Spiritual Gifts 101

Please read 1 Corinthians 12:4-30

Below you’ll find a list of spiritual gifts. As you read through each one, you’ll realize that you likely do not have every gift, and that’s okay! I’m not sure I’ve ever met someone with all the gifts other than Jesus. Gifts are extensions of grace, not signs of maturity. Below you’ll see categories of gifts, but please note, this is just a personal way of organizing them and a few of them may actually overlap in their functions. When you start discovering your gifts, drop us a comment! We’d love to see how God has wired you and hear how you are using these in your walk.

Please check out the “Tests & Resources” post to read more in depth descriptions of each gift, along with potential pitfalls.

SERVICE GIFTS

• Administration
• Craftsmanship
• Discernement
• Giving
• Faith
• Hospitality
• Intercessory Prayer
• Mercy
• Service

SPEAKING GIFTS

• Apostleship
• Encouragement
• Evangelism
• Knowledge
• Leadership
• Teaching
• Shepherding
• Wisdom

SUPERNATURAL GIFTS

• Healing
• Interpretation of Tongues
• Miracles
• Prophecy
• Tongues

Christians are not assembly-line productions, with every unit being exactly like every other unit.” Consequently, no Christian can replace another in God’s plan. He has His own individualized plan for each of us and has individually gifted us accordingly. We are not interchangeable parts in Christ’s body.”

John MacArthur

There isn’t a limit to the number of hands in the body – or legs or feet. I love this because it means that we don’t have to waste time feeling inferior or competing with someone else. No two expressions of a gift are exactly alike. Many people may have the gift of teaching, but their style and soil (where God has planted them) is completely unique. Similarly, a person with the gift of intercessory prayer is likely praying for all kinds of people and specific situations within their own sphere of influence. So be encouraged, if someone has the same gift as you, that’s good news! No member is dispensable and we are all working together. We need every expression in order to maximize our effectiveness in fulfilling the great commission and also to walk in the unity that Jesus so passionately prayed for. (John 17:21-23)

There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

There are different kinds of workings, but in all of them and in every one, it is the same God at work.

1 Corinthians 12:5-6

There is a difference between commands in Scripture that are directed towards all believers and true spiritual giftings that have been given to us specifically by the Holy Spirit. A spiritual gift may often seem to come naturally to us, as an overflow of the Holy Spirit working through us. Whereas, spiritual practices/commands are things that may or may not come naturally to us, but we are still asked to do. Remember: spiritual gifts are not “one size fits all” and we are not expected to possess every gift, but there are places in scripture where we find that a gift and command overlap.

Here are a few examples:

• “Share with saints who are in need. Practice hospitality“. (Romans 12:13) I often joke that I am “practicing hospitality” and though this is still not one of my gifts, the more I’ve done it, the easier it’s become. Will this ever be my main gift? Probably not. But there is so much beauty when we intentionally practice opening both our hearts and homes and choose to live in community with others.

Other examples…

• “Don’t be slothful in zeal, be fervent in Spirit, serve the Lord”. (Romans 12:11)

• In Matthew 28, we see Jesus command all followers to “Go and make disciples”, calling us to evangelize and share the good news.

• “Give and it will be given to you…for the measure that you give will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:38)

• Encourage one another and build each other up”. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

• “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful”. (Luke 6:36)

• “Praying at all times in the Spirit…(Ephesians 6:18) “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another…” (James 5:16)

So if you happen to have these spiritual gifts that also are commands/practices, how blessed are you! For the rest of us we are practicing these, out of obedience to Christ. It means we are growing; pressing into the Holy Spirit as He stretches us to make us more like Him.

Are natural ability and spiritual gifts the same? The simple answer is no. However they do come from the same Source. Genesis 1:26 “So God created man in His own image”.

An author once said,

If we accept the premise that an all-powerful God is the creator of all matter and life, it is reasonable then to conclude our abilities (even if we are inclined to attribute them to genetics or environment), must ultimately come from the source of genetics and environment: the God who created everything in the first place.

When we look out into the world, it is full of talent. All we have to do is flip on the TV to see highlights of the world’s best dancers, vocalists, athletes, and brainiacs. You may have a specific family that comes to mind that seems to have gotten all the gifts and talent. Sometimes it could be inherited genetics or perhaps it’s been practiced and nurtured. I personally have a lot of non-Christian friends who have incredible ways with people or specific abilities that I often dream about – if only God could JUST get ahold of that thing in them…But the truth remains, only true believers in Jesus, have been given spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit. They are extensions of Him, therefore they can only be made manifest to those who are in Him.

“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He chooses”.

1 Corinthians 12:11

There is a distinction between natural ability and spiritual gifting, but let’s talk about when God may use BOTH. For example, a person with a natural musical talent, may also have the spiritual gift of encouragement. Or someone is naturally very warm and inviting may use the gifts of hospitality and faith to lead her team in prayer every morning. What about you? When I was a child, before I could even write, I was making mental check-lists of the things we needed for trips and would help my mother pack and organize our family. Additionally, I always seemed to have something up my sleeve (good or bad!) and would gather friends with a purpose to fulfill. After I became a Christ-follower and started studying more on spiritual gifts, I came to realize these were my gifts of administration and leadership being established in my life. As believers, we have likely been packaged with both natural talents and spiritual gifts to be able to serve him in unique ways.

FINAL THOUGHTS

What are you discovering about your unique spiritual DNA? What are some natural abilities that you find may also coincide with a spiritual gift? How are you already using them? What is an area of growth for you, somewhere that doesn’t come so easily, that maybe you need to practice?

Catch us next week for a new post, “Ordinary Men and an Extraordinary God” to read stories on God using anybody and everybody no matter how many talents or gifts you have (or don’t!). We will also dive into the importance of stewarding these gifts well.