Equipping the Saints: Gifts of the Spirit (Part 3)

Roles, Gifts, Ministries, and Offices

A.   Roles:  There are things that one does as part of being a member of the Body of Christ that operate completely within the realm of natural (God-given) abilities.  We give, we pray, we give time to the church, we tell others about Jesus.  These things require nothing more than obedience and at times risk taking.

B.   Gifts:  At times while we perform our roles God gives us a gift to help us at a specific time, in a specific situation, and for a specific reason.  John Wimber called these times, when God shows up in power while we are exercising our roles within the Body, “Gracelets”.  A Gracelet is a manifestation of a Spiritual Gift.

C.   Ministry:  A person will tend to operate more in some areas of gifting than others do.  For example, I may find that God works more often when I am in an evangelism situation, but less often when I pray for healing.  If this is happening, and I start to operate in this area more and more, it is likely that God is giving me a Ministry of evangelism.

D.   Office:  God will elevate some people beyond Ministry to Office.  When the ministry of a certain individual becomes prominent and is recognized by the Church, then it becomes an Office.  The lines and distinctions between these levels are not Scriptural per se.  These classifications represent a system of understanding that has been built around Scriptural teaching and historical experience with Spiritual Gifts.  Terminology aside, however, the progression is real.  Taking the risk to exercise the Role unleashes the Gifts, which gives rise to Ministry, which may lead to Office.

7. The Impartation of Gifts


A.   Direct, Unsolicited Impartation by God:  God can do whatever He sees fit.  There are times when He unleashes a Spiritual Gift in an individual who is neither seeking not anticipating it.

B.   Direct Impartation by God in Response to Prayer:  God can impart gifts as a result of prayer by the one seeking the gift or by the intercessory prayer of someone else.

C.   Impartation by the Laying On of Hands:  A common New Testament practice is the impartation of Spiritual Gifts through the laying on of hands.  Most of the time the impartation elevated the recipient from one level of gifting to another, or it equipped them with specific giftings for a particular task.  Through the laying on of hands an addition level of power and authority is imparted.

D.   The Passing of a Mantle:  Ministries and offices may be given to an individual through the passing of a Mantle.  The terminology comes from 1 Kings  2:11-14 when Elijah is taken up to heaven and all that is left behind is his cloak.  As Elisha took up Elijah’s cloak, which was the symbol of his authority as prophet, the gifting that had been Elijah’s was passed on to him.  Scripture goes on to show that Elisha had a much greater “signs and wonders” ministry than Elijah did.

     In the same sense, Jesus passed His mantle on to His disciples. (Matthew 16:19, John 14:12)  Jesus passed the authority that had been given Him to His disciples.  They received their office by the passing along of His mantle.  We can pray to receive such an anointing as Elisha did, but as is true with everything else in the Spiritual Gift realm, it all happens at the discretion of the Holy Spirit.

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