In a recent message, I delved into the fascinating topic of “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit,” exploring how the body of Christ operates through a diverse array of spiritual gifts. These divine gifts, as outlined, are nine distinct manifestations of the Holy Spirit: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, discerning of spirits, faith, miracles, healing, tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy. Each gift plays a unique and vital role in enriching the church and empowering believers.
Let’s examine each of these gifts in detail, drawing from biblical examples to illuminate their practical application and significance in the lives of believers today.
Understanding the Word of Wisdom
The gift of a word of wisdom is characterized by a profound understanding of truth and righteousness, particularly as it applies to decision-making. It’s the Holy Spirit imparting divine insight to navigate complex situations with Godly discernment. This isn’t merely worldly wisdom, but a supernatural understanding that transcends human intellect.
A powerful example of this is found in Acts 27:9-19. The Apostle Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, warned the Roman centurion against setting sail due to impending dangerous weather conditions. This wasn’t based on natural observation alone, but a divinely given word of wisdom that proved crucial for their safety.
The Word of Knowledge: Supernatural Awareness
Moving on to the word of knowledge, this gift involves an awareness or understanding that is received outside of natural means. It’s a supernatural revelation of information, which might pertain to past, present, or even future events. While it can sometimes relate to things learned through natural means, the key differentiator is its supernatural source.
The account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-10 vividly illustrates the word of knowledge. The Holy Spirit revealed to Peter the deception of Ananias, exposing his lie about the offering he presented. This divine knowledge allowed Peter to address the situation with spiritual authority and clarity.
Discerning of Spirits: Identifying Spiritual Influences
The discerning of spirits is the supernatural ability to distinguish between different spiritual influences at work. It enables a believer to perceive whether an action, behavior, or even an atmosphere is influenced by the Holy Spirit, a human spirit, or an evil spirit. This gift is crucial for spiritual protection and maintaining purity within the church.
Acts 16:16-18 provides a clear example. Paul, through the gift of discerning of spirits, recognized that a young girl was possessed by an evil spirit. He didn’t just see her outward actions; he discerned the underlying spiritual influence and commanded the evil spirit to leave her, setting her free.
The Gift of Faith: Supernatural Trust
It’s important to distinguish the gift of faith from the general faith that all believers possess. As Romans 12:3 states, “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” This foundational faith enables everyone to believe the Gospel and receive salvation. However, the gift of faith is a supernatural endowment that empowers individuals to trust God implicitly or to inspire unwavering faith in others in specific, often challenging, circumstances.
This gift is not explicitly illustrated with a single example in the original text, but think of situations where individuals displayed extraordinary faith in impossible situations, going beyond normal human confidence. This is often attributed to the gift of faith operating in their lives.
Miracles: Defying Natural Laws
A miracle is defined as an extraordinary event that defies the known laws of nature, appearing unexplainable by natural or scientific principles. It is a powerful demonstration of God’s supernatural power breaking through into the natural realm.
Paul’s ministry, as recorded in Acts 20:9-12, showcases the gift of miracles. When Eutychus fell to his death from a window, Paul, through the power of the Holy Spirit, raised him back to life. This event was a clear miracle, defying natural laws and demonstrating God’s life-giving power.
Gifts of Healing: Restoration and Wholeness
The gifts of healing pertain to the restoration of health and soundness in spirit, soul, or body. While all believers have the authority to pray for the sick, certain individuals are given specific gifts of healing, enabling them to minister healing in a particularly powerful and effective way. It’s about more than just physical healing; it encompasses wholeness in every aspect of a person.
While the text doesn’t provide a specific example for gifts of healing, the ministry of Jesus and the apostles throughout the Book of Acts is filled with instances of miraculous healings, demonstrating this vital gift in action.
Tongues: A Language for Edification
The gift of tongues is distinct from one’s personal prayer language of speaking in tongues. While speaking in tongues in private prayer is available to all believers, the gift of tongues, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 14, is specifically for the edification of the church when used in a corporate setting.
This gift allows for communication with God in a language not naturally learned by the speaker, and when interpreted, it can convey a message from God to the entire congregation.
Interpretation of Tongues: Making Tongues Understandable
The gift of interpretation of tongues is intrinsically linked to the gift of tongues used publicly. As Paul emphasizes in 1 Corinthians 14:27-28, for tongues to be beneficial in a church setting, there needs to be interpretation. The Holy Spirit empowers individuals with the gift of interpretation to understand and convey the meaning of messages spoken in tongues, ensuring that everyone can be edified.
Together, the gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues allow for divine communication to flow through the church in a meaningful and understandable way.
Prophecy: Divine Utterance
The ninth gift, prophecy, is a divine utterance spoken in a language understood by the listeners. Prophecy can be categorized into two main types: forthtelling and foretelling. Forthtelling is speaking under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, delivering a message inspired by God, not from one’s own intellect. Acts 2:38-41 illustrates Peter forthtelling on the day of Pentecost, leading to mass repentance.
Foretelling, on the other hand, involves communicating future events revealed by the Holy Spirit. Acts 11:27-28 recounts Agabus foretelling a worldwide famine, enabling believers to prepare practically for the coming hardship. Both forthtelling and foretelling are vital aspects of prophecy.
Developing Spiritual Gifts
Some might question the emphasis on developing spiritual gifts, but Hebrews 5:14 provides a clear rationale: “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” This verse highlights that spiritual gifts are developed “by reason of use.” Just like any skill, spiritual gifts grow stronger and more refined through practice and application.
This is why gatherings, schools, and conferences focused on spiritual growth are essential. They provide opportunities to exercise and develop our spiritual senses, alongside our natural ones. Activating and practicing these gifts helps believers mature spiritually and become more effective in ministry.
To further explore this topic, you can watch the full message, “The Gifts of the Holy Spirit,” and download the audio here.
You might also be interested in “Prophetic Chronicles with Chris Reed,” a program showcasing real-life testimonies of how personal prophetic ministry impacts lives. You can find it here.
Blessings,
Chris Reed | President & CEO MorningStar Ministries
