KEY SCRIPTURE:1Ti 4:14 KJV Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.:

A friend once asked how can a man of God can claim he is going to impart spiritual gifts to others. Our key scripture says that as the leaders of the church laid hands on him, they imparted a spiritual gift to him. The verse did not state the type of spiritual gifts, yet it is clearly stated that he had a spiritual gift. This explains the truth that although we are all children of God, there are some who God has placed in a position to dispense blessings. The scriptures describe some men as being over us. Heb 13:17 KJV« Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Apostle Paul spoke of imparting some spiritual gifts to the brethren in Rome. Rom 1:11 KJV” For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;” Such men are described as gifts to the church. The church must cherish such men. Many times, such men are custodians of the mysteries of God. 1Corinth 4:1 KJV” Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.” As the scripture rightly said, they must also be faithful. They must live according to God’s acceptable standards. Some misinterpret the following scripture, Galatians 3:28 KJV: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” They claim we are all the same on all fronts. This is not what scripture teaches.

The scripture claims we are all one in Christ, yet this oneness refers to the common salvation that is the same for all of us. In our functions and roles, we are not the same. This does not make anyone superior to another yet, because of roles we must acknowledge whose role makes them ‘rulers’ and as a result are endowed with special graces that naturally place them higher, who can give this grace to those down in the form of impartation.

1Tim 5:17 KJV “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. In this verse, the Holy Spirit teaches the church to express double honour to men who rule or lead the children of God very well. It emphasises that those who specifically labour or minister in the word as well. By this study, I wish to establish that although we are one through our common salvation, our roles differ, which places some higher, and the church needs to acknowledge such servants of God and honour them as such.

THOUGHT: WE ARE THE SAME IN OUR COMMON SALVATION, BUT DIFFER IN OUR ROLES.

FURTHER STUDIES

Ephesians 4:8,11 KJV “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

Heb 13:17 KJV” Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”