God's plan of redemption - explained
Study 8. Spiritual Gifts and MinistriesIf the church is to operate the way God designed it to then everybody is going to have to do their own part and with the basic spiritual gifts they will be able to do just that One of the worst things that can happen is that the body (church members) will not be allowed to operate the way God wants them to, they will be quenching The Holy Spirit.
It may be that some people have the anointing for putting chairs out, cleaning the church or welcoming people at the door, they should be encouraged to do so. Similarly there might be some in the church who have a prophetic gift, they too should be encouraged and be given every opportunity to develop it.
Therefore let us take a look at the basic spiritual gifts and understand why they are given to the body of Christ. Any born-again believer can operate in one or more of these gifts, if you happen to operate in one of them and somebody else comes along who operates in that same gift, encourage them, you are not in competition with anyone.
Tongues This is a gift to be used in general privately, you do not score points by proving to everyone else in the church that you can speak in tongues. Paul calls this "praying in The Spirit" because we should be directed by Him when using this gift. When we do not know how to pray The Holy Spirit will guide us through a different tongue to pray what He knows aught to be prayed in that situation.
Interpretation of tongues Sometimes a person may be given a tongue to speak out in a meeting, the only time this gift should be used in public. In order that the body shall be edified an interpretation (not translation) should be given by the person who spoke the tongue or some other gifted member of the church.
Prophecy This is not necessarily a prediction of a future event but the speaking forth of a message from the throne of God in a language that almost everybody in the meeting will be able to understand. The body must be given the opportunity to receive a prophetic word in every meeting.
Discernment A person with this gift is able at once to determine whether what has come forth (even in a sermon) has been of God, in the flesh or influenced by the demonic. A person gifted in this way will also be able to tell if there is someone in the meeting who needs deliverance and will be able to pick them out. Sometimes having this gift can be very painful especially when nobody else senses what that person does.
Knowledge A person with such a gifting will on occasions instinctively know that there is someone in the church who needs to be healed from a particular kind of complaint or illness, and this is often accompanied by a prophetic word for the person who may come forward for ministry in the meeting or receive it afterwards.
Wisodom It is a well-known thing with men and women experienced in ministry that the enemy will try to trap you into going somewhere or doing something that God has not called you to do, more about this in the study on deliverance.
You will need to have the wisdom supernaturally to know what to say and when to say it, where to go and where not to. Never rush in to accepting an invitation to minister, consider prayerfully every off that you get, it may not be what it at first appears to be.
Healing We shall discuss this gift in our next study as it involves the operation of other gifts also. A person with such a gift cannot just go up to anyone and command a healing to take place that would be operating under presumption rather than acting in obedience to God.
Faith This kind of faith is not the ordinary kind, you might find yourself praying for somebody who tells you she needs an operation yet almost without being able to stop yourself you say something like "No, you will not need an operation, God will heal you." In the natural you may not have the faith for it but when God gives you such faith these things always happen – if it truly is of Him.
Miracles This gift is rare in the church today but like every other gift operated, it must be used entirely for the glory of God not in any way for your own. You might pray for somebody who is according to doctors incurably sick and they instantly get well, you may pray for somebody in a wheelchair and they get up and walk. You may pray for somebody who has a withered arm or limb and God heals them instantly, these are miracles demonstrating the sovereignty of Almighty God.
Summary of the five-fold Ministry gifts
Apostle Usually someone who plants churches and maintains oversight of those churches at their request, especially churches in another country.
Prophets Those who spiritually are continually before the throne of God and who hear and proclaim God's word of direction for a church, an individual or a situation. This is distinct from someone who has the gift of prophecy as discussed earlier, anyone can prophesy in turn but not all are prophets.
Evangelists This gift can be operated locally, nationally or internationally. No Evangelist is greater than another because they can reach more people, all are of equal importance and no one evangelist is in competition with any other or anyone else. Whether it be local, national or international depends on his calling by God.
Pastors Call them Ministers or anything else their function is usually to head up the local branch of the church and see that things are done in decency and in order. It is their responsibility to care for the flock (their congregation) and see that each one will develop his or her full potential.
Teachers This is an entirely different spiritual calling to any of the others listed here. There are those who are brilliant bible teachers but not called to be Pastors, others can be outstanding Pastors or Ministers without having a particular gifting for bible teaching, or they may have more than one ministerial gift through the anointing and calling of God.
All these Ministerial gifts have the same basic purpose, to build up, encourage and equip the church. Prophets should teach how to use the prophetic gift, Apostles should teach how to set up and oversee churches.
Evangelist should teach how to win souls and what the people in the pews can do to help him/her to do this. Pastors should be looking to raise up others in the church who could replace them if God calls them to move on and teachers should teach others how their depth of understanding and revelation can be obtained by others also.
Of these ministries it is the responsibility of the Pastor/Minister to maintain discipline in the church and makes sure that everybody has an opportunity equally to develop their spiritual gift and/or ministerial gift calling. Jesus never shows anyone favouritism neither therefore should we.
Continue to the next part of God's plan of redemption - explained... Study 9. Healing
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