In many religious circles, spiritual gifts are treated like a reward for extreme spiritual labor. We are told that if we fast long enough, pray loud enough, or become “holy” enough, God might eventually trust us with a gift of healing or a word of knowledge. This performance-based approach is the definition of spiritual toiling. It suggests that the gifts of the Spirit can be earned through the works of the Law.
Under the New Covenant, spiritual gifts are exactly what the name implies; gifts. They are not merit badges for the “super-spiritual”; they are the equipment of the family of God, provided entirely by Grace.
1. Understand the Source: Charisma vs. Karma
The New Testament word for spiritual gifts is charisma, which comes from the root word charis, meaning Grace.
- Grace-Based Operation: You don’t get gifts because you are good; you get gifts because God is good.
- Not Karma: The Kingdom does not operate on “karma,” where you do good to get power. It operates on “inheritance,” where you have access to the Father’s power because you are a son.
2. Desire Earnestly, but Rest Completely
1 Corinthians 12-31 (NKJV) tells us to “earnestly desire the best gifts.” Many people mistake “earnestly desire” for “strenuously strive.”
- Desire is Hunger: To desire a gift is to be hungry to see God’s love manifest to someone else. It is not a selfish ambition to be “powerful.”
- Rest is the Frequency: Spiritual gifts flow best when you are at rest. When you are stressed and trying to “force” a prophecy or a miracle, you are operating in the flesh. When you rest in the Finished Work, the Holy Spirit has the freedom to move through you.
3. Realize the Purpose: Profit for All
A major key to activating gifts is shifting your focus from yourself to others. 1 Corinthians 12-7 (NKJV) says: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.”
- Gifts are for Distribution: You are a distribution center, not a warehouse. When you see a need in someone else’s life, that is the “green light” for the gift to activate.
- The Compassion Trigger: Most of Jesus’ miracles were triggered by compassion. When you move in love, the gifts follow.
4. Activate by Faith, Not by Feelings
You do not wait for a “feeling” or a “goosebump” to activate a spiritual gift. You activate it by faith, just as you received your salvation.
- Speaking the Word: If you receive a word of knowledge, you don’t wait for a lightning bolt; you simply speak what you are seeing in your spirit.
- Stepping Out: Activation requires a step of “action.” You lay hands on the sick because you believe the Word, not because you feel “oily.”
5. Stop Managing the Holy Spirit
One of the biggest hindrances to the gifts is the fear of making a mistake. This is a form of legalism that says, “If I’m not 100% accurate, God will be angry.”
- A Learning Environment: We “prophesy in part.” God is a Father, and He is more pleased with a son who steps out in faith and misses it than a son who stays in the boat and never tries.
- The Spirit of Liberty: Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. You have the liberty to grow, to practice, and to mature in your gifts without the pressure of condemnation.
Conclusion
Activating spiritual gifts is not a matter of “climbing a ladder” to reach God; it is a matter of “opening the faucet” of the Spirit that already abides in you. You are a new creation, and the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. He is not “locked up” behind your performance; He is ready to flow through your faith. Stop striving to be “worthy” of the gifts and start resting in the worthiness of the Lamb.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can anyone have spiritual gifts?
Yes; the manifestation of the Spirit is given to “each one.” As a member of the Body of Christ, you have a specific function and a specific gift meant to benefit the whole family.
Why haven’t I seen any gifts in my life yet?
Usually, it is because of a lack of revelation or the presence of fear. When you realize that you are the righteousness of God in Christ, the fear of “doing it wrong” disappears, and the gifts can flow.
Do I need to fast to get spiritual power?
Fasting does not “move God” to give you more; He already gave you everything in Christ. Fasting helps to “quiet the flesh” so that you can become more aware of the Spirit who is already moving.
Is there a “best” gift?
The best gift is the one that is needed in the moment to help the person in front of you. If someone is sick, the “best gift” is healing. If they are confused, the “best gift” is a word of wisdom.
This article is part of a series answering difficult questions about grace and the New Covenant.