The Gifts of the Spirit 

The gift of God to the world is Jesus Christ (John 3:16), and in this marvelous gift is everything sinful man needs to find acceptance by and peace with God.  The Holy Spirit is the gift of both the Father and the Son to each and every believer.  In this gift is everything that a believer needs for life, work and testimony.  The “gifts of the Spirit” are mighty and manifold.  They are— 

1. Greatly diversified.  In 1 Corinthians 12:8—10 there are listed a total of nine different gifts that can be given to Christians.  All these gifts were in operation in the days of the infant Church and were all the outcome of the working of the “One Spirit.”  These gifts are not natural gifts or talents an individual may possess.  They are spiritual; they are not merely the development of something good from within, but the implantation of a new spiritual power from without, and that by the hand of the omnipotent Spirit of God.
2. Bestowed by God.  1 Corinthians 12:11 says as much; God gives spiritual gifts to men as “He will.”  The building of the Church is the work of the Spirit according to Ephesians 2:22 so the Spirit must know best upon who to bestow particular gifts.  As members of God’s Church, we must be submissive to His holy will, allowing Him to have His way with our lives and to accept whatever spiritual gifts He intends for us to have and use in the building up of His Church.
3. For the good of all.  Again in 1 Corinthians 12, we are told that the gifts of the Spirit are given to the Church to profit all in the Church (verse 7).  The entire Body of Christ is to benefit from the exercising of these spiritual gifts.  This is highly suggestive:  since all believers are to be filled with the Spirit and exercise the gifts of the Spirit they have been given, every believer should be a profitable member of the Church!   This is why the Spirit was given; to equip us to work in His Church.  We may be assured that we have all we need to be useful to God, Mark 9:23.
4. To be earnestly desired.  Christians are to “covet” spiritual gifts, 1 Corinthians 12:31 and 14:1.  Paul mentions that believers should desire the gift of “prophecy” most of all (14:39).  The reason for this is explained in verses 22—25; so that the unlearned and unbelieving may be convinced and converted and testify to the truth, so that God may be glorified.  This was very important to Paul.  What good is coveting spiritual gifts for your own good?  Coveting spiritual gifts must be for the good of others even though you yourself may be exercising them.
5. Perfectly suited to each person exercising them, 1 Corinthians 7:7.  Every believer has a gift or gifts and every person has the right gift suited to them.
6. To be used carefully and deliberately, 1 Timothy 4:14.  Many Christians are either blissfully unaware that they have been given spiritual gifts or they hide them.  Many Christians are ineffective in their service because they fail to exercise their gifts and therefore they do the work of God using their own abilities.  Some believers attempt to imitate the gifts they see in other people’s lives and neglect their own gifts.  And so the whole body suffers a loss because their one part is lacking (Ephesians 4:16).  We must all be what God means for us to be.
7. To be used often and perfected.  2 Timothy 1:6 says to “stir up the gift of God” within.  The gift may be in you as a smoldering ember, but the more it is used and the more it is “stirred up,” that ember will become a fire within.  All our resources—our minds, our emotions—must be directed to the development of the spiritual gift(s) we have been given. 

So, what can you do best for God?  Stir up your spiritual gift or gifts, and then you will have power both with God and with men.