Gifts of the Spirit

In this lesson, we will reveal the identity, character, authority and purpose of the gifts of the Spirit and also the offices of administration of these gifts. To do this would certainly destroy erroneous doctrines and remove any schisms from the Body of Christ. We need to examine the difference between diversities of gifts and administration of gifts. When the apostle Paul refers to “diversities of gifts” in the Bible, he is referring to the different manifestations of the Holy Ghost. He goes on to describe these nine manifestations to be:

1. The word of wisdom
2. The word of knowledge
3. Faith
4. Healing
5. Working of miracles
6. Prophecy
7. Discerning of spirits
8. Divers tongues
9. The interpretation of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:1-12

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

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:

11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

The purpose of all spiritual gifts is to reveal God. They should only be used to further God’s purpose.

WORD OF WISDOM

The “word of wisdom” is given when you need God’s wisdom to be revealed so that you can operate effectively inside a particular situation, circumstance or relationship. This wisdom may be given to an individual or even an entire congregation. Its purpose is to instruct the people inside of God’s heart and mind and to always bring God’s purpose into perspective. It may be given to comfort, settle your heart, instruct or even rebuke.

WORD OF KNOWLEDGE

The “word of knowledge” is insight that comes from God, and speaks of things that only He could have revealed. It can be given either through a vision or by revelation. An example of this is when Jesus met the woman at the well in John 4:16-18

This word of knowledge is given to bring the individual to a place of belief. It is not necessarily futuristic. It can express a state of mind, a mindset, something that has already happened, an intent of the heart or even an action.

FAITH

Faith is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit inside of the life of the believer. This is not simply belief, but it is where God does supernatural things that causes one to have a strong belief in Him that is beyond the realm of the natural senses. The individual with the gift of faith will believe God for any manifestation of the supernatural. His purpose for doing this is to bring the individual to a point where they believe God so that His purpose is fulfilled in any situation. An example of this is in Acts 8:39 where Phillip was translated from ministering to the Ethiopian eunuch en route to Gaza to a place called Azotus.

SPIRIT OF DISCERNMENT

You discern from what you hear, see or observe. This observation may either be physical or visual; or it may arise from what is not said or done.

1. To determine the state of being of a person, or to pinpoint one’s spiritual location.

2. Having the ability to judge the thoughts and intents of one’s heart.

PROPHECY

Prophecy is a demonstration of God’s power and wisdom. It is a manifestation of God’s power that glorifies who He is. It exalts Christ and His redemptive work and sets forth the divine character of God’s revealed Word. Prophecy does not have to be futuristic. It can tell of things that have happened in the past or that are presently taking place. God desires for His people to understand what He says. Despite the beliefs of many within the church, God does not speak using words that are so mysterious that they cannot be comprehended.

GIFT OF HEALING

1. A supernatural cure of the physical, mental and spiritual disposition of man.

2. To make one whole.

3. Healing is also to bring a person’s heart to a place of belief in God, to confirm God’s Word and for the fulfillment of God’s purpose in a person’s life.

GIFT OF MIRACLES

Miracles are used to prove and establish the power of God to the onlookers.

John 10:38

38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works; that ye may know and believe, that the Father is in me and I in him.

Miracles are also a supernatural work that cannot be produced by natural agents or means. The work may be physical or spiritual.

DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES

This gift allows one to speak in another language without having learned it.

1 Corinthians 14:22

22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES

The interpretation of tongues is the supernatural ability to interpret and explain what was spoken in an unknown language. The purpose of this manifestation of the Spirit is to edify the Body of Christ.

Everyone who is born of the Spirit of God has access to these manifestations of the Spirit. However, when we speak of the administration of the Holy Spirit, we make reference not only to the operation of these gifts, but also to the offices through which the gifts are dispensed.