“What is the spiritual gift of mercy?”……Answer: In His Sermon on the Mount, one of Jesus' beatitudes is "Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7 ). Mercy means to be led by God to be compassionate in our attitudes, words and actions. It is more than feeling sympathy towards someone; it […]
“What is the spiritual gift of discerning spirits?”……The gift of discerning spirits, or "distinguishing" spirits, is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Like all these gifts, the gift of discerning spirits is one of the gifts believers are given by the Holy Spirit, who disperses these gifts to […]
“What is the spiritual gift of faith?”……The spiritual gift of faith is found in the list of the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12. Verse 9 says that some people are given the gift of faith, but the gift is not specifically explained. All believers have been given saving faith by God as […]
“What is the gift of encouragement?”…The gift of encouragement or exhortation is found in Paul's list of gifts in Romans 12:7-8. The word translated "encourage" or "exhortation" is the Greek word paracletos", or "paraclete" which basically means "to call to one's side." ……"Paracletos" can have several meanings, including exhort, urge, encourage, and comfort. All of […]
How does God distribute spiritual gifts?”……Answer: Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians chapter 12 make it clear that each Christian is given spiritual gifts according to the Lord's choice. Spiritual gifts are given for the edification of the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:7, 14:12). The exact timing of the giving of these gifts is not […]
“Is there any value to a spiritual gifts test/inventory/assessment?”……Answer: It is definitely commendable for God's children to desire to know the spiritual gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of serving and glorifying God (2 Timothy 1:6). At the same time, the Bible does not indicate that one’s spiritual gift(s) can […]
Gifts and Fruit Read 1 Corinthians 12 The apostle Paul describes the spiritual gifts given to the church by God and administered by the Holy Spirit. It is sobering to realize that the fruit of the Spirit did not include how well I could preach or how effective I was at giving altar calls. Nowhere […]