What are the gifts of the Spirit?

The nine gifts, in plain words

Word of wisdom: God gives you the right answer for a situation you couldn’t have figured out.

Word of knowledge: God shows you something about a person or situation you had no natural way of knowing.

Faith: a sudden, supernatural confidence that God will do something specific.

Gifts of healing: God heals people through your prayer.

Miracles: God does something only He could do.

Prophecy: a message from God, spoken to build up, encourage and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3).

Distinguishing between spirits: knowing whether something is from God, from a person, or from the enemy.

Tongues: a message in a language you never learned.

Interpretation of tongues: God gives the meaning of a message in tongues, so the church understands.

How to find and use your gift

Ask. Paul says to “eagerly desire the greater gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31). Serve where there is need, and watch what God does through you. Let mature believers confirm it. And use every gift with love; without love, it is just noise (1 Corinthians 13:1–2).

Other gifts

Scripture also names gifts like serving, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading and mercy (Romans 12:6–8), and gives leaders to equip the church (Ephesians 4:11–12). Every believer has at least one (1 Peter 4:10).

What the Bible says

1. 01

   The nine gifts.

   “There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.”

   1 Corinthians 12:4–11
2. 02

   Eagerly desire them.

   “Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit. But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.”

   1 Corinthians 14:1–5
3. 03

   More gifts.

   “We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith; if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

   Romans 12:6–8
4. 04

   Use your gift.

   “As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”

   1 Peter 4:10–11
5. 05

   Get up and walk.

   “One afternoon Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those entering the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked directly at him, as did John. “Look at us!” said Peter. So the man gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk! ” Taking him by the right hand, Peter helped him up, and at once the man’s feet and ankles were made strong. He sprang to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and leaping and praising God.”

   Acts 3:1–8
6. 06

   Without love.

   “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

   1 Corinthians 13:1–3

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.