The Gifts Unwrapped

Hebrews 2:4

At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to His will. (HCSB)

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As we approach this study upon the gifts of the Holy Spirit, I first want to address the nature of the gifts. When one looks at the nature of the gifts, the question one has to ask is “What are they?” The gifts of the Spirit, in nature, are several things. The gifts are supernatural, gifts from our Heavenly Father, tools, weapons, treasures of heaven, and a witness of our Lord. Let us take a look at each one of them.

Supernatural in Nature

The gifts of the Holy Spirit by nature are not natural, but supernatural. What I mean here is that these gifts are not things that one can acquire by natural means over a durable length of time. One cannot go to seminary or Bible school to acquire their presence in one’s life. The gifts are given by a supernatural Being, and He is the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit is a supernatural being, so are the gifts supernatural.

Being supernatural, the gifts are not limited in their expression in the earth. In the word supernatural, you find “super-“, and it means “to be above or beyond”. Therefore, the gifts are above or beyond the natural realm of existence. They supersede the limitations of this world. They are not governed by the dictates of the limitations of this present age, for they are from an age that is to come (Hebrews 6:4-5). They are bound by laws beyond the laws of this plain of existence, and they reflect the nature of a Supreme Being – God. Therefore, the gifts are a sign, which point to the Holy Spirit. The gifts reveal that the Holy Spirit is God.

Gifts

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are just that – gifts. When one receives a gift, it is given based upon the goodness or kindness of the giver. The gifts are given to us by a supernatural God based upon His supreme goodness towards us. The gifts are not given based upon the merit of the receiver. If it was based upon the receiver, then many believers would be found to be exempt from receiving the gifts of the Holy Spirit. However, this is the glory of the Lord in relation to the gifts. We are recipients of His gifts by virtue of the righteousness of Christ. Because of the intermediary ministry of Jesus at the cross, we have been made righteous. All the sins we ever committed have been erased as if we had never committed them before.

When God looks at us, He sees righteousness. More than that, we are the very righteousness of God in the earth. How is that even possible? Where did this righteousness come from? It came from Christ Himself. As Christ bore our sin, He gave us His righteousness to bear. Therefore, the gifts of the Spirit come by way of righteousness – the righteousness of Christ.

Tools

The gifts of the Spirit are tools for the edifying or building up of the Body of Christ. Paul writes to the Corinthian assembly stating we (i.e., the Universal Church) are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). Therefore, as spirit-filled believers use the gifts, or give expression to the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit by the gifts, they bring about the furtherance of the construction of the temple of God. However, a tool within the hand of a novice is a dangerous thing. Paul, in Romans 10:2, states, “I can testify about them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” (HCSB) So, we need instruction to better understand the gifts. This is one of the major reasons for this book – to help believers gain knowledge and understanding regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Weapons

Paul states in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 that we have been given weapons of mass destruction. The gifts of the Spirit are part of this arsenal of weaponry. The purpose of these weapons are for the tearing down of demonic strongholds. As the gifts are in operation, demonic strongholds are demolished, and spiritual captives are set free. We need to understand that the gifts are powerful. When we move in alignment to that understanding, we will see the might of God and His kingdom show forth in brilliance against the kingdom of darkness. The gifts are needed and are an asset in spiritual warfare.

Treasures of Heaven

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are treasures of Heaven. I gained this insight from Genesis twenty four where Eliezer was sent of Abraham to seek a bride for Isaac. This Old Testament account is full of insightful teaching regarding the ministry of the Godhead (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit), and the present interrelationship of Christ and His Bride (i.e., the Church). To truly see what I am going to share here regarding the gifts, I must give some typological references of the individuals within the account. Abraham is a type of God the Father, Isaac is a type of God the Son, Eliezer is a type of God the Holy Spirit, and Rebekah is a type of the Church.

With this understanding, let us look at verses forty five to sixty, for they help us to understand how the gifts are treasures. Eliezer is sitting by the well praying, and here comes Rebekah in answer to his prayers. Eliezer perceives that Rebekah is the bride whom God has chosen to be wife for his master Isaac, and then after he worships, he does something profound. In verse fifty three, Eliezer places jewelry of silver and gold, and various precious things upon her. He did this to identify her now as the chosen bride of the promised son.

As we have established the types, we can see that when we receive the Holy Spirit, He brings with Himself treasures and precious things. The gifts of the Spirit are part of those treasures from on high, which the Holy Spirit puts upon our spirit to identify us as Christ’s Bride, but also to set us apart as servants that will supernaturally serve the purposes of the kingdom of God as the Bride of Christ (Genesis 2:20). The gifts of the Holy Spirit are emanations of the glory of God, so that the nations may see God’s goodness toward humanity (Ezekiel 16:14). Therefore, we ought to proudly wear the gifts, so that all men may see and hear of God’s goodness through Jesus Christ by the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit.

A Witness of the Lord

The final thing regarding the nature of the gifts is that they are a testimony of the present ministry of Christ. He is presently alive in the heavenly tabernacle of God. The author of Hebrews helps us to understand that Jesus is our High Priest (Hebrews 3:1, 4:14, 6:20). In the Old Testament, the high priest was required to wear bells at the hem of the priestly ephod (Exodus 28:31-33). The purpose of the bells were to make a sound to be heard from within the Sanctuary as an indication to those outside he was still alive. If the bells were not heard, then it meant that the priest had died, and God had not honored his ministry nor received his sacrifice.

Our High Priest has gone beyond the veil of the natural cosmos to appear on our behalf, so as to sprinkle His blood upon the altar of God. How do we know God the Father has honored the ministry and accepted the sacrifice of Jesus? Luke writes in Acts 2:2 saying, “Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven”. (NLT) The descent of the Spirit at Pentecost is the evidential proof that Christ’s ministry was honored, His sacrifice was accepted, and the result being the forgiveness of our sins. Therefore, when the gifts of the Spirit are in operation, they testify to the validity of Christ’s present resurrected state, and His power still operative in the earth by the Person of the Holy Spirit.