Spiritual Gifts: God's Gifts for Today

Gifts from God's Grace

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When you belong to Jesus, God gives you more than forgiveness. He also gives you gifts to use for Him. Paul writes about them in Romans 12.

Gifts, not prizes. “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us” (Romans 12:6). Grace means God's kindness we do not deserve. A gift is given, not earned.

Everyone gets some. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (1 Corinthians 12:7). Every believer has at least one gift.

The Spirit decides. “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11). The Holy Spirit chooses which gifts each person receives.

Different gifts. “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4). Diversities means many kinds. God did not make us all the same, and that is a good thing.

Paul's list in Romans. Prophecy, serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading and showing mercy (Romans 12:6-8).

Prophecy. This means speaking a message from God that strengthens, encourages and comforts people (1 Corinthians 14:3). What is said must always agree with the Bible, and church leaders help test it.

Serving and teaching. Some people love to help in practical ways. Others love to explain God's Word so people understand it.

Encouraging and giving. Some people know just what to say to cheer someone up. Others love to share what they have “with liberality,” which means generously (12:8).

Leading and mercy. Leaders help people work together for God. People with the gift of mercy care for those who are sick, sad or lonely.

More gifts. 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 name more gifts and callings, such as wisdom, faith, healing, pastors and teachers. God gives them “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry” (Ephesians 4:12).

For today. On the day of Pentecost, Peter said God had promised to pour out His Spirit “on all flesh” (Acts 2:17). The Holy Spirit still gives gifts to believers today.

One body. “For as the body is one and has many members… so also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12). Your gift helps the whole church.

What to do. Ask God to show you your gifts. Try serving in different ways, and ask a parent or pastor what they see God doing in you.

Romans 12:6-8 is one of four lists of gifts in the New Testament, along with 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4. Each list is different, so Paul is giving examples, not a complete list.

Grace and gifts. The Greek word for gift is charisma (say: KAH-riz-mah), built on charis (say: KAH-rees), which means grace. A spiritual gift is grace in action: God's undeserved kindness working through a person for the good of others.

Given to each one (1 Corinthians 12:7). No believer is left without a gift. A gift is a “manifestation of the Spirit,” the Spirit making Himself seen through ordinary people.

As He wills (12:11). We do not pick our gifts like items from a menu. The Spirit gives them. That frees us from envy and from pride.

Prophecy (Romans 12:6). In the New Testament, prophecy is speaking a Spirit-given message that strengthens, encourages and comforts the church (1 Corinthians 14:3). It is used “in proportion to our faith,” and it is always tested against Scripture.

Ministry and teaching (12:7). Ministry here means practical service, the same word family as deacon. Teaching explains God's Word so that people can understand it and live it.

Encouraging, giving, leading, mercy (12:8). Each gift has an attitude attached: giving with generosity, leading with diligence, mercy with cheerfulness. The way a gift is used matters to God.

Leaders who equip. Ephesians 4:11-12 lists apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers, given “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry.” Leaders equip; every member serves.

Gifts for today. At Pentecost Peter quoted Joel: “I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17). The church still needs every gift the Spirit gives, used in love and in good order.

Stewards (1 Peter 4:10). “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Manifold means many-sided, like light through a prism. Each gift shows a different side of God's grace.

Gifts and fruit. Gifts are what the Spirit gives us to do; fruit is who the Spirit makes us to be (Galatians 5:22-23). A gifted person without love is like “sounding brass or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Application. Pay attention to what you love doing for others and where God seems to bless it. Ask mature believers what they see in you. Then serve faithfully where you are, even in small ways.

Used in Love, Decently and in Order

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God gives gifts, and He also tells us how to use them. Right after the list of gifts, Paul writes, “Let love be without hypocrisy” (Romans 12:9).

Love first. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). A gift without love is just noise.

What love looks like. “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Parade itself means showing off.

No bragging. Paul says not to think of yourself “more highly than he ought to think” (Romans 12:3). Gifts are not trophies. They came from God.

No comparing. “Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary” (1 Corinthians 12:22). Quiet gifts matter as much as gifts everyone sees.

For others. “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another” (1 Peter 4:10). Gifts are for blessing other people, not for making us look good.

Seek the best. “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts” (1 Corinthians 14:1). We can ask God for gifts that help His church, and we always pursue love first.

Decently and in order. “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). When the church meets, God wants gifts used in a calm, orderly way that helps everyone.

Tested by God's Word. God never gives a message that goes against the Bible. “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge” (1 Corinthians 14:29).

Growing in your gift. Gifts grow as we use them. Paul says to use them “in proportion to our faith” (Romans 12:6), so keep trusting God and keep serving, even when it feels small.

Jesus the servant. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus used His power to serve.

Fruit and gifts. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Gifts work best when the Spirit's fruit is growing in us.

Love lasts. “Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8). Gifts are tools for now, but love goes on forever.

What we learn. God's gifts are for today, and He wants them used in love, for others, and decently and in order.

What to do. Pick one way to serve someone this week without being asked, and do it quietly for Jesus.

Gifts and love belong together: love comes right after the gifts in Romans 12:9 and in 1 Corinthians 13. God never meant a gift to be used without love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Tongues, prophecy, knowledge, mountain-moving faith and even giving away everything amount to nothing without love. Love is not one gift among many; it is the way every gift must be used.

Without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9). Love “without hypocrisy” is love with no mask. Serving to be seen is acting; serving out of love is real.

Pride and comparison. The church in Corinth ranked gifts and looked down on some members. Paul answered that the parts that “seem to be weaker are necessary” (1 Corinthians 12:22). Romans 12:16 gives the same cure: “Do not be wise in your own opinion.”

Pursue love, desire gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1). Paul encourages believers to desire spiritual gifts, especially gifts that strengthen others. Gifts are for today, and believers may ask God for them with right motives.

Order in worship (14:26-33). Paul gives practical guidance: speakers take turns, a message in tongues is interpreted, and prophecies are weighed by others, “for God is not the author of confusion but of peace” (14:33).

Decently and in order (14:40). This is not a rule against the Spirit; it is how the Spirit works. God's gifts build people up and bring peace, never chaos or fear.

Weighed by Scripture. “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge” (14:29). Every message is tested by God's written Word, which never changes.

The servant pattern. Jesus “did not come to be served, but to serve” (Mark 10:45). In John 13 He washed His disciples' feet and then said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you” (John 13:34).

Fruit before display. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) is character; gifts are abilities. God cares about both, and a fruitful life makes a person's gifts trustworthy.

Love never fails (13:8). Prophecies and tongues will one day end, when we see Jesus “face to face” (13:12). Faith, hope and love remain, “but the greatest of these is love” (13:13).

Application. Before you serve, ask whether you are doing it for God and for others or to be noticed. Then serve gladly, and let God have the credit.

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