What Is A Spiritual Gift? Do I Have One and How Can I Use It? - 1 Corinthians 12

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

The next subject of Paul's letter to the Corinthians is in regard to spiritual gifts.  A spiritual gift is a supernatural endowment to a believer from the Holy Spirit to be used to build up the church.   As Paul says in verse 1, he doesn't want the Corinthians to be "uniformed", or another translations says "ignorant" of the gifts of the Spirit.  In fact, Paul states without the Holy Spirit no one can confess Jesus as Lord.  Faith is a gift from God given to us by the Holy Spirit who leads us to repentance and true faith in Jesus.    

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

Every believer has been given at least one spiritual gift.  There are different gifts, but they are all from the same Holy Spirit.  There are different ways in which we use our gifts to serve God, but Jesus is the one who works through us.  Finally, there are different types of "working" but the same God at work.  The word "working" is the same word for "manifestation" of power.  It is not our power at work when we serve God with our gifts, but the Holy Spirit working through us in power. When I preach a sermon it is the Holy Spirit empowering me and manifesting Jesus through the words of the gospel.  It doesn't mean I don't have to prepare for my sermon, as the Holy Spirit also guides me when I am preparing. 

When someone prays for healing for someone, it is not their words that heal but the manifestation of spiritual power in Jesus' name.  Note how Paul recognizes the Trinity in these verses. I.e.  "same Spirit", "same Lord" and "same God".  When we operate according to our gifts God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit work through us to accomplish God's will. 

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Again Paul states a spiritual is given for the common good.  Our spiritual gifts are not meant to bring attention to ourselves, which we are going to learn was happening in the Corinthian church. but to build up the church.  There are different manifestations of the Spirit through spiritual gifts.  Paul mentions wisdom, words of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, and speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. 

Some of the more extraordindary gifts like miracles, healing, prophecy and speaking in tongues caused division in the Corinthian church and has caused trouble and division in the church since Jesus' day.  Because they were more emotional and ecstatic in nature, they drew attention to the person with the gift.  This led to pride and a sense of spiritual superiority based on the nature of the gift.  

In chapter 14 Paul will give us more instruction regarding the extraordinary gifts like prophecy, miracles and speaking in tongues.  Suffice it to say, they are legititmate gifts the Holy Spirit gave to the church in Paul's day, and they are still valid today. Some argue about this, but why would the church need those gifts any less today? Doesn't make sense!

Have you discovered your spiritual gift (s)?  Are you using them? If not, there are plenty of ways to discover and utilize discover them. There are classes and online inventories to help you, but the true test is when you try them out and see fruit.   One of the most meaningful aspects of our Christian life is discovering and using our spiritual gifts. Without you using your spiritual gift, your church will never be as strong or effective as it could be.  Bottom line the Holy Spirit has distributed a particullar gift to you just as He determined. That's exciting!  Don't be ignorant of your spiritual gift! 


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