It is important to know that Christ is the source of all the gifts that the Church possesses. In
Ephesians 4:7 and 8 we read:"But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure
of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When He ascended up oh high, He led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men." Christ is seen here in His resurrection glory. He has conquered death,
and consequently has delivered His people from the power of death. And as the risen Man, He
qualifies them for His service in giving them gifts through His grace.

In 1 Corinthians 12 we see. how these gifts are controlled and used. In verses 4-7 we read:"Now
there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but
the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all
in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." The Holy Spirit
is the prominent One here as the power of the gifts. We see many different gifts put into service
by "the same Spirit." This results in various services or ministries under the authority of "the same
Lord" accomplishing God’s work in the souls of men, for "it is the same God which worketh all
in all." Control, then, is by the Spirit, whose power brings benefit to every man as the gifts are
used. We see further in verse 11 how all the gifts work in the unity of the Spirit according to His
sovereign will. "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as he will." This should impress upon us the necessity of seeking the Lord’s will in our
service for Him. It is in this way that the greatest blessing for souls will be realized.

Let us look at some examples from Scripture which show us the Holy Spirit directing the servants
of Christ. This will instruct us further in God’s order so that we may intelligently follow His will
in serving Him.

In Acts 13:2-4 we read:"The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul [also called Paul]
for the work where-unto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their
hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost," etc. The Spirit
is prominent here; He called and sent them into the work for which they had been fitted by Christ.
They were especially qualified for this work by the gifts given them of Christ. The part those at
Antioch had in this work was to give them the right hand of fellowship. The fellowship of their
brethren was a very important thing to Barnabas and Saul. It gave them support and
encouragement. This is the simple meaning of the laying on of hands. Then in Acts 16:6 we read:
"They . . . were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia." And in verse 7:"They
assayed to go into Bithynia:but the Spirit suffered them not." Here they are directed into a special
place by the Spirit, who again is prominent. Even though they thought of laboring in other places,
they willingly submitted to go just where the Lord wanted them, as directed by His Spirit. His will
was sovereign to them. This resulted in a great work of God in Macedonia. So, in the early
Church, the Lord controlled by His Spirit the use of gifts.

If we follow the life and ministry of the apostle Paul a little further, we find that he was called of
Christ as apostle to the Gentiles (Gal. 2:7-9) and minister to the Church (Col. 1:25), a "chosen
vessel" of the Lord. In this capacity, he established churches or assemblies. This included all the
teaching and order pertaining to them. But he NEVER controlled or attempted to control any of

Christ’s gifts. Paul knew this authority was Christ’s alone; he never presumed to trespass here,
though he was an apostle.

Let us consider briefly the commonly accepted practices in the use of gifts among Christians
today. Authority vested in men is what is generally found. We see the establishment of a special
class of men, with a higher status than that of the many, called "the clergy." The many are "the
laity." In some cases, control lies with "the clergy." Conferences are convened for the purpose
of assigning "pastorates." In other cases, a fair degree of control lies with "the laity." They may
"elect" or "choose" a pastor or a minister. But gift among the laity lies largely dormant by reason
of these controls. These abuses, and others not mentioned, are a result of men presumptuously
taking to themselves the authority of Christ. For all practical purposes, Christ, as the Head of His
Church, has been displaced; men have established themselves in His place instead. Let us be true
to the Lord by upholding His authority and refusing that of men.

There remains one point which requires our attention. It is that the gifts of Christ can never be
disciplined. To whatever degree discipline may be necessary, even to the extreme of having to
"put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (1 Cor. 5:13), it is sin that is judged and
not gift. In such a case, one’s service for the Lord is suspended by the Lord until that person is
restored to Him. The Lord will not use His gift in that person until the sin is judged. When this
has been done, the Lord will restore him to communion and service. Then follows his restoration
to fellowship by the assembly. But it is not gift that is restored; it is the person. Since gift was not
disciplined, it need not be restored. Since the person has been restored, the Lord will resume His
use of that gift, if He so pleases. How gracious He is:"The gifts and calling of God are without
repentance" (Rom. 11:29). God never recalls that which He has given in grace through Christ,
whether it is gift or any other possession.

In summary, Christ has given gifts unto men and it is God’s order that these gifts be controlled
by the Holy Spirit and not by men. May we each allow the Spirit to work in us more freely, that
the gifts which Christ has given us might be developed and used to His honor and glory. May we
be quick to judge every uprising of the flesh within us and every entanglement with the world, that
we might be in a fit condition for our gift to be used of the Lord. Oh, let us live in the fear of the
Lord so that we may be His faithful and fruitful servants!

FRAGMENT It is a healthy sign when saints are zealous of good works, but I believe there is
nothing so likely to sap the soul as the satisfaction one derives from feeling that one is useful.
When you have been much in active service you need to go to the desert to rest awhile with the
Lord (Mark 6:31). The soul who does not seek this, and long for it, is the soul that needs it most.