Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Opening the Gifts—Part 5 (Apostleship, Helps, Administration)


Are you getting an idea about which gifts are yours?

May’s Awakening, Day 9

so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 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. And yet I will show you the most excellent way. 1 Corinthians 12:25–31 NIV 

[Of the nine spiritual gifts mentioned here, we will only discuss the three new gifts of apostleship, helps, and administration (guidance).]

 

            Apostleship. The gift of apostleship is the distinctive ability to assume and exert divinely imparted authority and spiritual leadership to establish foundational church governments and to oversee a number of pastors and churches in an assigned sphere of ministry so as to set in order and direct, spiritual health, growth, maturity, and outreach for that given area. The gift entails strategically and spiritually leading, equipping, organizing, and developing policy for the church or ministries in the church and their expansion. Simplistically, you’re a church or ministry planter, expander, and overseer. Since this gift encompasses such vast and varied areas of expertise, it is almost essential that accompanied with the gift of apostleship are also the gifts of leadership, faith, administration, and wisdom. This is truly a gift of gifts. Later, we will also discuss the distinction between the spiritual gift of apostleship versus the office or position of apostle (and all those of the five-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11 as well).

            Helps. The gift of helps is the distinctive ability to invest time and talents in working with and supporting other Christian worker’s efforts and ministries such that the end result is a greater accomplishment and more fruitful ministry. The gift requires a servant’s heart and little need for attention or recognition. As we’ve said, this gift of helps along with the gift of service, are probably the most predominant in the body of believers and essential to the functional effectiveness of virtually every ministry. Also remember, one with the gift of helps is primarily assisting others in their ministry efforts, whereas one with the gift of service personally sees the need and addresses the situation directly.

            Administration. The gift of administration, or guidance, is the distinctive ability to clearly understand the immediate and long-term goals of a particular ministry or ministries, and to effectively and efficiently organize people and projects and to devise and execute effective plans all for the accomplishment of those goals. The gift entails the use of multiple talents, including goal setting, planning, organizing, a detailed thoroughness, and determination for completion, all done seamlessly and efficiently.

            Tomorrow we will look at the last two gifts described in the four primary blocks of Scripture. 


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