Christian Living

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The Teaching Gift

Hi, I’m grateful for another opportunity to share the topic of Ministry Gifts and Spiritual Gifts. Paul outlined these gifts with clarity. Researching what he taught is not difficult. Today, we are discussing the Teaching Gift.

Paul’s Outline

Paul mentioned the Teaching gift in Romans 12:7/ 1 Corinthians 12:28/ Ephesians 4:11. In each letter, Paul highlights several things that define the Teaching Gift into a clear and practical office or function of the ministry. In the article “Waiting on God Developing Ministry” I used Jesus as an example of how He developed His ministry as a Teacher by waiting on God in different levels or periods of His life. If I were to leave it at that and fail to point out the other things Paul mentioned about the Teachers Gift I would be doing an injustice to the body of Christ.

Besides, the Holy Spirit keeps my mind filled with the thoughts of explaining the gift more thoroughly. I have to be obedient and share it.
So, let’s define the Gift;

Teach-(Grk. Didasko)-is used absolutely, to give instruction (Matt.4:23/9:35/ Rom.12:7/ 1 Cor.4:17/ 1 Tim.4:11.

The American Heritage Dictionary defines Teach- 1. To impart knowledge or skill to. 2. To instruct in. 3. To cause to learn by example or experience.

The purpose of defining the Teaching Gift is to stress the importance of the responsibility. This is why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:28-29, that not all are Teachers. Paul also clarified that Spiritual gifts and Ministry Gifts are totally different. Spiritual gifts come about as the Holy Spirit chooses to use a believer see 1 Corinthians 12:7-11; Ministry Gifts are appointed by God see 1 Corinthians 12:28.

Paul clearly pointed out that Jesus gave the Teaching Gift for a divine purpose of;

1. For the perfecting of the saints: that is, preparing fully or making believers fit to live productive Christian lives (Eph.4:12)

2. For the work of the ministry: For each member of the body of Christ-not just leadership. But everyone must be scripturally trained for effective service for the glory of God on every level of ministry (Eph.4:12)

3. For the edifying of the body of Christ: Teachers are to build up the people of God spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically to be able to fulfill their calling, profession as well as, other skills to deal with everything that believers will encounter in this life (Eph.4:12)

4. Until we all mature to the status of Jesus Christ (Eph.4:13)

5. So that we may stand firm or be stabilized in the truth and not deceived by men’s unbiblical doctrines (Eph.4:14)

6. So that we may maintain a spirit of love and integrity (Eph.4:15)

Structured Outline vs. Anointed Explanation

I just shared everything that Paul pointed out about the Teaching Gift in Romans, 1 Corinthians and Ephesians. There is more insight that God wants me to share with you. I’m not going to take a theological approach. I’m going to practically share about the Teachers Gift.

Here’s why, if you go to a topical concordance or some theological outline of teaching or teachers in scripture it will not give you the enlightenment you need to go deeper.

Structured outlines in topical concordances can give you an idea of scriptures that may deal with the gift of a Teacher, but it’s the Holy Spirit that brings it alive to know how to share the topic. For example, when the Holy Spirit showed me the Waiting on God Developing Ministry concept- this is two topics in one to explain the biblical realities of how a servant of God is to grow and mature in his life and ministry as Jesus did. A concordance doesn’t give you that information.

Ministry Secrets

God will give us divine revelation based on our dedication and consecration we give to Him. Teaching secrets are revealed by God to His servants that He chooses.

For example, Jesus took Peter, John and James with Him to the mount where He was transfigured, see Luke 9:28-36; Jesus took them to Jarius’ daughter’s room to witness the resurrection miracle, see Luke 8:40-56. God reveals His secrets to His servants (Amos 3:7).

When I saw Jesus in a vision for the first time with Peter and John in 1993, He was instructing them on ministry and I stood there speechless and in amazement that I’m actually watching what’s going on. Jesus stood up from the bench and everyone bowed down underneath a powerful force not a by simple gesture or respect I fell to my knees under a powerful anointing. The next day I was walking in a new dimension of power that I came to understand by meditation and prayer.

Jesus just chose me to be close to Him as Peter, John and James. Then in 1994, Jesus took me 2000 years ago to His time to teach me how He taught back then and the people changed to the people of today wearing today’s fashion. But He remained the same with His light-tanned robe. No He doesn’t look like the portraits we see around. He wore a long sleeve robe that was down to His feet. He has long hair, long beard with a graceful movement that was clam and warming. Penetrating eyes crystal like color pigmentation was transforming from one too another depending on the heavenly lighting.

1. Jesus said, teach my word. Not Theology.

2. Later, in an audible voice He said when you read a book written by any servant on a particular topic, don’t be impressed with the work they did, but study how they explain the topic. Because they never say all that needs to be said about any given topic.

3. Always bring to light the things that can aid a new believer to practically apply themselves to experience my word.

4. Study My word and you will know the truth about any topic.

5. My word will always clarify what theologians leave out or fail to point out.

Now you may have questions about these two visions I received. It is human nature to be amazed or in doubt to this heavenly vision. However, every vision from God should have biblical soundness. There should be scripture that backs the five points that were just mentioned.

Visions and the Word of God

1. Paul said to Timothy Preach the Word; not Theology or the rabbinical scrolls (2 Tim.4:2)
Jesus said to His disciples go and teach all nations (Matt.28:19) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Matt.28:20)

2. Paul told Timothy study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim.2:15) Not theological opinions or debates.
Paul said that the men of Berea were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11)

Whenever any minister preaches, teaches, or writes an article or a book we must be like the men of Berea and search the scriptures daily to see if what that minister is saying is biblical- Paul commended their studious attitude.

3. Paul told Timothy all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man (or woman) of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2 Tim.3:16-17) We must teach practically, not theories or ideologies with no real testimony backed by scripture.

4. Solomon said wise men lay up knowledge (Prov.10:14) The simple believes every word: but the prudent man looks well to his going (Prov.14:15) The heart of the righteous studies to answer (Prov.15:28)

Jesus said If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32)

5. Mark wrote and they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribe (Mark 1:22/ Luke 4:31-32)

I just shared biblical parallels that confirm the vision Jesus appeared to me in and said what I should do in regards to being a teacher. This serves as a blessing to those who are called into the office of a teacher, because you don’t need to expect a vision to become a powerful teacher. I just gave scripture that directs us to becoming a powerful teacher. By studying the word, applying the word and experiencing the word for ourselves and then we can teach the word.

When Jesus was trying to explain the Born-again teaching to Nicodemus, he had a hard time understanding the topic. Jesus said are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what we know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (John 3:10-12)

Personally, I’m uneducated academically. I didn’t like school but after I was born-again in 1991, Jesus gave me a renewed passion to learn. I signed out of school at the 9th grade to work full-time with Jamco construction. My boss enrolled me into Parsons School Art and design in NYC 14thst. to become an architect in 1983 when I was 16 years old. I passed with flying colors but left school and continued the construction trade.

I became an excellent high-end carpenter, electrician, plumber mechanic, HVAC guy, taper, tile guy you name it. I finally obtained my GED in May 1992, and returned to college in 2004 till today for Construction Management and Facilities Management. I’m currently a Licensed Construction Manager. My 31 years of construction experience qualified me to obtain the license with the NYC Building Department a tuff agency when it comes to licenses.

My point is that when God calls you to the teaching ministry He wants to train you His way not like the scribes, the Pharisees, the Theologians or any other title we may receive from some dead college that dismisses His power, guidance and scripture.

Nicodemus and men like him today will not understand the born-again topic, the baptism of the Holy Spirit topic, the dreams and visions topic and any other topic that deals with the supernatural if they’ve been trained theologically and not by the Spirit of God.

Peter and John were uneducated and they taught with power and the Sadducees notice this but still threaten them not to preach in Jesus’ name See Acts 4:1-14.

Paul said my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

Part of being a teacher is to stand up for God and be rejected by theo-locos as I call them. So many times I was rejected or told to be silent. But I continued outside of those church walls and people continued to get saved, healed, delivered, baptized in the Holy Spirit and taught to live productive Christian lives.

And the stubborn Pastors who’ve been trained by men stay in amazement and still reject the power because they don’t want to let go their misguided teachings and religious practices and submit to the power of God and pray and fast. They think praying and fasting is religious hard work instead of understanding that it builds intimacy with God by learning to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

Lastly, I will continue to share about the teaching ministry because the Spirit of God is telling me to teach about Jesus’ teaching ministry, Paul’s teaching ministry, Apollos’ teaching ministry and other spiritual facts about the teaching ministry in general because the teacher’s ministry is the most important office in the body of Christ.

Jesus taught more than He healed did miracles and anything else. So we must be biblically trained in this area of ministry. We will discuss techniques that God moved His servants to apply and other methods that are very practical in the teaching ministry.

May God Bless you to wisely consider the calling of a teacher from a biblical perspective.

P.S. Please read “Waiting on God Developing Ministry” over a few times and then read this and continue to read all that will be shared about the teachers gift so that you may know how to make this ministry effective in your life as a servant of God.

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