The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: an introduction

Admin
Sep 1
4 min read

Updated: Sep 18

Get ready for a wild ride. This topic has created more controversy, split more congregations, and caused more arguments among believers than any other subject that I am aware of. Paul sprinkled the various “gifts” of the Holy Spirit throughout his writings, but none have divided the Church more than the list we find in I Cor. 12:4-11. The purpose of this blog post is not to debate whether these “gifts” are needed or necessary. We will not discuss if they are still valid or still exist. However, we will touch on their purpose and why they were given.

What are “Gifts?”

When we think about gifts, the first thing that is likely to come to mind is Christmas, your birthday, an anniversary or wedding, or even a baby shower. Those are the normal occasions for which we give or receive gifts. The interesting thing about getting a gift is that there is an element of ownership after you receive it. That becomes a problem when we apply that same principle to spiritual gifts. The door is opened to judgment, jealousy, elitism, and pride. None of these are in keeping with the intent of the “gifts” that were given.

The truth of the matter is this: when Paul wrote I Corinthians, he did not use the word “gifts.” The original language simply says, “Now, concerning spirituals…” or things of the Spirit. The implication here is that the list that follows described the spiritual manifestations or functions of the Holy Spirit in the normal operation of the gatherings of believers. The term “gifts” is a mistranslation or a word added to help the reader understand what was being referred to in the passage. By viewing these as functions rather than possessions, it will make dealing with these actions a lot easier.

Functions of the Holy Spirit

Functions are different from manifestations. Each one has its own connotation, which is the feeling or the cultural meaning attached to the word. The term “manifestation” often conjures up the image of something magical or mystical. That is often how we view the way the Holy Spirit operates in church gatherings.

Functions, on the other hand, speak to the given purpose or the intended use of something. There is nothing magical about functions. Functions are practical and able to be explained. When the Holy Spirit is active in a gathering of believers, there is a distinct purpose for his activity. If we are able to view the Holy Spirit’s interactions with us from that viewpoint, we will better be able to appreciate the work that is being done at that moment.

Purposes

It is imperative that we understand that these functions of the Holy Spirit are for God’s purposes not our own. In I Cor. 12:7, Paul says that these special times are given for the common good. That is to say that when the Holy Spirit functions during a gathering of believers it is for the benefit of everyone present (I Pet. 4:10).

Paul also says that the manifestations of the Holy Spirit are meant to build up or edify the entire church. On the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit filled that upper room with wind and tongues of fire, the result was the birth of the Church as we know it. The coming of the Holy Spirit gave birth to and built the church in Jerusalem not only in numbers but also in their faith. The same thing can be said about the normal functioning of the Holy Spirit in our meetings today. The purpose of the “gifts” is to help believers mature in their faith, to prepare them for works of service, and to glorify God.

At no point in time, however, are these things of the Spirit to be used to draw attention to a particular individual. The gifts, as we call them, are not meant to be used as bragging rights. They should always point to God and give evidence of his work among us. Anything less simply leads to chaos.

Responsible Usage

In I Cor. 12:31, Paul issues the directive to earnestly desire or seek the greater gifts. In the next verse, we then find what is referred to as the “love chapter.” It should be noted that Paul makes a direct connection between the functions (gifts) of the Spirit with the fruit of the Spirit. Any and all use of these spiritual graces (the word “gift” in I Cor. 12:31 is the same word for “grace”) is to be done in love, which is the greatest gift we can give one another.

For far too long the “gifts” have been used as a measuring stick for spirituality. When the Holy Spirit is functioning properly in a local body, there is no bragging, no superiority, and no judgment. The Holy Spirit was given to the Church to bring unity, wholeness, and an intimacy with God that had never been experienced before. If we allow the Holy Spirit to move through our lives, our actions, and interactions within our gatherings as he wants to, we will experience God in ways we have never known. That is Father’s heart, and that should be our desire.

Let us earnestly desire the greater gifts…

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®