Motivation Spiritual Gifts: Facilitator and Exhorter
Nehemiah 3:1-5, Acts 11:22-26, John 10:11-18
May 3, 2015
We are covering a series on Spiritual gifts, particularly looking at the
motivation gifts from Romans 12. Remember how all the fullness of God
dwelt in Jesus, the One who had all the gifts which he used as He
exercised his ministry. He is the Good Shepherd, who “lays down his life for
the sheep” (John 10:11). Now God’s fullness dwells in the Church. We
listen to his voice as He directs and equips us to continue his ministry, by
pouring out the Holy Spirit and giving gifts. "We have different
gifts, according to the grace given to each of us" (Romans 12:6).
I mentioned three kinds of Gifts. Manifestation or Post-Pentecost Gifts from
1 Corinthians 12, Equipping Gifts from Ephesians 4, and Motivation Gifts
from Romans 12. What are the motivational gifts? A motivation gift is an
inward drive, what you are wired up to do, what motivates you. It is a God
given natural ability consecrated to Him for his purpose refined by the Holy
Spirit. We have introduced the prophetic, teaching and serving gifts so far.
Today we look at facilitator and exhorter.
I know this will be a disappointment, but Lynne asked for the day off from
being my sermon illustration. Some time ago she actually resigned, retired.
A petition was started and by popular demand she was brought back. In the
meanwhile let me share with you from my very erudite reading tastes. Look
at this huge book. Yes, Winnie the Pooh is one of our favourites. In fact at
Theological college we use to have W the P parties. Let me ask, with which
of the characters, do you most identify? In my old nature, it would probably
be Eeyore. "Good morning, Pooh Bear," said Eeyore gloomily. "If it is a
good morning," he said. "Which I doubt," said he.” "Why, what's the
matter?" "Nothing, Pooh Bear, nothing. We can't all, and some of us don't.
That's all there is to it." However, I am no longer Eeyore. I have a new
nature, I am a new creature in Christ. What about you?
Characteristics of the Facilitator
Nehemiah is someone we met last year. He took initiative to get the broken
walls of Jerusalem rebuilt. In him we see characteristics of a facilitator
leader. Here is a summary from a number of chapters.
Passion “When I heard...I sat down and wept.” (1:3,4)
Nehemiah’s tears were not just for broken walls, but because they
represented God’s honour. A facilitator has to have a passion for God’s
business and honour.
Prayer “For some days I mourned an fasted and prayed” (1:4f.)
Nehemiah modelled how to pray. He offered praise, stood on God’s
promises, made confession, and requested success. A facilitator leader
gets his instructions from the Lord in prayer.
Action “I went to Jerusalem...I went...examining the walls.” (2:11f.)
As soon as he arrives in Jerusalem, Nehemiah takes practical action. He
quietly goes on a recce mission to inspect the walls and get the facts so he
know what he is dealing with.
Vision “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon
me.” (2:18) Nehemiah motivated and mobilised support by giving testimony
of God’s gracious hand. The facilitator knows how to work with God, and
people. They have macro vision and are then able to draw on others to
manage the micro details.Their strong commitment and vision inspires
others to follow.
Delegation “Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work
and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place,
building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as
far as the Tower of Hananel. (Nehemiah 3:1)
Each person or family was given responsibility to build a tower, a gate a
wall. We read “next to him...next to him.” Nehemiah delegated tasks to
each one as they worked next to their fellow neighbour as partners to get
the job done. Key words for a facilitator are partnership and delegation. c.f.
COOL. Each worship service has its own sets of teams to cover all the
ministries. LE, Cridge Club have their own organisation and work teams.
Next to whom are we building the kingdom?
Overcomes “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great
and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters,
your wives and your homes.” (4:5)
Nehemiah comes up against opposition by the his old enemies, Sanballat,
Tobiah, and Geshem. But he is undeterred and comes up with a solution by
mobilising the defense. Leaders have to know how to deal with opposition
and be problem solvers. He shows the same compassion, wisdom and
resolve in dealing with internal problems in Chapter 5.
When one sees a pattern of attack, we need to set up a cover guard. e.g.
recent spate of cancer diagnoses. Go on the offensive with preventative
prayer cover. I am asking for intercessory prayer.
Dangers:
Facilitators are macro visionaries so they can overlook short term
management & details. The task can becomes more important than the
person. Can be a tough task master and be unsympathetic to weakness,
especially to whinging and whining. But gets things done. Can run too far
ahead, so consumed by the vision that can leave people behind. He who
thinketh he leadeth but has no one following, is only taking a walk.
Characteristics of the Exhorter Acts 11
I used to think that this was the rah...rah...hype, life and soul of the party
type. But it is more than that. Barnabas, means the son of encouragement the one who gives courage (Acts 4:36). Barnabas was sent to Antioch to
offer encouragement and exhort faithfulness to the Lord.(11:22).
Sees Grace “Saw evidence of the grace of God” (v.23). The exhorter sees
through the eyes of grace and so sees evidence of grace in people’s lives.
They look beyond the flaws and failures to see what might become. They
see beyond a broken wall to a completed one. They see God at work in
achieving progress. What do we see? Do we see God’s activity?
Gives courage “He was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to
the Lord with all their hearts.” (v.23) The exhorter builds faith, points
people to the Lord and his purposes, and brings out the best in people.
What is our disposition? What do we bring out in people? Are we speaking
giving en-courage-ment?
Shows fruit “He was a good man.” (v.24) We can only bring out in others
what we are ourselves. We can only raise people to the level we are
ourselves. An exhorter is a person of integrity that reflects goodness and
character. How? By reflecting God’s presence in and through us, obeying
his word, and walking in the Holy Spirit.
Filled with the Holy Spirit “He was full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” (v.24)
These were the qualities expected of Stephen and the Deacons; graceful,
faithful, powerful, - all produced by the Holy Spirit. We produce what we fill
our lives. What are we full of? Self pity, anger, resentment, jealousy and
the fruit of the old sinful nature. Or the fruit of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-
control” (Galatians 5:22, 23). What are we full of today? What are we
feeding our soul? What goes in determines what comes out.
Shares Ministry “Then Barnabas went to..look for Saul” (v.25).
What did that show? Barnabas shows humility by recognising that he
needs someone to complement his gifting /ministry. An exhorter
encourages others to use their ministries, which enables a rich variety of
God’s gifts rather than limiting ministry to the one man band. This means
knowing and being secure in who we are in Christ not feeling threatened by
others, especially those with different gifts.
Focuses on people “...went to look for Saul” (v.26) What else does this
show? Saul was still suspect as a former persecutor of Christians. But the
exhorter sees the best in the person and looks beyond the natural and
immediate. Barnabas accepts Paul for who he is as a new creation in
Christ. Do we see God’s purpose in our circumstances, or are we
overwhelmed by the problems?
“Paul and Barnabas met with the whole church and...great numbers of
people.” Exhorters are people focused. They teach how to live, apply truth,
focus on meeting people’s needs. In Antioch, the disciples were first called
Christians - evidence of Christ in them. Do we see the and recognise the
“whole church,” flaws and all or only those who are just like us.
Dangers
With a focus on the positive, exhorters can overlook real problems, ignore
sin, and offer simplistic answers. Almost opposite to the prophet who sees
sin and holds to account. Both preach salvation but come at it from different
perspectives.
Exhorter can build large churches, but there is the danger of the feel good
gospel at expense of truth. Who criticises them? prophets & teachers.
They can seem proud and and even arrogant e.g. The wonderful thing
about Tiggers is that Tiggers are wonderful things. I am the greatest- M. Ali.
We need all these gifts to become an all round balanced church who truly
represent the fullness of Christ.
Pray for the shepherds - pastors/people of God.
In today’s negative and problem centred world, pray for shepherds to
exhort and speak faith and en-courage-ment.
Pray for shepherds who see the big picture and can facilitate the Body of
Christ to work together and get the job done.