1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.

I can’t read this verse without remembering what my mother’s younger sister said about her response to her many suitors when she was the youngest child of an esteemed seminary professor. Changing only the location of a comma, she quoted (at least in her mind) the KJV translation of this verse: “I would not have you, ignorant brethren.” That tale is tempered by the fact that my father was one of the many seminary students who proposed to her, but my mother was away in college at that point. All humor aside, believers should not be ignorant of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but sadly, very many are. And to be honest, that includes many “Pentecostal” Christians. The problem is twofold. First, many don’t really understand that such gifts are available, and second, even those who know about such gifts have no grasp of their purpose and how they operate in the Body of Christ. This whole chapter is worthy of a lot of thought and meditation! I’m reminded of when I was in Basic Training in the Army, and we were taught to familiarize ourselves with our weapons. We could literally disassemble and reassemble an M16 rifle blindfolded, and many of us could do the same with an M60 machine gun and the 45 caliber pistol of the day. The same could be said of many craftsmen with their tools; it’s not limited to weapons. We all need to be familiar with what our Lord expects us to use in His service, and how to apply each item. To go back to the military analogy, I wouldn’t try to use a grenade launcher for precision targeting, for example, but a rifle isn’t much good against something that is out of sight. In the same way, some Christians misuse spiritual gifting. As the saying goes, when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Having said all of this, the most important point is listening to the One who gives us the gifts, that is, Holy Spirit. He knows what He’s given us and why, and He knows how those gifts should be used. The point that I think is most often missed is what Paul stresses later in this chapter, that everyone is gifted differently but all the gifts are necessary. We have a strong tendency to want and expect everyone to be like us, when as Paul points out, that would end up with there being no Body at all. It is wise and important to know and recognize gifts, in ourselves and in those around us, but our focus isn’t to be on the gifts but on Jesus Christ our Head. (Ephesians 4:15)

I have been very grateful to have worked with Don and Katie Fortune, interpreting for them several times here in Japan and knowing them as dear friends. Their ministry was focused on what they called Motivational Gifts, based on Romans 12:6-8, but they also talked about the list here, which they called Manifestation Gifts, as well as the short list in Ephesians 4:11, which is individuals given to the Body, rather than gifts given to individuals. That experience has helped me understand myself and those around me much better, making me more tolerant of differences and understanding of how to cooperate with others. I have been tempted to focus on such teaching myself, but I realize that isn’t the role the Lord has for me. I have experienced all of the gifts listed in this chapter at least once, but I do find that the Lord grants them when and as needed, and they aren’t continuous. As a pastor I want everyone in the congregation to know and utilize their own gifts, as well as recognize and appreciate the gifts of others, but interest and understanding vary widely. As in every other area of my life, I am totally dependent on the Lord! All I can do is express the truth in love, and ask Holy Spirit to work it into the heart and life of each believer.

Father, thank You for this reminder. There really is so much I want to teach the congregation, yet I feel such limited opportunities to do so. Help me be faithfully obedient to whatever You want me to do, wherever and whenever You want me to do it, so that the Body of Christ may be built up indeed, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!