Manual for Training Lay Leaders

Chapter 2: Spiritual Disciplines

for
Rev. Gary Wiley

Lesson 1: Prayer and Fasting

Objectives: The student -

You will understand that prayer is the foundation of all effective ministry.
You will understand that one cannot minister effectively without first 'listening' to
God.
3. He will understand the true reason for fasting.

Section 1: The sentence

Getting up very early, while it was still very dark, he went out and went to a
deserted place, and there he prayed.
Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

The Gospels show that Jesus maintained a very active prayer life.
from the beginning of his public ministry to the night he was arrested.
Jesus not only prayed in public, but also spent long hours alone in
communion with his Father. He spent the night praying before appointing the twelve
apostles (Luke 6:12). After the feeding of the five thousand, when the
people wanted to make him their King, Jesus went to pray to regain his perspective and
to have communion with his Father (John 6:15, Matthew 14:23). Before his arrest he spent
time agonizing in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Matthew 26:39).

Jesus lived his life of prayer before his disciples, and they learned from his
example. On one occasion they asked him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, just as John did.'
"he taught his disciples" (Luke 11:1).

The prayer model that He taught them includes the basic components for the
communication with God:

You, therefore, will pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as
in heaven, as well as on earth. Give us this day our daily bread.
today. And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
for yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen. Matthew 6:9-13

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It is said of the sentence that 'when all has been said and done, more has been said than done.'
done." We talked a lot about prayer and its importance; even
we promise to pray for one another. However, our busy schedules,
Our lack of discipline, and the attacks of the evil one, prevent us from investing time.
sufficient to pray.

In our relationship with Jesus Christ, it is vital that we spend some time
a daily time alone with Him. It is advisable to set aside this time and make it a vital part
of our daily discipline. If we do not include it in our daily agenda, suddenly
We realize that the day has gone by and we haven't spent time alone.
with Jesus. In the periods of my life when I did not set aside this time,
I discovered that my approach, passion, and commitment to God were
decreasing. But when I made it a priority to spend time daily with God, God
started using me in new and amazing ways.

What are your priorities for daily time use?

Do a study of a typical day in your life. How much time do you spend in the
following activities every day and every week? Be honest with yourself
same since God knows how you spend your time.

ACTIVITY Daily weather Weekly time

Time alone with God

Recreation and relaxation
Work and/or studies
Church and activities/discipleship with
a group of cells
Travel
Time with friends
Time with family
Personal reading or study

Are you surprised? What activities do you spend most of your time on?
Time? Are you satisfied with the time you are spending alone with God?

A question that often arises has to do with the best time of day to
to be alone with God. Some have their special time with God at night,
others during the day. I recommend that you give God the time of day when
you are more alert. A very important part of your time with God is
put on the spiritual armor that has been provided to you. If you are a person
nocturnal and prefers to spend her time with God at night, make sure to use the
time to prepare for the next day.
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Have a place to listen

When we think of prayer, we generally think of speaking to God, but

let's not forget that a very important part of prayer is to remain silent and
listen to what God tells us. A Japanese pastor once invited a pastor
American to visit him at his house. He took his guest to a very nice garden behind.
from the house. There he had built a small one-room house. The pastor explained to him
that it was her room to listen." (Neighbour 1966:60).

Perhaps you cannot build a building or a special room in your house for
to be alone with God, but you must have a place where you have a
personal encounter only with God. It is very difficult to have this special time
being in the midst of the chores and hustle of his family life or sitting in the
bus. He needs to have a place where the radio and television do not distract him.

To be able to hear the voice of God, you must give Him your full attention. You have to
let Him speak to your inner spirit through the Word. You have to take
time to give him the necessary direction to live victoriously and for
to effectively minister to those whom He has entrusted to help them
in their spiritual growth.

How can you know that you are hearing the voice of God and not your own?
confusing it with something else? God never contradicts His written Word when He
Speak. If you get an impression about something, test it by asking, is it
is this according to what I know of God? Sometimes you will feel something that you
he knows that it did not come from his own mind. By continuing to pray and read the Word, the
The Holy Spirit will confirm what has been revealed to you and will give you peace.

It is highly recommended to keep a spiritual journal. It will not only help you to keep the
things that God is telling him, but also will guide him to chart his growth and
spiritual development. They will be very encouraged when they read their notes again on how
God worked in his life at a specific time. Sometimes we forget what
we have experienced or what God has told us. Having it in writing allows us
holds us responsible for the message we receive from God, and refreshes us
memory of the work she did in us.

Now the Word of God

God has given us the great privilege of communicating with Him in prayer. The Bible
teaches us that God has invited us to approach the throne of grace with
confidence so that we may receive mercy and grace to help us in times of
need (Hebrews 4:16). We also receive assurance that Christ always
he lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25), and that the Holy Spirit intercedes
for us with groans that cannot be expressed in words (Romans
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8:26). We also have another powerful tool: 'praying the Word of God', it is
to say, to use the same words from the Bible when praying. When we pray the Word
We are combining two powerful tools (the Word of God and prayer)
what God has given us to have victory and fulfill His purposes in His children and
in His kingdom. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh; for the
weapons of our militia are not carnal, but mighty in God for the
destruction of fortresses, tearing down arguments and all pride that is
lifting up against the knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought
to the obedience to Christ.

Recently I was challenged to 'pray the Word' for my wife, my children, and
those for whom I was interceding. I was praying for my pastor
I ask that my pastor shepherd the sheep
of God who are under his care, taking care of them, not because he has to
do it, but because it is done, as God wants it to be, not with greed,
but desiring to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but
being an example for its grey.

When you pray the Word of God, you do not have to doubt whether you are praying or not.
according to His will. It is definitely His will; it is always His will.
fulfill His Word. God will answer powerfully as you pray His
Word.

Until victory

I remember that since I was a child, I would hear the elders talk about 'praying until the
victoria.” I didn't understand at that time what they meant, nor did I have the
patience to put it into practice. Basically, 'pray until victory' means
“pray until receiving the answer” or “until God takes the burden of praying away from us.”
As long as God burdens us with a specific concern, we must be faithful and
keep praying.

We live in a world of instant communication. We can send

an email and the message arrives in seconds. Other inventions of
last century help us cook food faster (microwave), see
the news from around the world more quickly (satellites) and reach our
destination more lightly (propulsion planes). But many times we
we become impatient with our prayer life because we want to see answers
snapshots. However, Jesus teaches us the importance of persisting in our
life of prayer

"Jesus also told them a parable about the need to always pray and
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 do not falter, saying: 'There was in a city a judge, who neither feared God, nor
"He respected the man." There was also in that city a widow who
she came to him saying: grant me justice against my adversary. And he did not want to.
time; but after this he said to himself: Although I neither fear God, nor
I have respect for the man, however, because this widow is bothersome to me, I...
I will grant justice, lest my patience be worn out by continually coming.
the Lord: "Listen to what the unjust judge said. And will not God bring about justice to..."
your chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay in
To respond to them? I tell you that justice will be done for them soon. But when it comes
Son of Man, will he find faith on the earth? Luke 18:1-8.

I have learned that we need to be specific and strategic in prayer. God

wants to achieve specific things in people's lives. The enemy is
working specifically against what God wants to do. It is vital
the importance of not being inconsistent or whimsical in prayer. The
The following diagram is a model that you can use as a guide to be more
persevering in prayer until God answers.

Date on which Requests (people and situations) Date on which the

I started to why pray the sentence was
intercede answered

Below are nine steps to help you pray more effectively:

Set a specific time to pray.
2. Find a quiet place (without distractions).
3. Ask God for His protection while praying - you are in a battle.
4. Confess.
5. Worship and meditate.
6. Listen quietly.
7. Pray with faith.
8. Believe that your prayers will be answered (Mark 11:24).
9. Give thanks.

(Freidzon 1999: 10-11).

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Section 2: Fasting

The importance of fasting

The spiritual discipline of fasting is taught and practiced both in the Old
Testament as in the New. An important aspect of his life and discipline
spiritual is to grow in faith and become responsible for your own growth
spiritual. A regular time of fasting will assist you in your pilgrimage towards the
spiritual maturity.

Fasting is not just skipping one or two meals. It is a time of

to seek the presence of God and to have the joy of being in special communion with Him
He praying and reading his Word. The time of fasting helps him take the focus off
physical satisfaction and focusing on the spiritual aspect of your person in order to
to be in intimate communion with God.

Fasting has been misunderstood and even abused. There is evidence of this in both
Testaments, both the Old and the New. In Isaiah 58:1-5, the prophet attempted
correct abuses that were common in their time.

Cry out with a loud voice, do not stop; lift up your voice like a trumpet and announce
to my people their rebellion, and to the house of Jacob their sin. They seek me
every day, and they want to know my ways, like people who would have done
justice, and that he would not have forsaken the law of his God; they ask me for just judgments, and
They want to draw closer to God. Why, they say, do we fast, and you do not pay attention;
we humbled our souls, and you didn't take it for granted? Here it is that in the
On the day of your fasting, you seek your own pleasure and oppress all.
your workers. Behold, for disputes and debates you fast, and
to strike with the fist wickedly; do not fast as today, so that your
let voice be heard on high. Is such the fast that I chose, that during the day it afflicts the
man his soul, let him bow his head like a reed, and make a bed of sackcloth and
of ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord?

Jesus also dealt with the abuses of fasting in Matthew 6:16-18.

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do; for they
they disfigure their faces to show men that they are fasting; truly I say to you
I say that they already have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head.
And wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father.
what is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you in
public.

Fasting benefits both the body and the spirit, as it brings benefits.
positives in health and prepares the body for a nutritious diet. Fasting helps you
Chapter 2 Spiritual Disciplines
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give the body a rest. By denying our physical needs for a
period of time, we can draw closer to God and focus on the
spiritual aspect of our life. Let God guide you about when and
How often should you fast.

Exercises:
1. Get a journal and start praying with purpose and strategy.
2. Ask God to give you verses to pray for your family and those
you guide spiritually.
3. Put into practice the 'praying until victory' using the chart in the
lesson as a model for noting God's responses.
4. After reading and reflecting on Isaiah 58:1-5 and Matthew 6:16-18,
set aside time to pray and fast. Keep your journal handy to
note the direction that God gives you for your spiritual life and for your ministry.
Be prepared to share your experiences with your study group.

References

The Arrival Kit

Touch Publications, 1996.
A True Encounter
1999

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 Lay Leaders Training Manual

Chapter 2: Spiritual Disciplines

Lesson 2: Stewardship

Objectives: The student -

He will reconsider his concept of stewardship, which includes more than the
money.
You will learn the meaning of three Greek words and how they can affect your
way of seeing the ministry.
3. Live by grace in terms of exercising stewardship.

Introduction
When we hear the word 'stewardship,' we immediately think of
money. When our church celebrates stewardship month we
we automatically think that the pastor will preach about tithing. For many
Years, this is what stewardship meant to me. But I am learning that
although stewardship includes managing finances, it involves much more than
they.

It is true that Jesus spoke a lot about money: there are more references to money
that prayer is central to the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels. The Bible tells us
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).
When our heart is in the right place and we start to understand the
principles of stewardship, we will be prepared to undertake the task of
manage our responsibilities according to God's will.

Stop for a moment and write a brief statement describing what

comes to mind when you think of stewardship.

At times when I have taught about tithing and offering without teaching the
stewardship of the whole person, a misunderstanding and distrust have been created
in my ministry. Many times pastors are afraid to teach about
tithe because it may seem that they are looking for a salary increase. The
Stewardship includes much more than the tithe. When the people of my
congregation understood that stewardship is a way of life and that it
includes everything, not merely money, -- so the matter of stewardship of
money was also resolved.

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The Concepts of Oikos, Oikonomos, and Oikodomeo

Household
A Greek word that is key to a better understanding of stewardship.
The word 'Oikos'. Oikos simply means 'family' or 'home.' We can
expand it to include those who are in our circle of influence. SuOikosha
has been defined as those people with whom you spend at least one hour a day
week. Some people have a small Oikos, others have a larger Oikos
big.

There are several significant uses of the word Oikos in the New Testament.
When Jesus freed the demon-possessed man in the region of the Gadarenes, he
he begged Jesus to allow him to go with Him, but Jesus did not permit him. On the contrary, He
he said, "Go to your home, to your own, and tell them how great things the Lord has done"
done with you, and how he has had mercy on you" Mark 5:19. Jesus literally
he told him to go to his Oikosy and share the message with them. In Acts 16
When the jailer of Philippi asked Paul and Silas what he had to do
to be saved, they answered. 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and'
your house (your Oikos) (Acts 16:31).

Using the definition of Oikos to include those people with whom you
spend an hour or more a week, you will find that your Oikoses much more than
his immediate family; it is also his coworkers, his companions
from school, his friends and his neighbors. These are the people whom God has
call to minister to them. This leads us to another Greek word that is related
with the word Oikos, there is the word Oikonomos, which means 'steward', 'manager' or
administrator.

Oikonomos
In Luke 12:42, Jesus said: 'Who is the faithful and wise steward whom his
Sir will put over his house, so that he may give them their ration in time?
the administrator is the person that the lord of the house appoints to fulfill all the
needs of the servants of your home (Oikos). Dr. Ralph W. Neighbour, Jr.
Explain that the steward (Oikonomos) provides food to the servants in the
proper times. Obviously, the butler does not use his own resources to
do it. The only resource at your disposal is that which the Lord has entrusted to you. The
The steward cannot distribute food unless it is provided by the lord.
first (Neighbour 1996:46).

We generally struggle with the issue of stewardship because we believe that it

try to give God something that belongs to us. The true steward.
He knows that nothing is his, but that everything comes from God. When I recognize who

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he is the true owner of the finances, the time, and the talents in my possession,
I am free to distribute them as the Lord wishes. To be a faithful steward and
prudent I have to be wise and faithful, both to my Lord and to those to
who He has called me to serve. I have to maintain a life of intimacy with
God, just as we have seen in the lesson on prayer and fasting, so that I may have
something to share with those who are in my sphere of influence, myOikos. 1
1 Peter 4:10 says; "Each one as he has received a gift, minister it to the others,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

to build up
This leads us to the second word related to Oikos, 'Oikodomeo', which
literally means 'to build', as in the construction of a house, but the
The word also refers to the construction or building of the companions
Christians. Let's look at two examples:

So, we who are strong must bear the weaknesses of the

weak, and not pleasing ourselves. Each one of us
please your neighbor in what is good, for edification.
Romans15:1-2:Wewhoarestrongoughttobearwiththefailingsoftheweakandnottopleaseourselves.Eachofusshouldpleaseourneighborsfortheirgood,tobuildthemup.

So, what is there, brothers? When you gather, each of you has
psalm, has doctrine, has tongue, has revelation, has interpretation.
Let everything be done for building up (Oikodemeo).” 1 Corinthians 14:26

A steward is one who is in continuous contact with God through the

prayer and Bible study (as we saw in the previous lesson), recognizing that
has a responsibility to an Oikos, which on its own has nothing
give to that Oikos, but only what he receives from the Lord, in order to then be faithful and wise in
the sharing of what has been given to build and edify the church, the
Body of Christ. What you receive from God in the 'place to listen' can
be what God wants me to share with the members of your Oikos. Others are
depending on whether you are a faithful steward of spiritual riches that
has received from the Lord.

In the next lesson, we will discuss the importance of being a steward of

our spiritual gifts.

A quick review...
Oikos
A small group of people who have a special relationship with each other.
But Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, 'Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he has had compassion on you.'

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Oikonomos
A steward, one who faithfully dispenses what the Lord provides.
Luke 12:42
to build up
Build up other members of the body of Christ and their Oikos.
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.

Steward of finances

Once we absolutely understand the concept that God is the Owner of

Our life will make it very easy to give control of our finances.
the first pages of the Old Testament, the Bible teaches the principle of tithing,
that is, to give back to God ten percent of our salary. Thus we see at
Abraham giving Melchizedek a tenth of the loot he had taken from
battle (Genesis 14:20). Jacob promised God the tithe of all his
possessions if God was with him caring for him on his journey, allowing him to return
except to his father's house (Genesis 28:20-22). The principle of tithing was already established
established before God made it part of the covenant of the Law that Moses gave them
God to the Israelites.

In Malachi 3:6-12, we discover that not tithing is stealing from God what belongs to Him.
belong. Retaining what is His places us under a curse. God takes very seriously...
seriously our recognition of Your sovereignty in our lives. When we do not acknowledge it.
we return to the Lord the tithe, we are saying that what we have we have
properly earned. We are not acknowledging that it is God who has provided for us.
of employment or has given us a good harvest, good health, and everything that is
necessary for us to live. We give to God, not because He needs us to
demos, but so that we remember and acknowledge His sovereignty. According to
We experience the many blessings that God gives us in obedience.
wants to pour out upon us. As we are obedient, God accepts.
our offerings and makes us collaborators with Him in the great work of His kingdom.

One blessing of the Christian life is living under grace. Some people believe
and they inclusively teach that tithing is a concept from the Old Testament and that
It is part of the Law. They say that since we are living under grace we are free.
of the law and its demands, so we do not have to tithe. There is something wrong.
in this teaching and we only have to examine a few examples of the
life under the law and life under grace to see that this is far from the truth. In
Matthew 5:21-22 Jesus said:

You have heard that it was said to the ancients: You shall not murder; and whoever murders
will be liable to judgment. But I say to you that anyone who is angry
against his brother, will be guilty of judgment; and whoever says Fool, to
Chapter 2 Spiritual Disciplines
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 his brother will be guilty before the council; and anyone who calls him Fatuous,
he will be exposed to the fire of hell.

Also in Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus says,

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that
Anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
heart.

What do we discover in these two examples of life under the law compared to the
life under grace? The expectations are higher under grace than before. The
A key point to remember is that Jesus is not giving more laws that we have to
fulfill; on the contrary, it is revealing to us what we can become and how
We can live with the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Now there are expectations.
higher, which we can reach by the presence of Christ who lives in
we.

How is this concept applied to the stewardship of finances?

the teaching of the New Testament in relation to giving does not mention the tithe;
the focus is on giving generously or liberally. In 2 Corinthians 8:1 to
9:15 we find teachings about money. We will focus only on
some of these verses:

Likewise, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God that is

he has given to the churches of Macedonia; that in great trial of
tribulation, the abundance of his joy and his deep poverty
they abounded in the riches of their generosity. For I bear witness to
that with pleasure they have given according to their abilities, and even beyond
his forces. 2 Corinthians 8:1-3

preventing anyone from censoring us regarding this offering

abundant that we manage, 2 Corinthians 8:20

Therefore, I deemed it necessary to exhort the brothers to go

first to you and prepare your generosity before
promised, so that it is ready as of generosity, and not as of
our demand. 2 Corinthians 9:5

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap

scarcely; and the one who sows generously, generously
it will also reap. 2 Corinthians 9:6

Each one should give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion,
need, because God loves a cheerful giver. And God is powerful

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 to make all grace abound in you, so that,
having always in all things all that is sufficient, abound
for every good work. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

that you may be enriched in everything for all liberality, which

Produce through us thanksgiving to God.
You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

What percentage of your possessions belongs to God? If you answered that it is ten percent...
one hundred, he was wrong. All his possessions belong to God. When you
recognize that everything you are and everything you have belongs to God, you can open
his hands, his heart, and his life to give to Him generously and freely.
He will open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings upon you until
bring the full tithe into the storehouse (Malachi 3:10).

Exercises for this lesson:

1. Make a list of the people included in your Oikos.
2. In what ways are you currently a faithful and wise steward?
What needs to change to be a one who is pleasing to the Lord?
3. Relate the story of your personal pilgrimage as a steward in the area of
finances.
4. Read 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 and copy all the references into your notebook.
about giving freely or generously.
5. Prepare to share your experiences with your study group.

References

The Arrival Kit

Touch Publications, 1996

Chapter 2 Spiritual Disciplines

32
 Training Manual for Lay Leaders

Chapter 2: Spiritual Disciplines

Lesson 3: Spiritual Gifts

Objectives: The student

1. It will demonstrate that the use of spiritual gifts is closely related to
the life of prayer and stewardship.
2. You will be able to identify the spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament.
You will discover the spiritual gifts that God has given us.

Introduction
Spiritual gifts are described as the lifeblood of the Body of Jesus Christ.
God, through the Holy Spirit, gives them to believers for the building up of the
Church. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12 that we should not be ignorant about the
spiritual gifts. There are various gifts, but only one Spirit. There is diversity of
ministries, but one Lord. There are different kinds of workings, but the same
God "does all things, in all" (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). The spiritual gifts
They are not something that divides or confuses us. They come from Him who gave His life.
by the Church, which is the Head of the Church, and desires that the Church be
healthy and built up in every way. This is confirmed in verse 7 of the
same chapter, "But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for
benefit." It is understood that it is the benefit of all.

To have a correct understanding, it is important to focus on the Lord who gives.

the gifts and not in the particular gifts that each one has. A little approach
healthy and a comparison of the gifts caused problems in Corinth, and they have
the potential to cause problems today. It is not a coincidence that Paul included the
great chapter on love in the midst of his discourse on spiritual gifts:

If I speak in the tongues of humans and angels, but do not have love, I have become
like a resonating metal, or a clanging cymbal. And if I had prophecy, and
I understood all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I had all faith, such that
way that I moved the mountains, and I have no love, I am nothing. And if
I would distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I gave up
my body to be burned, and I have no love, it is of no use to me.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

The following definition expresses some truths regarding the gifts.

spiritual

A spiritual gift is a special power divinely given to each believer by

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 the Holy Spirit to fulfill, in His way, a ministry given by God, of
agreement with your grace and discernment to be used within the
context of the Body of Christ. (Ministry Tools Resource Center 2000).

Do you remember the word Oikodomeo?

In the previous lesson, we saw three Greek words. The third word, oikodomeo,
is directly related to spiritual gifts. It is important to understand
that God is Lord over spiritual gifts, just as He is over our
finances, time, and talents. So, we are stewards of spiritual gifts
that God has given us and we must be prepared to use the gifts in it
context of the Body of Christ.

For many years I have believed in spiritual gifts and believed that God had
given some, but did not understand how and when the believer should use his gift.
Certainly, some gifts are obvious; we can understand the use of the gift of
teaching, the gift of giving, the gift of serving. But what about the gift of knowledge, of
wisdom, exhortation, healing, or the performing of miracles?

I examined how these gifts embraced the life of the church. A typical worship of
worship would not allow each person to do what it says in 1 Corinthians 14:26:

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has
psalm, has doctrine, has language, has revelation, has interpretation.
"Let everything be done for building up."

I have understood that the best place to put our gifts into practice
spiritual is in the context of a small group. It can be a cell group,
the Sunday school class, a support group, or any other group in which
three to fifteen people gather as the body of Christ. When Paul said to him
I was writing to the church of the New Testament about spiritual gifts
I was writing to the house churches, not to congregations meeting in a building.
special. In these house churches, the exercise of spiritual gifts was
possible.

When a small group of people who know each other intimately gather, there is
freedom to put into practice the gifts that God has given them. There is freedom to
to experiment and discover their gifts. To build (Oikodomeo) the Body of
Christ, it is necessary for each member to be in continuous contact with the Head
of the body, which is Christ himself. A steward (oikonomos) cannot
to risk being negligent regarding your time alone with God because
then he will have nothing to share. If there is no love, the gift will be misused
ineffectively and it will be like "metal that resounds or cymbal that clangs."

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Identify the spiritual gifts
Spiritual gifts are identified in three passages of the New Testament:
1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4. Take time to read these three passages and
write in the appropriate column the spiritual gifts you find.

1 Corinthians 12 Romans 12 Ephesians 4

Can you think of some other spiritual gifts? Some have suggested that the
The following are also spiritual gifts. What do you think?

Ø Artistic creativity: Exodus 31:1-11; 2 Samuel 6:12-16; 1 Kings 7:14.

Ø Craftsmanship: Exodus 30:22-31; 2 Kings 12:11-13; 2 Chronicles 34:9-13;
Acts 18:3.
Ø Genesis 18:1-8, 1 Peter 4:9-10; 3 John 5-10.
Ø 1 Samuel 16:14-23, 1 Corinthians 14:26, Ephesians 5:18-20, Colossians
3:15-17.
Ø Living in poverty voluntarily. Acts 4:32-37, 1 Corinthians 13:3, Philippians
4:11-13.
Ø Apostolado: Hechos 9:13-17, 1 Corintios 9:19-23, Gálatas 1:15-17, Efesios 3:6-8
Ø Celibacy: Matthew 19:10-12, 1 Corinthians 7:7-8, 32-35, 1 Timothy 4:1-5.
Ø Exorcismo: Mateo 10:1, Lucas 10:17-20, Hechos 8:5-8, 16:16-18, 19:13-16.
Ø Prayer: Luke 11:1-13; Acts 16:19-34; Colossians 4:12-13; James 5:16-
18.
Ø Acts 7:54-60; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Philippians 1:12-14; 1 Peter
4:12-16.

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How can you discover your spiritual gifts?
There are several ways to identify your spiritual gifts. One of the most common ways
popular ways to identify the yet undiscovered spiritual gifts is through
an inventory of spiritual gifts. One of the best tools that is
available is the book by Christian A. Schwarz, The Three Colors of Ministry.
In discipling new Christians, we must not be negligent in preparing them to
exercising their ministerial gifts. If the gifts are the lifeblood of the body,
then we would be providing poor service to the body and its health by not helping to the
people to see how God wants to use them to strengthen and build up the body.
Although an inventory may indicate a tendency to have a gift, the only place in
that the true manifestation of spiritual gifts will be discovered is in the
context of a need in the body of Christ.

Joel Comiskey suggests four key principles to help people to

discover your specific gift in the context of a small group.

Ø Learn about spiritual gifts by reading the passages about gifts

(1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4). It would also be helpful to read one or
two good books about spiritual gifts.
Ø In a small group, try to exercise as many gifts as possible.
Ø Examine your desires. Exercising a gift should not be a difficult task. It should
enjoy it. Do you like to explain the truths of the Bible? Perhaps you have the gift of
to teach. Do you pray for the people in the group and there is healing? Perhaps you have the gift.
of health. Do you love bringing snacks and organizing events for groups?
Perhaps you have the gift of helping. Are you interested in visiting a member of the cell?
What is happening to those in difficulty? Perhaps they have the gift of mercy.
Ø Seek confirmation from the other group members. Others will be uplifted.
by his gift. Pay attention to his answers. What do they confirm in you? Are they given
Are you able to clarify the meaning of the Bible? It is very possible.
someone tell him that he has the gift of teaching. (Comiskey 2001)

Unite everything
The Bible clearly states that we are not isolated in our Christian walk.
We are part of a body and each one has a function within the body. Paul
I had a vision of how the body should function in the context of gifts.
spiritual

Diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; one body,
and one Spirit, just as you were also called in one hope of
your vocation; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all,
which is above all, and for all, and in all. But to each one of us
For grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.” (Ephesians 4:3-7)

"And He himself appointed some as apostles, some as prophets; others,"

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 evangelists; and others, pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints
for the work of the ministry, for the edification of the body of Christ, until
let us all arrive at the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to
a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; for
that we are no longer fluctuating children, carried everywhere by every wind of
doctrine, by the stratagem of men who employ to deceive with
cunning the tricks of error, but speaking the truth in love,
let us grow in everything in Him who is the head, that is, Christ, from whom all
the body, well coordinated and united by all the joints that are
they help each other, according to the activity of each member, receives its
growth to build itself up in love.

God gives spiritual gifts for the purpose of building up the body of Christ.
When we actively engage in building (oikodomeo) the body,
we discover purpose and satisfaction in Christian service.

Exercises for this lesson:

1. Use in a small group the gifts that were pointed out to him in the
inventory.
2. Consult with the people you respect and who know you well,
to know what your evaluation of your spiritual gifts is.
3. Commit in prayer to be a faithful steward of the gift(s) that
God has given you.
Be prepared to share your experiences with the study group.

References

Ministry Tools Resource Center

Ministerials). Mintools.com/gift2.htm, 2000.
The Three Colors of Ministry
Comiskey, Joel. Spiritual Gifts and Small Groups
the Small Groups).members.tripod.com/
Celycecomiskey/cell_and_the_gifts_of_the_spirit.htm, 2001.

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