What Are The 7 Spiritual Gifts In The Bible?
Spiritual gifts are bestowed upon believers by the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father and Son. They enable the believer to ‘live a life of service that is pleasing to God’ (1 Corinthians 12:7). According to the Bible, there are 7 spiritual gifts, which are explained in Romans 12:6-8. These 7 spiritual gifts are wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy and discernment. In this article, we’ll explore each of these gifts in further detail.
Wisdom
The gift of wisdom is the deep understanding of spiritual matters, gained through prayer and meditation on the Word of God. It enables the believer to comprehend the implications of God’s will, and to recognize right from wrong, bearing in mind that God’s perfect justice always trumps human judgement. Proverbs 3:13-15 states ‘Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding; for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.’
Knowledge
This spiritual gift is covered in 1 Corinthians 12:8, and works in tandem with the gift of wisdom. Through knowledge, believers can draw closer to God and discover his will for their lives. It affords believers the opportunity to comprehend the Bible’s teachings, and to act in accordance with them. Indeed, knowledge can be the tool that enables believers to become better disciples, ministers and teachers.
Faith
As explained in Hebrews 11:1, ‘now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.’ This spiritual gift is the courage to remain faithful to God, and to trust in his will no matter what obstacles present themselves. Through faith, one is enabled to move mountains, trust in God’s divine protection, and confidently walk through dark valleys of tests and trials.
Healing
The gift of healing enables the believer to restore health and wholeness to the sick and to the brokenhearted. It is a direct manifestation of God’s healing power at work in the world. Isaiah 58:8 proclaims ‘then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear…’ This gift helps the afflicted find comfort in their suffering and hard times.
Miracles
Miracles are clear signs of God’s divine intervention in the world. According to Mark 16:17-18, these spiritual gifts are available to believers, as it states: ‘And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all.’ Miracles demonstrate God’s presence, power and faithfulness.
Prophecy
Prophecy is a spiritual gift that enables the believer to speak oracle into the lives of others. 1 Corinthians 14:3 declares ‘But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort’. Through prophecy, the believer can speak words of hope, courage and affirmation. This precious gift helps others discover their true identity and purpose in Christ.
Discernment
The gift of discernment is the ability to make wise judgements and wise decisions that are pleasing to God. It enables the believer to separate truth from falsehood, discern the voice of the Holy Spirit, and to detect and protect oneself against deceptive practices. Matthew 10:16 states ‘Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.’
The Practical Significance Of Spiritual Gifts
The gifts of the Spirit can be utilized to promote unity, glorify God and reach out to others in the community. Understanding the spiritual gifts, and possessing them, are necessary for a meaningful, purposeful life, grounded in faith. Paul wrote to the Romans: ‘For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another’. (Romans 12: 4-5). Spiritual gifts enable believers to draw closer to God and to serve within their communities.
Exercising The Gifts Of The Spirit
The most important aspect of exercising the gifts of the Spirit is to focus on the person behind them: God himself. Being keenly aware of his presence and his glory will in turn enhance our own peace and trust in him. Seeking guidance and revelation, prayer and meditation, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our words, thoughts and action are essential prerequisites for successfully exercising the gifts. As Proverbs 16:9 states, ‘The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.’
The fruits of The Spirit
Possessing spiritual gifts does not guarantee their successful use. Each gift needs to be accompanied by the ‘fruits of the spirit’, which are explained in Galatians 5:22-24, and include joy and peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Without these virtues present, the gifts can amount to little more than ‘noisy gongs and clanging cymbals’ (1 Corinthians 13:1).
The Role of Faith
It should also be remembered that in addition to trusting the Lord to lead us and guide us, exercising spiritual gifts requires a strong faith in ourselves. According to Exodus 14:13-14, ‘Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” What this passage reveals is that no matter what challenges we face, with God’s help, we are never helpless. With faith and determination, we can prevail.
The Value of Service
Finally, exercising the gifts of the spirit is most successful when it is combined with active service. Jesus commands us to be ‘the light of the world’ (Matthew 5:14). No matter what our spiritual gifts may be, through service we can make our world a better place. As Jesus stated in Matthew 25:40, ‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Through the exercise of our spiritual gifts and service, we can become true disciples of Jesus and make a positive, lasting impact in the world.
The Need For Christians To Cultivate Spiritual Gifts
For Christians, the need to cultivate spiritual gifts is paramount. Cultivating the gifts can require effort and accountability on the part of the believer. Of course, surrendering to God and allowing him to equip us with his gifts will always yield more benefit than relying on our own understanding and efforts. As 1 Timothy 4:14-16 urges: ‘Do not neglect the gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.’
The Power of Prayer
Prayer lies at the heart of exercising spiritual gifts. As Hebrews 4:12 states, ‘For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’ By praying with intention and without ceasing, we can ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to work through us, to bring healing and transformation to our lives and to those we meet.
The Benefits of Spiritual Gifts
The benefits of spiritual gifts are twofold. Not only do they open the door to a deeper, closer relationship with God, but they can also benefit by giving us the capacity to genuinely love and care for others. Additionally, these gifts can fortify us in the face of adversity and enable us to lead a more confident, purposeful life in service of the Lord. As Ephesians 3:12 states, ‘in him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence’.
The Challenge of Plateaus
Many believers reach plateaus when exercising their spiritual gifts. The best way to overcome plateaus is to maintain trust and faith in God, coupled with a continual study of scripture and prayerful meditation. Humble obedience and recognition of opportunities for growth and improvement can ensure we heed 2 Timothy 2:15, which declares ‘Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.’
Entrusting the Work to God
The greatest challenge of exercising spiritual gifts is to move beyond self-sufficiency and to make a willing investment of ourselves in God’s work. While offering assistance to others is noble, it can be difficult to relinquish control and let go in order truly entrust the work to God. Ultimately, combining active service, faith and surrender to God’s will is the key to successfully distributing and cultivating spiritual gifts in our lives and the lives of others. Let God be the ultimate teacher and guide.
