For those who are very privileged to be Holy Spirit-filled believers ~ and that is God’s will for every born-again believer ~ there are a number of gifts and ministries that He wants to be functioning in and through us. For too long these gifts and ministries have not been encouraged to operate as they should be operating. If we are serious about allowing the Lord to work through our lives then we need to allow the principles of Romans 12 to be a living reality within us. Our desire should be that God’s will is being fulfilled in our lives, so that in whatever way the Lord sees fit to use us, He will be able to do so ~ and get all the Glory.

Here is a vital key to enabling God to use us: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2, NKJV).

Following this Scripture Paul goes on to reveal some of the gifts and ministries God has for you and me. He tells us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think. When God manifests (reveals) Himself through us we are not to get puffed up.

God is a good God. Not only does He give us gifts and ministries, but He also gives us faith so that they can operate through us by the power of the Holy Spirit. We do not all have the same gifts, ministries or callings (Romans 12:4-6). You might ask, “What gift or ministry has the Lord given to me?” or “What is my calling in life?” As we present our bodies a living sacrifice to God He will show us. We are told to surrender ourselves to God so that we “may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The Bible is very definite on this.

WHAT ARE THESE GIFTS AND MINISTRIES?

Let us look at Romans 12:6-8. Here it mentions prophesying, ministering, teaching, exhorting, giving, leading and showing mercy. These gifts all differ in some way to one another, but there are two things we are all told to do. First: we are to WAIT upon that ministry or gift ~ and Second: we are to let it/them operate according to the measure of FAITH.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11. In 1 Corinthians 12 Paul reveals more gifts of the Holy Spirit In introducing the gifts he says: “No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” (v. 3). That word “Lord” means “Master”; and Jesus is not our Master until we have “presented our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service.” Paul tells us there are different gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit giving them. Gifts mentioned in this chapter are: the Word of Wisdom, the Word of Knowledge, Faith, Gifts of Healing(s), Working of Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of Spirits (good and bad), Many Kinds of Tongues, and the Interpretation of Tongues (v. 8-10). Notice what it says in verse 7: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit (“gain, benefit, advantage”) of all.” God has gifts that he wants manifesting and functioning in your life and mine. This is the purpose of the Holy Spirit ~ so we can be a worker together with Him. But Jesus has to be our Master.

In Ephesians 4:11 we read of the various ministries of the Holy Spirit: “And He Himself gave some to apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.” Notice that “HE gave” (we do not pick or choose). The following verses (12-16) reveal the reasons why the Lord has given these gifts and ministries:

“FOR THE EQUIPPING OF THE SAINTS”: God wants you and I to be equipped to function! “FOR THE WORK OF MINISTRY”: We are saved and called to serve! These gifts and ministries are given to enable us fulfil God’s purposes in our lives, through our lives and to help others to function in their God-given calling! “FOR THE EDIFYING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST”: “Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (v. 13). These gifts and ministries enable us to grow up into spiritual maturity and to be no longer “tossed to and fro” by all the many teachings that are prevalent today. God requires every believer (“joint”) to be contributing that which He has called us to. We have a responsibility to help perfect (“equip, mature”) and edify Christ’s Body here on earth today. This is no time to be sitting idle. Paul exhorted us to: “Stir up the gift of God which is in you . . .” (2 Timothy 1:6). Let us take these words to ourselves so that we will be doing our part, working effectively in that which God has already given us. When we all do our part, then there shall be growth in the Body of Christ: “But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him Who is the Head ~ Christ! from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16). “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).

God does not give us gifts for ourselves ~ they are to be ministered to others. For example, if God has given you a gift of prophecy (and “all may prophesy” – 1 Corinthians 14:31), then you should be prophesying to build up the people. If God has given you a ministry of giving, then you give unto others and don’t hold it to yourself. We minister unto others that which God has given us, as good stewards of His grace. Jesus Christ wants us to speak as the oracles (“utterances, voice”) of God, and to minister in that ability which He has given to us ~ that GOD in ALL THINGS be glorified through Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Peter 4:11)!