Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Gifts of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts are one and the same. According to Paul, all believers in Christ have at least one spiritual gift. We can understand spiritual gifts as a special qualification, anointing, and empowering granted to an individual by the Holy Spirit. The Bible lists specific gifts of the Holy Spirit in Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30; and Ephesians 4:11-12. 

Throughout the past twenty years of women’s ministry, I often heard women say they weren’t gifted. However, if we belong to Jesus, that cannot be true. Scripture teaches us clearly that God gave each of us a spiritual gift.

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.”

1 Corinthians 12:7

In 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 Paul listed the spiritual gifts of: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. 

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, 

distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

1 Corinthians 12:11

According to 1 Corinthians 12:7 and 11, God gave each believer gifts of the Holy Spirit individually according to His own will and for the profit of all. I love the personal-ness of God. He created each person uniquely, and even in our spiritual rebirth, He gave gifts uniquely designed for each one individually. 

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 

There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 

And there are diversities of the Spirit, but it is the same God who works all in all.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-6

“But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”

1 Corinthians 12:18

“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.”

1 Corinthians 12:27

Different With a Purpose

I love that God intended our uniqueness in our calling and giftedness to be a vital part of His body on display in the earth. God gifted us to be different, but different with a purpose. 

Throughout my past 20 years in ministry, I worked with many people spiritually gifted in many different ways.  In 2009 God opened a door of opportunity to produce and host a local Christian women’s television show. Excited and overwhelmed with the task before me, I called together a group of women to dream and start the vision process for the television show.

Our group consisted of women from different age groups, denominations, careers, and backgrounds. Under other circumstances, this group might have struggled to connect with one another, but our unique callings and gifts were unified through our purpose and through Christ.  We came together with one purpose, one focus, and one extraordinary, extravagant God. During that time, we accomplished our task and pictured the church.  

In my last blog post, How Pleasant To Dwell Together In Unity in the Body of Christ, I talked about the early church coming together with one accord (“homothumadon”  in the original Greek language). When the body of Christ came together with one accord, God showed up and moved supernaturally among them. The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the New Testament explained homothumadon from the standpoint of a great orchestra, where different musical instruments play in unison. Here is a direct quote.

“As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ's church.”

Conclusion, we are all spiritually gifted to be different and divinely called to be one. 

So, the question is, 

Do you know what God gifted you to do?

Discovering your spiritual gifts

Many years ago, when I was a new believer, my pastor preached a message about using your spiritual gifts. However, I was spiritual gifts illiterate. I didn’t know anything about spiritual gifts and I surely didn’t know God gave me any, or how to find out what my gifts were if He did. My pastor gave advice that day I want to pass along to you. He said, 

“If you don’t know what God gifted you to do, start serving in some capacity and

He will lead you to discover your spiritual gifts.” 

I took that advice and chose a ministry in our church to serve in and started my discovery journey. Where I started wasn’t where I ended, and it wasn’t my true area of giftedness. Nevertheless, serving in that ministry ultimately led me to serve where my spiritual gifts began to shine. I believe it can be the same for you. 

So, if you are not sure what God gifted you to do, start serving somewhere and see where God leads you. Another way to help you discover your spiritual gifts is to take a spiritual gifts inventory. They can be beneficial in your discovery process, but I don’t think they are the end all moment to learning what God gifted you to do.

Passion Often Points To Your Spiritual Gifts

Passion often illuminates God’s gifting and calling in our lives. I remember how God started putting such a deep hunger within me for His word. I read and studied the Bible every moment I could. I could not get enough. I became so passionate about His word, I only wanted to talk about what I was learning. 

In those days I still worked as a hairdresser. One day in the midst of my passionate discussion with a customer about what I learned in studying my Bible, she said, “God is preparing you to teach.” I fell out laughing! That was not going to happen. I knew I could never teach anyone anything. I told her there was no way. Unmoved by my hysteria and push back. She simply said, “Watch and see.” 

It wasn’t long before I was asked to teach students. And so, it began. I passionately studied and prepared each week and that same passion came out in my teaching. Other people recognized my gifts of the Holy Spirit before I did. Your passion and what other people see in you often points to our giftedness. Don’t ignore what lights you up. That is one of God’s gifts of your spiritual gifts. We never feel more alive than doing what God through His Holy Spirit put in us to do. 

Much Love and Blessings!