Bruce Galloway Ministry » Ministry Gifts Syllabus

THE MINISTRY GIFTS By Kenneth E Hagin

Lesson I. CHRIST'S PROVISION FOR HIS CHURCH

A. He gave. The Lord Jesus Christ gave these ministry gifts.

EPHESIANS4:11

11 And HE GAVE some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;

and some, pastors and teachers.

B. When did He give them? When He ascended on High taking with Him the Old Testament saints who since their physical death had awaited in Paradise (Abraham's bosom) the consummation of God's great plan of redemption.

EPHESIANS 4:8-10

8 Wherefore he saith, WHEN HE ASCENDED UP ON HIGH, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

C. From where did He give ministry gifts? These ministry gifts came (and come) from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself when He ascended and sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on High.

D. For what purpose did He give these ministry gifts ?

EPHESIANS 4:12

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

1. For the perfecting of the saints.

The Greek word (KATARTISMOS) translated "perfecting," according to W. E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, denotes a fitting or preparing fully, implying a process leading to consummation.

If one purpose for which the ministry gifts are given is the perfecting of the saints, will they ever reach maturity without them? No.

2. For the work of the ministry.

3. For the edifying of the Body of Christ.

E. For how long did the Lord Jesus Christ give the ministry gifts?

EPHESIANS 4:13

13 TILL WE ALL COME in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, UNTO A PERFECT MAN, UNTO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULNESS OF CHRIST.

The ministry gifts are Christ's provision to the Church to build up, edify, and mature the saints.

An erroneous teaching which surfaced some time ago stressed what it termed "body ministry." (And there is a certain truth to that. God does use everyone.) But some taught, "We don't need pastors and ministers any longer. God is not using ministers anymore. God has a different program now."

The Scripture says that He gave these gifts to men, "TILL WE ALL COME . . . unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

Until Jesus comes, "all of us" as a body of believers will never come to that place of maturity. When Jesus comes, some spiritual babies will just have been born into the family of God. They will not have had time to mature.

These ministry gifts are God's program for the maturing of the saints until Christ comes for His own.

13 TILL WE ALL COME in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, UNTO A PERFECT MAN, UNTO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULNESS OF CHRIST:

14 THAT WE HENCEFORTH BE NO MORE CHILDREN, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, MAY GROW UP INTO HIM in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

1. We need all five ministry gifts working together to bring the Body of Christ unto full stature in Christ.

3. The ministry gifts Christ placed in the Church help us grow up into His image.

5. Some areas of Christendom have not matured beyond a certain stage of growth because they recognize only two or three ministry gifts: evangelist and pastor, and sometimes teacher.

Summary: The ultimate aim of all ministry is not for self glory or to magnify the human in any way. It is entirely to edify and mature the Body of Christ. It takes all these ministries functioning together to edify — build up — the Body of Christ.