Spiritual gifts are special abilities given by the Holy Spirit to Christians for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. The Bible mentions these gifts in passages like 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4. The main purposes and functions of spiritual gifts include:
1. To glorify God and point people to Christ
Spiritual gifts are given to bring glory to God, not to ourselves (1 Peter 4:10-11). They point people to the power and grace of Christ. Even gifts like prophecy, knowledge, faith, or miracles have the ultimate goal of testifying to God’s work in Christ (1 Corinthians 12:3).
2. To edify and strengthen the church
Spiritual gifts are given to build up Christ’s body, the church (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:12, 26). They equip Christians for ministry, bringing maturity and unity so the church functions properly and fulfills its God-given mission (Ephesians 4:11-16).
3. To show God’s love and grace
Gifts manifest the love of God in tangible ways (1 Corinthians 13; 1 Peter 4:10-11). As Christians serve others in the power of the Spirit, they display God’s compassion, spurring one another to love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).
4. To overcome spiritual opposition
Spiritual gifts help the church stand against evil spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:10-18). Believers must discern and test the spirits (1 John 4:1-3), guard sound doctrine (Titus 1:9), and prophetically call people to repent and obey Christ.
5. To confirm the Gospel message
Miraculous gifts like healings and prophecies can validate the preaching of the Gospel in new regions (Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:4). They demonstrate God’s power and catch people’s attention so they listen to the message about Christ.
6. To meet practical and spiritual needs
God distributes gifts so believers can help meet both material and spiritual needs in the church (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:28-30). Christians serve, teach, encourage, give, lead, and show mercy in the power of the Holy Spirit.
In summary, spiritual gifts have the overall purpose of building up the church and spreading the Gospel of Christ (1 Corinthians 14:12). Every believer receives at least one gift from the Holy Spirit to be used for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7). As Christians steward their gifts faithfully, the church grows in maturity and Christ is made known in the world.
The gifts mentioned in Scripture include:
- Prophecy – Speaking revelation from God (1 Corinthians 12:10).
- Teaching – Explaining and applying God’s Word (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28).
- Knowledge – Understanding divine truths (1 Corinthians 12:8).
- Wisdom – Applying spiritual truth effectively (1 Corinthians 12:8).
- Faith – Trusting God for the impossible (1 Corinthians 12:9).
- Healing – Praying and ministering God’s healing (1 Corinthians 12:9).
- Miracles – Performing signs and wonders (1 Corinthians 12:10).
- Discernment – Distinguishing truth from error (1 Corinthians 12:10).
- Tongues – Speaking in a language not known to the speaker (1 Corinthians 12:10).
- Interpretation – Making tongues understandable (1 Corinthians 12:10).
- Apostleship – Starting new churches and ministries (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11).
- Service – Joyfully serving to support ministry (Romans 12:7).
- Encouragement – Comforting and counseling others (Romans 12:8).
- Giving – Generously sharing finances and resources (Romans 12:8).
- Leadership – Providing vision, direction, and guidance (Romans 12:8).
- Administration – Organizing people and tasks (1 Corinthians 12:28).
- Evangelism – Effectively sharing the Gospel (Ephesians 4:11).
- Pastoring – Shepherding and caring for others (Ephesians 4:11).
- Mercy – Showing compassion and care (Romans 12:8).
- Helps – Assisting where needed (1 Corinthians 12:28).
- Hospitality – Welcoming and serving visitors (1 Peter 4:9-10).
These gifts differ according to God’s grace and calling on each believer’s life. Christians should eagerly desire spiritual gifts while also remembering that love is greater than any gift (1 Corinthians 14:1; 1 Corinthians 13). Believers must use their gifts to serve others, not boast in themselves (1 Peter 4:10). By walking in humility and love, the church will build itself up in both unity and Christ-centered diversity.
Key Principles about Spiritual Gifts
Here are some important biblical principles to understand about spiritual gifts:
- Every Christian has at least one gift – There are no exceptions, God has given all believers gifts to edify the church (1 Corinthians 12:7; Ephesians 4:7).
- No gift is more important than another – All gifts are equally necessary and valuable to building up the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:14-26).
- The Holy Spirit distributes gifts as He wills – We cannot choose our gifts and God always determines how gifts are distributed among Christians (1 Corinthians 12:11).
- Gifts can work in combination – The Holy Spirit may gift believers in ways that allow their gifts to complement each other effectively (Romans 12:6-8).
- Gifts can manifest in different ways – There are varieties and diversity in the outworking of the same gift (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).
- Gifts are opportunities for stewardship – Believers must be faithful stewards of gifts by using them to serve others (1 Peter 4:10).
- Maturity is key for using gifts properly – Spiritual maturity helps believers use gifts for building up rather than to boast or promote themselves (Ephesians 4:13-16; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3).
- Gifts should operate in love – Without love, gifts are meaningless and even harmful to the church (1 Corinthians 13).
- Seek gifts that edify the church – While not forbidden, tongues and miracles should be weighed against more edifying gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1-5).
- Cultivate gifts through practice and prayer – As we are faithful with even small manifestations of a gift, God may entrust us with more (Matthew 25:14-30; 2 Timothy 1:6).
Examples and Explanations of Key Spiritual Gifts
To understand spiritual gifts more fully, here are details and examples of some of the most prominent gifts:
Prophecy
The gift of prophecy is speaking revelation from God that can take a variety of forms. It is often thought of as predicting future events, but more broadly, NT prophets gave messages from God to correct, encourage, strengthen, and comfort believers (1 Corinthians 14:3). Those with this gift receive revelation from the Holy Spirit about present situations and circumstances of the church body. The revelations may involve something to come, but more often deal with existing conditions that need to change or improve. Examples include Peter in Acts 2, Agabus in Acts 11 and 21, and the ministry of prophets recorded in 1 Corinthians 14.
Teaching
The gift of teaching is the Spirit-given capacity to understand biblical truth and communicate it clearly so others learn and apply it to their lives. Teachers instruct with accuracy, wisdom, clarity, and simplicity focusing on the clear explanation and application of God’s Word (Acts 18:24-28, 20:20-21). All Christians have the ability to teach to some extent but some believers have an evident gifting that takes teaching to another level.
Knowledge and Wisdom
The gifts of knowledge and wisdom both involve understanding divine truth. Knowledge focuses on grasping the meaning of God’s truth intellectually while wisdom highlights applying spiritual truth effectively. Those with the gift of knowledge comprehend deep biblical truths of theology that elude most believers. Wisdom takes this understanding and applies it practically to life situations for beneficial outcomes (Acts 6:3,10).
Healing and Miracles
Gifts of healings and miracles involve supernatural interventions by the Holy Spirit in the lives of people. Healings can involve curing sickness, disease, physical deformities, emotional brokenness, demonic oppression, and more. Miracles extend further to suspend natural law such as multiplying food, parting bodies of water, speaking foreign languages, surviving harm, altering nature, and raising the dead. Examples include healings and miracles performed by Jesus, the apostles, and those like Stephen (Acts 6:8) and Phillip (Acts 8:6-7).
Tongues and Interpretation
Tongues is speaking, singing, or praying in a language not known to the speaker, made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. Interpretation involves making tongues intelligible to hearers by the power of the Spirit. Speaking in tongues is primarily directed to God (1 Corinthians 14:2) and is a personal prayer language (1 Corinthians 14:4). Interpretation allows tongues to also encourages and comfort the church when accompanied by interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:5).
Service and Helping
Gifts of service and helping involve rendering practical aid to brothers and sisters in Christ. Those with these gifts see tangible needs and joyfully provide assistance to meet them. Service gifts address practical everyday needs like preparing meals, doing manual labor, transportation, childcare, visitation, cleaning, administration, event logistics, and more. Stephen and Phillip demonstrate these gifts in Acts 6-8 through feeding widows and evangelistic outreach.
Leadership and Administration
The gift of leadership empowers believers to set direction and cast vision to accomplish God’s goals for ministry. Administration enables leaders to create and oversee efficient systems and procedures to organize people and resources for maximum stewardship and effectiveness. Those with these gifts motivate, plan, strategize, organize people and resources, and maintain order and accountability. Examples include Moses, Nehemiah and Paul.
Evangelism and Apostleship
Evangelism is effectively communicating the gospel to unbelievers so they respond in faith and move toward discipleship. Apostleship centers on pioneering new churches and ministries through planting, overseeing, and training. Apostolic leaders extend the Gospel into new regions and cultures by developing multiplying ministries and leaders. The missionary journeys of Paul and the ministry of Philip demonstrate these gifts (Acts 8:4-8, 26-40).
Pastoring, Mercy, Giving
Gifts of pastoring, mercy and giving address caring for people’s spiritual and practical needs. Pastors shepherd people toward maturity through teaching, counseling, and general spiritual oversight. Mercy involves showing compassion, care, and helpful deeds to those in need. Giving liberally shares finances and other resources with the church. Paul calls pastors “shepherds,” and Dorcas (Acts 9:36), Timothy (Philippians 2:19-23), and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-30) exemplify these gifts.
Discernment, Exhortation, Faith
Gifts of discernment, exhortation (encouragement), and faith are valuable for guarding and strengthening the spiritual health of believers. Discernment enables recognition of deception, frauds, and false teaching so that such threats can be avoided or addressed. Exhorters positively motivate others through inspirational advice, counsel, and comfort given through the faith-building power of the Spirit. Faith imparts supernatural confidence in God to boldly act upon His promises, believe for miracles, and fearlessly advance His Kingdom.
Cautions Regarding Spiritual Gifts
In Corinthians, Paul provides important cautions in using spiritual gifts properly and avoiding potential misunderstandings:
- Gifts can be falsely claimed or counterfeited – Some treat tongues as a status symbol and prophecies can be motivated by selfishness rather than the Spirit. Believers must test all gifts carefully (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21; 1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 John 4:1-3).
- Gifts can be overly celebrated – The Corinthians so elevated tongues, healings, and miracles that they neglected gifts more edifying to the church. This caused disunity and rivalry over gifts, which Paul rebuked (1 Corinthians 1:10-12; 3:3-9, 21-23).
- Gifts without love are worthless – Using gifts without love fails to serve others, prompting believers to boast in themselves. Love should always direct and accompany use of gifts (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
- Not all possess certain gifts – Not all believers have all gifts like healings, tongues, or miracles. God sovereignly distributes gifts as He determines. No gift is a prerequisite for spirituality (1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 29-30).
- Gifts like tongues must be orderly – Tongues must operate properly and in balance among the body and its gifts. Interpretation should accompany tongues when spoken publicly (1 Corinthians 14:26-33).
Above all, believers should remember spiritual gifts originate from the Spirit. Thus, we cannot boast in them or think of them too highly (1 Corinthians 4:7). The purpose of gifts is serving and edifying others for the glory of God.
Discovering and Developing Your Gifts
Since God sovereignly distributes gifts, how do believers discern their gifts? Scripture points to these helpful ways to discover and develop the gifts you’ve been given:
- Get involved – As you participate in ministry you’ll gain experience and discernment about potential gifts. Take initiative to use possible gifts and see what God does.
- Experiment and practice – Try out new areas of service to see where you excel and produce fruit. Offer to pray for the sick, fill teaching gaps, help the poor, counsel others. Attempt new things in faith.
- Pay attention to affirmation – Listen to what mature Christians say about your gifting based on their experience with you. Don’t view compliments as flattery but insight into gifts God may have given you.
- Consider your desires – Your spiritual gifting often aligns with passion for certain ministries. A desire to teach or evangelize, for example, may signal God’s gifting.
- Assess results and fruit – Examine effectiveness and outcomes from serving to determine fruitfulness. Repeated changed lives through your teaching or consistent abilities to heal through prayer are strong signs of gifting.
- Pray – Ask the Spirit directly for wisdom and discernment related to your gifts. Be open to how He may be leading you to discover and employ your gifts (James 1:5).
- Start small – Begin exercising gifts in simpler contexts and don’t worry about operating on an expert level initially. With experience and mentoring you’ll grow into greater proficiency with your gifts.
As you step out in faith, remember to keep learning, serve humbly and depend fully on the Holy Spirit. He gives gifts freely and desires that believers steward gifts diligently for the purpose of bearing fruit and bringing all glory to Christ.