Charisma – a gift of grace, an endowment upon believers by the operation of the Holy Spirit in the churches.

Charis – grace, that which bestows on occasion pleasure, delight, or causes favorable regard; divine favor freely dispensed.

Gifts of the Spirit – a spiritual gift of God bestowed upon the believer by the power of the Holy Spirit in and by the grace bestowed or given by belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior (see Romans 12:6).

Pneumatikos – plural, pneumatika; from pneuma which means spirit, breath, wind.  Literally means a “spiritual,” that which pertains to, or proceeds from the Holy Spirit. Therefore, any of the following might be applied here:  The gifts, manifestations, impartations, emanations, endowments, matters, things, effects, powers, workings, aids, graces or favors of the Holy Spirit.

Major Lists of the Gifts of the Spirit

Romans 12:6-8, 13

1. Prophecy
2. Ministry
3. Teachings
4. Exhortation
5. Giving
6. Ruling (leadership)
7. Mercy
8. Hospitality

Ephesians 4:11

1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Evangelists
4. Pastors
5. Teachers

1 Corinthians 12:8-10

1. Wisdom
2. Knowledge
3. Faith
4. Healing
5. Miracles
6. Prophecy
7. Discernment of spirits
8. Divers kinds of tongues
9. Interpretation of tongues

1 Corinthians 12:28

1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Teachers
4. Miracles
5. Healings
6. Helps (hospitality)
7. Governments (administration)
8. Diversities of tongues

NOTE; Only one gift is mentioned in all four of the major lists of the gifts. Attributes or manifestations that might be classified as a gift although not necessarily called a gift in scriptures

Some Examples of the Gifts of the Spirit

1. Ephesians 2:18-20 – Apostles and prophets
2. Acts 13:1 – Prophets and teachers
3. Acts 15:32 – Prophets and teachers
4. Galatians 2:8-9 – Leadership and apostles
5. 1 Peter 5:1-2 – Elders (leadership)
6. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 – Giving
7. James 5:14-15 – Faith and healing
8. Acts 21:8-10 – Evangelists and prophets
9. 1 Corinthians 9:1-2 – Apostles
10. 2 Timothy 4:5 – Evangelists
11. Acts 11:27-28 – Prophets
12. Acts 20:28 – Overseer (leadership
13. 1 Timothy 5:17 – Rulers (leadership) and teachers
14. Acts 19:11-12 – Miracles

•  Are all the gifts of the Spirit still active in the church today?

Most Pentecostal and charismatic churches say that they are still active.  Other churches (Methodist, Baptists and mainline denominations) say that the sign gifts are no longer used in the churches today.

Whatever you believe…take and use as God blesses.  Pray that the gifts of the Spirit you believe are still active are available to you and your church.

•  Spiritual gifts are not natural talents or human abilities. These talents/abilities are God-given but not a gift of the Holy Spirit.

•  What is the role of the Christian in his/her use of the Gifts of the Spirit?

1. 1 Corinthians 13 – to be used with love (not gits without love, but gifts controlled by love)
2. 1 Corinthians gives specific guidelines for the use of the gifts in the church
3. Ephesians 4:12 – these gifts are given to to equip the saints, to edify the church
4. 1 Peter 4:7-11 – purpose of gifts it to ultimately bring glory to God
5. Colossians 3:23 – all we do, how we use our gifts it to be done for the Lord, not for people

• Fruit of the Spirit:  love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, *faith (faithfulness), meekness, temperance.  These are all found in Galatians 5.  The gifts of the Spirit are exercised in accordance with the fruit of the Spirit.

Five Steps Toward Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts

1. Explore – Study the Scripture concerning the gifts
2. Experiment – Question, pray, ask yourself, “Do I have this gift?”
3. Examine – Examine your feelings, makeup, personality, temperament.
4. Evaluate – Evaluate the effectiveness of your gift.
5. Expect – Expect confirmation from the Holy Spirit/the body of Christ.

Faith is listed as a gift of the Spirit and also as a fruit of the Spirit.  More appropriately, it should read faithfulness in the list of the fruit of the Sprit.