“ The Spiritual Gifts  ”

 “Ruleth”

Romans 12:8

Introduction

• What does “Ruleth” mean?

1. To stand before.
2. To lead
3. To attend to.
4. H. Strong says this…To stand before in rank (high office),to preside (act as president or to direct the meetings)to maintain , to be over.

• This may be in a Sunday School class, or at church, or a person to person at home, maybe on the mission field, or ministry that God has called you to.
• Nehemiah will be our example. Fourteen years after the return of Ezra to Jerusalem, Nehemiah led up a company(In B.C. 444) and restored the walls and civil authority.
• It takes the wisdom of God for someone to be able to rule His people.

 

I. Characteristics of the gift of Ruleth (or ruling)

  A) They have the ability to see the final result

• Nehemiah could see the goal of removing the great affliction (Pain, distress) and reproach (a cause of shame, a scolding) of God’s people by rebuilding the walls.
• Nehemiah 1:2,3…
• Nehemiah 2:5…

  B) The ability to make big goals small and reachable

• Nehemiah was successful in the huge task of rebuilding the walls by having many groups work on small sections.
• Nehemiah 3:1-32…
• Note verse 2… And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur
• Verse 3…But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build,
• Verse 4… And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
• Verse 5… And next unto them the Tekoites repaired;

   C) The Ability to see the resources needed to reach a goal

• Nehemiah requested from the king the resources (a reserve stock or supply of something) he needed.
• Nehemiah requested time, letters, and timber.
• Nehemiah 2:6-8… And the king said unto me, (the queen also sitting by him,) For how long shall thy journey be? and when wilt thou return? So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time.  7 ) Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah;  8) And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make

   D) The ability to focus and ignore distractions

• Nehemiah did not get involved with the actual building itself, but he focused on removing and taking care of the distractions (rumors, break downs of equipment, etc.)that would hinder, or bother the workers.
• Nehemiah 5:1-13…
• Note verse 1... ¶ And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
• Verse 3… Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
• Verse 4 …There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
• No matter what you do in life, there will be problems and those who try to oppose and create strife.
• You need to learn how to handle it with God’s wisdom not ours.

  E) The willingness to endure reaction from insiders

• This is the ability and willingness to be patient in working with those people (Inside or outside your church, your group, your company, your work place) to make sure that the work needed to be done is successful.
• Nehemiah had opposition…
• Nehemiah 4:9-18…
• Nehemiah 6:10-13…
• Also in chapter 6:17-19…

  F) They need loyalty and confidence in their people

• A person with the gift of “ruleth” will need to have people that he can trust that are loyal to Him and the job or task or ministry.
• No job will be worth keeping or completing if no one is loyal or has the confidence in their leader or pastor.
• Nehemiah brought some charges against the rulers who were discouraging the people.
• Nehemiah required an oath (Promise, or vow) from them.
• Read Nehemiah 5:1-13…
• Especially note verse 12… Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise.

  G) The ability to know how to choose the right job for the right person.

• Nehemiah delegated (choose for work)certain men to build the wall while he dealt with the enemies.
• Nehemiah 3…
• Nehemiah 2: 19,20…
• Nehemiah 13:23-25…

  H) The ability to inspire and encourage workers

• This must be done by being cheerful to them. Approving of their work (complement them by saying…”Good work”)and giving them new challenges.
• Nehemiah knew how to do all the above mentioned.
• Nehemiah 2:1…
• Nehemiah 4:14…

  I) They enjoy seeing the product finished

• Nehemiah enjoyed seeing it all come together and appointed singers to unite with him in the revival and celebration.
• Nehemiah 7:1,2…
• Nehemiah 8…
• In our praise and happiness over a job being completed, we must never fail to give God the glory for the success of our building.

II. Misuses of the gift of “Ruleth”

  A) Looking at people as “workers” rather than “people”

• It sometimes is hard for a person who “ruleth” to see a person who works for him as a “person”.
• An employer or pastor must see the needs of his people and aid them in their work rather than demanding all the time.

  B) Using people to accomplish personal desires

• This means taking these people God has blessed you with to do his work and then using them to do your own personal jobs and tasks as well.
• It would be like me taking some members of the church and have them come over and help my wife and I clean our house, work on the house, and so on…

  C) Showing favoritism to the more loyal ones

• This means… being nice to those that are more faithful and being rude to the ones that are less faithful.
• One of the most important things to a ruler is loyalty or faithfulness.
• It is important to know who you can count on to get the job done.
• Rulers must be fair, impartial (favor one side), and rewarding loyalty without favoritism.

  D) Taking charge of projects that are not led of God

• This means that it is wrong for a person with this gift should never do something that they decided to do themselves without asking God first and allowing God to lead them.
• If it is not led of God it will not flourish nor be successful.

  E) Choosing too much work for others

• One of the talents of the person who “ruleth” is knowing how to delegate (choose) jobs to others.
• But he must also know “how much” is “too much.”
• If workers are overworked, then they become tired and their minds become distorted and then turn against the job or ruler.

  F) Overlooking serious character faults in valuable workers

• This one is critical (serious)to a ministry or job and it’s people.

• This means… that some people who lead (Rulers) make the mistake of taking a person (worker, member) with a criminal background, or someone that is rude to others, or someone that is offensive to the others and let them keep on working because …“they are good workers, or help, or have a lot of knowledge”

  G) Not responding to suggestions

• Many times a ruler will not answer a person who gives a suggestion because he quickly makes a judgment in his mind that the suggestion is not a good one.
• One who “ruleth” has the ability to withstand reaction of others whether it is good or bad in order to get the job done.
• However, one who rules over others must also keep an open mind to suggestions of others.

  H) Failure to give proper praise

• Workers / members want to feel like they are a part of the project and a part of the success of that work.
• If no praise is given to the workers, this is stealing of value from the workers.
• Of course god gets the praise and the glory for all we do, but the workers involved need to hear it as well from their ruler!