The Spirit Blows Where He Will

For these past two weeks I've posted studies on spiritual gifts, based upon Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4. Today I'd like to pull these studies together with a brief summary. This is, of course, only a small part of what could be said about this important part of life in the Christian community.

In speaking about spiritual gifts it is easy to overlook what the Bible teaches about the Holy Spirit and the work of the Spirit. It is easier to focus upon the recipients of the Spirit's gifts by fashioning various inventories and questionnaires so that the congregation can help members identify their gifts, put these members to work in order to grow in numbers and influence. Nowhere in any of the four texts examined are there any instructions given by the Apostles to carry on such a practice. Why not?

The answer to that question is found in the very nature of these inventories. Members are encouraged to look internally at their own experiences and feelings. Here are some questions from one such spiritual gifts discovery tool I found online:

1. I am successful at getting a group to do its work joyfully. 
2. I enjoy making something that is artistically appealing.
3. I can readily sense when someone is promoting God’s purposes or their own personal agenda.
4. I look for occasions to share what Jesus means to me with unchurched friends and neighbors.
5. I welcome opportunities to minister to people who need comfort, consolation, encouragement, and counseling.
6. I see life as an adventure and am not afraid to take risks if it moves God's work forward.
7. I have a real hunger for seeing others spending time together in the Word and in prayer.
8. Without hesitation, I give generously and freely to worthwhile projects and ministries.
9. I count it a privilege to relieve someone in a responsible position of some small task, so that they may attend to more important things.
10. I truly feel that the needs and well-being of others are more important than my own.

Note the emphasis upon 'I' this and 'I' that. I am successful, I enjoy, I sense, I look, I welcome, I see, I have a real hunger, I give, I count it a privilege, I truly feel, etc. Such an emphasis leads us away from the Word of God and from the Spirit speaking directly to our hearts from that Word. Instead we are encouraged to focus upon my experiences, my feelings, my viewpoints, my giving, my senses, etc.

Further, in the discussions of spiritual gifts, we are told that these are different from creaturely or natural gifts. So we are led to believe that the Holy Spirit only wants us to focus upon our spiritual gifts, for these are not the same as our natural gifts. So some would point out that a reborn and truly spiritual Christian will always speak in tongues. In this way, there are two types of Christians, e.g. believers and Spirit filled or born again believers. In that connection it is important to note that in those Scripture verses that speak about disciples being filled with the Spirit nothing is said to indicate that this filling is a permanent and continued gift. In other words, we do not own or control the Spirit. He blows when and where He will (Acts 2:4, 4:8,31; John 3:8). 

Above all the Scripture teaches that everything is by God's grace. The Spirit working in God's Word teaches that everything comes down from the Father as God's wondrous and unmerited gift. Our whole lives, our bodies, our personalities, our intellectual abilities, our artistic talents, our athletic skills, our powers of perception—everything we have and are has been redeemed by Christ and given to us. As Paul says,

What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? - 1 Cor 4:7 ESV

 All this we offer back to God in praise and worship as a living sacrifice. 

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. - Rom. 12:1 NLT

What the Spirit also teaches is that not only are we redeemed by Christ, we are members of his body. We are part of that community, that wondrous and varied body of believers in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. Speaking to the entire community in Corinth, Paul writes 

Do you not know that you (plural) are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? - 1 Cor 3:16 ESV

 So it is that we are the temple of God and the body of Christ and individually members one of the other. Each is important and each is God's gift to the other. So God intends that each of us is a gift to the other members of the body. Our unique personalities, experiences, gifts, abilities, talents and vocations are gifts of God through which God blesses others. Thus if I am a father, I have the calling to care for my children and to bless them through the uniqueness of who I am. If I am called to be a pastor-teacher, I have the opportunity and responsibility to bless the flock over which I am assigned with the teaching and application of God's Word. If I am a musician, I shall bless others with my music. So Paul writes,

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. - 1 Cor 12:4-7 ESV

It may be that spiritual gifts inventories could be used to help Christians discover their gifts. The cautions listed above are most important however. At most such inventories must be seen as tools toward the end of helping one another to give as they have received. Pride, discouragement and fear always lurk in our hearts because of sin. The Apostles speak to this as they emphasize in all these matters that we live by grace. It is in the Gospel and the forgiveness of sins for the sake of Christ that we find our life, our joy and our strength, never in the gifts we have or do not have.

Teachers of God's Word Are God's Gift To Us

We've been taking another look at spiritual gifts in the body of Christ, the church. We turn now to the second pair of texts commonly used in any discussion of gifts. However, before we go further it is vital that we take a look at the several Greek words translated into English as gift.

• Charisma—What is usually called a spiritual gift (1 Cor. 1:7, 12:4-31), including faith, healing, prophecy, tongues, etc. Love (Agape) is the greatest of the three eternal gifts that include faith and hope (1 Cor. 13:13). 
• Charisma—Also used to speak of salvation. The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 5:15-16, 6:23). Refers to God's mercy toward both Jews and Gentiles. He is the Giver of all things (Rom. 11:29-36). 
• Dōma—Gifts parents give to their children (Matt. 7:11). Sometimes gifts are given and receivers are expected to return the favor (Phil. 4:17), something Paul did not seek. 
• Dōsis—Gifts churches give to support others (Phil. 4:15). A good thing, like Doma, that comes down from God the Father (James 1:17; Matt. 7:11). 
• Dōron—God's free gift is that we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8; Rom 3:24). Because we have received this gift by grace (charis), in gratitude and praise we offer back our lives (bodies) to God as as living sacrifices  (Rom. 12:1). 
• Dōrehma—Any free gift, also called a complete or perfect gift, from the heavenly Father (James 1:17; Rom. 5:16). 
• Dōrea—The Holy Spirit, the living water (John 4:10; Acts 2:38). Grace is also called a Dōrea (Rom 3:24, 5:15). 

The Apostles and Evangelists exhaust their vocabulary in speaking about gifts in order to emphasize that everything, everything we have is a gift, undeserved, unearned and certainly something that can never be given back to God as a way of earning His mercy and forgiveness. As Paul says, 

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. - Rom 11:33-36 ESV (cf. Job 41:11). 

With this clearly in mind, we turn to Ephesians 4. We have each received God's grace, says the Apostle. How and when God measures out that grace is in God's hands. Whatever gifts we have are truly gifts, unearned and undeserved (Eph.4:7). We are therefore urged to use our gifts to serve one another as stewards or managers. So Peter writes, confirming what Paul has said,

As each has received a gift (charisma), use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: - 1Pe 4:10 ESV

 Paul continues, 

Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts (Dōmata) to men." (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) - Eph 4:8-10 ESV

What particular gifts (Dōmata) does the ascended Christ give to His people, His body, the church? He lists four groups of people:

1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Evangelists
4. Shepherd-teachers (pastors)

Remember how Paul emphasizes the importance of Apostles, Prophets and Teachers in his letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 12:28)? These people bring the Word of God to the Body. The Spirit works through that Word to create, sustain and strengthen faith in Christ (Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 4:15). Faith in Christ is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God's gift. All and everything is God's gift. And since God does everything through His Word, those called to proclaim and teach God's Word are
absolutely essential to the body. Their task, writes the Apostle, is

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. - Eph 4:12-16 ESV

The body is how Christ manifests Himself here on this earth (1 Cor. 12:27). This body is a living organism made up of many members. The head of the body is Christ Himself (Eph. 5:23). We each are members of His body, joined and held together by the joints, the places and times where and when we come together. Nurtured and nourished by the Spirit through the Word, we grow together into Christ. And as the body of Christ we strive together to share the message of God's love so that others too may receive the grace of God.

Part of the difficulty we face in dealing with this particular text in the context of our discussion of spiritual gifts is the disagreement about this list of four gifts. Are they offices in the church? Are the bishops or overseers (Acts 20:28) the people who have inherited the office of the apostles? Did Christ establish a distinctive ordering of those called into these offices? And what about those spiritual gifts discovery tools that suggest that any member of the church may potentially have the gift of pastor or teacher or prophet or apostle?

To answer these and related questions would take us far, far afield. We'd have to review the long history of clergy vs. laity, the teaching about vocations and callings and the distinctions between various levels of clergy. I'm not going there. Perhaps another day.

Suffice it to say for now that in Ephesians 4 Paul emphasizes the vital importance of those who proclaim and teach the Word of God in the body of Christ. Through those gifted by the Holy Spirit and called to these tasks the Spirit strengthens and grows the body to maturity. These people are gifts for which we give thanks and praise to God. We could not survive without them.

Spiritual Gifts Talk: Law or Gospel

We're taking another look at the issue of Spiritual Gifts.

You are probably well aware that everything written in Holy Scripture is either Law or Gospel. The primary purpose of the Law (Matt. 22:36-40) is to reveal our sin. The Law may also be used to curb sin, particularly in the hearts and lives of those outside God's kingdom. Some speak about a third use, namely to provide a guide to understanding how to practice a life of obedience to God and love of our neighbors.

The Gospel, on the other hand, is always about Jesus Christ, God's Son and our Savior. It is the wonderful story of God loving our sinful and rebellious world so much that He sent His only Son into our world to be united forever with us, to bear the weight of our transgressions and to win for us forgiveness and life eternal (Isa.53:1-12; John 3:14-18).

So far we've looked at the two '12' passages in the NT that speak about spiritual gifts. Are these passages Law or are they Gospel? In both Paul begins with the Gospel. He emphasizes that we are members of Christ's body by the free grace of God. Thus in Romans 12 he urges us to approach other members of Christ's body with sober judgment and with humility. We have a variety of ways to serve, so let us use what we have received with zeal and cheerfulness, loving one another with brotherly affection. Here he is using the Law in its third form, as a guide. He continues: outdo one another in showing honor, be fervent in spirit, rejoice in hope, be constantly praying, contribute to the needs of the saints, seek ways to show hospitality, and so forth.

He has the same concern in 1 Corinthians 12. It was God's undeserved grace that empowered you to declare Jesus to be God and LORD. It is the same triune God, Spirit, Son and Father (note the reverse order), who empowers each and every member of the body of Christ and pours out a wide variety of gifts. We need every gift. No one is to exalt him or herself above others because of a certain gift. Of course, essential to the very life of the body are the gifts of God's Word, the apostles, prophets and teachers. Yet love must guide everyone in the use of these gifts. The apostle spells this out in detail in the next chapter. This is all third use of the Law stuff. The motivating power, the Gospel, is always talk about Jesus and His love. But when you start talking about the how to, then you are back into the Law. How to talk does not motivate. Only the Spirit at work in the Gospel and the forgiveness of sins can do that.

And finally, notice that nowhere does the Apostle give any guidance or any suggestion that members of the Body of Christ should use this or that tool to "discover" his or her spiritual gifts. The Spirit will manifest Himself in your life. Gifts and opportunities to serve will be given. Trust in the Spirit. In fact, in the two thousand year history of the church no one ever suggested that this discovery thing be done. Why not? And why has it surfaced now? It almost sounds as if we are looking for some kind of formula, some kind of method to—dare I say it—get God to do OUR will and grow our churches. Almost. I hope not. We must look at that question later.

With all this in mind, next week I will take up a discussion of the two '4' passages so often quoted in the many discussions of spiritual gifts: Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4.

Spiritual Gifts And I Corinthians 12

We are looking carefully at the primary passages used in current discussions of spiritual gifts. We examined Romans 12. We move on now to the second '12' passage, I Cor. 12. I discussed that chapter in an earlier post about psychics and mediums. Much remains to be said, especially about the Apostle Paul's teaching on spiritual gifts.

As in his letter to the Romans, chp. 12, Paul emphasizes that faith in Jesus as the LORD (YHWH of the OT—Exod. 3:13-14, etc.) is God's gracious and good gift. Jesus Himself taught this to Nicodemus as He emphasized the need for rebirth from above (John 3:3-6). Everything depends upon God's gracious gift of life in the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 12:3). After creating new life in Christ the Spirit empowers believers to offer their entire lives as living sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving.

OK. Fundamental. But there's more to be said. So now, let's take a look at three distinctions or parts of this life in Christ among the members of Christ's body. How is this life in the Spirit divided, apportioned, distributed and sorted out among the members of the body (Luke 15:12)? It all depends upon the Spirit who does the empowering and manifesting of His life for the good of the entire body of Christ. Paul emphasizes three things. There are varieties or different kinds of . . .

• gifts (charismata)
• service (diakonia)
• activities or energies (energmata)

And all of it is the gracious gift of the same Spirit, Lord and God—Holy Spirit, Son and Father—revealing and manifesting themselves in the life of the Body for the good of all members (1 Cor. 12:4-7). Having said that, the Apostle will now demonstrate how this life of the Spirit works out among the members of Christ's body here on the earth.

Through, according to and by the same Spirit one or the other member of the Body is given . . .

• the utterance of wisdom
• the utterance of knowledge
• gifts of healing
• working of miracles or mighty works (Mark 6:5)
• prophecy 
• ability to distinguish between spirits
• various kinds of tongues
• the interpretation of tongues (1 Cor. 12:8-10)

Paul doesn't say who gets what gift and when. That's the Spirit's work. He doesn't say that the gifts are given permanently. That may be implied, but certainly not taught. Nor does He even say that a believer is to discover and own his gift. He simply says that all members of the Body, regardless of race or social status, drink from the same fountain, the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). The Spirit energizes and empowers each member to serve in whatever manner, whenever and wherever He chooses.

And he points out that the Body needs every member, just as our individual bodies need eyes, ears and noses. In fact, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker or unpresentable are indispensable. The Body needs each and every member. We are all the Body of Christ and individually members of it (1 Cor. 12:27).

Finally, Paul points out that God has first (prohtos in Greek) appointed apostles in the church, second prophets and third teachers (1 Cor. 12:28-29). The Apostles are first in rank, influence and honor. They are part of the church's foundation. They are the ones who were with Jesus Himself, heard Him teach, witnessed His power and His resurrection (Acts 1:13-26). They received the Holy Spirit through Him (John 20:21-23). Consequently, whenever apostles and prophets are listed, the Apostles are always listed first. So we read . . .

• . . . built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, - Eph 2:20 ESV
• And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherd-teachers, - Eph 4:11 ESV

The Apostles now serve the Body with the Word, the Gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ. They demonstrate and proclaim Jesus as the fulfillment and center of all the teachings and prophecies of the Old Covenant. Now the Spirit works through the Word of the Apostles to create and sustain faith. That's why these gifts and these gifted people are so vital to the on-going life of the Body.

The prophets, evangelists and shepherd-teachers follow the Apostles in rank and importance, especially since theirs' is also the service, ministry and gift of teaching and proclaiming the Apostolic Word. We don't have room here to discuss what the Apostle Paul means here by the higher or greater gifts (charismata ta meizona in Greek). That would require us to move into chapter 13. Such a study will have to remain for another time. Instead from here we move on to the first of the two '4's', Ephesians 4.

We Are Living Sacrifices

At one point in my ministry as the pastor of a growing suburban congregation I was quite caught up in the fervor of the Church Growth Movement. I wanted to provide leadership to the people I served. I wanted them to discover their spiritual gifts so that we might work together to promote the kingdom of  God—and, of course, grow the numbers of our congregation.

For myself, I believed I had gifts of leadership, teaching and compassion. In turn, I wanted the members of my parish to learn what their gifts were and find joy in using them in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ. To assist them in their discovery, we made wide use of spiritual gift discovery tools. One member discovered that he had the gift of leadership. Another discovered that she had the gift of mercy. Yet another discovered that he had the gift of evangelism. And so it went. 

Now many years later I must apologize for my failure to study the Scriptures with diligent care. I must apologize for my inadequate interpretation and teaching about this vital issue.  All I can say is that I was not alone. For a detailed history of the spiritual gifts inventories in the context of the church growth movement, turn to Spiritual Gifts, a 1994 pdf. document developed by the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod's Commission on Theology and Church Relations. As the study says,

"proponents of the Church Growth Movement assume that certain gifts have already been given to all Christians at some point in time. They maintain that every Christian possesses at least one gift and that many have several gifts in varying numbers, degrees, and variations. This is the basis for the belief that if the church can mobilize its people to discover, develop and use their particular gift(s), it cannot help but grow in numbers and vitality." 

There it is. Discover, develop and use and your church cannot help but grow in numbers and vitality! What church would not want such a thing? It was an out and out formula for success!

But is that what God's Word teaches? In my next posts I invite you to join me as I take a second look at four critical spiritual gift passages. In the Church Growth Movement it is customary to speak about the two 12's and two 4's: Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and I Peter 4. Let's look at them one at a time, starting with Paul's letter to the Romans. Here's how he starts out chapter 12:

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. - Rom 12:1-5 ESV

 The therefore is based upon Paul's celebration of God's mercy in the previous chapter: "How unsearchable his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" His conclusion is based up a conflation of several OT passages (Job 36:22; Isa. 40:13; Jer. 23:18). He concludes

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. - Rom 11:36 ESV

Therefore, based upon this inscrutable, unsearchable and incomprehensible mercy, what can believers do but present their bodies as living sacrifices? Whatever is that? Ordinarily sacrifices in the OT rituals were animals like an unblemished sheep from a man's flock. For instance, if a man touched the carcass of an unclean wild animal or the dead body of any person, if he found something lost and lied about it or robbed someone or swore falsely he must bring a sacrificial offering. The sheep or goat was then killed and parts of it burned on altar. The rest of the animal belonged to the priest (cf. Lev.12-13; Leviticus 19:21-22).

So what's with living sacrifices? The writer to the Hebrews clarifies this. He points out that all the gifts and sacrifices of the Old Covenant were symbolic of the present age. They were parables, acted out demonstrations. Believers were to see, feel, taste and smell the death of these animals and so conclude that the animal's death was what they deserved. But instead they received mercy (Hebrews 9:9). He then concludes,

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. - Hebrews 9:11-15 ESV

Christ's sacrifice of His own body is a fulfillment of all the Old Covenant pointed to. God's mercy has now been clearly revealed.  Therefore a believer is to present his body as a living sacrifice. This body is God's creation, bearing the very image of God (Gen. 1:27-31). This body is not in contrast to the soul, as in Greek thought, and therefore somehow inferior. No indeed, this body is joined to the LORD Jesus, one spirit with Him (1 Cor. 6:14-17). And this body refers to the whole person, the self. It is interchangeable with the concept of the whole man. Thus when Paul urges us believers to present our bodies, he is urging us to present our whole lives, everything we do, say, think and feel as living sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to our great High Priest, Jesus Christ.

Notice further that when he speaks about living sacrifice, he does not use a word for mere biological existence. No indeed this verb (zaoh in Greek) refers to the life of God, that life created by the Holy Spirit, in believers baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the life that empowers the believer to say with Paul,

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Gal. 2:20 ESV

Our entire persons are thus set apart for God as living sacrifices. The undeserved yet very real life we have, this life of God's Spirit at work within us, this bodily life, we offer back to Him. This is the only thing that makes sense now. This is truly the way to worship God—with all our heart, soul, mind and body, our entire existence. To quote another translation of this passage,

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice--the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. - Rom. 12:1 NLT

OK, now Paul wants to drive this home by way of illustration and example. And notice that he does not present an inventory of so-called spiritual gifts. Granted, we are all different, but each believer is made alive by the working of God's Holy Spirit. So we take what we have and who we are and offer it back to God by sacrificially serving the other members of Christ's body. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them. Here are some examples:

• if you prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you
• if service is your gift, serve
• if you teach, teach well
• if your gift is to encourage and exhort, be encouraging
• if it is giving, give generously
• if you have leadership ability, take your responsibility seriously and lead with zeal
• if you have the gift of kindness and mercy, do it gladly
• let your love be genuine; love one another as brothers and sisters
• contribute to the needs of the saints and practice hospitality

And so forth and so on. Do what you can. Listen to your heart. Use your whole life to serve. Offer your bodies as living sacrifices and humbly walk in faith, trusting in the guidance of God's Spirit. "We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other" (Rom. 12:5).

Notice again that the Apostle does not propose the use of some tool to discover your own personal spiritual gift(s). He rather simply and profoundly urges that we open ourselves to the transforming and renewing power of God's Spirit. Then we will be able to discern what is God's will and what is good, God pleasing, perfect and complete. Above all he urges us to remain humble, thinking of ourselves soberly, measuring ourselves by the faith God has given (Rom. 12:2-3).

We move on to the second 12 next time.