Spiritual gifts are miraculous operations of the Holy Spirit. Everyone who believes in Jesus has at least one spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12:7; 1 Peter 4:10). Some Christians have multiple spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts begin to operate within us after the Holy Spirit comes inside of us when we are born again. After this, when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, the spiritual gifts become more fully developed within us. At any point in our Christian lives, God may give us a spiritual gift.
Spiritual gifts are different from natural talents. People are born with aptitudes and talents, but these are different from spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts only operate by the Holy Spirit. Only Christians have the Holy Spirit inside them; therefore, only Christians have spiritual gifts.
Satan counterfeits spiritual gifts through demonic power. Some people are filled with evil spirits, and they may exhibit supernatural operations through these evil spirits. These supernatural powers are not spiritual gifts from God, but demonic powers from Satan. When we come to believe in Jesus, we reject and renounce such evil powers.
Spiritual gifts are given to build up the body of Christ. Each Christian is to minister his gift to others so that the body of Christ can grow (Ephesians 4:16). The church is built by spiritual operations, not by the works of the flesh. True ministry only happens through the power of God, not by the power of man.
There are several spiritual gifts listed in the New Testament.
First of all, there are five primary ministry positions in the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers (Ephesians 4:11-14). These ministries are based on spiritual gifts. These ministries do not operate through natural abilities, but by supernatural abilities from God. One cannot study how to become any of these ministry positions; instead, one must receive a gift from God in order to operate in these ministries.
An apostle is sent by God with spiritual power to establish something foundational for the church (Ephesians 2:20). There are approximately 23 men who are called apostles in the New Testament (Heb. 3:1; Matt. 10:2-4; Acts 1:26; Acts 14:4, 15; Gal. 1:19; 1 Thess. 1:1, 2:6; Phil. 2:25; 1 Cor. 4:6-9; 2 Cor. 8:23). A true apostle will bring people to follow the original apostolic teachings of Christ. False apostles are energized by Satan (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) and promote deviation from God’s word, and it is important to discern them (Revelation 2:2).
A prophet is a person with a particularly strong gift of prophecy. A prophet’s life is defined by the prophetic gift. To prophesy means to speak out what God is saying now by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Prophets, along with apostles, are foundational for the building of the church (Eph. 2:20). There are several prophets listed in the New Testament (Acts 3:22; 13:1; 15:32; 21:10-11).
An evangelist is a person who shares the gospel effectively with power. Philip was an evangelist in the New Testament (Acts 21:8).
A shepherd is a person who can counsel, encourage, and disciple others effectively. This spiritual gift of shepherd is different from the modern concept of a pastor, which is one man leading a congregation. The position of shepherd, like all other true ministries, is based on spiritual gifting, not on seminary training.
A teacher is a person who has a particularly strong gift of teaching, and this gift has defined his life. He is able to expound the word of God effectively and accurately, revealing the true doctrines of Christ clearly.
The position of elder is different from these five ministry positions. A person becomes an elder not by receiving a spiritual gift, but by fulfilling temporal qualifications (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). An elder may also have a spiritual gift of one of the 5 primary ministry positions, or he may not. For example, John was both an elder (2 John) and an apostle, whereas Paul was an apostle but not an elder.
There are many other spiritual gifts besides these 5 primary ministry positions. Some are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11:
Word of Wisdom – This gift is based on revelation from God. It imparts supernatural wisdom from God to handle situations or solve problems.
Word of Knowledge – This gift is also based on revelation from God. It imparts supernatural knowledge about facts or other things that are not known through natural means.
Faith – All Christians have faith, but a person with the gift of faith will have particularly strong faith to accomplish powerful things. Some Christians have more faith than others (Matt. 8:26; 17:20).
Gifts of Healing – This gift involves supernatural power to heal sick people.
Working of Miracles – This gift causes powerful supernatural things to happen.
Prophecy – The gift of prophecy enables a person to speak out what God is saying now. Prophecies expose hidden things, and can be about the past, present, or future. The gift of prophecy edifies, exhorts, and comforts (1 Cor. 14:3). It educates and encourages (1 Cor. 14:31). Prophesying is speaking forth a stream of supernatural revelation. When a prophecy is spoken, others need to discern whether the prophecy is from God (1 Cor. 14:29). Prophecy is a powerful gift for the building of the body of Christ, and therefore all Christians are commanded to desire to prophesy (1 Cor. 14:1).
Discerning of Spirits – This gift enables a person to discern between the Spirit of God and evil spirits. Demons can operate within churches, and it is important to be able to discern them.
Tongues – The gift of tongues involves speaking in languages unknown to the speaker by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Paul spoke in tongues a lot (1 Cor. 14:18), and he wished that all Christians could speak in tongues (1 Cor. 14:5). However, he says that not all Christians will speak in tongues (1 Cor. 12:30). Some false teachers try to forbid people from speaking in tongues, but this is wrong (1 Cor. 14:39).
If a person speaks in tongues, he edifies himself (1 Cor. 14:4). He speaks mysteries to God (1 Cor. 14:2). Sometimes a person who speaks in tongues will speak in angelic languages (1 Cor. 13:1). In church, no one should speak in tongues unless there is a person who can interpret the tongues so that others can understand what is being said (1 Cor. 14:27-28).
Interpretation of Tongues – This gift is the supernatural ability to interpret tongues by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a valuable gift akin to the gift of prophecy, for it enables tongues to be understood by others to edify the body of Christ.
More spiritual gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:29-31:
Helps – The gift of helping is the supernatural power to help others in a powerful, strategic, and impactful way for the kingdom of God. A person with the gift of helping will not feel burdened when helping others, but will find it easy by the Holy Spirit.
Governments – This is the gift of administrating and organizing. This gift will operate in order to maintain order within the church.
Further spiritual gifts are listed in Romans 12:6-8:
Ministry/serving – A person with the gift of serving will serve others effectively and powerfully in order to bless the body of Christ. He will find ease and joy in serving others.
Exhorting – A person with the gift of exhortation will be able to comfort, encourage, and counsel others effectively.
Giving – The gift of giving will operate through a person who has access to resources. He will give these resources in a strategic way for the expansion of God’s kingdom.
Ruling – This is a gift of leading and presiding, and one with this gift will be able to keep the church moving forward in an orderly manner.
Mercy – One with the gift of mercy will show kindness and compassion to those who need it. He will help the afflicted in a particularly effective way.
All spiritual gifts are valuable. We are commanded to desire spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1). Each Christian has at least one spiritual gift, and some have more than one. We receive spiritual gifts when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, by asking God, through the laying on of hands, through the gift of prophecy (1 Timothy 4:14), and through prayer and fasting (Acts 13). Whatever spiritual gift we have, we should thank God for it and operate in that gift for the building of the body of Christ.
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