God in His love for us all as the body of Christ has chosen to bless us all with different gifts that will help us the body of Christ to grow in Him and to help each other in the things of the kingdom. The focus of all this gifts is the kingdom of God and not for our selfish needs.
The Kingdom of God is important to God and everything here on earth is pointing to the kingdom of God. Jesus actually said so in:
Matthew 6: 25 - 34
Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by worrying can add one hour to [the length of] his life? And why are you worried about clothes? See how the lilies and wildflowers of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin [wool to make clothing], yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is [cut and] thrown [as fuel] into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
With all that Jesus said in this chapter of Matthew about been not worried about the necessities of life, at the end of it all what He told us is that we seek after His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things that we are concerned about will be given to us from the Father who cares for His children.
Therefore, as the body of Christ, for us not to be confused we have been given different kinds of gifts to equip us, the body. And He expects us all to be a blessing to each other with His gifts, the gifts comes from Him to us as well and we are not to misuse His gifts. It's His gifts give to us and we are not to say to ourselves that I don't want this gift or I prefer this gift! He created us and knows what is best to give us - Jeremiah 18.
There are different types of gifts for us the body of Christ here on earth:
Romans 12: 6 - 8
Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them accordingly: if [someone has the gift of] prophecy, [let him speak a new message from God to His people] in proportion to the faith possessed; if service, in the act of serving; or he who teaches, in the act of teaching; or he who encourages, in the act of encouragement; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy [in caring for others], with cheerfulness.
The list of His gifts are:
Prophecy
Serving
Teaching
Encourager
Giver
Leadership
Mercy
The gift of prophecy
Meaning
The bible meaning is
The foretelling or prediction of what is to come, something that is declared by a prophet, especially a divinely inspired prediction, instruction, or exhortation.
Or
An inspired utterance of a prophet.
Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 14
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Tongues Must Be Interpreted
But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers
Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
In the law it is written:
With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,
says the Lord.
Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
Order in Church Meetings
How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.
This is what Paul is saying to us the body of Christ concerning the gift of prophecy. And we are to submit to the gift of prophecy if it is given to us and to do so as God wills, not as we will.
Scriptures on prophecy
2 Peter 1:21
For prophecy never came by the will of man, but [a]holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Acts 19: 5 - 6
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
The gift of serving
Meaning
The purpose of service is so God can reach others through our hands.
The Bible says that the service we provide not only meets the needs but expresses thanks to God and leads others to praise God.
The Bible also says that service builds up the body of Christ.
What Jesus said about serving
John 13
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.
And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, Lord, are You washing my feet?
Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”
Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!
Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.
Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!
Jesus said to him, He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you. For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, You are not all clean.
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
This is an act of service from the Lord Himself. And He encourages us to do the same with each other. This is the very purpose of the body of Christ here on earth.
Scriptures on serving
Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Acts 20:35
I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Luke 22:26
But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves.
The gift of teaching
Meaning
It's the occupation, profession , or work of a teacher.
It's also the ideas or principles taught by an authority.
Matthew 11: 1 - 6
Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?
Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.
Jesus was the greatest teacher of all and the Jews said this about Jesus in John 7: 10 - 15 "But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret. Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?” And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people. However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews. Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and taught. And the Jews marvelled, saying, How does this Man know letters, having never studied?"
Jesus who is God Himself knew the word and taught people wherever He went and everybody marvelled at all His teachings.
Scriptures on teaching
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [a]instruction in righteousness,
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
The gift of an encourager
Meaning
To give courage to, to give or increase confidence of success, to inspire with courage, spirit , or strength of mind, to embolden, to animate, to incite, to inspirit.
Deuteronomy 3: 24 - 28
Then I pleaded with the Lord at that time, saying: ‘O Lord God, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your mighty hand, for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do anything like Your works and Your mighty deeds? I pray, let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, those pleasant mountains, and Lebanon.’
But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the Lord said to me: Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah, and lift your eyes toward the west, the north, the south, and the east; behold it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan. But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see.
Let's remember that David also encouraged himself in the Lord.
1 Samuel 30: 1 - 6
Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
We the children of God are to encourage each other as much as we can. The bible actually says that iron sharpens iron - Proverbs 27:17. We cannot refuse help from others in the body of Christ as long as they are genuine children of God, we are to counsel each other with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Scriptures on encouragement
Romans 8:31
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Luke 12: 6 -7
Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Revelation 7: 16 - 17
They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
The gift of a giver
Meaning
A person or organization that gives or supplies a particular thing is a giver.
Someone who gives, especially to charity.
John 3: 16 - 21
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.
God is the best giver of all time, He gave His only begotten Son and did not withhold Him from us all. God had to give up His Son for our salvation. believe that none of us can out give like He did. He gave the best gift ever,. without Jesus dying for us all we would have been lost. But because of his love for us we can be called children of God according to - Ephesians 1: 4 - 6.
Therefore, we have also been given the gift of giving to others as well and not to withhold our blessings from one another.
Scriptures on a giver
2 Corinthians 9:7
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
Acts 20:35
I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
The gift of leadership
Meaning
The action of leading a group of people or an organization.
It's also the act of influencing/serving others out of Christ's interests in their lives so as to accomplish God's purpose for and through them.
Matthew 20: 25 -28
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Jesus says to be a leader of His people, we are to be servants of His people first and we are to follow His example as a leader who had to leave His kingdom to come here on earth to show us all on how to lead - Hebrews 5:8 ; Mark 1:11 ; Matthew 3: 13 - 15.
Also to be a leader we are to submit to the teachings of other anointed ones in the body of Christ. Like we said there are various kinds of gifts in the body of Christ, which was given to us to use as directed by the giver of gifts, who is the Holy Spirit Himself. Let's also remember that Jesus gave us His Spirit to help us in our time of need - John 14: 15 - 18.
Scriptures on leadership
Hebrews 13:17
Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.
The gift of mercy
Meaning
Compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
It's an expression of love that responds to a human need in an unexpected or unmerited way.
John 8: 1 - 12
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.
So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
She said, “No one, Lord.”
And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.
The mercy of God is undeserved but in HIs love for us He as shown us His mercy. Mercy caused Him to die for us all and His mercy can not come to an end in our lives according to - Lamentations 3:22-23 ; James 2:13. Jesus also said we are to be merciful, as He is merciful - Luke 6:36. This is saying that we are to have His type of love and compassion for others because of the example He has shown left with us.
Mercy is part of the fruit of the Spirit in the book of Galatians 5: 22 - 23 and if God can have mercy on us we are to have mercy on others, show kindness to people and be kind towards others in the body of Christ. The word of God say this in:
Galatians 6:7 - 9
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
This simply means that whatever a man sows in the body of Christ that is what we will all receive, and since it is God that as spoken, let us endeavour to do what is right by pleasing Him in all our ways.
Scriptures on mercy
Ephesians 2: 4 - 5
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Psalm 51: 1 - 2
Have mercy upon me, O God,
According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
Psalm 25: 6 - 7
Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses,
For they are from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;
According to Your mercy remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
in the book of 1 Corinthians 12: 15 - 26 the apostle Paul said this powerful truths to us the body of Christ -
If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
This simply means that we really need each other and always lift each other up. Paul did not say that we are to fight each other but to live as one body who Jesus Christ died for. We are all vessels of God that He wants to use here on earth to help populate His kingdom.
Remain blessed in His presence always to His glory, Amen
