Now concerning (the) spiritual (gifts), brothers (and sisters), I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
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 Corinthians 12:1-11
Here in this translation the word ‘gifts’ is added to the word ‘spiritual’ when there really is only one Greek word ‘pneumatikos’ meaning ‘relating to the realm of the Spirit’ or the invisible spiritual realm. If you are indwelled by His Holy Spirit then you should learn His gifts and how He moves in you and through you for His purposes. He works in you by His Presence to establish His garden of fruits into your character (Galatians 5:22-23). He can move through you by His ‘gifts’ to establish the will of Jesus to those around you. Getting to know specifically how He works within you and moves through you is important to understand for your own spiritual maturity, so that you might identify Him clearly and not mistake Him for something else. We need to discern early and learn to fully recognize His Voice within us. Spiritual immaturity can cause one to follow another ‘voice’ whether it be their own inner voice or another voice from an enemy of God, and mistakenly call it “the voice of God”. Unfortunately this is a dangerous practice and manifestation I have seen way too often especially in the religious meetings in the institutional ‘Church’. We all need discernment on what His Will is for us in the moment, with a clear discerning recognition of His Voice. The enemies of God will also ‘fake’ the gifts of the Spirit to mislead others for evil purposes.
Immaturity also will not be attentive to His wishes and often has very bad timing. So there is a need of the new believers to not be ‘uninformed’ and naïve about the things of the spiritual realm and the giftings and moves of the Spirit of God, and that is why Paul spells it out in this passage to the believers in The Way in Corinth. And again, Paul’s words have created great controversy throughout the centuries within the ranks of the professional “spiritual leaders” and academics especially when is comes to the things of the Holy Spirit. Eventually many academics and professional spiritual leaders just dismiss these gifts and declare that they ended with the last apostle and misinterpret some other of Paul’s statements to ‘prove’ their case. Yet all over the world in many diverse places everyday the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still being manifest for the glory of God.
I was healed by the Spirit of God in 1974 of acute myelogenous leukemia (a cancer of the bone marrow and blood), with zero medication or procedures. I was diagnosed to be in the later stages of the disease. So I know personally that God still DOES miracles. And I have met MANY others who also have personally encountered and received miracles in their own lives. The move of the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit are STILL in operation today, no matter what the ‘academics’ say.
So to summarize … there are nine fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. And there are nine gifts of the Spirit, the gift of the Word of wisdom, the gift of the Word of knowledge, the gift of faith, the gift of healing, the gift of miracles, the gift of prophecy, the gift of distinguishing of spirits, the gift of tongues, and the gift of interpretation of tongues. The first nine work within you, the second nine will work though you. BOTH are His work and gifts, and they are NOT “yours” but His to be utilized in His time and space, by HIS power and Will. His fruit are there in your life to help you agree with His will and choice for you throughout your daily lives moment by moment. We learn these fruit by challenges we face daily, by listening to Him in how we are to respond rather than naturally react. So close intimate relationship and conversation with the indwelling Holy Spirit IS required to have His work and gifts manifest in your life.
This is the spiritual life of follower of Jesus, and a disciple of the Holy Spirit. Listening to His Voice daily should be our ever-present Guide in ALL things.
How are you doing in this area of your spiritual life?