A spiritual gift may be intended to equip its recipient for a specific function or appointment. Those who are equipped in this way need the enabling power of God's spirit to carry out their appointed tasks.
OT examples of God's gifts or appointments
God appoints prophets
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
God appoints Israel's kings
1 Samuel 15:11 See also 2 Samuel 7:8, 2 Samuel 12:7
“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.
God appoints the Persian king Cyrus
Isaiah 45:1 See also Isaiah 41:2
This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:
God empowers leaders and kings with his Spirit
Numbers 27:18 See also Judges 3:10, Judges 6:34, Judges 11:29, Judges 13:25, Judges 14:6, Judges 14:19, Judges 15:14; 1 Samuel 10:6, 1 Samuel 10:10, 1 Samuel 11:6, 1 Samuel 16:13–14
And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.
The Spirit is given to the servant of the LORD
Isaiah 42:1 See also Isaiah 61:1
“Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.
Jesus Christ is endowed with the Holy Spirit
Matthew 3:16–17 parallels Mark 1:10–11, Luke 3:21–22 See also John 1:32–33; Acts 10:38
As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
The apostles are endowed with the Holy Spirit
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Spiritual gifts given to the church
Ephesians 4:11 See also 1 Corinthians 12:28
And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Many functions within the church yet unity is preserved
Ephesians 4:4–7 See also 1 Corinthians 12:4–11
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
All Christians are appointed to build up the church
Ephesians 4:15–16 See also 1 Corinthians 12:12
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head. From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.
The experience of spiritual gifts
Associated with the laying on of hands
2 Timothy 1:6–7 See also Numbers 8:10, Numbers 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9; Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 4:14, 1 Timothy 5:22
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
Associated with prayer and fasting
Acts 14:23 See also Acts 13:3
Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
Spiritual gifts must not to be neglected
1 Timothy 4:14 See also Luke 19:11–26
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.