GODtalks The Gifts of the Spirit
“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.”
-I Corinthians 12:4-11-
Paul’s opening remarks in the first 3 verses of I Corinthians 12 set the stage for an enriched understanding of God’s purpose in bestowing these beautiful gifts through His Spirit.
“Brothers and sisters, I want you to know about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 2 You know that at one time you were unbelievers. You were somehow drawn away to worship statues of gods that couldn’t even speak. 3 So I want you to know that no one who is speaking with the help of God’s Spirit says, “May Jesus be cursed.” And without the help of the Holy Spirit no one can say, “Jesus is Lord.”
First of all Paul wants the church at Corinth to be aware of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Ignorance can
Open the door for confusion
Limit the work the Spirit in the body of Christ
Make room for imposters
Paul wanted the Corinth church to understand that these gifts and inspirations could only be found among true Christians. Second Paul wanted the church at Corinth to be aware of satanic counterfeits for the gifts of the spirit
“You know that at one time you were unbelievers. You were somehow drawn away to worship statues of gods that couldn’t even speak”
These counterfeits would appeal to a human craving for the supernatural but deliver instead, bondage to an idol. Throughout the Bible God warns His people not to be lured by cultic practices of Pagans.
“I will destroy your witchcraft
and you will no longer cast spells.
13 I will destroy your idols
and your sacred stones from among you;
you will no longer bow down
to the work of your hands.”
-Micah 5:12,13-
Lets examine the gifts of the Spirit listed in our text.
1. The Word of Wisdom—The ability to understand and act in wisdom over circumstances and situations you would not normally be aware of.
An Example of a Word of Wisdom in the Bible
A biblical example of the manifestation of a word of wisdom is seen in the story of Noah. God revealed a future event so that Noah could prepare.
“And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopherwood… And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.’”
—Genesis 6:13-14, 17
THE PURPOSE OF THE WORD OF WISDOM
The word of wisdom is commonly manifested in Believers for three purposes:
1. To help Believers witness to something God is doing or about to do
2. To prepare for something that is going to happen in the future
3. To seek to change a future event through prayer and/or fasting
2. The Word of Knowledge—This gift of the Holy Spirit is knowing something you cannot know based on your human intelligence.
The gift of the word of knowledge can manifest as a…
Vision
Dream
Thought
Voice
Feeling
An Example of a Word of Knowledge in the Bible
A biblical example of the manifestation of the word of knowledge is the apostle Peter’s vision in Joppa.
“The next day… Peter went up on the housetop to pray… he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’
“But Peter said, ‘Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.’ And a voice spoke to him again the second time, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.”—Acts 10:9-16
His vision was an impartation of knowledge. While Peter ponders the vision, God imparts another word of knowledge to him through a voice…
“While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.’”—Acts 10:19-20
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE GIFT OF THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE.
1. To confirm God’s Word to the believer
2. To inform the believer
3. To move the believer to action
3. The Gift of Faith—This gift of the Holy Spirit grows as we walk with the Lord. You are saved by faith.
What is the Gift of Faith?
The spiritual gift of faith is a supernatural faith that operates from God directly through you. It accomplishes things that are thought to be impossible to man.
It is a power gift of the spirit and manifests in extraordinary amounts of faith and is unshakable in times of uncertainty.
An Example of the Gift of Faith in the Bible
A biblical example of the manifestation of the gift of faith is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. In summary, the story tells of three men who—against King Nebuchadnezzar’s orders—refused to worship a golden statue. They were men from Judah and worshiped the God of Israel.
Because they disobeyed his order, the king threw them into a fiery furnace. Through the gift of faith, they were able to survive the fire and serve as witnesses to the kingdom of Babylon.
“Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? …if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?’
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.’
“‘But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.’ Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.
“And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace… And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished… ‘Look!’ he answered, ‘I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.’”—Daniel 3:14-21;23-25
4. The Gifts of Healings—
The gifts of healings are a supernatural impartation of healing power assigned directly from God. It is a release of restoration from Heaven to earth to align the spirit, soul, and body. These gifts are manifested either for personal healing or to transfer to another individual to facilitate their healing.
This is the only gift mentioned in plural form because it is the only gift with several facets woven within the same gift. Because there are many ways that sickness can manifest in an individual, there are many gifts of healings.
An Example of the Gifts of Healings in the Bible
A biblical example of the gifts of healings is the bleeding woman who was healed when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment.
“Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, ‘Who touched Me?’ When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, ‘Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, “Who touched Me?”’ But Jesus said, ‘Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.’”—Luke 8:43-46
Note: Gift of faith in the women seeking healing, Gifts of healing for her complete miracle
PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE GIFTS OF HEALING
To serve as a witness of His restorative and healing power and authority of Jesus Christ.
5. The Working of Miracles—This gift of the Holy Spirit is depicted throughout the Bible, from Moses parting the Red Sea to Jesus feeding 5,000 people.
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, He is still in the business of working miracles. Similar to the word of knowledge, this spiritual gift is manifested by the Holy Spirit, not human efforts. The work is unexplainable by nature.
An Example of Working of Miracles in the Bible
A biblical example of the working of miracles is the story of Moses parting the Red Sea.
“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.’”—Exodus 14:15-16
“Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.”—Exodus 14:21-22
This is one of many examples in the Bible of the Spirit operating through a human vessel, releasing His supernatural abilities on Earth.
The purpose of the working of miracles is to bring glory to God through the building up and edification of the Church.
6. The Gift of Prophecy—This gift of the Holy Spirit is one that the scripture says “to especially desire.” This gift is a direct Word from the Lord to be given to someone else to edify and build them up.
What is the Gift of Prophecy?
Specifically, the gift of prophecy is when a Believer has a supernatural ability to discern, reveal, and proclaim the truth in God’s Wordthrough the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is important to understand that the gift of prophecy is not “foretelling of the future,” as many think. Instead, the gift of prophecy is an encouraging word and is meant to bring clarity to its recipients or a return to the Father’s heart (repentance).
An Example of the Gift of Prophecy in the Bible
A biblical example of a manifestation of the gift of prophecy is in the book of Acts. The apostle Peter discerns the dishonesty of Ananias. Peter then reveals it and proclaims God’s truth surrounding the situation.
“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’”—Acts 5:1-4
7. The Discerning of Spirits—This gift of the Holy Spirit equips the discerner to see evil spirits operating in someone’s life. The Holy Spirit pulls back the curtains, exposing the evil spirits so that the person can experience a breakthrough from their bondage.
An Example of Discerning of Spirits in the Bible
A biblical example of the gift of discerning of spirits manifestation is in the book of Acts. The apostle Peter discerned the intentions of Simon, the sorcerer.
Simon was a man who had practiced sorcery in Samaria, but once he saw the miracles that were performed by the apostles, he got baptized and claimed to be a follower of Christ. However, his true character was revealed when he found the source of the disciples’ power.
“And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.’”—Acts 8:18-23 (emphasis added)
8. Different Kinds of Tongues—This gift of the Holy Spirit is simply a supernatural ability to speak and pray in a tongue you do not naturally know.
This can be spoken in prayer directly to God or in an assembly where God anoints another Believer, with the gift of interpretation, to interpret the word spoken in the native tongue of the congregation (1 Corinthians 14:2, 13-14).
An Example of Different Kinds of Tongues in the Bible
A biblical example of the manifestation of different kinds of tongues is shown in Acts. The 12 disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit and immediately began speaking in tongues to the crowds.
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.’”—Acts 2:4
9. The Interpretation of Tongues—This gift of the Holy Spirit is to interpret the tongue that was spoken.
This can be for yourself (see 1 Corinthians 14:13-14) or the Church (see 1 Corinthians 14:27-28).
What is the Interpretation of Tongues?
The interpretation of tongues is a supernatural ability—distributed by the Holy Spirit who dwells in you—to decipher and interpret a language that is otherwise unknown to the person operating in the gift.
This is not a translation, meaning there is not word-for-word explanation for the unknown language. Rather, there is the ability to recognize the intent and message of the language being spoken.
The apostle Paul gives a detailed description of the gift of interpretation of tongues in his letter to the Corinthians…
“In the law it is written: ‘With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; and yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,’ says the Lord.
“Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.”
—1 Corinthians 14:21-24