ROMANS UNWRAPPED 196

"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that teacheth on teaching; or he that exhorteth on exhortation; he that giveth let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth with diligience; he that showeth mercy with cheerfulness."   Romans 12v6-8

Paul now enumerates seven different gifts; bear in mind, these are gifts from God, we do not possess them within ourselves, they have been freely given to us so they should be operated in a spirit of humility.   This list would not be exhaustive but illustrative of the kind of gifts God gives for the benefit of His church.  In the course of time it will become clear to each of us into which category our gift comes and we are to use it, demonstrating a godly attitude towards it.   Unlike the epistle to Corinthians, there is no mention of the "sign" gift5, so it would appear those more spectacular gifts were already on the wane.

• The gift of prophecy   -   This gift which according to Paul was to be greatly desired, was the ability to be the mouthpiece of God in different situations.   These were divine utterances directly through human agents, and were more necessary in the absence of scripture writings (see Exodus 4v15-16; Exodus 7v1-2;2nd Peter 1v21).   It is my view that this gift is no longer in evidence today; the apostle Peter said in 2nd Peter 2v1  "There were false prophets among the people, even as there SHALL BE false teachers among you."   Also Paul's words in Ephesians 2v20  "Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets"," seem to suggest that prophets along with apostles were foundational gifts, and are no longer present.   Neverthelesss in the early church this was a very important gift.
• The gift of ministry   -   The word is "diakonos" and literally means "table waiters"."   This is a gift of a more practical nature and the first mention of it is in Acts 6v1-6 when they appointed people to look after the daily ministration.   This is very much behind the scenes ministry, very necessary for the function of God's work.   A reading of 1st Timothy 3v8-13 would reveal that this work requires those of a godly nature to be carrying it through.   This is a huge work in the church and those who are so gifted should give themselves to it.
• The gift of teaching   -   "Didaktos"  a systematic teaching of the revealed word of God both Old and New Testament.   This differs from prophecy in that it is the gift of teaching from what has been written down, whereas prophecy was a direct supernatural utterance from God.   This gift will require tremendous dedication and long hours of study and a divinely given ability to communicate.
• The gift of exhortation   -   The word is "paraklesis"  which means a "drawing alongside."   Such a person is a people person with the ability to draw alongside God's people in a godly way to encourage, to console, to strengthen, to persuade, to apply the teaching of God to their lives.
• The gift of giving   -   This is largely of material possessions and would require riches granted by God for distribution to the necessity of the saints (Ephesians 4v28; 1st Timothy 6v17-19).   We can all be givers, but there are some who have a special gift.   Those who have it are to do it with liberality (see 2nd Corinthians 8v2; 2nd Corinthians 9v7).
• The gift of ruling   -   Every organization needs an oversight, someone to preside over.   The word used literally means "to stand before" and brings in that element of decision making and control necessary in the church (see 1st Thessalonians 5v12;1st Timothy 3v4-; 1st Timothy 5v17).   Those who rule are to do so with diligence, not to turn a blind eye  to things going wrong, but to in a godly way point out where correction would be necessary.
• The gift of showing mercy   -   literally, the gift of compassion.   There will always be those in any community who are going through hard times, it may be ill health; it may be a spiritual problem; it may be a business failure.   God has gifted people with the ability to help in situations like that.   Those who have the gift are to do it with cheerfulness.   Such a person would have to be a very positive person and one with god given compassion.

All these gifts are to be recognized as to be coming from God and to be used in a godly manner for the benefit and health of the body of Christ. There is no need for any of us to be unemployed in the things of God.