Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
I Tim. 4:14 ... Neglect not the (spiritual) gift that is in thee...
I examined myself carefully by this verse.
To neglect means:
- to disregard, ignore, overlook, slight, forget without giving due attention
Neglect implies giving insufficient attention to
- disregard suggest voluntary inattention
- ignore implies a failure to regard something that is obvious
- overlook suggests disregarding or ignoring through haste or lack of care
- slight implies contemptuous or disdainful disregarding or omitting
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There are ministry offices in the church: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher
Eph. 4 ... (after Jesus arose HE gave gifts to the church) ... 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
Also in the church there are various spiritual gifts given to individuals for the church.
Romans 12 ... 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 (serving), 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.
I Cor. 12 ... 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
All these spiritual gifts operate by faith. (weak faith could cause you not to yield to the gift... not to speak when you should exercise that gift)
You might consider yourself unworthy. None of us are worthy. To consider yourself unworthy and to keep silent for that reason is extreme selfishness on your part and highly unacceptable and even egotistical for you are yielding to yourself not to God if this is your attitude.
We must yield to the Spirit of God instead. But all things are by faith. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10
To gain the needed faith and to get where we are supposed to be, we meditate daily on the word of God. We seek God through prayer but also by reading Bible and meditating on scripture, and acting on those scriptures after spending time in those specific scriptures.
I Cor. 12
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased HIM.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee:nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need:but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church (to care for the church), first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
Some are set in the church to rule in matters of doctrine and to deal with sin in the congregation and to put the congregation on the right path.
Some are administrative types in the church.
Then there are helps ... those with a gift of helps assist others when there is a need.
But all the spiritual gifts and offices in the church operate by the individual church member's faith ... Without faith nothing happens ... Without faith you cannot please God.