Gifts of the Spirit are gifts that God gives to members of the body of Christ for edification of the Church.

1 Corinthians 12:7-12  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.

The Gifts of the Spirit are miraculous and fall within one of three categories: gifts of revelation, gifts of power, and gifts of utterance (Bernard, p. 86).  

Gifts of Revelation

Word of Wisdom is guidance for a specific situation. God can tell us what to do or say in a situation. An example can be seen in Acts 27:9-11.

Acts 27:9-11  ⁹ Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,  ¹⁰ And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.  ¹¹ Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

Word of Knowledge is when God reveals something to us about a situation. As example would be Acts 5:1-11.

Acts 5:1-11  But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,  ² And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.  ³ But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?  ⁴ Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.  ⁵ And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.  ⁶ And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.  ⁷ And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.  ⁸ And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.  ⁹ Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.  ¹⁰ Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.  ¹¹ And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

Discerning of Spirits is perceiving what type of spirit is influencing someone. We can feel the presence of a Godly or demonic influence. An example would be Acts 16:16-18.

Acts 16:16-18  ¹⁶ And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:  ¹⁷ The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.  ¹⁸ And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

Gifts of Power

Faith is a special gift of faith that transcends normal faith. It is used for hopeless situations. An example of the gift of faith would be Acts 27:21-25.

Acts 27:21-25  ²¹ But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.  ²² And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.  ²³ For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,  ²⁴ Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.  ²⁵ Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Gifts of Healing is healing that God works through us. Healing can be instant or progressive, and includes both physical and mental diseases. Gifts of Healing shows that healing is for us today. An example would be Acts 5:12-16.

Acts 5:12-16  ¹² And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.  ¹³ And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.  ¹⁴ And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)  ¹⁵ Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.  ¹⁶ There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Working of Miracles is when God performs a miracle using us as a vessel. Working of Miracles shows that miracles are for us today. A few examples would be Acts 20:7-12 and Acts 28:1-6.

Acts 20:7-12  ⁷ And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.  ⁸ And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.  ⁹ And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.  ¹⁰ And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.  ¹¹ When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.  ¹² And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

Acts 28:1-6  And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.  ² And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.  ³ And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.  ⁴ And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.  ⁵ And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.  ⁶ Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

Gifts of Utterance

Prophecy is a message from God. Prophecy includes anointed testimonies, preaching, or even praise.

1 Corinthians 14:3-4  ³ But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.  ⁴ He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

1 Corinthians 14:29-33  ²⁹ Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.  ³⁰ If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.  ³¹ For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.  ³² And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  ³³ For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Revelation 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Kinds of Tongues, not to be confused with the evidence of tongues, is a message from God that is in another language. Kinds of Tongues will be interpreted by someone using another gift – interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1 Corinthians 14:27-28  ²⁷ If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.  ²⁸ But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

If tongues are spoken without interpretation, it is meant for personal edification.

1 Corinthians 14:4  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

1 Corinthians 14:15  What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

1 Corinthians 14:18  I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

1 Corinthians 14:28  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Interpretation of Tongues is when God gives someone the interpretation of a message that has been given in tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1 Corinthians 14:27-28  ²⁷ If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.  ²⁸ But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

The ultimate purpose of the Gifts of the Spirit is to exalt our Lord Jesus (Bernard, p. 42). The gifts of the Spirit proclaim in our lives the atonement work of Jesus Christ. The Gifts of the Spirit are still for us today. They did not end with the first generation Church. God can do a work in our lives, and He can use us as vessels just like He said in the scriptures. If we have the Spirit of God dwelling in us (Spirit baptism), then we should also be used of the Spirit to do the work of God. This includes the gifts that He has given us to edify the Church. We must allow God to work in our lives. We must seek the gifts of the Spirit.

 

 

References

Bernard, David K., (1997). Spiritual Gifts

            Hazelwood: Word Aflame Press

 

David Bernard Spiritual Gifts