We are studying the subject of Spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is a God given capacity through which the Holy Spirit supernaturally ministers to the body. Every Christian is given a spiritual gift the moment he becomes a Christian. The moment that we believe, we receive the Holy Spirit, and he indwells us. He becomes our guide, our truth teacher, and He supplies the power we need to live the Christian life.
As a result, the NT urges us to behave in a certain way relative to the Spirit. We are to walk in the Spirit, Romans 8:4; live in the Spirit, 1 Peter 4:6; be controlled by the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18; pray in the Spirit, Ephesians 6:18; manifest the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22; and to exercise the gifts of the Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:11. These verses show us how vitally important it is that we operate in the sphere of the Holy Spirit. The Christian life is to be a Spirit-dominated, Spirit-directed, Spirit-controlled existence.
When you allow the Holy Spirit to control your life some marvelous results will occur. 1. Practical holiness. Galatians 5:16 (KJV) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. As we walk in the Spirit the Lord Jesus Christ will be manifest through us, we will live in a Christ-like manner. 2. Ministry. There will be a constant service to the body of Christ. As I walk in the Spirit my gift is ministered to you and as you walk in the Spirit your gift is ministered to me and every other believer. The Holy Spirit operates through us via the spiritual gift that we have been given. The reason that there seems to be so little spiritual service in the church is because so many believers are walking in the flesh. This results in selfishness, not service.
The spiritual gift that you have received makes you an important and necessary member of the body of Christ. The gifts are interdependent and each one is useful and necessary to a healthy functioning body. The body of Christ needs you in order to function properly.
Who flew the kite?
"I did," said the wind! "I did," said the paper! "I did," said the string! "I did," said the boy! But in reality they ALL flew the kite! If the wind had lulled, if the paper had torn, if the sticks had broken, if the tail had caught in the tree, or the boy had fallen, then the kite would have come down! EACH HAD A PART TO PLAY!
God has placed you in a strategic role! You are important to your church's ministry. You have a part to play. Do you know what your gifts are? Are you using them?
Your gift will only be manifest as you walk in the Holy Spirit. To walk by the Spirit is to have my mind focused upon the will of God and to be trusting the Holy Spirit to work in me that which I cannot do myself. It is walking by faith, and faith is strengthen by knowing the Word and walking in obedience to it.
Romans 10:17 (KJV) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
James 2:22 (KJV) Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Our gifts are different, we are not all the same so don't try to be someone else, just be you. Don't put down and criticize others because they are not like you, we are all different. In order for the body to function properly it needs many different parts. But the different parts must all work together for the good of the body. Each member is to function to serve the body, not the body to serve the members. We could put it this way: Ask not what your church can do for you but ask what you can do for your church.
We have looked at the temporary foundational and sign gifts and now we want to study the permanent edifying gifts. We can divide the permanent edifying gifts into two categories, the speaking gifts, which are teaching and exhortation. And the ministering gifts of ministry, helps, governments, ruling, mercy, giving, and faith.
I believe that every believer has a spiritual gift that is made up of a combination of these 9 gifts.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (KJV) As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
We want to look at the speaking gifts this morning, teaching and exhortation. We find the gift of teaching in Romans 12:7. and 1 Corinthians 12:28 The word teachers in 1 Corinthians 12:28 is the Greek word didaskalos, (did-as'-kal-os) and the Greek word in Romans is didaskalia, (did-as-kal-ee'-ah). This word means instruction, doctrine, teaching precepts. The root word carries with it the idea of systematic teaching or training. The word was used of a choir director who trains a choir over a long period of rehearsals until they are able to perform. The curriculum of the teacher is the Word of God. The gift is the supernatural ability to teach systematically the truth of God. Teaching is directed primarily at the understanding.
The gift of teaching is a God given ability to understand and pass on spiritual truth. Not all who have the gift of teaching are recognized as official teachers because the gift can be used one on one or one on 10,000. Just because you have the gift of teaching doesn't mean that you have to use it from a pulpit. It can be used by a mother to a child or a husband to a wife.
It is the God given supernatural ability to understand and systematically pass on spiritual truth. The gift may belong to more people than we realize.
In Luke 24 we see the Great teacher in action.
Luke 24:25-27 (NKJV) Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 "Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
Notice that he gave no new truth. He dealt with the Scriptures already there and gave new insights into them. The word expounded in verse 27 is the Greek word diermeneuo from hermeneuo meaning to interpret and dia which means through. It literally means to interpret fully. This gives us the teacher's method. This is the word from which we get our English word hermeneutics, which is the science of interpretation. This is the function of the teaching gift, to interpret fully the Scriptures. Everyone who can read can tell you what the Scriptures say, the teacher tells us what they mean by what they say. Let me share with you my favorite example of the lack of hermeneutics used by many today.
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. I have heard many preachers use this verse to say that we must have a vision, or goals for the future. They use the word vision in the modern English sense of the ability to foresee or perceive something not actually visible. The Hebrew word here translated vision is chazown, (khaw-zone) and it means revelation, or a word from God. Proverbs 29:18 (NKJV) Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. The teacher is to explain what the Scriptures mean by what they say.
I believe that the gift of teaching is of major importance for the ongoing spiritual well-being of the church. There are only 2 gifts that appear in all 3 of the lists of gifts in the NT. One of them is prophecy and the other is teaching.
2 Peter 2:1 (NKJV) But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.
Prophets were the mouth of God, they spoke under direct inspiration. Their ministry was fulfilled by the Scriptures. Now it is the teacher's job to interpret what the prophet spoke, to expound the meaning of that which has been revealed. In:
1 Corinthians 12:28 (NKJV) And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
There seems to be an order of importance here, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers. Since there are no more apostles or prophets, teaching would be number one in priority in the church. It is foundational to the total ministry of the church.
Teaching is a priority: without it the church is completely crippled. The prophets spoke God's word and now the teachers' function is to explain God's word.
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Knowledge always precedes spiritual growth. If the church is to grow it must have teaching. That is why God has given gifted men to the church that they would equip the saints, so the saints can do the work of the ministry and build up the body of Christ. Apart from the gift of teaching none of the gifts would operate as they should.
Your priority in finding a local church should always be teaching. Apart from teaching the saints are in grave danger. Sound teaching safeguards from error. According to 1 Timothy 4, teaching is a bulwark against apostasy.
1 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV) Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
Paul is talking here about apostasy, about believers departing from the faith. Then he goes on in this chapter to show how sound teaching guards against departing from the faith, or apostasy.
1 Timothy 4:11 (NKJV) These things command and teach.
This is a call for strong teaching, not wimpy suggestions. Richard Baxter said, "Screw the truth into their minds." This is serious stuff; lives are at stake.
1 Timothy 4:12-13 (NKJV) Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Teachers are to be an example, they are to live out what they teach. Notice what Paul tells Timothy to give his attention to. Reading = reading the Scriptures aloud. Exhortation= application, warn people to obey. It's a binding of the conscience, pin them to the wall so that they have to say, "I will or I will not obey that." Doctrine= teaching, expounding the Scriptures, teaching theology. The further we get from the NT times the more work is involved in exposition. We must break down the barriers of language, culture, along with geographic, and historical barriers. We must explain what the Bible means by what it says. The church today is drifting away from teaching and into entertainment. The majority of Chrisisdom is Bible ignorant and in bondage because of their ignorance. We are to read the Word, explain the Word, and entreat people to obey. The church's mandate is to teach the Word of God. The great commission is not just a call for evangelism but for teaching. We must teach those we reach.
Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The word teach in verse 19 is the Greek word matheteuo, (math-ayt-yoo'-o) it means, to become a pupil; or to disciple, i.e. enrol as scholar. We are to be making disciples, leading people to Christ and then training them in the Christian life. The word teaching in verse 20 is the Greek word didasko. We are to be involved in teaching others all that we have been taught. Teaching is to be a priority!
1 Timothy 4:15-16 (NKJV) Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Paul tells Timothy to give himself completely to the things of verse 13. The word doctrine in verse 16 is didaskalia, (did-as-kal-ee'-ah) which could be translated, teaching. By continuing in the teaching Timothy will save himself and those who hear him. What will teaching save them from?
In this context it is clearly apostasy, or departing from the faith. Paul tells Timothy to give himself completely to his teaching. It is sound teaching alone that will save us from apostasy and from all of its damaging effects. We are sanctified by teaching. We are set free by teaching.
John 17:17 (NKJV) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
John 8:32 (NKJV) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
The church must understand and return to the priority of teaching. We will never grow apart from it.
The person with the gift of teaching must prepare to teach. Having the gift doesn't negate the need to study. Prophets spoke under inspiration, teachers don't. It is not that preparation produces the gift, but preparation prepares one for its use. A teacher must first and always be a learner. All through his ministry Paul emphasized the need for study.
2 Timothy 4:6-7 (NKJV) For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:13 (NKJV) Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come; and the books, especially the parchments.
Paul, the teacher, was a student to the very end of his life. Donald Grey Barnhouse said, "If I had only three years to serve the Lord I'd spend two of them studying. " I had a pastor tell me that I studied too much. He told me he learned all he needed in Bible college. He was wrong; a teacher must always be a student.
Warning! If you are going to teach make sure you've studied. James gives a caution to teachers.
James 3:1-2 (NKJV) My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
James doesn't want anyone to embark upon a teaching ministry without a sense of seriousness involved. There will be a greater judgement for those who teach.
Luke 12:48 (NKJV) "But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
This is because those who teach have a tremendous potential to lead people astray with false teaching. Don't rush to teach, rush to study. Don't neglect your gift, use it, but take seriously the responsibility of a teacher.
What should our response be to those who teach?
James 1:19 (NKJV) So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
We are to be quick to listen, and slow to get angry about what we hear. We are to take what we hear and study it out.
Acts 17:11 (NKJV) These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
You are responsible for what you believe, so make sure that you study out what is said in order to be sure it lines up with Scripture.
Now let's look at the other speaking gift, the gift of exhortation. We find this gift in Romans 12.
Romans 12:8 (KJV) Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Literally, he is saying that the one who has the gift of exhorting is to use that gift to exhort. The Greek word used here is parakaleo, (par-ak-al-eh'-o) from para = to the side, and kelo
= to call, thus "to call to one's side." it has the idea of comfort, or encouragement. This is a very broad word, the KJV translates it as comfort, pray, beseech, entreat, exhort, desired. It's three basic meanings are 1. To call near. 2. To exhort, encourage, strengthen. 3. To implore.
John 16:7 (NKJV) "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
The word helper here is parakletos; it is a noun used like a verbal adjective, "the one called alongside" with the idea of giving aid. This is the Holy Spirit's ministry in our lives.
1 John 2:1 (NKJV) My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Here the word advocate is parakletos; this time it is used of Christ. He is the one who pleads another's case, or a legal assistant. Keep in mind that we are dealing with shades of meaning in the word that is used to describe the gift of exhortation. The essence is that of comfort, encouragement, assistance, consolation, strength, and entreating.
Acts 4:36 (NKJV) And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
Here Barnabas is called "the son of exhortation." The word used here comes from the same root as exhortation. As we look at the life of Barnabas we see this gift in action.
Acts 9:26-27 (NKJV) And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
Here we see Barnabas giving assistance, and comfort to Paul when no one else would. Barnabas was an exhorter.
Acts 11:22-24 (NKJV) Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
This is the gift in action, he is encouraging them, strengthening them. He is not teaching but entreating them to live out what they already know.
Acts 12:25 (NKJV) And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark.
Acts 13:13 (NKJV) Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.
John Mark leaves the mission trip. We don't know why but he just quit.
Acts 15:36-41 (NKJV) Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing." 37 Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. 39 Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; 40 but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Barnabas and Paul part company in a contention that seems to be attributed to Barnabas's gift. To Barnabas, Mark had a greater need of his company and encouragement than Paul did. Two missionary teams were formed by this split. Paul did not see in Mark what Barnabas did.
2 Timothy 4:11 (NKJV) Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
Here it appears tha Paul changed his mind about Mark. Without Barnabas's encouragement Mark may have never served again.
The gift of exhortation is: the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to minister words of comfort, consolation, encouragement and counsel to other members or the Body in such a way that they feel helped and healed. There is a sense in which all of us are to be involved in the role of exhorter.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV) And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
People with the gift of exhortation build you up, give you comfort, strengthen you. They make you want to live for God. I thank God for the people with this gift. It can be used in preaching, teaching, counseling. It is the ability to get alongside someone who has a problem and build them up, encourage them, strengthen them, and help bear their load. This is a speaking gift. Martin Luther said,"Teaching is directed to the ignorant, exhortation to them who know better."
I believe that when you join this gift to the gift of teaching you get teaching with an emphasis on obedience not just on education. A teaching that doesn't just give you the facts, but urges you to obedience. The two gifts are often joined in Scripture.
1 Timothy 4:13 (NKJV) Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1 Timothy 6:2 (NKJV) And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
One commentator said, "Teachers lay out the truth, exhorters lay it on us. I feel that part of my gift is exhortation. I am much more comfortable when I am teaching and exhorting, rather than just teaching. I don't like just putting out facts, I want to urge you to obey the Word. I want what I say to be of a practical value in your daily life.
This is a broad gift. It can be used one on one or one on one thousand. It is a gift that is very much needed and appreciated by the body of Christ.
We all don't have the gift of teaching, but we are all to be teachers.
Hebrews 5:11-12 (NKJV) of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
We don't all have the gift of exhortation but we are all called to exhort one another.
Hebrews 3:12-13 (NKJV) Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
To understand the gifts is an aid to understanding and accepting each other. We are different. God made us that way. Don't criticize those who don't do things the way you do them.
Do you remember what Jesus said the ministry of the Holy Spirit would be? He said He came to glorify Christ.
John 16:13-14 (NKJV) "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
Spiritual gifts are to glorify Christ; when you cease to use your gifts you fail to fulfill that which you exist for- the glory of God.
Bishop Hall put it this way:
As many vapors, rising from the sea, meet together in one cloud, and that cloud falls down divided into many drops, and those drops run together, making rills of water, which meet in channels, and those channels run into brooks, and those brooks into rivers, and those rivers into the sea: so it either is or should be with the gifts and graces of the Church. They all come down from God, divided severally as he will to various Christians. They should flow through the channels of their special vocations into the common streams of public use for church or commonwealth, and ultimately return into the great ocean of his glory, from whence they originally came.
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