Does Everyone Have Spiritual Gifts?

Does everyone have spiritual gifts? is a question that's frequently asked in Christian circles. Let's get our answer from the Bible, and if the answer is yes, then why aren't the gifts of the Holy Spirit being taught, and why aren't many believers using them?

Does Everyone Have Spiritual Gifts? Discover the Truth (Part 3 of 7)

By Don Bell | Reading Time: 15 minutes

When teaching about spiritual gifts, I've often been asked, "Does everyone have spiritual gifts?" Absolutely! The answer is YES!

All nine gifts of the Holy Spirit are yours to receive! The Holy Spirit doesn't withhold His gifts from you. He means for you to receive ALL His gifts. Why? Because you NEED them all to do the works of Jesus.

Let's examine carefully what the Apostle Paul taught concerning the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12, keeping in mind Paul's frame of reference is how the gifts are used when the Church has gathered.

Paul says, "There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all" (1 Corinthians 12:4-6).

Paul is reminding that there are various gifts given by the Holy Spirit, different ministries given by Jesus (Ephesians 4:11,12), and various activities that arise for meeting needs, but it's God the Father who works everything according to His will.

He explains that these nine spiritual gifts (supernatural abilities) can be called upon by EACH believer to meet a variety of needs as the Holy Spirit prompts:

The word MANIFESTATION is the KEY that opens the above passage to our understanding. The dictionary definition of manifestation is to show, to demonstrate, to reveal something.

Paul is listing the MANIFESTATIONS, and we need to distinguish between the gift (supernatural ability) and its manifestation (supernatural demonstration). Keeping that in mind, carefully reread the passage of Scripture:

There are nine gifts (supernatural abilities) listed in the above passage, and each has its unique MANIFESTATION. The name of the gift describes its manifestation. For example:

• The gift of prophecy manifests a word of prophecy.
• The gift of a word of wisdom manifests a word of wisdom.
• The gifts of healing manifest healings, and so on.

Paul is saying that the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person, and he lists the manifestations of the nine gifts. He is not talking about one gift being given to one person.

When you are FILLED with the Holy Spirit, you possess ALL nine spiritual gifts because they are ALL inherent in Him. You receive ALL of Him, not just part. His gifts are ALL available and ready for you to manifest at will, as they are needed. He means for you to receive them because YOU NEED THEM to do the works of Jesus.

However, His gifts will lay dormant and be hidden within you until you step out in faith and begin to use (manifest) them.

You Can Receive All Nine Spiritual Gifts

Paul taught that you can receive all nine spiritual gifts. For example, consider the three Utterance Gifts:

• Tongues: "I wish you ALL spoke with tongues …" (1 Corinthians 14:5, emphasis added).
• Interpretation of Tongues: "Therefore let HIM who speaks in a tongue pray that HE may interpret" (1 Corinthians 14:13, emphasis added).
• Prophecy: "For you can ALL prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged" (1 Corinthians 14:31, emphasis added).

Clearly, one person can expect to manifest ALL three Utterance Gifts. This also holds true for the three Revelation Gifts, and the three Power Gifts.

It's the Lord's will that each believer excels in ALL nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. That's why Paul writes, "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).

When believers gather, the Holy Spirit can prompt ANY individual to use ANY gift (or gifts) for the edification of all believers.

Why Doesn't Everyone Walk in the Gifts?

Paul asks, "Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?" (1 Corinthians 12:30). The answers are NO, NO, and NO.

• Not everyone will lay hands on the sick although they can. Some individuals will, and some will choose not to.
• Not everyone will speak in tongues although they can. Some individuals will, and some will choose not to.
• Not everyone will interpret an unknown tongue although they can. Some individuals will, and some will choose not to.

You'll find in any group of believers, not everyone will choose to walk in the nine spiritual gifts although they can. Disappointing, but true. It has everything to do with an individual's free will. The Holy Spirit will NEVER violate your free will.

Does everyone have spiritual gifts? Paul alludes that everybody CAN have spiritual gifts by saying, "But earnestly desire the best gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:31). The best gifts are those that meet the moment's need.

So, why doesn't every Spirit-filled believer walk in the nine gifts of the spirit? It's mostly because of fear arising from a lack of knowledge and confidence.

Fear will stop you just when you need to be stepping out in faith! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you overcome your fears…

• of failure
• of people
  
• of ridicule
• of criticism
• of falling into error
• of not being experienced enough
• of the unknown and the supernatural

Our human nature tends to avoid the unfamiliar, especially when it causes discomfort. The solution is to gain knowledge as it will dispel the fear. Then with experience and growing confidence, we can exercise the Holy Spirit's gifts and fulfill God's calling.

Stepping out in the gifts for the first time is similar to climbing onto a bicycle for the first time. Both require knowledge and momentum. Once you are knowledgeable about the gifts, you can gain momentum by stepping out in faith while knowing your Heavenly Father won't let you fall. Any lingering fear will be replaced with confidence.

We read in Scripture, "To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us KINGS AND PRIESTS to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 1:5,6, emphasis added).

However, Hosea prophesied, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being PRIEST for Me …" (Hosea 4:6).

Does everyone have spiritual gifts? Yes, but we cannot have confidence to receive God's gifts to operate in our priestly calling if we don't have knowledge of what they are and how they operate.

Once we learn the basic principles of the gifts of the Spirit and build our confidence, we'll experience success in receiving them. Operating the gifts will become as familiar as riding a bicycle — once you've done it, you'll always be able to do it.

But, you must first learn the basics and acquire hands-on experience before going deeper. Thankfully, the Lord Himself gave some to be teachers for the equipping of the saints (that's us) for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11,12).

Paul considered it necessary to teach on the gifts. He writes, "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant" (1 Corinthians 12:1).

Instruction in the gifts of the Spirit is necessary if we will avoid misunderstandings in their operation. Too often, well-meaning believers become overconfident and run with the gifts while making errors. They influence others who make the same errors. Soon, needless ignorance has created hurt and havoc within the Body of Christ.

Holy Spirit Desires to Manifest

The Holy Spirit desires to manifest His presence, but far too many followers of Christ ignore His promptings to step out in the gifts. They sit quietly, always waiting for the leaders to do the work of ministry.

Meanwhile, the leaders busy themselves in ministry while ignoring their calling to equip the people for the work of ministry. It's counter productive to what God intended.

We read in Scripture, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13).

So why aren't believers being equipped for the work of ministry? Both leaders and congregation are held captive to fears and misconceptions because they lack knowledge and understanding.

Failing to do the works of Jesus, people leave the dry meetings thirsty for the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit. Read what Isaiah prophesied:

Now, let's reread the above Scripture while substituting "church services" for the word feasts, and "spiritual gifts" for the word hands.

Does it remind you of some church services?

Why Aren't Spiritual Gifts Being Taught?

Sadly, far too many Church leaders have neglected to teach on the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, and some have simply refused to do so. There are several possible reasons:

• Some leaders are neither knowledgeable concerning the gifts nor proficient in exercising them. You cannot impart something that you do not first possess. Scripture says, "The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops" (2 Timothy 2:6).
  
• Some leaders refuse to accept that the gifts are for today. Deceived by the doctrines of Dispensationalism and Cessationism, they argue the gifts had only a foundational role, and ceased with the Apostolic Age and canon of Scripture. (ALWAYS question the manmade "isms"!)
• Some leaders insist they don't need to teach on the gifts, quoting 1 John 2:27 out of context. They claim the Holy Spirit will reveal the operation of His gifts to believers, yet they freely teach on the fruits of the Spirit and other biblical topics.
  
  John was warning against false teachers, exhorting people to stand firmly in the anointed truth that they had already been taught. They didn't need to be taught the basic truths again. After all, Paul had taught on the gifts of the Spirit!
• Some leaders are fearful the gifts will be misused and draw criticism to their leadership and church.
  
• Some mistakenly insist that the gifts are only for ordained ministry formally trained for the work of the ministry.
  
• Some simply do not want the Holy Spirit interrupting their formalized, planned-in-advance services.
  

NONE of these reasons can justify Christian leaders neglecting to teach their congregation the proper operation and function of the nine gifts of the Spirit.

Jesus says, "'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).

Christian leader, now is the time to introduce your congregation to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. If you find you're unable, bring in a teacher of the Word who's experienced in the gifts and can teach their operation.

Why We Know In Part and That's Okay

Let's accept that there will always be errors made when people are learning to exercise the spiritual gifts. It's inevitable. Even those seasoned in exercising the gifts can make mistakes on occasion.

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 to establish His Kingdom, and we're all changed in a moment to an incorruptible state, we must exercise the gifts of the Spirit IN PART. We haven't the capacity to comprehend the full nature of God in our current natural state.

Not to worry. God supplies us with knowledge on a need-to-know basis. If there's something of importance that we need to know and we've opened our minds to receive it, rest assured that the Holy Spirit will reveal it to us.

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

Imagine. As we exercise the gifts of the Spirit, we're only experiencing a TASTE of the special abilities available in the coming Kingdom. Until then, we must faithfully exercise the special abilities (gifts) of the Spirit in part.

Meantime, we must not clamp down on the gifts by simply ignoring them, or by preventing their operation because of the potential for errors; that's error in itself.

The answer is to provide instruction, the opportunity for the gifts to be exercised, and correction in love whenever required.

Unfortunately, there are some Church leaders and congregations who steadfastly oppose the gifts of the Holy Spirit because of long-held personal beliefs or strong denominational position. In their spiritual blindness, they cannot accept truth, and I can only offer Paul's sage advice to Timothy: "Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife" (2 Timothy 2:23).

Does Everyone Have Spiritual Gifts?

Paul the Apostle surely believed so. He strongly encouraged the operation of the gifts by EVERY member of the Church. Whenever he encountered reluctance or errors, he explained proper usage of the gifts.

So why doesn't every believer excel in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? It's not because they can't. Every believer who's baptized in the Holy Spirit receives the fullness of the Spirit with all His gifts waiting to be activated. You don't just receive part of the Holy Spirit!

The Greek word ἀγνοέω (agnoeō), translated as ignorant, means by implication, to ignore through hesitancy or reluctance. We are often hesitant or reluctant to receive something when we lack information and don't quite understand what it is.

Some believers don't use the gifts of the Spirit simply because they have chosen not to. We all can have reasons not wanting to do something, and God never forces His gifts upon anyone. He respects our free will, allowing us to make our own choices. It's our responsibility to make wise choices!

Some believers speak in tongues privately yet choose to sit back and not manifest spiritual gifts whenever the Church has gathered. Proficiency in the gifts of the Spirit has nothing to do with someone's intelligence, personality, or manner; it has everything to do with choice.

Believers hungry for the things of the Spirit must be encouraged to exercise the gifts of the Spirit, and the others simply left to God. Each of us has a calling to spread the gospel of the Kingdom, but because of the choices we make, we might not excel in all areas or to the extent we could.

However, if your desire is to please God and find your place in the Body of Christ, start to use the gifts of the Spirit. It comes down to choices! Ask God to help you make the right choices, so you can fulfill His plan for your life.

We read in 1 Corinthians that love plays a significant role in the operation of the gifts. LOVE is the more excellent way, the motivator. If we truly love others, we will desire to bring them edification, exhortation, and comfort.

When the gifts of the Spirit are flowing, it's a sign that love is flowing. The Gifts of the Spirit cannot operate in an environment void of love!

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit with His gifts to help you reach your true potential in the Body of Christ by edifying others and being edified by others — the sure sign of a Church that's alive.

Paul urges, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16).

Why Focus on the Gifts of the Spirit?

I've had people ask, "Okay, I agree the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit are in the Bible and that Paul encourages Christians to walk in them, but do I really have to? Why focus on the gifts?"

Usually, the person who's asking hasn't an issue with the fruits of the Spirit or the five ministry gifts. What's concerning them is an uneasiness about the supernatural nature of the gifts, and their responsibility to use them.

Believers should never be indifferent or fearful of the supernatural when it's impossible to be a follower of Christ without embracing it.

Belief in Christ's virgin birth, sacrificial death on the cross, physical resurrection from the dead, and bodily ascension into Heaven are all significant supernatural events central to one's salvation.

Ignorance breeds fear and once believers gain a proper understanding of the Holy Spirit's gifts, especially the gift of discernment of spirits, they will no longer fear the supernatural realm, and they will more eagerly embrace the gifts to do the works of Jesus.

Does everyone have spiritual gifts? Again, the answer is YES! We really need to drop every excuse. Jesus says, "'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled'" (Matthew 5:6).

We are told to desire spiritual gifts. The degree we hunger and thirst determines the degree we'll push aside excuses and fears, and be filled to overflowing with love for ministry. We must ask ourselves, "How hungry and thirsty am I?

Having taught on the spiritual gifts, Paul says, "If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the COMMANDMENTS of the Lord" (1 Corinthians 14:37, emphasis added).

So, if you had asked Paul, "Does everyone have spiritual gifts?" He would have said YES, without hesitation. He considered the nine gifts of the Spirit necessary to the believer's walk in Christ. He did NOT consider them optional. So let's be diligent to use them.

Join me in reading Part 4: How Did Jesus Perform Miracles?

---

By Don Bell, follower of the Christ.

Like This Page? Please Share It

Hi, I'm Don, and my prayer is that 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.