THE GIVER OF GIFTS CALLS
By Segun Ajayi
Ephesians 4:4-16 “There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)It was he, who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work”(NIV).
Praise God, the Lord Jesus called us all into one body by His Spirit having received gifts for the benefit of the body. By the same calling, He endows grace unto men for service. We want to look at the purpose of the ministry gifts. There is a definite conviction in my heart that the Lord is still calling men and women into His service and will use them having endowed various gifts for effective service of those He calls.
What is the purpose of the ministry gifts?
1. To prepare God’s people for the work of service
God that gave out gifts to men did not do this so that men and women can flaunt themselves around that they are this or that (Pastor, Apostle, Evangelist etc.) but He is expecting men and women to use these gifts to prepare His body to be effectual in serving Him.
The work of preparing God’s people starts at the time anyone is born into the family of God. God’s intention is that every man and woman will become effective workmen and women serving Him and bringing glory to Him. God is giving instruction to everyone born into the kingdom of God, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' Matt 21:28b (NIV).
The first purpose of the ministry gifts is to set men on the part of usefulness by preparing them with everything they need to be effective serving in the vineyard. Use the gifts accordingly. Breed workers in the vineyard; breed men and women that will discover God’s purpose for their lives in the ministry and cause the work of God to go unhindered.
2. To build the body of Christ
When everyone that God give gifts to, use this ministry gifts to prepare men and women for service, the body of Christ will continually grow. I begin to look at a mathematical progression of everyman breeding men like themselves and the astronomical growth we should expect in the body. Alas, a lot of our men of God would not want their flock to discover what God have in stock for them and what they can be in the hands of a mighty God, the giver of gifts. They don’t want their men and women to become ministers like them for fear that they lose their flock and their authority over them. Remember, despite the fact that Christ sent out His disciple out after giving them an idea what His father sent Him to do and He gave them authority to perform miracles, they still came back to Him and they were subject to Him.
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ….The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."” Luke 10:1, 17(NIV)
Let the body of Christ grow, do not worry about ministries springing up right and left of your own, God that called you is a God of geometric progression and He is able to bring many to your fold. As men become like you in ministry you should become more fulfilled having caused a tremendous growth to the body. As ministries spring up as a result of men and women that you are breeding more labourers are being sent into the plenteous harvest. The Kingdom of God is thus growing. Breed others like yourself. Teach men to become useful in the hands of God and anoint them for service.
3. That we should mature from infancy
All fathers & mothers all over the world desire that their children should grow from infancy and become adults like them, able to take their own decision and be responsible.
The desire of the giver of the gifts, the head of the Church, is to make out of every believer men and women that can grow into maturity that will not be susceptible to the cunning craftiness of the enemy and can take decision and responsibility.
In my study I discover that this maturity will not come to us till our faith takes root in the Son of God, Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished for His body by His death. A lot of time, this seems elusive because the body of Christ as diverse as we are we have not agreed that we are only justified by faith, not by any institution we have set up and the standards and laws we put up in such institution. Men are then entrapped in the institutions rather than acknowledging the finished work of Jesus Christ that brought justification. Until, the body of Christ comes to terms with what Jesus Christ has achieved, men will never come to maturity and their faith can be swerved by men.
Also maturity cannot come until men begin to seek God, know Him and what He has for them in His word. The scripture says my people perish for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Hence many depart from the knowledge of God and begin to run after men and after strange signs and wonders, which God can accomplish in their lives and through them without the help of any man.
When we become mature as a result of what the gifts have been used to accomplished, we would be able to demonstrate the same unction and anointing as Jesus Christ demonstrated, coming to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
It seems that the reasons why the Church is not experiencing the great work that Jesus Christ did is because the ministry gifts have not been used as they ought to be used to bring the Church from infancy to maturity. We will soon see a greater manifestation of God’s power in our generation when the ministry gifts as endowed by the giver of the gifts are put to the right use and not for self aggrandizement and show-man ship as we have seen in most circles.
Note also that when we come into maturity, the believers will not be easily carried away by any cunning craftiness of any man. The devil knows we are in the end-time and if we don’t arise and be what God wants us to be, so many people will be deceived and will be carried away by the evil wind of the end-time. “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons”. 1 Tim 4:1 (NIV)
4. That we be able to grow unto Him in love and be fitted together to supply what is needed in the Church
When the ministry gifts given are put to use in the Church as God desires, we will definitely grow together in the Lord. The Church will begin to live together in harmony; there will be cessations of every form of strife and schisms as have characterized our settings. We will no longer struggle with one another over positions and authority since we will all look up to the Lord, the giver of these gifts.
The Apostles will do his work, the Evangelists will function accordingly, the Prophets will function, the Pastors will take care of the flock and the Teachers will be allowed to teach and will teach undisturbed. Every man will be made to do exactly what he or she is expected and gifted to do in the body to supply what exactly will make the body of Christ to be what God wanted it to be, a perfect system working harmoniously.
When God placed you in the body of Christ, He didn't do it without purpose. God has a plan to use you to minister to others. Now, don't be frightened about this. If God chooses you for a ministry, He will give you the tools to perform that ministry. We call these tools "ministry gifts."
Each of us has to discover our ministry gifts. Fortunately, this isn't hard, if we listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to our hearts. The problem is that sometimes out of fear or pride, we try to adopt a gift or ministry which God never intended for us to have. Sometimes we will even be pressured by well meaning people into a particular ministry and end up regretting it. What we need to do is follow the leading of God in this matter and not the leading of man. Here are some tips for discovering your own ministry gifts.
1. Look at what you are already doing without thinking. Many times you may already be operating in a ministry gift without being aware of it. For instance, do you find yourself being able to share your testimony with virtual strangers with ease and they accept the Lord when you do, then you may have a gift of evangelism. So, you may already have a ministry without knowing it.
2. Learn about the Gifts and Ministries of the Spirit. Often times when people learn about the ministry gifts, they will be astonished and say, "You mean that is a ministry gift? I've always felt led to minister in that manner, but I didn't know it was that important." As you learn more about the gifts you may discover that you are already operating in them, but you also gain an understanding of each gift as being awesome and wonderful. To help you learn about the ministry gifts, you have a brief listing of some found in the Bible along with descriptions of each already discussed in this edition of the magazine.
3. Pray for the Lord to show you your gifts.
The Bible says that if we lack wisdom we are to ask of God. Well, if you need guidance in understanding your gift, God is there to give it. If you sincerely want to be used of God, he will show you what He has planned for you.
4. See what "feels" right. This is a bit hard to explain, but if you are walking in the spirit, certain ministry gifts will feel "right" or "appropriate" for you. Someone mentions something like a need for teachers and something in your spirit will say, "Yes, that's exactly where I need to be."
Please note the following:
Methods of the call:
1Thessalonians. 1:5; 1Corinthians4: 20)
5. A man's gift will make room for him, Proverbs 18:16
6. Higher offices do not receive any more reward; there is just greater responsibility that goes with the office. God
rewards faithfulness, not offices.
consecration, submitting to the will of God, and study. (2 Tim. 2:15)
2. Preparation time is not lost time
3. Getting out too soon can cause hurt to the individual as well as to the Body of Christ. (1 Tim. 3:6-7)
4. Most people do not start out where they will end up. Do what your hand finds to do. This is preparation and part of the
training and will give one experience.
5. The growth and developing of the office is progressive.
6. Let God make you the minister He wants you to be. Take time to wait on God.
7. Realize the call, be faithful to work for God wherever you are, and let God promote you. Stay open to God and flow in the direction He has for your life.
8. Do not intrude in the wrong office; can cost you your life and ministry.
9. Do what your hands find to do. (Ecclesiastes. 9:10; Col. 3:23)
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By Segun Ajayi
Ephesians 4:4-16 “There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men."(What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)It was he, who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work”(NIV).
Praise God, the Lord Jesus called us all into one body by His Spirit having received gifts for the benefit of the body. By the same calling, He endows grace unto men for service. We want to look at the purpose of the ministry gifts. There is a definite conviction in my heart that the Lord is still calling men and women into His service and will use them having endowed various gifts for effective service of those He calls.
What is the purpose of the ministry gifts?
1. To prepare God’s people for the work of service
God that gave out gifts to men did not do this so that men and women can flaunt themselves around that they are this or that (Pastor, Apostle, Evangelist etc.) but He is expecting men and women to use these gifts to prepare His body to be effectual in serving Him.
The work of preparing God’s people starts at the time anyone is born into the family of God. God’s intention is that every man and woman will become effective workmen and women serving Him and bringing glory to Him. God is giving instruction to everyone born into the kingdom of God, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' Matt 21:28b (NIV).
The first purpose of the ministry gifts is to set men on the part of usefulness by preparing them with everything they need to be effective serving in the vineyard. Use the gifts accordingly. Breed workers in the vineyard; breed men and women that will discover God’s purpose for their lives in the ministry and cause the work of God to go unhindered.
2. To build the body of Christ
When everyone that God give gifts to, use this ministry gifts to prepare men and women for service, the body of Christ will continually grow. I begin to look at a mathematical progression of everyman breeding men like themselves and the astronomical growth we should expect in the body. Alas, a lot of our men of God would not want their flock to discover what God have in stock for them and what they can be in the hands of a mighty God, the giver of gifts. They don’t want their men and women to become ministers like them for fear that they lose their flock and their authority over them. Remember, despite the fact that Christ sent out His disciple out after giving them an idea what His father sent Him to do and He gave them authority to perform miracles, they still came back to Him and they were subject to Him.
“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ….The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."” Luke 10:1, 17(NIV)
Let the body of Christ grow, do not worry about ministries springing up right and left of your own, God that called you is a God of geometric progression and He is able to bring many to your fold. As men become like you in ministry you should become more fulfilled having caused a tremendous growth to the body. As ministries spring up as a result of men and women that you are breeding more labourers are being sent into the plenteous harvest. The Kingdom of God is thus growing. Breed others like yourself. Teach men to become useful in the hands of God and anoint them for service.
3. That we should mature from infancy
All fathers & mothers all over the world desire that their children should grow from infancy and become adults like them, able to take their own decision and be responsible.
The desire of the giver of the gifts, the head of the Church, is to make out of every believer men and women that can grow into maturity that will not be susceptible to the cunning craftiness of the enemy and can take decision and responsibility.
In my study I discover that this maturity will not come to us till our faith takes root in the Son of God, Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished for His body by His death. A lot of time, this seems elusive because the body of Christ as diverse as we are we have not agreed that we are only justified by faith, not by any institution we have set up and the standards and laws we put up in such institution. Men are then entrapped in the institutions rather than acknowledging the finished work of Jesus Christ that brought justification. Until, the body of Christ comes to terms with what Jesus Christ has achieved, men will never come to maturity and their faith can be swerved by men.
Also maturity cannot come until men begin to seek God, know Him and what He has for them in His word. The scripture says my people perish for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Hence many depart from the knowledge of God and begin to run after men and after strange signs and wonders, which God can accomplish in their lives and through them without the help of any man.
When we become mature as a result of what the gifts have been used to accomplished, we would be able to demonstrate the same unction and anointing as Jesus Christ demonstrated, coming to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
It seems that the reasons why the Church is not experiencing the great work that Jesus Christ did is because the ministry gifts have not been used as they ought to be used to bring the Church from infancy to maturity. We will soon see a greater manifestation of God’s power in our generation when the ministry gifts as endowed by the giver of the gifts are put to the right use and not for self aggrandizement and show-man ship as we have seen in most circles.
Note also that when we come into maturity, the believers will not be easily carried away by any cunning craftiness of any man. The devil knows we are in the end-time and if we don’t arise and be what God wants us to be, so many people will be deceived and will be carried away by the evil wind of the end-time. “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons”. 1 Tim 4:1 (NIV)
4. That we be able to grow unto Him in love and be fitted together to supply what is needed in the Church
When the ministry gifts given are put to use in the Church as God desires, we will definitely grow together in the Lord. The Church will begin to live together in harmony; there will be cessations of every form of strife and schisms as have characterized our settings. We will no longer struggle with one another over positions and authority since we will all look up to the Lord, the giver of these gifts.
The Apostles will do his work, the Evangelists will function accordingly, the Prophets will function, the Pastors will take care of the flock and the Teachers will be allowed to teach and will teach undisturbed. Every man will be made to do exactly what he or she is expected and gifted to do in the body to supply what exactly will make the body of Christ to be what God wanted it to be, a perfect system working harmoniously.
When God placed you in the body of Christ, He didn't do it without purpose. God has a plan to use you to minister to others. Now, don't be frightened about this. If God chooses you for a ministry, He will give you the tools to perform that ministry. We call these tools "ministry gifts."
Each of us has to discover our ministry gifts. Fortunately, this isn't hard, if we listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to our hearts. The problem is that sometimes out of fear or pride, we try to adopt a gift or ministry which God never intended for us to have. Sometimes we will even be pressured by well meaning people into a particular ministry and end up regretting it. What we need to do is follow the leading of God in this matter and not the leading of man. Here are some tips for discovering your own ministry gifts.
1. Look at what you are already doing without thinking. Many times you may already be operating in a ministry gift without being aware of it. For instance, do you find yourself being able to share your testimony with virtual strangers with ease and they accept the Lord when you do, then you may have a gift of evangelism. So, you may already have a ministry without knowing it.
2. Learn about the Gifts and Ministries of the Spirit. Often times when people learn about the ministry gifts, they will be astonished and say, "You mean that is a ministry gift? I've always felt led to minister in that manner, but I didn't know it was that important." As you learn more about the gifts you may discover that you are already operating in them, but you also gain an understanding of each gift as being awesome and wonderful. To help you learn about the ministry gifts, you have a brief listing of some found in the Bible along with descriptions of each already discussed in this edition of the magazine.
3. Pray for the Lord to show you your gifts.
The Bible says that if we lack wisdom we are to ask of God. Well, if you need guidance in understanding your gift, God is there to give it. If you sincerely want to be used of God, he will show you what He has planned for you.
4. See what "feels" right. This is a bit hard to explain, but if you are walking in the spirit, certain ministry gifts will feel "right" or "appropriate" for you. Someone mentions something like a need for teachers and something in your spirit will say, "Yes, that's exactly where I need to be."
Please note the following:
- There is a divine call
- You can recognize a divine call:
Methods of the call:
- May be dramatic as was Paul's experience on the road to Damascus, Acts 9.
- May come by inward witness or knowing
- Prophecy does not call a person, but should only confirm what you already know in your spirit
- The method of the call is not important, it will vary with individuals and the way that God deals with them; Scripture has nothing to say on the way a person is called, but obedience to the call is important.
- An anointing evidences a divine call
- Whom God calls, He equips
- He gives supernatural equipment to do the job. This is grace - God’s power and ability.
- Different offices function differently and need different types of grace. (see Eph. 4:7; Rom.1:5; 1Corinthians 3:10). There are also different measures of grace.
- Every Christian can have spiritual gifts operating through them, but ministers will be equipped to minister regularly with those gifts necessary to stand in that office.
1Thessalonians. 1:5; 1Corinthians4: 20)
5. A man's gift will make room for him, Proverbs 18:16
6. Higher offices do not receive any more reward; there is just greater responsibility that goes with the office. God
rewards faithfulness, not offices.
- You must be faithful
consecration, submitting to the will of God, and study. (2 Tim. 2:15)
2. Preparation time is not lost time
3. Getting out too soon can cause hurt to the individual as well as to the Body of Christ. (1 Tim. 3:6-7)
4. Most people do not start out where they will end up. Do what your hand finds to do. This is preparation and part of the
training and will give one experience.
5. The growth and developing of the office is progressive.
6. Let God make you the minister He wants you to be. Take time to wait on God.
7. Realize the call, be faithful to work for God wherever you are, and let God promote you. Stay open to God and flow in the direction He has for your life.
8. Do not intrude in the wrong office; can cost you your life and ministry.
9. Do what your hands find to do. (Ecclesiastes. 9:10; Col. 3:23)
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