The Gift of Administration
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
So far in our study of the spiritual gifts, we have seen five of the seven gifts. We have studied about the gifts of Prophecy, Ministry, Teaching, Exhortation, and Giving. With each one, we have gone over the definition, the qualities, and the dangers that can be associated with the gifts if used in our own strength and wisdom.
The Gift of Administration
The Gift of Administration
Tonight, we jump into the gift of Administration, the gift of Ruling, or the gift of Leading/Leadership.
Let’s read our passage concerning these gifts in Romans 12:3-8.
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
What Is the Gift of Administration?
What Is the Gift of Administration?
Here in verse 8 we come to the gift of ruling. The word translated ruling in that verse is the Greek word proistemi, which means to stand before, to preside over, to maintain, to rule, to superintend, to be over. This gift is also known as the gift of administration or the gift of presiding. For this course we will use the administration to identify with the gift, and for the purposes of this session, the administrator will be the one who has this gift of ruling or administration.
The people with this gift are those who can stand out front of a ministry or organization, lead it, or administer it. It means to preside directly over something.
The person with this gift is motivated to lead or administer in such a way that it advances the ministry of the Gospel. They have the ability to direct the activities of others to achieve a goal.
What Are the Characteristics of the Gift of Administration?
What Are the Characteristics of the Gift of Administration?
So far, we have used examples of different people in the Bible to exemplify the gifts, and today will be no different. But before we continue, let’s review the gifts and who was are example for each of them.
Prophecy - Peter
Ministry - Timothy
Teaching - Luke
Exhortation - Paul
Giving - Matthew
And today, as we look at a Biblical character that demonstrated the characteristics of ruling and administration, we look to the Old Testament person of Nehemiah.
Before we jump into the characteristics, I want to give some context surrounding the time that Nehemiah lived in.
Nehemiah lived sometime in the 5th or 6th centuries BC, and a lot has happened since Israel first became an independent nation about 800 or so years earlier.
Israel, a nation of 12 tribes, descendants from the 12 sons of Jacob, were led out of Egypt between 1500 and 1300 BC. In the beginning, they were ruled by Moses and then Joshua who received their instructions from God.
After Joshua’s death, there was no formal leader, so everyone did what they thought was right in their own eyes. During this period, God raises up judges to bring the nation back to God whenever they stray. The last judge in this line of judges is a man by the name of Samuel. Samuel is also a prophet and a priest. He is the one who anoints Israel’s first king, Saul. Saul initially follows God but then gets prideful and does his own thing. God rejects him and God tells Samuel to anoint David, of the tribe of Judah, as the next king.
When Saul dies in battle, David becomes king, then his son, Solomon, becomes king after David. Solomon initially leads the people well and follows God, but later in life, he marries many pagan women who draw his heart away from God. Solomon, to please his wives, begins to build temples and altars for all of his wives’ false gods. God tells Solomon that as a punishment, when he dies, He is going to split the kingdom in two. This happens shortly after Solomon dies with a Northern Kingdom being established called Israel which was made up of ten of the tribes, and a Southern Kingdom called Judah that was made up of the two remaining tribes - Benjamin and Judah. This all happens around the year 1000 BC. The northern kingdom of Israel ended up with Samaria as their capital but was ruled by mostly wicked kings who worshipped false gods. Despite the Lord’s warnings, they did not repent, so about 300 years later, they were conquered by the Assyrian Empire, mostly scattered and assimilated into foreign lands, never to be reformed as a nation again.
Judah, whose capital remained the city of Jerusalem, on the other hand, had a series of generally good kings who followed God, at least at first. They then began to worship false gods. God sent prophet after prophet, just as He had with Israel, to warn Judah that if they did not repent, they would also be conquered. Around the year 586, the Empire of Babylon began its siege of Jerusalem, conquering them and deporting thousands of people over a period of time.
The Siege of Jerusalem takes place and Babylon destroys the walls of the city and the temple that had stood for nearly 400 years. Jerusalem and by association, the whole of the nation of Israel and Judah were reproached and made fun of. They were no longer independent, but a vassal state of the Babylonian Empire that had left them in ruins.
After the Babylonian Empire came the Persian Empire. It is in this time that we find the man named Nehemiah.
Nehemiah was a Jew who served the Persian King King Artaxerxes I as a cup bearer. It is around the year 445 BC that Nehemiah hears about how Jerusalem’s walls are still a pile of rubble, and the charred gates are still there and that Israel has become a reproach to the nations. He weeps bitterly, but he requests the king to be able to go back to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the walls of the city of Jerusalem.
Now, keep in mind, Jews had been allowed to return to Israel nearly 100 years before, yet no one had taken up the task of rebuilding Jerusalem. So, Nehemiah requests this opportunity from the Persian King, who still rules over Israel as part of his empire.
Nehemiah is granted permission and given materials to go and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Now let’s get into the characteristics of this gift as we look at some of the characteristics that Nehemiah had.
One who has this gift...
1 ...Can visualize the final result of a project
1 ...Can visualize the final result of a project
Nehemiah saw that the reproach of Israel would be taken away if the walls of Jerusalem we rebuilt. Nehemiah 1:2-3
2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
5 And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour in thy sight, that thou wouldest send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may build it.
2 ...Is able to break up large projects into several smaller projects to reach the goal
2 ...Is able to break up large projects into several smaller projects to reach the goal
People with this gift are able to visualize the end goal and share that vision with others effectively. They organize the project at hand into smaller, more achievable projects.
Nehemiah was able to see the wall around Jerusalem completely rebuilt in just 52 days because he broke up the work and workers into smaller groups, working on smaller pieces of the same project. Nehemiah 3:1-32 (select verses)
1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
3 But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
13 The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.
14 But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Beth-haccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
15 But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king’s garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.
26 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out. 28 From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
29 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.
31 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith’s son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.
32 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
Nehemiah organized many workers to work on different parts of the wall.
3 ...Is able to see what resources are necessary to reach an achievable goal
3 ...Is able to see what resources are necessary to reach an achievable goal
Nehemiah knew he needed letters from the king to acquire the necessary materials for a project of this size. Nehemiah 2:6-8
6 And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.
7 Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;
8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
4 ...Has a tendency to not worry about the details in order to concentrate on the final goal
4 ...Has a tendency to not worry about the details in order to concentrate on the final goal
Nehemiah did not get involved personally with building, but did remove obstacles to the project so that those building could do so more easily. Nehemiah 5:1-13
1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.
12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.
13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise.
Instead of being caught up in the labor of the building, Nehemiah took care of the big problems and stressors that impeded the productive work of the laborers.
Delegating may cause others to think that the administrator is lazy, but it is a necessary thing to do in order to keep eyes on the bigger picture.
Those with this gift have the ability to wait for others to finish their responsibilities in order to continue into the next phases of work. They rely heavily on structures of responsibility (chains of command), and will take charge if no one appears to be in charge.
5 ...Is willing to suffer through criticism both internally and externally in order to reach a goal.
5 ...Is willing to suffer through criticism both internally and externally in order to reach a goal.
Nehemiah was opposed by foreigners and countrymen alike. Nehemiah 4:8-12
8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.
Those with the gift of ruling desire and need the loyalty of those working under them. Nehemiah demanded the loyalty from the other leaders. Nehemiah 4:13-15
13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
Nehemiah demanded that the nobles and rulers of the families and tribes be willing to fight for their families and their homes. Once united, they were able to operate in an organized fashion, half the workforce serving as watchmen and defenders while the other half worked on the wall, all overseen by the rulers who were overseen by Nehemiah.
These kind of expectations may seem rigid and harsh to others.
6 ...Is able to delegate work wisely.
6 ...Is able to delegate work wisely.
Nehemiah knew who to give certain tasks to and was also able to encourage those to whom he had delegated the work.
13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
He knew who to put in charge of watching the enemy.
14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
He encouraged the nobles and gave them something to fight and work for.
1 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,
2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
He set up musicians to play and be an encouragement to the people after the work was done.
He properly delegated responsibility of Jerusalem before he went back to the Persian capital of Shushan.
7 ...Feels great joy and satisfaction when many parts come together to complete on job.
For those of you that grew up watching the A-Team, do you remember the phrase that Hannibal Smith used to say after their mission had gone well? “I love it when a plan comes together!”
Nehemiah, we read, had set up singers to rejoice in the completion of the wall. Nehemiah 8:8-10
8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.
10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
In this passage we see that Nehemiah, the Tirshatha (Persian title of governor) had the law of God read to the people, not to shame them, but to encourage them to continue in it. Then he declared a feast day among those to celebrate the completion of the walls.
Those with this gift have the ability to preside over projects, see the end goal even before it is finished, delegate and coordinate smaller workloads to achieve the goal, obtain the resources necessary for the job, and stay faithful to the work even when criticized.
What Are the Dangers of the Gift of Administration?
What Are the Dangers of the Gift of Administration?
Those that rule have two principal dangers.
1. Not ruling with diligence
1. Not ruling with diligence
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
The word diligence here is a word that means with haste (speed), care, earnestness, and forwardness.
Those with the gift of administration should exercise their gift with speed, but not so in a hurry that they do it wrong, because this speed is also accompanied by carefulness. So they should not procrastinate nor should they rush a project.
Earnestness means intentionally and zealously - from the heart.
Forwardness speaks of boldness and with a good will, not timidity or grumbling.
Those that do not rule or administer with diligence...
A …Tend to delegate jobs and not take responsibility if things go wrong
A …Tend to delegate jobs and not take responsibility if things go wrong
They “wash their hands” of it by saying, “It’s not my problem, I told so-and-so to do it.”
B ...May not explain the job well to those helping
B ...May not explain the job well to those helping
, but feel frustrated when things aren’t done to their expectations.
C ...May overwork those under them without concern for burnout
C ...May overwork those under them without concern for burnout
D ...Tend to get prideful about their accomplishments
D ...Tend to get prideful about their accomplishments
E ...May ignore character failures in those that are helping them
E ...May ignore character failures in those that are helping them
As long as those working for them are loyal, they will tend to overlook serious character flaws in them so long as the work gets done. This is dangerous because it gives silent approval or endorsement of bad character, and it does not disciple properly, which is the mission of the church to begin with.
F ...Will take on projects without seeking God’s direction
F ...Will take on projects without seeking God’s direction
G ...May ignore or react badly to the advice and suggestions of others
G ...May ignore or react badly to the advice and suggestions of others
They will become insensitive of others as they focus only on the goal ahead.
The second danger for those with the gift of administration is
2. Being vengeful toward those who speak badly of their work or efforts
2. Being vengeful toward those who speak badly of their work or efforts
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
The administrator can fall into the trap of thinking that everything is a criticism, not only of their work, but of them personally when it may not be. But even when it is, the correct response is not vengeance, it is blessing. Luke 6:36
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
When vengeance is the focus, administrators...
A ...Risk much when they do not put their enemies, real or imagined, in God’s hands.
A ...Risk much when they do not put their enemies, real or imagined, in God’s hands.
Nehemiah placed his enemies in God’s hands. Nehemiah 6:14
14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
Matthew 5:43-48 gives us a blueprint on how to treat others that treat us badly.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
The whole work could have failed if Nehemiah was focused on getting back at those that were mocking him or those that planned to attack him.
B ...Run the risk of holding grudges
B ...Run the risk of holding grudges
Those that that have this gift may not use others who have at one point been unfaithful in the work or disloyal in their words and actions. (Think Paul > John Mark. We should be more like Barnabas in that situation.)
C ...Forget that the work belongs to God
C ...Forget that the work belongs to God
Those that are vengeful toward others that criticize or oppose the work being done have forgotten that it is the Lord’s work and not their work.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The gift of ruling (presiding, leading, administrating) is a gift that God gives. The believer who has this gift is one who likes to work on projects, administer those who are going to help him reach certain goals, and is willing to suffer as long as the goals set are achieved.
The person who has this gift will have to lead with diligence, and not be vengeful with those who oppose the work or make him suffer.
The church needs people who have the gift of Administration and use it well. Do you have this gift? Use it with diligence, placing those who oppose in the hands of the Lord.
