Concerning Spiritual Things
Gtcotr/ws022504
You may wish to turn in your bibles to 1 Corinthians 12 - I will be reading primarily from the NIV today.
While at Ephesus, AD 55 or 56, Paul experienced God doing special miracles through his ministry. The Holy Spirit was alive and well on planet earth. Although Paul embraced the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit, he had also heard of how the church in Corinth had moved into some error concerning spiritual things.
It was reported that church members were a bit disorderly in using the gifts of the Holy Spirit in ways which did not strengthen or build up the local congregation. Some would give messages in tongues without the benefit of interpretation, while others would give prophecies without submitting to accountability. The church appeared to be very spiritual but was riddled with adultery, incest, divorce, arguments, division, pride, legal wrangling and philosophical discord.
This troubled the Apostle and he set forth to bring decency and order to the members and spiritual activities of the local church. It was not his goal to quench the moving of the Holy Spirit, but to curb the carnal and self serving ministries operating in the church.
1 Corinthians 12
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
There are 4 Spiritual Things Paul is referring to here:
* Diversities of Gifts
* Differences of Ministries
* Diversities of Activities
* Manifestations of The Holy Spirit
These together represent the spiritual things the Apostle Paul did not want us to be ignorant of.
I. It Took Us The Last Two Weeks To Cover
Verse 4 - There are diversities of gifts …
A. We looked at Romans 12 and found
B. The Seven Charisma Gifts The Apostle Paul Was Referring To
1. Prophecy - Insight
2. Ministry - To Serve
3. Teaching - To Share What One Has Learned
4. Exhortation - To Encourage
5. Gives - To Share What One Has Earned
6. Leads - To Stand For
7. Shows Mercy - To Demonstrate Compassion
We discussed being a many membered body, and the value of each member doing their part, ministering their particular grace and gift.
1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
We saw that we are admonished:
Not to neglect the gift we have received 1 Timothy 4:14
To keep the gift we have active and stirred up 2 Timothy 1:6
To serve others from the grace of our gifts 1 Peter 4:10
1 Corinthians 12
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.
V. Differences Of Ministries
A. Differences Gk: diairesis (dee-ah’-ee-res-is)
1. To divide out and distribute differently to different persons.
2. Exact concept used for diversities in verse 4
B. Ministries
Greek: diakonia (dee-ak-on-ee’-ah)
1. Servant
2. Minister (as one waits on tables or performs duties for others)
3. The servants spoken of here include the broader offices and ministries we have come to know as:
a. Deacon
b. Elder
c. Bishop
d. The Five Fold Ministry-Servants Of Jesus
(1) Apostle
(2) Prophet
(3) Evangelist
(4) Pastor
(5) Teacher
These are all servants of the Lord, different in their calling and duty, but ministries of the Lord designed to serve in the church.
Not only has the Lord ordained differences of ministries in the church, but He also set them into rank and order by design, to function first like a family and to possess the added capacity to act as an army. The Church is both a family and a force in the earth. We are given this insight by the Apostle in:
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
VI. DEACONS
Greek: Diakonia - To wait upon tables as a service
A. Acts 6
1 ¶ In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution, (diakonia - serving), of food.
2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait, (diakoneo - to serve) on tables.
3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them
4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry, (diakonia - serving), of the word."
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Basically one group of individuals, deacons, were given the responsibility to serve the practical needs of this congregation and another group, A-P-E-P-T, the responsibility to serve the spiritual needs. This continues to be a division of labor and responsibility in the church today.
Deacons fit into the category of the ministry of helps.
B. What Are The Basic Qualifications For A Deacon?
1Timothy 3
8 ¶ Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.
13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
These are those in our church who serve the house and congregation meeting the practical needs. From ushers to greeters, information desk workers to hospitality ministries, those who provide food for families to caring for the building and grounds. These are some of the servants of the house. People of position and honor who serve the congregation’s practical needs.
While deacons fit into the category of the ministry of helps and APEPTs fit into the category of the five fold ministry of Jesus, giving spiritual guidance and doctrinal and visionary leadership; Elders lie somewhere in between providing leadership, representation and oversight for the congregation.
VII. ELDER
Greek: Presbuteros - Of age; rank; or office (relief)
A. Old Testament References To Elders
1. Exodus 3 Moses sent to elders of Israel held captive in Egypt
2. Exodus 12 Elders instructed to kill Passover lambs for their congregation
3. Exodus 18:12-26 Jethro’s instruction for appointed secondary leadership to take responsibility for the congregation.
4. Numbers 11:14-30 Moses, “I am unable to bear ... alone ...”
* Gather 70 elders (only 68 showed up)
* Same spirit on Moses on elders that were ordained
* God anointed whomever Moses appointed
* The other two -- Moses said, “I wish that all Israel were prophets”
5. Throughout the journeys, elders were always a witness between the man of God and the people concerning God’s work and will.
6. Joshua 1
* Officers (those elders in the position of oversight) committed to Joshua
10 ¶ So Joshua ordered the officers, of the people:
(Hebrew: shoter sho-tare’ - overseer)
* they took orders from Joshua and gave orders to congregation.
* Eldership is a real ministry of give and take.
* It’s mid management - supervisory - leading from the middle of the pack type of position. The most trusted support roles.
11 "Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.’"
16 ¶ Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses.
18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!"
Make no mistake, the elders took their responsibilities seriously. They were there to bridge the gap between the man God had chosen to lead the congregation and the congregation itself. They lent Joshua their credibility and influence and pledged to deal swiftly and harshly with dissention and rebellion and not allow it to take root and spread in the congregation.
7. 2 Samuel 5:3 The elders of Israel made a league with David to be King over all Israel
B. New Testament Perspective On Eldership
1. Acts 15:6 ¶ The apostles and elders met to consider this question.
* The church elders exercised great voice of counsel in early NT church in Jerusalem
2. Titus 1
5 ¶ The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders, (presbuteros), in every town, as I directed you.
6 ¶ An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
7 Since an overseer, (episkopos - Bishop), is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.
9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.
11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.
* Elders who meet the qualifications can become appointed and ordained overseers.
* It is one responsibility of an ordained overseeing elder to silence opposition to sound doctrine and put down dishonest gain … to keep the wolves from the sheepfold.
3. Qualifications For Overseeing Elders
1 Timothy 3
1 ¶ Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.
2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.
5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)
6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
8 ¶ Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
(1Ti 3) Give qualifications for ruling elders who are ordainable and what an elder is called when he is ordained and set over
Note: once you find elders then you of need must evaluate them to see if they meet the qualifications and are blameless, if they are then they are ordainable. Once ordained they become overseers or bishops as the KJV puts it. A five fold minister must be qualified as a bishop but a bishop does not necessarily need to be qualified or called as a five fold minister or else Titus would have been ordaining apostles, prophets, etc. Ordained, or ruling elders under the OT pattern were people who evidenced leadership and respect among the congregation and were already leaders who, after evaluation were seen to be qualified to have spiritual responsibility placed upon them to relieve the man of God and the burden of the people off of the ministry. Bishops care for the people and press them to follow the man of God instead of pressing the man of God to follow the people.
1. Bishops Episkope (ep-is-kop-ay’) Oversight
2. 1Pe 5:1-3 Oversee the sheep ... not the shepherd
a. Jesus spoke and contended much about the traditions of the elders
b. Yet He placed in His church this office clearly in the oversight of the saints.
VI. DOMA (dom-ah’) A gift made a gift of
A. Eph 4:8-12 Not just something you can do, but what you are!
1. Apostle apostolos (ap-os’-tol-os) a delegate, messenger, one that is sent with orders. [ apostle-78; messenger-2; he that is sent-1]
a. 1 apostle of God (Heb 3:1)
b. 12 apostles of the Lamb (Rev 21:14; Mat 19:28)
c. Many apostles of the Holy Ghost (Php 2:25; 2Co 8:23)
2. Prophet prophetes (prof-ay’-tace) interpreter, spokesman, forseerer, foreteller, having the power and authority to instruct, comfort, encourage, rebuke, convict, stimulate, motivate and inspire as moved by the Holy Ghost.
a. Acts 11:28; Acts 21:10 Agabus
3. Evangelists euaggelistes (yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace’) a bringer of good news, used only 3 times in NT
a. Acts 21:8; 2Tim 4:5
4. Pastors poimen (poy-mane’) shepherd-15; Shepherd-2; pastor-1. A herdsman shepherd under whose care and control sheep are entrusted.
5. Teachers didaskalos (did-as’-kal-os) Master-40; master-7; teacher-10; doctor-1. One who is fitted to teach others.
VIII. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTERS
| Apostle | Prophet | Evangelist | Pastor | Teacher |
| governs | guides | gathers | guards | grounds |
| discipline | deliver | demands | defends | disciples |
| stands over | before | stands out | understands | stands among |
| regard | revere | refreshed | rely | respond |
| sets in | sets straight | sets out | sets with | sets down |
| presides | points | promises | pleases | prepares |
| manages | measures | motivates | milks | molds |
| in charge | charges in | recharges | over-charged | instructs you how to pay what you have charged |
