Let’s be clear, establishing a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ is the most important decision you will ever make as a man. Nothing even comes close because your eternity literally hangs in the balance. But here’s something you may have never considered: Salvation has benefits for this life as well as the next.
One of these blessings is the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These supernatural abilities are provided to every Christ follower the moment he or she accepts Christ as Savior. And understanding Bible verses that talk about spiritual gifts can help you experience meaning and purpose at a whole new level.
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“…But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15
What are spiritual gifts?
As you turn your attention to Bible verses about spiritual gifts, you need a clear picture of what these gifts of the Spirit really are. So, here are a few basics to provide context. First, they are supernatural abilities provided by the Holy Spirit. Spiritual gifts are not just talents or natural abilities. They are rooted in the power of the Spirit.
Next, spiritual gifts are provided for every believer. While you may be tempted to think you were left out, Bible verses that talk about spiritual gifts emphasize that every Christ follower receives at least one gift from God through the Holy Spirit.
Finally, our spiritual gifts are not given for our own benefit. While using our gifts can produce incredible joy, the main reason God endows us with spiritual gifts is to build up His church. Bible verses on spiritual gifts remind us that God expects us to use these gifts to encourage other believers and to help spread the gospel around the world.
10 Bible Verses About Spiritual Gifts
Some people get nervous when they think about the Holy Spirit, and they aren’t sure how all this spiritual gift stuff is supposed to work. Thankfully, Bible verses about spiritual gifts remove some of the mystery for us. After all, these gifts originate from God, so it makes sense that His Word teaches us what we need to know.
For example, the ten passages below provide a pretty solid lesson in “Spiritual Gifts 101.” Some of them provide lists of spiritual gifts, while others give us important information about using them. All of them remind us that God has a plan and purpose for our lives. You are God’s workmanship, designed to point people toward Him through your actions (Ephesians 2:10). Exercising spiritual gifts is key to doing that.
1. Exodus 31:1-6
Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts. Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you…
While the ancient Israelites were building the Tabernacle, God gave certain people—like Bezalel and Oholiab—supernatural abilities. They were filled with the Spirit, and that filling allowed them to create things perfectly aligned with God’s design. Of course, all this happened long before Jesus came to earth and the early church was born. But it does demonstrate that God has always been in the business of providing some form of spiritual gifts to accomplish His purposes
2. James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
If you ever wonder about the source of spiritual gifts, look no further. This Bible verse about spiritual gifts points to God as our Source. Admittedly, these good and perfect gifts can cover a wide variety of blessings, but they include the gifts of the Holy Spirit that He provides for kingdom work.
3. Hebrews 2:3-4
how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
We noted earlier that salvation—a personal relationship with Jesus—is required for spiritual gifts. In these verses, the anonymous writer of Hebrews takes that a step further. The gifts of the Spirit actually validate a person’s relationship with Jesus. Now, that doesn’t mean that you have to demonstrate some kind of supernatural gift to be saved. But it does mean that the gifts you exercise prove that you are one of God’s kids.
4. Romans 12:4-8
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
The Bible verses about spiritual gifts we’ve examined so far have provided a solid foundation. The next few include actual lists of the spiritual gifts God provides. But they do more than that. For example, Romans 12—the first spiritual gifts list in the New Testament—emphasizes how our spiritual gifts fit into the bigger picture of the church. We are part of Christ’s body, and the gifts of the Spirit we receive allow us to support and serve His body, the church.
5. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Likewise, these Bible verses talk about particular gifts of the Spirit and use the imagery of the body. But don’t miss the little phrase “as he wills” in verse 11. God has a plan and purpose for every believer—including you. And He has given you the spiritual gifts you need to fulfill that plan and purpose. The Corinthians needed to hear that because, among other things, they had been arguing about whose gifts were the best. God shut that argument down by reminding them that every gift is important, and every person has just the gift they need.
6. Ephesians 4:11-16
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
This list of the Spirit’s gifts is different from what Paul provided in Romans and 1 Corinthians. Instead of focusing on abilities, these Bible verses on spiritual gifts emphasize the leadership roles people play in the church. This is vital because we all understand that churches need solid leaders. Thankfully, God has provided qualified leaders who have the spiritual gifts necessary to move the church forward. And, in a sense, when these leaders exercise their spiritual gifts, they become a gift to their congregations.
7. 1 Peter 4:10-11
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
The apostle Peter was never one to pull punches, and these verses about spiritual gifts are no exception. In context, Peter was telling his readers that we’re all working on a spiritual deadline. One day, Jesus is coming back, so we should be making the most of our opportunities to share the gospel while we can. We can’t afford to waste time. Since the clock is ticking, we should be doing all we can to use our spiritual gifts to lead people toward a personal relationship with Jesus.
8. 1 Timothy 4:14
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
Timothy was a younger pastor who was struggling to find his footing in ministry. As Paul mentored him through the words of 1 Timothy, he identified a big problem in a verse about spiritual gifts. The elderly apostle warned his son in the faith against neglecting his gifts. The Greek wording implies being careless with something or taking it for granted. Timothy was in danger of ignoring the significance and value of his spiritual gift. Paul challenged him—and us—to keep that from happening.
9. 2 Timothy 1:6-7
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Most scholars believe 2 Timothy was the last biblical letter Paul wrote before he died. So, in a sense, these were his last words to Timothy. Yet, these verses about spiritual gifts echo what he had said earlier. Paul urged Timothy to rekindle his gift. The Greek term suggests stoking a fire or fanning a flame. If Timothy was going to accomplish anything of eternal significance, he needed to be on fire when it came to using his spiritual gifts.
10. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
We call 1 Corinthians 13 the “love chapter,” but it’s also a key Bible passage that talks about spiritual gifts. The mention of tongues, prophecy, knowledge, faith, and generosity are all drawn from the list of the Spirit’s gifts he provided in chapter 12. But he made it clear that without love, none of them really matter. Exercising the gifts of the Spirit is important, but it falls flat if we don’t let genuine love guide our actions.
You can find your spiritual gifts
In the opening verses of 1 Corinthians, Paul expressed great joy that God had given his readers everything they needed to live the Christian life. According to him, they lacked nothing—including spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:6-7). That had to be an encouragement to them, and these verses about spiritual gifts should be an encouragement to us as well.
But before you can use your spiritual gifts, you’ve got to identify them. Many Bible studies and inventories can help with this. You also might talk to family, friends, and mentors—people who know you really well—and find out what they see God doing in your life. You can also learn a lot through trial and error as you serve the church in various ways.
But once you recognize how the Spirit has gifted you, get to work for God’s kingdom and His glory. Use your spiritual gifts well and continue reflecting on Bible verses about spiritual gifts. It will change your life, and it has the potential to change the world!
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