21: Common Ways the Holy Spirit Manifests Himself in All Believers – Gifting (Part One)

Three passages in Scripture speak about spiritual gifts that are given to all believers, but only one attributes these gifts to the Holy Spirit.

^{Romans 12:3} For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

^{1 Peter 4:10} Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

^{1 Corinthians 12:4} There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. ⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸ To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. ¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

To be fair, each member of the Trinity contributes to the gifting. Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians 12 that each gift is a “manifestation” of the Spirit that He distributes, the Lord Jesus determines the service in which that gift is used, and the Father determines the effectiveness of that gift. So, for example, Louisa Woosley had a speaking/teaching gift that she used as an evangelist and led many to Christ (gift, service, effect). Her ministry in Memphis, TN reaped a number of converts who became formed into the Central Cumberland Presbyterian church, which still is going strong today in Collierville, TN, as an independent church. Billy Graham had a speaking/teaching gift that he also used as an evangelist and led millions to Christ. Two similar gifts, similar services, and widely different effects.

Because the Spirit inhabits every believer, it is as if He is the soul or spirit of one body with many parts or members. His abilities are distributed as He sees fit to each individual believer to make him or her function as a needed ability for the body. Each community of believers needs a multiplicity of abilities which the Spirit provides through the various individuals in that community. It is not unlikely that the gift you receive, the responsibility you have thereby in the church, is one the Holy Spirit developed in you from birth, as we may rightly say that He is the source of all human ability.

It appears that the gifts He gives are more or less permanent and characterize that person for all his or her life. This does not mean that the Spirit cannot, at times, gift us temporarily as needed for His purposes. That’s why Paul says,

^{1 Corinthians 12:27} Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?

The expected answer to Paul’s questions is, “No.” Not everyone has the same gifts. Every gift is essential to the proper working of the community of faith, but some gifts in some services are more critically needed in the community. Apostles have multiple gifts and extraordinary authority and impact. Prophets have the gift of prophecy, the gift of being able to hear from God and communicate His message. Teachers have the gift of teaching, the ability to explain the truth to God’s people.