My church teaches on spiritual gifts! It is a complicated and at times controversial subject.

Spiritual gifts include:

the gift of helps or mercy--that's the ability to reach out to hurting people and meet their needs, also the ability to be merciful to others who have done wrong by for giving them more easily than others may.

the gift of hospitality--the ability to make people feel welcome and comfortable in your home

the gift of faith--the ability to trust God to do what others see as impossible

the gift of teaching--the ability to effectively teach God's Word and truth to others

the gift of prophecy--the ability to tell others what is coming--this gift does not include new prophecies that contradict anything in God's Word. For example, I can make the accurate prophecy that I will one day live in heaven with God, because I know that Jesus is my Savior and Lord. My prophecy is based up the truth in God's Word and my belief in that truth.

the gift of evangelism--the ability to lead people to Jesus as Savior and Lord.

the gift of giving--the ability to make wise decisions concerning where to give money and the willingness to give as God provides.

the gift of discerning of spirits--the ability to hear from the Holy Spirit and know things not evident to others.

the gift of tongues goes with the gift of interpretation--both involve the ability to edify the church (members of the church), to help them grow in their walk with the Lord. In the Bible when tongues were spoken, someone present always understood what was said. If everyone didn't understand, then those who did explained, so many benefited.

Is there a person on the planet who does not have spirtual gifts ??? I really don't think so ,, God does not make junk .

hmmm thats pretty interesting its sad how not a lot of people are willing to do some of these things...our family is cool because they are always willing to help without worrying about whats in it for us...some people think were crazy but its what we do because it makes us feel good to help others

Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

1Co 12:4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
1Co 12:5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
1Co 12:17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
1Co 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
1Co 12:19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
1Co 12:21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
1Co 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
1Co 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
1Co 12:24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
1Co 12:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
1Co 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
1Co 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Thank you, Roger! I knew I could count on you to come up with the right Scripture for this discussion!

I'd like to add that natural abilities and habits we've learned from our families are not spiritual gifts. This can confuse some people as they try to decide what their spiritual gifts are. But anything that you did well or enjoyed before you accepted Christ as Savior and Lord is a natural ability or habit, not a spiritual gift. Whatever spiritual gift you receive at or after salvation, it will complement your natural abilities and good habits.

I am already liking this conversation because I learned that I could have more than the gift of tongue. I can see myself as having the gift of helps or mercy, for I love to help at the food pantry and do other things such as the paper angel trees every Christmas. what I lack for this gift sometimes is the gift of money to spend in order to do some of these things.

I have faith, but sadly I'll admit it's not strong enough to call it a gift (yet). though I have had an experience with the gift of discerning spirits once (and it was for something trivial like deciding between going to a rock festival and performing in the high school musical), but mostly I question when there's little answers like I SO WANT to go to Cornerstone but I don't have the money, but those I know who have a lot less money go every year! or how I SO WANT to sponsor a child, even felt led once, but don't know how when I don't even have the money to tend to myself or my cat.

I love the gift of prophecy. I have seen it occur at least once, and when put in context it was incredible. at a Christian rock festival, a teen girl at our church met a guy for a few minutes. she never met him and they only went as far as introducing each other and discussing their favorite bands. but when they parted ways, his last words were "by the way, you and your mother are going to be just fine." she was speechless because before the festival she had a fight with her mom and never told anyone about it. it was... an amazing story that still gets to me.

yeah, I think that's why people find my gift of tongue weird: I have yet to find anyone that can discern the gift of tongue. I have "researched" this gift, basically if I remember something I utter in prayer that is not english I will try to remember it and try to decipher it through a free online translation program. sometimes I get nothing or gibberish, but majority of the time some, or even all, of the phrase translates into something relative to what was happening! for example, the first time I spoke in tongue, before I even knew I had the gift, I was alone in my seat at an altar call and was at a time where I was silent to prayer. then, suddenly, I was overwhelmed with a feeling to pray in a tongue I never knew! I reached out and spoke what sounded like fluent gibberish or another language, but I kept repeating something like "Ye senne sonye de vado." I went home and ran it through a free online translation program, and in two languages the phrase roughly translated to "and sen of it son and says I go." I was telling dozens of people "and says I go" at an altar call? that can't be coincidental!

TONGUES ARE A MYSTERY TO ME.

I have a prayer language where I speak in tongues. I use it when I don't know what to pray. I believe everyone has this gift if they would just ask for it. I've long wondered what my spiritual gift(s) are and regularly pray for God to show me. I would like to be a blessing to others.

I went to a church where the gift of tongues was used in the service , but there was always someone there to interpret them to edify the church.

THE GIFT OF TONGUES IN THE EARLY CHURCH WAS BECAUSE EACH CHURCH DID NOT YET HAVE A COMPLETE COPY OF THE NT, ONE WOULD SPEAKING IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE; THEN ONE WOULD INTERPRET; AND THEN THE LAST PERSON WOULD PREACH WHAT WAS ACTUALLY THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD THAT THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED A COPY.

The church I went to for years had a couple of people who could speak in tongues and there were also people there to interpret. I witnessed some truly amazing prayers there!
We also believe that there is the gift of intercessing, which is being led to pray for others or the church as a whole.

THANKS FOR TELLING ME ABOUT YOUR CHURCH.

THESE ARE THE OUTLINES PAUL GIVES TO THE CHURCH AT CORINTH REGARDING TONGUES:

1Co 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
1Co 14:27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
1Co 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
1Co 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1Co 14:30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
1Co 14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1Co 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1Co 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1Co 14:34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1Co 14:35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

Well, this gives some more sense to my gift of tongues. You see, it does come, but when it does I'm usually praying to myself or even singing to a worship song in the car in another tongue! It makes sense that I don't pray aloud in tongues and why I haven't found anyone who can interpret tongues: because God has yet to send anyone to interpret, there is no reason to raise my voice.

However, on rare occasions I will pray for someone but not have the words. So, I ask if I can pray in a "different way" and start praying in tongues. In time, I will feel this sensation that my mind will go blank and my jaw will go numb, and suddenly I have the words to pray to someone in, for the lack of a better term, english! I guess this is some kind of interpretation of tongue, but, like I said, I for some reason don't feel so led to pray more than I do to speak on tongue. That's why online my prayers are usually as short as "I send you my prayers" and know that God will send the strength and the words to those who need it.

I felt like God impressed upon me during my quiet time this morning that the private use of tongues may be a part of the way He interacts with us all personally. God wants a personal relationship with each of us, just as we have personal relationships with others in our lives. We do not relate to everyone the same way.

God showed me a long time ago that it was wrong of me to try to tell others how to do their Bible study or prayer time, etc. with the attitude that it has to be my way, or any particular way is better than another. I can make suggestions if asked, but each individual has to explore what works for them and what doesn't work.

I think the private tongues is something God gives to people who would enjoy and appreciate it. But it's not my personality. I hear from God in English, in my thoughts, and even have heard His voice once when He gave me instructions that saved my physical life. I understand God in English and I don't think a special prayer language would give me any special enjoyment. So that's why I don't have it.

It has a lot to do with our personalities and what we like, how we relate to others, etc.

GOOD POINT KAREN.