The Work of the Holy Spirit IV

2 hours ago
8 min read

In this fourth installment of our series on the work of the Holy Spirit, we need to remember this underlying truth as we are studying this topic: God doesn’t give us things. He only gives us more of himself.

The focus of this series has been how the Holy Spirit functions within the Body of Christ. We have talked about how functioning is not about doing certain things. It’s about being what you were created to be. Functioning is an organism’s natural activity. It’s an innate tendency that we do without worrying, without fretting, without a lot of effort, and often without a lot of thought just like the common, ordinary tools that we use every day (i.e. hammers, shovels, telephones, or even safety pins). When we define functioning in this way, it eliminates the need of getting puffed up or proud of what we have been given to do. Because they are functions and not “gifts” as such, there is no room for feeling self-important or special.

Kitchen Utensils

I want to introduce another picture for us to consider when we’re looking at these functions of the Holy Spirit. Imagine opening your kitchen utensil drawer. I know in my kitchen that the drawer is full of all sorts of gadgets. As I look in the drawer, however, I can witness no competition, no jealousy, or no jockeying for position. Each tool in that drawer is created for its own purpose. Each of them is ready in an instant to be used for the task it was made for. In the same way, within a local fellowship each one of us needs to be just as ready and just as available as those kitchen gadgets in that drawer.

Three Types of Functions

In Part III of this series, we explored and defined the servant or ministry functions which are the people or vocations that he gives to the Body to serve. These would include the apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors, and teachers that are listed in Ephesians 4:11. These individuals are tasked with building up the Kingdom and preparing the members of the Body for service. In this post, we will examine the various service or motivational functions that we find in Paul’s epistles. (The sign or manifestation gifts will be covered in the next post.)

Service or Motivational Functions

There are two primary lists of service functions found in the Word. The first list is found in Romans 12:3-8 where we read, “For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and all these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we though many form, one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith. If it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is the show mercy, do it cheerfully.” We will look at each of these service gifts or service functions individually. We will also explore what Paul meant when he listed them here in Romans and then consider how they should function within a local fellowship.

Prophesying

The first function that Paul lists is prophesying. This function is probably the one that we are the most afraid of. The Greek word means the gift of communicating and enforcing revealed truth. In simplest terms, prophesying is declaring what Father has revealed or made known. Prophesying can involve four things. It can involve reproof or admonishment for an individual or for the Body as a whole. It can entail comforting the afflicted. It can include revealing things that have been hidden, and it can be used for foretelling future events.

This function is different from the “office” of a prophet referred to in Ephesians 4:11. The office, or being called to serve as a prophet, is more of a vocation. It is an ongoing ministry for an individual that has been given to the Body. Prophesying, on the other hand, is sharing or declaring what the Lord is doing in the moment. Functioning in this way is easier for some people than for others, but it is something we can all do if we’re called upon or directed to do in a church service or with an individual. This type of prophesying includes sharing a revelation, an insight, giving a directive, offering correction or a warning. Prophecy is a gift that is given when it is needed most. It is a function of grace.

Serving

The Greek word for serving means to wait at a table very much like we have servers or waiters in a restaurant. An interesting fact about this word is that it is where we get our English word “deacon” from. This is an active service. It is performed with a willing or voluntary attitude. It is not compulsory. For those who function in this ministry, it is a natural activity. These individuals enjoy serving others. They anticipate other’s needs to meet them and take joy in doing so.

Teaching

This function is something that I am very familiar with as a former public school teacher. The Greek word that Paul uses here means to cause to learn, instruct, or impart knowledge. When it is used in the New Testament, it nearly always refers to teaching the Scriptures. True teachers, those with this function, naturally gravitate toward teaching opportunities and are effective in their instruction.

Encouragement

This Greek word means to call to or to call for someone. It means to exhort or to encourage. The simplest meaning for this word is to make a call and implies being up close and personal with the person you’re speaking to. This is the root word from which we get the word “paraclete,” which is the term that Jesus used in John 14:16 when he referred to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter.

Giving

The Greek word here means to give a share of what you have to someone else. Some people are naturally giving. The action comes without effort and often without thinking. They are readily generous with their resources, their time, and their efforts with no thought of personal cost.

Leadership

This is another function that can make people nervous. The Greek word means to preside over, to give attention to or to maintain order over things. Leadership entails leading by example. We have all met or known people who are natural leaders. These are folks with an innate sense of organization and an ability to get things done. They are able to lead and have others follow.

Showing Mercy

The last function on this list in Romans is showing mercy. The Greek word here means to have pity or on or to extend mercy toward others. When I consider this gift, the person that comes to mind is Mother Theresa. Perhaps you have a different person that brings to mind, but we all have known people who have a natural tendency toward showing mercy or kindness to others, often at their own expense. We live in a day and age when this gift is greatly needed.

More Service Functions

Paul also addresses service functions in I Corinthians 12:27-28 where we read, “Now you are the Body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and a different kinds of tongues.” Here we see that some of the servant functions as well as some of the manifestation or sign functions have been included in this list. (We will explore the sign functions in the next post.) Here Paul adds two more operations of grace, helping and guidance, that have been given or made available in the churches.

Helping

The Greek word for helping means to lay hold of or to reach out to or to assist others. This assistance can come in many forms depending on the need. Father works through those he chooses to meet those individual needs wherever they are, whatever they are, and whoever they may be.

Guidance

The last function that Paul introduces here is guidance. It speaks of administration, but this function is different from leadership. The Greek word used here means to steer or to govern. The picture that goes along with this word is one who steers a ship through rough waters by skillfully maneuvering it around the obstacles. Guidance here implies ensuring smooth sailing and is a gift all of its own.

Guidance works hand-in-hand with leadership. While the leader will give the instruction and set the course, this function is the one that turns the wheel and guides the process to make it happen. Leadership and guidance work in tandem with each other, and wise leaders will understand this.

This rounds out our list of service functions that are meant to operate within the Body of Christ. Now we are left with the question what is the purpose of service functions within the church?

Purpose of the Service Functions

The service functions remind us that the strength of a local church and the Body of Christ, as a whole, comes from unity and that each individual part is dependent upon all the others. Remember that gadget drawer in your kitchen? Every one of us is like a tool in a utensil drawer that has been placed there for a purpose. Your local fellowship is the utensil drawer. Each tool, each component, each person in that drawer (or fellowship) has been designed and created for a particular function. Each tool needs to be ready to be used when called upon.

Functioning in the Local Church

How do these gifts fit in with the work of a local church? In I Corinthians 14:26, Paul writes, “What shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” Each one of us have been placed in our local Body for a function that is much higher than that.

We need to prayerfully consider our purpose within our local fellowship. We need to come prepared to function as the need arises. We don’t all have the same function, and there is room and opportunity for more than one function when you gather together. Perhaps your function is in another room working with the kids. Perhaps your function is preparing the necessary components for fellowship time before or after service. Perhaps your function is to pray throughout the week for the needs that have been presented. Or perhaps your function is to reach out and touch base with folks at home.

The point is that each of us has a function. Each of us has a gift of grace to share with the others who gather with us as the Body of Christ. Holding down a chair on Sunday morning is not a necessary function, and no one has been given that function. Now or ever.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®

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