A spiritual gift is the God-given ability of someone to carry out his/her spiritual function in the body of Christ. These gifts are listed in three principal Bible passages:
1. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; 28-31
2. Romans 12:3-7
3. Ephesians 4:11
The following contains suggested definitions of the spiritual gifts. While not meant to be dogmatic or final, these definitions and supporting scriptures do correspond to characteristics of the gifts as expressed in the spiritual gifts questionnaire.
In the life of a church, there are two major challenges in relation to the issues of spiritual gifts. The first is that far too few Christians are involved in any form of ministry in the church. The uninvolved see themselves as spectators. These do not witness the joy of seeing God work through them.
A second challenge is that not many of those who are actively involved in the ministry of the local church are functioning in areas corresponding to their spiritual gifts. People are over-involved in ministries that are too separated from each other. Read the similar post on this page.
The following proven spiritual gifts and relevant Bible verses are examined to proffer solutions to the challenges we are facing in the areas of spiritual gifts these days.
1. Gift of Helps
This is the ability to invest the talents that one has in the life and ministry of other members of the body. It enables others to increase the effectiveness of their spiritual gifts.
Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 12:28; Mark 15:40-41; Acts 9: 6; Romans 16: 12
2. Gift of Leadership
This is the ability to set goals according to God’s purpose for the future and communicate those goals to others in such a way that they voluntarily and harmoniously work together to accomplish those goals for the glory of God.
Bible verses: Romans 12:8; Acts 15:7-11; 1 Timothy 5: 7; Hebrews 13: 1
3. Gift of Hospitality
The ability to provide an open house and a warm welcome to those in need of food and lodging.
Bible verses: 1 Peter 4: 9; Romans 12:9-13; Hebrews 13 1 2 Acts 16 14-15; Romans 16:23.
4. Gift of Service
The ability to identify the unmet needs involved in a task related to God’s work, and to make use of available resources to meet those needs and help accomplish the desired goal.
Bible verses: Romans 12: 7; Galatians 6:2; Acts 6; 1-7; 2 Timothy 1: 16-18
5. Gift of Administration
The ability to clearly identify to clearly understand the immediate and long-range goals of a particular unit of the body of Christ and to devise and execute effective plans for the accomplishment of those goals.
Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 12:28; Acts 6:1-7
6. Gift of Discernment
This ability to know with assurance whether certain behaviour purported to be of God in reality divine, human or satanic. The purpose of this gift is to prevent confusion and false teaching from infiltrating the church.
Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 12:10; Acts 16:16-18; Acts 5: 1-11; 1 John 4: 1-6
7. Gift of Faith
This ability to discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purpose of God, and to propel the body of believers into actively claiming the promises of the Lord.
Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 12:9; Romans 4:18-21; Hebrews 11
8. Gift of Music
This special ability to lead others in worship of God through music. Some may consider this a natural talent, but they, too, are gifts from God.
Bible verses: Palm 98; 1 Chronicles 16:4-7; Psalm 92:1-4
9. Gift of Language/Tongue
This ability to speak a divine anointed message in a language one has never learned, but known to the hearers. Its purpose is to be an evangelistic tool used for the purpose of spreading the gospel.
Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 4; Acts 2:1-13; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 16:17; Acts 10;44-46
10. Gift of Miracles
The ability to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature.
Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28; Acts 9:36-42; Acts 20:7-12; Romans 15:18-19
11. Gift of Craftsmanship
This special ability to enhance the worship of God and serve the body of Christ through art and craft. Some may consider this a natural talent, but they, too, are gifts of God.
Bible verses: 1 Kings 7:13-51
12. Gift of Healing
This ability to serve as a human intermediary through whom God’s healing power is applied to another person’s physical or emotional need.
Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 12:9-28; Acts 3:1-10; Acts 9:32-35; Acts 5:12-36
13. Gift of Giving
This ability to contribute material resources to the work of the Lord with liberality and cheerfulness.
Bible verses: Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 9:2-8; 1 Corinthians 8:1-15; Mark 12:41-44
14. Gift of Mercy
This ability to feel genuine empathy and compassion for individuals who suffer distressing physical, mental or emotional problems, and to translate that compassion into cheerfully done deeds with Christ’s love and alleviate the sufferings.
Bible verses: Romans 12:8; Luke 10:25-35
15. Gift of Wisdom
This ability to apply spiritual truth to a specific issue in an especially relevant fashion, and to make proper choices in difficult situations, is based on sufficient information.
Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 12:8; James 3;13-16, 2; Acts 17; 16-34; Peter 3:15
16. Gift of knowledge
This ability to discover, accumulate, analyse, and clarify information which is pertinent to the growth and well-being of the body.
Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 12:8; Colossians 2;2-3; Acts 5:1-11
17. Gift of Exhortation
This ability to minister words of encouragement, consolation, comfort and motivation from God’s Word to help others complete their tasks and be all that God wants them to be.
Bible verses: Romans 12:8; 1 Timothy 4:13; Acts 14:22; Hebrews 10:24-25
18. Gift of Teaching
The ability to employ a logical, systematic approach to biblical study and to communicate information relevant to the health and ministry of the body and its members in such a way that others will learn.
Bible verses: Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Acts 18:24-28; Acts 20: 20-21; Ephesians 4:11-14
19. Gift of Pastor/Shepherd
This is the ability to accept a long-term responsibility personally for the spiritual welfare of a group of believers.
Bible verses: Ephesians 4:11-14; Ezekiel 34; John 10:1-18; 1 Peter 5:1-3; 1 Timothy 3: 1-7
20. Gift of the Apostle
This ability to assume and exercise general leadership over several churches, with an extraordinary authority in spiritual matters, which is spontaneously recognised and appreciated by those churches.
Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 12:28; Acts 15:1-22; 1 Corinthians 12: 12; Galatians 2:7-10; Ephesians 3:1-9; Ephesians 4:11-14
21. Gift of Missionary
This ability that God gives to some members of the body of Christ to minister whatever other spiritual gifts they have in a second culture.
Bible verses: Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:7-12; Acts 15:3,4
22. Gift of Prophecy
The ability to proclaim the Word of God with divine anointing, which brings conviction to the hearers so they recognise that it is truly the Word of God and they must do something about it.
Bible verses: 1 Corinthians 12:10; Acts 2:37-40; Acts 7:51-54; 1 Corinthians 14:1, 3, 29
23. Gift of Evangelism
This is the ability to share the gospel with unbelievers for men and women to become Jesus’ disciples and responsible members of the body of Christ.
Bible verses: Ephesians 4:11-14; Acts 14:21; Acts 8:5-6; 26-40; Acts 21:8
24. Gift of Intercession
The ability to pray for extended periods of time regularly and see frequent and specific answers to their prayers, to a degree much greater than that which is expected of the average Christian.
Bible verses: Hebrews 11:6; 1 John 5:14,15; Romans 8:26
