MINISTRY GIFTS OF GRACE
We are moving
from a dreary and dull winter to spring season, where life is bursting forth. It
is a beautiful season to cultivate the ground, sow seeds, tend fruit, grow
flower and vegetable gardens, and hopefully enjoy their fruit upon harvesting. Similarly,
in the life of a Christian, the season of Lent and Good Friday is like winter.
Once we celebrate Easter, we enter the spring, a season of joyful activity. We
cultivate human hearts and sow gospel seeds, hoping these efforts one day will
bring people to Christ and possibly join Hope Church.
On a global
level, I would like to think that the post-resurrected Church of Christ has
been preparing human hearts for a perpetual spring season by spreading gospel
seeds and reaping the benefits of its labor. This season will culminate in the
end-time harvesting of souls.
We will continue
our study from the book of Ephesians, in which the Apostle Paul highlighted how
the Church of Jesus Christ should function and carry out its mission. To see
that accomplished, how did Christ equip the Church? In Ephesians 4:7-13 Paul
mentions five Ministry Gifts of Grace. For a serious Bible
student, the teachings on gifts can be complicated.
The same word is
used in English to translate the four Greek words for “gift” in the New
Testament, hence the confusion. You may have heard teachings on nine
manifestation gifts in I Cor 12:10-17, the seven motivational gifts in Romans
12:6-8 and others like the gift of celibacy. The English word “gift” comes from
a Greek word that has a root meaning “grace.” God’s unmerited favor for man.
Our study examines the five gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:7-13
I. The origin of the Ministry Gifts of Grace: Ephesians
4:7-10, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This
is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts
to his people.” (both men and women NASB) (What does “he ascended” mean except
that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the
very one who ascended higher than all the heavens in order to fill the whole
universe).”
After
challenging believers to maintain the unity of the Spirit, Paul made seven unique
proclamations for our Christian faith. We belong to one Church of Jesus Christ.
We have one Spirit (The Holy Spirit). We are called to one Hope and belong to
one Lord. We are saved by one faith in Christ. We all underwent one believer’s
baptism, and finally, we serve one God. Then, he explains what God has put in
place through Christ to accomplish His Mission.
Vs. 9-10 contain
words “ascending and descending a few times.” What do they mean? Paul referred
to a prophecy by King David in Psalm 68:18 concerning Christ’s incarnation into
this world and his ascension into heaven after His resurrection. Christ
left His exalted position and took up a lowly human form while he was on the
earth. But through His humiliating death on the Cross, God exalted Him to the
highest position in heaven and on earth. (Eph 1:20-23). Jesus set a pattern of service, which is to be imitated
by all his believers, for he gave each of us a special gift. These are the
ministry gifts of grace. None of us could earn them, but only Jesus gives them
to us as He sees fit. Therefore, those who receive them must remain humble and
graciously use them for His glory. Let’s look at what gifts Christ gave to the
Church.
II. The Five Ministry Gifts of Grace
Vs.
11, “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the Church: the apostles,
the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.”—some
general observations on these ministry gifts. First, these five gifts are not
titles but functions. A person does not become a prophet by being given the
name. Instead, he becomes a prophet as he develops his God-given ability to
function in prophet-like ways, responding to God’s specific call with a humble
and willing heart.
Second, It was
Christ who gave these ministry gifts to “men (AMP) or “some” (NASB), which are
used in the sense of “Mankind”—men and women. Therefore, both men and women can
be gifts to minister to the Body of Christ. Let’s explore these Ministry Gifts
of Grace.
1. The Apostles: (Those who establish and
strengthen churches).
In the Church
of the first century, there was an office of the Apostle and a spiritual gift
of an Apostle. The office of the Apostle was held by the 12 disciples of Jesus,
Matthias, who took Judas’ place, and Paul. They were chosen by Christ (Mk 3:16-19, I Cor 15:8-9) to set
up the foundation of the Universal Church. (Eph 2:20), which was laid in the
first century.
This is
why the office of the Apostle is no longer functioning. There was also a
spiritual gift of the Apostle. Among those who had the spiritual gift were James
Gal 1:19, Barnabas, Acts 14:4, 14. Andronicus and Junias(female), Rom 16:7, possibly
Silas and Timothy I Thes 1:1; 2:7. This latter group had the gift of
apostleship but not the apostolic “office.”
There are
men like this today whom God sends to spread the Gospel. Some men and women
have the apostolic anointing and zeal. They go to places where the Gospel has
not been heard before to preach, plant, and strengthen Churches. It is best not
to refer to them as apostles because of the confusion this causes since many
are unaware of the different uses of the term.
During the
Apostle Paul’s time, certain false teachers appeared to be superior to Paul in
their manner and authority. Paul calls them “super-apostles” 2 Cor 11:5.
In
Corinth, it seems that the people who came after Paul attacked his person to
cast doubt upon his teaching. Even though Paul was an apostle, he
did not want to deal with them in an authoritarian way (2 Corinthians 1:24).
Some of the opposing “super-apostles” said that Paul was weak and unreliable,
so he delayed his visit. To counter these super-apostles, Paul introduces this
apostolic ministry gift as a Christ-given gift of grace to the Church. God
gives this gracious gift to whomever He pleases.
You might wonder
why I am spending considerable time on this particular gift. Unfortunately,
this apostolic ministry gift of grace is being abused today, as in the Apostle
Paul’s times. As your shepherd, I want us to know the dangers of misusing
Christ’s gracious gift.
In an
attempt to bring back the early Church’s apostolic ministry, a worldwide
movement called “NAR” (New Apostolic Reformation)[1]
is leading many Christians astray. The New
Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a theological belief and movement that
combines elements of Pentecostalism, evangelicalism, and the Seven Mountain
Mandate to
advocate for spiritual warfare to bring
about Christian dominion over all aspects of society. In the
USA, this movement is misleading many prominent Christian politicians and
evangelical Christians.
I agree
with one of my retired pastor friends who says about NAR, “I absolutely reject
NAR and all that goes with it. A terrible representation of the Gospel.” As
Christ’s followers, we need to know the truth, and when we encounter error, we
need to know how to expose it and not be fooled by it. What can we learn from
this Apostolic Ministry Gift of Grace?
Like the people
of Berea, we need to check when we hear such preachings against God’s Word and
ensure that they are speaking the truth. (Acts 17:10-11). As the Apostle Paul stated
to those in Galatia, if anyone, including himself, should teach another Gospel,
that person should be “accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9). The people who claim to be
apostles today make themselves the final authority. Paul kept pointing people
back to the Bible as the final authority.
We need
men and women with apostolic zeal to preach the Gospel. The word apostle means
“the sent one.” We all are lowercase apostles. Jesus is sending us into
the world as the Father sent Him. Jn 20:2. Jesus said, in Matt 28:18-19, “I have been
given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore,
go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new
disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am
with you always, even to the end of the age.” Let us graciously use this
ministry gift to preach and make disciples of all nations. Amen!
