Spiritual Gifts

God gives many gifts to His children. Who are the children of God? Christians. Who are Christians? Disciples of Christ. Those who continue in His Word, have faith in Christ, who have His Spirit (the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Comforter) and obey Him:

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;” John 8:31

 

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26

 

“And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.” Acts 5:32

 

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9

So, Christians are the children of God, and they receive spiritual gifts.

After Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, He went to the Father in Heaven and gave us gifts:

“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Ephesians 4:8

So, the gifts come from God. There are many gifts, and not all Christians have all the gifts, but God gives each Christian gifts according to His will:

“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:4

 

“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.” 1 Corinthians 12 :7-11

So faith is one of the gifts. It should be noted that all Christians have at least one gift and that is the gift of faith; that is, faith in Christ Jesus. This is emphasized by the following scriptures:

“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26 and

“Now the just shall live by faith…” Hebrews 10:38

and

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

So God distributes the gifts to every man severally as he will:

“Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” 1 Corinthians 12:30

God also distributes the gifts to “profit withal” and so that the church may be edified:

“Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:12

and

“I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.” 1 Corinthians 14:5

We are also instructed to desire and covet the gifts:

“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1

and

“But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31

In regards tongues, there are some specific instructions:

“Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:39

and

“I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.” 1 Corinthians 14:5

and

“If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.” 1 Corinthians 14: 27-28