Biblical Principle #5

The body of Christ thrives as each one ministers in Spirit giftedness.

I discovered how I could thrive in ministry when I changed one word on my card describing my life vision.

A month or two after seeing that clear vision for my life in September 1988, I wrote down a concise statement summing it all up. Paul’s helped me as I saw that he begins most of his writings with his “business card” or life vision. Ephesians 1 really helped me. This is what I wrote:

Jerry Coleman

ambassador

of Christ Jesus

by the will of God

for the praise of His glory.

My card still says this with the exception of one word. I’ll tell you how that changed.

Within our first year as missionaries here in Hungary, in Spring of 1997, Jan and I attended a conference taught by Dwight Smith on “Saturation Church Planting.” During one of the sessions, he taught on five leadership gifts as expressed in Ephesians 4:11. “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.” These are summaries:

·        apostle: church planter, visionary, catalyst,

          constantly pushing the borders

          Impact = Extension of the Gospel purpose of the church

·        prophet: preacher, catalyst, speaks the voice of God,

          constantly pushing the wake up call

Impact = Integration of the Gospel foundations in the people of the church

·        evangelist:        passionate for the lost, builds relational bridges,

          constantly pushing the Gospel

          Impact = Expansion of the Gospel story in the church

·        pastor:   a people person, compassionate, caring,

          constantly pushing the love of God

          Impact = Nurturing the truths of the Gospel in the church

·        teacher: systematic, steady, solid,

          constantly pushing the truth

          Impact = Explanation of the truths of the Gospel to the church

While Dr. Smith was describing these gifts, my ears perked up on his description of an apostle. He clarified that this is not intended to describe “one of the Twelve” or “The Office of.” But this is a gift mix with leadership, faith and vision.

Jan and I began laughing out loud as he described this gifting as someone who constantly thinks about the future and who is constantly pushing the borders. The description fit me so well that it was funny to us! But in my mind I felt a conflict. I am hearing this teaching and it describes me so well. But I’ve never, ever heard someone accept the fact that he/she thinks he/she has the spiritual gift of apostle.

At lunch break, Jan and I sat across from one of Dwight Smith’s colleagues, Robert Mountford. We began discussing the teaching and especially these spiritual gifts. As we talked, I began to remember that in September 1988 I wanted to write down, “apostle,” on my card. (I’ve since confirmed this by looking back at my private journals.) I resisted that because I had never heard anyone refer to this as a modern day gift. Plus people would misunderstand and laugh at me and so on.

But after this teaching, I could see more clearly what God was calling me to be and do. He wants me to be a man of faith in spreading the borders of the church and leading people into the future! It’s in these things I am most at home and most comfortable. An apostle?

I later found out from my missionary friend in Greece that in Greek

“apostole” means “letter”

“apostolos” means “one who is sent”

The function of an apostle is to be sent with the message, the Good News of Jesus to those people and places God leads and directs.

I finally said to Robert in the middle of our meal, “I have a card here from September 1988 that has my life call on it. It’s just that now I remember that I wanted to write down ‘apostle’ but instead I wrote down ‘Ambassador.’”

“Well,” Robert quickly replied, “I have a pen.”

I immediately began to shed tears. The Holy Spirit cut to my heart and will. I knew that in this one moment I was in the crux of accepting more of what God has called me to be. Or I could further shut it out because of fear of what people might think. I looked at Jan. I looked at my card. I looked at Robert. All the while my heart raced and my eyes blurred.

I took his pen. I scratched out “Ambassador” and wrote in “an apostle.” Small “a.” One of. Accepting the gift of.

“Oh, Lord, I accept who I am, who you have made me, and how you have gifted me. I am willing to be:

Jerry Coleman

an apostle

of Christ Jesus

by the will of God

for the praise of his glory.”

The body of Christ thrives as each one ministers in Spirit giftedness.

·       What is your spiritual gift?

·       In what ways is God using you in your gift?

·       In what ways are you working outside your giftedness?

·       In what ways do you help others discover their Spirit giftedness?

·       How can we help church leaders discover and use their spiritual gifts?

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