Having Gifts Part 3

            In my last post I focused mainly on the way gifts can be used, drawing primarily on the Old Testament (OT). Now we turn to the New Testament (NT) and the use of gifts in building the body of Christ, the church. The parallel is that in the OT there were gifts given to the craftsmen to build the tabernacle, Yahweh’s earthly dwelling place and to establish worship in and before it (Exodus 31:1-5, 2 Chronicles 7:6, 29:25–27). Bezalel was the main artisan gifted by Yahweh to build the tabernacle and David was the worshipper who created musical instruments to bring forth worship.

Bezalel means ‘in the shadow of El’ which carries the idea of protection as in Psalm 91:1, our protection being found in abiding in His shadow. The shadow idea is fascinating as we know from Colossians 2:17 and Hebrews 10:1 that the OT rituals were shadows pointing to the reality found in Jesus.

In the NT the primary gifts given to build His dwelling place and bring forth worship are listed in Ephesians 4. Gifts given to move us from shadow to substance. Here we have Paul referencing apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers given to the body to build, not build their ministries, as is sadly the focus for so many today in the Western church, but to build His body. Paul is clear on Jesus’ purpose for giving the gifts and the outcome Jesus desires to see.

¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, Ephesians 4:12 (NKJV)

¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV)

These ministries gifts are given to equip all of us to build the body and the body is built when it is rightly joined and knit in community and every joint, every relationship between parts, works effectively. Then the church, His body, grows. This is Jesus plan for building His church.  

            This means that we as His body as a whole need to understand our part. The focus of the leadership gifts from Ephesians 4:11 is dualistic. The apostolic and prophetic gifts are described as foundational. They are to lay the foundation of Christ in the life the church. The evangelistic gift is given to bring others into the body, the pastoral gift given to shepherd and tend the body and the teaching gift given to establish the body on and in truth. This is their first responsibility. Secondly, they are also to raise up and release others into their gifts and callings.

            I am well aware that this is not what happens in most fellowships as the majority of us function as an audience not participants. Whether by design or default that doesn’t take away from what Jesus has called us to, which means we each need to labour to see the church built into what Jesus desires, not what we are familiar with. If we embrace His call our labour will include sharing, intercession and active involvement. In essence we are called to be that which we wish to see. If we wish to see the church grow into what Jesus envisioned, we need to embrace His desire and follow Him in being and doing.