Use the Gifts He's Given You

Sunday after Theophany

Eph. 4:7-13
Matt 4:12-17

Do you remember the story of King David. Nobody expected much of him. The youngest of Jesse’s sons, he was a shepherd boy. He was a harpist. He was not a warrior, by any means. Yet, because of his musical ability, he caught the eye of King Saul, and he became part of the court.

In those days, Israel was at war with its perpetual enemy, the Philistines. One particular Philistine was named Goliath. Goliath was a giant. Goliath was a bully.

We all know the story. David volunteered to face Goliath. King Saul wanted him to wear his armor. David tried it on, but then refused. He went out to face Goliath and do battle using the only tools he knew - a sling and some stones.

He used the tools he had.

And those tools did the job God had given David.

When we think of ministry, we tend to think in terms of priesthood. In the Old Covenant the priests were descended from Moses’s brother, Aaron - the Levitical Priesthood, with Levites assisting them in Temple Worship. In the New Covenant, the Church, we have priests of the Order of Melchizedek, with Deacons helping them in Divine Worship. But this ministerial priesthood isn’t the only priesthood in the Church today..

Just before giving him the Ten Commandments, God said to Moses, “You will be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. That is what you must tell the Israelites”. And Peter tell us, “you are 'a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”.

This royal priesthood, which has existed since the time of the Exodus, consists of AL of us. Every believer is a priest! The difference is this. The ministerial priesthood is directed to the Body of Christ, the Church. And its focus is administration of the sacraments, to build up the Body. But you, members of the Royal Priesthood, have as your focus all of humanity. 

The Royal Priest doesn’t administer sacraments. The Royal Priest administers God’s love.

We are to minister using the tools we know.

You become a Royal Priest by the simple act of Baptism. Remember what we sing? “All you who have been baptized into Christ, you have put on Christ”.

Our Epistle today tells us “He gave some as Apostles, some as Prophets, others as Evangelists, others as Pastors and Teachers”. Why? As Paul tells us, “to equip the holy one for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ”.

What’s an Apostle? The immediate context would tell us that it refers, as Scripture call them, Peter and the Twelve - and we can add Paul to that list, also. Beyond that, though another English translation of the title would be Missionary.

A Prophet? The office existed in the Old Covenant - there are Old Testament books

written by four men classified as Major Prophets - Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Daniel - and twelve men classified as Minor Prophets. Beyond them, however, there were many more men such as Samuel, Nathan, Elijah, and Elisha. There actually were schools of the Prophets. A prophet is one who delivers the word of God to the people, sometimes challenging them,s ometimes foretelling the future. When David sinned with Bathsheba, it was the prophet Nathan who confronted him.

An Evangelist, simply stated, is one whose ministry is to deliver the Evangelion, the

Gospel, to those who haven’t heard it, or perhaps haven’t truly committed to it. They

encourage people to follow Christ.

Teachers lead Christians into deeper Christian life. Or they may lead into a deeper

knowledge of Christ and His Church. And a pastor is a leader, shepherding his flock, keeping them from error. In fact, often the phrase in the Epistle is understood to mean that “pastor and teacher” refers to a single office.

Now, some may ask how that applies to them. These ministries, a gift from God, do not apply only to the ordained ministry.

The Old Testament prophet Daniel was not a priest. He was of the tribe of Judah,

probably a descendant of King David. The Church refers to St. Mary Magdalene as Equal to the Apostles. Philip had four daughters who had the gift of prophecy. They were all members of the Royal Priesthood.

Look at Mother Angelica. She was certainly an Evangelist and Teacher. St. Catherine of

Siena has been declared a doctor (or universal teacher) of the Church.

And I’ll tell you a secret. Any Christian can operate in these ministries. Can we deny

that Billy Graham was an Evangelist. Yes, his theology was a little off, but if God can use him, God can use any of us.

He wants us to use the tools he’s given us.

What kind of tools? Paul writes to the Romans, “Since we have gifts that differ

according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

He continues, “Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one

another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep".

You are priests, priests ministering God's love each other. You are priests ministering God's love to those outside these walls.

God has given us tools to minister to others.

Use the tools He’s given you.