What are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit?

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are supernatural gifts available to all Christians. Paul says that he does not want us to be ignorant about these. Thus, these are significant gifts, gifts that we should desire to have.

Many Christians are aware of the fruit of the Spirit but are ignorant of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. While the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—as mentioned in Galatians 5:22, the gifts are given below—from Corinthians 12:1, 8-11.

…for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit,
to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gift of healing by the same Spirit,
to another the working of miracles,
to another prophecy,
to another discerning of spirits,
to another different kind of tongues,
to another the interpretation of tongues.

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (Corinthians 12:1, 8-11)

We have 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit to desire for and to earnestly understand. These gifts enrich life and make us experience the goodness of God. The Gifts of the Spirit can be classified into 3 key categories viz.
The Gifts of Revelation,
The Gifts of Inspiration &
The Gifts of Power.
After understanding these gifts, we can start noticing the various people who flow in these gifts. As we see them, we get encouraged to desire these in a stronger manner.

The 3 Gifts of Revelation

1. The Word of Wisdom: A greater understanding of heaven’s purpose will come through as an understanding that is not from persevering but by a quick knowing of heaven’s perspective, in other words, a supernatural revelation; once you get it, you will inherently know the beauty of that perspective. The source of this is the Holy Spirit. This gift helps in resolving and bringing solutions to difficult problems and situations. Amazes the hearer. Remember, there is a solution for everything in and through God’s Spirit.

2. The Word of Knowledge: Is heaven’s perspective, which comes as a download of insight from the vast and fathomless deep mind of God. Knowing this will also point to God, as it’s impossible to arrive at the heavenly plan – simply called supernatural knowing. This can be knowing specific details of people’s lives, organizations, homes, families, etc. When these are shared, it blows away the mind of the recipient. Brings great comfort to the all-knowing God.

3. Discerning of Spirits: Understanding the presence and roles of the spirits and the intentions that drive them. This heavenly king empowers one to the right response required.

The 3 Gifts of Inspiration

4. Prophecy: Essentially seeing from God’s perspective what can potentially happen to a person as per God’s plan and perspective for the person. This is all about the future. The very nature of prophecy is a gleaning into what the future can hold for a person when he’s willing to step into God’s perspective. The purpose of Prophecy is to edify, exhort and comfort man without being limited to what’s seen, known, or the existing circumstances. It’s like a cool, refreshing drink in the wilderness. It’s not conceived by the human mind but comes from the throne room of God.

5. Diverse Tongues: This is an utterance, but not in the languages known to man – a supernatural language of the spirit. Do read the next one.

6. Interpretation of Tongues: This is a supernatural capability to interpret what’s mentioned as “Diverse tongues” into a language understood by people. It’s a capability to understand what the Holy Spirit is saying through people who have this gift so that it’s understood & appreciated by others.

The 3 Gifts of Power

7. Gift of Faith: Faith is a gift. This gift helps one to believe what’s not seen, and believe beyond what’s typically expected. One is not limited by what’s known to man, medical science, etc. The more one is sensitive to this gift, one can experience this. This is a supernatural ability to believe God without any doubt, not giving to any reasoning or logic, science, etc.

8. Gift of Healing: People having this gift are able to heal in the name of Jesus Christ. This can be healing from common cold to cancer. What medical science can’t is also healed. There are very many records of healings happening across the nations every day. This can happen in one to one ministering, ministering across telephone or zoom and even without the sick person being aware of it. Long distance prayer healing. Healing by even shadow, healing by recorded TV programmes are happening these days.

9. The Working of Miracles: It is the supernatural power that will intervene in the ordinary course of nature and counteract natural laws if necessary.

As Christians, we need to desire these and have a lifestyle of flowing in these gifts. Thus, the Gifts of the Spirit are to continue to work through us for the benefit of people around us. Desire it & walk in it.

Don’t deny the world around you the blessings that you are meant to be.