Monica Hill looks at the spiritual gift of showing mercy.

This article is part of a series – click here for previous instalments.

We come to the last of those spiritual gifts which are listed in Romans 12. At first glance the phrase ‘showing mercy’ can give the impression that this gift is about ‘good works’, but it is much more than that. Performing acts of mercy means being prepared to help those who are undeserving. In many cases, sentence has already been passed on the recipient - they have been pronounced ‘guilty’ and should, by human judgment, serve out that sentence.

There are over 150 mentions of asking for mercy in the Bible, well over half of them in the Old Testament where the Israelites called upon the Lord for his help - for his mercy when they had gone astray.

Asking for Mercy

When we ask someone for mercy there is usually already an acceptance that we are not living up to their expectations, whether we understand or agree with these or not. In most cases, for mercy to be effective some acknowledgement is required by the recipient of their need for it - a contrite heart is required.

When we come to being judged by the Lord, Christians and Jews have assurance that he will hear us when we ask him to remember mercy (“Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love” (Ps 25:6)). This also gives fresh understanding to Habakkuk’s prayer “in wrath remember mercy” (Hab 3:2).

When we ask someone for mercy there is usually already an acceptance that we are not living up to their expectations.

We often say or sing the lovely prayer Kyrié Eléison – “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy” and in the General Confession we say “And grant us thy salvation” in response to the minister’s call “O Lord, show thy mercy upon us”. When we plead “Lord have mercy” we are already aware that we have fallen short of our Father’s expectations: we recognise our own failings and resolve to do better next time, if we are given another chance. We know that the Lord is eager to forgive us when we say we are sorry and we believe that he will grant us mercy in the next life if not in this.

Note the significance of Jesus’ response on the cross to the criminal who repented: “today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:40-43). It is also noteworthy that this was only reported by Luke, who had the doctor’s gift of compassion. We value this example of the care and compassion set by our Father; and those with this gift have an eagerness to follow his example.

How Does Someone with This Gift Behave?

In the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matt 5:7) is one of the Beatitudes. It is granted following a close walk with the Lord as the spiritual gifts he has given us come into fulfilment. It is one of the characteristics that mature believers are encouraged to embrace.

This, though, needs a very special approach by someone with this gift – so that the actions are not seen as condemnatory, but as gracious and supportive of those who may often seem to deserve what is happening to them. A strong degree of godliness is needed to be able to exercise this gift, as there should be no vestige of judgment. Neither are there any conditions that the recipient needs to fulfil – the giver gives freely and performs acts of mercy willingly and lovingly. They are aware of the problems but see and accept that there is a need for care and support.

The Lord is eager to forgive us when we say we are sorry and we believe that he will grant us mercy in the next life if not in this.

Some people have a natural gift for being open and forgiving of others and are able to use this gift effectively. Acts of mercy need to have a genuine cheerfulness or joyful eagerness – they should not just be performed as a duty. Those with this gift will also show a real love for and empathy with others. They will not perform acts of mercy just as good acts for the wrong reason.

Transformation of the Natural Gift

It is very appropriate that mercy is the final gift to be listed in Romans, as it can be all-embracing. It is noted that all the gifts in Romans can be seen as starting as a natural attribute which God can make into a more beautiful spiritual gift. All natural gifts can be strengthened by allowing the Holy Spirit to take control.

Some people are born with a natural caring ability for others in whatever situation or condition they are in – whether it is their own fault or the source is unknown. But with the addition of the power and strength of the Holy Spirit, they can become even more effective.

What are Acts of Mercy?

The dictionary defines acts of mercy as “compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power; clemency; a disposition to be kind and forgiving: a heart full of mercy; alleviation of distress; relief”.

In the Catholic catechism the works of mercy are “charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbour in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead”.

What do you see as acts of mercy? How will you exercise this gift with or without the aid of the Holy Spirit?

If you have any other comments on ‘acts of mercy’ as a spiritual gift, please do add them.

"If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith" (Romans 12:6)

In this series on Spiritual Gifts listed in the New Testament, Monica Hill turns from her overview of the various gifts to looking at each of the Gifts listed in Romans 12 in turn.
The first of the gifts mentioned in Romans 12 – prophecy - is mentioned in three of the lists given by Paul - Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4. Although they all have the same definition of prophecy, there is a distinction between each of them.

In Romans 12, prophecy is one of the natural gifts and is often equated with a good speaker who is able to expound the word of God so that others can understand it and benefit from it. Although this can be an intellectual exercise it is different from the Ministry of the Prophet (Ephesians 4) and the Manifestation (1 Cor 12) and is easily recognised when it 'has an anointing'.

The Romans passage wisely adds the condition that turns good speaking into prophetic proclamation: "in accordance with your faith". This gives the glory to God and follows up the invocation "do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you" (12:3).

There is the lovely story in Acts 24 of this potential gift recognised in Apollos by Aquila and Priscilla:

Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures...He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. (Acts 24:24-26)

Apollos became one of the 'anointed preachers' who could draw great crowds to hear the Gospel.

Defining Prophecy

In order to find the biblical definition of prophecy we have to go right back to the time of Moses. In Exodus 3, Moses argues with God after receiving the command to go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt. In the following chapter he pleads that he is not eloquent and asks God to send someone else.

God then makes a special arrangement whereby God would speak to Moses, Moses would speak to Aaron, and Aaron would speak to the people. "It will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him" (Ex 4:16). This gives us the definition of a prophet as the mouthpiece of God.

In Exodus, we find the definition of a prophet as the mouthpiece of God."

Exercising the Gift

Moses said "Would that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!" (Num 11:29). This appears straightforward, but we need to put this desire of Moses into context. During the 40 years of Israel's travel through the wilderness, life was not easy and on this occasion the people had become very rebellious and were blaming Moses for bringing them out of Egypt.

When Moses complained to the Lord that he could not cope, the Lord rebuked him saying "Is the Lord's arm too short? [The Amplified Version reads "do you think the Lord's ability and power is thwarted and inadequate?"] Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you."

Moses was told to bring together 70 of the elders of Israel into the 'Tent of Meeting' where worship took place. God said:

I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone (Num 11:17).

When the Spirit came upon them they prophesied, or as the Amplified version says "they sounded forth the praises of God and declared His will". Another interesting point is that the two men who had stayed in the camp also prophesied. Although this seemed outrageous to Joshua, Moses replied "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!"

Being able to celebrate the Lord's presence with others who have also caught the vision and are really sounding forth praises of God and declaring his will is a wonderful, exhilarating experience for all concerned. This is the outpouring of the Spirit foretold in Joel 2 which was fulfilled at Pentecost:

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

The Acts version of the record from Pentecost adds the last four words to Joel's prophecy, "and they shall prophesy" to emphasise their importance. This means that every believer, baptised in the Spirit, is potentially able to prophesy. This is true of men and women, young and old, rich and poor.

Every believer, baptised in the Spirit, is potentially able to prophesy."

Old Testament Prophets

Today we often think of the prophetic gift as being relevant more to the Old Testament when the role of the prophets was greatly revered. They were individuals who were so in tune with God that they understood and knew what God wanted to say to his people. This has provided the basis of the teaching in the New Testament.

The task of the Prophets then (both those whose words have been recorded as well as those who we only know their names) was to bring the word of the Lord which was living in them to the nation. God used them to reveal his nature and purposes so that Israel would understand the God who had established a covenant relationship with them through their forefathers thus preparing them to be "a light unto the Gentiles"; a role which was eventually personified in Messiah Jesus.

New Testament Prophets

The prophetic role today is still to bring knowledge and understanding and to reveal the nature and purposes of God through the church to the world. Moses' words "I wish that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!" is carried out most effectively when it creates a mature body of believers who can relate their faith to everyday life.

In this way they can present a united front to the world with a powerful spirit-filled anointing upon their works of service, which glorifies Jesus and causes multitudes to want to know him and find that their lives are transformed by God.

Monica Hill gives an overview of Romans 12 and the 'natural' gifts.

"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; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully" (Rom 12:6-8)

The gifts listed in Romans 12 are often regarded as natural abilities that should be obvious in any church or community. As a result, their significance can often be missed – especially if they are not studied in the context of the whole passage.

These natural giftings – serving, teaching, encouraging, etc - can be exercised in many walks of life. Natural talents are obviously gifts which have been given to us by God and we should always give thanks to him for them. But these 'natural gifts' can all too often be exercised without any reference to God – indeed, most of them are also present and valued in the non-Christian world.

This means that they are not always used in ways that benefit the Body of Christ. An obvious example: it could be assumed that a talented, organised Bank Manager would make the best Treasurer of church funds. But his secular banking experience might cause him to oppose faith projects that trust in God to supply the funds, instead requiring all the funds to be in the bank before the project begins (he would also spell 'prophet' differently!).

Natural becoming Spiritual

For Christians, our 'natural' gifts can become 'spiritual' gifts- through the enabling power of God's grace and through our own self-sacrifice. Paul begins the Romans 12 passage by urging believers "in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Paul expects there to be evidence of self-sacrifice. In the previous chapter, Paul gives teaching on the grace of God needed for Gentile believers in their relationship with Jews and he gives over the remainder of chapter 12 to teaching on the true nature of love.

God gives everyone natural gifts and abilities- but only through the enabling power of his grace can they be transformed into truly 'spiritual' gifts.

Change of Mindset

Strange as it may seem, these gifts in Romans 12 are often the most difficult to convert into spiritual gifts. This conversion requires humility and a change of mindset.

In the same chapter, Paul tells us: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourselves with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you" (12:3). He then goes on to show how each believer is a member of the Body of Christ and each of them are necessary. Then come the nine gifts, all with a careful corollary on the way in which they are to be used, starting with "in proportion to faith".

Why should Paul take so much care in outlining the practice of these natural gifts? Unfortunately, too often when we find something easy we can take it for granted and even begin to think that we have achieved it all in our own strength. Young people today are encouraged to blow their own trumpets and boast on their CVs. As we have already noted, those who have no faith also have these gifts - but many times they are exercised for personal gain and not for the enrichment of others - or they can be exercised badly or for the wrong motives.

Using your natural talents for the Kingdom of God requires humility and self-sacrifice- not the pride and boasting encouraged by the world."

End Purpose

The ultimate purpose of God's natural gifts is to bless and build up others, sending a message to the world that God is at work in his people. Verse 2 of the Romans passage warns us "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind", or as J B Phillips graphically translates this verse "Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity".

Too often Christians have allowed themselves to be persuaded to adopt the values of the world and to use these as their yardstick. They should really rather be acting as transforming agents to encourage the world to accept and confirm Biblical values. One God-ordained way to achieve this is to use of his natural giftings in a humble, self-sacrificial, Spirit-filled way that turns worldly priorities on their head.

This is not an easy task, as it is never finished! God has no grandchildren, and each generation of Christians needs to faithfully take up the mantle of encouraging others to embrace the faith, its principles and values. The structures may change and be adapted to have relevance in today's world, but ultimately the ministry is still the same- reconciling man to God.

The ultimate goal is for us to become agents of God's transformation, working with him to win others for Christ."

We live in difficult times – when individualism is running rife – when 'I', 'me-and-my-needs' are the main values in secular society, with community and strangers taking second place. The premise I was brought up on - 'God first, others second, self last' - is out of vogue today and needs to be re-emphasised in the church by the use of these easily recognisable 'natural' gifts. We will look at these in more detail in the next instalment.