For the past few days, we have been learning about the servant’s heart and we’ve established the idea that the believer is called to a life of service. We are called to no longer live for ourselves but for Him who died for us and rose again.

Today, we will look at the servant’s heart towards ministry gifts.

Some people look with disdain at various believers’ show of honour in words or actions towards their ministry gifts and their commitment to service as well.

Today, we would begin by looking at the role of ministry gifts from the scriptures and then we would take a look at why as servants we must recognize their role as ministry gifts and position our hearts rightly to honour them.

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:11‭-‬13‬ ‭

‭New King James Version

11 And He Himself gave some to  be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

God gave us gifts in the form of men; apostles, prophets, teachers, etc. He gave them to you for your perfecting and edification, to cause you to grow and build you up to maturity so that you become stable and grounded in the Word.

The Greek word for equipping was derived from the word katartizo which means furnishing. Picture a newly completed house, without furniture. It can not be effective. You can’t live in it comfortably without furnishing. That can be likened to the role of ministry gifts, they are to make you effective in your walk with God and in ministry.

Church under the leadership of a ministry gift is God’s structure or plan for your growth. His strategy is to raise men with men. He supplies what is lacking in your faith through your ministry gift.

This is why you must honour your ministry gift. If you don’t honour a man, you can’t receive from his ministry.

Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬-‭3‬

‭New King James Version

2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!

3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.” ‬‬

Jesus went to His hometown and they were astonished by His wisdom and what He did. Yet because of the state of their mind, they couldn’t receive from Him.

‭‭Mark‬ ‭6:4‭-‬6‬ ‭

‭New King James Version

‬‬4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”

5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

This is Jesus the God-man, the man who came from heaven, full power, and the Bible says he could do no mighty work there except laying hands on a few sick. Just like in the case of Jesus, lack of honour can prevent you from receiving from your ministry gift. Dishonor can breed unbelief in the call of God upon his life. When you don’t honour someone, you won’t see them as able to supply to you.

Honour is a show of faith- you believe that they can supply what you need, that God has placed in them what is needed for your growth.

Ministry gifts are God’s sent men to you. So when you dishonor or reject them, indirectly you reject God and the things He has for you through them. You cannot claim to honour God and not honour His messengers.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:14‬

‭New King James Version

‬14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:40‭-‬41‬ ‭

‭New King James Version

40 He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.

41 He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

When you welcome God’s sent men, you welcome God and in honouring them, there’s a reward as well.

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:12‭-‬13‬

‭‭New King James Version

‬‬12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,

13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Honour for ministry gifts is achievable by the following ways:

1. Give yourself to all their teachings and instructions. You cannot be under a person’s leadership and not give yourself to their instructions.

2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬ ‭‭

New King James Version

14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

Disobedience to their instructions or choosing the ones to follow may seem harmless but is a show of dishonor or lack of respect for their leadership. Especially when structures are set for your benefit and you choose to disregard them without communication.

It can also be seen in other seemingly harmless actions like making comments about them behind their back, making important decisions in your life without letting them know about it, etc. These can all reduce your level of honor towards them in your heart and mind. 

2. Seek to make their work less difficult by giving yourself to service. Find ways to help out so that they can focus on their work towards you as a ministry gift which is for your progress and joy in the faith.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭6:2‭

‭New King James Version

‬‬2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.

In order for them to minister to the body of Christ effectively they can’t take up all the responsibilities on their own. They would need men who are also committed to service to help carry the load. So serve, take on responsibilities, and contribute to the work.

3. Communicate material things towards them, and learn to give to them. These are the people that labour tirelessly over you, so it is fitting to give towards them. Apostle Paul explains why this is necessary in

1 Corinthians‬ ‭9:11-14

‭New King James Version

‬‬11 If we have sown spiritual things for you, is  it a great thing if we reap your material things?

12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of  the  things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?

14 Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

Give toward your ministry gifts. It not only helps your heart to honour their service unto you but it greatly aids the prosperity of the work through their hands.

From today, learn to position your heart rightly to see your ministry gift as God’s sent man to you.

Prayer Point: Father, I recognize my ministry gift as your sent man to me for my growth. Hence, honour for my ministry gift has become an active part of my life, I learn it and put it to effect every day.