus. They walked in this lifestyle yet we don’t see definitions very often. Even the Corinthians were falling behind in no gift before Paul defined them.

-Here is some information from the Welcome Class Book.

“There are several Scriptures that list gifts that are available to Christians. Some are obvious and some are not so well known. By comparing Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12-14, and Ephesians 4 we get the following list.

1. prophecy

2. serving

3. teaching

4. encouraging

5. contributing to the needs of others

6. leadership

7. showing mercy

8. tongues

9. interpretation of tongues

10. discerning of spirits

11. working of miracles

12. special faith

13. gifts of healings

14. word of knowledge

15. word of wisdom

16. apostle

17. prophet

18. pastor

19. teacher

20. evangelist

21. celibacy

(could add martyrdom as well from 1 Cor 13)

There are probably other categories of gifts and callings in the New Testament, but this list of over 20 tells us there is quite a variety of ways to serve and be a blessing. Begin to read and search for your unique calling but in the meantime start helping and working wherever you are needed. Contact the office and we will give you some possible areas to help in.

The Bible says in Ephesians 4 that the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher were sent by Jesus to His church “…to prepare God’s people for works of service…”. As a covenant partner of FCF of Warrenton you will be expected to be more than a spectator. Attending church isn’t a ministry. Ministry is WORK. Covenant partners are workers.

You and your contribution are valuable. We need you! The world needs you! Get busy!”

-There are various tests you can take to discover some of your gifts. Notice I say some because some gifts don’t always show up in your score!

-I want to begin by looking at the spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians 12

12 Now about spiritual gifts, ( pneumatikon-spirituals/spiritual matters/spiritual persons ) brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given (didotai-present tense not was given but is given)for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom (logos sophias word of wisdom) (One theologian makes it clear that it isn’t a gift until it is spoken), to another the message of knowledge (logos gnoseos word of wisdom) by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith (pistis some call it special faith)by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing (charismata iamaton literally gifts of healings) by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers (energemata dynameon), to another prophecy (propheteia pro-for phemia speak literally it is to speak for another), to another distinguishing between spirits (diakriseis pneumaton discerning or judging through), to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, a and to still another the interpretation of tongues (hermeneia glosson). b 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

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Charisma- a gift of grace

Charismata- gifts of grace

-Read definitions from Spirit-Filled Life Bible

-Read the classic definitions from notes.

-Since the Bible doesn’t define them, it just lists them; we have to read into them our perspective of what they look like.

-My point of view is to not make them restrictive but to widen the parameters of what they are.

-We need to look at the behaviors and actions of those operating in the gifts and know that the same abilities are still there.

-For instance; if someone sees the future and knows what is coming that is possible whether you call that a word of wisdom or whatever.

-The classic definitions we have are from Howard Carter. He said he got them from God. He may have. Just don’t fight with someone over definitions because there is no way to back it up from Scripture.

Revelation Gifts

*Word of Wisdom-the revealing of the prophetic future under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Divine guidance and knowledge of the future.

Hayford says it is supernatural direction which the Holy Spirit Himself shares with an individual.

Williams says it is an utterance of wisdom.

SFLB says, see page 2024

Bonnke says, “The word of wisdom operates to bring us into proper relationship with God’s eternal purposes.”

Biblical examples:

· Noah with the Ark

· Joseph with savings of grain

· Matthew 24-Jesus

· Revelation with John

*Word of Knowledge-the revealing of a past or present fact which cannot be seen, heard, or revealed naturally

-Williams says it is an utterance of a fact or knowledge.

SFLB-see page 2024

Biblical Examples:

· Jesus with the woman at the well in John 4.

· Acts 5-Annanias and Sapphira

· John 1 Jesus with Nathaniel

*Discerning of Spirits

seeing into the realm of the spirit, insight into the presence or activity of spirits whether good or bad

Hayford-discerning of spirits has to do with properly judging what is of the spirit of God and what is of other spirits.

SFLB-page 2025

Bonnke-“The discerning of spirits is not a gift to see what is invisible, but the power to judge what is seen, whether good or bad.”

Example of seeing into the spirit world…Bible study from early days as a Christian.

-Williams brings out that this is insight into human, angelic and demonic spirits.

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[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version, 1 Pe 4:7-12. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

a Acts 14:26

b Acts 11:22

c Rom. 16:21

d Num. 8:14; Acts 9:15; 22:21; Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:15; 2:9

e Matt. 9:38; Acts 14:26; Rom. 10:15; Eph. 3:7, 8; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11; Heb. 5:4

f Matt. 9:15; Mark 2:20; Luke 5:35; Acts 6:6

[2]The New King James Version, Ac 13:1-3. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996, c1982.

[3]The Holy Bible : New International Version, Ga 6:9-10. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

a Or into; see Acts 8:16; 19:5; Romans 6:3; 1 Cor. 1:13; 10:2 and Gal. 3:27.

[4]The Holy Bible : New International Version, Mt 28:18-20. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

[5]The Holy Bible : New International Version, 2 Co 5:18-20. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

a Or languages; also in verse 28

b Or languages; also in verse 28

[6]The Holy Bible : New International Version, 1 Co 12:1-11. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.