Traditionally they have been called “child prodigies.” Although educators often label them as “gifted and talented.” They are young people blessed with unbelievable intelligence, or amazing artistic talents, or seemingly unnatural physical abilities. We have all heard stories about a twelve-year-old graduating from medical school, or a six-year-old playing concert worthy classical music on the piano. Examples of child prodigies would include Mozart who learned to play the piano at the age of four. He composed his first pieces of music at five and at age eight, he wrote his first symphony. Another example would be Pablo Picasso who had already become an accomplished and renowned painter in his teenage years. In more recent history many of you have probably seen the video of Tiger Woods as a two-year-old on the Tonight Show hitting golf balls. Two years ago a young man named Michael Kearney received national attention when he earned a $1,000,000 on the television game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” He too was a “child prodigy.” Michael finished high school at age 6 and earned his first college degree at age 10. He actually began teaching college by the age of 17. He spoke his first words when he was four months old. At the age of six months, he said to his pediatrician, “I have a left ear infection.” He had learned to read at the age of ten months. When Michael was four, he was given diagnostic tests for the Johns Hopkins precocious math program and achieved a perfect score.
Although their stories astound us, such gifted individuals are very rare. They are the exception to the rule as we say. The vast majority of us are astoundingly average. And yet as I look at you today I can say with confidence that each of you is gifted. Before you deny being gifted remember that I am not the one saying you are gifted. God says it of you and God cannot lie. Listen to God’s description of how you are gifted. (Read text.) As we direct our attention to the Apostle Paul’s inspired words from 1 Corinthians 12 we hear God say to each of us:
“YOU ARE GIFTED!”
I. The Holy Spirit has given you the gift of faith
II. The Holy Spirit has given you gifts for serving others
Four times in this letter that we call “1 Corinthians” the Apostle Paul used a short phrase like “now about” to transition to a new thought or topic. Remember that Paul addressed a long list of spiritual and practical concerns connected to the Christian church in Corinth. In the first eleven chapters he wrote about divisions in the church, lawsuits between Christians, sexual immorality, marriage, adiaphora (that is something not commanded or forbidden by Scripture), worship, and the Lord’s Supper. Then beginning in Chapter 12 and continuing through Chapter 14 Paul addressed the issue of spiritual gifts among Christians. The text we are considering marks the beginning of his thorough treatment of the topic.
In a style that we have learned to expect from the Apostle Paul he began by simply saying, “Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.” With those words Paul was beginning a lesson on gifts given to Christians by the Holy Spirit. As he stated he was setting out to lead the Corinthians out of their ignorance into a better understanding of spiritual gifts. But this would be more than a doctrinal lesson for the Corinthians. They would learn that they were gifted people. The Holy Spirit had given them the gift of faith and the Holy Spirit had given them gifts for serving others. May we too be led to understand that those truths apply to us as well. The Lord of the Church is still speaking through these inspired words saying to each of us, “You are gifted! You too have been given the gift of faith. And you too have been given gifts to serve others.”
I.
Perhaps I am stating the obvious when I say that any intellectual, artistic, musical, or athletic abilities that a child has are gifts. No child prodigy decided to be born a genius, an artist, or an athletic superstar. Yes, it is true that people like Mozart, Picaso, and Tiger Woods had parents that helped them develop their gifts but clearly they were gifted at birth with abilities above and beyond those of the average person.
In a similar way none of us can take credit for being gifted in the area of spiritual things. It was the Holy Spirit that first of all gave us the gift of faith in Christ. Through the Means of Grace, the Word and the Sacraments, the Holy Spirit has brought to each of us the gifts of forgiveness, spiritual life, and salvation. And it is also the Holy Spirit that has given each of us gifts to use for serving others.
Before going on to talk about the spiritual gifts that the Corinthians had been given the Apostle reminded them that first of all they had been given the gift of faith by the Holy Spirit. “You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” Like other people born after the Fall into sin the Corinthian Christians had been born dead in sin, blind to spiritual truth, and enemies of God. Before the Holy Spirit gave them the gift of faith they worshipped idols and lived contrary to God’s Word. But through the Gospel in Word and Sacraments the Corinthians were led to believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Their faith in Jesus was evidence that the Holy Spirit lived in them and that they were gifted people.
Just as gifted children receive their gifts from the Creator so too the gift of faith comes to us without any actions or qualifications on our part. Paul stated this truth in Ephesians 2:8-9, “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” Why is it important to begin a discussion of spiritual gifts with the gift of faith as their foundation? Because spiritual gifts grow out of faith in Christ.
The fact that you and I claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior is proof that we have been given the gift of faith by the Holy Spirit. Remember that we describe the work of the Holy Spirit with three words full of meaning: regeneration, illumination, and conversion. Regeneration is the word that describes the rebirth that the Holy Spirit gave us to make us alive spiritually. Illumination is the word we use to summarize how the Holy Spirit has turned on the lights for us regarding spiritual truth. And finally, the word conversion reminds us that the Holy Spirit has “turned us around” from unbelief to faith.
The Apostle Paul continued making his point to the Corinthians about the source of spiritual gifts. “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” Just as faith in Christ is a gift worked in a person by the Holy Spirit so too a person’s spiritual gifts come from Spirit’s working in them.
The Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented (MCGT) is an organization for parents and educators of gifted children. The MCGT has materials and guidelines available for parents who might wonder if they have a child prodigy on their hands. On their website you can find some simple tests to begin the process of determining if a child is “gifted” or a “child prodigy.” Gifted children often have special characteristics that set them apart from other children. These can include, but are not limited to: Excellent/above average problem solving skills/ Long attention span / Unusual/vivid imagination / Extreme curiosity / Ability to learn quickly / Perfectionism / Well-developed sense of humor / Exceptional vocabulary / Reads a lot, about many different things / Reading well above grade level. Those things at least provide a place to start if it appears that a child has been given extraordinary gifts or abilities.
But how do you know if you are gifted spiritually? No series of tests is required. You and I don’t need to even wonder if we are gifted. Because we believe in Jesus as our Savior we have been given the gift of faith. And because the Holy Spirit has created faith in our heart we have also been given spiritual gifts for serving others.
II.
After making the point that the Corinthian Christians were gifted because the Holy Spirit had given them the gift of faith Paul went on to remind them that they also had been given gifts for serving others. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” There wasn’t a single believer at the Church in Corinth that could say he or she had no spiritual gift to use in service to God and others. Each of them had at least one gift to be used for serving others for the “common good” of all.
So are things any different for us? No. The same truth applies to each and every one of us. You and I are gifted. The Holy Spirit has given us at least one gift to use in service to others. 1 Peter 4:10 reminds us of this truth, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” And in Romans 12:6 Paul declared, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” Yes, the spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to believers will vary from person to person. Some may be given numerous gifts but everyone is given some ability that can be used in service to others.
After reinforcing the fact that in addition to giving the gift of faith the Holy Spirit always gives at least one spiritual gift to each believer the Apostle Paul goes on to give some examples of spiritual gifts. As I reread these verses listen not only for a list of spiritual gifts but also listen for the number of times Paul repeats the truth that they are gifts from the Holy Spirit to God’s people. “To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.” In that last verse did you catch Paul repeating the fact that “each one” of us is given some spiritual gift for serving others? He said the Holy Spirit, “Give them to each one, just as he determines.”
The list that I just read to you from 1 Corinthians 12 is not by any means a complete list of spiritual gifts. Paul lists a bunch more in Romans 12. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:6-8) There are two other places in the New Testament where we read about spiritual gifts. They are Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4. “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” (Ephesians 4:7-8) And, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:10-11) If you are looking for a way to remember these Scriptures think of 12-12 and 4-4. The topic of Spiritual gifts is addressed in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4.
So what do these gifts look like for us today? “Serving” is such a broad category that it could include a nearly endless list of tasks. Helping with “Meals on Wheels,” “Jesus Cares,” or “Special Ministries” is serving. Ushering, shoveling snow, setting up for communion, preparing food for soup suppers and potlucks, making coffee, baking goodies for our Bible class hour on Sunday or Thursday are all ways to serve others. Obviously not everyone is able to teach Sunday school or Bible class but if you are asked consider giving it a try. Maybe the Lord has given you the gift of encouragement. You are able to show genuine concern for others and lift their spirits with words of encouragement. As you look at your financial blessings perhaps the Holy Spirit has given you the gift of contributing to the needs of others. In preparation for our Voters’ Meeting in two weeks I have had many conversations with members of our congregation about serving as leaders. Yes, being a committee chairman or serving on the church council takes time but they are necessary for our ministry. When asked to serve in such a position please look carefully at the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you. Always remember that you have at least one spiritual gift to use for others. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you find it and motivate you to use it.
If you do some research on child prodigies or gifted and talented children you will find one common problem that most of them experience. Gifted children are often bored in school or with life in general. Very often they are never challenged to use their gifts and so they waste them. I believe the same thing happens to many Christians. Their gifts go unused because they are never challenged or asked to put their gifts to use. I am asking every one of you right now to look honestly at yourself, find your spiritual gift or gifts, and put it or them to use in service to others.
“You are gifted!” Did you ever think someone would say that about you? Perhaps your reactions would be, “Who, me, gifted? I don’t think so!” Well, God says it about you. He says you are gifted. You may not be able to play music like Mozart, paint like Picasso, or use a golf club like Tiger Woods. But, nonetheless, you are gifted. The Holy Spirit has given you the gift of faith. And since he has given you the gift of faith you can be certain the Holy Spirit has also given you gifts for serving others. As gifted people may we now use our gifts. Amen.
