A spiritual gift is something God freely gives, not because it is earned, but because He chooses to give it. These gifts find fuller expression as the individual matures, develops, and is committed to God. Charisma is the Greek word used throughout the New Testament to describe spiritual gifts. The basis of all gifts is “love.” Love, not the experience of a gift, is the qualifying factor for those who would exercise spiritual gifts. The Word demands that we “judge” (1 Cor. 14:29) to confirm that those who exercise gifts actually do “pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts” (1 Cor. 13:1-13; 14:1)

Read Ephesians 4:11. We are told that there are four supportive gifts in the body of Christ. They are foundational and absolutely essential to building up and maintaining the body of Christ. The analogy here is taken from the human body. Within the human body there are four major systems upon which the entire body depends in order to function: the skeletal and muscular framework; the nervous system; the digestive system; and the circulatory system. The support systems of the human body correspond to the four support ministries in the body of Christ. Without them, the body of Christ would cease to function.

APOSTLE: (Establisher)-Skeletal & Muscular Framework-Lays foundation. Without this framework, the body would be like jelly, unable to stand up or support itself. The apostle forms the basic structure that others build upon. The twelve apostles (plus Paul) form the basic structure upon which the rest of the Church is to build until Christ comes. Eph. 2:19-20 says the Church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone. The word “apostle” is synonymous with the word “missionary.” The apostolic gift today represents the person who goes into virgin territory and evangelizes/teaches/nurtures that embryonic work until eldership, deacons, and pastoral gifts are established. Paul is an excellent example of this ministry (Acts 19:8-10; 20:17-20; 20:27; 20:28).

PROPHET: (Proclaimer)-Nervous System-Articulates God’s concerns for His people. The nervous system stimulates the body to action. It is connected to the brain and faithfully carries messages to every muscle and organ of the body. Men and women in the body of Christ stimulate the Church to action. These individuals are gifted to vigorously emphasize a particular aspect of God’s truth to His people at a timely moment, which touches the heart and brings conviction (Eph. 6:17). Hebrews 1:1 gives a permanent record of God’s truth given through Old Testament prophets. Jesus, the Word of God incarnate, was a prophet delivering the Father’s message of truth to the world. New Testament prophets are mentioned in Acts 11:27, 13:1, 15:32; Eph. 2:20, 3:5. According to Hebrews 1:1-2, there is no new inspired revelation. God has spoken-the Bible is complete and final. The on-going prophetic gift from God places emphasis upon a particular part of the written Word.

EVANGELIST: (Exhorter)-Digestive System-Brings people to Christ. As the body brings food into the body to be transformed into flesh, so the evangelist leads men to the point where the Spirit can transform them. He has a unique ability to impart to men and women the message of eternal life and actually see them yield to the transformation of God’s spirit. In the New Testament, although Philip the deacon is the only person actually called an evangelist, Paul tells us that Christ has given evangelists to His Church. He charges Timothy, a pastor-teacher, to do the work of an evangelist (Acts 21:8; 2 Tim. 4:5). Peter is the outstanding New Testament example of an evangelist, winning 5,000 to Christ, not counting the women and children (Acts 4:4). Evangelists (salesmen) have the ability to draw in the net (close the sale)-knowing that it is the Holy Spirit drawing them and not himself (Jn. 6:44).

PASTOR/TEACHER: (Shepherd/Instructor)-Circulatory System-Feeds local church. The pastor-teacher’s gift finds its analogy in the circulatory system of the human body. The blood carries food and oxygen to every part of the body. It also takes away the accumulated wastes. The pastor continually feeds, preserves, and cleanses the local church. He constantly nourishes the life and vitality of the saints of God. The pastor builds upon the missionary’s foundation. He protects and cares for the flock (1 Tim. 1:3). He teaches and instructs. The teaching gift is a part of the pastoral gift. Every pastor must also be a teacher. Teachers who are not also pastors are primarily called by God to assist the pastor in his ministry of equipping the saints.

Read Romans 12:1-8. There are strong indications in these verses that God gives to each person a predominant motivational gift. This motivational gift dictates how each person eventually seeks to function in the body of Christ. Verse one shows us that none of these motivational gifts are possible until the Christian first surrenders his mind to the renewing and sanctifying process of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit.

What is a motivational gift? When a person comes to Christ, God chooses to motivate them in certain ways. God knows the predominate characteristics of each person and sets them apart to be used according to how He has made them. A person’s motivational gift works through their innate abilities, training, experience, creativity, and so forth. Paul is not referring to gifts in the natural realm. He is referring to functions made possible by a specific enablement of the Holy Spirit granted to believers that are built on natural gifts. Through these gifts, God seeks to meet every need in the body of Christ and the world.

Christ had all seven motivational gifts operating fully in His life. As the body of Christ learns to flow together in unity and harmony depending upon one another, it becomes the fullness of Christ to the world. We are never to be critical of others who are not as excited about our area of ministry as we are. We will recognize that they are functioning within their area of ministry. We are never to be jealous of another’s area of gifting-we have our own making up the body of Christ as a “whole.” We can never be fully happy or fulfilled until we find our place in the body of Christ (the Church).

PROPHET: The Intuitive Person Greek: “propheteian” “Speaking forth of the mind and council of God...” Those who possess the motivational gift of prophecy have an intuitive ability to size up a given situation from God’s perspective. This person also has the ability to evaluate people’s motives quickly. (Christ’s example: The woman at the well, Jn 4:16-19.) Read 1 Cor. 14:31

SERVER: The Action Person Greek: “diakonian”: Translated “serving” in Romans 12:7 and refers to ministry in a number of different forms. Practical assistance in whatever form that assistance should take in a given situation. Here the meaning centers on meeting the material rather than the spiritual needs of others. The gift of serving involves the ability to show love by meeting the practical needs of others. (Christ’s example: He said of himself, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve...Mt. 20:28.) Read Lk. 22:26

TEACHER: The Analytical Person Greek: “didasko”: In Classical Greek this word spoke of the action of a teacher whose concern was to develop the abilities of his pupils and to impart to them his knowledge and skill. The teacher has the ability to search out and clarify truth through study and research. (Christ’s example: Christ was called a teacher by His disciples and also by the religious leader, Nicodemus, Jn. 1:37-38, 3:2.) Read 2 Tim. 2:2

EXHORTER: The Encouraging Person Greek: “paraklesis”: Has a variety of meaning: encourages, pleads, comforts, admonishes, counsels, prays for those he encourages, gives strength to serve God. The exhorter has the ability to encourage others to grow spiritually, even when they are facing hardship and suffering. The exhorter is distinguished from the teacher in that he validates truth by studying the practical experience of others. (Christ’s example: He calls upon all believers to come to Him to receive rest and encouragement, Mt. 11:28-30.) Read Heb. 3:13

GIVER: The Generous Person Greek: “metadidomi”: Means to share what you have with someone else. The giver has the constant desire and most often the ability to give generously. He approaches all of life in terms of giving. God often blesses this individual with abundant financial and material resources enabling him to contribute generously to the Lord’s work. (Christ’s example: The Lord Jesus often manifested the gift of giving especially through the things He taught, i.e., the Parable of the Talents (Mt. 25:14-30); giving in secret to avoid pride (Mt. 6:2-4); Christ’s sacrificial giving of Himself on the cross (2 Cor. 8:9). Read Lk. 6:38

ADMINISTRATOR: The Organizing Person Greek: “proistemi”: Means literally the one who stands before others. He has the ability to coordinate people, resources, and schedules to achieve goals. The administrator sees overall goals and objectives and the steps needed to reach them. Unlike the servers, he likes long-range plans. (Christ’s example: He carefully planned a strategy that involved twelve people who in turn would train many others to literally carry His message around the world throughout all generations. In Mk. 6:39-40, Jesus organized the five thousand so that they could be fed with a minimum of confusion.) Read 2 Cor. 9:12

MERCY: The Compassionate Person Greek: “eleeo”: Means to identify with the misery of another enough so as to take concrete action to alleviate their sufferings. Paul says in Romans 12:8 that this gift should be exercised with cheerfulness so that the merciful one will not be overwhelmed with grief in his identification with the hurts of others. (Christ’s example: He is our merciful high priest (Heb. 2:17). He identifies with the pain and suffering of man’s fallen condition (Phil. 2:5-8). Read Lk. 6:36

Read 1 Cor. 12:8-10. These gifts are the supernatural expression of Jesus Christ through His body. They allow His Church on earth to carry on His supernatural ministry. This means that His body is fully equipped to do all that He did while He was on earth (Jn. 14:11-12). These gifts reside in the Holy Spirit Himself, who lives in the heart of every believer. The Holy Spirit is the one who decides to use certain people in certain gifts on certain occasions.

Every believer should be available to be used by the Holy Spirit at any time. The individual’s effectiveness in ministry and the outworking of God’s gifts within him are both subject to his Christian maturity. There may be situations where you will be used in a supernatural gift of the Holy Spirit even though you are not normally accustomed to being used in this way. If you are in the right place at the right time and are open to the Holy Spirit, He will use you. All things are to be done in “love” (1 Cor. 12:31, 13:1).

The gifts of healing, working of miracles, and discerning of spirits in the New Testament were predominantly associated with the gift of the evangelist (Acts 8:5-7). The word of wisdom and word of knowledge are often associated with the administrative, pastoral, and teaching ministries of the church (Acts 11:15-18; 15:25-29). The gift of tongues, interpretation of tongues and prophecy, according to 1 Corinthians 14, is associated with the public worship service (1 Cor. 14:5, 26).

THE WORD OF WISDOM: Supernatural perspective to ascertain the divine means for accomplishing God’s will in given situations. Wisdom works interactively with Knowledge and Discernment.

THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE: Supernatural revelation of the divine will and plan, without assistance of any human resource but solely by divine aid.

THE GIFT OF FAITH: Supernatural ability to believe God without doubt. Ability to meet adverse circumstances with trust in God’s messages and words.

GIFTS OF HEALING: God’s supernatural healing without human aid. May include divinely assisted application of medical means of treatment, but in no way discounts God’s creative gift.

WORKING OF MIRACLES: Supernatural power to intervene and counteract earthly and evil forces. A display of power giving the ability to go beyond the natural.

DISCERNING OF SPIRITS: Supernatural power to detect the realm of the spirits and their activities. Supernatural insight.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF TONGUES: Supernatural utterance in languages not known to the speaker. “Unknown” in the sense that they are a means of communication inspired by the Holy Spirit. Twofold-1.For personal edification (1 Cor. 14:2-4), 2.For public exhortation (1 Cor. 14:12, 13).

INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES: Supernatural power to reveal the meaning of tongues. Supernatural power to reveal the meaning of tongues. This function does not serve as a translation (interpreter never understands the tongue he is interpreting), but rather is a declaration of meaning.