Spiritual Gifts of God's Children

There are two passages in the New Testament that deal exclusively with the spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit to God’s born again children as it pertains to the church:

1. Rom. 12:4 “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 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; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.”

2. 1 Cor. 12:6 “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.”

There are several lessons about spiritual gifts in the above two passages:

1. We do not all have the same gifts of the spirit.
2. The gifts each of God’s children have; he has by the grace of God given unto him.
3. The following gifts are identified for us in the above two passages:
a. Prophecy.
b. Ministry.
c. Teaching.
d. Exhortation.
e. Giving.
f. Ruling.
g. Showing mercy.
h. Word of wisdom.
i. Word of knowledge.
j. Faith.
k. Healing.
l. Miracles.
m. Discerning of spirits.
n. Divers kinds of tongues.
o. Interpretation of tongues.

4. It is the Holy Spirit that divides to every man severally as he will. We therefore each have more than one gift. The gifts we have, we did not choose, but we received them by the will of the Spirit.

5. We are all part of the same body, but we also have different functions within the body of the church.

6. Each member has a duty and responsibility that involves his use of the gifts given unto us.

7. The spiritual gifts given unto us that we may profit therewith. Also, we are to use the gifts to the honor and glory of God and for the benefit of God’s children.

Some of the above gifts were peculiar to the apostles only as Paul informs us in 2 Cor. 12:12: “Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.” Among the signs and wonders and mighty deeds that were identifying signs of the apostles include miracles and speaking in tongues. We must remember that the apostles were traveling great distances and preaching to many and divers peoples who had different tongues (languages). The gift of tongues enabled them to speak to these people in their language and also identified to them that this movement was not the movement of men, but that they were sent of God. This is very similar to the fact that God gave signs and wonders and miracles to many of the Old Testament prophets to identify to the people that God had sent them. Today we have the record of the scriptures and do not need the signs and wonders and miracles to identify that the gospel and the church kingdom of God came from God. We will deal more specifically of these special gifts to the apostles and prophets in a later essay.

The Lord spoke of spiritual gifts in terms of talents given unto men: Matt. 25:14 “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had eceived two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Plainly the Lord taught us above that we are to use the talents or gifts that God has given each of us and that we will be greatly blessed in doing so. However, there is also a warning that if we fail to use those gifts or talents that we will suffer much anguish and chastisement for wasting our gifts or talents.