SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Gifts of the Spirit- What Are They?
Gifts of the Spirit are special abilities provided by the Holy Spirit to Christians for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. The list of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12: 8-10 includes wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Similar lists appear in Ephesians 4:7-13 and Romans 12:3-8. The gifts of the Spirit are simply God enabling believers to do what He has called us to do. 2 Peter 1:3 says, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue." The gifts of the Holy Spirit are part of the "everything we need" to fulfill His purposes for our lives.
- The gift of wisdom is 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.
1. All throughout Christ's ministry he went about performing miracles, healings, demonstrating faith, prophesying, discerning spirits, and casting out demons. This in turn was a great testament and authentication of the validity of His ministry. Furthermore, many gifts followed the apostles with their ministry as well. These too were a sign to both believers and unbelievers. So following the same thought pattern, we too have gifts to testify, glorify, and validate Christ as authentic and personal.
2. With spiritual gifts comes edification of the person and the body of Christ. This is something that Christ still asks us to do for both His bride and ourselves. First is that of personal edification. What better way to develop into all Christ has for you than to use the gifts that He has given you? They are unique, and God given. So following, growing in, and using the gifts he has given you build you up in body, mind, and spirit. Second is that of edification of the body (the church). We see once more in 1 Corinthians 12 that the gifts are described as "many parts." As in your body, when all the parts come together and work accordingly, the body functions and operates normally as it should, this is a command. So with the church, as each person's gift is used appropriately and in conjunction with the word and will of God, there is communal edification.
3. Gifts bring unity and stability to the Church. Once again we see that in 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4:3-5, and Philippians 2:2, is this call and command for unity as one body. What can the body truly accomplish if in fact they are missing parts? It is only with the inclusion and exercise of each part that Christ can truly build His church. This is done by the . . . "Spirit through the bond of peace. . . " Thia is the same spirit who wills gifts accordingly to each member of Christ's body. As those gifts come together as one, the purpose, mission and prerogative of the church can be fully accomplished in accordance with Christ's commands.
4. Spiritual gifts are for today in order to carry out the mission of the church which is seen in Matthew 28:19 and Acts 1:8. The mission of the church has not ceased; neither have the gifts that Christ so freely bestows in accordance to His will and sovereignty. As stated earlier, the church exists for personal edification, Christ being the head and center of the church, and worldwide evangelism. How better to accomplish these than by the means of the gifts of the Spirit. If Christ still calls us to carry out His mission, would not he continue to give us the gifts and power we need to carry that mission out?
1 Corinthians 12: 4-31
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.