ECCLESIA – The Platform for Corporate Worship (Part Six: the conclusion)
FOSTERING COPORATE WORSHIP: THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS
The gift of Tongues: This is the most important gift given by the holy spirit to the New Testament church. It is the uncommon supernatural gifting of speaking in an unknown tongue, just as the Spirit will give utterance. As important as this gift is, it is not a requirement for the rapture, even though it is promised to all believers alike. But the prerogative is of the holy spirit. Therefore, to operate in this gift, you need a total surrender unto God, who will break down your heart of stone and build in you a contrite spirit. Note, however, the gift of tongues is not to be taught, but it is a supernatural endowment as the holy spirit deems fit, just as it started from the upper room in the narratives of the apostles. (Acts 2:1-13)
The gift of interpretation of tongues: This is the least desired of the gifts of the Spirit. It is the ability to be able to translate into a known and understandable form of literacy and communication from an unknown tongue. This can be done by another person other than the one speaking in tongues or by the same person. All is by the endowment of the holy spirit. This should be the most common and most craved of the spiritual gifts because as Apostle Paul describes it that anyone who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks mysteries and it is void of reason if it is not interpreted (1 Corinthians 14:2). This imply that, there is no understanding and clarity in the message being transmitted in tongues. The church of today should endeavour to exhort and educate people on this particular gift, so as to be full of revelation, where the self is crucified for the manifestation of the holy spirit.
The gift of intercession: I refer to this gift as the link bridge gift between man and God. It is the act of speaking to God and standing in prayer for someone else, another community, another church, another territory, another family, someone else’s project and so on. It requires a very big sacrifice of self-denial. Nobody can take up this office except he is being endowed from above. People with this kind of grace are empathic in nature, full of concern for other people. These people just have a compelling desire by the holy spirit to bring other people’s issues to God without hesitation and without permission to engage.
The gift of Miracle: This gift is the ability to restore hope and strengthen the fainthearted by the showing of supernatural rehabilitation of a dead situation which has defied all odds. With the giftings of the workings of miracles, things happen with a sound proof of raising the dead or restoring the blind to sight, speech to the mute, hearing to the deaf, and the use of limbs to the lame, restoration of dead internal organs, multiple birth to the barren, crushing of terminal diseases and so on (Acts 9:36-42) It is the most celebrated gifts of this dispensation and because of the desperation of the people and their vulnerability, assets have been lost, trust have been shattered, integrity is questioned, moral values are fading just because we want to be part of the trend. Don’t forget, it is a gifting by the holy spirit and he chooses who to use per time and for a particular situation.
The gift of leadership: This is a gift that is usually overlooked but is very essential for the growth of a church community. It is the ability to understand a given assignment and communicate it to others without leaving any information out. Beyond that, a leader can help the individual maximise his or her potential for the sake of the common goals. Consequently, they know what to say per time, they know how to say what, and they have mastery of human and material resources. Their pride is in the collective success of a targeted goal or objectives. They are usually the engine power of the church organisation. If a church is to succeed, there is a need to identify people like these and strategically position them for the overall achievement of the set dreams and visions (1 Timothy 3:1-3)
The gift of Help: This is the gift that showcases the ability to answer to the needs of people and that of the church, such that their work enhances the ministry and the sent representative of God. They are readily willing and available, they are always happy to serve, they do not need to be coerced or enforced, and the passion to support people runs in their veins. No burden is too heavy for them to bear for the church or a neighbour (1 Cor. 12:28). This kind of gift helps the church to easily embark on community service, taking the gospel of the love of Christ to the erring soul
The gift of Mercy: This is the gift that exhibits compassion towards everybody, saved and unsaved. With the virtue of patience, they have the ability to understand the suffering of the people, both physically and spiritually, to be able to bear with them and go along the path of their understanding. By the reason of their gift, they empathise with a victim in times of need and can offer relevant help and support. They don’t feel imposed upon, but God open their inner eyes to behold the state of things with the people around them in other to render a helping hand (Galatians 6:2). Founded on God’s love, this people can feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, cloth the naked, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, bury the dead, and console the bereaved. They do all this not because they have all the resources in the world, but because they have the calling to do so and are compelled by the holy spirit.
Gift of Service: This is the gift that inspires a believer to render any service or help to the church, cooperate services or an individual without a blink. Love, compassion, and expertise in the relevant field are the forte of this group of talented individuals. They are usually behind the scenes, producing content for the ministry, dedicating all their time and energy to complete a given task. They are more of work and less of a walk. They are strategically positioned in the society, and divinely endowed to carry out any activity with which they can accomplish a desired goal (Acts 6:1-7)
The best thing about the discussion of spiritual gifts is that everyone is given at least one of the spiritual gifts of the holy Spirit, whether you acknowledge it or not. Your passion in life generally will lead you to identify the gift you are endowed with because the obligation falls on you, and you can easily take the responsibility without any form of lukewarmness. All of the spiritual gifts discussed can be classified into the following for the sake of identification of responsibility.
Ministerial gifts
Revelatory gifts
Vocal gifts
Power or authoritative gifts
The ideal church must know that these gifts are essential for the growth of the church through the holy spirit. It is the time of great harvest for the Lord, and appointing people to occupy a position they are not fit for will result in the outright collapse of the church, and such will give the devil ample opportunity to rain fire on the church of God. A cooperate church laced with the gifts of the Spirit is a church that is actually worshipping God in truth and in spirit, and they shall be well established and flourish.
From the perspective of the leader of the church, allow the holy spirit to guide you in appointing individuals to specific positions in the church so as to guarantee excellence. While a spiritual gift can be developed, it does require a supernatural ability to exercise it. Jesus, the owner of the church, is counting on you in this last rush hour to the rapture; you are expected to hold the fort till he returns.