主題：屬靈恩賜系列（三）：了解教導的恩賜
日期：2015年10月19日
作者：Lonnie Crowe

 “按我們所得的恩賜，各有不同。或說預言，就當照著信心的程度說預言；或作執事，就當專一執事；或作教導的，就當專一教導…”（羅12：6-7）

幾年前，我的母親和我前往華盛頓特區，我們住在定居那地區的兄弟家裏，所以我們可以悠閒地參觀所有的景點。

一天下午，我們正在探索藝術博物館。當我們在印象派展覽處隨處觀看時，我以為我的母親如果能對於這些印象派圖畫有更多知識上的認識，就能更透徹地欣賞這些藝術品。我淘淘雄辯地評論莫內的點畫並非梵高的廣闊筆觸。當其他的遊客漸漸圍聚過來聽時，只聽見我母親回應我的高言大論，“你知道，假如你一直用同一個肩膀來扛重皮包，你將會身歪體斜。”

嗯，這就是我的演講的結束！

我們對此笑談了很多次。即使在今天，如果我想要來教但是沒人願意要學，我家裏的某個人會說，“你知道…”

教師感到有必要來指導。我們沒法做什麼！我們對知識著迷並興致勃勃要來分享我們所學會的。事實上，這是一份恩賜，即使我們必須學會辨識何時別人確實想要被教導，以及何時是我們試圖要迫使他人來學習我們的知識。

當論及基督的身體，教導這項屬靈恩賜通常是與被稱為“動機性的恩賜”為伍。藉著聖靈的力量，擁有這項恩賜的人們能夠比那些藉著自然的能力的人們用更深入的洞見和了解來教導。

伴隨著教導的恩賜，人們對於神的話語具有更深層的無法滿足般的渴慕來學習。教師想要知道來龍去脈，細微的差別，所述的定義。因此，他們就像庇哩亞人，甘心領受這道，天天考查聖經（徒17：11）（注1）。當他們學習的時候，他們第一個所教導的就是自己。

教師具有聖靈所驅動的能力能夠來搜索出經文中的“精華”。希伯來書的作者強調了這一點的重要性：“看你們學習的工夫，本該作師傅，誰知還得有人將 神聖言小學的開端另教導你們，並且成了那必須吃奶、不能吃乾糧的人。凡只能吃奶的都不熟練仁義的道理，因為他是嬰孩；惟獨長大成人的才能吃乾糧；他們的心竅習練得通達，就能分辨好歹了。“（希伯來書5：12-14）

屬靈教師對於基督的身體最大的一個貢獻就是帶領人們邁入成熟。他們裝備信徒來應對經文中更複雜的問題，因此，教會作為一個整體具有更敏銳的能力來分辨善與惡。缺乏分辨的能力就是一項教導的恩賜被輕忽的證據。

由於他們深入研究經文，教師往往如同以薩迦的兒子，通達時務（注2）。他們對於先知性的話語能夠理解，解釋，並加以發展，幫助籬清圍繞我們日常生活中的混亂。

教師們積極地要來分享神的話語，並具備有效分享的能力這樣的恩賜。然而，對於這種恩膏有個警告 – 分享必須在聖靈的引導之下。他要分享什麼以及要分享多少？該對誰分享以及在什麼情況下可以分享？教導的恩膏是滲透在生活上的各個層面。教師們想要來教導，但我們必須明白，教導是發生在適當的時機（參箴25：11）（注3）。

教導的屬靈恩賜承載恩膏以及擔負著更高責任的呼召。雅各很坦率地直述這樣的嚴重性：“我的弟兄們，不要多人作師傅，因為曉得我們要受更重的判斷。原來我們在許多事上都有過失；若有人在話語上沒有過失，他就是完全人，也能勒住自己的全身。”（雅各書3：1-2）。被委託來對人們的生命說話，這是一種責任和尊榮 - 一個不應掉以輕心的重責大任。

教師是在以弗所書4：11-12這裏所描述的五重職事的一部分，“為要成全聖徒，各盡其職，建立基督的身體”。這樣的裝備需要神話語的精華。

我的內心呼求那些被呼召在教會中用此來服事的，我們的教導能遵循摩西在申命記32：1-3的禱告：

諸天哪，側耳，我要說話；
願地也聽我口中的言語。
我的教訓要淋漓如雨；
我的言語要滴落如露，如細雨降在嫩草上，
如甘霖降在菜蔬中。
我要宣告耶和華的名；
你們要將大德歸與我們的 神。


注1：徒17:11 這地方的人賢於帖撒羅尼迦的人，甘心領受這道，天天考查聖經，要曉得這道是與不是。
注2：代上12:32 以薩迦支派，有二百族長都通達時務，知道以色列人所當行的；他們族弟兄都聽從他們的命令。
注3：箴25:11 一句話說得合宜，就如金蘋果在銀網子裡。



Understanding the Gift of Teaching
October 19th, 2015
By Lonnie Crowe
http://www.generals.org/articles/single/understanding-the-gift-of-teaching/

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach…” (Romans 12:6, 7; NIV)

A few years ago, my mother and I took a trip to Washington D. C. We stayed with my brother who lived in the area, so we had time to take in all the sights at our leisure.  

One afternoon, we were exploring an art museum. As we strolled through the Impressionist exhibit, I assumed my mother would appreciate the art better if she had a more intellectual understanding of it. I waxed eloquently on the pointillism of Monet as opposed to the broad brush strokes of Van Gogh. Other tourists were gathering around to listen, only to hear my mother respond to my brilliant explanations with, “You know, if you carry that heavy purse on the same shoulder all the time, you’ll be lopsided.”

Well, that was the end of my lecture!

We’ve laughed about this many times. Even today, if I am carried away with the desire to teach and no one wants to learn, someone in my family only has to say, “You know...”

Teachers feel compelled to instruct. We can’t help it! We are fascinated with knowledge and driven to share what we learn with others. Indeed, it is a gift, even if we have to learn to recognize when someone actually wants to be taught and when we are trying to force our knowledge on others.

When it comes to the body of Christ, the spiritual gift of teaching is grouped with what are often called “the motivational gifts.” Through the power of the Holy Spirit, those with this gift are enabled to teach with greater insight and understanding than that which can be accomplished through natural abilities.

With the teaching gift comes an insatiable desire to learn the Word of God at a deeper level. Teachers want the context, the nuances, the definitions. Therefore, they become like Bereans in that they readily accept the word and search the scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). As they study, they are teaching themselves first.

Teachers have a Holy Spirit-driven ability to search out the “meat” of the scriptures. The writer of Hebrews stresses the importance of this:

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:12-14; NKJV)

One of the greatest contributions spiritual teachers make to the body of Christ is leading people into maturity. They equip believers to handle the more complex matters of scripture, so that the Church as a whole sharpens its ability to discern between good and evil. A lack of discernment is evidence that the teaching gift has been neglected.

Because of their deep study of scriptures, teachers often become like the sons of Issachar and have an understanding of the times. They can comprehend, interpret, and develop the prophetic word, helping to bring clarity into the chaos that surrounds our daily lives.

Teachers are motivated to share the Word and gifted with the ability to share effectively. However, there is a caveat to that anointing—the sharing must come under the leading of the Holy Spirit. What and how much does He want shared? With whom and under what circumstances should the sharing take place? The teaching anointing permeates all facets of life. Teachers want to teach, but we must understand that teaching is to occur at opportune times (see Prov. 25:11).

The spiritual gift of teaching carries with it both an anointing and a calling to higher accountability. James was pretty blunt about the seriousness of this: “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1-2). It is a responsibility and an honor to be entrusted with speaking into people’s lives—one that should never be taken lightly.

Teachers are part of the five-fold ministry described in Ephesians 4:11-12, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” That equipping requires the meat of the Word.

My heart cry for all those who are called to serve the church in this capacity is that our teaching will follow Moses’ prayer in Deuteronomy 32:1-3 (NLT):

Listen, O heavens, and I will speak!
Hear, O earth, the words that I say.
Let my teaching fall on you like rain;
let my speech settle like dew.
Let my words fall like rain on tender grass,
like gentle showers on young plants.
I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
how glorious is our God!