We share the 1 Corinthians 12 Spiritual Gifts, also called manifestation gifts, with others to enrich their lives. Sometimes you will be the one to share the gift and sometimes you will receive it from another. The Holy Spirit can drop these gems on us at any time. It can happen during prayer or when you are shopping in the mall. It’s up to Him.
The cool thing about God is, He gives us these gifts no matter how we live our lives. Exercising them or receiving them doesn’t validate our maturity. Love and its fruits are the true measure of a person. (Galatians 5:22)
Check out your Ephesians 4 spiritual gifts and Romans 12 gifts too.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. (1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
Manifestation Gifts
Words of Wisdom
Applied knowledge. Applied understanding. We read our bible and understand stories and concepts. Words of wisdom help us apply that knowledge in a specific situation. Our lives are like an ikea box full of furniture parts. The directions are like understanding the Word of God. The ability to apply the directions and assemble the parts is wisdom.
For Example- Once I caught a friend in a lie. Afterwards, I lay down thinking, “how could she?” A thought eclipsed my thinking, “Haven’t I forgiven you for much more?” I gulped down my pride and forgave.
Forgiveness is a basic concept in Christianity. Sometimes I am blind in applying it.
Words of Knowledge
Knowing something you didn’t know a second ago. But your natural mind didn’t figure it out.
For Example- You wake to a giant to-do list. You take a moment to pray and automatically know which few things to tackle for the day. God loves sharing His plans with us. Or you pray with someone and a scripture pops into your mind to share with them.
Gift of Faith
Knowing suddenly, with unbreakable assurance, God will meet a particular desire or need. It may happen today or twenty years from now. Prayers during the waiting period for this miracle prayers are bursting with thanks.
For Example- We’ve been praying for years for a family member to know God. One day I just knew in my gut that it’s a done deal. Prayers continue and circumstances change but my assurance is unwavering.
Gifts of Healing
A desire and ability to pray and see others healed. Helping others through the process of spiritual, emotional or physical healing. The greek word for healing used here means remedy.
People with this gift may be employed in the healthcare, therapy or counseling fields. Some serve in ministries with a strong desire to see people healed physically, emotionally and spiritually.
For example- this example is two fold. A doctor from NJ regularly fasts and prays for his patients. First, he diligently uses his knowledge of medicine to serve his patients. Second, he prays and fasts for them as God prompts his heart. He mentioned several miraculous healings for patients who had an otherwise poor prognosis.
P.S. God has secret weapons all over the world. And you are one of them.
Working of Miracles
God can alter the laws of nature to encourage us to believe in Him. He can part a sea, calm a storm, make wine out of nothing but water, and raise a dead man, to name a few.
As with most gifts, we grow in the grace of giving them. If we want to see big miracles we must be willing to serve in small humble areas.
Do you believe God can raise the dead? Me too.
This guy actually does it!
If we want to raise the dead, we can start by resurrecting the nearest and dirtiest bathroom. When we are willing to serve God in the smallest tasks, we may just witness Him alter the physical laws of nature.
Prophecy
Words and pictures given by God’s Spirit to warn, comfort and reveal His Kingdom to others. It means predicting but, shouldn’t be confused with fortune telling.
Often a prophetic word will confirm something God is already speaking to someone.
If you receive a prophetic word and it doesn’t sound familiar, pop it in your pocket and let God reveal more about it. We shouldn’t focus on it as our compass. Knowing what can potentially happen in the future is fun. But stay your gaze on Jesus. He will work out the details.
Discernment of Spirits
A knowing inside about another’s’ intentions or motivations. We may become a little judgy with this gift. But if we filter everything through love, we all benefit.
Also, with this gift we may sense the presence of the demonic. People with this gift may experience a “heavy” feeling inside in certain environments.
For example: A woman went to visit a friend of a friend. She felt extremely uneasy in the home and wanted to leave as soon as possible. She found out later a horrible crime was committed there.
Tongues
The ability to pray in another language, but unable to understand what you said. Most of the time we only pray like this in private, building up our spirit. We can, however, pray like this in public. But only if there is someone with the gift of interpreting our words. Some people with the gift of tongues also have the gift of interpreting tongues.
Interpretation of Tongues
Understanding the meaning of someone’s prayer language (tongues). But it’s a language different from the language(s) you speak. Tongues and interpretation of tongues working together is much like a prophetic word only delivered in this unique way.
Give Your Love Away
We give gifts for lots of reasons, but the best giving is done for those we love. Yes, desire these gifts with gusto. But pursue loving others with all we’ve got. (1 Corinthians 14:1)
Obligatory giving, or giving to make the giver look awesome, jolts us like an annoying car horn announcing someone’s presence. Gifts mixed with love and thoughtfulness to the other person are different. They feel like the sound of lapping lake waves and whirls of wind in the spring leaves calming a weary soul. You see the person. You know the person and you care for them.
Giving a gift is not about us. Its about the person we are giving to. Sometimes we feel so awesome about giving gifts we forget who its for and Who it came from. Pride can sneak in and bust up the whole party. Love, sincere love, is the antidote.
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