The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

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We read in 1 Cor 12:1 that we must not be ignorant when it comes to the spiritual gifts. We need to know what the gifts are, how they work and towards what purpose.

This is a high-level discussion of the different gifts with examples and their practical application. I want to take a balanced approach with a practical and useful outcome. Not just a theoretical discussion, but also not only experiential without any Scriptural basis.

I will focus on the gifts mentioned in 1 Cor 12 to 14. The Bible calls it the spiritual gifts or manifestations of the Spirit. Just something noteworthy, 1 Cor 13, the typical wedding-paragraph, is right in the middle of Paul’s discussion on the gifts. To be filled with Godly love is extremely important. Without love, we can have all the knowledge and experience regarding the gifts and it will mean nothing in the end.

The purpose of the spiritual gifts is never to elevate man. It’s always to bring glory to God and it’s always for the purpose of His Kingdom.

 

What did Paul teach us regarding the gifts?

• We must not be ignorant concerning the gifts (1 Cor 12:1 and Rom 14:38)
• There are different gifts, ministries and activities (1 Cor 12:4-6)
• All of us receive gifts (1 Cor 12:7)
• The purpose of the gifts is to establish and to profit everyone (1 Cor 12:7)
• It edifies ourself (1 Cor 14:4) as well as other people (1 Cor 14:3)
• The gifts establish us: it strengthens, gives direction and resolution, confirms and makes us steadfast. (Rom 1:11)
• It’s a sign for both believers and unbelievers (1 Cor 14:22)
• The Holy Spirit distributes gifts according to His will (1 Cor 12:11)
• We must not lack in any spiritual gift (1 Cor 1:7)
• We must earnestly desire the spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:31; 14:1)
• We must desire and pray to receive the gift of prophesy (1 Cor 14:1)
• We must pray for the gift to speak in tongues (1 Cor 14:5)
• Each person must bring and exercise their gift at the meetings (1 Cor 14:26)
• God is testifying with us and confirms the message of salvation through the gifts (Heb 2:4, Mark 16:17-18, Rom 15:19)

 

Gifts, ministries and activities

Diversities of spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:4)

The Greek word is ‘charisma’. It means:

• Free gift, favour, divine hand-out, gift, reward, endowment
• A religious qualification, ability, characteristic
• A favour with which one receives without any merit of his own

None of us deserve the spiritual gifts. It’s a free gift of grace. To have spiritual gifts doesn’t make us better than the next person. It’s not a badge of honour. We always have to beware of pride.

 

Ministries (1 Cor 12:5)

The Greek work is ‘diakonia’ and it means:

• Attendance as a servant, aid
• Service
• Ministering
• Office or administration

 

Activities (1 Cor 12:6)

The Greek word is ‘energēma’, which means:

• Supernatural and ordinary actions
• An effect, operation, working, activity, operation

 

Manifestation of the Spirit

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit [the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit] for the common good (1 Cor 12:7 AMP)

The New King James version says it’s for the profit of all.

Deeper meanings of the words profit and common good:

• To the benefit or advantage of the collective
• To be better
• To bring together

 

When combining all the above definitions, we can see a thread running through – free, unmerited gifts to enable us to serve others for the benefit of the collective.

 

Nine gifts of the Spirit

The Bible lists nine gifts. Traditionally they are grouped into 3 groups (3 gifts per group): verbal, revelation and power gifts. However, I’m going to discuss them in the order that the Bible lists them.

• Word of wisdom
• Word of knowledge
• Faith
• Gifts of healing
• Working of miracles
• Prophecy
• Discerning of spirits
• Different kinds of tongues
• Interpretation of tongues

 

Word of wisdom

To receive a word of wisdom relates to supernational insight in the Scriptures, in situations and to be able to see from God’s perspective. It has nothing to do with age or experience. When we are in a situation where there is no guideline, law or instruction on how to handle it, this gift comes in very handy.

We read in Psalm 119:99-100: I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. 

An example of Jesus:

The teachers of the Torah were astonished at the wisdom of Jesus’s questions and answers despite His young age. (Luk 2:46-47)

Other Biblical examples:

Solomon received supernatural wisdom when he had to give a verdict between the two women regarding the baby. (1 Kings 3:16)

Peter was able to understand that the vision related to people and not animals by supernatural revelation. (Hand 10:28)

James received a word of wisdom during the meeting were the keeping of the Torah by gentile believers was discussed. This insight was supernatural, it brought order and peace and changed the direction for the future (Acts 15:13-22)

 

Word of knowledge

A Word of knowledge is when you know something that you in ordinary circumstances won’t know. This gift relates to facts, information and supernatural insight on how to do something. It has nothing to do with knowledge gained during studies. It’s not natural insight, education, skills or experience. Likewise, it’s not how well a person know and can quote the Bible and it’s doesn’t refer to a sharp mind.

Example of Jesus:

Jesus gave the disciples the address and logistics regarding the place to prepare the Passover meal (Luk 22:10)

Jesus told the disciples that Lazarus was dead (Joh 11:14)

Jesus told the Samaritan woman that she already had five husbands (Joh 4:18)

Other Biblical examples:

Peter knew that Ananias and Sapphira lied (Acts 5)

Elisha warns the king of Israel which road the king of Syria will take (2 Kings 6:9)

Pauls warns against the loss of the ship and lives (Hand 27:10)

Ananias receives the address where Saul was praying (Hand 9:11)

Other Biblical examples:

When a person knows that a sick person is present and must be prayed for. Sometimes the person will know who the person is and/or the disease involved. It can also happen that you get a dream where you solve a problem step by step. It involves knowledge that the person didn’t have and could only get by the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

 

Faith

This involves a supernatural assurance of who God is and, in His ability to come through regardless of the circumstances. Each one of has an appointed measure of faith (Rom 12:3). The gift of faith speaks of faith above this measure. It’s not faith unto salvation, but mountain-moving faith (Mark 11:23).

Natural laws don’t apply when this faith is in action – the supernatural applies resulting in miracles. Many times, the gift of faith works together with the other gifts.

Example of Jesus:

The fig tree dried up overnight (Matt 21:20)

Jesus calmed the storm (Mark 8:23)

While people were trying to throw Jesus down over the cliff, He walk through them (Luk 4:30)

Other Biblical examples:

Peter walks on the water (Matt 14:29)

Other examples:

Fearless martyrs over the ages

 

Gifts of healing

This is a supernatural gift that bring about healing without the use of natural methods or medicine. It’s for our physical (body), psychological (soul) and spiritual levels. The purpose is to heal the sick and to bring healing to those who are oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38). God bears witness with us (it confirms who we are in Him) when supernatural healings take place (Heb 2:4) and it brings glory to the Father (Joh 14:13).

Examples of Jesus:

There are so many examples in the four gospels where Jesus healed the sick and casted out demons. One example is the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:31).

Other Biblical examples:

Peter and John at the temple (Acts 3)

Paul on the island Malta (Acts 28:8)

 

Working of miracles

The Greek word is dunamis, which means force, supernatural power, ability, might, strength and a mighty or wonderful work.

A miracle is whenever the laws of nature are superseded and the supernatural happens. Miracles leads people to God (Acts 14:3). It also glorifies God. I believe that miracles should happen much more frequently in our lives, but our western logic and arguments restrict this gift to a great extent. This is one of the gifts that works together with the gift of faith.

An example of Jesus:

At the wedding in Cana, Jesus changed the substance of water into wine (John 2)

Other Biblical examples:

The iron axe head that floated on the water (2 Kings 6:5-7)

Paul raises Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:9)

Philip was supernaturally transported to Azotus. (Acts 8:40)

 

Prophecy

Prophecy is the supernatural utterance in an understandable language. Paul encourages us to desire and pursue this gift (1 Cor 14:2 and 1 Cor 14:31). Unfortunately, spiritual pride has caused many people to pursue this gift from a place of being the greatest and having the best gift. This important gift benefits the body of Christ much, but the motive of people’s hearts has resulted in malpractices within the church.

Prophecy will never contradict the written Word. Any prophecy that opposes Scriptures is false.

Prophetic words are spoken to individuals and to the congregation (1 Cor 12:2,4). It is also a sign to believers (1 Cor 14:22).

The purpose of prophecy is:

• Edification (confirmation, building)
• Exhortation (comfort, guidance, gives warnings and advice)
• Comfort (the easing or alleviation of a person’s feelings of grief or distress)
• It convinces and convicts both believers and unbelievers (1 Cor 14:24)
• It reveals the secrets of the heart and leads to repentance

Prophecy can also be predictive; it can tell of future events. The person speaking will have no prior knowledge or special background to inform the words; it is supernatural knowledge. An example in the Bible is where Agabus foretold of a coming famine. The purpose of this prophecy was still edification and building – it enabled the believers to prepare.

Prophecy is never forced; man can choose to speak or to stay quiet. The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet, which when read in context, means he can await his turn before speaking (1 Cor 14:32-33). This gift must always be exercised in an orderly fashion.

Any word of prophecy must be judged by everyone present (1 Cor 14:29). This is a key element that gets neglected. I believe our obedience and responsibility in this regard will eliminate a lot of the irregularities and will prevent people from just giving a word left, right and centre.

An example of Jesus:

Foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem (Luk 19:43-44)

Other Biblical examples:

Upcoming famine – Agabus (Acts 11:28)

Paul’s capture – Agabus (Acts 21:10)

Other examples:

The children of the French Huguenots prophesying during the persecution

 

Discerning of spirits

This gift enables a person to know with what type of spirit you are dealing with. Very important, this gift is all about spirits, not people. We don’t discern people, but spirits. First and foremost, we distinguish between the Holy Spirit and an evil spirit. Then we also discern different types of evil spirits, either by name or by function. This gift is indispensable when it comes to the inner healing and delivery ministry field. In this case the gift will work together with a word of wisdom and the workings of miracles. A person will discern the evil spirit present and will receive a word of wisdom on how to handle the situation, whereafter the workings of miracles will come into effect to cast the demon out.

In the present hour we live in, we cannot afford to be without this gift. Jesus has warned us against deception in Matthew 24 and this gift will assist us greatly to discern the spirit of deception.

Examples of Jesus:

Nathanael’s heart (John 1:48)

The guile of the priests and scribes (Luk 20:23)

The devil working through Peter as a hindrance (Mat 16:23)

Other examples:

Paul discerns the spirit of phyton (Acts 16:16)

Paulus discerns the spiritual condition (bitterness and iniquity) of Simon (Acts 8:23)

 

Different kinds of tongues

This gift involves supernatural utterances in a language that cannot be understood with the mind. The Holy Spirit speaks directly through men’s spirit and uses his vocal cords and tongue (1 Cor 14:14). It can either be heavenly or earthly tongues (1 Cor 13:1). Our minds are not involved when speaking in tongues. Sometimes a language can be recognised as a known earthly language like in the case of Acts 2:8. Other times it can be heavenly and will not sound like a real language to the listener.

Paul placed great emphasis on this gift together with the gift of prophesy – almost a whole chapter (1 Cor 14). When we pray in tongues when we’re alone, it edifies ourselves (1 Cor 14:4). We are instructed to pray for the gift to interpret tongues (1 Cor 14:13). Then this gift can also edify the congregation.

When we don’t know how to pray into a specific situation, we can pray in tongues. The Holy Spirit will then pray through us and help us to pray effectively (Rom 8:26-27).

We don’t only pray in tongues, but we can also sing in tongues. This is a very precious experience and powerful in the spiritual realm (1 Cor 14:15).

 

Interpretation of tongues

This gift entails the supernatural understanding of what the person who is speaking in tongues are saying. It’s the only gift that is dependent on another gift.

The interpretation of tongues is not a direct translation of what is spoken. Therefore, the interpretation may sound longer or shorter than the ‘tongues’-portion. It’s not a word-by-word translation. Various people may speak in tongues during gatherings and there must be at least one person to interpret (1 Cor 14:27-28). In the case of no interpreter, there must also be no speaking in tongues.

 

Earnestly desire the gifts

But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. (1 Cor 12:31)

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (1 Cor 14:1)

To earnestly desire means to:

• Covet earnestly
• Strive
• Be zealous or burn with zeal
• Be jealous over (The same word was used in 2 Cor 11:2 – Paul was jealous with a godly jealousy to present the bride to Jesus)

 

Normative

These gifts should be part of our normal everyday lives. Each one of us must have at least one gift that we actively use. Without spiritual gifts, we can be compared to a physical body without a leg or an eye. We can still get along, but we are missing out on the fullness in Christ.

We must also pray for more of the gifts, but not because we want to be seen. Again, spiritual gifts don’t make us better or place us in a higher position than the next person. We need to stay humble and desire to use these gifts only for the edification of the body of Christ and to bring glory to our King.

 

Word of warning

Spiritual gifts without love means nothing (1 Cor 13). We can do great miracles or speak deep revelations, but if we live outside of God’s will and order, He will turn us away.

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Mat 7:22-23)

Can the Holy Spirit trust us with more gifts or will we become haughty and puffed up? The power of Jesus’ resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings work together. We cannot have the one without the other. We cannot only want to see His resurrection power work in and through us, but we don’t want to die to self.

What is the motive of our heart? Is it to be seen? Or is it out of pure love for Jesus and our fellow believers?

 

Let all that you do be done with love. (1 Cor 16:14) 

 

Shalom!

Yolandie