Ecclesiology
Ministries and Gifts of the Spirit
Lesson XXV
June 7, 2007
I
We Quote A.T. Pierson:
Every
one has a gift
No one has all the gifts
All gifts are from the Lord
All are mutually helpful and needful
All promote the health of the body
All depend on Christ’s fullness for power
II As I see it.
In 1 Corinthians 12:28, the order of ministry-gifts is listed.
1 Corinthians 12:28
(28) And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of
healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
There are other ministry-gifts in
other portions of Scripture. See Romans
12:6-8.
Romans 12:6-8
(6) Having then gifts differing according to the grace
that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the
proportion of faith;
(7) Or ministry, [let us wait] on [our] ministering: or
he that teacheth, on teaching;
(8) Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth,
[let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that
sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
Ministry-gifts
are given to individuals, and these gifted individuals are given as gifts to
the body, the Church. Such individuals
never have these gifts taken from them, but they may become carnal and thus be
cast away from the place of service.
1 Corinthians 9:27
(27) But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself
should be a castaway.
He or she may become a vessel of
dishonour.
2 Timothy 2:20-21
(20) But in a great house there are not only vessels of
gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some
to dishonour.
(21) If a man therefore purge himself from these, he
shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and]
prepared unto every good work.
We
have used King Saul as an illustration of this.
Saul was given the position of King, but because of his conduct, the
kingdom was taken away from him and his sons.
1 Corinthians 12:31
(31) But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I
unto you a more excellent way.
1
Corinthians 12:31 “ But covet earnestly the best gifts…” How does one interpret that? One does not become an apostle, prophet or
teacher by coveting or desiring such a position. These are gifts given to men by a Sovereign
Lord.
James 1:17
states that
(17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness,
neither shadow of turning.
If
all are good and perfect, how can Paul write of some as being “best”?
Hebrews 2:4
(4) God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and
wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his
own will?
And
if all are given according to God’s will, Hebrews
2:4, how is 1 Corinthians 12:31 understood?
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
(4) Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit.
(5) And there are differences of administrations, but the
same Lord.
(6) And there are diversities of operations, but it is
the same God which worketh all in all.
(7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every
man to profit withal.
(8) For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom;
to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
(9) To another
faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
(10) To another
the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits;
to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
(11) But all these worketh that one and the selfsame
Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1
Corinthians 12:4-11 lists some very special gifts, and these we believe,
are not identical to ministry-gifts.
These gifts are given to the body, the Church.
1 Corinthians12:12-27.
(12) For as the body is one, and hath many members, and
all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is]
Christ.
(13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body,
whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been
all made to drink into one Spirit.
(14) For the body
is not one member, but many.
(15) If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I
am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
(16) And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye,
I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
(17) If the whole body [were] an eye, where [were] the
hearing? If the whole [were] hearing, where were the smelling?
(18) But now hath God set the members every one of them
in the body, as it hath pleased him.
(19) And if they were all one member, where [were] the
body?
(20) But now [are they] many members, yet but one body.
(21) And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need
of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
(22) Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem
to be more feeble, are necessary:
(23) And those [members] of the body, which we think to
be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely
[parts] have more abundant comeliness.
(24) For our comely [parts] have no need: but God hath
tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that [part]
which lacked:
(25) That there should be no schism in the body; but [that]
the members should have the same care one for another.
(26) And whether one member suffer, all the members
suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
(27) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular.
So
again as I see it, whatever ministry-gift God has given to any individual
believer, that individual is to covet, or earnestly desire, the best spiritual
gift to enhance one’s ministry gift. And
in that sense we may speak of better or best.
Look
at the first spiritual gift. 1
Corinthians 12:8, for to one is given by the Spirit “the word of wisdom.” Now it does not say the “gift of
wisdom.” God gave Solomon the gift of
wisdom and God said He would give it to no other man.
How
wonderful that the gift of the word of wisdom is available to every member of
the Body, regardless of what ministry-gift one may have or not have.
What
gift would one consider best when witnessing to an unbeliever? Often times a ‘word of wisdom’ would be the
best gift in that circumstance. Thus, in
my opinion, the best gift is determined by the need of the occasion.
I
also am convinced that these ‘special gifts’ or ‘enablements’ are given at
times when we are not aware of them. A ‘word of knowledge’ can be spoken without
one knowing that it is such.
I
give one illustration from my own life.
Years ago I preached a sermon entitled “Church Rats”. I spoke of people who run from one local
Church to another local Church and never support any. They live spiritually on food that costs them
nothing because it is supplied by other faithful saints. I was invited to dinner after that service. The lady who invited me said: “Who told you
all about me?” I said, “No one.” After
being assured that I knew nothing about her, she then said, “Then it was the Lord”. For not only did you name the Churches
(denominations) that I have run to and from, you named them in the order I had
done so.”
To
her it was not a mere coincidence. To
her it was a word of knowledge
And
so it is with all spiritual gifts. We do
not need to know when they are being given to us. Therefore there can be no boasting, or
feeling, or showing ourselves to be more spiritual than someone else. We have found the words in 1 Corinthians 14:37
most revealing: “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or
spiritual…” Most often, no one else
does!
1 Corinthians 14:37
(37) If any man
think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the
things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
Galatians 6:3
(3) For if a man think himself to be something, when
he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
Spirituality
is not manifest by ministry-gifts or by special gifts of the Spirit.
The
Corinthians came behind in no spiritual gift, they had all the gifts, but Paul
wrote unto them as being carnal.
1 Corinthians 1:7
(7) So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1 Corinthians 3:1
(1) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ.
Spirituality
is measured by the fruit of the Spirit. And again, in my opinion we must not mix
gifts with fruit.
Galatians 5:22
(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is …Before reading on, note, it does
not say the fruits of the Spirit are. It
is not plural but singular. The fruit of
the Spirit is love and all the rest of the cluster flow out of love. This love is shed abroad in our heart by the
Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).
1 Corinthians 12:28
(28) And God hath set some in the church, first apostles,
secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of
healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Apostles,
prophets, thirdly teachers – after that
….
The
‘after that’ ministries are listed as being:
Ø miracles
Ø gifts of healing
Ø helps
Ø governments
Ø diversities of tongues
Paul
goes on to ask the question “do all have these ministries? And the answer is certainly “no”: all do not
have these ministries.
To
say that some of these ministries have ceased, while others have not, seems to
be inconsistent.
I
have discovered that “cessation” was taught by the Nicene and Post-Nicene
Fathers. The Church fathers have often
been wrong.
Where
is it taught in Scripture?
The
argument that I have heard as the reason some ministry-gifts have ceased is
based on 1 Corinthians 13:10, “When
that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away”, the
completion of Scripture being explained as the coming of that which is
perfect.
But
does that fit the context? Read 1
Corinthians 13:8-13.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
(8) Charity never faileth: but whether [there be]
prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease;
whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.
(9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
(10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that
which is in part shall be done away.
(11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood
as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish
things.
(12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then
face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am
known.
(13) And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three;
but the greatest of these [is] charity.
Are
these verses not comparing “now” with “then”? or - to re- word that - comparing
the present with the future?
Do
we not now see through a glass darkly?
Do
we not now know in part?
But
then
it will be face to face.
Then we shall have full
knowledge.
But
here we must acknowledge that these ministries, as well as spiritual gifts have
been more abused than used. Some of the
greatest heresies have been promoted by men who claim to have some of these
ministry-gifts.
Malachi 2:1-2
(1) And now, O ye priests, this commandment [is] for you.
(2) If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay [it] to heart,
to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse
upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already,
because ye do not lay [it] to heart.
Malachi 2:1-2 God promised to curse
Israel’s blessings. And then said, “I
have cursed your blessings.” And we
apply that to our subject.
We
believe that these ministries, intended to bring blessing to the Church, have
in many cases been bringing a curse to the Church.
We
have just finished re-reading the book entitled “Blessing the Church?” a book
written by four Charismatic preachers in England. Some of the things that have been done by
so-called prophets and directive prophecy are of such a nature that we do not
want to include them in this paper.
Romans 2:24
(24) For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles
through you, as it is written.
Romans 2:24 Paul wrote of the Jews
that the word of God was blasphemed because of them. It is our opinion that such could be said of
many in the Church who have brought problems into the Church because of the
abuse of many of the ministries here listed.
But
because of the many strange doctrines held by some, and false claims, are we
justified in writing them all off from Scripture?
Miracles are part of Church
history.
But
fault must be had with those who have made false claims.
John 9:17
(17) They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou
of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
In
Jesus’ day there were those who believed if one did a miracle then that one
must be a man of God. That thinking is
alive and well in our day. And for that
reason many things, evidently wrong, have been accepted as being right.
John 10:41
(41) And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no
miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.
Luke 1:15
(15) For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and
shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy
Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Matthew 11:11
(11) Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of
women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he
that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
John
did not do miracles (John 10:41) but he was great in the eyes of the Lord (Luke
1:15).
And
Jesus said of John, that none born of women had been greater than John (Matthew
11:11).
We
point these facts out to say this: today, if any has had a miracle in his
ministry, that person is looked upon as being great. Such thinking proves how much we have been
influenced by Romanism. Does not the
Roman Catholic Church only make ‘saints’ of those to whom a miracle is
credited?
Acts 4:16
(16) Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that
indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them [is] manifest to all them that
dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny [it].
Acts 4:16 Of the miracle ministry of the apostles, their enemies said: “ indeed
a notable miracle hath been done…and we cannot deny it.” That kind of miracle, the Church profits
from. The other kind ‘claimed’, only
later to be proven false, have brought shame to the body of Christ. But because too many have been false workers,
we must not deny the true. I deplore
‘big names’ being attached to such ministries. And we cannot deny that because
some claim these ministries, they also present themselves as being of great
importance to the Church – when, in fact, many have already been proven to have
been false.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 informs us that the
Anti-Christ’s works will be the works of Satan with all power and signs and
wonders.
2 Thessalonians 2:9
(9) [Even him], whose coming is after the working of
Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
Deuteronomy 13:1-3 tells us why God allows
false signs and wonders.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3
(1) If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of
dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
(2) And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he
spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known,
and let us serve them;
(3) Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that
prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know
whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Acts 8:6-7 Philip, the evangelist wrought miracles at Samaria. So they were not limited to the
Apostles. However to be “looking for
your miracle”, as some are instructed to do today, is strange language to my
ears.
Acts 8:6-7
(6) And the people with one accord gave heed unto those
things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
(7) For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out
of many that were possessed [with them]: and many taken with palsies, and that
were lame, were healed.
The
greatest miracle is the miracle of the new birth.
And
God is at work, not doing new things, but the same things He has done in the
past.
2 Corinthians 8:16
(16) But thanks [be] to God, which put the same earnest
care into the heart of Titus for you.
2 Corinthians 8:16 God put care into the heart of Titus,
is one of those sweet miracles that can be seen daily. Did your mother care for you? Or anyone else?
Give
the credit to God for that miracle.
The
stories in the book entitled “Holy Anne” are examples of what God will do for a
simple, trusting, praying, fully trusting saint. Things of such a nature that they can only be
classified as miracles in our eyes. Some
of the unexplainable events in lives can be the result of a miraculous ministry
given by God. But nothing is of men.
Then “Gifts of healings”
It
is well to notice that both words are plural.
There is no such thing as “the gift of healing.” All healings, or perhaps we should say, every
healing is a gift from God.
Healing
is always in the hand of a Sovereign God.
This
doctrine has been discussed, promoted, propagated and often brought disgrace
and shame to the gospel.
We
have reached these conclusions:
Only
God can heal. Or to restate that, all
healing is of God.
Sometimes
by use of means and sometimes without.
All
healings are in the Sovereign hands of God.
“Claiming
your healing” is foreign to the Scriptures.
1 Peter 2: 24-25
(24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on
the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
stripes ye were healed.
(25) For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now
returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Clearly,
1 Peter 2: 24-25 “by whose stripes ye were healed” as being physical healing is
not correct. Verse 25 plainly states
this is soul healing. All our soul’s
diseases are healed as a result of Calvary.
Psalm 103:3 The whole context is
not physical healing.
Psalm 103:3
(3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all
thy diseases;
3 John 2
(2) Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest
prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3
John 2 is often used for claiming healing.
We recall Walter Smith saying:
“Don’t make that petition for me for then I would never be well”. Reading the verse carefully one can see that
the brother Gaius was not prospering in health but he was prospering in soul. Where would we be if our physical health were
as good as our soul’s spiritual health?
Philippians 4:6
(6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer
and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
But
again, because of the fanatics regarding healing, we should not write it off or
out of our experience. If it is
Scriptural to pray about every thing
(Philippians 4:6), then it is right to pray for each other’s health. But there is no Scriptural record of great
healing meetings! I have never forgotten
the words of a brother who went to
But
remember, our outward man is ever perishing, and our body at best is only
temporal. As such, it is subject to
sickness and death. Christians do get sick!
Spiritual Christians get sick!
And Christians do die! Therefore we should consider the health of our
souls more important than that of our earthly bodies.
Christ
did not have to die to heal our bodies. He died to save our souls. The older in years I become the less I know
about the subject of healing. I have not
established a ‘doctrine of healing’. But
that does not hinder me from praying for God to touch, heal and work in human
bodies according to His will. If He is
using poor health to deal with a soul, all the praying in the world will not
change what God is doing. To Israel, He
said He would smite them of things of which “thou canst not be healed.”
Deuteronomy 28:27
(27) The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt,
and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst
not be healed.
And
if they could not be healed, all the praying possible could not change that.
Next on the list of ministry-gifts
is “helps”.
1 Chronicles 6:48
(48) Their brethren also the Levites [were] appointed
unto all manner of service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
Romans 12:8
(8) Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth,
[let him do it] with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that
sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
1 Chronicles 6:48 “Their brethren also the Levites were
appointed unto all manner of service…” They had the ministry gift of helps.
Perhaps
this could include two of the gifts listed in Romans 12:8, “he that giveth” and
“he that showeth mercy.”
Notice
that giving is to be done with simplicity and showing mercy with cheerfulness.
Showing
mercy could be included in visiting and caring for the sick. A cheerful nurse is certainly helpful when
one is sick.
Some
people, we are sure, do not have this ministry.
And as I have said about other things, “it is not their fault.”
But
let us not be led away with the idea that because one has the gift of helps
that one becomes great or greater than one who does not. Gifts are not given to make people
great! Does my right hand boast because
it is not my left hand? My left hand
certainly helps my right hand.
So
it is with the gift of giving. Some
people are rich and it is not their fault.
They inherited what they have from someone else. But we must not look upon those who give
great gifts of money as being greater than those who are poor and unable to
give. The ministry-gift of giving is no
more or less than the ministry-gift of visiting the sick. Remember Jesus said, “It is more blessed to
give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35
(35) I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring
ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how
he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
2 Corinthians 1:24 Helpers of your joy. That
is a ministry gift.
1 Corinthians 16:17-18 I was glad…they refreshed my spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:8 He that planteth and he that watereth are one. Some saints are not leaders but that does not
mean they do not minister.
Romans 16 is filled with the
names of helpers: verse 2 Phebe, verse 3 Pricilla and Aquilla, verse 6 Mary,
verse 9 Urban our helper.
1 Corinthians 12:22 Members of the body
which seem to be more feeble are necessary.
The next ministry-gift here listed is
“Governments”.
Acts 6:3
(3) Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men
of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over
this business.
2 Corinthians 8:20-21
(20) Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this
abundance which is administered by us:
(21) Providing for honest things, not only in the sight
of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
Acts 6:3 It seems to me that the men here chosen were gifted business men,
Organizers of material things. Such are
needed and it has been my experience that such men have been placed in every
local church. It is a God-given ministry to see that business affairs are
conducted honestly in the sight of God and in the sight of men as in 2
Corinthians 8:20-21.
The last ministry gift is
“diversities of tongues”.
Hebrews 2:4
(4) God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and
wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to
his own will?
When
we remember Hebrews 2:4,(“God also
bearing them witness both with signs and wonders and with divers miracles, and
gifts of the Holy Ghost according to His own will.”), then we will not be seeking ministry-gifts
but rather looking to the Lord to give ministry-gifts when and where they are
needed.
According
to 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, any
ministry-gift without love, the fruit of the Spirit, will make one ‘sounding
brass’ or a ‘tinkling cymbal”. It will
make one to be ‘nothing’ and will ‘profit me nothing.’
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
(1) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
and have not charity, I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
(2) And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and
understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so
that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
(3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor],
and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me
nothing.
We
conclude this lesson with the words of John Huss, burnt at the stake
Seek the truth
Listen to the truth
Learn the truth
Love the truth
Speak the truth
Hold the truth
Defend the truth until
death.