Treasures New and Old
Treasures New and OldExercising Our Spiritual Gift(s) – Motivational Gifts
Just as the early church misunderstood and misused the spiritual gifts that God extends to believers, we have seen that same contention today. They have been used to divide us when the tragedy and truth is that they are meant to encourage, support, and unite the church. The problem stems from our fallen nature filled with pride. Johnny speaks in tongues – why can’t I? I’m just as important as he is! When we look at another’s gift and “covet” that gift, we do so out of pride and jealousy. Indeed, there are denominations today that consider you less of a Christian if you do not at least speak in tongues – a clear outward sign that you have had the baptism of the Holy Spirit (or baptism in the Holy Spirit). These phrases don’t exist in the Bible, and the Holy Spirit does not baptize us. In John 1:33, John the Baptist tells us that Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. Within a church, the pressure to manifest some gift is so strong that Paul had to deal with false gifts and correct the Corinthians in the proper use of gifts.
So are you one of those “poor souls” who haven’t realized the full potential of your Christian experience by speaking in tongues? I do find it interesting that tongues seems to be the litmus test of true spiritually and not some other gift. Tongues is the easiest to counterfeit (I can baby babble and convince others that I spoke in an unknown tongue!). Yet these manifestation gifts seem to be the most coveted. These manifestation “events” are the result of exercising our God-given motivational gifts under different circumstances that God has deemed a special outcome – like healing. Let’s look deeper.
God’s Spiritual Gifts Motivational List in Romans 12
Manifestation gifts are different than those listed in Romans 12 which are more related to what motivates us to serve. Whereas a manifestation gift is an outward, visible exhibition or result of exercising our Romans 12 gift in certain situations at certain times. For example, God has allowed us to see some amazing healings in our church over the years, but not all the time. Healing is not considered a motivation gift, nor is it an office in the church (like teacher, prophet, preacher, etc.). When is the last time you stepped into a church and went to the healer’s office? That’s just an example. When we pray and anoint as instructed in James 5, many of us pray for the sick or afflicted, and our motivational or office gifts are not evident – the manifestation gift of healing is however.
Where I believe a lot of the problem of contention comes from is the manifestations we can see and hear, but motivational gifts are not so easily identified. Without having some kind of “outward” sign, we may be deceived into believing that we have no gift at all. But that is simply not true. God has given to all of us at least one motivational gift.
Praxis: deed or work (Strong’s G4234), translated once as office in Romans 12:4. If we were to substitute the English word deed for a moment in that verse we get: Romans 12:3-4 (emphasis added): “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same [deed or work].” Let’s go down the list:
Romans Gift List
Romans 12:3-8 (bold added):
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
The following are taken from the e-Sword version of Strong’s Dictionary.
Prophet: “G4394. propheteia, prof-ay-ti’-ah; From [prophetes] G4396 (“prophecy”); prediction (scriptural or other):–prophecy, prophesying.” “G4396. prophetes, prof-ay’-tace; From a compound of [pro] G4253 and [phemi] G5346; a foreteller (“prophet”); by analogy an inspired speaker; by extension a poet:–prophet.” “G4253. pro, pro; A primary preposition; “fore”, that is, in front of, prior (figuratively superior) to . . . above, ago, before, or ever. In compounds it retains the same significations.” “G5346. phemi, fay-mee’; to show or make known one’s thoughts, that is, speak or say.” To declare the thoughts of God to men. To reveal hidden truths. To declare the truth of God to man. In some cases to foretell the future because God has revealed the future to the prophet first.
Ministry: “G1248. diakonia, dee-ak-on-ee’-ah; From [diakonos] G1249; attendance (as a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official) service (especially of the Christian teacher, or technically of the diaconate):–(ad-) minister (-ing, -tration, -try), office, relief, service (-ing).” “G1249. diakonos, dee-ak’-on-os; Probably from . . . diako (. . . to run on errands; . . . an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess):–deacon, minister, servant.” To minister, attend, and aid others. To serve others in a ministry capacity as in a deacon or deaconess. But not all service requires an office like a deacon/deaconess – ministering and serving may be what some folks do as a matter of course in serving the Lord – often in the background.
Teaching: “G1321. didasko, did-as’ko; A prolonged (causative) form of a primary verb . . . dao (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application):–teach.” To impart knowledge to others. But the act of learning that knowledge first is strongly implied.
Exhortation: “G3870. parakaleo, par-ak-al-eh’-o; From [para] G3844 and [kaleo] G2564; to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):–beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.” “G3844. para, par-ah’; A primary preposition; properly near, that is, (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local [especially beyond or opposed to] . . . above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give [such things as they], +that [she] had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side . . . by, in the sight of, than, [there-] fore, with . . . .” “G2564. kaleo, kal-eh’-o; . . . to “call” (properly aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise):–bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-) name (was [called]).” To call another to come along side and to encourage, urge, entreat, exhort, urge, and support another.
Giving: “G3330. metadidomi, met-ad-id’-o-mee; From [meta] G3362 and [didomi] G1325; to give over, that is, share:–give, impart.” “G1325. didomi, did’-o-mee; A prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):–adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.” “G3326. meta, met-ah’; A primary preposition (often used adverbially); properly denoting accompaniment; “amid” (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive case association, or accusative case succession) with which it is joined . . . after (-ward),X that he again, against, among, X and, + follow, hence, hereafter, in, of, (up-) on, + our, X and setting, since, (un-) to, + together, when, with (+ -out). Often used in composition, in substantially the same relations of participation or proximity, and transfer or sequence.” Meta can best be understood as “beyond”. Meta-giving, then, is giving beyond that of others, sacrificial giving, or the ability to give beyond that of others. Great giving, or giving more than others can give.
Ruler: “G4291. proistemi, pro-is’-tay-mee; from [pro] G4253 and [histemi] G2476; to stand before, that is, (in rank) to preside or (by implication) to practice:–maintain, be over, rule.” “G4253. pro, pro; A primary preposition; “fore” that is, in front of, prior (figuratively superior) to . . . above, ago, before, or ever.” “G2476. histemi, his’-tay-mee; A prolonged form of a primary . . . to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively):–abide, appoint, bring, continue, covenant, establish, hold up, lay, present, set (up), stanch, stand (by, forth, still, up) . . . .” To stand before, preside, manage in front of, over others – the ability to effectively see the abilities of others (and materials) and organize them so that the desired outcome can be achieved most efficiently.
Mercy: “G1653. eleeo, el-eh-eh’o; From [eleos] G1656; to compassionate (by word or deed, specifically by divine grace):–have compassion (pity on), have (obtain, receive, shew) mercy (on).” “G1656. eleos, el’-eh-os; Of uncertain affinity; compassion (human or divine, especially active): – (+ tender) mercy.” To have, show, share compassion, mercy, grace on another who is in need, either divine or humans.
All of us who believe have one or more (some think only one) of these motivation or ‘deed/work’ gift, and they motivate us while we are walking in the Spirit to do what God has called us to do.
Maranatha Emanuel!
May God bless you all!
Bro. Joe
References
Strong, J. Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Meyers, R. (2005). e-Sword. [computer software] . Franklin, TN: Equipping Ministries Foundation. (Original work published 1539)