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Purposeful Gifts





Ephesians 6:14-17; 1 Corinthians 12:4-10
December 16, 2018
First Presbyterian Church, Sterling IL
Christina Berry


In our first reading, the writer exhorts the individual members of the church to understand their gifts and their calling. When we hear the first scripture, we may imagine a Roman soldier, or a Marvel comics superhero. But the imagery, while it is military, is not violent. To the contrary, it is about wearing the gifts of truth, justice and peace. In Ephesians 5:9, we are reminded: “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, so live your life as children of light. Light produces fruit that consists of every sort of goodness, justice, and truth. “ Let’s listen for God’s word to us in Ephesians 6:14-17

So stand with the belt of truth around your waist, justice as your breastplate, and put shoes on your feet so that you are ready to spread the good news of peace. Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s word.

In the letters to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul addresses several problems that have arisen in the community. One of the problems is that they have forsaken his original teaching about Jesus in favor of other ideas that seem more appealing. The other is that they seem to believe that certain people have gifts that are superior to other gifts, and so they believe themselves to be superior to others in the community. In this reading, Paul sets them straight about the nature of spiritual gifts, and the purpose of those gifts. Let’s listen for God’s gracious word to us in 1 Corinthians 12:4-10

There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; and there are different ministries and the same Lord; and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good.

A word of wisdom is given by the Spirit to one person,
a word of knowledge to another according to the same Spirit,
faith to still another by the same Spirit,
gifts of healing to another in the one Spirit,
performance of miracles to another, prophecy to another,
the ability to tell spirits apart to another,
different kinds of tongues to another,
and the interpretation of the tongues to another.

God’s word for God’s people. Thanks be to God.

Since the children have already shared the good news in word and song, I want us to just meditate briefly on these purposeful gifts, given to us by God through the Holy Spirit.

In Narnia, Father Christmas gave gifts that were tools, not toys.
The Spirit likewise gives us gifts to be used for a purpose.

In the first reading, those gifts are armor – garments worn in battle –
but the battle is not violence or combat – it is spiritual.
To be a soldier of Christ is not to stand over and against someone in a fight;
it is to be clad in truth, justice, peace, faith, and salvation,
armed not with a weapon but with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
These gifts – all of them, are given to Christians – all of them.

In Narnia, each of the three children received gifts
specific to their needs and abilities.
Their gifts were to be used on behalf of others.
We see this same idea in the second reading.
We each are given a gift or gifts, through the Holy Spirit.
And each one of us is given that gift for a purpose – for the common good.

If you are gifted in wisdom, your wisdom belongs to the community.
If you are gifted in knowledge, your knowledge belongs to the church.
If you are gifted in faith, that gift is given
on behalf of the whole body of Christ.

Healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues and interpretation –
no single one of them is give for you to keep for yourself.
The same is true of every other gift we have received.
If you are good at understanding scripture, it is for the church;
if you are good at music, that gift belongs to the church;
if you are skilled in art or accounting, preaching or plumbing
organizing or organ playing, baking or building
ALL of those gifts belong to the community!

So we have been given everything we need.

In this Advent season,
as we look forward to the coming of the greatest gift of all, 
remember that Jesus came for all people, a gift to us.

Know that even as Jesus is a gift to the world,
you, too, with whatever gifts you have, are a gift to the church.

May God bless you with joy in that knowledge.

Amen.

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