1 Corinthians 14:26 “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.”
So what spiritual gift forms part of the ministry gift of the pastor? Actually, scripture does not specify just what spiritual gifts form part of the pastor’s ministry. But scripture does teach us that the pastor should encourage each member of his congregation to find out what their particular gift is, and then encourage them to use that gift for the edifying of the body of Christ. In the above quoted passage of scripture the apostle Paul teaches us how spiritual gifts should operate in the church, and pastors should be instrumental in ensuring that their congregations follow this pattern.
1 Corinthians 14:1-4 “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (2) 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. (3) But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. (4) He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”
In the above quoted passage of scripture the apostle Paul encourages the saints to operate in the gift of prophecy, because that particular gift edifies the church. And so it would be safe to assume that prophecy would be one of the spiritual gifts that form part of the pastor’s ministry. Nevertheless, although pastors will operate in certain spiritual gifts just as any member of the congregation, there is no specific gift that stands out as being necessary for that office.
Acts 20:22-23 “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, (23) except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.”
The revelation gifts would also help the pastor fulfil his role as the shepherd of the flock, for through the operation of those gifts he could supernaturally counsel members of his congregation as the need arose. And so pastors should seek after those particular gifts. In the above quoted passage of scripture we have an account of Paul and his team travelling through various churches on his way to Jerusalem. We can see from this passage that during the meetings the Holy Spirit manifested Himself through the gift of the word of knowledge, telling Paul what would happen to him once he reached Jerusalem. Paul and his team did not marvel that every church that they went to ministered to him through the gift of the word of knowledge, for that was considered normal. And so it may have been the pastors of those churches who were operating in the gift of the word of knowledge, or it may have been the members of their congregations. Nevertheless the point that I am making here is that the gifts of the Spirit were in operation in the churches, because the pastors encouraged the saints to operate in the gifts, both through teaching and by example.
Michael E.B. Maher
Comments