Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries |
The New Testament analogy of the Old Testament Fish Gate as it relates to the spiritual gifts of the New Testament, Part 3.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Point 1. The Source of Spiritual Gifts which involves All Three Members of the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Point 2. Definition and Description.
Point 3. There Are Two Categories of Spiritual Gifts Found in the Bible. Temporary spiritual gifts and permanent spiritual gifts.
Point 4. The Spiritual Gifts Found in the New Testament.
Point 5. Distinctions and function of each Spiritual Gift.
A distinction and special function of each spiritual gift needs to be understood so that every believer can find or discover his place in the Church or the body of Christ concerning the operation of his spiritual gift.
This was a temporary gift that in EPH 2:20 was used to help the apostles in their writings of scripture and preaching and teaching on eschatology which is the doctrine of the end of the world or of mankind.
Eschatology deals with the ultimate or final things, such as death, the destiny of humanity, the Second Coming, or the Last Judgment.
The word for service Greek noun diakonia is translated “ministry” in the KJV; or “service” in better modern translations.
Some confusion arises because diakonia resembles diakonos, which though transliterated “deacon,” actually refers to the gift of administrative leadership.
Diakonia is a spiritual gift of service given to both men and women.
Diakonos is an office in the local church, held by a man serving on the deacon board.
This gift, diakonia, functions in the administration of the local church.
It means ministry or service; it does not refer to the office of deacon in the local church.
Those who have this spiritual gift serve on committees and in specific administrative functions in the local church, on mission boards, in Christian service organizations.
No woman has the gift of pastor-teacher, the gift of evangelism, but they can have this gift according to GAL 3:26-28.
Diakonia means a ministry or a service. It can refer to rendering financial help to others as in ACT 11:29; 2CO 9:12-13, ROM 15:31.
It can refer to personal help rendered to individuals in leadership positions, ACT 19:22; ROM 16:1-2.
It is a special ability that God gives to certain members of the body of Christ to identify the unmentioned needs involved in the local assembly and to do something about it.
During war years when a soldier joins the army we say of him that he has gone into “the service.”
In the same fashion, when a young man is called to the ministry, people commonly say that he has gone into “full time” service.”
In spite of all that was against them, they were empowered to be God’s representatives in speech and ministry.
It is a divine ministry and must have a divine equipment.
Some men who have little natural ability have been endowed spiritually with abilities so far beyond their natural inclinations that they become spiritual giants.
Spiritual gifts are related to a man’s spiritual nature. Since this nature is dead before salvation, spiritual gifts are bestowed upon men only after they are saved.
These gifts may be referred to as “grace gifts” (charisma) which are in no way deserved.
1TH 1:5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
It is the power and not the speech that brings the blessing.
The gifts are not “natural” abilities, but the supernatural capabilities given by God, the Holy Spirit. You see “the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men”
(1CO 1:25).
The gift of exhortation which is the unique ability to encourage others, ROM 12:8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation.
The word exhort, parakaleo means to call to one’s side for the purpose of comfort or encouragement.
It is used as a means of counseling or basically helping new believers.
This gift helps to rearrange the perspective that those who have problems have or to give divine viewpoint in place of human viewpoint.
In ACT 4:36, Barnabas was so good at this particular gift that he was called the Son of Encouragement. ACT 15:36-41, Barnabas took John-Mark and departed from Paul and later reconciled the two.
2TI 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
Spiritual service means your rational and spiritual worship.
The word function is praxis which means to function on the same team.
Spiritual gifts are the basis for the team concept in the royal family.
Thayer says charisma means extraordinary powers that enable the Christian to serve the church and the operation of these gifts is due to the power operating in their soul through EPH 5:18; HEB 4:12.
The word exercise is analogia which means the right relationship or proportion or in agreement with something.