The nine gifts are broken down into three main categories: the first, Utterance Gifts, which includes the giving of a Message in Tongues, the Interpretation of Tongues, and Prophecy. The second category is that of the Power Gifts, which includes the Gifts of Healing, the Working of Miracles, and the Gift of Faith. The third category is that of the Revelation Gifts, which includes the Gift of Knowledge, the Gift of Wisdom, and the Discerning of Spirits.

Up front I will make this bold statement: the Gifts of the Spirit are essential to the Christian who is striving to live life in the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. Part of the Websters New World College Dictionary defines Christian as having the qualities demonstrated and taught by Jesus Christ, as love, kindness, humility, etc. In my years growing up in the church as a pastors son, I have learned that Jesus did some very great things, He preached the gospel, healed the sick, raised the dead, cast out demons, and loved all who He came into contact with. How did He accomplish all this? By using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit! I have heard the argument, yes, but He was Jesus Christ, The Messiah, the Son of God, we are merely human beings, we cant possibly do what He did. Well, lets take a quick look at what the Bible says about this, John 14:12 says:

John 14:12 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than These, because I go to the Father. Amplified

Well, that kind of kills that argument right there; Jesus tells us we will do greater things than He did. It goes on in Verses Sixteen to Seventeen to talk about the Holy Spirit, and His role in our lives after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and sat at the right hand of the Father. Because of the beating, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have been set free from sin and death, as well as been given the right to use the power and authority that He (Jesus) earned on the cross! How is this so? Lets take a look at what 2 Corinthians 5:17 has to say:

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! Amplified

Here it says if we are engrafted in, or made to be one with Christ - or as we say now days, if we are saved, if we are born again, then we are a new creature with a new spirit, a spirit that cannot sin, a spirit that has the same authority as Jesus does! Can this be true? Yes, lets look at Romans 8:10-11 for the evidence of this:

Romans 8:10-11 But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you]. And if the Spirit of Him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. - Amplified

Here we find out if Christ lives in us, if we are born again, then that same Spirit that raised Him from the dead lives in us! Who is that Spirit? The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, and if He lives in us, then we also have access to His power and authority! And if we have this power and authority, we have no excuses! There is no obstacle that we can not overcome, no power, no demon, no devil, that we can not cast out through the authority and power of Jesus Christ, again, the things I have done, you will also do, and even greater, because I go to my Father.

So, as I began to say, we have the authority to act on Jesus behalf here on earth. And how do we do this? Through the Gifts of the Spirit. That is why I said that the gifts are essential to the Christian life style.

Now, having said that, I will also say upfront that the knowledge of the Gifts of the Spirit is not essential, and in some extreme cases it can be a hindrance to those who are ministering. How can this be so? Well, for one, if you study out the New testament, especially Pauls writings to the churches, you will see that the gifts are only talked about once in Corinthians; although, there is evidence of them being in use throughout the entire Bible. This is because Paul knew that the knowledge of the gifts is not as important as the ability to hear the Word of God and do what He (the Holy Spirit) instructs us to do.

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