Prelude
There are varieties of ministries in each religion. And, there is a variety of leadership positions, as well.
Gifts
Gifts are the building blocks to ministries.
Spiritual Gifts
1st Corinthians 12
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.
Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.
There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.
There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Delineation
- Spiritual Gifts
- How they operate
- Utterance
- Inspiration
- Power
- How they operate
Ministry Gifts
Some of these leadership positions are listed by Paul, the originating Apostle to the gentiles.
Ephesians 4:11:
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers”
Here are they listed in a bit more detail:
- Apostles
- Prophets
- Hear from God
- Communicate God’s will and love to his people
- Evangelist
- The feet
- Burden for the lost
- Pastor
- Tending to the flock
- Sense sins in congregant lives and encourage them
- Teachers
- Eyes
Gifts Commingled
CrossWired?
Jacob Prasch in this message “Jacob Prasch Gifts of the Spirit Part 1 of 5” speaks candidly as to how it might appear from 1st Corinthians 12:27-31 that Paul is confusing leadership & spiritual gifts.
1st Corinthians 12:27-31
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Romans 12:6-7
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;
if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;
if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Mark 16 :6-7
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
Categorization
- How they operate
- Purpose – Their Aim
- Equip the Church to replay the ministry of Jesus
- Mark 16:15-18
- This continuity will climax upon Christ’s return and not before his return as the Triumphalists claim
- Unity
- 1st Corinthians 12:14-31
- “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity” ( Psalm 133:1 )
- Bearing Witness
- “God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will“. ( Hebrew 2:4 )
- Example
- Genesis 24
- Abraham sent his servant to Sarah’s House
And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying,
Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. ( Genesis 24:30 )- Word & Gift
- Abraham sent his servant to Sarah’s House
- John the Baptist
- John the Baptist did no miracle, yet many believed
- Jesus
- Jesus never allowed the miracles to get ahead of his words
- Genesis 24
- Endanger faith in the sight of the unbeliever
- Equip the Church to replay the ministry of Jesus
Gifts in Detail
Ministry Gifts
- Administration
- Greek word Kubernesis
- Govern or steer
- Greek word Kubernesis
- Leadership
- Close to Administration
- But, more people oriented, as compared to task oriented
- Apostle
- Commissioned Church founders
- Start new Churches
- Evangelism
- Reach unbelievers
- Shepard
- Greek word Poimen
- Teaching
- Greek word “didaskalos”
- James 3:1 warns, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.“
Whose gifts is it?
Jacob Prasch
“I have the gifts of discernment of Spirit….
No the body of Christ has the gifts?”
Laying claims to gifts that are not fully riped
…Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.
( Proverbs 25:14 )
Ministries
Based on a leader’s spiritual gifts, his ministry will accentuate certain ministries.
- Charles Price
- Evangelist
- Chris White
- Eschatology
- Christopher Yuan
- Deliverance Ministry
- Chuck Missler
- Theologian
- Teaching Ministry
- Damon Thompson
- Presence of God
- David Platt
- Teaching Ministry
- David Wilkerson
- Pastoral
- Derek Prince
- Spiritual Warfare
- Graham Cooke
- Spiritual Gifts
- Jacob Prasch
- Spiritual Gifts
- Escathology
- Jim Cymbala
- Presence of God
- John Piper
- Teaching Ministry
- Lawrence Ravenhill
- Teaching Ministry
- Apostolic
- Paul Washer
- Evangelist
- Teaching Ministry
- Paris Rheinheld
- Evangelist
- Ravi Zacharias
- Apologetics
- John Paul Jackson
- Spiritual Gifts
- Spiritual Warfare
- Spirit of Jezebel
- Junior Hill
- Pastor
- Sinclair Ferguson
- Teacher
- Tim Keller
- Teacher
- Theologian
Acknowledgements
Every week or so, I seek out new words.
My memory is so short and I find it arduous to remember little things about the last week.
But, it is so interesting that the people listed above have made such an impact on me that I placed this list together while on the train and without having an Internet Connection.
Dedicated
Dedicated to Jacob Prasch. His ministry, Moriel Ministries, has been such a blessing.
Moriel in Jewish means “God Teaches“.
References
- SpiritualGiftsTest.com
