federal companies

 

Other articles you might be interested in in this issue of ShapingtheFuture:

The Blessing Nobody Wants?by Rev. Bob Benke (Feature)

Why we are prepared to serve Lutheran congregations by Kacie Krause (SNL)

 

ECEnet tab

Recognizing the Gifts of the Spirit

by Jeffrey E. Burkart

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit…
…different kinds of service, but the same Lord…
…different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all…
… each manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good…
To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, or the message of knowledge…
…or faith…
…or gifts of healing…
…or miraculous powers…
…or prophecy…
…all are the work of one and the same Spirit…

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (abridged)

We are assured that we’ve been gifted, but we may not always know how to recognize the spiritual gifts we and others possess, cultivate them, and put them to use in service to our neighbors and to the glory of God.

All believers in Christ (including children) possess spiritual gifts. By virtue of our baptism we are heirs of salvation and gifted by the Spirit for service in God’s kingdom. We are assured that we’ve been gifted, but we may not always know how to recognize the spiritual gifts we and others possess, cultivate them, and put them to use in service to our neighbors and to the glory of God.

There are all sorts of “spiritual gift inventories” that can be found on the internet (type “spiritual gifts inventory” into your search engine and you’ll find quite a few). They can be helpful in determining what gifts you have, but before going there take some time to think about the gifts of the Spirit that Isaiah speaks about and see if any resonate with you:

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:2 ESV

Let’s examine these gifts to clarify what they mean and how they might be applied in our lives.

Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge

In Luke 2:41-52 we learn that the twelve-year-old Jesus was in the temple court listening to the teachers and asking them questions. We learn that everyone present was amazed at His understanding and His answers to questions. At this young age Our Master possessed the gifts of understanding and knowledge and was eager to listen to the temple teachers and ask them questions. Jesus had the wisdom to listen to the teachers in the temple and the understanding and knowledge to ask questions and to learn from His elders. The Son of God needed to cultivate His gifts and so do we.

Luke 2:52 states that Jesus “grew in wisdom, stature and in favor with God and men (i.e., all people).” Jesus had wisdom and understanding beyond His years, but still needed to grow, mature, think deeply, and seek guidance in order to use His gifts to serve others.

Do you have the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, or knowledge? Are you growing in your ability to look at every situation with an eye toward discerning the truth? Do you recognize others who seem to have good judgment and are able to find positive, God-pleasing solutions to complex problems? Are you able to see God’s presence in the warp and woof of everyday life? Do you find yourself engaged in a serious study of our complex world and “become all things to all people” so that you can proclaim good news and thereby “save some?” If so, the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge may be yours.

Counsel and Might

Counsel and might can be defined as the ability to judge rightly and the courage to be a follower of Jesus. Like wisdom, the ability to differentiate between right and wrong and to act prudently is a gift of the Spirit. The gift to act upon what is right in God’s sight – having the courage or the “might” to risk ridicule or rejection for the sake of Christ – is a powerful gift from God. When we are young it may manifest itself in the ability to stand up to a bully who is picking on someone at school; when older it may be taking a stand that is politically or socially unpopular with friends, family, or coworkers. These are the characteristics and dispositions of those who possess the gifts of counsel and might – perhaps you have them now or will develop them in the future.

Fear of the Lord

The “fear of the Lord” may not be the kind of gift you think it is. To fear God is better defined as the gift of reverence, awe, and wonder that we have for the grace and mercy that God has given to us through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Perhaps you know someone who has a deep reverence and complete trust in God no matter what the situation. This sense of “awesome wonder” is captured in the hymn, How Great Thou Art, by Carl Boberg:

“But when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in…”

The gift to perceive the overwhelming power of God not only in the world that He created, but in the inestimable love that he has showered upon us in His one and only Son, is a gift for which we should pray every day. It is written that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” Proverbs 9:10a That “fear” is really reverence for God and the love that we have for him as we trust in his promises through the power of the faith that the Spirit works in us.

This is, perhaps, the most important thing we can pray for: to stand before God in reverent humility and to worship and “Love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.” Mark 12:30 alt. When we fear and love God everything falls into place and the gifts of the Spirit overflow and produce in us all the fruits of the Spirit that have been promised us, namely: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23 Start with the “fear of the Lord,” pray for His Spirit, and trust that God will bless you with gifts that will enable you to do “far more than you could ever ask or imagine.” (See Ephesians 3:20.)

Prayer: O Lord, help us to grow in wisdom, stature, and in favor with you and all people. Help us to use the gifts of the Spirit that you have given to us and give us eyes to see your gifts in those around us. May we fear and love you more everyday and receive the power to tell everyone the salvation story. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Dr. Jeffrey E. Burkart is Professor of Educational Media/Communications, Director of Drama Ministry and Director of Special Projects and Artist in Residence at Concordia University, St. Paul. Jeff also serves on the PEN Leadership Team.

Illustration by Benjamin Chandler, Junior Kindergarten teacher at Grace Lutheran School, River Forest, Illinois.