When a believer receives the gift of salvation, he or she is granted spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts, like the gift of salvation, are given by grace via faith. Our God is very kind. He is continually showering us with gifts.
“Christ has generously divided out his gifts to us.” (Ephesians 4:7 CEV)
It is His grace that is at work in our lives.
Types of Spiritual Gifts
Spiritual talents are God’s miraculous capacity manifesting itself in diverse ways in our lives. The Bible refers to it as a manifestation.
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NIV)
There are three types of gifts: ministry gifts, manifestation gifts, and motivating gifts. In various ways, all Christians participate in these talents.
Let’s take a look at each one independently.
Ministry: Gift of the Holy Spirit’s gifts.
The ministry gifts are the ways God uses what Christians accomplish to help and satisfy the needs of others. It is how we share the love, grace, and truth of God with others. To administer is to apply and put into action.
“And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.” (1 Corinthians 12:5 KJV)
The Bible lists these ministering gifts and their functions.
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13)
Many people refer to them as the “fivefold ministry.” Although not everyone is called to the ministry, 1 Corinthians 12:28 mentions a gift for helping.
By His Spirit, God kindly empowers us all to assist one another.
In addition to the 5-Fold Ministry Gifts
- Apostles
- Prophets
- Evangelists
- Pastors
- Teachers
- Helpers
Manifestation
People tend to sensationalize manifestation gifts and thereby exclude themselves from appreciating them. According to 1 Corinthians 12:7, God provides to all of us, not just some. This includes everyone.
“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to others gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to others miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” –1 Corinthians 12:7-11
This miraculous manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power is intended to both assist others and minister to ourselves. It’s natural to believe that these abilities are solely for ministering to others, yet this is restricting God’s generosity. When you pray for a message of knowledge, the Spirit may provide it to you just as readily as He can offer it to someone else. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you as well.
These manifestation gifts are the means by which God works through us to bring joy and fruitfulness into each of our lives.
9 Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
- A message of wisdom
- A message of knowledge
- Faith
- Gifts of healing
- Miraculous powers
- Prophecy
- Distinguishing between spirits
- Speaking in different kinds of tongues
- The interpretation of tongues
Motivational
The Spirit of Grace travels within us, inspiring our words and acts through motivational gifts. It’s a filter for our viewpoint that shapes how we relate to and serve others.
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” – Romans 12:6-8, emphasis added
7 Motivational Gifts
- Prophesying
- Serving
- Teaching
- Encouraging
- Giving
- Leading
- Showing Mercy
Finding Your Motivation
Examine your actions to see why you do them. This is how you’ll figure out which one motivates you.
All of these gifts are excellent and have a place in the world. Some may appear to be more vital than others, but this is not the case. Our ego is getting in the way.
The Bible instructs us to seek the finest presents, and the best gifts are those that we require at the moment.
What is the most valuable spiritual gift?
“So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.” – 1 Corinthians 12:31 NLT
Gifts are wonderful, but knowing how to love is far more essential. As a gift, God has given us His love. We love because He first loved us. Without love, all deeds that are meant to be gifts are meaningless.
There’s a reason this passage of Scripture is so well-known. The finest present is love. What matters most is love.
“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-10 NLT
“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT, emphasis added
In conclusion, seek to love, and the gifts will find their place because God is love.
God bless you.