Spiritual Gifts (Parts 7 & 8)
As we continue to describe the spiritual gifts, we come to the gift of Administration (KJV= governments). The Greek word is "kubernesis" which is translated "administration" in the more modern translations. This word describes the captain or helmsman of a ship. It has to do with a directional and managerial service or ministry. Persons with this gift have the "extra ability to organize and coordinate people and materials effectively to attain objectives and goals." The noun form of this Greek word is used in Acts 2711 and in Revelation 1817 where it refers to the captain or master of the ship. It is referring to the steering master. That person is likely to count the cost before beginning a project and to have it sufficiently organized to see it through. See Luke 1428-30.
Healings is another gift of the Spirit which is defined as the "extra ability to cure or be cured of ill conditions that hinder the effective ministries in the Body of Christ or individuals." This gift is mentioned in 1Cor. 129, 28. The Greek word is "iama" translated in the KJV "healing" three times. It is "a means of healing, remedy, medicine, or a healing." It means to make whole or cure. This is more than just physical healing of disease and may refer to a much broader healing of the mind, spirit, and inner person. See also Luke 619.
There are other Greek words translated "heal" as well. One of them is the same word that is translated "save." But these are not the words used regarding the spiritual gift.
There is the gift of Tongues and its corresponding gift of the Interpretation of Tongues (1Cor. 1210). We know that there are "tongues of men and of angels." Reading 1Cor. 14 carefully we see that a person may pray in a tongue but s/he cannot even interpret what they are saying (v. 13). It, therefore, appears that these "tongues" were more than just the ability to speak in a foreign language. Nevertheless, Paul forbid speaking in tongues in church unless there was an interpreter and all such speaking had to be done in an orderly manner so that there be no confusion (1Cor. 1433).
There is the gift of Intercessory Prayer which can be defined as the "extra ability to know when, how and for what and for whom to pray and their prayer achieves effective results." While all of us pray, there are people who have a special gift to intercede on behalf of others. They labor in prayers (Col. 412-13). They pray, not for themselves, but for the benefit and blessings to others (Col. 19-12). They write down and remember to pray for others who are having trouble and sorrows. Their prayer is effectual (James 516). They do it without looking for any credit for themselves but on behalf and for the benefit of others.
We know there is a gift of Martyrdom as described by Paul when he wrote, "and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profits me nothing (1Cor 133). While all Christians must stand ready to suffer and even die for their belief in Christ, there are some that can do it in a way that becomes a witness to the minds and hearts of others. Stephen was such a person. He was able to say, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." And when he had said this, he fell asleep (died)" (Acts 754-60). Saul was consenting to his death. But Saul (who later become Paul) probably never got that image of Stephen out of his mind. It haunted him as he wrote these words, "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God" (1Cor. 159).
I can hear his words now. In the Kingdom when they are resurrected, I can hear Paul saying, "I feel so badly about having consented to your death. But I could never get that picture out of my mind. I had never seen or heard anyone be martyred with such grace and with such an impact on us all. I have thought about you thousands of time, especially after my conversion. I know you know I did it in ignorance."
We now come to our next spiritual gift which is Service. We might define this as the extra ability "to identify unmet needs in a task related to God’s work and to make use of available resources to meet them." Another definition would be "the extra ability to place importance on any deed or service that aids the church or individuals without concern for rank, recognition or popularity." See Romans 127 and Acts 61-4.
Service differs from "Helps" or "Mercy" in that it is task oriented. The Greek word for "service" is "diakonia" which is often translated "ministry." It is the word from which we derive our English word "deacon." People who have this gift often have many abilities which they can use to satisfy unmet needs. They see what needs to be done and they pitch in and do it. They often are not in the limelight and don't necessarily seek it.
Another spiritual gift is that of Spirit Music. It is the "extra ability to create or perform music to inspire others to worship and to service to the glory of Christ and the Father." We read, "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also" (1 Corinthians 1415). These are people who love God and are deeply converted, who, when they sing, impart their love of God and the worship of Him to others.
Craftsmanship is not mentioned in the New Testament. But it is in the Old Testament. "Bezalel and Oholiab and every able man in whom the LORD has put ability and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded. And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning" (Ex. 361-3). See also Exodus 3520-35.
Another gift stated plainly is the gift of Miracles. This gift would include the "super ability God gives to certain members of the Body to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature." We see this gift in 1 Cor. 1210, 28. The words used here are "working ("energema" = energy) of miracles" (Grk =dunamis = power). This is the word from which we get dynamite.
Paul wrote, "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power" (Eph. 37) The words in bold here are the same words in the Greek as working of miracles." They are, "energema autos dunamis." The energy of power or the "working of miracles."
A person does not have to struggle hard to know whether s/he has the gift of miracles. This one is plain and abundant. It is so obvious when it alters the ordinary course of nature that one does not have to be in doubt about some one who has it. Presently, I haven't seen this gift much in the Body of Christ.
As with tall gifts, they are to be used to edify the Body of Christ and individual members. As Peter wrote, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 410). A more modern translation reads this way "Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received" (New Revised Standard Version).
May God help you to discover your own spiritual gifts and to employ them in the service of the great Church and individual members.
Healings is another gift of the Spirit which is defined as the "extra ability to cure or be cured of ill conditions that hinder the effective ministries in the Body of Christ or individuals." This gift is mentioned in 1Cor. 129, 28. The Greek word is "iama" translated in the KJV "healing" three times. It is "a means of healing, remedy, medicine, or a healing." It means to make whole or cure. This is more than just physical healing of disease and may refer to a much broader healing of the mind, spirit, and inner person. See also Luke 619.
There are other Greek words translated "heal" as well. One of them is the same word that is translated "save." But these are not the words used regarding the spiritual gift.
There is the gift of Tongues and its corresponding gift of the Interpretation of Tongues (1Cor. 1210). We know that there are "tongues of men and of angels." Reading 1Cor. 14 carefully we see that a person may pray in a tongue but s/he cannot even interpret what they are saying (v. 13). It, therefore, appears that these "tongues" were more than just the ability to speak in a foreign language. Nevertheless, Paul forbid speaking in tongues in church unless there was an interpreter and all such speaking had to be done in an orderly manner so that there be no confusion (1Cor. 1433).
There is the gift of Intercessory Prayer which can be defined as the "extra ability to know when, how and for what and for whom to pray and their prayer achieves effective results." While all of us pray, there are people who have a special gift to intercede on behalf of others. They labor in prayers (Col. 412-13). They pray, not for themselves, but for the benefit and blessings to others (Col. 19-12). They write down and remember to pray for others who are having trouble and sorrows. Their prayer is effectual (James 516). They do it without looking for any credit for themselves but on behalf and for the benefit of others.
We know there is a gift of Martyrdom as described by Paul when he wrote, "and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profits me nothing (1Cor 133). While all Christians must stand ready to suffer and even die for their belief in Christ, there are some that can do it in a way that becomes a witness to the minds and hearts of others. Stephen was such a person. He was able to say, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." And when he had said this, he fell asleep (died)" (Acts 754-60). Saul was consenting to his death. But Saul (who later become Paul) probably never got that image of Stephen out of his mind. It haunted him as he wrote these words, "For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God" (1Cor. 159).
I can hear his words now. In the Kingdom when they are resurrected, I can hear Paul saying, "I feel so badly about having consented to your death. But I could never get that picture out of my mind. I had never seen or heard anyone be martyred with such grace and with such an impact on us all. I have thought about you thousands of time, especially after my conversion. I know you know I did it in ignorance."
We now come to our next spiritual gift which is Service. We might define this as the extra ability "to identify unmet needs in a task related to God’s work and to make use of available resources to meet them." Another definition would be "the extra ability to place importance on any deed or service that aids the church or individuals without concern for rank, recognition or popularity." See Romans 127 and Acts 61-4.
Service differs from "Helps" or "Mercy" in that it is task oriented. The Greek word for "service" is "diakonia" which is often translated "ministry." It is the word from which we derive our English word "deacon." People who have this gift often have many abilities which they can use to satisfy unmet needs. They see what needs to be done and they pitch in and do it. They often are not in the limelight and don't necessarily seek it.
Another spiritual gift is that of Spirit Music. It is the "extra ability to create or perform music to inspire others to worship and to service to the glory of Christ and the Father." We read, "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also" (1 Corinthians 1415). These are people who love God and are deeply converted, who, when they sing, impart their love of God and the worship of Him to others.
Craftsmanship is not mentioned in the New Testament. But it is in the Old Testament. "Bezalel and Oholiab and every able man in whom the LORD has put ability and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded. And Moses called Bezaleel and Aholiab, and every wise hearted man, in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, even every one whose heart stirred him up to come unto the work to do it And they received of Moses all the offering, which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the sanctuary, to make it withal. And they brought yet unto him free offerings every morning" (Ex. 361-3). See also Exodus 3520-35.
Another gift stated plainly is the gift of Miracles. This gift would include the "super ability God gives to certain members of the Body to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature." We see this gift in 1 Cor. 1210, 28. The words used here are "working ("energema" = energy) of miracles" (Grk =dunamis = power). This is the word from which we get dynamite.
Paul wrote, "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power" (Eph. 37) The words in bold here are the same words in the Greek as working of miracles." They are, "energema autos dunamis." The energy of power or the "working of miracles."
A person does not have to struggle hard to know whether s/he has the gift of miracles. This one is plain and abundant. It is so obvious when it alters the ordinary course of nature that one does not have to be in doubt about some one who has it. Presently, I haven't seen this gift much in the Body of Christ.
As with tall gifts, they are to be used to edify the Body of Christ and individual members. As Peter wrote, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 410). A more modern translation reads this way "Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received" (New Revised Standard Version).
May God help you to discover your own spiritual gifts and to employ them in the service of the great Church and individual members.
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