Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. I Corinthians 12:1-11 (KJV)

There has been much said about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, not all of it correct. For the next several days, we’re going to discuss the gifts of the Spirit and do our best to clear up any misconceptions.

According to I Corinthians 12:7, the gifts of the Spirit are given by the Holy Spirit to profit all. In I Corinthians 12:1, Paul stated that he does not want us to be ignorant of spiritual gifts. God wants us to know about spiritual gifts and how to operate in them. Since Christ does not change, these gifts remain for the church even now. According to I Corinthians 12:7, God wants them to be in operation in the lives of all believers until Jesus returns. If He did not intend it to be so, He would not say that they are for every man (believer).

I Corinthians 14:1 says that we are to follow charity (love) and desire spiritual gifts. We are not to despise, or shun, spiritual gifts. When we are taught the truth of the Word about the gifts of the Spirit, we will understand them and desire them.As we learn their purpose and how to operate in them, we will flow in those gifts in the church and in our personal lives.

Let me make clear that gifts are given and fruit is grown. The gifts of the Spirit are different from the fruit of the Spirit. However, as we grow in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), we mature in Christ-like character, thus grasping more fully what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be used for. Jesus had developed the fruit of the Spirit and thus operated correctly in the gifts of the Spirit. He set an example for us to follow.

The fruit is for character. The gifts are for power. As we grow in and walk in godly character, we are able to handle God’s power and gifts correctly. As the fruit of the Spirit is produced in us, we love others and want to meet their needs. Through the gifts, we demonstrate God’s love, life, and power. The gifts enable us to minister to hurting people. We can only give what God gives to us, so we need to desire and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Tomorrow, we’ll continue this discussion on the gifts of the Spirit, and we’ll continue to lay the groundwork needed for us to dig deeper into each gift.