Grace Thoughts
Teaching Notes: Spiritual Gifts (Part Four)
Teaching Notes are Bible studies we taught before GraceLife Ministries began publishing articles online in 1995. Some were presented as sermons, others as group studies.
Our hope is that these older studies will be a blessing to you in your life and ministry. Please use them in any way God leads you.
These teaching notes are from a series of studies about Spiritual Gifts. You can read previous parts here:
Spiritual Gifts (Part Three)
[These notes are from more than 45 years ago.]
Exhortation
There are three words translated “exhort” …
parakaleó – “to call to the side, to admonish, entreat, beseech, to urge one to pursue some course of action of conduct”
paraineó – “to speak of near, to advise, admonish”
protrepó – “to turn forward, propel, to urge forward, encourage”
There is ne word translated “exhortation” …
paraklésis – “a calling to one’s side, exhortation”
Romans 12:8 — “Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation”
‘exhorting’ – parakalón (verb)
‘exhortation’ — paraklései (noun)
Even as teaching and preaching are primary gifts for the church, so is exhortation. Here’s why the Apostle Paul says about it:
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 2 Timothy 4:1-2
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. 1 Timothy 6:1-2
For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Titus 1:7-9
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. Titus 2:11-15
Many people think of the “exhorter” as the angry preacher wagging long, bony fingers in the faces of lost sinners and backslidden saints.
The English definition of “exhort means — “to incite by argument or advice, urge strongly, give warnings or advice, make urgent appeals.”
The Greek word was understood to mean the “coming along side of another to bring aid and comfort.”
We see examples of the gift and ministry in the following verses:
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you … But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:16-17, 26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. John 15:26
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. John 16:7
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Acts 9:31
And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. Acts 15:32
And after the uproar was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece. Acts 20:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10
Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 1 Corinthians 4:16
The Apostle Paul used the word over and over again in his letters. Sometimes it is translated “beseech,” sometimes “urge,” sometimes “appeal,” “beg,” “intreat,” “comfort,” “encourage,” exhort,” “console,” and “admonish.”
However, the meaning is always the same — a concern for the welfare of another person that causes us to come alongside and help out with words and deeds.
Giving
There are 17 Greek words translated “give.” The word in Romans 12:8 is metadidómi — “to give a share of, to impart.”
The word carried the idea of sharing of one’s substance and possessions. It is used only five times in the New Testament:
He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Luke 3:11
For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established. Romans 1:11
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity. Romans 12:8
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Ephesians 4:28
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 1 Thessalonians 2:8
The person with the grace gift of “serving” should do it with simplicity:
haplótēs – “liberality, generosity, mental honest, singleness of mind”
How can we know if we have the gifts of exhorting or giving?
Exhorting
- Do you like people? Do you care about them?
- Do you feel drawn to help people with their trials and problems? Do you find ways “to come alongside” people for the purpose of encouraging, comforting, and guiding them?
- Are people encouraged by your ministry? Do they accept advice and direction from you?
- Do you send God’s power and presence in your exhorting others?
- Could you stop coming along side to help people and not feel a loss in your spiritual life?
Giving
- Do you share your substance with others? Do you like to share with others?
- Does God seem to keep you supplied with substance to share?
- Are people helped by your sharing? Are lives improved?
- Do you sense God’s power and presence in your giving?
- Could you stop giving to others and not feel a loss in your spiritual life?
Next Time
In the next part of our Teaching Notes series we will at the spiritual gifts of ruling and showing mercy.
[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from more than 45 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you and your life and ministry.]
Apostle PaulCharismataexhortationgivingJesus Christspiritual gifts
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