Charisma is the instantaneous enablement of the Holy Spirit in the life of any believer to exercise a gift for the edification of others.” (Dr. Spiros Zodhiates) Charisma come from the NT Greek word “kairo”, which frequently is translated “rejoice.” It was also used to “hail” when greeting friends (Matthew 5:12; 26:49). Karis (Charis in English) coveys the thought of undeserved kindness, of unmerited favour, as in showing joy or gratitude. It is the extreme opposite to working to earn God’s favour, and is first revealed in the joy of sins forgiven, and then in the freedom from guilt and condemnation that follow God’s forgiveness.
Charisma, then, is a gift of grace. (Its plural is charismata.) God’s great grace is shown in the wonderful gifts He has given to us. In a believer’s experience, it is difficult to separate “the grace shown” from “the gift given.” Like true faith and good works, one is shown in the other. I believe that “the measure of faith” is synonymous with “the grace shown” and “the gift given”.
When used interchangeably (allowing for minor shades of difference), the three expressions help in the understanding of how God wants the Body of Christ to function, i.e., charismatically. The apostle Paul “received grace” from Christ for his ministry to the Gentiles (Romans 1:5). In other words, he received divine favour, and kind acceptance. Paul attributes his ministry to the result of the grace of God.
In Romans 15:15, Paul again refers “the grace that is given to me of God.” The apostles at Jerusalem perceived “the grace that had been given” to Paul, and received him into fellowship (Galatians 2:9). It was the “grace given” Paul to minister that enabled him to write that God had apportioned to every believer “the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3)
Clearly, the phrases “measure of faith” and “grace given” are interchangeable. God’s grace is visible in what it produces. When the Jewish believers “scattered abroad” from Jerusalem by persecution led “a great number” of Greeks to the Lord, Barnabas saw their salvation as “the grace of God” (Acts 11:19-23).
Every believer has been given “the measure of faith” (or “a measure of faith,” as the NKJV puts it). This is not an abstract term, as some have supposed, wondering what “measure” they have! No, “the measure of faith” is “the gift given,” which also is “the grace given”; It is three ways of saying the same thing. This grace given/gift given/measure of faith is to be put to good use.
“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Paul writes: “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men.” (Ephesians 4:7), The Amplified Version translates it: “Yet grace (God’s unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and bountiful] gift.”
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.” (Romans 12:6) The “proportion of faith” is “the measure of faith” given, manifested (in this case) in the gift of prophecy. This “measure” or “proportion” of faith enables one person to prophesy, another person to minister, another to teach, another to exhort, another to give, another to rule, and another to show mercy (Romans 12:6-8). So, those who describe themselves as “non-charismatic” are — in some gifts — charismatic!
“We being many are one body” — diversity in unity (Romans 12:5). Your spiritual gift was not given to make you independent of others but interdependent: you on them and them on you. “We being one body are many” — unity in diversity (Romans 12:5) Unity does not have to mean uniformity. Although we are all one, each one is different from all others!
“As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10) The Amplified Bible puts it very well: “As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].”
As we share the faith we have, gifts are imparted and believers are established. “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” (Romans 1:11,12)
While Paul would have “imparted” to the believers in Rome the gift of miracles that he undoubtedly had — the measure of faith he had been given — they in turn would have imparted their gifts to him. Hospitality would have been one; prophecy another; and generosity yet another. Paul was as dependent on their measure of faith as they were on his measure of faith.
The role of ministry gifts (church eldership) is to train, perfect, mend, equip and join together God’s people so that they, the whole body of Christ, can minister. The comma after “saints” in the KJV should not be there. It wrongly places “the work of the ministry” entirely in the hands of the leadership: the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers; whereas “the work of the ministry” is the occupation of the entire body! (Try not using one hand and you’ll see how that limits your effectiveness.)
As the church body matures, childish behaviour among believers and deception from false teachers are no longer problems in churches (Ephesians 4:13, 14). The church body grows up in all things with Christ is its Head.
The five ministry gifts in the ministries of elders are not heads of churches — Jesus is their Head! Their role is to equip the members with gifts that bring healthy growth. As the church comes to see Jesus as its Head (authority), it functions “from” Him (Ephesians 4:16) in the way that your body functions as your head instructs. If it did not, it would become dysfunctional. Likewise, the developed “mind of Christ” in those who are not carnal but spiritual keeps things in order (1 Corinthians 2:14, 15).
“For because of Him the whole body (the church in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.” (The Amplified Bible)
The church body is only as good as the “effective working” of all its members! Those members — parts of the body — who are either not present or not working are the cause of its dysfunctional condition. The church body has its own, intrinsic growth potential. Visiting ministries can bless the body and encourage growth. If the church body is damaged, they can give it the helpful spiritual equivalent to chiropractic treatment or physiotherapy.
What it really needs, though, is to grow up into Jesus Christ, its Head; and it can do that only as the ministry gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher impart what helps it to grow. The body itself must begin the work of recovery: it must begin within the local church!
May the church grow into full maturity — into Christ’s full stature — “the completeness found in Him.” (The Amplified Bible)