The gifts of the Holy Spirit will bring forth the fullness of His ministry in our lives. It is through the gifts of the Spirit that we are able to minister effectively one to another and to receive the help of the comforter in our lives.
John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
God’s desire is to do His works through us that we might be effective in our ministry one to another. Therefore we must be good stewards of all that God has given to us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives so that those around us will be partakers of His complete ministry.
1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
The following scriptures show that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for the purpose of completing his ministry of comfort and strength in our lives.
1 Corinth. 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
1 Corinth. 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
1 Corinth. 14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
The Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit are released through his gifts.
As we seek to be led by the Spirit and press into the Spiritual gifts that God has for us we will begin to see more of His power and presence manifested when we assemble together as His body.
1 Corinth. 12:6-7 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. {7} But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.
There are two important words in these two verses that should help us to see God’s intent and purpose for these gifts, and how He expects them to work in our lives.
It is the same God who works all in all: The word “works” here means active operation, effectual, powerful to be active, efficient, fervent, be mighty in, show forth.
The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: The word “manifestation” means to make visible, clear, manifest, known. The true meaning is to uncover, lay bare, reveal (Vines).
With these two definitions in mind, we can see that it is God’s desire to be fervent and mighty in showing forth and making visible His power through the gifts of the Spirit. We as His people are to be fervent, active, effectual, efficient, and powerful in manifesting His gifts in our lives for the edification of the Body of Christ so that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is effectively released for all of us to profit from.
The Nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are the nine gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 and they fall into three general classifications: gifts of revelation, gifts of power, and gifts in inspiration or vocal gifts.
The Revelation Gifts
The revelation gifts include the 1) word of wisdom, 2) word of knowledge, and 3) discerning of Spirits. Collectively, these three gifts are supernatural manifestations of the Spirit of God. Through them, we may know anything which God chooses to reveal. Each gift is a supernatural revelation given by God to an individual for a particular purpose, and at a particular time, and in a particular place.
The Power Gifts
The power gifts are the 4) gifts of faith, 5) working of miracles and, 6) gifts of healings. Collectively these three gifts are supernatural manifestations given by God for a particular time in a particular place. These three gifts will show forth God’s glory, His power, His greatness, His majesty, and His victory over sickness, diseases, and death in supplying the needs of His people. The power gifts are for deliverance and overcoming nature itself.
The Vocal Gifts
The vocal gifts or the gifts of divine revelation are the 7) gift of tongues, 8) interpretations of tongues, and 9) prophecy. Collectively these three gifts are supernatural manifestations of the Spirit of God and, through them, God can speak through man anything which He chooses to tell. Each gift is a supernatural manifestation given by God to an individual for a particular purpose, at a particular time, and in a particular place.
From the beginning of mankind, God has always had the ability to speak to men, whom He created. He spoke with Adam and Eve in the garden, He spoke with Noah concerning the building of the Ark. He talked with Abraham concerning leaving His country. He also spoke with Moses and the many other prophets down through history.
Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets. {2} has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
Throughout the New Testament, we also see God as a God who desires to speak to His children. In the Gospels, He spoke to us through His Son, Jesus Christ, but now that He has ascended unto the throne of God, He now speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. Prophecy, tongues, and interpretation of tongues are the vocal gifts of the Holy Spirit that God uses to speak to us as a people.
Let’s remember that God’s desire is to fill each one of us with the power of the Holy Spirit so that we too can go forth performing the works of God and be led by His Holy Spirit to do all that He has for us. We must realize that we need His ministry in our lives, because, like Jesus, we too, can do nothing of ourselves. Our sufficiency and strength are in Him.
If we are to be kingdom builders in the same way that Jesus was and as were the early disciples in the Book of Acts, we too, must be dependent upon the enabling grace that comes from a relationship with the Holy Spirit.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Ken Birks
Featured Image by jplenio from Pixabay
