Do you know what spiritual gifts God has given you? If so, consider yourself truly blessed and you need read no further. However, if you are among the many Christians who have a hidden treasure inside of them that they have yet to unwrap, this helpful outline will enable you to identify your spiritual gifts, and realize that in order to fully operate and flow in your ministry and in the Kingdom of God you must have a clear understanding of spiritual gifts.

The Bible says, "Now concerning spiritual gifts... I would not have you ignorant... 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 and verses 4-11)

What are Spiritual Gifts?

The word charisma is a Greek word which means "spiritual gift" it is also what the church refers to as "sign gifts." Jesus said, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:16 KJV)

Are spiritual gifts for everyone?

Yes, the manifestation of the Spirit [spiritual gifts] is given to every man to profit withal. (I Corinthians 12:7) Understand that whenever the gifts of the spirit are flowing in an atmosphere in which the people of the Most High God are on one accord everyone present will benefit or profit from that particular gift being in operation. In I Corinthians 12:11, we find that God distributes spiritual gifts to each one individually according to His divine will. Only He can clearly and accurately see and prove who will be most suitable in what capacity.

Diversities of Gifts and Operations

The nine gifts of the Spirit are manifested into three groups: revelation, power, and inspiration. Remember there are diversities of spiritual gifts but all three groups flow from the exact same Source: the Holy Ghost.

Revelation Gifts

Revelation gifts are facts concerning a person, place, thing, or condition that an individual would have no way of knowing except by divine revelation. Within this category there is the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and discerning of spirits.

1) The word of wisdom is a prophetic word telling something that has not happened yet but will manifest in the future. Again, this revelation is given under the anointing of the Holy Ghost, not from something that just pops in your head.

2) The word of knowledge is having revelation of a fact that has already occurred or is presently in existence without having seen it, heard it, or being given any previous knowledge concerning the matter.

3) The discerning of spirits has to do with discerning what spirit or spirits are present or are dwelling with an individual, unveiling whether it is a godly presence or demonic spirits in activation, or discerning by divine revelation whether it is simply human behavior or a natural reaction to the given circumstance.

Power Gifts

The gifts of power are spiritual gifts that demonstrate an immediate manifestation of deliverance brought about by supernatural faith, the gifts of healing, and the working of miracles.

1) The gift of faith operates in the areas of divine protection and divine provision in which God gloriously and amazingly shows forth His mighty hand in your behalf as a result of you laying hold to the power flowing through the vein of unlimited faith.

2) Through the ministry of the "gifts" of healing God gives His vessels specific gifts of healing whereby they are anointed to pray for specific diseases or afflictions and individuals are healed by the power of God. However, Jesus is the only one in the Bible who flowed consistently and perfectly in all gifts of healing every time, in every situation, for anyone in need of any type of healing.

3) The gift of the working of miracles is a supernatural intervention by God in the ordinary course of nature. God will either move through a person, or an animal, (God spoke through the mouth of an animal in Numbers 22:21-31) or He will move through an object such as in II Kings 2:8, "Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two [he and Elisha] went over on dry ground." The working of miracles is God using a person, place, or thing to perform in a way in which they or it could not normally perform or operate in.

Gifts of Inspiration

The gifts of inspiration consist of prophecy, speaking in divers kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.

1) In Corinthians 14:3 , we find that the gift of prophecy is for edification, exhortation, and comfort. Remember a God-inspired prophecy will always do one of these three things: edify, exhort, or comfort. Edify means to instruct or benefit morally or spiritually; to uplift. Exhort means to give urgent advice, recommendations, or warnings. And to comfort means to soothe, console, or reassure; bring cheer to; support or encourage.

NOTE: The gift of prophecy and the office of a prophet are two totally different functions. A prophet or prophetess is the direct mouthpiece of God. They deliver the "precise" message that God has spoken. Whereas the gift of prophecy operates under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and according to the unique style and ministerial ability of the individual.

2) The gift of tongues is not the same prayer language of tongues that comes with the infilling of the Holy Ghost as in Acts 2:4. Neither is speaking in divers kinds of tongues a learned or practiced skill. It has nothing to do with the human brain or natural comprehension.

The presence of the Lord is ushered in through the anointed speaking of divers kinds of tongues, or in other words the anointed speaking of different unknown languages, thereby charging the atmosphere for a more powerful and greater move of God, which makes it easier for the other gifts of the spirit to flow also.

The Bible says, "For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God." And wherever people are magnifying God you are guaranteed to see the yoke destroying power of God in full operation! Divers kinds of tongues can be spoken in languages to release the spirit of praise, the spirit of worship, or spiritual warfare.

3) The interpretation of tongues follows a specific message delivered by the Holy Ghost which has been spoken through the gift of tongues being in operation. The essence of the message would be a divine interpretation of a word sent from God calling for a specific action to take place in the midst of His people.

May God continue to empower you for greatest. And may your life be richly bless as you walk in total obedience to the Holy Ghost, ever flowing in the gifts of the Spirit!