Serving the Spiritual gifts with humility: (12:3-8):
By the grace of God, Paul has received the Apostolic office by which he had the authority not only to preach the Gospel but also to rule over the church. This he clearly wrote to Ephesians church: “this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ…” (Eph.3:8-10). The Holy spirit gives gifts to every person who is growing in the Lord. It is good for a person to recognize his own gifts and the gifts of others also.
- It is wrong if a person rates himself high and looks down others.
- It would be damaging to the church if a person tries to perform a ministry that he cannot do.
- If a person receives a higher amount of gift, it does not show his spirituality or spiritual maturity.
- Spiritual gifts are the gifts we receive by the grace of God. Holy Spirit does not see our worthiness before giving the gift so that we do not boast about it.
Since the gifts are given according to the faith, individual person must not belittle others. In other words the person should not be proud. So every Christian should have a proper sense of humility and an awareness of his need to be involved with other members of Christ’s body. Each member has different function in the body of Christ (Eph.4:11-16). Each member function is to serve the body, not the body to serve the members. The diversity of many accompanies the unity of the body. So it is necessary to evaluate oneself and serve to the edification of the church which is the body of Christ. Since we all have different gifts and not all have the same function, the gifts are according to God’s grace. Paul lists 7-dfferent gifts (12:6-8). They are:
- Prophesy: (12:6): This gift is given in agreement to the faith. It is communicating God’s message to strengthen, encourage and comfort, and to be in the right-relationship with Christ. Prophecy can be subdivided into “Fore telling” and “Forth telling.” It is simply communicating what God’s message speaks of our present need and also what is going to happen in the future for mankind and also to the universe. In other words, it is exhortation of the scripture. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved” (2 Tim.2:15a). Further Paul says: “let him use it in proportion to his faith.” It is possible that a new convert may be puffed up with several gifts and he would try to magnify his own, he may belittles others or look contemptuously at others, so Paul advices such a person to keep within his proper sphere and observe the just measure and proportion of the git entrusted to him but not to gratify his pride but to edify the church.
- Serving: (12:7a): (Diakonia) In Greek. In other words, serving or the deaconship of the Word. It is the ministry of the Servant. The continual proclamation of the Gospel for effective soul drawing. He must be prayerful, studious of the Word of God. In Jewish church, every synagogue had at least three deacons who were engaged in nourishing, supporting and governing of the Church. They were also engaged in some sort of judging and putting right doctrines for the teaching of the Gospel. So serving or ministering involved all of these.
- Teaching: (12:7b): Some are given the gift of teaching. Right teaching of the Word of God is utmost important. A teacher must explain the grand truths of Christianity. Now-a-days churches are lacking the right teaching. Many preachers are distorting the Gospel making it prosperity Gospel, or the healing Gospel. They try to attract people with prosperity and healing. This is not the complete Gospel. Right teachers are very much required today.
- Encouraging: (12:8a): It is the act of giving hope to someone in the church. Joseph whose nickname “Barnabas” was called “son of encouragement” (Acts4:36). Through the encouragement of Barnabas, the apostle Paul was first accepted by the church in Jerusalem (Acts 9:27), Mark was given a second chance after an utter failure to be a missionary (Acts 13:13; 15:39).
- Encouragement makes it easier to live in a fallen world, to love the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Encouragement gives hope (15:4).
- Encouragement in times of discipline and testing (Heb.12:5).
- Encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Heb.10:25).
- Encouragement nurtures patience and kindness (1 Cor.13:4-7).
- Encouragement makes it easier to sacrifice our own desires for the advancement of God’s kingdom.
- In short, encouragement makes it easier to live the Christian life.
Paul says “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thes.5:11). Throughout the Bible we see instructions to encourage one another because encouragement is necessary to our walk of faith. Jesus told: “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn.16:33b). further He said: the world would hate them (Jn.15:18-21) . But He gave sparkling word of encouragement: “I have overcome the world. Jesus is greater than any trouble we face because He is greater and overcame the world.
The prophet Elijah struggled with discouragement (1 Ki.19:3-10) but God encouraged Him. It is important to remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph.6:12). This truth makes encouragement all the more important.