How Does a Christian Know Whether They Are Called to an Office Gift?

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THE CALLING TO AN OFFICE GIFT

In the church, there are two types of gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

There are the gifts of the Holy Spirit that each believer receives. Some receive one gift, some obtain more than one gift, and not everyone receives the same gift or gifts. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are divine empowerments, extraordinary powers, or a favor that one receives without any merit of their own.



Are gifts talents?

No. Talents are received at birth. They are natural endowments. Gifts are not talents; they are God-given to those who are born-again. These gifts are to be exercised for the edification of the church.

The other type of gifts, I’ll call office leadership gifts. Only some believers are called to one of these gifts. The office gifts are those relating to the leadership positions in the church, such as apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher. Collectively, they are bestowed: for the perfecting (mending, repair, or correcting all that is deficient) of the saints; for the work of the ministry (the work of Christian service); and for the edifying (to cause to grow strong) of the body of Christ so that every member might become mature or fully grown. The names of the office gifts and functions are listed below.



Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

● Apostles: obtained a special commission from Christ, being a witness of Him following His resurrection; received special inspiration (an extraordinary divine agency upon teachers while giving instruction, whether oral or written, by which they were taught how and what they should speak or write11); were accredited by signs, miracles, and wonders; founded churches.

● Prophets: foretold certain events; discerned as to whether what a man of God said was of the Holy Spirit; were preachers and expounders under the immediate influence of the Holy Spirit.

● Evangelists: denotes a minister of the gospel who was not located in any place, but who traveled as a missionary to preach the gospel, and to found churches12 (by providing the need for them).

● Pastors and Teachers: feed and lead the local church, utilizing the teaching and expository preaching of the Word of God with special assistance from the Holy Spirit.



Let’s briefly recap what has been presented so far in this study.

● There are two ways to formulate a view on any topic, which is essentially determined by the verses which were used to support it.

● The qualifications, duties, and content of the teachings of a Spirit-filled pastor.

● There are two types of gifts. The gifts of the Spirit, which are used to edify the body, and the

office gifts, the calling to a leadership position in the church.

● The names and functions of the office gifts.



With that said, where do we go from here?

By attempting to answer the next question. How does a Christian know if they are called to an office leadership gift?



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HOW DOES A CHRISTIAN KNOW IF THEY ARE CALLED TO AN OFFICE GIFT?

Some will respond by saying it’s easy because they went to Bible college or seminary, having taken certain courses that satisfy the academic requirements of the office.



Should going to Bible college or seminary be the basis for determining whether a Christian is called to an office gift?

Is this what the Word of God says? Please go to 1 Timothy.



Suggested Reading: 1 Timothy 3:1-7

3 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

These verses talk about a person desiring (seeking after) the office of a pastor (bishop). Along with one verse from Acts 6, together, they clearly demonstrate whether a person is called to the office of a bishop (pastor).

It appears there’s a six-fold recognition of such.

As the believer grows in the Lord, the spiritual qualities (fruit; graces) of the Holy Spirit eventually should be manifested to others.

This will indicate that this person is Spirit-guided or Spirit-filled and operates in divine wisdom. While the verse that follows pertains to the appointment of certain ones in the church at Jerusalem to a position of responsibility that is not in the leadership office gift realm, I would contend that this spiritual condition would be paramount to the calling to an office gift or appointment to a non-office position in the church.

Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.



The qualifications of this office will be evidenced.

2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;



Their marriage condition will be scripturally founded since becoming born-again.

2 …the husband of one wife…



They will exhibit a family testimony if married.

4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

There will be evidence of a genuine testimony (reputation) before the unsaved (those who are outside the church).

7 Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

The divine skill that is associated with this calling will be apparent to the believer and fellow believers. In the case of a pastor, it would be one who is apt to teach (to teach true doctrine and refute false doctrine; able and skilled in teaching; has a love to study).

2 …apt to teach…

I believe that each office gift will have common determinants. Other than that, the main difference will have to do with the divine skill that is given by God and evidenced by pertaining to that particular office.



What are the divine skills that are associated with the other office gifts?

● Evangelist: Will evidence a divine skill in the preaching of the gospel and soul winning. Acts 8:5

● Prophet: Will evidence the divine skills of foretelling future events and determining whether what another prophet said was under the influence, filling, or leading of the Holy Spirit. Acts 11:28; 1 Corinthians 14:29-32

● Apostle: Will evidence the divine skills of signs (miracles) resulting from supernatural power that brings about a sense of awe and an increase in spiritual understanding by pointing to a spiritual reality. Will be a witness of seeing the risen Christ following His resurrection albeit by means of a trance, vision, dream, or theophany along with a confirmation of this by another believer. 2 Corinthians 12:12; Acts 9:1-8; Acts 9:10, 17

Now that you know what to look for concerning a person’s calling to an office gift, the next question is, when does the appointment to the leadership office take place?



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IF SOMEONE IS CALLED TO AN OFFICE GIFT, WHEN SHOULD THE APPOINTMENT TO SUCH TAKE PLACE?

In the verses that follow, there was an urgent need to delegate to some in the assembly the responsibility of caring for the Grecian Jewish widows. These widows needed to meet specific criteria to be eligible for financial assistance. While it’s true that what was being talked about here is the appointment of certain ones to the position of deacon, let’s see if this has any relevance to what guidelines might be followed when someone who has a calling to an office leadership gift is appointed to such.

We’ll begin in the Book of Acts, where the decision to call upon certain people to the responsibility of deacon took place.



Suggested Reading: Acts 6:1-6

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

There arose a complaining of the Grecian Jews (Jewish immigrants to Palestine - those who spoke Greek) against the Hebrews (the native Jews, some of whom also spoke Aramaic and Greek) because their widows were overlooked in the daily administration of money and food. The apostles recommended that the brethren (the assembly) choose (by the showing of hands) seven men of honest report (of an authentic testimony), who were full of the Holy Spirit (whom the Holy Spirit directed; who were spiritually minded) and wisdom (a skill for practical affairs).

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

These appointments would allow the apostles to continue in prayer (public prayer and worship) and to the ministry of the Word (the preaching the Word of God). After these particular men were chosen by the assembly, they were set before the apostles, who prayed for them while laying their hands on their heads, which was a gesture signifying commissioning and granting of authority.15 The choosing of the deacons occurred out of necessity to address the needs of the widows. They were chosen by the assembly through a show of hands based on the evidence of the spiritual qualities mentioned by the apostles.

Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

1 Thessalonians 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

In the case of the appointment to particular ones in the church to the position of deacon, we can clearly see that this was done out of necessity. As for the appointment to someone in the church, who has a calling to a leadership position such as of the office we have been focusing on, i.e., of a pastor, the timing of such would be based on the evidence of the qualifications as outlined earlier and the prompting of the Holy Spirit to the leadership and assembly. Whenever and wherever the ordination to this office takes place, might we assume that the assembly will vote to approve whomsoever by a show of hands, to be followed by prayer, and the laying on of hands. Some might state that voting by the assembly should not be the basis for approval. This is something that might need to be looked at more closely at another time.

Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

And by the way, did you know that some churches believe that the office gifts of apostles and prophets are no more? If this is indeed the case, then this process would not apply with respect to these two office gifts. Those churches, who do believe that these two leadership offices are still operative today, but don’t support the voting of approving them by the assembly, would advocate that appointing someone to either office should be the sole responsibility of those in leadership.

In the next chapter, we’ll begin to eventually try to answer the following question. Is the calling to an office leadership gift gender-specific in the New Testament church? We’ll approach this by initially taking a look at varied scriptural sections, related content, and questions from opposing views pertaining to the leadership positions (structure) which existed during the Age of Israel, and from such, we can seek the answers to the following pertinent questions. Were women allowed to serve in the priesthood? Were women called to the office of Judge, King, or Prophet? Hopefully, you will be as enlightened as much as I’ll be in this regard.



Endnotes

11 Jamieson, Faucet, and Brown Commentary Pc Study Bible version 5, 2005. BIBLESOFT. WEB. 04 April 2014˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.

12Barnes.

13Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament, 2000, 05 April 2014 ˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.



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