Gifts of the Spirit (Spirit of Truth Part 4)
Worshiping in Spirit and Truth
Jesus spoke to a woman at a well in John 4 and said something profound:
“The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23–24, ESV).
True worship requires both Spirit and Truth. These two are inseparable in the life of a follower of Jesus. Our lives are called to be full of the Holy Spirit and grounded in God’s truth, and that means stepping into the supernatural gifts God has given us through the Spirit.
From Uninformed to Empowered
For many, church may have felt passionless or overly intellectual. For others, the Holy Spirit might have been overlooked or never mentioned. But Scripture is clear: we are not meant to remain uninformed about the things of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1).
When we come to faith in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit, God deposits spiritual gifts inside of us—gifts that are supernatural in nature and meant to be used for the good of the Church and the mission of Jesus. These are not natural talents, but divine deposits of ability, activated by faith and grown through stewardship.
The Nature of Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12 teaches that there are a variety of gifts, all from the same Spirit, and given for the common good. Everyone who has the Holy Spirit has been given gifts—no one is left out. And these gifts are meant to be used to build up the body of Christ, not stored away or compared to others.
Here are five biblical truths about spiritual gifts from 1 Corinthians 12:
Source: God is the giver and empowerer of all gifts.
Variety: There are many types of gifts—each unique and valuable.
Generosity: To each is given a gift; no one is excluded.
Purpose: Gifts are for the common good, not personal fame.
Delegation: The Spirit decides who receives which gifts.
A Brief Look at Nine Spiritual Gifts
Paul lists nine spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8–10:
Word of Wisdom – Supernatural ability to apply God's truth in practical, real-time ways.
Word of Knowledge – Spirit-revealed insight into God’s character, often through experience or revelation.
Faith – A gift of supernatural confidence in God's promises that strengthens others.
Healing – A spiritual ability to be a vessel of God’s physical or emotional restoration.
Miracles – Demonstrations of God’s power that defy natural explanation.
Prophecy – Speaking encouragement, comfort, or direction from the heart of God.
Distinguishing of Spirits – Ability to discern what is of God, what is not, and what is human.
Tongues – Speaking in spiritual languages, both known and unknown.
Interpretation of Tongues – Understanding and explaining the meaning of what’s spoken in tongues.
Each of these is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, and each can be grown and stewarded as we partner with God.
Cultivating Character, Growing Gifts
Spiritual growth involves two dimensions: cultivating the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) and growing the gifts of the Spirit. Character takes time and intentionality—partnering with the Spirit to become more loving, joyful, patient, and so on. But gifts also require intentional growth. They are given, but they must be activated, nurtured, and practiced.
The real power of a believer’s life lives at the intersection of godly character and spiritual gifting.
Stepping Into Your Role
Not everyone is called to preach or plant churches, but every believer is called to participate. The Church isn’t meant to rely on a few “gifted” individuals. It’s meant to function as a body where every part is contributing its God-given gift for the good of the whole (Ephesians 4:11–16).
When every believer understands and uses their spiritual gifts, the church becomes powerful, effective, and self-sustaining—just as God designed it to be.
Reflection Questions
What spiritual gifts do you think God may have placed inside of you? Have you begun to explore or use them?
How can you begin to worship God more fully in both Spirit and Truth this week?
Are there areas where you’ve focused on character but neglected your gifting—or vice versa? What would partnering with the Holy Spirit look like today?