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What Are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and What is Their Purpose? – Viral Believer
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What Are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and What is Their Purpose?

Introduction

As a Pentecostal and Charismatic Christian, the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives is paramount. We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts that He gives us. These gifts are special abilities or powers that are given to us by the Holy Spirit, through faith in Jesus Christ.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to us for the purpose of building up the Church, spreading the Gospel, and bringing glory to God.

In this blog post, we will explore what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are and what their purpose is according to the Bible. We will look at the different categories of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, their importance, and how they are meant to be used.

We will also discuss how to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the importance of unity in the Church when it comes to using the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Our hope is that this blog post will provide insight into the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and how we can effectively use the gifts of the Holy Spirit for the edification of the Church and the spread of the Gospel.

Holy Spirit in the Bible

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

In 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, the Apostle Paul writes,

“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.”

These gifts can be categorized into three groups: gifts of revelation, gifts of power, and gifts of utterance.

The gifts of revelation are the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and discerning of spirits. The gifts of power are faith, healing, and miracles. The gifts of utterance are prophecy, tongues, and interpretation of tongues.

Gifts of Revelation

The gifts of revelation are given to us for the purpose of revealing knowledge that we would not otherwise know. The word of wisdom is a gift that enables us to understand the deeper things of God, His ways, and His purposes.

The word of knowledge is a gift that enables us to understand things that are not readily apparent, such as the thoughts, feelings, or needs of others. The discerning of spirits is a gift that enables us to distinguish between the Holy Spirit and other spirits that may be at work, such as demonic or human spirits.

These gifts are important in the life of the Church because they enable us to have insight into situations that we would not otherwise have.

Gifts of Power

The gifts of power are given to us for the purpose of demonstrating the power of God. Faith is a gift that enables us to trust in God and believe that He will do what He has promised. Healing is a gift that enables us to pray for the sick and see them recover.

Miracles are a gift that enables us to see God’s power at work in supernatural ways. These gifts are important in the life of the Church because they enable us to demonstrate the reality of God’s power to a world that desperately needs to see it.

Gifts of Utterance

The gifts of utterance are given to us for the purpose of speaking forth the Word of God. Prophecy is a gift that enables us to speak a message from God that is relevant to the situation at hand.

Tongues is a gift that enables us to speak in a language that we do not know, but that is understood by others who speak that language. Interpretation of tongues is a gift that enables us to understand and interpret the message that is being spoken in tongues.

These gifts are important in the life of the Church because they enable us to communicate the Word of God in ways that are relevant and meaningful to those who hear it.

The Purpose of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The purpose of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is to build up the Church and bring glory to God. In 1 Corinthians 12:7, Paul says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to us for the common good of the Church. They are meant to be used to serve and help others, not to bring attention to ourselves.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are also given to us to spread the Gospel. In Mark 16:15, Jesus commands His disciples, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” The gifts of the Holy Spirit are a powerful tool for evangelism.

They can help us to communicate the Gospel in a way that people can understand and receive it.

The gift of tongues, for example, can help us to communicate with people who speak different languages, and the gift of prophecy can help us to speak a message from God that can convict people of sin and lead them to repentance.

Finally, the gifts of the Holy Spirit bring glory to God. In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul says, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

When we use the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we are demonstrating the power and presence of God in our lives. People will see the impact that the Holy Spirit has on us and be drawn to God.

How to Receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

In Acts 2:38, Peter says, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

The first step in receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit is to be born again. (John 3:3-8) Once we have done this, we can ask God to fill us with His Holy Spirit and give us the gifts that He has for us.

In 1 Corinthians 14:1, Paul says, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.” The second step in receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit is to desire them. We must have a heart that is open to receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit and a desire to use them for the benefit of others.

In Luke 11:13, Jesus says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

The third step in receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit is to ask for them. We can ask God to fill us with His Holy Spirit and give us the gifts that He has for us.

Using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

In 1 Corinthians 14:12, Paul says, “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to us for the purpose of edifying the Church. We must use them in a way that builds up and strengthens the Body of Christ.

In 1 Peter 4:10-11, Peter says,

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

We must use the gifts of the Holy Spirit as good stewards of the grace of God, speaking the words of God and ministering with the ability that God has given us. In doing so, we bring glory to God and build up His Church.

In 1 Corinthians 14:26, Paul says, “Let all things be done unto edifying.” When we use the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we must ensure that everything we do is done with the purpose of edifying the Church. We must use the gifts in a way that brings people closer to God and helps them to grow in their faith.

The Importance of Unity in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

In 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, Paul says,

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.”

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to us for the purpose of building up the Church, and we must work together in unity to accomplish this goal.

In 1 Corinthians 12:25-27, Paul says,

“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

We must have the same care for one another and work together in unity as members of the Body of Christ.

In Ephesians 4:11-13, Paul says,

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to us for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ. We must work together in unity until we all come to the knowledge of the Son of God.

Conclusion

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are an important part of the Christian life. They are given to us by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of building up the Church, spreading the Gospel, and bringing glory to God. It is important to remember that these gifts are not given for personal gain or to show off, but for the edification of the Church.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to us for the purpose of revealing knowledge, demonstrating the power of God, and speaking forth the Word of God. We must desire the gifts, ask for them, and use them in a way that brings glory to God and builds up His Church.

We must work together in unity as members of the Body of Christ, using the gifts of the Holy Spirit for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ.

When we do this, we demonstrate the power and presence of God in our lives, and people will be drawn to God. May we all use the gifts of the Holy Spirit for His glory and for the good of His Church.

Pastor Duke Taber
Pastor Duke Taber

Pastor Duke Taber

All articles have been written or reviewed by Pastor Duke Taber.
Pastor Duke Taber is an alumnus of Life Pacific University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary.
He has been in pastoral ministry since 1988.
Today he is the owner and managing editor of 3 successful Christian websites that support missionaries around the world.
He is currently starting a brand new church in Mesquite NV called Mesquite Worship Center, a Non-Denominational Spirit Filled Christian church in Mesquite Nevada.