THE MINISTRY OF THE BODY

“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  (I Peter 4:10 {New American Standard}) 

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (King James)

“As all of you have received your spiritual talents, you must keep on using them in serving one another, as good trustees of God’s many-sided favor.” (Williams)

GIFTS OF SERVICE (Motivational)

The discovery of our Spiritual Gift, the development of that Gift and the exercise of that Gift is not an option, it is a command of God, and He expects us all to do all three of these things. The purpose of the Spiritual gifts is to enable Christians to participate more effectively in the implementation of Jesus’ commission to, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matt. 28:19).

So that the church can better operate to its full potential, each member should discover what motivates him. The key to this discovery lies in the words “interest” and “ability”. The goal of God for His Church is that each member be placed in a ministry where he is interested and where his abilities can be best put to use. To place a person to work where he does not have interest is like putting an “eye” to function as an “ear”.

UNDERSTANDING THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS

“I would not have you ignorant of Spiritual Gifts” (I Cor. 12:1). Such ignorance is by no means bless! Ignorance of Spiritual Gifts is one of the main reasons for retarded church growth. It is also at the root of much of the encouragement, insecurity, frustration and guilt that plagues many brothers and curtails their total effectiveness for God.

There is a difference between a Ministry and a Motivational gift. A Ministry is an area of service and a Motivational Gift is that inner drive and capacity that God has given to every individual without exception and without merit. God gave us this Gift the moment we were saved, unlike a Natural talent with which you were born.

Don’t confuse Motivational Gifts (Spiritual Gifts) with natural talents, such as playing an instrument, cooking, painting, singing, etc. Don’t confuse these Gifts with the Fruit of the Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is developed, the Gift is discovered.

To understand the Spiritual Gifts is the key to understand the organization of the Church. No local church will be what it should be, what Jesus prayed that it should be, what the Holy Spirit endowed and qualified it to be, until it understands the Spiritual Gifts.

The Bible declares in I Corinthians 12:7-13 that the experience of the New Birth is what places the person en the Body of Christ and that the Holy Spirit gives each member a unique gift that qualifies him to carry out a specific function in the Body. The words “to every one: (I Cor. 12:7,11; I Pt. 4:10; Rom. 12:3) and “all”  (I Cor. 12:13; Rom. 12:4-5,6) reveals that by the virtue of the New Birth, each member has at least one gift. The Living New Testament paraphrases Ephesians 4:7, “However, Christ has given each of us special abilities - whatever He wants us to have out of His rich storehouse of gifts.” This indicates that no member of the Body of Christ can say that he is not qualified or that he cannot do something in the evangelization of the world.

Every member should recognize that the Spiritual Gifts are not produced by the intellect neither by human talent. But rather they are a product of the Grace of God (Rom. 12:6). Someone might say; “I thought that Grace was an unmerited favor of God.” It is. But more than that, Grace is the desire and the ability given by God to do His will.  The Apostle Paul reveals that:

1. It was the Grace of God that caused him to work (I Cor. 15:10).

2. Not to live for Christ is to frustrate His Grace (Gal. 2:20-21).

3. He was a minister by the Grace of God (Eph. 3:7).

4. God motivated the desire in him to do and He gave him the ability to do (Phil. 2:13).

Grace, then, is the divine motivator that qualifies each child of God to do His will, “...to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10). Man, apart from God is unable to do something good (Rom. 3:10-12).

Since God has given us these gifts freely, it is evident that he gave them so we could use them. “As every man hath received the gift, every so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (I Pt. 4:10). The apostle Peter makes two important point here. First, everyone has received gifts and abilities. Secondly, everyone should use their gifts ministering. Nobody is exempt; everyone should get involved. All of God’s people must appear before the tribunal of Christ to gave an account of his stewardship (Rom. 14:10-12; Col. 4:17; Luke 16:1-2).

Paul unravels three groups of gifts in the Body of Christ that are the gifts of preparation (equipping), the spiritual gifts, and the helpful gifts.

1. Preparation (Pulpit and Preaching)  Ephesians 4:11-13:  God gave apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” The principal task of these gifts in the Church is to capacitate and prepare.

2. Spiritual  (Signs)  I Cor. 12:8-10:  God gave the following supernatural gifts for the use in the public worship (and other purposes); word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues.

3. Service  (Motivational)  Romans 12:6-8; I Cor. 12:28:  God gave these gifts for the service in the Body of Christ; teaching, leadership, prophecy, exhortation, mercy, service, giving, administration and helps.

SOME REASONS WHY SOME CAN NOT DISCOVER THEIR GIFT

A. There might be unresolved conflicts in your life where by the issue is being clouded and you aren’t hearing from God because things are not right between you and Him.

B. You are not involved in any kind of Ministry or Service where by your Motivational Gift will not come to the surface if you simply keep it to yourself.

C. Trying to imitate someone else’s Gift. This will confuse you.

D. Failure to analyze what you do and the motivation behind it.

E. Confusing Ministry with Gift. Ministry is the activity in which you carry out that which God has called you to do, motivated by a particular gift.

DISCOVERING YOUR GIFTS TO MINISTER IN THE BODY

The first step in discovering your Gift is not by working at it. The first thing that you have to do is learn to walk in the Spirit. If you do not learn to walk and live in the Spirit then you will see and do everything in the flesh. Then everything that you do will be done by pure human effort. When we are in the Spirit all the Gifts work together, when we are in the flesh there well be conflict and confusion like in the Corinthian Church. The second step is to ask yourself, “What is my motivation for doing this, for feeling this way or behaving in this manner?” The third step that you must know the characteristics of that Gift.           

The way to know if God wants you in a certain area of service is to prove that area, “that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:2). The secret to finding the will of God is wrapped up in one word “prove”. This word means  “to prove, to put to the test, with the hope of the approval.” We “prove it” upon trying it out; with the hope of the approval already in our mind. Put your gift to the test and see how you fit in. Look for hints or clues. You should be conscious of the following

1. WHAT  DO  YOU  SEE ?

Solomon advised, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it” (Eccles. 9:10). Jesus said: “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest” (Jn. 4:35).  What is it that you see? What needs are obvious to you? Is there a need for teachers to give Home Bible studies? Perhaps there is a need of intercessors.

2. WHAT  ARE  YOU  DOING ?

Do you have good office abilities? Are you a good teacher? Do you have good abilities of communication? These could be keys as to how God wants to use you in your ministry of gifts.

3. WHAT  DO  YOU  ENJOY  DOING ?

Do you like children? Do you love to make floral arrangements? You could care for children so that a mother could attend a new converts class or encourage an absent saint with a call.

4. WHAT  DO  YOU  FEEL ?

What do you long for? Are you good in knowing what God has for you if you maintain this true yearning. Don’t be too general in this area.

5. WHAT  DO  YOU  HEAR ?

Whoever God has truly called to an area of service will find confirmation of the body, the church of God. Have you received good comment on something that you have attempted to do for Christ.

ALL MUST DISCOVER THEIR GIFT AND PUT TO USE

It has been found that in most business that 20% of the people do 80% of the work. This is also true in most churches, 20% of the people do 80% of the work and give 80% of the money.

What would you say to your 13 year old child if he came to you one day and said to you, “I’m not going to school any more, I’m not going to do anything. I don’t want a trade, I don’t want a profession, I’m just going to live and take it easy! You would probably say to him, “Look, your mother and I have invested much time and money in you to rise you.” He gets to be 18 years old and comes to you with the same thing, he doesn’t want to do anything. You would probably say to him, “Look, you are wasting your life, wasting your time and wasting your talents.” What do you think god is say to you if you are not serving? God wants to use you to serve others. Why do you think He has blessed you?