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Sep 19, 2025 06:00am

Spiritual Gifts: How God Equips Us for His Mission

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A contractor has plans to build a huge new development. It will include apartments, houses, parks, stores, restaurants, and entertainment.

He hires people to come work for him and do a job. He has a purpose in mind and it’s going to take lots of work. He will need masons and builders, electricians and plumbers, and drywallers and street crews.

When someone’s hired for a job, like digging a hole for example, the boss isn’t just going to say, “Okay, now get out there and give me a hole.” Of course not. What’s the worker going to dig with? He needs tools to do the job his boss gave him.

God has a big plan to build His Kingdom. This Kingdom isn’t made up of buildings that will fall, crack, or decay, it’s made up of people. And He wants to use us to reach them. But just like the guy preparing to dig the hole, believers need a tool, something that will allow us to accomplish the goal for our boss.

Spiritual gifts.

Why are they called this? Because upon salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to reside or live within us. And He’s not coming empty-handed. He brings along a gift or gifts that help us understand and complete our purpose we’ve been called to.

What’s the purpose of Spiritual gifts?

These special abilities are to be used to minister to the needs of the body of believers. By God’s design, they are to be:

used to create unity and not division
to be used to serve God and not self
to build up the efforts of believers to accomplish the mission God gave us.

Paul tells us about Spiritual gifts in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. He wants believers to understand what these gifts are, their purpose, and how they are to be used.

He explains there are different gifts, but they are given by the same God.

1 Corinthians 12:1–6

“Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols. 3 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.”

So what are these gifts?

It’s important to remember a few key things as we read and search for our spiritual gifts:

Gifts are given by God’s grace, not merit
No gift is superior to another
Gifts are used to bring others to salvation, not to elevate one’s self or status
Certain gifts were given to identify who was an apostle (miraculous gifts)

Here’s a link to an article from Got Questions that is super helpful! https://www.gotquestions.org/spiritual-gifts-survey.html

I’ve pulled the list from that article so we can walk through these.

1. Miraculous Gifts

Apostleship (1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11)
Tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30)
Interpretation (1 Corinthians 12:10, 30)
Miracles (1 Corinthians 12:10, 28)
Healing (1 Corinthians 12:9, 28)

So, to the question you’re already asking, does God still use these miraculous gifts today?

Miraculous gifts, as mentioned before, were given for the purpose of proving the apostles were sent by God and to prove the gospel was true. Since we now have the Bible, the complete revelation of God that proves the truth of the gospel and the apostles, these gifts are no longer needed or used by God. Let me also say this: God is fully capable and has the authority to do whatever He wants and to gift however He wants. He could very well use someone to do one of these things if He so chooses. He is also a God of order and everything has its purpose. To read more, click here – https://www.gotquestions.org/miraculous-gifts.html

The following gifts are those that are given and used for God’s purpose today.

2. Enabling Gifts

Faith (1 Corinthians 12:9)
Discernment (1 Corinthians 12:10)
Wisdom (1 Corinthians 12:8)
Knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8)

All believers have faith, but there are some that have a supernatural ability of faith through extreme circumstances. These people would have this gift.

3. Team Gifts

Evangelism: passionately leading others to the saving knowledge of Christ (Ephesians 4:11)
Prophecy: boldly and fearlessly proclaiming God’s truth (Romans 12:6; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28)
Teaching: making clear the truth of God’s Word with simplicity and accuracy (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28)
Exhortation: motivating others to action, application, and purpose (Romans 12:8)
Shepherding: overseeing, training, feeding, coaching/leading (Ephesians 4:11)
Serving: providing practical help both physically and spiritually (Romans 12:7; 1 Corinthians 12:28)
Mercy-showing: identifying with and comforting those in need (Romans 12:8)
Giving: releasing material resources to further the work of the Church (Romans 12:8)
Administration: organizing, administering, promoting, leading (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28)

How do I know my spiritual gift?

The first question is, are you saved? Have you put your faith and trust in Christ? Were you called by the Holy Spirit into a knowledge of your sin and a need for forgiveness from God? If so, you have been given a gift!

You should also know that sometimes, in order to do the work Christ has called us to, He may give you more than one gift. You might be a teacher and have the gift of administration. You might be a server and have the gift of giving. Just know that the important thing isn’t to get so focused on one area. God has an incredible plan and purpose for using you! Surrender to His plan and allow Him to use you as He shows you. He may open doors of ministry that you never knew you’d be capable of!

To determine and understand your gift:

Ask wise counsel—friends within the church who know you probably already see it in you.
Pray. God’s the one who gave you this gift. Ask the Holy Spirit to show and guide you to understanding.
Study these scriptures to gain a better understanding of their purpose. As you do, one or two may stick out to you that you think—yes, that’s me!
There are spiritual gift tests you can take. They aren’t 100% accurate, and there are many who will debate about which gifts are still active and which are not. It’s fun to explore, but remember, the Bible is the best source.

The important thing to remember is that all Spiritual gifts are given for God’s purpose and His glory.

Not ours.

If someone is using a “gift” to elevate themselves, prove they are “holier” than another, or the gift creates confusion or chaos, it is not of God.

So, what is your Spiritual gift? Put it in the comments and share how God is using this gift to further His kingdom! And let’s go to work!

To learn more about growing in your relationship with Jesus and being His disciple, go to follow.lifeword.org and follow.lifeword.org/spanish.