Last week we looked at what qualifies us to serve the Lord. God approves of us not because of our innate goodness, social influence, or clever ingenuity. While none of these is bad, they don’t accredit us. The Holy Spirit does. He is our spiritual credential–His presence in our lives, His power operating through us. The Spirit qualifies us.
What does the verb “qualify” mean? When we say that the Holy Spirit qualifies us, what do we convey with that term? One way to answer this is to explore its root meaning. The Etymology website describes the word “qualify” as originating in the “mid-15c., ‘to invest with a quality,’ from Middle French qualifier (15c.) and directly from Medieval Latin qualificare ‘attribute a quality to; make of a certain quality,’ from Latin qualis ‘of what sort?,’ correlative pronominal adjective (see quality) + combining form of facere ‘to make’ (from PIE root *dhe- ‘to set, put’). Meaning ‘to limit, modify’ is from 1530s. Sense of ‘be fit for a job’ first appeared 1580s.”
It looks like the verb depends on the noun. If “qualify” means “to invest with a quality,” then that raises an obvious question: What’s a quality?
And since we’re dealing with this subject from a spiritual perspective, we have to ask further how an understanding of qualities relates to discipleship.
We’ll follow the process we employed last week, searching three versions of Scripture (the English Standard Version, the New American Standard Bible, and the New International Version) to find as many references to qualities as we can.
Value
“If what they vowed is a ceremonially unclean animal–one that is not acceptable as an offering to the LORD–the animal must be presented to the priest, 12who will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, that is what it will be. 13If the owner wishes to redeem the animal, a fifth must be added to its value. 14If anyone dedicates their house as something holy to the LORD, the priest will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, so it will remain.” – Leviticus 27:11-14 (NIV)
“The foundations were laid with large stones of good quality, some measuring ten cubits and some eight.” – 1 Kings 7:10 (NIV)
Like our research of the verb “qualify” discovered, so also the noun “quality” doesn’t occur very often in the Bible. The first two passages refer to the idea of value or costliness.
The passage in Leviticus assigns to priests the responsibility of assessing the worthiness of sacrificial animals. The verse in 1 Kings speaks of the excellence of stones dedicated for the foundation of Solomon’s palace. Both instances address value. The objects of discussion have no flaws; they measure up to the high standards set for them.
We know that God qualifies us through the Holy Spirit to serve Jesus the King. On our own, we don’t have what it takes, but we’re not on our own! We minister in the Spirit!
“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” – 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (NIV)
No matter how others judge us or how we judge ourselves, it is the Lord’s evaluation of our lives that matters. And the good news is that Jesus has paid the price for our failures. Through His death and resurrection, we receive the gift of the Spirit who works wonders through us. The Holy Spirit gives our service value!
Spirit
“Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” – Daniel 6:3 (NIV)
At first glance, this verse appears to tout the personality and skills of the prophet Daniel. And while he might have a high IQ, that’s not what God is emphasizing. What is exceptional about this man? The word that the NIV translates as “qualities” is ruwach which means “spirit.” Daniel’s abilities didn’t set him apart; his spirit did.
And this gives us hope! Talents, skills, and aptitudes contribute to how well we work, but they don’t substitute for the condition of our hearts. Nothing takes the place of our inner being as the determining factor. More than anything else, our spirit distinguishes our identity.
Taking this a step further, the Holy Spirit tells us who we are in Christ.
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” – Romans 8:16 (NIV)
We serve God not to earn His favor but because of what we have received from the grace of Jesus. The Holy Spirit applies the sacrifice of Christ to our lives and qualifies us to proclaim the gospel in word and in deed.
Kind
“Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.” – 1 Corinthians 3:12-13 (NASB)
The apostle Paul knew that God would judge the work he did for the Lord. And he told the Corinthians that this principle applied to every believer. God will examine what each Christian does. The results of some labor will withstand the test of fire; the fruit of other efforts will burn up.
Paul uses a general Greek word here (hopios) which means “sort, quality, manner.” He categorizes Christian ministry in two ways: the kind that last and the kind that doesn’t.
Of course, we want our work to endure; we aim to pass the test! But how do we make sure? What lets us know we’re on the right path and doing the right thing?
We follow the leading of the Spirit.
“These are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.” – 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 (NIV)
The anointing of the Spirit reveals to us the depth of the gospel. And as we rely on the Spirit, what we build on the foundation of Jesus will endure. But if we disregard His leading and choose instead to serve the Lord in the strength of our flesh, our works will go up in flames.
The Holy Spirit enables us to serve Jesus with the quality that merits His recognition and appreciation. The value of our ministry depends on what God’s Spirit initiates, sustains, and accomplishes through us. It’s the only kind of work that stands the test of time.
But there’s more to this subject. Or rather, less!
I’ll explain next week.
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