The spiritual gifts are supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit given to and through believers. These demonstrations of the Spirit intend for the upbuilding and sanctification of the church. These spiritual gifts are not the same as the gifts and ministries mentioned in Romans chapter twelve verses six and eight, and Ephesians chapter four verse eleven: Whereby, a believer receives the power and ability to minister in a more permanent manner in the church. The gifts in First Corinthians chapter twelve verses eight through ten are quite a few, and they may occur in various combinations.
The manifestations of the Spirit give according to the Spirit’s will when the need arises: and the believer’s eager desire. Some gifts or demonstrations of the Spirit occur through individuals, and a believer may have more than one gift to minister to others. The believer ought to desire “gifts,” not just one.
It is unscriptural and unwise to assume someone who exercises a spectacular gift is more spiritual than one who operates in less impressive ability. Furthermore, possessing a gift does not mean that God approves of all a person does and teaches. Spiritual gifts must not be confused with the fruit of the Spirit, which relates more directly to Christian character and sanctification. The Spirit’s manifestation through gifts may be imitated or counterfeited by Satan or false workers disguising themselves as servants of Christ. The believer must not believe every spiritual exhibition but ought to “try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone into the world” as stated in First John chapter four verse one.
The individual gifts in First Corinthians chapter twelve verses eight through ten list them. The Holy Spirit gives to the believers.
The first is the message of wisdom which is a wise utterance that speaks through the operation of the Holy Spirit. It applies the revelation of God’s Word or the Holy Spirit’s insight to a specific situation or problem. However, it is not the same as having the wisdom of God for daily living. The latter acquires diligent study and meditation on God’s ways, His Word, and prayer.
Second, the message of knowledge is an utterance inspired by the Holy Spirit that reveals information about people, circumstances, or Biblical truth. It often connects closely with prophecy.
Faith is the third. Not a saving faith but supernaturally imparted by the Holy Spirit that enables the Christian to believe God for the extraordinary and miraculous. It is faith in something that moves mountains and other manifestations such as healings and miracles.
Gifts of healing are given to the church to restore physical health by supernatural means. These presents indicate the healing of various illnesses and suggest that every act of recovery is a special gift from God. However, the distribution of these presents is not to every Christian. However, all members may pray for the sick. When faith is present, the ill will eventually recover. Healing may also come as a result of obedience.
Miraculous powers are deeds of the supernatural that alter the natural course of nature. They include divine acts in which God’s kingdom manifests against Satan and evil spirits.
Prophecy is another gift to distinguish as a temporary manifestation of the Spirit, and prophecy as a ministry gift of the church. As a ministry gift, the prophecy was given only to some believers, who must function as prophets within the church. As a spiritual manifestation, prophecy is potentially available to every Spirit-filled Christian.
Prophecy is a distinctive gift that enables a believer to bring a word or revelation directly from God under the impulse of the Holy Spirit. It is not the delivery of a previously prepared sermon. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, prophecy is not solely foretelling the future but proclaiming God’s will to urge and encourage people in righteousness, faithfulness, and endurance. The message may expose the condition of a person’s heart or offer strengthening, encouragement, comfort, warning, and judgment. The church must not assume that prophecy is an infallible message. There is a sincere mixture of the human messenger while communicating. However, potentially there can be insincere, false prophecies meant to impress others and deceive. Therefore, all prophecy must be past the test spiritually for genuineness and truth by whether it conforms to God’s Word, whether it promotes godly living, and whether it is uttered by one who is sincerely living under Christ’s Lordship. Prophecy operates under God’s will and not the personal choice of humans. The New Testament church does not explicitly describe the church actively seeking revelation or direction from those claiming to be prophets. The prophecy was given to the church when God initiated the message.
Distinguishing between spirits is a Spirit-given ability to discern evil spirits and to tell the difference whether or not an utterance is from the Holy Spirit. Toward the end of the age when false teachers and deceiving spirits increase, this gift will be significant to the church.
Speaking in different kinds of tongues is a supernatural manifestation of the Spirit. It may be an existing spoken language or one unknown on earth. Such speech has not been learned and is often unintelligible to the speaker and the hearers. Speaking in tongues involve the inner person and the Spirit of God intermingling so that the believer communicates directly to God, giving expression or utterance at the level of one’s spirit rather than the mind, and praying for oneself or others under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit apart from the activity of the mind.
Tongues in the congregation must accompany the Spirit giving an interpretation that communicates the content and meaning of the utterance of the community of believers. It may contain a revelation, knowledge, prophecy, teaching for the assembly. Speaking in tongues within the congregation must be regulated. The speaker may never be “in ecstasy” or “out of control.”
Interpretation of tongues is the Spirit-given ability to understand and communicate the meaning of an utterance spoken in tongues. When interpreted tongues, for the congregation, function as a directive to worship and prayer as a prophecy, the body of believers can then participate in this Spirit-filled revelation. Interpreted tongues can be a means of improvement as a whole congregation responds to the utterance. The gifts are likely to the ones who speak in tongues or to someone else. Those who speak in tongues should pray for the gift of interpretation.