What Is Your Gift? Pt2 Ministry Gifts The Five-Finger Approach

Awesome day yesterday, please pray for the Zimbabwe mission. Ran into a few obstacles. Also we need your prayers from now till August 14 as we evangelize the Stonebridge housing estate for Christ.

What Is Your Gift? Pt2
Ministry Gifts The Five-Finger Approach

He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up Ephesians 4:10-12 (New International Version)

The ministry gifts serve to reveal the plan of God. They are characteristic of a full-time office or calling, rather than a gift that can function in and through any believer. The ministry gifts were once presented to me through a five-finger illustration that I've never forgotten:

* Apostle - An apostle establishes and builds churches; he's a church planter. An apostle may function in many or all of the ministry gifts. He is the "thumb," the strongest of all of the fingers, able to touch every finger.

* Prophet - Prophet in the Greek means to "forth tell" in the sense of speaking for another. A prophet functions as God's mouth piece, speaking forth God's Word. The prophet is the "index finger," or pointer finger. He points to the future and points out sin.

* Evangelist - An evangelist is called to be a witness for Jesus Christ. He works for the local church to bring people into the body of Christ where they can be discipled. He may evangelize through music, drama, preaching, and other creative ways. He is the "middle finger," the tallest one who stands out in the crowd. Evangelists draw a lot of attention, but they are called to serve the local body.

* Pastor - The pastor is the shepherd of the people. A true shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The pastor is the "ring finger." He is married to the church; called to stay, oversee, nurture and guide.

* Teacher - The teacher and the pastor are often a shared office, but not always. The teacher lays the foundation and is concerned with detail and accuracy. He delights in research to validate truth. The teacher is the "pinky finger." Though seemingly small and insignificant, he is designed specifically for digging into tight, dark places, shinning light and picking apart the Word of truth.


These gifts are the hands of the body. Physically doing the work of God, for God. Willing to sacrifice all for the Kingdom Of God.

Father, I pray for those who have the gift of ministry, cover them with your love and protection as they are the visible gifts of your body. In Jesus name Amen


1. West Coast Prayerline - 712-451-6000. Access code 281432#. Meeting times daily@ 6am Mon – Sun and 9pm Mon – Fri. (Facilitated by Elder Michael Blue & Elder Wanda Flowers.)
2. East Coast Prayerline - 605-990-0700. Access code 503942#. Meeting times @ 6am and 9pm weekdays and 6:30am weekends. (Facilitated by Chris Brooks). You can also visit www.gracefam.org.
3. San Francisco Prayerline - 641 297 4600. Access code is 7792#. Meeting times daily @ 6:30am Mon – Sun (Facilitated by Sis. Grant and Elder Wanda Flowers)
4. CPR Prayerline - - 218 862 1000. Access
code is 996832#. Meeting times @ 9pm Sunday to Friday (Times are EST: Facilitated by Yvette Stoute.)
5. Urgent Prayer Request +0208 202 4863(London number) or text +7940443879
6. Emergency Prayer -1 888 820 8627 or visit www.pray4meinc.com .

RAY OF HOPE 4 U
61 Selborne gardens
London NW4 4SH
England, UK
+447940443879 (London)
rayofhope4u@hotmail.com
www.rayofhope4u.co.uk
http://rayofhope4u.blogspot.com
http://www.squidoo.com/rayofhope4u
http://www.mission2zimbabwe2010.vpweb.co.uk
prayerline +44208 202 4863 or text +447940443879

Had a great weekend. The radio show was awesome (thanks to those that tuned in), youth bible study was great, Good sermon, did community ministry Saturday, attended a birthday dinner (happy birthday Glen), played Golf and attended the Andrew Memorial Nursery graduation.
Please keep Tina in prayer as she battles cancer. Keep Jackie in prayer as hers has now almost disappeared, pray that at the next check it will be all gone hallelujah! Congrats to Theo and Kareen on the birth of their baby. Keep them in you prayers. http://rayofhope4u.blogspot.com. Enjoy Pastor P

What Is Your Gift? Pt1
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[a]faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Rom 12:6-8

Spiritual gifts are meant to be graces from God for the edification of the church. Even today, as in the early church, the misuse and misunderstanding of spiritual gifts brings division--splitting up, rather than building up--in the church. This resource seeks to avoid the controversies and simply explore what the Bible says about spiritual gifts.

What are Spiritual Gifts?
In 1 Corinthians 12, we learn that spiritual gifts are given to God's people by the Holy Spirit for "the common good." Verse 11 says the gifts are given according to God's sovereign will ("as he determines"). Ephesians 4:12 tells us these gifts are given to prepare God's people for service and for building up the body of Christ.

The term "spiritual gifts" comes from the Greek words charismata (gifts) and pneumatika (spirits). They are the plural forms of charisma, meaning "expression of grace," and pneumatikon meaning "expression of Spirit." While there are different kinds of gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4), generally speaking, spiritual gifts are God-given graces (special abilities, offices, or manifestations) meant for works of service, to benefit and build up the body of Christ as a whole.

Biblical References
The spiritual gifts can be found in the following passages of Scripture:

* Romans 12:6-8
* 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-31
* Ephesians 4:7-13
* 1 Peter 4:10

Identifying your Spiritual Gifts
Although there is a great deal of disagreement over spiritual gifts among different denominations, most Bible scholars classify these gifts into three categories:
1. ministry gifts
2. manifestation gifts,
3. motivational gifts.

Part 2 Tomorrow…

What are your gifts? When do you get them? Why did God choose me? How can you use them?

Begin to pray today for the Spirit to reveal the answers to the above Questions

Father, thanks for trusting me with gifts. Send your Spirit to Reveal that which I need to know about my gifts. I ask you to keep me faithful as I use them for you today. Amen