The Church Spiritual Gifts
Historical Perspective Irresponsible Shepherds Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. Ezekiel 34:2-4
The first thing we notice in that passage is that. Shepherds are in trouble because they are not feeding the flock The Scriptures indicate what that feeding would have accomplished.
Historical Perspective Irresponsible Shepherds The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them." Ezekiel 34:2-4,
Historical Perspective Irresponsible Shepherds,.but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock Ezekiel 34:7-10
When a Shepherd is stewarding properly the The weak are strengthened The sick are healed Those that are broken and bound up spiritually are restored and brought back to the Lord
When a Shepherd is stewarding properly the Those that are driven away by the cares of this life are brought back into the fold Those that are lost and have no Hope have the Good News preached to them
Historical Perspective Irresponsible Shepherds therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against the shepherds, I will deliver My flock Ezekiel 34:7-10
Historical Perspective Irresponsible Shepherds When Jesus came He warned everyone about these kind of shepherds
Historical Perspective Irresponsible Shepherds Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (Matt 7.15) Ezekiel 34:7-10
The Ministry of Jesus
Jesus began His Ministry this way. " The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed, To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. " Luke 4:18-19
Immediately He became the Good Shepherd John 10.11
Jesus plainly said. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10.11 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep John 10.12
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. John 10.14 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me John 10.27
Jesus spoke that He going back to the Father but that He would return John 20.17 and Acts 1.11
There was an Old Covenant that Jesus spoke against which also was made obsolete Hebr 8.13
After Jesus died and rose from the dead the Bible indicates that he changed the way people (from the least to the greatest) would come to know Him Hebrews 8.11
" For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, And I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be Hebrews 8.11 My people. Hebrews 8:10-11,.
New Covenant
Paul's message The Ministry of the body of Christ It was no longer just one person but a body of people who would minister
Paul's message I will put My laws into their minds, And I will write them on their hearts. For all will know Me, From leastjust to the It was nothe longer one greatest of but them. person a body of people who would minister
Paul came with a distinct message
And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating in me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them], 1 Cor 2.4
proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating in me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],
What was persuading people was Proof through Paul s message
A closer look at Paul s message
The Ministry of the body of Christ For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; (Romans 1:11) so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, (1Cor 1.7) The Equipping of the Saints
The Ministry of the body of Christ so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Co 1:7 NASB awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Ministry of the body of Christ The return of Jesus John 20.17 and Acts 1.11
1 Co 1:4-6 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you Paul speaks about the testimony of Christ being confirmed in you!
Paul opens with a transition into the gifts. you were enriched in everything (vs4 ).the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you (vs6). so that you come short in no gift (vs7)
you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance(vs4 ). in full power and readiness of speech [to speak of your faith] and complete knowledge and illumination [to give you full insight into its meaning
you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance(vs4 ). Somehow now the Sheep are getting fed!
How Did it Start? to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ s gift. Therefore He says: He When ascended He ascended on high, on high, He led captivity He led captivity captive captive, [He led a And gave gifts to men. train of vanquished foes] and He bestowed gifts on men. Eph 4.8
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: Concerning spiritual Gifts God doesn t want me to be ignorant 1 Cor 12.1
Spiritual gifts He bestowed gifts on men Eph 4.8
New Revelation and Insight Preached
Now there are distinctive varieties and distributions of endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit) and they vary, but the [Holy] Spirit remains the same. 1Corinthinians 12.4
Gifts Vary 1Corinthinians 12.4
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: The Father gave diversities of gifts distinctive gifts of grace The Son gave The different ministries No longer the one man Shepard Holy Spirit: diversities of activities workings by which they are accomplished
distinctive gifts of grace different ways of serving God workings by which they are accomplished
endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, workings by which they are accomplished may vary
Gifts from God the Father Endowments Gifts operating through the office ministries 1. prophecy 2. ministry 3. teaching 4. Exhortation 5. Giving 6. Rules or Leads 7. He that shows mercy Romans 12.6
Gifts from The Son of God These Endowment Gifts seem to be working through these kind of people 1. Apostles 2. Prophets 3. Evangelist 4. Pastors 5. Teachers Eph 4
Gifts from the Holy Spirit 1. word of wisdom 2. word of knowledge 3. faith 4. gifts of healings 5. working of miracles 6. prophecy 7. discerning of spirits 8. different kinds of tongues, 9. interpretation of tongues Endowment Gifts operating in the Church Body So that there is no longer deception from false leaders 1 Co 12:11
A Look at integrating these endowments into the Body through these office roles
For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, Eph 4 and Col 1.28
Seems to be alluding to the shepherds that fed themselves and did not feed [HIS]My flock
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (Matt 7.15)
The Prophetic
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. Referring to one of those operating in the office roles In this case the Prophet
In other words, No More shepherds that feed themselves and not the flock! The Body now Judges those within the Church
1 Corinthians 14.40 Church Order Let all things be done decently and in order.
How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12.6
Paul wants us to use the Gifts but why?
FOR THE EQUIPPING FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY UNTIL WE COME TO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST EPH 4:12
But in using the gifts there should be no schism within the church body
that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.
Lets Look at how schism occurs
Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again. Mt 20:17-19
Then the mother of Zebedee s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, What do you wish? She said to Him, Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
They said to Him, We are able. So He said to them, You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.
And when when the the ten ten heard heard it, it, they they were greatly were greatly displeased displeased with the with two the brothers. two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; Mt 20:20-28
Paul s Message What are we to do? GOD, WHO HAS RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, AND HAS GIVEN US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION 2 CORINTHIANS 5.18
To Accomplish the ministry of reconciliation For I long to see you, that may impart to you some spiritual gift so that you may be ESTABLISHED, In Christ
Closing