Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. (1 Co. 12:1-11 KJV)
These 3 are revelation gifts (the gifts that reveal something):
- Word of wisdom is supernatural information about the future.
- Word of knowledge is supernatural information about the past of present.
- Discerning of spirits is supernatural ability to see into the spiritual realm.
These 3 are power gift (the gifts that do something):
- Gift of faith is supernatural impartation of divine faith to operate in miracles.
- Working of miracles is the ability to do supernatural works and displays of power.
- Gifts of healings is the ability to operate in divine healing.
These 3 are utterance gifts (the gifts that say something):
- Prophecy is an utterance unto edification, exhortation and comfort in a known tongue.
- Diverse kinds of tongues is an utterance of a message in an unknown tongue.
- Interpretation of tongues is the interpretation into a known language of a diverse tongue.
There are 9 supernatural gifts of the Spirit endowed for the church to operate according to the supernatural ability of the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (all-present) and omnipotent (all-powerful). The gifts of the Spirit give the Holy Spirit baptized believer these supernatural abilities as the Spirit wills. These gifts belong to the Holy Spirit, and He releases them to individuals according to the will of God. We don’t have the ability to initiate them, but we certainly can “…earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all-love]. (1 Co. 12:31 AMPC)”
The motivation of the heart to walk in love is the undergirding foundation to operate in the gifts of the Spirit. Just as there are 9 gifts of the Spirit, there are 9 fruit of the Spirit that must be the foundation of all life and ministry for the believer. But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. (Gal. 5:22-23)
These 9 fruits of the Spirit are the qualities of a godly character that must be cultivated in the life of the believer. Just remember gifts are given, but character is developed! Don’t just focus on the gifts, but earnestly desire to cultivate the character that will carry the gifts.
