Gifts:
God has given a variety of gifts in the church that can be either “speaking” or “serving”
gifts. (1 Pt 4:10-11). As Christians grow, it will become more obvious to themselves
and those around in what ways they are gifted by God. It’s wonderful to know that
we are specifically and uniquely gifted and can seek to follow the desires that God
puts on our hearts to serve others. In this way the body will be built up.
Much needs clarified and corrected today in the “Gifts” focused movements regarding
the use of tongues/languages, healing, and claims to speak an infallible “word of
knowledge” from God. Apostles, in the N.T. limited sense, do not exist today since
no one meets the qualifications of Acts 1:21-22 and 2 Cor 12:12. In the general sense,
apostles, or “sent ones” exist today as church planters. There are also no Prophets
speaking inspired revelation because the Word of God is complete. Our focus needs
to be on God’s Word of Truth and on living His love out each day.
Today, as then, God gives insight to men who then fallibly “prophecy” - speaking
for others “strengthening, encouragement and comfort” (1 Cor 14:3). It is fallible
because it has to be weighed (1 Cor 14:29 – this word in other places is translated
doubt and criticize which would not have been applied to infallible revelation);
therefore, it must be tested (1 Thess 5:20-21). Paul in 1 Cor 13:12 explained that
he had been fully and completely known by God (also see 1 Cor 8:3 & Gal 4:9). He
also explained that “then” only in the time of the perfection would he know as fully
as God had fully known him. The only time anyone could know as fully as God has
already known them is in eternity. This is most likely when all the saints are presented
perfect in Christ (Col 1:28), Christ does away (katargeo – 1 Cor 13:8,11 15:24-26)
with all dominion and power and death, we are clothed with an imperishable body,
and placed in a perfect new heaven and earth. Outside of the gifting of Apostles
and the infallible prophecy of Prophets, the rest of the gifts are given to the church
“as the Holy Spirit determines” (1 Cor 12:11; Gal 3:2, 5). I praise His Wonderful
Name that while on this earth I, along with all the men of the church, can follow
Paul’s command to zealously seek to speak what Christ lays on my heart through His
Word (Col 3:16) to build up His Church. (1 Cor 14:1, 3, 24, 26, 31, 39)
In 1 Cor 12-14, Paul magnifies the excellency and necessity of love. God’s love is
to permeate our being as we live it and express our gifts through it so that others
are edified. 1 Cor 14 has 19 imperative verbs, which is more than any other chapter
Paul wrote anywhere. Paul calls across time and cultures to “all who in every place
call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1:2) to pay much attention to what
is to be consistently practiced by “all the churches of the saints” (14:33b) throughout
the church age. He begins and ends the chapter with the command to “earnestly desire
to prophecy” (14:1, 39). The multi-cultural Corinthian women heeded that in their
daily life (1 Cor 11:2, 5) and rightly refrained in the Lord’s day gathering (14:33-38).
The brothers eagerly followed Paul’s command, so much so that in the weekly gathering
of believers, “each one” had something to share (14:26, 24), and so needed this reminding
to:
1) be Spirit led (12:3) – so while what is spoken is fallible, it is truly supernatural
since the Holy Spirit gives insight, wisdom, and stirs the heart in what to say.
2) make sure it would lead to everyone’s edification (14:26-28, 31) as they
suggested a song or “taught and warned one another” from God’s Word richly indwelling
them (Col 3:16),
3) have no one person dominate the meeting, but definitely have at least two
or three gifted men of God exhort and instruct the body (14:29, 19),
4) lovingly and soberly “weigh” what these men said (14:29) and to “test everything”
so that they would “hold on to that which is good” and “avoid every kind of evil”
(1 Thess 5:20-21).
5) instead of someone choreographing the meeting, for all to be courteous and
sensitive to the Spirit’s leading as all of them took their turn to speak (14:30-31).
The more fathers grow spiritually from God’s Word, the more they will be able to
first love and nourish their wives (Eph 5:26) and children each day (Gen 18:19; Ps
78:1-7; Deut 6:6-7; Eph 6:4), which will then overflow into the lives of those around
them (Heb 2:12-13; Col 3:12-14; 1 Pet 1:22 & 3:8; Heb 10:24), climaxing in building
up the body of Christ in the weekly gathering (Heb 10;25).
This also happens best in an environment where there is biblical eldership. God
gifts (Eph 4:7, 11) the church with a plurality of elders (Acts 14:23) to pastor
(Acts 20:28) as co-equal brothers among the flock. They lead not with titles (Mt
23:8-12) but by being an example and by aptly (1 Tm 3:2; Titus 1:9) teaching publicly
and from house to house (Acts 20:19-20) through heart-level relationships encouraging
and commanding all to follow Christ and His Word alone as the only Authority over
them. (1 Pt 5:4) May God “gift” the church with humble leaders (Eph 4:7,11) and a
vision for maturity. There is so much to say here to give a full vision and to
clarify where there are many misconceptions. So, until I can get something out more
thorough, please check out: http://www.soulcare.org/Church/Strauch_Eldership.htm
Finally, “pursue love and eagerly desire ... to prophesy. For... everyone who prophesies
speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.” (1 Cor 14:1,
3) “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.” Brothers,
speak! “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that
in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be glory and power
forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Pet 4:10-11