This presentation is a part of the requirement of Systematic Theology II. God has a plan and purpose for each of us. And He also has given us gifts and tools to fulfill it in our life. Identifying spiritual gifts means finding the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There are people who are unknown with their gifts. Each person is unique to others and has a different calling and task- and God has set aside distinct gifts for it. This paper gives clues about knowing what gifts which will make more preferences and inclinations towards gifts that God has granted us. As Paul says to the church of Corinth, “Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers, and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. (1 Cor. 12:1).

1. THE DEFINITION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS

The doctrine of the Holy Spirit is explicitly projected in Pauline theology. Apart from Pauline’s letters only once apostle Peter used the word gift of the Spirit in 1 Peter 4:10. The word for Spiritual gifts (Charisma) is related to the word of God or the result of God’s grace. The Charismata is the plural has three uses in the New Testament: God’s gift of salvation (Rom. 6:23); blessing, encouragement, or comfort (2 Cor. 1:11); and special ability to minister with effectiveness and power.[1] Christ and the Spirit are the gift-givers whose gifts are to be used for serving the body of Christ.[2] These gifts are sometimes categorized as remarkable gifts, miraculous gifts, special gifts, sign gifts, charismatic gifts, etc.[3] Everyone has such a gift (1 Peter 4:10), but specific gifts are reserved for individuals (1 Cor. 12:30).[4] When the gifts come in combined pairs are called “hyphenated gifts” such as the pastor-teacher.[5]

2. SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN THE FIRST CENTURY

Spiritual gifts are given by God to His people for His glory. The Holy Spirit is God, equal in power, attributes, and glory with the Father and the Son.[6] The Holy Spirit is a post-easter Gift to the Christians (Acts 2:1–4). According to the Lukan account of writings, the outpouring of the Spirit enabled the disciples to preach in foreign languages.[7] In the first century, it seems the living apostles seemed to be focused on establishing local churches (cf. Acts 14:23), gifting its ministers (2 Timothy 1:6), and receiving revelations from God. When the apostles eventually died, the function of authority rested in the local churches, led by elders, and assisted by deacons, whereas they look for guidance to use their gifts for ministry.[8]

3. SIGNIFICANCE OF KNOWING SPIRITUAL GIFTS

Not everybody in the world has spiritual gifts. But every person who is committed to Jesus and truly the body of Christ has at least one and possibly more. The first sign of knowing spiritual gifts assured me that God knows me, He loves me, and He considers me special enough to give me a personal gift so that I can serve Him.[9] As well as it will help to use the gift at its maximum use in an effective way. It helps to know our calling.[10] Additionally, knowing spiritual gifts will help us to be better Christians and will be better able to allow God to make our life purposeful for Him. It tends to develop healthy self-esteem. It opens a broader idea of understanding the church. And more than anything else it glorifies God.[11] spiritual gifts draw our attention to the Holy Spirit and to make alert us to his presence and power.[12]

4. LIST OF ALL THE GIFTS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

There are different spiritual gifts mentioned in the Bible. Those gifts are based on the good function of the church’s mission and ministry.[13] There are some passages that dissertation the gift of the Holy Spirit, such as Ephesians expresses gifts to the risen and ascended Christ, and 1 Corinthians 12 Emphasizes the Spirit’s work as the One who gives gifts. Whereas Romans 12 leaves the subject unexplained.[14] Here are some lists of the Holy Spirit’s gifts.[15]

S.N.

1 Corinthians 12, 14

Romans 12

Ephesians 4

1 Peter 4:11

Apostles

Speaking

Prophets

Prophecy

Prophets

Service

Evangelists

Pastors

Teachers

Teaching

Teachers

Exhortation

Leading

Serving

Giving

Mercy

Miracles

Healings

Helps

Administration

Tongues

Interpretation

Faith

Knowledge

Wisdom

Discernment

The list of gifts doesn’t limit to this, but it continues with the gifts of Celibacy (Matt. 19:10–12; 1 Cor. 7:7–8), Deliverance (the ability to cast out the demons and evil Spirit, Matt. 12:22–23; Luke 10:12–20; Acts 8:5–8), Discerning of Spirits (to assure whether certain behavior purported to be of God are in reality divine, human or satanic, Matt: 16:21–23; Acts 5:1–11), hospitality (Acts 16:14–15; Rom. 12:9–13), Intercession (Luke 22:41–44; Acts 12:12), leadership (Lk. 9:51; Acts 7:10), Leading worship (1 Sam. 16:23; Ps. 34:3), and Voluntary Poverty (Acts 2:44–45, 4:34–37).[16]

5. AVOIDING THE CONFUSION

As we go about discovering, developing, and using our Spiritual gifts, it is important to keep a clear head. The result of the confusion to identify the gift can cause ineffective ministry and a lack of interest. It’s like putting our feet in others’ shoes which can be either tight or loose. There are a few things that can make confusion to identify spiritual gifts.[17]

5.1 Confusion With Spiritual Gifts And Natural Talents

Every human being by virtue of being the image of God, possesses certain natural talents. Natural talents have different variations and degrees and talents are also one of the features that make a unique personality. Off course ultimately talents are given by God, but it is nothing to do with being a Christian. There are many talents who are Muslims or Hindus, Buddhists, or atheists.[18] There is a difference between talent and spiritual gifts. “It is technically incorrect and unbiblical for Christians to say that their gifts are fixing automobiles, telling jokes, painting pictures, or playing basketball.” Spiritual gifts are given for church missions inside the church and outside the church.

5.2 Confusion with The Word Charisma (Χάρισμα)

In Greek Charism refers to a gift of grace or favor. In the New Testament Charisma is used to describe a special gift or ability given by the Holy Spirit to believers to build up the church and spread God’s kingdom and glorify God. But the biblical Greek word charisma has been secularized. German sociologist, Max Weber, began to use the word “charism” to describe a certain kind of dynamic leader, which was later used for Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin or the Dalai Lama.

5.3 Can Talent Become Gifts?

Even though natural gifts are for everyone, Spiritual gifts are reserved exclusively for Christians. Until and unless believing Jesus Christ as their personal savior and taking baptism of the Holy Spirit they cannot have spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are not to be taken as dedicated natural talents. However, natural talents and spiritual gifts may have an obvious relationship in some cases. For example. God can use someone’s natural talent into spiritual gifts after being the body of Christ. At the same time, many spiritual gifts will have nothing to do with a person’s natural talents. — example of Benny Hinn as a preacher.

5.4 Confusion Between Spiritual Gifts and Fruit Of The Spirit

the fruit of Spirit are listed in Gal. 5:22–23.: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness gentleness, self-control.” The fruit of the Spirit is not for seeking, but gifts of the Holy Spirit can be found.[19] The evidence of Christian growth, maturity, holiness, Christlikeness, and fullness of the Holy Spirit is seen through the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit. It is expected for all Christians to grow in their faith and its fruit. But gifts of Spirit are not common for everyone. Spiritual gifts define what a Christian does, whereas the fruit of the Spirit defines what a Christian is. [20] Ex. Love is a fruit for everyone, but the gift of serving as a gift is not for everyone.

5.5 Spiritual Gifts Are Not A Place Of Service.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are abilities but not where that ability is used. The gift is the ability that can be exercised whether one holds an office in a local church or not. It is not like offices of government, church or etc. For Example, the gift of the ability to shepherd people doesn’t require one to be a pastor it can be also practiced by the dean of the college, the warden of a hostel, or a mother in a home. This means without office gifts can exist but without gifts ministry, and officials can’t exist. The office is the official recognition of the body of Christ who has certain gifts.[21]

5.6 Gift as A Rare Thing

For many, seeking a gift of the Spirit means risky things. Many thinks of gifts or visions, words of knowledge, and healing as extraordinary mystical phenomena. But Charisms do not belong primarily to mystical theology, but rather to ecclesiology.[22] And a gift can be anything such as the gift of service it’s not a rare thing.

5.7 Spiritual Gifts Are Not A Particular Age Group Ministry.

“There is no gift of youth work or Children’s work. All ages need to be served by Pastors, teachers, administrators, helpers, etc.”

6. DISCOVERING YOUR GIFTS

It is significant to know what sort of gifts we possess. The gifts’ real purpose is to glorify God and work for his Kingdom. Before discovering the gifts there are four fundamental requirements that we have to be mindful, they are we have to be Christians, we have to believe in Spiritual gifts, we must be willing to work or use gifts, and we have to pray.[23]

6.1 Spend Time In Prayer.

It is a very important aspect of asking God about our spiritual gifts since God gives the gifts. Reviewing our choices and asking God to give insight. Talking with Him about gifts, expressing doubt, and asking for clarity and confirmation is the best way to discover gifts.[24]

6.2 Inform Yourself About the Total Package Of Gifts In Your Life.

There are three gifts in every Christian’s life: natural abilities (God-given at birth like I.Q., a measure of health and strength, musical talents, linguistic abilities, etc.), and acquired abilities (Which include things like cooking, sewing, driving, learning a language, learning to play an instrument, etc.” and Spiritual Gifts (one should know what stock he has available for the Lord’s use.) going through the process of taking inventory periodically may help the believer to be assured what areas of service or gift he ought to explore.[25]

6.3 Searching in The Light Of God’s Word

One of the primary spiritual exercises for any Christian person to discover, and developing, and use his/her gifts is searching for them in the light of the clear teaching of God’s word. The need of discovering spiritual gifts in the light of God’s word is, spiritual gifts are received, not achieved. Because it comes from God rather than any pastor, superintend, seminary president, or pop.[26]

6.4 Preparing by Taking Every Opportunity Available

There are times we acquire gifts, but we don’t use them and never become enthusiastic about them. This principle can be applied in three uses to sharpen talents, acquire skills, and develop the development of spiritual gifts. If one is gifted with teaching, then he must study. If one has the gift of exhortation, it certainly should be based on biblical knowledge. [27]

6.5 Be Active in The Lord’s Work.

Gifts are both discovered and developed by activity. Practice brings perceptions of one’s gifts and practice develops those abilities. If someone is active in his own activities, then other opportunities may arise which will bring to light additional spiritual gifts.[28]

6.6 Being Still in Gifts

Many times, people try to excavate their gifts but without consistency. Sometimes it may take longer time to know the gifts that we possess. Being still in gifts and practicing it can help us to know whether that gift is for us or not.

6.7 Dedication To Doing God’s Work

Dedication to God’s work is actually more important than finding the gifts or the Spirit. Because the ultimate goal of Spiritual Gifts is to serve God in internal and external missions. One who is not dedicated will never discover all the abilities God has given him nor will develop those which he has discovered. [29]

7. FOUR STEPS OF KNOWING SPIRITUAL GIFTS

According to author C. Peter Wagner, there are four steps to discovering spiritual gifts.

Firstly, Exploring the possibilities — we should acquire all the possibilities such as studying the Bible, the church’s position on Gifts, trying to know gifted people and making gifts as a conversation piece. Secondly, Doing the Experiment with maximum — In order to know the gift of the Spirit we should look for the needs and try to meet those needs. And try to figure out which gifts have or not. Which helps to make a decision about what I wanted to be. Making questions regarding the gift and asking own self also helps to find the spiritual gifts. The third and fourth steps are to examine the feelings and evaluate the effectiveness of the gifts. Lastly, it would be better if it’s not only based on our feeling but positive feedback and confirmation for the church.[30]

8. AFTER ACTS: SIGN-GIFTS TODAY

The very important question before identifying spiritual gifts is do they exist today or not. Most of the contemporary debates over tongues, prophecy, and healing turn on whether these gifts continue in our day or not. Some believe that those gifts are already closed by the completion of the New Testament. Whereas some groups such as Pentecostal and Charismatic movements believe that these gifts are still working as in the early church. And those who believe this view are called Continuationism. Even some cessationists believe that all gifts ceased with the end of the Apostolic age. [31]

8.1 Cessationist Arguments and Continuationist Responses

8.1.1 Scripture

Cessationists often quote 1 Cor. 13:8–10 to support the idea that some gifts ceased with “the perfect” came. Some consider “perfect” as the completion of the Bible. Once the bible is completed then there is no need for miraculous works of the Holy Spirit through believers. And another verse often cited is 2 Cor. 12:12 that such gifts were limited to the apostles to validate their authority.

However, Continuationists consider the work perfect to refer to the second coming of Jesus Christ based on verse 12. After that time only there will be no need for Holy Spirit’s gifts as we will be in the physical presence of Jesus Himself. To counter the second reference, in the early church not only apostles but other believers were also performing the miracle and healing such as Stephen (Acts 6:8) and Philip (Acts 8:6–7).

8.1.2. Term

The term sign gifts are often used to indicate that God gave certain abilities to apostles as “signs” to authenticate their apostleship. And the word prophecy is used by some continuationists equated with scripture.

But Dr. Wayne Grudem the author of systematic theology challenges the term, “The work is not a legitimate category, rather Paul talks about the faithful endurance through persecution, and I don’t know any place where certain spiritual gifts are designated as signs that point to the apostles. All the prophecies are still valid for today.” The supernatural abilities are given by God to whomever he chooses in order to accomplish his purpose (Ex. 7:3; Rom. 15:18–19; Heb.2:4). Secondly, continuationists also believe that no further revelations given to human beings will ever be equal with the completed canon of Scripture.

8.1.3. Church History

Cessationism says historically there is no indication that miraculous gifts continued after the death of the apostles. Although continuationists maintain that the church record disagrees with a different statement from Justin Martyr (AD. 100–165), Irenaeus (AD 125–200), Augustine (AD. 354–430), John Wesley, and many more. All of them believed that those gifts are still active in the world today.

8.1.4. Arguments from Silence

Cessationists claim that the late Pauline letters such as Ephesians do not mention miraculous gifts. Which they concluded was the ceasing of the gifts. However, continuationists point out it as a logical fallacy. Because the lack of references doesn’t mean the death of the gifts rather it was a different intention of Paul’s writings.[32]

CONCLUSION

The gift of the Spirit is God’s grace of giving abilities to the believers to carry out the mission of the church internally and externally. There are different kinds of gifts given to the believers. There are different views on the existence of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Some says the gifts ceased after the apostolic age whereas some believe that the gift of the Spirit is active today. Knowing the gift of the Holy Spirit assured the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life. The gifts of the Spirit help us to remember what we are supposed to do. These gifts exist today also, and it is not for personal enrichment rather than to serve the body of the Christ. It is significant to distinguish what the gift of the Spirit is, and how to identify it in our life. There are several ways of discovering and developing the gift of the Spirit such as praying, asking questions, inventories, examining effectiveness of the gift and how satisfying it is.

Discovering the gift of the Holy Spirit helps us to know the calling of our life. As well as it helps to mobilize the ministry in the church in an effective way. Eventually it makes us realize God’s presence in our life and his purpose in our life which ultimately help to be more dedicated toward our dedication to ministry and work of God. It gives broader views of the church, respect for all the gifts and effective life for ministry and God centered life.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Clark, Randy, and Mary Healy. The Spiritual Gifts Handbook: Using Your Gifts to Build the Kingdom. Ada: Chosen Books, 2018.

Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. 9. print. Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Books, 1992.

Freedman, David Noel. The Anchor Bible Dictionary. New York London Toronto [etc.]: Doubleday, 1992.

Geisler, Norman L. Systematic Theology: In One Volume. Condensed. Minneapolis, Minn.: Bethany House, 2011.

Kinghorn, Kenneth Cain. “Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts.” Zondervan, n.d.

Leach, John. The Spirit Comes: As Part of the Package. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2001.

Ovitt, Ronal E. Ovitt. “Understanding My Spiritual Gifts.” Gilgal Press. Palos Heights, 2007.

Ryrie, Charles C. Basic Theology. Hyderabad: GS Books, 1999.

Storms, C. Samuel. Understanding Spiritual Gifts: A Comprehensive Guide. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2020.

Wagner, Peter C. Discover Your Spiritual Gifts. Minneapolis: Chosen, 2012.

Wood, D. R. W., and I. Howard Marshall, eds. New Bible Dictionary. 3rd ed. Leicester, England ; Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 1996.

“Continuationism.Html,” n.d. Accessed May 11, 2023. https://www.gotquestions.org/continuationism.html.

[1] Kenneth Cain Kinghorn, “Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts” (Zondervan, n.d.), 5.

[2] Charles C Ryrie, Basic Theology (Hyderabad: GS Books, 1999), 367.

[3] Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, 9. print. (Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Books, 1992), 877.

[4] D. R. W. Wood and I. Howard Marshall, eds., New Bible Dictionary, 3rd ed. (Leicester, England ; Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 411.

[5] Peter C. Wagner, Discover Your Spiritual Gifts (Minneapolis: Chosen, 2012), 29.

[6] Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology: In One Volume, Condensed. (Minneapolis, Minn.: Bethany House, 2011), 1553.

[7] David Noel Freedman, The Anchor Bible Dictionary (New York London Toronto [etc.]: Doubleday, 1992), 267.

[8] Geisler, Systematic Theology, 1176.

[9] Ibid., 16.

[10] Ibid., 21.

[11] Ibid., 22.

[12] C. Samuel Storms, Understanding Spiritual Gifts: A Comprehensive Guide (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2020), 53.

[13] Geisler, Systematic Theology, 1178.

[14] Ryrie, Basic Theology, 367.

[15] Erickson, Christian Theology, 876.

[16] Wagner, Discover Your Spiritual Gifts, 125.

[17] Ibid., 42.

[18] Ibid.

[19] John Leach, The Spirit Comes: As Part of the Package (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2001), 121.

[20] Wagner, Discover Your Spiritual Gifts, 42–44.

[21] Ibid., 17–18.

[22] Randy Clark and Mary Healy, The Spiritual Gifts Handbook: Using Your Gifts to Build the Kingdom (Ada: Chosen Books, 2018), 21.

[23] Wagner, Discover Your Spiritual Gifts, 55.

[24] Ronal E. Ovitt Ovitt, “Understanding My Spiritual Gifts,” Gilgal Press (Palos Heights, 2007), 11.

[25] Ryrie, Basic Theology, 369.

[26] Wagner, Discover Your Spiritual Gifts, 21.

[27] Ryrie, Basic Theology, 370.

[28] Ibid.

[29] Ibid., 372.

[30] Wagner, Discover Your Spiritual Gifts, 55–65.

[31] “Continuationism.Html,” n.d., accessed May 11, 2023, https://www.gotquestions.org/continuationism.html.

[32] Ibid.

INTRODUCTION