Welcome to Day 13. Today, we will address spiritual gifts. There is mention of "spiritual gifts" both in the Old Testament and New Testament, indicating that spiritual gifts are not just a New Testament phenomenon. A spiritual gift is 'a gift or endowment characteristic of the presence or enabling of the Holy Spirit.' This means God supernaturally gives and enables gifts to humans for His glory through the power of the Holy Spirit. The difference between the Old and New Testaments concerning the gifts is that the Holy Spirit now rests within the believer because of what Jesus Christ has done. This means the Spirit doesn't just come and go. Below you will see verses that show the power of the Spirit enabling His people both in the Old and New Testaments.
"Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied-but did not do so again."
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work."
Why Are There Spiritual Gift(s)?
Spiritual gifts or empowerment of the Spirit were given to God's people for two purposes:
1) To demonstrate the truthfulness of God.
We see that the truthfulness of God can come in many forms. One of the ways is through prophecy. This is demonstrated in Acts 2:14-18 when the Holy Spirit fell upon the believers at Pentecost. At this moment, Peter confronted a small group of people who were saying the apostles were "drunk" because they were speaking in everyone's languages. Peter uses Joel's prophetic words in Joel 2:28-32 to combat these individuals. The prophetic words of Joel were confirmed by Peter in Acts 2 when he used the reference to attest to something God spoke through an individual long ago.
2) To assist and empower believers to accomplish God's will and to build the church.
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
The ministry (work of restoration) of God started right after sin entered the world. The Spirit's role is not limited to the creation of the world and assisting the believer, but the Spirit is the means to accomplishing the will of God. The coming of Jesus opened up a unique opportunity for God's people to have the Spirit rest upon them. Part of that uniqueness means spiritual gifts would assist the believer's daily life moving forward to accomplish God's will.
Consider Gideon's life (Judges 6:1-8:35). God enabled and empowered him to be a warrior for His name. Gideon appeared fearful and hesitant, seemingly unsuited to lead an army for the Lord. If Gideon focused on his own ability or what others thought of him, he may have never accomplished the work the Lord called him to. Yet through miraculous signs, God empowered him, increasing his faith to carry out his specific calling. This example in Scripture shows us where God adds the "super" to our "natural" for His glory. Spiritual gifts are given by God to build the church and to accomplish His will. If we pursue Him first and foremost, He will guide us correctly.
How does understanding and using spiritual gifts contribute to the overall health and mission of the church?
How Do I Receive Spiritual Gift(s)?
When you become a Christian, you receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives the gift(s) according to scripture, and we see this in 1 Corinthians. We see in both the Old Testament and New Testament that when the "power" of God comes upon the believer, they receive empowerment by the Spirit. We know the Spirit is the one who distributes the gifts based on 1 Corinthians 12.
"All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines."
What are spiritual gift(s), and should everyone have at least one after salvation?
Spiritual Gifts Test
I write this section as a friendly encouragement and to emphasize that, as you pursue understanding your spiritual gift(s), you should first seek God in prayer and self-examination before taking a spiritual gifts test. While I believe that such tests can be helpful, they often come with limitations. Many of these tests seem to focus more on your personality, which can be problematic because it may limit what God is trying to do within you and how He wants to use you within the body of Christ. Also, you might feel that you "don't qualify for that specific gift," which could hinder God's work in you and for His mission. I believe that the authors of these tests have good intentions, but the tests themselves might fall short of what God wants to achieve in our lives.
Pride & Spiritual Gift(s)
It is important that we do not become prideful about gift(s) that God has given to us. Remember that the spiritual gift(s) and the assignments that God assigns to you are for His Glory, not yours. Stay humble because no matter the number of people God might enable you to reach for His name's sake, this is all for His glory! (1 Corinthians 12:15-26)
What should we be careful of when understanding our spiritual gift(s)?
What Are The Spiritual Gifts?
There are many types of spiritual gifts that God gives. Below is probably the most comprehensive list of "spiritual gifts" I have ever found, but I will be the first to tell you, there might even be more gifts than this. The reason I say that is because if we are going by what the Bible describes as "spiritual gifts," which is a supernatural enabling of a person by the Spirit within the human for the glory of God, there may be a variety of ways God wants to move that are not listed or maybe just not identified by this list and would fall under service or helps. We see in Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4 that the core passages identify spiritual gifts.
Spiritual Gifts List
A Note On These Definitions: As you read these definitions, I want you to know that Christians across the world may hold different views on some of them. Our heart is to offer help in understanding, not to settle every question. In preparing these we drew on a range of trusted sources and study tools, leaning heavily on Logos Bible Software, to offer the most well-rounded definition of each gift. Above all, I would encourage you to search the Scriptures yourself and test everything against God's Word (Acts 17:11).
The Spirit-given ability to organize people, tasks, and resources to accomplish the church's goals and fulfill its mission. It involves steering the body toward those goals through effective planning and follow-through.
1 Corinthians 12:28The Spirit-given ability to be sent out to pioneer the gospel where it has not taken root, planting new churches and ministries and strengthening them through oversight and training. The word means "sent one," a commissioned representative chosen and empowered to establish Christian community where none existed before.
1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11The Spirit-given ability to perceive the spiritual realities at work in people and situations, distinguishing what is of God from what opposes Him. It weighs teachings, spirits, and motives, applying across matters of doctrine, relationships, and circumstances, enabling believers to recognize truth from falsehood and God's guidance from deception. Yet its conclusions are always tested by Scripture and the counsel of the church, never trusted as impressions alone.
1 Corinthians 12:10The Spirit-given ability to proclaim the good news of salvation with clarity and passion, presenting the gospel in ways that connect with those who do not yet believe. Those with this gift carry a burden for the lost and share Christ with a joy and urgency that draws others to listen, trusting the Spirit to bring the growth and draw them into active discipleship within the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11The Spirit-given ability to come alongside believers and help them grow, finding the truth in God's Word that speaks to what a person is facing and showing them how to live it out. Those with this gift know when to encourage and when to lovingly challenge, walking with people from discouragement back to faith and obedience.
Romans 12:8The Spirit-given ability to trust God's promises with unusual confidence, holding firm that He will do what seems impossible. This is not wishful thinking but informed trust in what God has said, and not the saving faith every believer shares, but a special measure of confidence, often expressed through persistent prayer and confidence in God when circumstances provide little visible reason for hope.
1 Corinthians 12:9The Spirit-given ability to share generously and sacrificially from what one has, whether money, resources, time, or talents. Those with this gift view all they have as on loan from God and give from a pure, loving heart, moved by the Holy Spirit rather than by any desire for recognition.
Romans 12:8The Spirit-given ability through which God restores the sick, given among the gifts of the Spirit to His church. Scripture shows healing as God's work, done according to His wisdom and will, never automatic and never guaranteed, since even faithful believers were sometimes left unhealed. Christians differ on how this gift operates today, so we hold it humbly, praying with faith while trusting God with the outcome.
1 Corinthians 12:9, 28, James 5:14-16The Spirit-given ability to joyfully welcome and care for others, especially strangers and guests, in ways that make them feel genuinely loved and accepted. Every believer is called to hospitality, yet some are specially gifted to open their homes and lives with joy, expecting nothing in return. This welcome is not first a duty but a response, love overflowing from those God has welcomed first.
Romans 12:13, 1 Peter 4:9The Spirit-given ability to grasp and share insight into God's truth or a particular situation in a way that serves His people. Christians differ on whether this ordinarily involves supernatural information, Spirit-enabled understanding, or both. As with the other gifts, any claimed insight must be tested against Scripture and weighed by the church.
1 Corinthians 12:8The Spirit-given ability to set clear direction and move God's people toward His purposes, casting vision in ways that inspire others to follow. Because this authority is entrusted by Him and not assumed on one's own, those with this gift lead not by control but by example, serving those in their care with humility and sacrificial love.
Romans 12:8The Spirit-given ability to feel deep compassion for those who are suffering and to respond with cheerful, self-giving acts of care. Those with this gift are drawn to the hurting, the overlooked, and the distressed, bringing them the comfort and love of Christ.
Romans 12:8The Spirit-given ability to serve as God's instrument as He works in extraordinary ways beyond the ordinary course of nature, displaying His power and bringing glory to His name. Such works flow from prayer and faith, always according to God's sovereign will, never at human command.
Romans 15:18-19, 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28The Spirit-given ability to care for God's people over time as a shepherd tends a flock, feeding them with God's Word, guarding them from error, and nurturing their growth through personal care. Those with this gift walk closely with believers, teaching sound doctrine and equipping them to mature in Christ and serve His body. Many shepherd a group or a few people without holding the title.
Ephesians 4:11The Spirit-given ability to receive a divine impression or revelation from God and speak it as a timely message in human words. Its purpose is to strengthen, encourage, and comfort the church, to expose the human heart before unbelievers, and at times to warn or foretell. Because it comes through people, every prophecy must be tested against Scripture and weighed by the church, holding on to what is good. It never adds to or overrides Scripture, which alone is the final authority.
1 Corinthians 12:10, Romans 12:6The Spirit-given ability to identify and meet practical needs within the church through humble, compassionate service. Those with this gift step in wherever help is needed, seen or unseen, whether preparing a space, handling the details, or lending their skills, moved by love for Christ. Their faithful work frees others to use their gifts and strengthens the entire body.
Romans 12:7, 1 Corinthians 12:28, 1 Peter 4:11The Spirit-given ability to explain and apply the truths of Scripture faithfully, in ways that bring understanding and help believers mature in Christ and build up His body. Those with this gift study God's Word carefully, make its meaning clear, and handle it with accuracy so that others are grounded in the truth.
1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11, Romans 12:7, 1 Peter 4:11The gift of tongues is a Spirit-given ability involving speech in a language not naturally learned by the speaker. We first see tongues used in Acts 2, where the disciples spoke in various languages and those present heard the message in their own languages. This is a clear example of speaking in untrained human languages while others understood what was spoken. Some faith traditions understand another expression of this gift as the ability to pray in a heavenly or spiritual language to strengthen one's spirit and commune with God, while acknowledging that Scripture does not fully define every aspect of this practice. Interpretation of tongues is a distinct Spirit-given ability through which an otherwise unknown message is communicated understandably to the church. In a gathered church setting, tongues that are not understood by those present must be interpreted; otherwise, the speaker should remain silent and speak privately to God.
1 Corinthians 12:10, 28; Acts 2:1-12; 1 Corinthians 14:4, 14, 27-28The Spirit-given ability to apply the truths of Scripture to real situations, offering godly insight and direction when the right course is not obvious. It goes beyond simply knowing truth to living it out, helping believers walk in Christlike ways and bringing clarity and unity to the church.
1 Corinthians 12:8Take time to pray about your specific spiritual gift(s), and ask the Lord to help you identify yours. What are you sensing from God?
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.