“Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”
Once again, we have a pretty straightforward passage from Peter. We’ve received gifts, we need to use them to serve others. Whatever we do, we do it from the strength God gives us so that he may be glorified. Grace be with you! If only it were that simple. It should be, but we’re human, with a sin nature, so of course it isn’t. Let’s break it down.
He starts, “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.” Notice that Peter says that each one has received a gift. We all have at least one gift, maybe more, that we have been given to use in the church body. Paul writes about this in 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7. “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good…” Arichea and Nida write in their commentary, “To be a steward of God’s gifts therefore means that none of these endowments are for the believer’s own enjoyment and benefit; on the contrary, they are given to him to enable him to serve his fellow believers much better.”
There is a huge movement in Christianity today to seek after signs and wonders. The gifts that they seek are closer to New Age practices. I’m going to call out Bethel Church in Redding specifically because it is having such a big influence on the music we sing in churches and this music is a gateway to their teaching. Paul writes in Romans, “Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them, because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words” (16:17-18). Some of the books that Bethel promotes, and indeed, that are written by their staff, encourage “encounters” with dead Christians and spirit travel (Moving in Glory Realms by Joshua Mills) and opening “portals” or “spiritual gates” so that they can access the “heavenly realm” (The Happy Intercessor by Benni Johnson). These practices are found nowhere in Scripture, but they are practices that are found in the New Age. We need to heed Paul’s warning and watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to God’s Word.
Other practices include fire tunnels where “more mature” believers form two lines, and the new believers go through so that those forming the tunnel may lay hands on them and pass on their “anointing”. You can see videos online of the strange physical manifestations that occur during these events, such as appearing drunk, laughing hysterically, jerking, shaking, etc. I bring this up because, again, we see this nowhere in scripture. People who have left the hyper-charismatic movement report that they were chasing one spiritual high after another. But this is not what our faith is to be built on.
The gifts are practical. They are to be used in the church body. We are to use them to serve one another, to bring God glory. While Paul mentions specific gifts in his lists (Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12-14), Peter only mentions two, speaking and service. And these are categories of gifts, and in writing this, he covers everyone.
He writes, “If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words…” Clowney writes in his commentary, “Peter is not describing casual conversation. He has in view the preaching and teaching of the word of God.” God’s words can also be translated as “oracles of God” (ASV, ESV). Grudem writes this: “Oracles (logia) means ‘sayings’ but especially sayings spoken from God to man (used in Acts 7:38, Rom 3:2 of Old Testament Scripture). Yet this cannot mean ‘as claiming that the words he speaks are God’s own words’, because that would only be true of scripture, not of every word spoken during a church meeting.” Everything your pastor says should be backed up with Scripture!
Contrast that with the new movement I have been talking about. Bethel is part of the movement that teaches that the office of apostles and prophets have been restored to the church and that churches need to be under the umbrella of an apostle and prophet to be complete and operate in supernatural power. This is greatly simplified but will do in a nutshell. You can read more about it in Holly Pivec’s and Douglas Geivett’s book, Counterfeit Kingdom. Other apostles and prophets in this movement are Kris Vallotton (Bethel), Che Ahn (Harvest International), Cindy and Mike Jacobs (Generals International), Lou Engle (the Call), and Mike Bickle (International House of Prayer). These are just a few of the apostles and prophets that govern the 3.5 million people who attend churches who follow these teachings. How do these people become apostles and prophets? The person believes that God has given them the gift of apostleship or prophecy and it is recognized by others. There is often a public commissioning ceremony where the office is conferred upon them. Todd Bentley is an example of an apostle who was commissioned publicly in 2008 by C. Peter Wagner, (the leader at that time of the International Coalition of Apostles) during the Lakeland Revivals in Florida. But Bentley stepped down soon after following accusations of immoral behavior. He then divorced his wife and married one of his staff members. I mention this, not to cast aspersions on Bentley, but to show that these apostles are not called by God. Bentley continues to call himself an apostle, even though he does not qualify for leadership under the rules given in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
These apostles claim to receive new revelation from God. That is why I am bringing this up at all. I am going to attach a link to Holly Pivec’s blog where she has many quotes from Bill Johnson of Bethel stating that the Bible is not enough- we need new revelation. Why Bill Johnson says the Bible is not enough — Holly Pivec Here is a sample. “I am convinced that as His government and Kingdom rule increase on this earth… the church will receive revelation like we’ve never known…” (The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind, pg. 56). There is more to this quote, so I suggest you go to the link and read it, and all the others. These apostles justify their false teachings by claiming that they are receiving direct revelation from God. Many verses that they use to justify this are taken out of context. Don’t be deceived! Know your Bible. Read it in context. Know the overarching story of God’s redeeming plan for mankind.
Those who have the gift of speaking, whether that is teaching, preaching, sharing the gospel with friends, need to remember that the Bible is our authority. James warns, “Not many should become teachers my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment” (3:1). I urge you, in everything I write, check your Bible. Don’t just trust what I say but read it for yourself. I pray as I write that the Holy Spirit would guide me because, I know that I will receive a stricter judgement. I do not want anything I write to bring me glory, but to only bring glory to God.
He then writes, “…if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything.” This is a gifting we all have. We can all serve in some way. Arichea and Nida write, “the word for serves is a general term for any kind of service or ministry, which in the early church included feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, helping the poor, and welcoming strangers.” This isn’t so different in how we can serve today.
An important phrase is “from the strength that God provides.” Too often, we try to do it on our own strength. When we try to do it on our own strength, we burn out, grumble, have a bad attitude… you get the picture! Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” When we serve with the strength God provides, we bring him glory.
I am going to finish today’s blog with the same benediction that Peter ended this section with.
“To him be the glory and power forever and ever. Amen.”
Grace be with you!
Abundant Joy 