Gifts of the Spirit

Now, dear brothers and sisters,[a] regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this…There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all…A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice[b]; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.[c] 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages,[d] while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. - 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

We celebrate the most precious gift He’s given us — the gift of Jesus and all the many blessings that came in that one big package of salvation. But one thing Christians don’t always think about are spiritual gifts. These are precious packages that carry the anointing within them and launch us into the supernatural, where we join in partnership with the Holy Spirit to advance the kingdom of God.

Sometimes a lack of understanding can keep Christians from operating in their gifts and enjoying the fullness of a relationship with God and His Anointing. What about you? Have you fully received and operated in your spiritual gifts? If you aren’t sure, here’s where to start.

 

  1. Know that spiritual gifts are still in operation. In the New Testament we have record of the Lord’s sending His angel to lead and guide: The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip and told him to go to Gaza (Acts 8:26). Every avenue of receiving guidance is subject to God’s Word. If any guidance comes to you that is not in line with the Word, disregard it.

 

  1. Do some research. First Corinthians 12:1 says, “Now concerning spiritual gifts,brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant” (NKJV).That means God wants us to develop an understanding! “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord” (verses 4-5). Spend some time reading through this entire chapter. Within, you will find spiritual gifts listed, including the following:

 

  • Word of wisdom

  • Word of knowledge

  • Healing

  • Faith

  • Miracles

  • Prophecy

  • Discerning of spirits

  • Tongues

  • Interpretation of tongues.

 

  1. Determine to fulfill God’s will for you. Seek the Lord and pray, and God will see to it that you know His guidance. If you’re accustomed to yielding to your spirit; walking in the spirit; walking and yielding to the fruits of kindness, joy and love; then when the Spirit of God rises upon you for the delivery of a spiritual gift, it’ll just be that much easier for you to yield to Him.

 

Spiritual gifts are not automatic.  They have to be sought and desired. To have the power of God manifested in your life is a quest. That’s the reason the Scripture says to “covet spiritual gifts.” Desire. That doesn’t mean just that you wish you had them. That means that you desire them and you lay hold of them.

article written by KCM - click here to read more