Chapter # 12 Paragraph # 3 Study # 3
December 1, 2019
Humble, Texas
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Thesis: The "Gift" of "Ministry" is a Spirit-empowered ability to both discern what needs to be done and the ability to do it.
Introduction: In our last study we considered Paul's exhortation that each of us exercise whatever "grace gift(s)" we have been given both according to the standard of the particular "grace" given and according to the standard of the proportion of the faith that has been "measured unto" us individually. We also saw that he began a list of seven specific "grace gifts" with "prophecy" at the beginning of the list.
It seems apparent that the gift of "prophecy" is the foundational "gift" in that its essence is the capacity to declare God's Truth. As a foundational "gift", then, we should see it as a bit different from the other gifts in that all of the others depend upon it for correct understanding and direction.
Then, the fact that there are seven gifts listed in the face of the fact that there are a number which could have been listed, but are not, seems to strongly imply that Paul had a particular "point" in mind regarding these seven. Therefore, we are going to be looking for this "point" as we work our way through the list.
- I. The Way Paul Ordered His Words Seems Significant.
- A. "Prophecy" has its own unique "order of words".
- 1. Having established that we all have "grace-gifts" according to a "standard" that indicates that "grace" is the paramount issue and "variety" is its chief sub-set, Paul instructed us to exercise whichever capacities we have by the Spirit in light of "howmuchever" faith has been measured to us.
- 2. Prophecy, listed first, is directly attached to the second issue: "howmuchever" faith we have.
- a. This means that if we are gifted to prophesy, we should do so with confidence.
- b. But it also means that our "prophecies" should be evaluated by others who are also so gifted because "the measure of our faith" may leave us without perfect understanding.
- B. But the next six gifts are set within a couple of "pattern" issues in the "order of words".
- 1. The first group of three focuses upon "functioning within the realm to which the gift is assigned".
- a. The concept of "within the realm" means, particularly, "with respect to" (in light of the biblical admonitions to seek to function within the boundaries of the "gift").
- b. "Ministry" is to be exercised "in the realm of" ministry (i.e., it is to be viewed in that light).
- c. "Teaching" is to be exercised "in the realm of" teaching.
- d. "Summoning" is to be exercised "in the realm of" summoning.
- 2. The second group of three focuses upon "functioning" with a particular "characteristic" in mind.
- a. "Giving" is to be exercised with "singleness" (giving it a status of high priority).
- b. "Ruling" is to be exercised with "diligence" (not ignoring problematic issues that crop up).
- c. "Showing mercy" is to be exercised with "delight" (no reluctance; rather, with enthusiasm).
- C. This pattern seems to signal the issues of "focus" and "character".
- II. Paul's Focus Upon "Ministry"/"Serving".
- A. In Paul's use of this concept in this letter has three distinct parts.
- 1. In 11:3, his "ministry" is his "apostleship": this means that "ministry" is a kind of umbrella over all of the gifts.
- 2. In 15:31, his "ministry" is his delivering of material goods to those in significant need.
- 3. But in our present text, it is presented as "a particular capacity given by the Spirit of God for the sake of the Body of Christ"; a "grace-gift".
- B. In our current text, we should see the "gift" of "service" as a particular, and special, ability to both discern what needs to be done, and to do what needs to be done.
- 1. In Luke's use of the word in both Luke and Acts, his meaning is "doing something that is necessary for those who receive the results of the effort" (Luke 10:40; Acts 6:1; 11:29; 20:24; and 21:19).
- 2. In other letters, Paul also presented "service" or "ministry" as "being able to meet certain needs by special divine enablement".
- C. In the outworking in life, this "gift" is the Spirit's provision of a kind of innate ability to recognize a need and take effective action to address it (like Tom's rescue of a child in danger of drowning, or Paul's organizing of a Church-wide effort to send relief to Jerusalem).
- D. His intent: to emphasize the importance of being aware of God's over-all plan to use individuals for specific tasks, and to insist that those who have this particular skill put it to use in its proper "realm".
- 1. The "proper realm" is rather large, but it has an ordered "priority" (Galatians 6:10).
- 2. In our text/context, the focus is upon "the Body of Christ".
