What are the Gifts of the Spirit?

The list of Bible verses on gifts of the Spirit below help us to understand the role we play within the body of Christ. God equips every Christian with gifts of the spirit to enable their devotion to God and to build up the church for Christian service.

The first mention of spiritual gifts is in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah prophesied that the Spirit of the Lord would rest upon the messiah, empowering him with spiritual gifts to fulfill God’s mission. The early church believed that these same gifts of the Spirit were imparted to followers of Jesus at baptism, enabling our devotion to God.

The apostle Paul taught that spiritual fruit was produced in followers of Jesus when they repented of sin and submitted their lives to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit are Christian virtues that demonstrate the life of Christ through faithful followers of Jesus. They are contrary to the fruit of the flesh that result when people live to satisfy their own selfish desires apart from God.

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul states that Jesus gave gifted people to the church to equip the saints for the work of ministry. Some refer to these gifted leaders as the five fold ministries of the church. People who serve in these roles equip other believers to carry out God’s mission in the world by advancing the gospel to unreached people groups (apostles), calling Christians to repent of their sins and to live for Christ (prophets), sharing the good news of salvation through faith in Jesus (evangelists), caring for the spiritual needs of God’s people (pastors) and teaching Christian doctrine (teachers).

When people are not operating in all five strategic ministries the church begins to stagnate: capitulating to secular culture, becoming insular by withdrawing from the world, losing its zeal for spiritual practices and falling into heresy.

Peter speaks of spiritual gifts in two broad categories - speaking for God and serving God which are often seen as the primary responsibilities of two offices within the church - elders who teach Christian doctrine to build up the church, and deacons who serve God and others.

The spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 are gifts of grace, given by God to encourage the church. These gifts are reflections of God’s grace expressed through individuals by the power of the Holy Spirit. These gifts are given by God to those whom he chooses. Paul taught the church in Corinth to pray for spiritual gifts, asking specifically for the “higher” gifts so that the church might be effective in its witness to the world. 

Every Christian has a role to play within God’s divine plan. God empowers his people with spiritual gifts to equip them in their service to him. The church is healthiest when everyone is using their gifts for the mutual edification of God’s people.

I hope that the following Bible verses about the gifts of the Spirit will help you find your place in the church and empower you to live a life fully devoted to God. After taking time to read through these verses on spiritual gifts, try out this online spiritual gifts inventory.

The Gifts of the Spirit

Isaiah 11:1-3

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

1. Wisdom

2. Understanding

3. Counsel

4. Fortitude (Might)

5. Knowledge

6. Piety (Devotion - Delight in the Lord)

7. Fear of the Lord

Romans 12:4-8 

For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

1. Prophecy

2. Serving

3. Teaching

4. Exhortation

5. Giving

6. Leadership

7. Mercy

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

1. Word of wisdom

2. Word of knowledge

3. Faith

4. Gifts of healing

5. Miracles

6. Prophecy

7. Distinguishing between spirits

8. Tongues

9. Interpretation of tongues

1 Corinthians 12:27-30

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.

1. Apostle

2. Prophet

3. Teacher

4. Miracles

5. Gifts of healings

6. Helps

7. Administration

8. Tongues

1 Peter 4:10-11

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen

1. Gifts of Speaking

2. Gifts of Serving

Ephesians 4:11-16

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

1. Apostles

2. Prophets

3. Evangelists

4. Shepherds

5. Teachers

The Holy Spirit is poured out, enabling spiritual gifts

Joel 2:28

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

Acts 2:1-4

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

1. Love

2. Joy

3. Peace

4. Patience

5. Kindness

6. Goodness

7. Faithfulness

8. Gentleness

9. Self-Control

A Prayer for Gifts of the Spirit

Heavenly Father,

All good things come from you. You are the giver of every good and perfect gift. You know our needs before we ask, and are faithful to give good gifts to your children. You love your church and are preparing us for every good work in Christ Jesus.

I confess that I am not always a good steward of your gifts of grace. I get distracted by the cares of the world and my own selfish desires. Please forgive me for my self-centeredness, and help me to live a life fully devoted to you.

Thank you for the gifts of grace you have given to me. I receive your Spirit, and the gifts you provide to build up your church.

Please give me (specific gifts) to help me build up the church for Christian service.

Help me to know your specific will for my life, and the role I am to play within your church. Help me to use the gifts you have already given me to build up your church and to advance your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Help me to stay focused on your plans and not get discouraged by the enemy who seeks to steal what belongs to you: my love, my devotion, my gifts, and my service.

In Jesus name I pray. Amen