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Insight Into Spiritual Gifts
And How Ordinary Christians Use Them

By Glenn Davis

Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to His people for His purposes.  Sometimes we get confused on this subject - wondering what our gift may be or even questioning whether we have a gift.  We may see others bloom and prosper while we go about our daily lives discouraged, thinking we are ordinary Christians with nothing special.  Don't be deceived.  God wants to use you.

We are told that it is not wrong to desire gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.  [Although we should be very clear that most prophecy has nothing to do with predicting the future.  Prophecy is speaking on behalf of God.]  

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy…So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. 1 Cor. 12:1,12, NIV

We should also remember that these are gifts of the Spirit.  While we can desire and ask for them, we have no right to demand them.  They are not toys to build our egos; they are tools to build the Body of Christ.  The Holy Spirit gives them as He wants and for the purposes He has in mind.  

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 1 Cor. 12:11, NIV

There are actually three expressions of the Gifts of the Spirit.  The first one is using the spiritual gifts within the church, the second is using the spiritual gifts outside the church, and the third is permanent [usually] Ministry Gifts.

Spiritual Gifts
Inside The Church

Since, in 1 Corinthians, Paul is dealing with disorders and disruptions in the church, he naturally focuses on the spiritual gifts being used in the church.  Unlike Christmas gifts, these gifts are not for personal benefit.  They are tools to help others.  A gift at this level is not necessarily permanent.  The Holy Spirit may, for example, give a person a word of knowledge for a situation in the church or a member’s life.  That may be a one-time event, never to be repeated.  On the other hand, many times people who are given gifts that are expressed publicly have the opportunity to express the gift again and again…and improve with practice and time.  Everything needs to be judged by those who are mature and in leadership.

Spiritual Gifts
Outside The Church

The second is when spiritual gifts are used outside the church setting.  This is illustrated by Hannah.  Hannah had brought Samuel to the tabernacle to leave him there.  Although she was at “church,” this was not part of any service.  Out of the abundance and joy of her heart, she began worshipping God, and words of prophecy flowed out from her mouth.  What she said would have been way out of proportion if she were only speaking of the answer to her prayer to have a son.  The Holy Spirit took that initial event and spoke beyond it into the future, giving the first mention of the Messiah as the “Anointed One.”  This was clearly recognized as prophecy, written down, and even Mary, the mother of Jesus, quoted it a couple of thousand years later.

Did Hannah know she was prophesying?  Perhaps, but I doubt she realized it at the beginning.  She was just speaking out of the abundance of her heart, and the Holy Spirit used her.  When she looked back and considered the words, she and others knew it was an important prophecy.

Sometimes we have strange ideas about exercising the spiritual gifts.  We need to realize that Jesus Christ lives inside us as Christians through the Holy Spirit.  This is what we were designed for.  The exercise of the gifts can be natural, almost unconscious, especially when, like Hannah, we use them outside of church meetings.

For example, we can be speaking with a friend at the grocery store and say something that means very little to us but may be a Word of Wisdom that the Holy Spirit quickens to them for a situation they are facing.  We may bring a bowl of soup to a sick neighbour, and the Holy Spirit may place a thought to pray for them in our mind, and when we do, they are healed.  Maybe someone, even a store clerk we are “randomly” talking to, is going through a difficult time, and a Word of Encouragement goes from the Holy Spirit to them through us.  In all these examples, we may never be aware of the spiritual gifts operating through us.  As we are open to the Holy Spirit, He will give gifts according to the need and our willingness.  

Again, this isn't something to be uptight about or feel like we have to make happen.  It can be so natural that we don't even notice it happening.  Neither is it something to feel superior about - God spoke through a donkey.  

I think this is where the gifts operate most of the time - in the ordinary lives of ordinary Christians going about their daily lives.  Over time, some may develop the gift into a more regular expression, such as someone who is often used to pray for the sick and see healings. There is no record that Hannah ever prophesied again or that she was ever considered a prophetess.  As far as we know, this was a one-time gift for her.

Ministry Gifts

The third type of spiritual gift expression is the Ministry Gifts [also known as the Five-Fold Ministry Gifts].  These mature leadership gifts are given to the body of Christ to help it mature and fulfill God’s purposes in its life.  

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.  Eph. 4:11-13, NIV

These are specific people God chose as leaders in His Church.  We need to be careful to distinguish between expressing the spiritual gifts in the first two ways and in this way.  For example, a person may prophesy frequently, but that does not make them a Prophet in the ministry-gift sense.  We can all witness and teach - even on a regular basis - but that does not mean we have the Ministry Gift of Evangelist or Teacher.  The Ministry Gifts are Leadership roles given by God and recognized by the Church.

To Consider...

There are two cautions we should keep in mind:

1.  In any expression [one, two or three], these are gifts given by the Holy Spirit based on grace, not works.  We cannot earn these gifts, but the other side is that just because someone is being used mightily by God does not mean that God approves of all their actions or lifestyle.  Maybe they have a temper and speak unkind words or have fallen into the temptation of immorality or financial fraud.  This can be confusing, but make no mistake: if there is no repentance, God will judge their sin.  

2.  In the first expression, people may feel that they have a word from God for a direction the church [or Christian organization] should take.  They share this confidently with the Pastor or Leader.  When it is not immediately implemented, they become offended; after all, it was a word from God.  

I heard about a pastor who ran an annual family camp.  During the camp, they would collect donations to cover expenses.  One year, a man approached the pastor and said he felt God had told him that this year they should not ask for donations, but simply believe that God would provide.  The pastor was willing to agree as long as the man was personally responsible for providing any difference between what God provided and the expenses.  Suddenly the man wasn’t so sure he had heard from God!

If we believe we have heard from God on a directional matter, we submit it to the person responsible.  They have to judge it and decide whether to act on it.  The person responsible for the consequences makes the decision.  No matter what they decide, we should remain faithful and supportive.  

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