In these challenging times, the church must fully embrace the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, especially His Gifts, which not only benefit the church but also impact the lives of every believer. Paul expresses his heart for the Roman church by his strong desire to visit Rome to share the gospel and impart Spiritual Gifts. The church in Rome had a good reputation so Paul wanted to visit to share Spiritual Gifts and to be encouraged by their faith. He prayed for them "without ceasing" that God would allow him to visit them. "For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you..." (Romans 1:8-17).

This is a ministry that many of us share. We pray with people not only for Salvation and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, but for the "Spiritual Gifts" (charismatic gifts) that Paul mentions later in Romans 12:6-8 and 1st Corinthians 12:8-10. This "ministry of gifting" equips the saints for ministry with one another and with unbelievers. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit strengthen and encourage faith among the believers. 

The 15 charismatic Gifts of the Holy Spirit are prophecy, service, teaching, exhortation, aid, giving, mercy (Rom. 12:6–8); the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, various kinds of tongues languages, and the interpretation of tongues (1 Cor. 12:8-10). It is worth noting that the gift of prophecy appears in both lists but is only counted once. 

These Gifts also serve an evangelistic function: to lead others to believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour, Lord, Healer and Deliverer. As Paul explained to the Corinthians, "My speech and message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of Power" (1 Cor. 2:4-5). The Holy Spirit's Gifts demonstrate the truth of the Gospel and enable believers to live by faith. The Bible contains numerous examples of believers receiving the Holy Spirit, tongues, and prophesy through prayer and the laying on of hands (Acts 8:14-17; 9:17; 10:44–46; 19:6). 

THE GIFT OF THE WORD OF WISDOM

One of the Gifts is the Word of Wisdom, which enables us to apply God’s truth to real-life situations. The Holy Spirit imparts wisdom that goes beyond human understanding and reasoning, guiding in decisions and empowering people to make proper judgments. It is a supernatural solution to work around challenging problems and situations with peace and confidence – a practical “know-how”.  

THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT

Similarly, the Gift of Discernment or discerning of spirits, is important for the church, especially in a world filled with deception and confusion. 1 John 4:1 instructs us, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." The Holy Spirit empowers the believer who has this Gift to discern truth from error, enabling them to tell the difference between the things and people who are from God or things and people who are from the devil. Whether it’s recognizing the intentions of others or understanding spiritual circumstances, discernment protects people and helps them stay on the path God has set before us.

THE GIFT OF FAITH

The Gift of Faith, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:9, is a special ability given by the Holy Spirit that goes beyond regular faith. It’s a powerful, supernatural trust in God that enables a believer to believe for things that seem impossible and to act on that faith with unwavering confidence. This kind of faith isn’t something we can muster up on our own; it’s a divine gift that provides a strong assurance of God's promises and power. It can move mountains, as Jesus said in Matthew 17:20: “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.” This Gift empowers the believer who possesses it to take bold steps in line with God’s Word, expecting His intervention in amazing ways.

THE GIFT OF HEALING

Healing is the most coveted of the Gifts, allowing Christians to conduct miraculous healings. The correct translation of the Greek text is: "charismatic gifts freely and graciously given or bestowed, of healing or remedy." It often involves a direct touch from God, resulting in an immediate and complete work. This is an important gifting since other people's lives and abilities to serve Jesus in good health are dependent on the faithfulness of individuals with the Gifts of Healing. This Gift is a way to show God’s love and power in a real and tangible way. 

The believer with the Gift of Healings offers hope and supernatural help to those who are suffering making a real impact in the lives of people, and demonstrating God's compassion and love. In every aspect of our lives, the 15 Gifts of the Spirit are not just for church services but are meant to be lived out daily. They are Victory Gifts that equip us to overcome challenges, minister to others, and walk in the fullness of the abundant life Jesus promised.

Let us be a church that eagerly desires and operates in these Gifts, allowing the Holy Spirit to move powerfully through us in our homes, workplaces, and communities. As we do, we will see God's kingdom advance and His glory revealed in our everyday lives.         

The Power of Prayer and Spiritual Authority (Phil. 4:6-8; Lk. 10:19)  

Our daily prayer life is vital for maintaining a strong relationship with God and keeping our minds focused on His truth. Philippians 4:6-8 encourages us to bring everything to God in prayer, not to be anxious, but to present our requests with thanksgiving. This practice not only guards our hearts with God’s peace but also helps us meditate on whatever is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good report and praiseworthy.

Through consistent prayer, we bring our thoughts in line with God's Word, allowing His peace to rule in our hearts and guide our actions. Jesus demonstrated the importance of regular prayer, often seeking time alone to connect with the Father, showing us how important daily communion with God is for living a life secured in His peace and wisdom.

Praying in spiritual authority is a powerful aspect of our prayer life, as it allows us to stand firm against the enemy and declare God’s promises over our circumstances. An excellent example in in Mark 4:35-41, Jesus demonstrates spiritual authority by commanding the wind and the waves to be still. His authority over nature is a testament to His divine power and the authority given to Him by God. This act not only calms the storm but also tells His disciples that, with faith, they too can operate in spiritual authority (Lk. 10:19). 

Jesus' question to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" challenges us to trust in the authority they have through Him, knowing that with faith, they can speak to the storms in their lives and see God's power at work. We need to hear what the Holy Spirit has to say about our churches (Rev. 2:7) to ensure that they are adequately cared for (Jn. 21:15-17).

When we learn to cooperate with the Holy Spirit by praying in tongues, we begin to see answers to prayer in a way that we have never seen before. This happens after we have told the Lord what our prayer needs are, and pray in tongues “until we get peace” (Phil. 4:6-7).