We as the church, believe in the reality, existence and availability of spiritual gifts for the Believer in Christ of the 1990’s. Further, our belief is also that these, “gifts” are to be understood Biblically in three distinct areas of application:
- The Motivational Gifts, (Rom 12:3-8).
- The Gifts of the Spirit, (I Cor 12:8-10).
- The Governmental Gifts or 5-fold Ministry, (Eph 4:7-12).
First, the Motivational Gifts, are in essence, a listing of spiritual “enablements” given by God to the individual; thus, depicting their individual sources of life motivation. These inherent attributes thus become the “flame” or driving force of each person with the concomitant signs evident in each person’s life for others to see, (i.e. those with the gift of mercy, will be easily touched with the feelings of another’s infirmities, and always be prone to exude an empathetic spirit etc.), (Rom 12:8).
Second, the Gifts of the Spirit can best be understood as those gifts which are wrought and produced only by the Holy Spirit, spontaneously manifested, and whose chief purpose is to work for the common good of the Body of Christ via the meeting of human needs by supernatural means, (See I Cor 14:24-25).
The Holy Spirit moves graciously, powerfully and sovereignly whenever and wherever He is allowed to move without human logic or carnal restriction. The gifts of the Spirit are available to every believer, for God is no respecter of persons, (Mk 16:17-18). Whenever one avails themself to the Holy Spirit’s movings and inspirations, they then truly are candidates for usability in His supernatural dimension, (I Cor 12:4-7).
Last, the Governmental Gifts, or “5-fold” ministry gifts as they are sometimes called, are those gifts related to governing or leading in the house of the Lord. It refers to the titled or established leadership in the midst of God’s people.
We believe fully in the present-day existence and indispensability of the offices of the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher. These offices or types of God-given gifts differ from gifts of an “everyday” sense in in major ways:
- There is a definite and distinct call of God upon this person’s life for full-time ministerial service.
- Due to the depth and nature of this calling, the degree and expression of their gifts will be somewhat more sharpened, defined and public-oriented as opposed to an occasional usage of someone by the Holy Spirit- wonderful as that may be!
Some ministries believe and teach that the offices of the Apostle and Prophet no longer exist, having been done away with subsequent to the original Apostolic Age, (approx. 96AD). This opinion, we contend, lies contrary to the clear, consistent flow and pattern of Scripture. Further, we contend that this opinion also is found contrary to the revealed character, nature and external purposes of God — ongoing and alive in Christ and His Church!, (Heb 13:8; Mal 3:6; Eph 4:11-17).