The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

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The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

I never have been blessed with being able to speak in tongues or been slain in the Spirit, but I am very much interested in the topic of how the Holy Spirit is revealed through us. I often think a "turn off" point to those learning about Christianity is this topic because of how its been portrayed in the media as something "crazy people" do. I truly believe that its something that has to be personally experienced to be understood. I did not understand until I experienced the Spirit entering in me, but while I may not speak in tongues or other more discussed gifts of the Spirit, I have found other ways the Spirit works in me.

I wanted to bring up the seven "gifts" of the Spirit--- I'm not sure if ALL Christian churches believe in these gifts, but I think it may be empowering to Sisters and Brothers to know this is the Holy Spirit working in you even if you don't speak in tongues, etc.

I liked how Wikipedia defined each of the gifts:
  • Wisdom - With the gift of wisdom, we see God at work in our lives and in the world. For the wise person, the wonders of nature, historical events, and the ups and downs of our lives take on deeper meaning. The matters of judgment about the truth, and being able to see the whole image of God. Lastly being able to see God in everyone and everything everywhere.

  • Understanding - With the gift of understanding, we comprehend how we need to live as a follower of Jesus Christ. A person with understanding is not confused by all the conflicting messages in our culture about the right way to live. The gift of understanding perfects a person's speculative reason in the apprehension of truth. It is the gift whereby self-evident principles are known, Aquinas writes.[4]

  • Counsel (right judgment) - With the gift of right judgment, we know the difference between right and wrong, and we choose to do what is right. A person with right judgment avoids sin and lives out the values taught by Jesus. The gift of truth that allows the person to respond prudently, and happily to believe our Christ the Lord

  • Fortitude (courage) - With the gift of courage, we overcome our fear and are willing to take risks as a follower of Jesus Christ. A person with courage is willing to stand up for what is right in the sight of God, even if it means accepting rejection, verbal abuse, or even physical harm and death. The gift of courage allows people the firmness of mind that is required both in doing good and in enduring evil, especially with regard to goods or evils that are difficult.

  • Knowledge - With the gift of knowledge, we understand the meaning of God's Revelation, especially as expressed in the life and words of Jesus Christ. A person with knowledge is always learning more about the scriptures and tradition. The gift of knowledge is more than an accumulation of facts.

  • Piety (Reverence) - With the gift of reverence, sometimes called piety, we have a deep sense of respect for God and the church. A person with reverence recognizes our total reliance on God and comes before God with humility, trust, and love. Piety is the gift whereby, at the Holy Spirit's instigation, we pay worship and duty to God as our Father, Aquinas writes.

  • Fear of the Lord (awe of God) - With the gift of wonder and awe we are aware of the glory and majesty of God. A person with wonder and awe knows that God is the perfection of all we desire: perfect knowledge, perfect goodness, perfect power, and perfect love. This gift is described by Aquinas as a fear of separating oneself from God. He describes the gift as a "filial fear," like a child's fear of offending his father, rather than a "servile fear," that is, a fear of punishment. Also known as knowing God is all powerful. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 1:7) because it puts our mindset in its correct location with respect to God: we are the finite, dependent creatures, and He is the infinite, all-powerful Creator.

Perhaps believers would be willing to share how the Spirit has blessed them with a gift listed above.
 
I believe there are more than that, and I also believe some of those aren't considered "gifts of the spirit"

Rom 12:6 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 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 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.


1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 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:



 
I believe there are more than that, and I also believe some of those aren't considered "gifts of the spirit"

Rom 12:6 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 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 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.


1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 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:
1 Cor 12 and 14 mentioned the GIFTS of the Spirit. These are the Holy Spirit's gifts that work through as God wills to minister to someone else. Its not our gifts.

IMO the things mentioned in the other post are how the Spirit works in our life as we follow Him, and it helps us. Its part of developing as Christian .
 
1 Cor 12 and 14 mentioned the GIFTS of the Spirit. These are the Holy Spirit's gifts that work through as God wills to minister to someone else. Its not our gifts.

IMO the things mentioned in the other post are how the Spirit works in our life as we follow Him, and it helps us. Its part of developing as Christian .


I didn't say they were "our gifts"
 
Yes there are gifts of the H. S. and the Greek word for spiritual gifts is charismata ( gifts) and pneumatika ( spiritual things / men) Other words used for the spiritual gifts include service --- workings and manifestations ( 1Cor. 12 :4-7)

Every believer has one or more than one spiritual gifting to be used for service in the church ( 1Cor:12:7).We as Christians need to pursue these gifts to meet the needs in the Body of Christ. These gifts bring unity to the Body and help us corporately to love one another and worship in unity .They also help to build up the church . – to be the temple that will glorify God . The H. S. is the source of ministry and we need to participate along with that.

The purpose of Spiritual Gifts is for service , working and manifestations . ( 1Cor. 12:4 ) Our effectiveness for God is always dependant on the H. S.

Here is a listing of the gifts.

Service …. Serving/helpful … giving …. Caring … mercy… acts of Guidance ( 1Cor12:28)administration … celibacy ( 1Cor7:7)

Miracles … Faith …. When a person receives a faith that leads to “ mountain moving faith “ 1Cor 13:2)….. gifts of healing …. Working of miracles.

Inspired Utterance …. Apostle ( missionary ) …. Evangelism … Prophecy …. Pastor … Teacher… Exhortation…. Word of Knowledge… Word of Wisdom… Gift of Tongues …. Interpretation of Tongues …. Discernment of spirits.

God Bless
 
I think what I wanted to point out to Sisters and Brothers is that these are ways the Holy Spirit guides us in life--- very real ways we can see/know the Holy Spirit is in us (besides speaking in tongues or being slain in the Spirit). I have never been blessed with either of those two specific gifts, but I know the Holy Spirit is in me because of other ways.
1 Corinthians 12 said:
1Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. 4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines...

So as we see in 1 Corinthians 12 the gift of speaking of tongues, while different is as much a gift from the Holy Spirit as something such as wisdom.
 
I think what I wanted to point out to Sisters and Brothers is that these are ways the Holy Spirit guides us in life--- very real ways we can see/know the Holy Spirit is in us (besides speaking in tongues or being slain in the Spirit). I have never been blessed with either of those two specific gifts, but I know the Holy Spirit is in me because of other ways.


So as we see in 1 Corinthians 12 the gift of speaking of tongues, while different is as much a gift from the Holy Spirit as something such as wisdom.


That's right but we all have giftings from the Holy Spirit and it is up to us to identify our giftings and use them for His honour and glory and not sit back and say God did not give us any giftings . Each one has different giftings and we can ask the Holy Spirit for more giftings .

All of us have the Holy Spirit in us when we are saved and the eveidence is that our lives are changed and we don't want to do the things that we used to do but we want to please Jesus and yes the Holy Spirit guides us daily and teaches us and speaks to us .Others will see by our lives that we are different as well .
 
I believe there are more than that, and I also believe some of those aren't considered "gifts of the spirit"

Rom 12:6 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 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 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.


1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 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:

As for the giftings , like Dean pointed out ., there are many more . The Holy Spirit is not just limited in these areas but manifests in our own lives and because the Holy Spirit is personal as pointed out on other threads here in this forum we cannot limit His workings . He gives each ot us different giftings as individual as the noses on our faces .

I think the OP was asking , if I am not mistaken how our gifting have affected out walk with the Lord

Perhaps believers would be willing to share how the Spirit has blessed them with a gift listed above.

I know that the Holy Spirit has given me the gift of encouragement and of helps because I love to help in the church and be in the background and on committees for planning and suggesting things for our groups . I love helping my missionary friend and encouraging him . (I don't like tooting my own horn so some of this is hard )

I love visitation , going to the hospital , visiting senior shutins in their homes .

I love blesssing others and the Lord has given me so much that I want to share with others and when I do , I am blessed more . So I guess you can say , the Holy Spirit has given me the knowledge and wisdom to know how important it is to give . ( Give and it shall be given unto you )

Of the top of my head these are a few of what the Holy Spirit has given me in my Christian walk and not to forget His leading , guiding , and direction in everything though out my day.
 
the giftings i have been given have been kind of entering the area of "Co-heirship" lately

and some of it just blows my mind .

i cannot begin to express my inadequacy in doing anything like what they do .

i just give up . i surrender . and then cool stuff happens . and i don't feel so overwhelmed by what's going on .

some days its like i'm a tree .. and people who pass by me become a branch and they drink Jesus from me and i feel so drained i just have to keep praying so i'm filled with more Jesus continually

and somedays its like people and me are like one person even everyone in the room and i cannot sort all the impulses emotions and thoughts out from my own .. and i just give up . i surrender .. and God lifts them up .. God knows what He does with them .

not sure what kind of gift it is . but for years something was seriously wrong with me . but now .. i see how God turned weakness into His strength .. though it's so beyond my depth .. and probably always will be

love bless .
 
the giftings i have been given have been kind of entering the area of "Co-heirship" lately

and some of it just blows my mind .

i cannot begin to express my inadequacy in doing anything like what they do .

i just give up . i surrender . and then cool stuff happens . and i don't feel so overwhelmed by what's going on .

some days its like i'm a tree .. and people who pass by me become a branch and they drink Jesus from me and i feel so drained i just have to keep praying so i'm filled with more Jesus continually

and somedays its like people and me are like one person even everyone in the room and i cannot sort all the impulses emotions and thoughts out from my own .. and i just give up . i surrender .. and God lifts them up .. God knows what He does with them .

not sure what kind of gift it is . but for years something was seriously wrong with me . but now .. i see how God turned weakness into His strength .. though it's so beyond my depth .. and probably always will be

love bless .

Praise God Michael ... He has begun a work in you and as we submit to Him Daily He will show you the way and look at how many weak people were used in the Bible . Even the diciples who were mere fishermen became mighty men of God with all the weeknesses and flaws that they had .

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

some days its like i'm a tree .. and people who pass by me become a branch and they drink Jesus from me and i feel so drained i just have to keep praying so i'm filled with more Jesus continually

Psalm 1:3
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Keep on the path you are going and God is blessings you mightily . Praise God , Michael . Jesus is our lifeline and as we are connected to the Vine we will be rejuvinated through His Word , prayer and the infilling of the Holy Spirit.



 
Thats what we need to do. We yield to God and let Him flow through us. We are the vessel and its Him that does the work through us.

I know . it is so counter intuitive .. like when you see a part of yourself doing something separate of your own volition .. it's just strange .. i guess it all boils down to trust
 
Hi Angelic Rose,

Unfortunately, the list you originally posted from Wikipedia was obviously written by someone who was coming from a very naturalistic perspective, not really looking at the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Yes, the Holy Spirit gives us many gifts, some of which operate naturally. He also gives "gifts" to us individually, such as the experiences we might have in God.

However, when the Bible talks about spiritual gifts, it is talking about those supernatural empowerments that the Lord gives us to enable our service to others. Broadly speaking, there are three groups of gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 says there are different gifts, but the same Spirit; there are different administrations, but the same Lord; and there are different operations, but the same God. These three kinds of gifts are found in the following passages (though gifts are also mentioned outside of these passages):

Romans 12:6-8. These relate to the "operations" mentioned above, and have been called the "motivational gifts" - they are given by the Father to all Christians, and are the gifts that shape or motivate our life course.

They are:
Prophecy - more correctly "seeing" - the ability to see the supernatural reality behind things. The compelling motivation is to point people toward spiritual reality.

Serving - a motivation to service. For the server, the compelling motivation is to get the job done.

Teaching - the ability to present truth clearly. The compelling motivation is that people should know the truth.

Exhorting - the ability to lift and encourage people. The compelling motivation is to bring out the best in everyone.

Contributing or giving - the ability to handle finance and provide financial support. The compelling motivation is to meet the practical needs.

Leadership - the ability to inspire and equip others. The compelling motivation is to build others.

Mercy - the ability to show tenderness and compassion. The compelling motivation is to heal wounds.

(Note that even though some of these relate to what we would consider to be natural abilities, they are spiritual gifts and therefore bring a spiritual dimension to all these areas. Also, although there is some overlap with the Ascension Gift ministries -see below - they are not the same. A person might be motivationally a teacher, for instance, but not be an Ascension Gift Teacher.)

The second list is in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, the manifestation gifts of the Spirit. These are what people normally mean when they speak of spiritual gifts. They are given by the Holy Spirit to those who have received the outpouring of the Spirit. They are not in any sense natural abilites, but totally supernatural.

They are:

The Word of Knowledge - a supernatural insight into the facts about a given situation. For instance, someone might be given a word of knowledge about the condition of someone's health.

The Word of Wisdom - a supernatural understanding of how to deal with a particualar situation.

Prophecy - a word from God to the person or people being addressed.

Healing - a supernatural ability to heal the sick.

Miracles - a supernatural ability to work miracles.

Faith - a supernatural level of faith that transcends anything man could reach by himself.

Discernment of Spirits - the supernatural ability to see or otherwise discern the presence of angels or demons.

Speaking in tongues - the supernatural ability to speak in languages (either earthly or heavenly) that have not been learned by the speaker.

Interpretation of tongues - the supernatural ability to translate a message given in tongues into the language spoken by the hearers.

The third group of gifts ("administrations" in the passage above) are found in Ephesians 4:11. They are also called Ascension Gift Ministries or 5-Fold Ministry Gifts. They are given by Jesus after His resurrection, and are only given to some of God's people - although everyone, even if not called as an Ascension Gift ministry, will find themselves drawn toward one or more of these areas.

They are:

Apostle - a pioneer and foundation layer sent by Christ to establish the church.

Prophet - one who brings the message of the Lord to the church.

Evangelist - one who leads the church in its task of reaching the lost.

Pastor - a shepherd, one who cares for either a local congregation or a group of congregations.

Teacher - one whose responsibility is to ensure that the church is well grounded in the Word of God.

Note that these five ministries are not spoken of as "having" these gifts, but as "being" gifts to the church.

It's a very big subject, and this was just a very quick precis, but I hope it serves to clarify it a bit.

blessings,

Lynn
 
Hi Lynn,

That's a good overview of the different types of gifts that Paul teaches on. Thanks for sharing.

The Rom.12 list are character giftings mix that a person is physically born with. Understanding them helps a person know what kind of carreer path they are best suited to. These talents are pretty static.

The 1 Cor.12 list are manifestations of the Spirit that people are gifted with. They are not "static"; rather, people grow in these through use, study, and interaction with others who are gifted in those manifestations.

The Eph.4 list are people who are gifts of Christ to us. They have a special anointing, training, and calling of the Lord as servant leader/equipers for the church.

A good analogy of how these operate together is Baseball. We can all play baseball, but some of us are especially gifted at playing baseball. And a few of us love baseball so much that they study it, promote it, and love helping others grow in their baseball skills. In like manner, we can all prophecy (experience any of the manifestations of the Spirit as the Spirit leads). But some of us are gifted in prophecy, often manifesting the Spirit in that manner. And a few of us are "prophets", who not only prophecy, but have a passion to promote prophecy and equip others in hearing from God and the various manifestations of the Spirit.
 
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