The Gifted

A poem by Ken Pullen

Composed the night of Friday, April 3rd, 2020

Scripture used, appearing in Italics, is from the English Standard Version, or Christian Standard Bible

 
 
 
 

O, the gifted

squandered

denied

Oh, what, why do they hide

what God freely gives

to each of His children

for the edification of His

Church

 

Now

concerning spiritual gifts,

brothers (sisters),

I

do not want you

to be 

uninformed.

You know that when you were pagans

you were led astray

to 

mute

idols.

however

you were led.

Therefore

I want you

to understand

that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says

“Jesus is accursed!”

and no one can say

“Jesus is Lord”

except in the Holy Spirit.

Now

there 

are

varieties of gifts,

but the same Spirit;

and there are varieties

of

service

but

the same Lord.

and 

there

are

varieties of activities, but it is the same God

who

empowers

them all in everyone

 

Do

you

doubt

do

you

not

believe

the God-breathed word

you have heard?

Is your heart

not aflame?

why the lazie faire

while trapped within

Vanity Fair?

Doubting

delaying

denying

when

each

true disciple of Jesus Christ the Lord

every true Child of God

thus called, known

as

Christian

is blessed with

A GIFT

freely

graciously

from God the Father

 

To each is given

the manifestation

of the Spirit

for the common good.

For

one

is given through the Spirit the utterance of

wisdom,

and to another the utterance of

knowledge

according to the same Spirit,

to

another

faith by the same Spirit

to another

gifts of healing

by

the

one 

Spirit, 

to another

the working of miracles

to another 

prophecy

to another

the ability to distinguish between spirits

 

It is written

to each is given

this is not some regifting

worldly

“oh, I don’t like it

it’s not my style

size

please don’t make me

it’s not what I do”

THIS IS GIVEN BY OUR LORD

FOR THE SERVICE OF THE LORD

for the edification

growth of the body

believing

serving

the

Head

O, dear ones why are we not led

to believe

to embrace a gift given

measured out

by our Creator

and Lord

why

oh

why

are the Spiritual gifts in this day most needed so ignored!

 

All these

are

empowered by one 

and

the

same

Spirit,

who apportions to each one

individually

as he wills.

For just as the body

is one 

and

has many members,

and

all the members

of the body

though many, are one body;

so it is 

with Christ.

Don’t neglect

the gift that is in you;

it was given

to you

through prophecy,

with the laying 

on

of hands

by the council of elders.

For this reason

I remind you

to fan the flame the gift of God,

which is in you

through the laying on

of my hands

 

Dear ones,

beloved in the arms of Jesus

that one chosen of our Lord

on the

road

to

Damascus

may not by laying his hands literally upon each of us

this day

yet

this day

as it is

given

the time

as it is given

freely

clearly

by the Lord

is the time

if never believed

never known

never thought of

never asked for

to place such trust in the Spirit

within

to place such faith in the Lord

and His promised words

to ask to be

measured out

to find the gift

of the One Spirit

of the One True God

and Saviour

Complacency

is the comfort

cuddled

up to

while putting the zeal

flame

belief on snooze

or so it appears

status quo

is where it’s at

you know

let’s not venture

near

something stated

freely given

yet so misunderstood

refusing the measure of gifts

by

God’s grace

freely given

which lets evil run roughshod ‘or the land

bearing its sort of fruit

which is decayed and worm infested

while still in the bud!

O, slaggard

modern-day

walking upright sloth

why don’t we desire to live the word

as given

thinking certain words

within

the

word

no longer

fit

apply

why listen

to that subtle

blatant lie

that Old Dragon drips in certain ears

how can anyone think a gift stated, freely given, to each individual

which

is His

within His flock

can be rejected

denied

refused

abused?

 

For by

the grace given to me

I say

to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think,

but

to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

For

as in one body

we have many members,

and the members do not all have the same function,

so we,

though many,

are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Having gifts that differ

according

to

the

grace

given

to

us,

let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

if service, in our serving;

the one who teaches, in his teaching;

the one who exhorts, in his exhortation;

the one who contributes, in generosity;

the one who leads, with zeal;

the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let

love

be

genuine.

Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Love one another with brotherly affection.

Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal,

be fervent in spirit,

serve

the

Lord.

Rejoice in hope,

be patient in tribulation,

be constant in prayer.

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

Rejoice

with

those

who

rejoice,

weep

with

those

who

weep.

Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.

Never be wise in your own sight.

Repay no one evil for evil,

but give thought

to do

what is honorable in the sight of all.

If possible,

so far as it depends on you,

live peaceably with all.

Beloved,

never

avenge

yourselves,

but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

To the contrary,

“if your enemy is hungry,

feed him;

if he is thirsty,

give him something to drink;

for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil,

but overcome evil with good.

 

The gifted

the chosen of God

the sheep within the flock heeding the Shepherd

ought not

deny

refuse

the gifts freely

given

and in times of troubled waters

fears crept in

the crevices within the heart

attempted to remain hidden

is the time to awaken

believe

ask

seek

knock

increase in wisdom

mercy

hospitality

exhortation

teaching

giving

believing…

For it is written

not to be glossed over

attempted to explain away

for it has been in God’s living word

yesterday

today

tomorrow

in the unchangeable word

given by our unchangeable God and Lord

let us not determine

what applies when

let us fall prone

upon the knees of our heart

daily

continually

faithfully

trembling if there be lack of faith

trembling in the presence

in awe

in reverence

right fear of the Lord

seek, ask for spiritual wisdom

increased faith

boldness

in the day

throughout the night

before God our Father

Jesus our Lord

saying, “Abba Father!”

pour out into me by Your Divine measure

the gift I am to have

use

in your service!

Believe

increase the light within

be that city on a hill for those within sight to see

within each member

of the body

thusly

when seen by those around

within

go

ahhh, so that’s the glory of the Lord

and they praise the Father

then seeing the Spirit illuminating

hearts within

forgiven of sin

gifted eternal life

but not without

belief

service returned

for the freely given gift of grace

we

then

are given more from our God and Father

each

individually gifted

according to His word

to pour out

those spiritual gifts

in

service

to Him

who

sacrificed

for to save

such a worm

wretched wretch

as

me…

yet,

you

too

if His must needs believe

seek

ask and find

that God given gift to further serve Him

in the here and now

no longer

doubting

denying

hiding

to become

always

always

always

in whatever may come

abiding…