gift givers

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” - Mk 10.42-45

John Wimber would say, "An elder is as an elder does. Let's see who elds." That is, it's not about the title given to you, it's about what you are doing with what the Father has given you.

This is an especially important concept in regard to the gifts of the Spirit. These gifts are for every Christian. There is no concept of "good" Christians or "bad" Christians. The gifts aren't dispensed based on how long or short one has been a believer. It doesn't even depend on level of maturity - the Bible is replete with stories of the immature being used by God.

The reason for this is that the gifts are for the receiver not the messenger. The one "delivering the gift" is simply passing on to the receiver what the Father is giving. The only thing the messenger really provides is being available.

In 1 Co 12 Paul describes some of these gifts and their purpose. The word for "manifestation" is "phanerosis". Mel Robeck is said to have described this as "the dancing hand of God". It is God that moves on the gathered people and causes them to participate in mutually edifying ways. We don't carry the gifts around with us. The Holy Spirit provides what He wills at the time for the building up of the body and the redeeming from darkness into the light. The question for us is will we be available. The concept has been termed gracelets (here, here, and child-level here). The gifts are not badges or awards, they are simply tools that God gives as needed.

Are you available to be used by God in this way?

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