Activating Your Spiritual Gifts: Live Your Calling

Activating your spiritual gifts builds upon the unlocking principles we explored in Part 5. Now it's time to move from understanding to implementation, from potential to power. Through practical exercises and biblical principles, you'll learn how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in manifesting these supernatural abilities.

This hands-on guide will help you step confidently into the supernatural realm God has prepared for you.

Unleash the Power Within by Activating Your Spiritual Gifts

Part 6 of 7 by Don Bell | ⏱️ 14 minute read

Just before Jesus had ascended to Heaven, He commanded His followers not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus says, "'But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth'" (Acts 1:8).

The Greek word δύναμις (dynamis) means miraculous power. Jesus explains that after you have received the baptism of the Spirit, this miraculous power will come upon you whenever the gifts of the Spirit are exercised.

The fullness of the Spirit is for service; it enables you to do the works of Jesus and draw people to Him. It's to build up the Body of Christ, and advance the Kingdom of God.

Following Jesus' Example for Spirit-Filled Ministry

We read in Scripture, "When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, 'You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased'" (Luke 3:21–22).

Afterwards, Scripture says, "Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil …" (Luke 4:1–2).

The Greek word πειράζω (peirazō) means to tempt, to entice, to test for the purpose of finding out how someone will behave in certain situations.

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into a place of solitude where He fasted and prayed while having His faith tested in preparation for ministry. That being the case, how can we expect the Holy Spirit to lead us into ministry situations without the testing of our faith?

James, the brother of Jesus writes, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:2–4).

The Greek word ὑπομονή (hypomonē) translated as patience means patient continuance, constancy, and cheerful endurance under pressure — attributes needed when exercising the gifts of the Spirit. Proficiency in the gifts comes with a cost:

1. You must build yourself up in faith by praying in tongues (Jude 1:20).
   
2. You must make yourself available to be led by the Holy Spirit.
   
3. You must step out in faith each time you exercise a gift of the Spirit.

Trust the Holy Spirit to start you ministering slowly and as you gain experience, He'll reward you with greater responsibility. Scripture says, "But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Hebrews 5:14).

Paul urges, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is IN you? …" (2 Corinthians 13:5, emphasis added).

Paul speaks from experience. When you know beyond any shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ is IN you, you also know the Holy Spirit is IN you with all nine of His gifts ready to be activated. When you're filled with the Holy Spirit, you don't just have a part of Him; you have ALL of Him, including His gifts.

After Jesus had been tested in the wilderness, Scripture says, "Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee …" (Luke 4:14). Similarly, after you've been filled with the Holy Spirit and make yourself available for His purposes, you have the same power of the Spirit (dynamis) that Jesus had.

Unwrapping Your Nine Spiritual Gifts: A Personal Journey

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is like receiving one HUGE gift with nine smaller gifts inside it. While that's over simplifying, you get the picture. To further clarify, each of the nine gifts is contained within the one large gift!

Activating your spiritual gifts is as simple as opening (activating) the gifts, one at a time, and you have nine gifts to open. Each time you exercise a gift of the Spirit you are opening a gift, and Jesus is patiently waiting for you to open them ALL by faith as they're needed. It's just like that!

It's the same principle when activating your spiritual gifts. Jesus gave us His Spirit to empower us with nine supernatural gifts for doing His works. While these gifts are freely available, they require our willingness to receive and activate them through faith. He will never force these gifts on us.

Some believers have limited themselves by using just one or two gifts, often choosing those that feel more comfortable or less controversial. However, God invites us to embrace the complete range of spiritual gifts, each serving a unique purpose in blessing others and advancing His kingdom.

Since Jesus paid a tremendous price to make these gifts available, let's faithfully respond by using them in love to serve and bless those around us.

Your Partnership With the Holy Spirit

Believers exercise the gifts of the Spirit, not God, yet it's the Holy Spirit who empowers! This is an important concept to grasp and once understood, you will have greater confidence when activating your spiritual gifts and exercising them.

Carefully consider the following with an open heart and mind:

God did NOT make us robots! He gives us the prophetic message, but we do the prophesying. We choose to manifest the gift or not.

Paul writes, "For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets" (1 Corinthians 14:31–32).

Our human spirit is subject to us! God gives us the words, but WE decide to do the prophesying. The same working principle applies to all the gifts of the Spirit:

• Scripture says, "And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him" (Acts 28:8).
  
  Who healed the father of Publius? Scripture says that Paul did: "Paul prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him" through the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Scripture says, "Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed. So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: 'Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?'" (Acts 3:11–12).
  
  Peter acknowledged that he and John had made the man walk, but he was careful to add that it wasn't through their own power or goodness; it was through the power (anointing) of the Holy Spirit.

Remember: Jesus said that WE should do His works! He invites us to partner with Him in ministry by exercising the supernatural abilities that He has so graciously equipped us with through His Spirit.

Jesus says, "'Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father'" (John 14:12).

You can do the works of Jesus by activating your spiritual gifts (supernatural abilities). Realize that Jesus has placed the gifts of the Spirit under YOUR control, and YOU can choose to manifest them or not.

The Holy Spirit will NEVER control your actions or force you to manifest His gifts. In contrast, someone delivering a demonic message under forced utterance feels they've no choice but to speak. That's why believers must do the works of Jesus and deliver people from spiritual bondage.

(Once we've examined the gift of discernment of spirits, you will understand how demons counterfeit the gifts of the Spirit and control the individuals under their influence.)

The Holy Spirit's gifts are operated in love and by freedom of choice in sharp contrast to the counterfeit. God only gives good gifts!

Scripture says, "Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:16–17).

Embracing Imperfection While Growing in Power

When believers are learning to use the Holy Spirit's gifts, it's only normal that mistakes will be made. It's of no surprise to the Holy Spirit. Even those believers seasoned in exercising the gifts can make the occasional mistake.

Paul writes, "For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away" (1 Corinthians 13:9–10).

Until Jesus returns at the last trumpet and we're all changed to an incorruptible state, we can only exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit IN PART. We haven't the capacity to manifest the full, complete nature of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture says, "[We] have TASTED the good word of God and THE POWERS OF THE AGE TO COME" (Hebrews 6:5, emphasis added).

Just imagine: As we exercise the gifts of the Spirit, we are experiencing a taste of the special powers (abilities) to be made available in the fullness of the Kingdom. Until that time, we must faithfully exercise the gifts in part, according to God's plan.

From Fear to Faith: Embracing the Supernatural

I've had believers ask, "Okay, I agree the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit are in the Bible and that Paul encourages us to walk in them, but do we really need them?"

Often, such questions reflect natural uncertainties about stepping into supernatural experiences. Many believers may feel uneasy about the otherworldly nature of the gifts, or wonder how to begin walking in them with confidence.

As Christians, though, we must embrace the supernatural aspect of the God's Kingdom. Consider Jesus' virgin birth, sacrificial death on the cross, physical resurrection from the dead, and bodily ascension into Heaven; they are all supernatural events demanding our acceptance by faith.

Ignorance leads to unease and misunderstanding; that's why Paul addressed the Church at Corinth concerning the gifts (1 Corinthians 12). Once believers gain a practical understanding of the special abilities given by the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of discernment of spirits, they'll no longer fear the supernatural realm. They'll eagerly embrace the gifts of the Spirit to do the works of Jesus and advance the Kingdom of God.

Overcoming Common Barriers to Activating Your Spiritual Gifts

There are various reasons why many believers are not walking in the gifts of Spirit. There are also be reasons why some Christian leaders have chosen not to teach on the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Some are still discovering these gifts for themselves. As we increase our understanding and experience, we become better equipped to share and teach others. Scripture reminds us, "The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things" (2 Timothy 2:6–7).

What does it mean? Imagine asking a peach grower at a farmers' market about his fruit, only to learn he has never tasted his own produce. Why would you commit to buying any?

Similarly, how can we hope to encourage others to walk in the gifts of the Spirit if we don't exercise them ourselves? We must first experience these gifts before we can effectively impart their benefits to other believers.

Are Spiritual Gifts Still for Today?

Christian denominations vary significantly in their interpretation of the gifts of the Spirit and their relevance for today. For instance, views represented by the doctrines of Dispensationalism and Cessationism hold that spiritual gifts fulfilled their primary purpose during the apostolic era and the foundation of The Early Church after which they gradually ceased to operate.

By studying Scripture together and remaining open to the Holy Spirit's guidance, we can better understand God's intentions for these gifts today. Just as the Bereans carefully examined the teachings they received (Acts 17:10–12), we can benefit from thoughtfully revisiting our understanding of the spiritual gifts and their practical role in Christian life.

The Necessity of Teaching About Spiritual Gifts

Some Church leaders believe we don't need to teach about spiritual gifts. They think these gifts will naturally operate in believers' lives through the Holy Spirit's influence alone. However, this raises an important question: If teaching isn't necessary, why did the apostle Paul spend time explaining these gifts and teaching about their operation? Following this logic, we could ask why we need to teach about anything.

There are some who quote this verse: "The anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you" (1 John 2:27). However, in its context, verse 27 exhorts believers to beware of false teachers and stand in the truths they've already learned, truths they had already been taught. Divine revelation and sound teaching work together.

Creating Space for Both Order and Freedom

Christian leaders naturally want to ensure spiritual gifts operate in an orderly manner that honors God and builds up the Church. This desire for proper order aligns with Scripture: "Let all things be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:40).

However, the legitimate concern shouldn't prevent us from exercising the gifts of the Spirit. Balancing the spontaneous movement of the Holy Spirit with the structure of planned-in-advance services is a challenge, but the example of the Early Church proves it is possible to avoid quenching the Spirit by creating space for both order and spiritual freedom.

Through sound biblical teaching and mature spiritual oversight, believers can learn to flow in their supernatural abilities while maintaining reverence and effectiveness.

The key is creating an environment of trust where the gifts can flourish within biblical boundaries, allowing the Holy Spirit to move freely while preserving a proper order in our gatherings.

Spiritual Gifts: For Every Believer

Some believe the gifts of the Spirit are only for ordained ministers formally trained for the work of the ministry or for believers who are specifically chosen by God when neither is true. Scripture shows they're given to every believer to equip and edify the Body of Christ. Every believer can participate in this divine empowerment (1 Corinthians 14:6).

Jesus warns, "'But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in'" (Matthew 23:13).

Instead, let us be leaders who would advance the Kingdom by throwing open its gates, addressing how to unlock spiritual gifts in the Church, and inviting believers to experience everything that God offers.

Guide your congregation in discovering how to unlock spiritual gifts and use them effectively, offering both encouragement and loving correction when needed. Provide clear instruction and practical demonstration to help unlock their spiritual potential or seek God's guidance in finding someone who can demonstrate and teach the gifts effectively.

From Hearing to Doing: Living Out Your Gifts

We are ALL called to exercise the gifts of the Spirit to do the works of Jesus. We read in Scripture, "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (James 1:22). We need to ask ourselves, "Am I a doer? Am I doing my part?"

Paul asks, "How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, EACH OF YOU has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification" (1 Corinthians 14:26, emphasis added).

By activating your spiritual gifts and doing the works of Jesus as God intended, signs WILL follow you, and people WILL recognize the presence of Jesus and be drawn to Him, and you will see the Kingdom of God advance.

Taking the First Steps in Activating Your Spiritual Gifts

Begin exercising the gifts of the Spirit, and you'll increasingly find the Lord working through you to meet the needs of those around you. And as an added benefit, you'll find your place in the Body of Christ.

Proverbs says, "A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men" (Proverbs 18:16). You'll be amazed at the opportunities you'll have to share the gospel of the Kingdom and lead people to Christ!

Activating Your Spiritual Gifts Through Hunger

Jesus promises, "'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled'" (Matthew 5:6). Filled means FILLED! This filling comes through the Holy Spirit, complete with His gifts — yes, every believer has the Holy Spirit's gifts!

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not lost relics of The Early Church or optional extras. They are essential tools given by the Holy Spirit to strengthen the Body of Christ and minister to a waiting world in need.

We are so used to the natural world that the supernatural aspect of the Kingdom can feel strange and unnatural. But, the more we pray in tongues and exercise other gifts of the Spirit, the more walking in the Spirit begins to feel normal.

Your Next Steps in Spiritual Growth

Activating your spiritual gifts opens the door to a deeper walk with God and greater effectiveness in ministry. As we step out in faith to embrace and exercise these special abilities, our understanding of God's Kingdom expands, and we discover more of our divine purpose.

Each time we operate in the gifts to bless others, our faith and spiritual authority grows, and what once seemed strange becomes a natural part of our Christian walk.

To help you move forward in confidence with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, my next article provides practical guidance for exercising each gift effectively. You'll learn specific ways to cooperate with the Holy Spirit, recognize His promptings, and minister His grace to others.

Next Article: How to Use Spiritual Gifts

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About the Author

Don Bell is the creator of the Kingdom Anointing website, and a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. He shares insights from his spiritual journey to encourage ordinary believers to seek God's Kingdom and lead extraordinary lives in the Holy Spirit.

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Hi, I'm Don, and my prayer is Kingdom Anointing™ will help you build faith, walk confidently in the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, and realize your full potential in the Kingdom of God.