Spiritual Gifts Characteristics

A. Prophecy. This gift is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to receive
and communicate an immediate message of God to His people through a divinely anointed utterance.

Characteristics:

 Expose sin or deception in others for the purpose of reconciliation

 Speak a timely word from God causing conviction, repentance or edification
 See truth that others fail to see and challenge them to respond
 Warn of God’s immediate or future judgment if there is no repentance
 Understand God’s heart and mind through experiences He takes them through

Traits: Cautions:

 Discerning  Needs to be aware that listeners may reject

the message if it is not communicated with
 Compelling
love or for their edification
 Uncompromising
 Needs to avoid pride, which can create a
 Outspoken
discouraging spirit that hinders the gift
 Authoritative
 Should remember that discernment and
 Convicting
scripture must support and agree with each
 Confronting prophecy

Luke 7:26 - Acts 15:32 - Acts 21:9-11 - Romans 12:6 - I Corinthians 12:10,28 - Ephesians 4:11-14

B. Pastor. This gift is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to assume a
long-term personal responsibility for the spiritual welfare of a group of believers.

Characteristics:

 Take responsibility to nurture the whole person in their walk with God
 Provide oversight and guidance to a group of God’s people
 Model with their life what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ
 Establish trust, loyalty and confidence through long-term relationships
 Lead and protect those within their care

Traits: Cautions:

 Nurturing  Should remember God judges those who

neglect or abuse their oversight
 Influencing
responsibilities
 Guiding
 Need to be aware that their heart for people
 Disciplined
can make it difficult to say “No”
 Protective
 Should realize that those they nurture will
 Supportive
eventually grow beyond the Pastor’s ability
 Relational and need to be freed or released to do so

John 10:1-18 - Ephesians 4:11-14 - I Timothy 3:1-7 - I Peter 5:1-3

C. Teaching. The gift of teaching is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ
to communicate information relevant to the health and ministry of the Body and its members in such a way that
others will learn.

Characteristics:

 Communicate biblical truth that inspires greater obedience to God

 Challenge listeners simply and practically with the truths of the Scriptures
 Counsel students to maximize their life changes in becoming devoted followers of Jesus Christ
 Give attention to detail and accuracy
 Prepare through extended times of study and reflection

Traits: Cautions:

 Disciplined  Must avoid pride that may result from their

“Superior” biblical knowledge
 Perspective
 Teachable  Could become too detailed when teaching
and fail to make life application lessons
 Authoritative
attainable
 Practical
 Should remember that their spirituality is
 Analytical
not measured by how much they know
 Articulate

Acts 18:24-28 - Acts 20:20,21 - Romans 12:71 - Corinthians 12:28 - Ephesians 4:11-14

D. Wisdom. The gift of wisdom is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to
know the mind of the Holy Spirit in such a way as to receive insight into how given knowledge may best be
applied to specific needs arising in the Body of Christ.

Characteristics:

 Focus on the unseen consequences in determining the next step

 Receive an understanding of what is necessary to meet the needs of the Body of Christ
 Provide divinely given solutions in the midst of conflict and confusion
 Hear the Spirit provide direction for God’s best in a given situation
 Apply spiritual truth in specific and practical ways

Traits: Cautions:

 Sensible  Could fail to share the wisdom that God has

given them
 Insightful
 Practical  Need to avoid having others develop a
dependence on them which may weaken
 Wise
their faith in God
 Fair
 Need to be patient with others who do not
 Experienced
have this gift
 Common Sense

Acts 6:3,10 - I Corinthians 2:1-13 - I Corinthians 12:8 - James 1:5,6 - 2 Peter 3:15,16
E. Knowledge. The gift of knowledge is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of
Christ to discover, accumulate, analyze and clarify information and ideas which are pertinent to the well-being
of the Body.

Characteristics:

 Receive truth which enables them to better serve the body

 Driven to search the Scriptures for insight, understanding and truth
 Have an unusual insight or understanding that serves the church
 Organize information for teaching and practical use
 Gain knowledge which was not attained by natural observation or means

Traits: Cautions:

 Inquisitive  Need to be careful that their God given

knowledge does not create a superiority or
 Responsive
prideful attitude
 Observant
 Should remember that it’s God’s message,
 Insightful
not theirs, when they share their knowledge
 Reflective with the church
 Truthful
 Need to remember with increasing
 Spiritually Sensitive knowledge comes an increasing of pain
(Ecclesiastes 1:18)

Acts 5:1-11 - I Corinthians 2:14 - 1 Corinthians 12:8 - 2 Corinthians 11:6 - Colossians 2:2,3

F. Exhortation. The gift of exhortation is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of
Christ to minister words of comfort, consolation, encouragement and counsel to other members of the Body in
such a way that they feel helped and healed.

Characteristics:

 Come along side of those who are discouraged to strengthen and reassure them
 Challenge, comfort or confront others to trust and hope in God’s promises
 Urge others to action by applying biblical truth
 Motivate others to grow
 Emphasize God’s promises and have confidence in His will

Traits: Cautions:

 Positive  Can sometimes be overly optimistic, too

simplistic or flattering
 Motivating
 Challenging  Need to ensure they first understand where
others are and be prayerfully considerate to
 Affirming
what they really need
 Reassuring
 May want to say positive things to others
 Supportive
and avoid being confrontational when it’s
 Trustworthy needed

Acts 14:22 - Romans 12:8 - 1 Timothy 4:13 - Hebrews 10:25

G. Discerning of Spirits. The gift of discerning of spirits is the special ability that God gives to certain
members of the Body of Christ to know with assurance whether certain behaviour purported to be of God is in
reality divine, human or Satanic.

Characteristics:

 Distinguish truth from error, right from wrong, and pure motives from impure
 Identify deception in others with accuracy and appropriateness
 Determine whether a word attributed to God is authentic
 Recognize inconsistencies in a teaching, prophetic message or interpretation
 Are able to sense the presence of evil

Traits: Cautions:

 Perceptive  May struggle with how to express their

perceptions, feelings or insights
 Insightful
 Sensitive  Could be harsh when confronting others
instead of speaking the truth in love
 Intuitive
 Decisive  Need to prayerfully confirm their
perceptions before they speak
 Challenging
 Truthful

Matthew 16:21-23 - Acts 5:1-11 - Acts 16:16-18 - I Corinthians 12:10 - I John 4:1-6

H. Giving. The gift of giving is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to
contribute their material resources to the work of the Lord with liberality and cheerfulness.

Characteristics:

 Manage their finances and limit their lifestyle in order to give as much as possible
 Support the work of ministry with sacrificial gifts to advance the Kingdom
 Meet tangible needs that enable spiritual growth to occur
 Completely trust God in His provision
 May have a special insight or ability to make money so it can be used to further God’s work

Traits: Cautions:

 Stewardship  Need to remember that giving is a spiritual

contribution to the Body of Christ
 Responsible
 Resourceful  Must be humble and mindful that the
church’s agenda is determined by the
 Charitable
leaders, not by the giver’s gift
 Trusts God
 Need to guard against greed
 Disciplined

Mark 12:41-44 - Romans 12:8 - 2 Corinthians 8:1-7 - 2 Corinthians 9:2-8

I. Helps. The gift of helps is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to invest
the talents they have in the life and ministry of other members of the Body, thus enabling those others to
increase the effectiveness of their own spiritual gifts.

Characteristics:

 Serve behind the scenes wherever needed to support the gifts and ministries of others
 Seek the tangible and practical things to be done and enjoy doing them
 Sense God’s purpose and pleasure in meeting everyday responsibilities
 Attach spiritual value to practical service
 Enjoy knowing they are freeing up others to complete what God has called them to do

Traits: Cautions:

 Available  Need to know that this gift is esteemed in

God’s eyes, and completing practical deeds
 Willing
is a spiritual contribution to the Body of
 Helpful Christ
 Reliable
 Find it difficult to say “no”
 Loyal
 Need to be responsive to the priorities of
 Dependable
leadership instead of setting their own
 “Whatever it takes” Attitude agendas

Mark 15:40,41 - Luke 8:2,3 - Acts 9:36 - Romans 16:1,2 - I Corinthians 12:28

J. Mercy. The gift of mercy is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to feel
genuine empathy and compassion for individuals who suffer distressing physical, mental or emotional
problems and to translate that compassion into cheerfully done deeds which reflect Christ's love and alleviate
the suffering.

Characteristics:

 Focus on alleviating the sources of pain or discomfort in other’s suffering

 Address the needs of the lonely and forgotten
 Extend love, grace and dignity to those facing hardships and crisis
 Serve in difficult or unsightly circumstances and do so cheerfully
 Concern themselves with individual or social issues that oppress people

Traits: Cautions:

 Empathetic  Need to be aware that rescuing people

from their pain may be hindering God’s
 Caring
work in them
 Responsive
 Need to guard against feeling
 Kind
unappreciated since some of the people
 Compassionate they help will not express appreciation
 Sensitive
 Need to guard against becoming defensive
or angry about the sources of other’s pain
Matthew 20:29-34 - Matthew 25:34-40 - Mark 9:41 - Luke 10:33-35 - Acts 11:28-30 - Acts 16:33,34

K. Apostleship. This gift is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to
minister whatever other spiritual gifts they have to usually to oversee the development of new churches or
ministries.

Characteristics:

 Pioneer and establish new ministries or churches

 Adapt to different surroundings by being culturally sensitive and aware
 Desire to minister to unreached people in other communities or countries
 Have responsibilities to oversee ministries or groups of churches
 Demonstrate authority and vision for the mission of the church

Traits: Cautions:

 Adventurous  Should be aware that misusing their

authority can hinder the Spirit in others
 Entrepreneurial
 Persevering  Need to be affirmed and sent by a church
 Adaptable
 Can be demanding and pessimistic
 Culturally Sensitive
 Risk Taker
 Cause-driven

Acts 8:4 - Acts 13:2,3 - Acts 22:21 - Romans 10:15 - 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

L. Evangelist. The gift of evangelist is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of
Christ to share the gospel with unbelievers in such a way that men and women become Jesus' disciples and
responsible members of the Body of Christ.

Characteristics:

 Communicate the message of Christ with clarity and conviction

 Seek out opportunities to talk to unbelievers about spiritual matters
 Challenge unbelievers to faith and to become fully devoted followers of Christ
 Adapt their presentation of the gospel to connect with an individual’s needs
 Seek opportunities to build relationships with unbelievers

Traits: Cautions:

 Sincere & Serious  Need to remember the Holy Spirit, not guilt,
is the motivator in a person’s decision for
 Candid
Christ
 Respected
 Should avoid becoming critical of others by
 Influential
remembering that we are all witnesses, but
 Spiritual we are not all evangelists
 Confident
 Need to listen to others as the same
 Commitment-oriented approach is appropriate for everyone
Acts 8:5,6 - Acts 8:26-40 - Acts 14:21 - Acts 21:8 - Ephesians 4:11-14 - 2 Timothy 4:5

M. Hospitality. The gift of hospitality is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of
Christ to provide an open house and a warm welcome to those in need of food and lodging.

Characteristics:

 Provide an environment where people feel valued and cared for

 Meet new people and help them feel welcome
 Create a safe and comfortable setting where relationships can develop
 Seek ways to connect people together into meaningful relationships
 Set people at ease in unfamiliar surroundings

Traits: Cautions:

 Friendly  Should avoid viewing their gift as just

“entertaining”
 Gracious
 Inviting  Need to be sure to ask God who He wants
them to befriend and serve
 Trusting
 Caring  Should be careful not to cause stress in
their own family when inviting others into
 Responsive
their home
 Warm

Acts 16:14,15 - Romans 12:9-13 - Romans 16:23 - Hebrews 13:1,2 - I Peter 4:9

N. Faith. The gift of faith is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to
discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purposes of God for his work.

Characteristics:

 Believe the promises of God and inspires others to do the same

 Act in complete confidence of God’s ability to overcome obstacles
 Demonstrate an attitude of trust in God’s will and His promises
 Advance the cause of Christ because they go forward when others won’t
 Ask God for what is needed and trust Him for his provision

Traits: Cautions:

 Prayerful  Need to act on their faith

 Optimistic
 Should remember that those who speak
 Trusting with reason and desire to plan do not
necessarily lack faith
 Assured
 Positive  Should listen to and consider the counsel of
wise and Spirit-filled believers
 Inspiring
 Hopeful

Acts 11:22-24 - Acts 27:21-25 - Romans 4:18-21 - I Corinthians 12:9 - Hebrews 11

0. Leadership. The gift of leadership is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of
Christ to set goals in accordance with God's purpose for the future and to communicate these goals in a way
that they harmoniously work together for the glory of God.

Characteristics:

 Provide direction for God’s people or ministry

 Motivate others to perform to the best of their abilities
 Present the “big picture” for others to see
 Model the values of the ministry
 Take responsibility and establish goals

Traits: Cautions:

 Influential  Need to realize the relational credibility

takes time and is critical for leadership
 Diligent
effectiveness
 Visionary
 Should remember that servant leadership is
 Trustworthy
the biblical model, the greatest being the
 Persuasive servant of all
 Motivating
 Do not need to be in a leadership position
 Goal Setter to use this gift

Luke 9:51 - Acts 7:10 - Acts 15:7-11 - Romans 12:8 - I Timothy S:17 - Hebrews 13:17

P. Administration. The gift of administration is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the
Body of Christ to understand clearly the immediate and long-range goals of a particular unit of the Body of
Christ and to devise and execute effective plans for the accomplishment of those goals.

Characteristics:

 Develop strategies or plans to reach identified goals

 Assist ministries to become more effective and efficient
 Create order out of organizational chaos by organizing people, tasks or events
 Manage or coordinate responsibilities to accomplish a task

Traits: Cautions:

 Thorough  Need to be open to adjusting their plans so

they don’t stifle a leader’s vision
 Objective
 Responsible  Could use people simply to accomplish
goals without being concerned for their
 Organized
growth in the process
 Goal-oriented
 Could fail to see God’s purposes being
 Efficient
fulfilled in the process of meeting a goal
 Conscientious

Luke 14:28-30 - Acts 6:1-7 - Acts 27:11 - 1 Corinthians 12:28 - Titus 1:5
Q. Miracles. The gift of miracles is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ
to serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to perform powerful acts that are perceived by
observers to have altered the ordinary course of nature.

Characteristics:

 Speak God’s truth and have it authenticated by an accompanying miracle

 Express confidence in God’s faithfulness and ability to manifest His presence
 Bring the ministry and message of Jesus Christ with power
 Claim God to be the source of the miracle and glorify Him
 Represent Christ and through the miracle, point people to a relationship with Christ

Traits: Cautions:

 Bold  Need to remember that miracles are not

necessarily caused by faith
 Venturesome
 Authoritative  Should avoid viewing this gift as a personal
responsibility, and remember that God
 God-fearing
determines the location and timing of His
 Convincing deeds
 Prayerful
 Need to guard against the temptation to call
 Responsive on the Lord’s presence and power for
selfish purposes

Acts 9:36-42 - Acts 19:11-20 - Acts 20:7-12 - Romans 15:18,19 - 1 Corinthians 12:10,28 - 2

R. Healing. The gift of healing is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to
serve as human intermediaries through whom it pleases God to cure illness and restore health apart from the
use of natural means.

Characteristics:

 Demonstrate the power of God

 Bring restoration to the sick
 Authenticate a message from God through healing
 Use healing as an opportunity to communicate a biblical truth and to see God glorified
 Pray, touch or speak words that miraculously bring healing to one’s body

Traits: Cautions:

 Compassionate  Must remember that it is not always their

faith or the faith of the ill that brings about
 Trusts in God
healing, but it is God who determines it
 Prayerful
 Need to realize that God does not promise
 Faith-filled
the heal everyone who asks or is prayed for
 Humble
 Must remember that even Jesus did not
 Responsive
heal everyone who was sick or suffering
 Obedient while He was on Earth

Acts 3:1-10 - Acts 5:12-16 - Acts 9:32-35 - Acts 28:7-10 - I Corinthians 12:9,28
S. Tongues. The gift of tongues is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ
to speak to God and/or to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to his people through a
divine utterance in a language they never learned.

Characteristics:

 Express with an interpretation a word by the Spirit which edifies the church
 Communicate a message given by God for the church
 Speak in a language they have never learned or do not understand
 Worship the Lord with unknown words too deep for the mind to comprehend
 Experience an intimacy with God which inspires them to serve and edify others

Traits: Cautions:

 Worshipful  Should remain silent in the church if there is

no gift of interpretation
 Prayerful
 Responsive  Should avoid expecting others to manifest
this gift which may cause inauthentic
 Trusting
spirituality
 Devoted
 Should remember that all gifts, including
 Spontaneous
this one, are to glorify God and edify others
 Receptive

Mark 16:17 - Acts 2:1-13 - Acts 10:44-46 - Acts 19:1-7 - I Corinthians 12:10,28 - 1 Corinthians 14:13-19

T. Interpretation. The gift of interpretation is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body
of Christ to make known in the vernacular the message of one who speaks in tongues.

Characteristics:

 Respond to a message spoken in tongues by giving an interpretation

 Glorify God and demonstrate His power through this manifestation
 Edify the Body of Christ by interpreting a timely message from God
 Understand an unlearned language and communicate that message to the Body of Christ
 Are sometimes prophetic when exercising and interpretation of tongues for the church

Traits: Cautions:

 Worshipful  Need to be mindful that the message being

interpreted should reflect the will of God
 Responsive
and not man
 Devoted
 Should remember that this gift is to provide
 Responsible
edification – to build up the church
 Spiritually Intimate
 Use it in an orderly manner in conjunction
 Sensitive
with tongues
 Faithful

I Corinthians 12:10,30 - I Corinthians 14:13 - 1 Corinthians 14:26-28

U. Intercession. The gift of intercession is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of
Christ to pray for extended periods on a regular basis and see frequent, specific answers to their prayers to a
degree much greater than expected of the average Christian.

Characteristics:

 Feel compelled to earnestly pray on behalf of someone or some cause

 Have a daily awareness of the spiritual battles being waged and pray
 Are convinced God moves in direct response to prayer
 Pray in response to the leading of the Spirit, whether they understand it or not
 Exercise authority and power for the protection of others and the equipping of them to serve

Traits: Cautions:

 Advocate  Should avoid feeling that their gift is not

valued as interceding for others is their
 Caring
ministry and spiritual contribution to the
 Sincere Body of Christ
 Peacemaker
 Should avoid using prayer as an escape
 Trustworthy from fulfilling their responsibilities
 Burden-bearer
 Need to avoid a “holier than thou” attitude
 Spiritually sensitive that can sometimes caused by extended
time in prayer and spiritual intimacy with
God

Luke 22:41-44 - Acts 12:12 - Colossians 1:9-12 - Colossians 4:12,13 - I Timothy 2:1,2 - James 5:14-16

V. Creative Communication. This gift of service is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the
Body of Christ to artistically relate God's word, through singing, dance, writing, etc.

Characteristics:

 Use the arts to communicate God’s truth

 Develop and use artistic skills such as music, writing, drama, art, etc.
 Use variety and creativity to captivate people and cause them to consider Christ’s message
 Challenge people’s perspectives of God through various art forms
 Demonstrate fresh ways to express the Lord’s ministry and message

Traits: Cautions:

 Expressive  Need to be mindful that art is not for art’s

sake, but to glorify God and edify others
 Imaginative
 Idea-oriented  Could find evaluation and constructive
criticism difficult to accept
 Artistic
 Creative  Might be uncooperative due to ego, pride or
individualism, and need to work at being a
 Unconventional
team player
 Sensitive
Psalm 150:3-5 - Samuel 6:14-15 – Mark 4:2, 33