Chapter 2
Seek Spiritual Giftedness
Paul
commands us to seek spiritual gifts but what spiritual gifts are we to seek
after?
Paul lists twelve gifts in, (1 Cor 12:7-12), five in (Eph 4:11), and a few more
in, (Rom 12:6-8). As I read scripture, I am convinced
there are many more gifts than Paul acknowledges in these few passage. Here is a
list of some of the gifts of the spirit that I found in my study of scripture.
We
are encouraged to earnestly seek after such gifts and it helps us to know what
they are. The Spiritual gifts and offices that I
am choosing to listing are generally categorized in the following scripture
passages, (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:7-18,28,29,30; 14:5,6,15,26; Eph 4:11; 1 Tim
3:1-13; 5:16-20; Tit 1:5-16; 2 Pet 4:9,10; 5:1-4).
- Bishop/Overseer - An elder who is
over a specific city or region gives oversight shepherds the pastors. A bishop is not in control but exerts leadership through
relationship and accountability in servant style leadership by example, he has
can give input, correction and guidance, however the shepherd determines how his
church is run not the bishop (1 Cor 11:13,16), each church is autonomous, the
ministers are accountable to God, the bible, and then a bishop in doctrine and
practice. The Bishop can not intervene in any situation without consent from the
pastor however advice is a requirement, unless the shepherd, presbyter or any
other minister is abusing members of the church and is involved in clearly
biblical heresy, not in heresy according to your theology. In all decisions the
Bishop or any other leader must pray and hear Gods voice before they make a
decision. A Bishop must be a spiritual person who has their family in order, a
servant who leads by example, and is in full time ministry. An Archbishop is
similar to a superintendent. An Archbishop is a bishop of the bishops. His only
function is the same as the Bishop to the local churches to keep them networked
and accountable. He is without the ability to impose his will on another
bishops, shepherd, presbyter, clergy person, etc... He is equal to all as a
servant to the other bishops to keep them accountable. An Archbishop is not
anything more that another minister watching over those in charge of the church.
1 Tim 3:1-7; Tit 1:5-16, 1 Pet 5:1-4.
- Shepherd/Pastor - Is one who
guides, leads, directs, disciples, trains, equips, sends and protects. A
shepherd preaches and he is the head over the plurality of Elders and an autonomous NT
church. The ministers however are accountable to those over them in their
district, their local city pastors, their presbyters, and the Body of Christ.
Shepherds must be a spiritual person who has there family in order, and is in
full time ministry, 1 Tim 4:14; 1 Pet 5:2.
- Elders - has nothing to
do with age in physical years but in spiritual maturity. The disciples were
called Elders and they were only 30-40 years old. The Presbytery of each
autonomous local church is a plurality of Eldership which may serve in function
as a board having a secretary, a treasurer, and a president so that the church
can meet the government standards. Their sole function is to hear from God and
obey along with the rest of the church. However in actual function the church
will not act as an advisory board except in that they will keep the pastor
accountable, inform him of what God has showed them, and to make any decisions
without hearing from God first and foremost and all goals will be solely to
accomplish our God given task; the equipping of the church and the
evangelization of every lost person on the earth. There is a plurality of
leadership however the shepherd. The church is a community and must operate as
such not as a monarchy. An elder can be a overseer, shepherd, presbyter,
missionary, a clergy person, or a traveling clergy person, an elder must be a
spiritual person who has there family in order, a servant who leads by example,
and is in full time ministry, Gods call is irrevocable therefore voting is not a
valid means of determining ones position or call only God confirming the call in
there heart and the fellow members hearts. Acts 14:26; 15:2,4,6,12,13,22;
20:17,28; 21:8; 1 Pet 5:1-4; 1 Tim 4:14; 5:16-20; 2 Tim 4:5; Tit 1:5-16; Eph
4:11; 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:1.
- Deacons - Ministry of
helps, table waiter, must be a spiritual person who has there family in order,
and is in full time ministry, Acts 6:1-7; 1 Tim 3:8-13.
- Apostle – Can be a church
planter, minister to ministers, a person who corrects false doctrine, is part of
the church founding team, and may help cast vision. Gods call is without
repentance so we have no authority to tell a man whether he can be called a
prophet however the bible tells us that by our fruit we will know all me. We
must test all ministries according to there fruit and test to see if they be in
the faith. An apostle can be a overseer, shepherd, presbyter, elder, missionary,
a clergy person, or a traveling minister, must be a spiritual person who has
there family in order, a servant who leads by example, and is in full time
ministry, Matt 10:2; Luke 11:49; Acts 1:13,26; 11:1; 14:14; 15:2,4,6,12,13,22;
Rom 16:7; 1 Cor 12:28; 15:5-9; 2 Cor 12:12; Eph 2:20; 3:5; 4:11; Heb 3:1; 1 Pet
5:1-4, Rev 18:20.
- Prophet - Is one who
speaks forth the word of God, one who listens to God, gives prophetic direction,
and is vital in planting and establishing churches. A Prophet can be a overseer,
shepherd, presbyter, elder, missionary, a clergy man, or a traveling minister,
must be a spiritual person who has there family in order, a servant who leads by
example, and is in full time ministry, Luke 11:49; Acts 15:32; 21:8-11; Eph
2:20; 3:5; 4:13; Rom 12:8; 1 Cor 11:5; 12:10,28; Joel 2:28; Rev 18:20.
- Preacher - A preacher is
one who preaches the word of God with authority, knowledge, wisdom, and the
power of the Holy Ghost. A preacher can be a overseer, shepherd, presbyter,
elder, missionary, a clergy person, or a traveling minister, must be a spiritual
person who has there family in order, a servant who leads by example, and is in
full time ministry, Eph 4:11.
- Evangelist - a preacher
aimed at reviving the church and saving the lost, and/or a preacher involved
with street and house to house evangelism or one who is involved with networking
churches to evangelize. An evangelist can be a overseer, shepherd, elder,
missionary, or a traveling minister, must be a spiritual person who has there
family in order, a servant who leads by example, and is in full time ministry,
Eph 4:13.
- Teacher - Is one gifted
in teaching the scripture, can be a overseer, shepherd, presbyter, elder,
missionary, a clergy person, or a traveling minister, must be a spiritual person
who has there family in order, a servant who leads by example, and is in full
time ministry, Eph 4:11; Acts 6:2-7.
- Worship leader/Musician - Is one who
leads us into the presence of God through heart felt, spirit lead worship. A
worship leader can be a overseer, shepherd, presbyter, elder, missionary, a
clergy person, or a traveling minister, must be a spiritual person who has there
family in order, a servant who leads by example, and is in full time ministry, 1
Cor 14:26; Eph 5:19; Mark 12:36; 1 Sam 10:5-13; Psa 149.
- Missionary - Must be a
spiritual person who has there family in order, a servant who leads by example,
and is in full time ministry, 1 Cor 9:19-23.
- Leadership - Can be a
overseer, shepherd, presbyter, elder, missionary, a clergy person, or a
traveling minister, must be a spiritual person who has there family in order, a
servant who leads by example, and is in full time ministry, Hebrews 13:7; Judges
3:10; Ex 18:13-16.
- Administration - Can be a
overseer, shepherd, presbyter in a local church, a missionary, a clergy person,
or a traveling minister, must be a spiritual person who has there family in
order, a servant who leads by example, and is in full time ministry, Acts
12:12-21.
- Discernment Ministry - Must talk to
God regularly, must live holy and in the spirit, must be a spiritual person who
has there family in order, a servant who leads by example, and is in full time
lay or clerical ministry position, Acts 5:3-6; 16:16-18.
- Exhortation - One who exhorts
or lifts up through be the outstretched hand of Christ to a needy person, Rom
12:8.
- Wisdom - is the
supernatural know how in any given situation, James 3:13-17; 1:5; Pro 1.
- Serving - Is a divine
grace of God in a person to minister to another persons needs Rom 12:7.
- Helps - Is the ministry
of ministering to those who need assistance, Acts 6:2-4.
- Giving - Is a grace or a
supernatural enablement to give of your time, money, and/or resources to provide
for the needy, Rom 12:8; 2 Cor 8:1-5; 9:11-13.
- Mercy - Is a grace of
burden bearing, Rom 12:8 Luke 10:30-37.
- Hospitality - Is a grace to
be hospitable to those who are inhospitable, 1 Pet 4:10,11; Gen 18:1-15.
- Craftsmanship - Is a grace to
be able to make things with the resources God has given you that you normally
would not be able to do, Ex 28:3,4.
- Healing - Is a grace to
apply the healing balm of Jesus blood to a physical, mental or spiritual injury,
Mark 16:15-20; 1 Cor 12:9; Luke 9:1-2; James 15:13-16.
- Martyrdom - Is a
supernatural grace to die for Jesus, 1 Pet 4:12,13; Acts 7:59,60: 2 Tim 4:6-8.
- Celibacy - Is a grace to
never marry or have intimate relations with any women, Matt 19:10; 1 Cor
7:7-9,27; 1 Tim 4:3; Rev 14:4.
- Revelation - Is Gods
prophetic enablement allowing you to see things that you normally would not see,
1 Cor 14:6,26,30; Rev 1:1; Ezek 8:1-4.
- Discerning of spirits - Is grace of
Gods spirit enabling you to see into the spiritual realm or to sense the
spiritual world and what is of God, the flesh or the devil, it is or can be
apart of the gift of discernment. 1 Cor 12:10.
- Love - Is Gods grace
to love anyone like Jesus does no matter what there circumstance or what they
have done to you, Rom 12:9; 1 Cor 13; Gal 5:22.
- Words of wisdom - Are
supernaturally given words spoken into someone’s life bringing Gods wisdom and
solutions into a situation, 1 Cor 12:8.
- Words of knowledge - Is Gods
supernatural gifting given to bring a word of knowledge concerning a specified
situation, 1 Cor 12:8.
- Faith - Is Gods
supernatural enablement to conquer the enemy through faith pulling on the
miraculous power of God inviting a mighty power encounter with the supernatural,
1 Cor 12:9.
- Working of Miracles - Is a God given
grace to work miraculous powers bringing the tangible touch of God into any
given situation bringing the salvation and conviction of sinners, 1 Cor 12:10.
- Tongues - Are Gods
supernatural enablement to speak in unknown languages, 1 Cor 12:10, 28-31;
13:1-3; 14:2, 4-22,26-32,39; Acts 2:1-17; Mark 16:17; Is 28:11.
- Interpretations of tongues - Are Gods grace
to interpret those languages, 1 Cor 12:10; 14:26.
- Visions - Are Gods grace
enabling you to see into the supernatural, Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17.
- Dreams - Are a grace
from God to bring purpose to a situation, Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17; Gen 37:5-9.
- Interpretations of dreams - The God given
ability to interpret God given dreams, Gen 40:8; 41:15,16,28,38.
- Prophetic mime - Is Gods
supernatural enablement to prophetically act out an actual word of direction,
Acts 21:10; Ezek 4:4-7; Amos 3:8; Micah 1:8; Isa 40:31.
There are
more gifts than I have noted here; in the word of God, that are not limited to
the word of God. All gifts and offices must line up with word of God and the
commission of the church. Paul wants us to first chase down love, and then seek
after all the gifts of the spirit, especially the prophetic gifts 12:31;
14:38,39. Paul wants us to seek to prophesy more than we operate in any other
gift. Let us look at what the prophetic gift is.
Chapter 3
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