This life-changing experience allows Christians to be more effective witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ and live in spirit-led power.

We’ll go over what it biblically means to be baptized in the Holy Spirit so you can be blessed in your Christian life.

What is The Baptism of The Holy Spirit

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is when a person receives the gift of the Holy Spirit at the time of conversion as a result of accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.

This experience equips believers with the power of the Holy Spirit to be effective witnesses in ministry for the spreading of the gospel and joins them to the body of Christ.

Acts 1:8

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

This first occurred after Jesus ascended back to heaven. In the book of Acts, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit began to fill the apostles in a way never seen before in the old testament.

The Holy Spirit fell upon the apostles and the early church and caused them to speak in new tongues.

As a result, there were about three thousand souls added to the church.

Acts 2:1-4

1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested1 on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

When do we receive the Holy Spirit?

When a new believer accepts Jesus Christ into their heart, the Holy Spirit immediately comes to indwell the new Christian and empowers them for ministry.

The apostle Paul confirms this in Ephesians when he tells us that when we heard the word and believe in Christ Jesus, we were sealed with the Spirit of God.

Ephesians 1:13

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

1 Corinthians 12:13

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

What is the difference between being filled with the holy spirit and being baptized?

Contrary to popular belief, water baptism, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and the event of being baptized in the Holy Spirit are all different things.

John the baptist makes mention of this when he says that he baptizes with water but Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Luke 3:16

John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Baptism in water

The first thing we should notice is that John the baptist puts more importance on the baptism that comes from Jesus Christ than his own baptism.

John’s baptism was with submersion in water as a sign of repentance for one’s sins.

Matthew 3:11

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

Baptism by water before Jesus Christ was a sign of repentance and preparation for the coming messiah.

Water baptism today (post Jesus death & resurrection) is a sign of conversion. This act is done in obedience to the Lord Jesus to symbolize ourselves joining in his death and resurrection.

The first part of water baptism today involves believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, repenting of sin, and being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Romans 6:4

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Acts 2:38

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism of The Holy Spirit

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is different from being baptized in water. This baptism is the result of the Holy Spirit coming to dwell in the new believer’s life to make them an effective witness for Christ.

Being baptized in the Holy Spirit happens after conversion.

Baptism in the Spirit is something every Christian receives at salvation. This is when the Holy Spirit seals us for redemption and joins us to the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Being Filled With The Holy Spirit

A commonly used term in the New Testament is “the infilling of the Holy Spirit”.

The infilling of the Holy Spirit can be described as when the Spirit of God fills us with his power, boldness, love, wisdom, and gifts.

This is something that occurs numerous times in the life of a Christian and is something the bible teaches us to continually seek after.

The bible teaches us to be filled with the Spirit repeatedly. This is something that should increase in our lives.

Ephesians 5:18

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

The fullness of the Holy Spirit will result in love, thankfulness, and renewed worship.

In addition, being filled with the Spirit will result in increased sanctification, service, and spiritual gifts.

Does The baptism of the holy spirit always result in speaking in tongues

A common question is if the baptism of the Holy Spirit always results in speaking in tongues.

The short answer is no.

I say that because the apostles were in a unique period of time where the old covenant was passing and the new covenant was entering. The apostles actually received the Holy Spirit at Jesus’ resurrection but were baptized in his Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

John 20:21-22

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Though speaking in tongues was prominent in the book of acts, the Holy Spirit chooses what gift believers will receive.

1 Corinthians 12:11

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

More often than not, the result is speaking in tongues but there are many believers who are filled with the spirit that do not have the gift of tongues. That doesn’t make them any less spiritual than the one who speaks in tongues.

How Do I Receive The Gift of The Holy Spirit?

Receiving the promised gift of the Holy Spirit is available to everyone who opens their heart to God.

Receiving the Holy Spirit is to allow him to move in your heart. He will shape the course of your thoughts, actions, and plans. The Spirit becomes your guide and counselor.

The first step is simple, accept Jesus Christ into your heart. If you call out to Him, He will respond.

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

1) You Need To Be Born-Again

To receive the Holy Spirit, you must allow Jesus to truly be your Lord and savior. This requires a change of lifestyle. You will need to submit your entire life to him.

you must do as Peter listed in the book of Acts. Repent, be baptized, and turn from this world. This is part of being born again.

Another thing we must do is BELIEVE.

Believing is not just acknowledging the existence of God, but trusting in his finished work and plan of salvation.

Mark 16:16

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Ephesians 1:13

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

2) You Need To Put Your Faith In God

The bible teaches us that without faith it is impossible to please God.

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

The key here is that we must believe not only in God alone but in the fact that he rewards those who seek him.

To receive the Holy Spirit into your heart, you must believe that God is able to give His Spirit to you.

you must believe that Jesus died for your sins, rose again, and is seated at the right hand of the father.

God is looking to give a fresh outpouring of his Holy Spirit on those who will draw near to Him in faith.

Luke 11:13

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Hebrews 10:38

but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.

3) You Simply Need To Ask

God wants believers today to walk in the power of his Spirit.

Receiving power and a fresh filling from God is not something you have to convince Him into. God wants to do it.

Tell him today. The Father promised His Spirit to all who would believe in the name of Jesus.

Rid yourself of any indwelling sin and ask God to make you a pure vessel for His Spirit to dwell in.

God will give his grace and a new life to anyone who asks.

Matthew 7:7

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Prayer To Receive The Baptism of The Holy Spirit

Father God,

I come to you today in the name of your son Jesus. I thank you that you have sent your son to not only die for me but also live on my behalf. Because of his sacrifice, I believe I can receive your Spirit.

I ask Lord Jesus, that you would come into my heart, be my Lord and savior and baptize me today with your Holy Spirit.

Set me apart for your own glory and will. May you empower me today to fulfill the ministry you have called me to for the spreading of the gospel.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Being Filled With The Holy Spirit Is An Ongoing Experience

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not a one-time event.

The bible teaches us that the filling of the Holy Spirit is an ongoing experience. Our journey as Christians requires us to constantly seek after God, asking Him to give us more of Him so we can live the life that God called us to live for His glory. We are warned not to quench the Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:19

Do not quench the Spirit.

Conclusion

The spirit’s baptism is available for all believers. Once you accept Christ and are born again, you are baptized into the family of believers.

I pray that today, you will walk in the power of God and fulfill all that he has called you to.

If you were blessed by this article, share it and leave a comment below.

You can also support the ministry by signing up for our email list to stay updated with new content or learn more from my book Child of The Most High.

God bless you.

The post What Is The Baptism of The Holy Spirit? How To Receive The Baptism of The Holy Spirit appeared first on Unlocking Scripture .

That doesn’t mean you have to walk defeated. As a Christian, the power of the Holy Spirit is available for you to overcome every obstacle.

In fact, this is the same power that performed miraculous works through the early church of Acts and is available to you RIGHT now.

If you want to learn how to walk in the Holy Spirit’s power, keep reading.

I’m going to explain everything you need to know about receiving the Holy Spirit’s power for your life today.

Let’s jump right in.

What Is The Power of The Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit’s power is the power of God working through believers to be witnesses of the Gospel.

This power leads Christians to reach the lost through the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit , miracles, and signs & wonders to lead people to salvation and expand the kingdom of God.

The power of the Holy Spirit is what empowered the supernatural work we’ve seen Jesus do in the gospels as well as the early church in the book of Acts.

Some examples include:

• Casting out Demons (Matthew 12:28)
• Healing the sick (Acts 3:6-10)
• Performing miracles (Hebrews 2:4)
• Sharing the Gospel with boldness (Acts 1:8)

The Power of the Holy Spirit is the Power of God

The power of the Holy Spirit is mentioned all throughout the Bible but most notably in the book of Acts.

The Holy Spirit empowered men in the Bible to achieve things that would otherwise be impossible to expand the kingdom of God and bring people to salvation. This came from the apostles being baptized in the Holy Spirit

Many people ask themselves, what is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? the Bible mentions the baptism of the Holy Spirit & his act of “infilling”. This is the power that comes as a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

The best example we see is in Jesus Christ.

After his baptism (which mentions that the Holy Spirit descended upon him), Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Luke 4:1 – And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness

The first thing that’s mentioned is that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit before going into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. 

This shows us that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we receive power to resist temptation.

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would empower men in the bible to carry out His will but He did not permanently indwell God’s people like He does today.

Today, we have the promised Holy Spirit living within us and He enables us to fulfill God’s will.

What is the role of the Holy Spirit?

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to work in believers while on Earth and bring us to the revelation of Jesus.

His main role is to apply the finished work of Christ into our lives.

The Bible mentions all throughout the New Testament that the Holy Spirit gives us the power to live godly lives.

His ministry involves the following:

• He teaches us and guides us (John 14:26)
• He comforts us and bears witness of Christ (John 15:26)
• He sanctifies us and makes us like Christ (1 Peter 1:2)

John 3:16 tells us that Jesus was sent to save the world from sin and death but he also came to establish his church and make us like him.

When you come to know Jesus, the Holy Spirit seals you as his until the day of His return.

Ephesians 1:13-14

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 

14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

What does it mean to live in the power of the Holy Spirit?

Living in the power of the Spirit is to live a life that is equipped by God for good works.

The power that the Holy Spirit gives us is not just for our own benefit, but for the benefit of the church and the lost souls.

It’s great to be able to be used to perform miracles, signs, and wonders but, the sign of the Holy Spirit working in a person’s life is shown by the fruit of the Spirit.

Living in the Holy Spirits’ power is to live a life in the fullness of godliness and being in a position to be readily used by Him.

How do you receive the power of the Holy Spirit?

Receiving the Holy Spirit’s power is not something that is supposed to be complicated.

God intends for us to walk in his power.

Jesus has permanently given us the Holy Spirit as our teacher, guide, and comforter.

To receive power from the Holy Spirit, can only come from humility.

The Spirit of God will not fill a vessel that is prideful. To receive power, we must have the following:

• A clean & forgiven heart
• Forgiveness towards others
• Faith
• Obedience to Christ
• a submitted mind to Christ

It all starts with prayer.

If you open up your heart and cry out to God, he will respond but, we need to have faith in the Lord.

God wants us to desire more of his Spirit in our lives and is willing to give him to us. Pray and ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit.

Ask Him to cleanse you of any sin that hinders his Spirit working in you and forgive anyone who has sinned against you.

If you do this with faith and forgiveness towards others, God will hear you but, you must commit yourself to seek Him until you find him.

Jeremiah 29:13: You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

The post What Is The Power of The Holy Spirit? -The Power Jesus Promised His Disciples appeared first on Unlocking Scripture .

Have you ever stopped to think about what the gifts of the Holy Spirit are?

As Christians, we’re called to walk in a close relationship with the Holy Spirit.

He empowers us to edify the church yet, we may find it difficult to do.

Why is that?

One simple reason can be that we struggle to understand the power of the Holy Spirit

What Are The 9 Gifts Of The Holy Spirit?

In the Bible, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are spiritual gifts that help believers serve God & humanity. 

These are gifts that God imparts into the lives of Christians for building up the church. 

Spiritual gifts are “any ability empowered by the Holy Spirit used in any ministry of the church”.

These gifts relate to natural abilities such as teaching, giving love, serving, etc. 

They are also spiritual capabilities such as healing, prophecy, discernment of spirits, etc.

We’re going to take a deep dive into spiritual gifts but if you’re on a time crunch, here is what we will cover:

1. The Person & Work Of The Holy Spirit
2. Who Is The Holy Spirit?
3. The Work Of The Holy Spirit
4. Gifts Of The Holy Spirit That Empower Our Christian Life
5. The Gifts Of Five-Fold Ministry
6. Spiritual Gifts In Our Natural Abilities
7. Supernatural Gifts Of The Holy Spirit
8. Understanding The Purpose Of Spiritual Gifts
9. How To Know What Your Gifts Are
10. Conclusion

Let’s jump right in!

The Person & Work Of The Holy Spirit

If we talk about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it’s only right to talk about the gift-giver Himself, the Holy Spirit.

Understanding the person and work of the Holy Spirit is critical to what we are going to speak about. 

You can’t put His gifts to use without knowing Him through a relationship.

So let’s take some time to get to know him before we go any further starting with His personhood.

Who Is The Holy Spirit?

One thing we need to make clear from the beginning is that the Holy Spirit is an actual person. 

He is not an impersonal force or influence but has all the characteristics that make up a person. The Holy Spirit is God. As God the father & the Son have always existed, the Holy Spirit has always existed and been at work with them.

Here are indications of the Holy Spirit always existing from the bible:

• He was there during creation – Genesis 1:2 – The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

• The Holy Spirit moved the prophets with God’s word – 2 Peter 1:21 – For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

The scriptures show us that the Holy Spirit has always existed.

He has always participated in God’s work throughout history.

It’s important for Christians to know the Holy Spirit and be in a relationship with him for us to grow spiritually.

John 3:5

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

This verse shows us that not knowing the Holy Spirit is not something new. It has been an issue since the early church. 

Acts 19:2:

And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

As Jesus said we must be born of the Spirit, we need to make an effort to know him.

Let’s take a closer look at the characteristics of the Holy Spirit and what the bible says:

As a person, the Holy Spirit contains these characteristics:

• He has life – Romans 8:2 – For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

• He has emotions – Ephesians 4:30- And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption

• He is a thinking being and has a will – 1 Corinthians 2:10 -But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

1 Corinthians 12:11 – All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

• He Teaches, guides, and comforts – 1 Corinthians 2:13 – And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

Romans 8:14 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

John 16:7 – Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send him to you

These characteristics make up personhood and He carries much more than that. See Is The Holy Spirit A Person? For more information.

The Work Of The Holy Spirit

Since we have taken a look at the personhood of the Holy Spirit, let’s now look at the work he’s involved in.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit tie believers to the work of the Holy Spirit. 

Understanding the Holy Spirit’s ministry allows Christians to use his gifts effectively.

His work can be defined as manifesting the presence of God in the world and the church. 

His ministry is to do God’s work in the world. He carries on the work he empowered Jesus to do through his church.

The Holy Spirit’s work is to complete and sustain the plans of God and to carry on the work that Jesus had begun in the world.

Here are 4 ways the Holy Spirit works:

1. He Empowers – Acts 1:18: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
2. He Purifies – 1 Corinthians 6:11: And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
3. He Reveals – John 16:13: When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
4. He Brings Unity – 2 Corinthians 13:14: May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (see also Acts 2:44-47)

I want to make it a point that these works are not for granted. The spirit of God responds to us by giving us evidence of His presence. The evidence of His presence can either be strong or weak depending on our obedience to him and if we are in sin.

Gifts Of The Holy Spirit That Empower Our Christian Life

There have been many arguments about the gifts of the Holy Spirit over the years. There are so many different opinions about them and these opinions do much more harm than good.

I say this for one simple reason. The bible needs to be our end-all-be-all. Not man’s opinions.

With that said, It is best to explain the gifts of the Spirit through the authoritative word of God.

I’m sure one of the questions that led you to this article was “How many gifts are there?” Well, there are many gifts, even some that we don’t usually recognize as gifts. Let’s see what the bible has to say:

The Gifts Of Five-Fold Ministry

Ephesians 4:11

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.

So here the Bible gives us a list of 5 spiritual gifts that Christ gives to the church. 

• Apostles

• Prophets

• Evangelists

• Pastors

• Teachers

These are the gifts of 5 fold ministry.

God develops these gifts in a person to build them into their ministry also known as their “calling”. 

These ministries make up the foundation of the church. A sign of a healthy church will have some if not all these ministries in effect. In case you are not familiar with the 5 fold ministry, let me explain.

All gifts of the 5 fold ministry have a specific function and it is to serve the church.

A person gifted in one of these ministries can serve in another ministry but only one will be their calling.

For example, a Pastor is not both a Pastor and an Evangelist. 

A Pastor can evangelize, but pastoring is the main ministry God has him responsible for.

That is his spiritual gift and calling.

The 5 fold ministry are the pillars that hold the church together with Jesus as the center.

Spiritual Gifts In Our Natural Abilities

So are there only 5 spiritual gifts? Actually, there’s more.

Romans 12:6-8

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Romans mentions other spiritual gifts that easily get overlooked.

• Serving

• Encouraging

• Giving

• Leadership

• Kindness

All these gifts reflect the very character of Jesus as he was on earth. If we take a look at each one, it is exactly what Jesus did and commanded us to do.

You see, not every gift that comes from the Holy Spirit is outside our natural abilities. He actually empowers some of our natural abilities for the glory of God.

Let’s take a look at some verses based on the other gifts we mentioned above.

Servanthood

Matthew 20:28

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Encouraging

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Giving

Proverbs 11:25

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Leadership

Mark 10:43

But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,

Kindness

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

A good verse that summarizes this is 1 Peter 4:11.

1 Peter 4:11

Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Supernatural Gifts Of The Holy Spirit

I’m sure this is the section of the article that you’re most interested in. Let’s break down the gifts of the spirit that are above our natural abilities.

1 Corinthians 12:8-10

To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.

So here is the list of supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit:

1. Word of wisdom
2. Word of knowledge
3. Faith
4. Gifts of healing
5. Prophecy
6. Miracles
7. Discerning Spirits
8. Tongues
9. Interpretation Of Tongues

Now to anyone reading this for the first time, this may be hard to understand but don’t worry. I’m going to cover this in detail to help you understand better.

Let’s start with the first in order and flow from there.

Word Of Wisdom

A word of wisdom is a beautiful gift from God that helps bring clarity to a confused person or situation. This is a gift from the Spirit as it edifies other people and empowers them to walk in the fullness of God. 

Being able to give a word of wisdom can encourage, uplift and guide.

Psalm 37:30

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom, and their tongues speak what is just.

Proverbs 24:6

For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Word Of Knowledge

As a word of wisdom edifies and guides, a word of knowledge instructs, teaches, and sheds light on hidden darkness.

This gift is not the same as a word of wisdom although they go hand in hand.

Wisdom guides from insight and experience to deepen understanding.

knowledge is a collection of facts and information. Wisdom gives a person the power to use the tool of knowledge.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 18:15

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.

Being able to impart knowledge allows you to speak into a person’s life the things that are relevant to them for that very moment. 

We need to pray for this more.

Faith

Is there much to say about faith? Many might ask “how is faith a gift?”

It is simple. Without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)

Having faith is something many of us struggle with. At times we are on the highest mountain and other times we are low to the ground. The truth is, faith is not easy to maintain.

Jesus said we can move mountains with faith.

David’s faith in the power of God is what gave him the confidence to take down Goliath.

Faith is a gift. when the church uses it, it gives believers the power to bring the unseen into reality.

Faith tears down spiritual walls.

Gifts Of Healing

When you hear “gifts of healing” I’m sure what comes to mind first is physical healing. This is not the only thing in our lives that needs healing. 

We need more than physical healing. 

Many need mental, emotional, trauma healing and most of all…spiritual healing.

This gift allows you to minister God’s healing power into broken lives that need restoration.

Jeremiah 33:6

Behold, I will bring health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.

Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Prophecy

Unfortunately, many have abused the gift of prophecy. There have been people over the years who have told untrue prophecies that have led many away. This is why we must have discernment (coming up).

The truth is, every prophetic word that is spoken in this day must align itself with scripture. If it does not, reject it.

2 Peter 1:21

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

The gift of prophecy used today points all things to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Revelation 19:10

Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Miracles

The gift of miracles allows Christians to serve in the commandments of Jesus in Matthew 10:8.

Matthew 10:8

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

Take the apostle Paul for example:

Acts 19:11-12

God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.

God is still doing these things to this day. Faith allows us to tap into this world of miracles through the power of God.

Discerning Spirits

Earlier we spoke about prophecy and the importance of recognizing a true prophecy. Discernment is the gift of the holy spirit that the church needs to pray for most.

Jesus warned us that many false prophets would come into the world. 

Matthew 24:11

And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people.

The gift of discernment allows us to recognize and test the spirits to know what’s of God and what’s from satan. 

If there is any gift on this list to pray for, it’s this one.

1 John 4:1

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Tongues

Speaking in tongues is the ability to speak to God through a prayer language given by the Holy Spirit.

This prayer language is personal to you and is for your edification. With that said, it is important to understand maturity when speaking in tongues. It is a gift of the spirit that Paul advises us to use with wisdom (1 Corinthians 14).

Acts 2:4

And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Interpretation Of Tongues

This is the ability to understand the spiritual tongues spoken by a person and interpret it into a message that edifies the church.

This gift is important to pray for.

 Many people can speak in tongues but few can interpret the message for building up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:4

A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

Understanding The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts

Many believe that they can choose their spiritual gifts and they start to pray for what they feel they want. Unfortunately, that’s not how it actually works. It is the Holy Spirit who decides what gifts you receive. 

He is the one who knows what we will thrive in.

1 Corinthians 12:11

It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

With that said, what is the purpose of spiritual gifts? Well, I will start with what is not the purpose.

God does not give us His gifts for our selfish gain. He gives all these gifts for the benefit of those around us.

We are to serve and to use our gifts and talents to edify others.

1 Corinthians 14:12

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

As you pray for the gifts of the spirit, ask God for a desire to edify his church.

How To Know What Your Gifts Are 

I’m sure that one of the biggest questions you have is “What are the gifts God has given me?”

Believe it or not, it’s not as hard to discover. Some things I recommend doing to discover your gifts:

• Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you

• Speak with your Pastors about what they see in you

• Ask yourself, where does God use you most?

• Where is your burden?

After, bring it to God in prayer and discuss it with your Pastor for confirmation and guidance.

If you are interested in getting a deeper understanding of God’s purpose for your life, I recommend reading Child of The Most High.

The book goes into detail about God’s plans and purpose for His children.

Conclusion

Well, we sure covered a lot today. I hope that you are walking away with a clear understanding of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Put these gifts into your prayer life and ask God to lead you to the gifts He wants to use you in.

The post The 9 Gifts Of The Holy Spirit. Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Unlocking Scripture .