Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Spiritual gifts are abilities. However, they are not natural or human abilities. They are supernatural abilities. They are simply the abilities of the Holy Spirit. They are referred to as spiritual gifts because they are gifted to men by the Holy Spirit. No man can exercise these gifts naturally. They are manifested supernaturally by the help of the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit distributes these abilities to individuals voluntarily, without any charge.
Concerning these spiritual gifts, the apostle says it is not God’s will for believers to be ignorant (1 Corinthians 1:1 KJV). Yet there are many believers who are completely ignorant of these gifts. And those who seem not ignorant do not care about exercising these gifts at all. And there are some who even abuse the gifts. They manifest the gifts but no one is rendered help by the manifestation and consequently, no glory is rendered to God.
It should be known to believers that the Holy Spirit indwells in them. And that this Holy Spirit is not a passive God. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 12:2-3:
“You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus is accursed’; and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”
(Emphasis added).
Paul contrasted the idols the Corinthian believers followed before they were saved with the Holy Spirit and he said the idols, although they were made to have the image of a being, were inactive and lifeless. Idols have eyes but they cannot see, their hands they cannot lift, their legs they cannot move. But the Holy Spirit is not so. Although He is quiet, He speaks, He acts and He manifests Himself. That a believer in whom He chooses to dwell, manifests some of His gifts is a sign that the Holy Spirit is an active, ever working Spirit. He desires to operate through the people He indwells. He wants to use their body, speak through their mouth, heal the sick through their hands, and so on.
Although there are many of these gifts, it is still the same Spirit manifesting Himself as He wills and as occasion demands.
Spiritual gifts are meant to profit everyone when exercised. It is one of the wonderful ways the Holy Spirit helps humans. For instance, the gift of healing. The Holy Spirit through a believer manifests this gift so the sick can be healed of any kind of sickness or disease in a supernatural way. That is great help. This is one of the ways the Holy Spirit helps man’s infirmities and bears his burden. So the workings and the manifestations of the Spirit should bring profit. It is not just an exhibition, but a way of rendering profitable help. If at any time there seems to be any manifestation of the Spirit that does not profit anyone, it is either that it is not from the Holy Spirit, or the person exercising the gift is abusing it. Spiritual gifts are not only for the enjoyment of the believer exercising it. They should bless others. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:7 “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (Emphasis added).
Also, exercising these gifts helps in winning souls. Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 talks about how the manifestation of the gift of prophecy can convict an unbeliever and make the unbeliever worship God.
“But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.”
Now, let it be known that although it is the Holy Spirit inside the believer who operates these gifts, it is the believer’s responsibility to exercise it. This was what the apostle was showing the Corinthian believers. Because it seemed the Spirit that indwelt them was mute. Although He was ready to manifest, the Corinthian believers were ignorant of the inner operation of the Holy Spirit in them and thus ignored Him by not exercising the gifts.
In another way, these gifts also belong to the believer who received them. Although they are the Holy Spirit’s abilities, He gives it to men. And when they receive it, the gifts become theirs. However, it should not be operated without His guide lest it brings no profit to men and does not glorify God.
It should also be known that the Holy Spirit gives different gifts to different people as He wills and according to their capacity and function. Believers, being different parts of the body of Christ have different functions just as the parts of the body have their respective functions. The legs have the gift of walking. The eyes have the gift of seeing. So each believer receives gifts according to their function(s). Then if a believer does not exercise the gifts of the Spirit, such a believer does not only suffer it, the whole body suffers it as well. Just as when the nose stops breathing, the entire body suffers it. It is therefore necessary to exercise these gifts for the good and profit of the whole body. Also, if a believer receives any of the gifts, and such a believer does not regularly exercise it, it may become dormant. Just as if the believer does not have the gift. And such a believer may be called a wicked and slothful servant when his Master returns.
The major ways to exercise these gifts are reading the Bible and praying. By doing these, you are tuned to the Holy Spirit within you. And then you can easily connect to Him and know His desires and therefore carry them out as He wants.
Regularly exercising these gifts will help you in your personal growth, help in building the Church of Christ and also help in populating God’s kingdom.
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