The Gifts of The Holy Spirit
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The Nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit are divine attributes given to the believers as He chooses for the purpose of ministry, to the benefit of the body of Christ. ‘’But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good’’. 1Cor 12:7
They are supernatural manifestations that is beyond our mind and understanding in operation of these gifts. The Holy Spirit flows through us and we are being sanctified. Let us continually surrender and yield our being to the Holy Spirit and His leading.
These gifts can be manifested through believers when the need arises. In the operation of these gifts, the love of God is the foundation. These gifts are to empower us for services and to fulfil God purpose for our lives.
‘’ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.’’ Rom 12:6
‘’According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue ’’. 2Pe 1:3
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. 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. 1 cor 12:8-12 (KJV)
There are other gifts compared to 1 cor 12:8-10.
These Gifts are enumerated in the following scriptures below:
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ . Eph 4:7-13
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears. Is 11 :2-3
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So, we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith. Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching, or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Rom 12:3-8 (KJV)
PURPOSES OF THE GIFTS
TO EDIFY THE BODY OF CHRIST
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.1Cor 14: 4-12
TO ENCOURAGE AND COMFORT BELIEVERS
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1Cor 14: 3,31(KJV)
TO PRAISE GOD AND GIVING HIM THANKS
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 1Cor 14:17
When we are speaking in tongues we are giving thanks to God. He is worthy of our thanksgiving. Speaking and praying in tongues help us to give thanks to God when words are not enough.
TO BUILD YOURSELF UP IN THE SPIRIT
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Jude 20 .
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 1Cor 14:4. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 1Cor 14:14
TO LEARN OR INSTRUCT
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 1Cor 14:31
FOR EVANGELISM
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying served not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so, falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. 1 Cor 14:23-25 (KJV)
THESE GIFTS ARE TO SERVE AND BLESS OTHERS.
Remember Jesus came to serve and not to be served. Have in mind when you operate these spiritual gifts, it is to benefit others in the body of Christ and to equip us to do the works Christ did while on earth. An army can be raised in the church of Christ to fulfil God’s purpose on earth.
‘’ For even the son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many ‘’. Mark 10:45
You as a believer can operate in these gifts when needed through the operation of the Holy Spirit. The body of Christ is meat to flow together in unity meeting each other’s needs as the spirit leads. Paul says the gift of the Holy Spirit is for every believer. ‘’But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal’’. 1 Cor 12:7 ‘’For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted’’. 1Corinth 14:31
THE NINE GIFTS FALLS INTO THREE CATEGORIES:
GIFT OF REVELATION
Word of wisdom, Word of Knowledge and discerning of spirits
GIFT OF INSPIRATION
These are vocal gifts:
Prophecy, Divers Kinds of tongues and Interpretation of tongues.
GIFT OF POWER
Gift of Faith, Gift Healings, The Working of Miracles.
GIFT OF REVELATION
Word of wisdom:
This is a supernatural revelation or insight the spirit gives to individual into God’s divine plan and purpose.
Word of Knowledge:
This is a supernatural divine or insight into the will of God which you could not have known by any other way.
Discerning of Spirit:
This is a supernatural revelation or insight in the spirit realm to discern between spirits recognizing their deception, manipulations and evil activities.
GIFT OF INSPIRATION
Prophecy
This is a supernatural message in normal tongue or language. It is divine utterance given through a man by the spirit to edify, exhort and comfort not by human thoughts or reasonings.
Divers Kinds of tongues
These are supernatural messages in other languages not known previously by the speaker.
The Interpretation of tongues
This is the supernatural ability given by the spirit to interpret tongues spoken by someone given in other languages unknown to the interpreter.
POWER GIFTS
Gift of Faith
This is the supernatural ability to believe God for the impossible beyond the natural without doubt or human reasoning.
The Gift of Healings
This is a given ability and supernatural power to heal the sick apart from human or medical resources. Example: And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Matt 10:1 Acts 5:12-16; Acts 8:4-8
The working of Miracles
This is the supernatural ability to intervene or step into the normal laws or normal cause of nature. Here is a modern day example: There where group of men going for evangelism in a village across a river.
The river was full to its banks, and it was impossible to go through on foot. Some of the men were thinking to cancel the assignment, but the evangelist prayed and made a declaration, and the water went down they were able to cross the river on foot and fulfil their mission. God still works miracles today through men who can believe and trust him. The Holy Spirit work through individuals to perform what is not naturally possible. The dumb speaks, the deaf hears, and blinds eyes are opened.
The foundation for the power of God to move in the operation of these Gifts is the Love of God.
Let Love be the standard by which you weigh your actions and everything you do. Love is the crowning glory of this end time anointing; and this anointing breaks yoke.
These Gifts of the Holy Spirit still operate today. God never changes. He still works and cares for us all. He gave us believers power and all authority to perform miracles. Expect a miracle daily because God is a miracle working God.
Scriptures are from NLT unless otherwise stated.