The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

One way to gain greater understanding of the spiritual gifts found in 1 Corinthians 12 is to arrange them in three groups of three gifts each, categorizing them by what they enable us to do:

(1) Gifts of revelation: which enable us to know, understand, or perceive by our senses things which we could not know by normal human ability. These are the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and discerning of spirits.

(2) Gifts of power: which enable us to perform things which are beyond human ability, or believe God for things beyond the reach of what we
consider ordinary faith. These are workings of miracles, gifts of faith, and gifts of healings.

(3) Gifts of utterance or speech: which enable us to declare in some measure the mind of God. These are prophecy, tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.

There can certainly be overlap in these categories; for example, the exercise of prophecy often involves forms of communication or revelation from God
which are difficult to categorize. The Lord may speak to your spirit through a general witness or impression, dreams, visions, prophetic intercession, or words of counsel. It may be difficult, and even be pointless, to attempt to categorize every spiritual experience within the framework of the nine gifts in 1 Corinthians 12. Nevertheless, these three categories remain useful for purposes of study.

What it is:

Supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit of things not known to you, or which could not be known by human means. It is a fragment of God's omniscience given for a particular purpose.

What it is not:

It is not great human knowledge or intelligence, having great knowledge of Scripture or theology. It is not "clairvoyance," because its source is God and
not any occultic power, which is forbidden to us in the Bible.

Some Scriptural examples of how this gift may be utilized:

Revelation of the enemy's plans: 2 Kings 6:9 -12

Encouragement by revealing the Divine perspective: 1 Kings 19:14 -18

Exposure of hypocrisy and corruption: 2 Kings 5:20 -27; Acts 5:3

To reveal hidden knowledge in general: 1 Sam. 9:19, 10:22

To reveal hidden knowledge or hidden thoughts of a man's heart, especially in prophetic preaching or prophetic evangelism: John 2:24, 4:18-19, 29; 1
Cor. 14:24 - 25

Where it is concentrated:

This gift is especially useful in evangelism, intercession, and personal ministry such as deliverance. This is why it is most often seen in the ministry of prophetic people and those who pray for the sick and oppressed.

What is it?

The Greek phrase means: "workings of powers"

"Powers" here is the plural of the ordinary word for the supernatural power Jesus promised to send us: dunamis.

"Workings" (energemata) means an "energizing" or an "effect" - this word is also used in verses 6 ("diversities of operations") and 11 ("the Spirit works all these things").

Other New Testament words for miraculous powers include "wonders" (teras - something so strange as to cause it to be observed) and "signs" (semeion - something by which a person is known and distinguished from another). All three were attributed to Jesus in Acts 2:22.

Categories of miracles (not an exhaustive list):

Nature miracles, including miracles demonstrating God's mastery over the elements, heavenly bodies, and miracles of provision and multiplication

Miracles of healing (as opposed to gifts of healings, remedies, or cures)

Raising of the dead

Execution of the judgments of God or the exercise of His Authority

Signs to confirm the Gospel or display God's greatness (Mark 16:20)

More specific teaching on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Gifts!