How do each Gift of the Holy Spirit strengthen the church?

Question

(Wisdom, Undestanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord)

Answer 1

St. Thomas Aquinas had very specific definitions for these seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

These are seven dispositions in the soul that allow it to be receptive to seven specific actions of God on the soul.

This belongs to the *mystical* mode of the soul's action, which involves what God does to the soul, as the soul is passive to that. That is distinguished from the *ascetical* mode of the soul's action in which the soul expresses active virtue (such as justice, fortitude, prudence, and temperance).


Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, and Council, refer to operations on the intellect.

Fortitude refers to operations on the will.

Piety and Fear of the Lord refer to operations on the spiritual affectivity (spiritual affectivity is spiritual emotion such as joy in response to witnessing a good or sorrow in response to witnessing an evil. These are not animal responses).


Wisdom allows the intellect to see God as He is, so that we perceive His infinite holiness, His aseity (His necessary self-existence), His omnipotence, His infinite wisdom etc.

Knowledge allows the intellect to see creation as God sees it, so we can rightly judge the value and place of all things in creation.

Understanding allows us to penetrate the mysteries of the faith. For example, with the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus, or the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, we do not merely believe those things on faith, but our intellect has some degree of penetration into their nature. The gift of understanding also allows us to have knowledge of the hidden meaning of Scripture.

Council indicates what we are to do or say in a given circumstance. It is not prudence put perfects prudence. With prudence, we use experience and reason to determine a given course of action. Council simply says: "do it!"

Fortitude gives us endurance far beyond our natural capacity. The martyrs were able to withstand their torments and not renounce the Faith because they were given the gift of Fortitude.

Piety is the gift that makes the practice of religion pleasing and delightful.

Fear of the Lord is not fear of punishment, but horror of doing the least thing to offend God because He is all good.




---

Answer 2

Where did you get that list? Is it one of those made up lists that the RCC uses like their 7 deadly sins?

Here are the gifts as listed in the Bible

Romans 12

exhortation
giving
leadership
mercy
prophecy
service
teaching

1 Corinthians 12

administration
apostle
discernment
faith
healing
helps
knowledge
miracles
prophecy
teaching
tongues
tongues interpretation
wisdom

Ephesians 4

apostle
evangelism
pastor
prophecy
teaching

Misc. Passages

celibacy
hospitality
martyrdom
missionary
voluntary poverty

Gifts of the Spirit - The Definitions
There is some controversy as to the precise nature of each of the gifts of the Spirit, but here is a list of spiritual gifts and their basic definitions.

The gift of wisdom seems to be the ability to make decisions and give guidance that is according to God's will.

The gift of knowledge is the ability to have an in-depth understanding of a spiritual issue or situation.

The gift of faith is being able to trust God and encourage others to trust God, no matter the circumstances.

The gift of healing is the miraculous ability to use God's healing power to restore a person who is sick, injured, or suffering.

The gift of miracles is being able to perform signs and wonders that give authenticity to God's Word and the Gospel message.

The gift of prophecy is being able to proclaim a message from God.

The gift of discerning spirits is the ability to determine whether or not a message, person, or event is truly from God.

The gift of tongues is the ability to speak in a foreign language that you do not have knowledge of, in order to communicate with someone who speaks that language.

The gift of interpreting tongues is the ability to translate the tongues speaking and communicate it back to others in your own language.

The gift of administration is being able to keep things organized and in accordance with God's principles.

The gift of helps is always having the desire and ability to help others, to do whatever it takes to get a task accomplished.

Hope that helps. By the way, here is the list the Bible gives of 7 sins that God hates.

Proverbs 6:16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Answer 3

All the gifts you mention, except the fear of the Lord,
should strengthen you, not the church.
And you should never fear the Lord, God.
God is the all loving and merciful.
I would not fear anyone, if he has those qualities.
You should feel save, loved and completely secure
in the Love of God.

Anyone telling you different is not talking for God.
I don't belong or go to any church - and I am secure
in the knowledge that God loves me just the way I am.

Answer 4

Wow that's a tall order. Let's just say that all the gifts that the Holy Spirit including the "Sign" gifts are to build up the Body of Christ, To Unify the Believers and to make us more like Jesus Himself.

Without growth in these gifts and seeking after them we are incomplete as believers and we will not grow and be knit together into the Chosen Bride that Jesus is returning for.

Answer 5

All of those gifts, possessed in the people in a church, create "the body of believers"/ congregationalists that a person ministers/preaches to. Respectfully, these are not "the gifts of the spirit" that you may be thinking of. According to The Ryrie Study Bible:" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;...." (Galatians 5:22-23).

Answer 6

Because each member has gifts to contribute. The church needs members with different gifts.


While one may have Wisdom and knowledge they may not have other gifts.

Answer 7

i wish i could answer that question 4 you,i just know that we are the body of Christ and that He uses us to strengthen one another

Answer 8

He gives Power.

Answer 9

there is no fear of lord he is only loving god