Bible References: 1 Cor. 12:1-11
INTRODUCTION
The gifts of the Spirit are supernatural empowerment and enablement given by the Holy
Spirit to the followers of Christ so that they can do the work of building up the body of
Christ, that is, the church and extending the impact of the Kingdom of God to the world.
The Holy Spirit is the owner and dispenser of the spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7,11).
As believers, we are stewards of the gifts of God (1 Peter 4:10). Every believer can expect
the Holy Spirit to minister through him or her with spiritual gifts.
DISCUSSION
According to 1 Cor. 12:4-11, the gifts of the Spirit are available to all believers but the
manifestation or expression of each gift is solely dependent on the Holy Spirit. No
spiritual gift is more important than the other, the most important gift is the gift you need
at the time as all the gifts are equally valid and are needed in the body of Christ.
Spiritual gifts are not developed by human capacities, therefore the believer has
absolutely no right to boast about any of these gifts. 1 Cor 4:7
God has given all believers gifts; some have one, some have more than one but everyone
has a gift to be expressed at a given time. The gift of the spirit is the ability God gives us
to do His work.
The gifts of the Spirit can be categorized into three for ease of reference:
• Revelation: This consists of the word of wisdom, word of knowledge and
discerning of spirits.
• Power: This consists of the gift of faith, gifts of healing and working of miracles.
• Inspiration/ Utterance: This consist of Prophecy, diverse kind of tongues and the
interpretation of tongues.
Spiritual gifts are always to exalt Christ, to display God’s power, to build up the Body of
Christ, and to enlarge the Body of Christ, by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with the
lost.
NOTE all nine gifts are supernatural and are distributed to each believer as the Holy
Spirit desires (1 Cor 12:4) and You cannot choose (demand) a gift by yourself (but you
can desire) discover and develop the gifts you have been given (I Cor 12:7).
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
• Are spiritual gifts for every Christian? 1 Cor. 12: 1
• Can you have any spiritual gift you desire? 1 Cor. 12:31a
• What gifts are more important than the others? 1 Cor. 12: 6-7,21
PRAYER
Father Lord, help me to recognize the gifts you have given to me and teach me to use the
gift to your glory, to the edifying of the body of Christ and those around me and for my
growth, in the name of Jesus. Amen
MEMORY VERSE: 1 Peter 4:10
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good
stewards of the manifold grace of God.