A Presentation by
Elechi Udochi Alegua
During
the 2015 YOUTH CELEBRATION of
Wonderful Works of God Church Rumuekini/Rumuosi on Sat. 7th August
2015
Text: 2 TIM. 1:6-7; ROM. 11:29
Introduction:
A.
Calling: Klesis
– an invitation, a saint God has invited us to live a crucified life, a life of
victory, a kingdom-oriented lifestyle.
B.
Gift: The Greek word most frequently used for
spiritual gifts is charismata, a word that relates to the grace (charis)
of God. Concerning these gifts, Paul writes, but to each one of us grace was
given according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Eph. 4:7). Another word, pneumatikos,
means spiritualities, or spiritual things. William McRae defines a spiritual
gift as a divine endowment of a special ability for service upon a member of
the body of Christ. Peter Wagner offers a similar definition: A spiritual gift
is a special attribute given by the Holy Spirit to every member of the Body of
Christ according to God's grace for use within the context of the Body.
God has
given each believer a combination of opportunities and gifts that is perfectly
suited to his or her situation in life. Every Christian is really a minister
with a unique contribution to make to the body of Christ. The central thrust of
your ministry depends on the spiritual gifts you have received.
The Design for SPIRITUAL
GIFTS
Here
are NINE
strategic principles that relate to God's design for spiritual gifts:
1.
Every
Christian has one or more spiritual gifts. To each person the manifestation of
the Spirit is given for the benefit of all (1 Cor. 12:7). It is one and the same
Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these
things (1 Cor. 12:11). But to each one of us grace was
given according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Eph.
4:7).
Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good
stewards of the varied grace of God. (1 Pet. 4:10). Spiritual gifts are not
limited to a sub-group of believers; they are distributed by the Spirit to all
Christian men, women, and children.
2.
Many
believers have evidently received more than one spiritual gift. Because there is such a
variety of gifts, the number of possible combinations is great. Each
multi-gifted Christian has received a combination of spiritual abilities that
is perfectly suited to his or her God-given ministry.
3.
Spiritual
gifts may be given at the moment of regeneration, but they may lie
undiscovered and dormant for a long period of time. Multi-gifted Christians
often discover their combination of gifts through a gradual process.
4.
Spiritual
gifts can be abused and neglected, but if they are received at
regeneration, it would appear that they cannot be lost. The Corinthian church
illustrates the fact that believers can be highly gifted but spiritually
immature.
5.
Spiritual
gifts are not the same as the gift of the Spirit. The gift of the Spirit has
been bestowed on all believers (John 14:16; Acts
2:38), and
every member of the body should appropriate this gift. The gifts of the Spirit,
on the other hand, are distributed as he decides to each person (1
Cor. 12:11).
Spiritual gifts are not the
same as the fruit of the Spirit. Spiritual fruit is produced from
within; spiritual gifts are imparted from without. Fruit relates to Christ-like
character; gifts relate to Christian service. The fruit of the Spirit,
especially love, should be the context for the operation of the gifts of the
Spirit. Paul made it clear in 1 Corinthians 13 that spiritual gifts without spiritual
fruit are worthless. Fruit is eternal, but gifts are temporal (1
Cor. 13:8);
the former is a true measure of spirituality, but the latter is not.
Spiritual gifts are not the
same as natural talents.
Unlike the natural abilities which everyone has from birth, spiritual gifts
belong exclusively to believers in Christ. In some cases, the gifts of the
Spirit coincide with natural endowments, but they transcend these natural
abilities by adding a supernatural quality. Both are given by God (Jas.
1:17), and
should be developed and used according to their purpose for the glory of God (1
Cor. 10:31).
6.
All
Christians are called to a ministry, but not all are called to an office. Ministry is determined by
divinely given gifts and opportunities (Eph. 3:7). Offices (e.g., elder,
deacon, evangelist, and teacher) are humanly recognized and appointed spheres
of ministry within the body.
7.
Some
spiritual gifts are more desirable in the church than others
because they result in greater edification of the body. Paul exhorted the
Corinthian church to be eager for the greater gifts (1
Cor. 12:31;
see 12:28-30; 14:5).
8.
Charismata literally means grace-gifts-
They are sovereignly and undeservedly given by the Holy Spirit. There is
no basis for boasting or envy. Every member of the body has a special place and
purpose. Whether more or less prominent in the eyes of men, the same standard
applies to all: it is required of stewards that one be found faithful (1
Cor. 4:2).
Work with what God has given to you (2 Tim. 1:6), and seek to please Him
rather than men (Gal. 1:10; 1 Thess. 2:4).
9.
Gifts
are God's spiritual equipment for effective service and edification of the body.
They are not bestowed for the self-aggrandizement of the recipient, or as an
evidence of a special enduement of the Spirit, but for the profit and
edification of the Body of Christ. The possessor is only the instrument and not
the receiver of the glory (J. Oswald Sanders). Gifts were given so that in
everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ (1
Pet. 4:11).
God’s Call: The Five Fold Ministry
Any sincere Christian who wants to know the
will of God concerning his life can know it, but this is typically a process,
not a dramatic revelation.
There are 3 issues that swirl around
this question of God's will:
Ø How Can I Be Sure God's Calling Me?
The first is how one looks for affirmation
when they are sensing God's leading.
Insight into this question can be found
by going through a process by which we confirm God's direction:
·
Through
alignment of circumstances
·
Prayerful
impressions by the holy spirit
·
The counsel
of others
·
Reflecting
upon our deepest desires
·
Analyzing
the pros and cons of the decisions/options (wisdom)
·
Through
insight from the scriptures.
Ø Are You Waiting for a Sign?
The second issue is what exactly it means to
be "called" or receive a "calling" from God to ministry.
What seems to paralyze most people is that
they are expecting an unusual or spectacular sign.
Here's a more helpful way to see things: If
you read through the Scriptures, you'll notice that a person's coming to Christ
-- the act of becoming a Christian -- is
also referred to as a "calling" or being "called." That calling
into a relationship with God happens a variety of ways: sometimes the
calling is more cognitive (the gospel just seems to make sense);
sometimes we see a great need
in our life and reckon that Jesus is the answer; sometimes it's an emotional experience; or the example of a Christian friend that
convinces us the gospel is true.
But make no mistake, the Holy Spirit does the
calling. He simply uses a variety of microphones to get our attention.
Likewise, your calling to ministry can come through a variety of channels.
You may logically conclude ministry to be a
good stewardship of your life.
You may be compelled by the great need of
those who haven't heard the gospel.
It might be your experience of God using you
in ministry, or simply an intense desire to serve God.
There's an assortment of means by which God
calls us into the ministry, most of which are not in the category of the
miraculous.
Ø Do Others Confirm Your Call?
·
Finally,
lest our "calling" become too subjective, the Scriptures affirm a
community component of our calling.
·
Others in
the body of Christ should recognize your call and affirm that God is indeed
leading you into ministry.
·
One Thing That is Not Different
Being called primarily means being obedient
to the ongoing direction of the Lord's leading in your life. God is calling
every Christian to submit his whole life to Him and thereby bring glory to His
name. "Whether then you eat or drink
or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).