Receiving Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts are vital for the building of the church and the accomplishment of God’s work on the earth. Each Christian has at least one spiritual gift. Each Christian is called to function in their spiritual gift so the body of Christ can grow properly.

Sometimes Christians have never operated in a spiritual gift. They may not know what their spiritual gifts are. 

Spiritual gifts, like all gifts, must be received. They are freely given by God, but they must be received by people.

We need to know how to receive spiritual gifts.

First, in order to receive spiritual gifts, we must know about them. We are commanded to not be ignorant about spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1). When we are ignorant, we are limited. We need knowledge. The word of God gives us knowledge that paves the way for experience of spiritual things. We need to study what the New Testament says about spiritual gifts. We need good teaching that will declare what the Bible says, neither adding to nor taking away from God’s word about this important topic.

Second, we need to desire spiritual gifts. God is not going to force us to receive a gift from him that we do not want. We should earnestly desire spiritual gifts, and then God will give them to us (1 Corinthians 14:1). We should desire the better gifts that are particularly helpful for building up the church (1 Cor. 12:31). For example, each Christian is instructed to desire to prophesy (1 Cor. 14:39). God responds to the desire of his people.

After knowing about spiritual gifts and desiring them, then we can receive them.

Spiritual gifts can be received several different ways according to the New Testament.

First of all, spiritual gifts are given when people are baptized in the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, the disciples received the gift of tongues (Acts 2:4). When people in Cornelius’ house were baptized in the Holy Spirit, they received the gift of tongues (Acts 10:46). When the believers in Ephesus were baptized in the Holy Spirit, they received the gift of tongues and the gift of prophecy (Acts 19:6). If we want to operate in spiritual gifts, we need to first be baptized in the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to spiritual things and enables us to function more effectively in spiritual reality.

Spiritual gifts can also be received through the laying on of hands. Paul received the spiritual gift of apostleship through the laying on of hands (Acts 13:3). Timothy received a spiritual gift through the laying on of hands (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6).

Spiritual gifts can be given through prophesying (1 Tim. 4:14). When someone declares a prophetic word to us, then that word carries spiritual power from God to bring something to pass in our lives. When God speaks a word to us about receiving a spiritual gift, then that gift can be imparted through that prophetic word.

Spiritual gifts can be given through the ministry of an anointed servant of God (Romans 1:11). Anointed servants of God are catalysts for the operation of the Holy Spirit in believers’ lives. When someone receives from their ministry, they can receive a spiritual gift from God.

These are several different ways of receiving spiritual gifts in the New Testament; baptism in the Holy Spirit, laying on of hands, prophecy, and anointed ministry. These are some of the ways that God will give spiritual gifts to us today.

When we receive a spiritual gift we need to operate in that gift so that it grows in our lives. We should not neglect that gift. If we neglect it, it may cease to function as it should. If we have neglected a gift, we can begin to operate in that gift again. We can fan the gift of God into a fire in our lives (2 Tim. 1:6). This can happen by the Holy Spirit and by exposing ourselves to strong Christian fellowship. 

The church is imperfect. Now it is being built into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13). Until the church reaches its goal of maturity, we need to operate in our spiritual gifts in order to work with Jesus in building his church. Each of us has an important role. May God help each one of us receive spiritual gifts, recognize them, and operate in them, so God’s plans regarding his church can be fulfilled.