Do You Know Your Gifts?
Why am I teaching on this topic of apostles, prophets, and pastors today? Did you know there is only one time when the word Pastor is used in the Bible? That’s in Ephesians 4:11-12 (Christ gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers). These gifts are an assignment from Jesus for the equipping of saints to do the work of the ministry. We see how God further appoints people to specific assignments in Acts by the Holy Spirit. So, let’s dig in (Acts 12:25 – 13:3).
“When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. Now in the church that was at Antioch, there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon, who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod, the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, having fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”
Here, we see a prophet and teacher commissioned to apostolic work – sent on the mission, assignment, and ambassadorship for the Lord. Their mission was to take the Gospel out into the gentile world.
In Ephesians 4, we read.
“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”
And then, in verse 11, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,”
These gifts are given (to use) until we all reach unity in faith. Almost everyone is familiar with 1st Corinthians Chapter 13, but they forget that this teaching shows us that the gifts of the Spirit ARE FOR TODAY!
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears…And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
A resounding yes to the love part. But let’s not forget the rest of the teaching.
When will we have that completeness? We, indeed, haven’t reached it yet. We CAN go deeper in Christ. But when Jesus returns, we won’t need prophecy, other tongues, or healing because we will fully know. We will be made new.
Until then, the gifts of the Spirit are here for us. Using them is an assignment. It’s bogus to say these things (gifts of the Spirit) have been done away with and aren’t for today because we have not reached the unity of the faith, and Jesus has NOT YET returned.
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, so you will continue to do His work through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Yes, the greatest of these is love. Follow the way of love AND EAGERLY desire the gifts of the Spirit. It’s not an and/or – it’s an AND. You should receive the gifts of the Spirit eagerly – especially that you may prophesy. These verses are for you – for all of us.
Apostles, prophets, and pastors – oh my. This weekend we will have a prophet in the house. Come with the expectation to hear God’s voice. Yes, he is just a man, but God has given him a gift to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry.
We get so hung up in our modern-day culture calling everyone in ministry a pastor, but in reality – some are assigned to be pastors, some to be prophets, some to be teachers, some to be evangelists, and some to be apostles.
May we be open to carrying out the assignments to use the gifts God gives us without dismissing something because we don’t fully understand.
Arise and shine; may the glory of the Lord be upon you!!