Week in Review

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

A CALL TO UNITY, A CALL TO PURPOSE (PART 4)

Written by Minister Jewel D. Williams

2/09

MISUSE OF THE GIFTS/IMMATURITY

Ballenger makes the point that the called have not reached perfection. It is a community is process. Bryant states outside of the Christian community individuals seek to elevate one’s self over others. “People strive to impress with their wealth, power, knowledge, reputation, and popularity. But as Paul sees it, the driving force of Christian fellowship cannot be proud self-assertiveness, jealousy, envy, anger or competitiveness.”[1] Ackerman presents Paul as stating gifts of the Spirit can be wonderful tools for the church only if they are filtered through the cross, but if used for self-service they can become the fuel for problems. Ackerman asserts that Paul wanted to set up a protective boundary of love and holiness around the Corinthian church (when addressing the issue of tongues). In order for this to happen, the believer has to have the mind of Christ, which imitates him by living a life of love as the Holy Spirit moves.


Boa warns of the dangers of abuse. He presents that spiritual gifts are not merely for personal use. They can be abused, however when the gifts are exercised in the power of the flesh. The discovery and use of spiritual gifts is not an option. It is the gifts that shapes one’s ministry. Spiritual gifts should not be a cause of discouragement. Development of the gifts requires time. Spiritual gifts should not be cause for pride. God gives the gifts as he chooses and they are not status symbols or trophies of ones achievements. Spiritual gifts should not be exalted. One should not exalt the gift above the gift Giver, God.


Hays warns that no one should boast about being “spiritual” no matter what gifts one may possess. All the manifestations of the Spirit are to serve God’s purpose for the benefit of the community. Kraus states, “instead what counts is evidence that those spiritual gifts are enabling the church to worship and witness in whatever culture it finds itself.”[2] The believer must be careful to present authentic gifts. These authentic gifts are in harmony with the character of Jesus Christ. They invigorate, they build up and they consol the body of believers. The beauty is the body is continually being changed, formed and transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. As the believer continues to present himself or herself as living sacrifices to God, the Holy Spirit can help the individual to remove selfish motives in the usage of the gifts. This is what maturity does in the body to unity them in purpose.

CONCLUSION

Mission was absolutely fundamental to the early church, as it rose from God’s own mission of drawing the lost into a right relationship. The church today must be rooted in God’s love to be energized and empowered to draw others. This is the mission of the church. This purpose is why God equipped each believer with spiritual gifts. The spiritual gifts were given to men by the Holy Spirit to prepare them to work in unity for the purpose of building each other, adding to the kingdom and glorifying God in the process. This writing has shown that love has been the driving force behind the mission of God. It is essential motivation for the believer to be enabled to use ones gift. If the motivation is done without love it becomes selfish and self-seeking. Waldrop states regarding the mission as fulfilled through Christ “ . . . finding its course in a mandate given by him to his followers who would form the Church empowered for mission by the Holy Spirit. In this way, the Church participates in the mission dei as sign, agent and sacrament unto the consummation of the reign of God as the eschanton.”[3]


The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts to the body to facilitate maturity in the body as she fulfills the purpose of why Christ left her here in this world. Therefore, it is love that is vital to the believer fulfilling the mission and being the sign to a dying world as the gifts are exhibited.



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[1] Robert A. Bryant, 2004. "Romans 12:1-8." Interpretation: A Journal of Bible & Theology 58, no. 3: 287-290. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed January 22, 2009).

[2] Norman C. Kraus, God Our Savior, 168.


[3] Richard E. Waldrop, "PENTECOSTAL PERSPECTIVES ON HOLISTIC CHURCH MISSION TODAY." Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies 10, no. 2: 178-191. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed January 23, 2009).