Spiritual Gifts pt5: Seven Sense Perceptors

By Bill Gothard

HOW THE SEVEN SENSE PERCEPTORS IN OUR BODIES ILLUSTRATE THE SEVEN MOTIVATIONAL GIFTS

Analogies between the physical body and the spiritual Body of Christ have their Scriptural roots in such passages as Romans 12:4-5.

“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

Medical researchers have discovered seven sense perceptors in the human body. These are described in the latest edition of Gray’s Anatomy of the Human Body. Each perceptor bears a striking resemblance to a spiritual gift.

1. HEAT PERCEPTOR

These perceptors send warning messages to the brain when heat passes a certain level of tolerance. When God’s judgment was imminent upon His people, the PROPHET sounded the alarm.

2. TOUCH PERCEPTORS

The slightest touch is registered by these perceptors and sent to the brain for a response. When a person taps another, he usually seeks to gain attention in order to have a need met. The SERVER would respond to such a situation.

3. BALANCE PERCEPTORS

If the body leans too far out of balance, these perceptors will call for muscle response to correct the situation. When doctrine is out of balance, the TEACHER is instantly alerted and calls for immediate documentation and correction.

4. STRETCH PERCEPTORS

These perceptors register the amount of stretching which takes place when skin is in the process of growth or use. Similarly, the EXHORTER (encourager) is alert to the spiritual growth and steps of progress that Christians are experiencing.

5. COLD PERCEPTORS

When an object near the skin is colder than the skin, it draws warmth from the body to itself. This action is detected by cold perceptors. A GIVER would respond to the need of a person who is cold and hungry.

6. PRESSURE PERCEPTORS

Deep pressure in the body triggers these perceptors, which in turn signal the brain to shift the weight of the body and thus avoid pain. When an ORGANIZER recognizes that too much pressure is building up on a few people, he will delegate the load to others to avoid serious consequences.

7. PAIN PERCEPTORS

These perceptors signal the brain when damage is occurring within the body. It is significant that other perceptors can be adapted to or ignored, but these cannot. A person with the gift of MERCY will feel the pain of another and will not be able to rest until the cause of the pain is removed.

HOW VARIOUS MANIFESTATIONS CAN RESULT FROM ONE MOTIVATIONAL GIFT

EXHORTING…

Let us suppose that an exhorter is invited to speak to a group of Christians, and he senses the need to guide his hearers to remove guilt. He is motivated to help them clear their consciences so that they are free to grow spiritually.

TEACHERS…

Let us further assume that the exhorter presents his message in the form of an instructional class an that he was assigned to this opportunity by his church. He would then be using the ministry gift of teaching.

As this exhorter exercises his gift through the ministry of teaching, any one of all of the following results may occur in the hearts and lives of his hearers.

1. WORD OF WISDOM

One listener saw forgiveness from God’s point of view.

2. WORD OF KNOWLEDGE

Another learned how to gain a clear conscience.

3. FAITH

Another visualized what God wanted to do in his life through clear conscience.

4. HEALINGS

Another person gained physical health by removing guilt.

5. MIRACLES

Another experiences supernatural events that allowed him to clear his conscience.

6. PROPHECY

Another was deeply convicted and brought to repentance by seeing his true condition.

7. DISCERNING SPIRITS

Another recognized a root of bitterness within himself.

8. VARIOUS TONGUES

Another understood the prerequisites of glorifying God through language and music.

THIS SERIES IS CONTINUED…