Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Given freely according to His will.

 

Titus 3:4-7 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The gift of salvation is for all Christians. Salvation is a gift of God that comes to us through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit regenerates us; that is, He makes us into new creatures in Christ. Therefore, the first and most important gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of salvation, the gift of new life in Christ. Without salvation we have nothing; without salvation we would be spiritually dead forever.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Holy Spirit of God is given to all Christians, to teach us and to give us spiritual understanding and knowledge. The gift of knowledge is for all Christians, some more than others. The gift of knowledge comes to us through the Holy Spirit. Without knowledge we would all be confused, not knowing truth from error.

2 Pet 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

The gift of the word of God is for all Christians. The gift of understanding of the word of God is for all Christians, some more than others. The word of God was given to us by the Holy Spirit, and the understanding of the word of God is given to us by the Holy Spirit. Without the word of God and understanding of the word of God, we would not have any knowledge of God.

1 Cor 2:12-13 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

The gift of wisdom is for all Christians, some have more than others. True wisdom comes from God never from man. We are all dependent upon the Holy Spirit for spiritual wisdom.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The gift of power to be witnesses for Christ is for all Christians. We must recognize our dependence upon Him in order to receive His power, to be witnesses for Christ. Without the power of the Holy Spirit in our witness for Jesus Christ, no one would ever be saved.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

The gift of boldness is for all Christians, some more than others. We all need boldness to witness, even the Apostle Paul ask the Christians to pray that he would receive boldness to speak as he ought to speak. We must speak the word of God with authority. The word of God is true and we must not refrain from speaking all its truth. We are all dependent upon the Holy Spirit to give us boldness.

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

The gift of overseer, pastor, is for the Church. Overseers are to lead us as a shepherd leads his flock. Christians are like sheep, they are dependent upon a God-given shepherd to lead them in the way that they should go. Overseers are chosen and established by the Holy Spirit and not by man.

1 Cor 12:4-11 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.

The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s work is to glorify Christ through us. If we receive glory for anything we accomplish, we are robbing Christ of the glory that only He deserves.

The abilities that each Christian receives from the Holy Spirit of God are called gifts because that is what they are, gifts from God. Each gift is given by the Holy Spirit according to His will, not our will. We don’t earn them, we don’t deserve them, otherwise they would not be gifts, they would be payment of what is due. We all receive different gifts that are to be exercised for the good of all. We don’t receive gifts for our own benefit, but for the benefit of others. That in the end, we might all be to the praise of the glory of His grace.
We must never be puffed up by our gifts, our abilities, or our ministries. We must never think of ourselves as better, as superior, or as more spiritual than another Christian because we have a gift that they don’t have. Everything of value that we accomplish as Christians is the result of the Holy Spirit working in and through us; therefore, we have nothing to boast about, when He empowers us in a way that another Christian has not been empowered.

All the gifts mentioned in this passage of scripture: the gift of wisdom, the gift of the word of knowledge, the gift of faith, the gift of healing, the gift of miracles, the gift of prophecy, the gift of discerning of spirits, the gift of tongues, or the gift of interpretation of tongues are given to Christians for the good of others and for the glory of Christ. They are not meant to be used for self-glorification, or as a form of entertainment.

1 Cor 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

The most important gifts in the church are the teaching gifts, but people like to elevate the sign gift above the others. The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Eph 2:20, not on miracles, healing, and tongues. Many people prefer the sign gifts because they like to be entertained; they don’t like to be corrected and instructed in the way that they should live. Jesus said, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign. ” Matt 12:39. Signs are given so that unbelievers might believe, but the word of God is given so that we might grow up and become mature in Christ. The behind-the-scenes gifts of helps and administrations are very often ignored, but they are necessary for the health of the church. We must not discredit them, we must not look down on those who have them.

Eph 4:11-16 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: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers are given to the church to equip us all; so that, we will all be mature and able to minister to one another for the good of all. We should appreciate the more important gifts and seek to be ministered to by those who have them.

As we are ministered to by the teaching gifts we will grow up, and in turn, we will be equipped to minister to one another. Then we will, each in turn, learn to exercise our gifts to one another in love.

The Holy Spirit is the giver of spiritual gifts. Gifts are never earned and never deserved. The Holy Spirit is always sovereign in the giving of spiritual gifts.

All Scripture taken from King James Bible

* Bible Studies by Max Swan
Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (NAS) Jer 9:23-24