KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 12:1″ Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant”.

Spiritual gifts as the Holy Spirit led apostle Paul to write about in our key scripture, is one of the topics that have been very silent in other parts of the Bible although we see its manifestation throughout the Bible.

Our topic for discussion spans through 1st Corinthians 12:1-11. Verses 4 to 6 reveal the working of the Trinity or Father, Son and the Holy Ghost, Playing various roles in the functioning, administration and operation of the gifts. In verse 4 the Holy Spirit reveals the diversity of the gifts that is the different divisions of the Spirit. Our Lord Jesus sees to the different administration of the gifts. The administration is that different people having the same gift may administer it differently. The Father reveals the diversities of operations. Here the Father sees to the divers operations of the gifts.

These gifts are very important to the church of God. When the supernatural gifts are in operation, the church’s evangelistic work is greatly enhanced. “Every Christian must earnestly desire for the gifts”. 1st Corinthians 14:1″Follow after charity and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophecy”.

Please note this: these spiritual gifts are different from talents (a talent is a natural ability given to an individual by God. A talent could be operated at will. There are countless talents. Examples are singing, playing football, barbering etc. Spiritual gifts are divine abilities that are solely manifested by the Holy Spirit through a child of God The person can’t operate it at will) 1st Corinthians 12:7 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal “.Note that they are the manifestations of the Spirit. The supernatural gifts are never from one’s ability, it is purely the Holy Spirit who manifests them at His will. There are nine spiritual or supernatural gifts in all. They are as follows:

1. Word of wisdom (verse 8)
2. Word of knowledge (verse 8)
3. Discernment of spirits (verse 10)
4. Divers kinds of tongues (verse 10)
5. Interpretation of tongues (Verse 10)
6. Gifts of prophecy (Verse 10)
7. Gift of faith (Verse 9)
8. Gifts of healing (Verse 9)
9. Gift of working of miracle (Verse 9)

These gifts can be divided further into 3 groups.

1. Revelational gifts: these include, words of wisdom, words of knowledge and discernment of spirits.
2. Gifts of utterance: These include, divers kinds of tongues, interpretation of tongues and gift of prophecy.
3. Power gifts: these include, the gift of faith, gifts of healing and gift of the working of miracles.

In our subsequent studies, we would look at each gift, what it is and how it functions.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for these supernatural gifts given to the Church of God. I pray that these gifts would be manifested in all congregations, to reveal your glory and power.

FURTHER STUDIES.

1 Corinthians 12: 6. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all”.

1 Corinthians 12:8. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit