Revelation 2:17 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.
Two weeks ago, we studied about being victorious over the law, sin, and death. Last week we studied about the hidden manna. Now we are ready to study the white stone with the new name.
Paul Dickson has written a book entitled, “What’s In a Name?” In that book, he shares some of the most unusual names he’s come across.
How would you like to have any of these for your name? Cletus Clodfelter, Rotten Earp, Jinglebells Kaplan, and Boomfa Umfumpa. A man who’s last name is Odor. His parents gave him the first name of Ivan! Ivan Odor!
Dickson also writes that some people seem to be destined to certain occupations by their names. Joe Bunt became a baseball coach. Dan Druff became a barber. Two men with the last names of Goforth and Ketchum actually became partners in a police force. Would you feel secure hiring a plaster contractor by the name of Will Crumble? My own dentist is Doctor Hatchet.
Then of course the Lane brothers, Winner and Loser. Winner Lane became a petty criminal. Loser Lane became a policeman. As you can see, calling someone a winner will not make them a winner. Nor will calling someone a loser make them a loser.
Once you have accepted the gift of salvation and have matured in the word, God is prepared to reveal to you who you really are. And He reveals it by revealing your ministry. And He reveals your ministry through the gifts that He gave his Bride, the Church.
I knew a man who was getting ready to go to war in Vietnam. He wanted to marry his love before he left. His reason was so she would be provided if he were killed in action. It was his concern for her future that led him to marry quicker than planned.
Jesus also left his Bride behind when He ascended into heaven. And He wanted to be sure that his Bride was provided for. So he left her some gifts. Today we will look at these gifts and discover what your white stone name might be.
Ephesians 4:11-12 “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.”
When the Bible speaks of the church, it speaks of the universal church. It’s the church united as a whole. It goes beyond locations because it is the people and not the building. It goes beyond denominations because it’s the kingdom and not man’s theology. These four things; apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers are often referred to as the offices of the church. But what I want for us to discover today is that goes beyond a role to play in the church. It is designed to equip us to build God’s church.
Now, let’s talk about the church on a smaller base. Let’s talk about the church that we call whitestone ministry. As I look around the room, I count a total of 12 people here. That’s not a bad number. I read a book everyday about a man who did wonders with 12 people. If I were to ask you “Are you an apostle?” how would you answer? How about a prophet? Are you an evangelist? Certainly, you are not a pastor and teacher. That’s my job. But after today, you may feel differently. Let’s look at each gift.
The gift of apostles
Luke 6:12-13 “One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak, he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:”
Jesus had many disciples. Jesus was a rabbi, which meant teacher. The disciples were his students. Out of his students, He called twelve to be more than just students. He called twelve to be his ambassadors. They were his representatives carrying the message that was first delivered by him. They were his envoy.
Some believe that when the 12 apostles died so did that role. However, the scripture says otherwise.
2 Corinthians 5:19-20 “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, ‘Come back to God!’”
While Secretary of State during the Regan presidency, George Shultz kept a large globe in his office. When newly appointed ambassadors had an interview with him and when ambassadors returning from their posts for their first visit with him were leaving his office, Shultz would test them. He would say, "You have to go over the globe and prove to me that you can identify your country." They would go over, spin the globe, and put their finger on the country to which sent--unerringly. When Shultz’s old friend and former Senate majority leader Mike Mansfield was appointed ambassador to Japan, even he was put to the test.
This time, however, Ambassador Mansfield spun the globe and put his hand on the United States. He said: "That’s my country."
On June 27, 1993, Shultz related this to Brian Lamb on C-Span’s "Booknotes." Said the secretary: "I’ve told that story, subsequently, to all the ambassadors going out. ‘Never forget you’re over there in that country, but your country is the United States. You’re there to represent us. Take cares of our interests and never forgets it, and you’re representing the best country in the world.’”
Ambassadors are sent to represent the interests and policies of the United States. We, as Christians, are sent to represent the interests and polices of God’s Kingdom. If you are able to that fully, than you are an apostle.
The gift of prophets
Ephesians 3:4-6 “As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.”
When we think of prophecy, we usually think of foretelling the future. That’s what the prophets of old did. We had a prophetic rock when I was growing up in West Virginia. It would forecast the weather. If it was wet, it was raining. If it was white, it was snowing. If it was dry, it was sunny. If it was gone, than a tornado was coming through. The other day I mentioned to someone as we watched the rainfall that there was an 80% chance of rain. The person’s response? “No I’m pretty sure it’s a 100%.”
When the word “prophet” is used in the Greek, it meant “one who speaks inspired utterances.” It’s those moments in life when a person is comforting someone or giving them guidance and the right words come. It seems that what they said was exactly what the other person needed to hear. They even may step back and have a moment wondering where it came from.
It was an inspired utterance of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples not to worry about what they would say when troubles came. Jesus said, “For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said. God will give you the right words at the right time.” Why would He not do the same today?
If you find yourself at times being the one that people turn to for spiritual comfort because you just seem to know the right things to say, you may be a prophet. God may reveal a word of divine knowledge to you. But let me warn you. If He does, share it with another person and agree it’s from God before you make it a public declaration.
The gift of evangelists
2 Timothy 4:5 “But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”
Timothy is a man younger than Paul is. He is leading a church in Ephesus. Paul writes him two letters of instruction and encouragement. When he writes, “telling others the Good News” he uses the Greek word for evangelist. An evangelist is some one who tells others the gospel.
Often when we hear the word evangelist we think of a person dressed in a white suit, Bible raised, and stomping back and forth. I think television turned them into televangelists.
I heard about a farmer who called the office of televangelist asking to speak to “The Head Hog at the trough.”
The receptionist said, “Sir, if you’re talking about our beloved Minster, you may call him Reverend or Pastor, but I don’t think it would be proper to refer to him as the “head Hog at the trough.’”
“Well, all right,” the farmer said. “I just sold a few sows and was going to donate ten thousand dollars to the building fund, so I was hopping to catch him.”
“Oh, just a minute, sir.” The receptionist said, “I think the big pig just walked in!”
Being an evangelist is simply sharing the gospel. It’s not shying away when the opportunity presents itself. In fact, an evangelist will seek those opportunities. They will attempt to steer conversations in such away that the Gospel can be presented.
An evangelist will proclaim the Gospel from a pulpit to the streets. They are always at work in spreading the Gospel. They will proclaim it in their workplace, in their neighborhoods, and in their families. They look for opportunities to participate with groups that are declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This Gospel drives them to work harder for the Kingdom’s message everyday.
Gifts of pastors and teachers
This gift is a combination of two facets. It means to care for and instruct. This is my role. I am pastor to most of you. I have heard you call me that. And with that title comes responsibilities.
Titus 2:15 “You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say.”
The word “pastor” is interpreted “shepherd.” So if I am your shepherd than you are my sheep. Only makes sense. Everything I have ever read about sheep would insinuate that they were dumb animals. But you are not sheep and you are certainly not dumb.
You are people. You have free choice. You can do what you want, when you want, with whatever you want. I can’t break your legs when you stray without being charged with assault. I can’t go out on Sunday mornings looking for you if you are not here and drag you to church. That would be kidnapping.
What I can do, and I hope I do it well, is to care for you. I want to be there when you are burdened. I want to be there when you are in crisis. As a shepherd guards his sheep, I want to be that caregiver that guards you as much as you will allow.
I am also your teacher. I am called to instruct you in the ways of the Lord. It’s my role to ensure that the Gospel is taught in a clear manner so that you might grow. If not, you may make this mistake.
A man wanted to know the will of God for his life, so took out his Bible, let the pages fall open, closed his eyes and put his finger down on a spot. Looking down at the verse under his finger, he found that it said, “Judas went out and hanged himself.”
Slightly frustrated he followed the procedure again. This time the verse at the end of his fingertip instructed, “Go and do likewise.”
Now alarmed he repeated the same steps once more. Anxiously, he peered down at the text under his finger, which read, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”
I have been given, by the Holy Spirit, the authority to encourage you with the word and correct you if necessary. It’s a tough job and here’s why.
James 3:1 “Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
And Hebrews 13:17 “Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.”
I am the pastor, shepherd, here but I am just an under shepherd. There is a Chief Shepherd that one day I will have to give account on how well I cared for you and instructed you. Honestly, it’s a bit of a frightful thought.
Perhaps you sit here and felt that one of these gifts you have been called into; apostle, prophet, evangelist, maybe even pastor/teacher. If so, see me after services and let’s get hooked in.
But the Bible says that not all are called to these things. That’s fine. Over the next two weeks, we will discover the gifts that God and the Holy Spirit has given to the church. I am sure that you have at least one of these gifts.
