Paul spoke of fifteen gifts of the Holy Spirit which initially were made available to each of those who were filled with the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).  I feel that every believer since that time who has received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (see Spirit baptism) is capable of receiving some (or, in some cases, all) of the gifts of the Spirit, “...according to the grace...” of God given to him/her (Romans 12:6).  Not everyone filled by the Spirit will receive all fifteen gifts, but most people with one gift seem to have others.

The first six spiritual gifts are listed in (Romans 12:7,8).  Here are brief descriptions of the first 6 gifts of the Holy Spirit (the gift of prophecy—12:6—is included later among the final nine gifts):

  1) serving/ministering:  assisting or tending to the needs of others, demonstrating humility in the process.

  2) teaching:  instructing and training others, directing them into truth and godly ways.

  3) encouraging/exhorting:  prompting and motivating others, entreating them to turn from sin and toward righteousness and helping them to persevere in their purposes for God.

  4) contributing/sharing:  generously dispensing and giving to others, donating gifts and necessities in secret and with simplicity, without pride, and with no intent to magnify or to bring attention to oneself.

  5) leading:  managing and shepherding others, diligently guiding the business affairs of the church (or other organization) and carefully setting good examples for everyone.

  6) showing mercy:  exhibiting compassion and grace, willingly and cheerfully displaying kindness toward the sick, the oppressed, the disadvantaged, and the needy.

The remaining nine spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4,7-11) are subdivided into three categories:

Each of these gifts is a supernatural revelation, power, or utterance given by God.  Here are brief descriptions of these 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit:

  7) word of wisdom:  insight into the purpose and Will of God, showing how to resolve and solve everyday problems for oneself and for others.

  8) word of knowledge:  insight into the purpose and Will of God, as well as into that of other people, knowing things about God and about others (for instance, personalities, motives, and even thoughts) that one could not know by any ordinary means.

  9) distinguishing among spirits:  insight into the Spirit and spiritual domain, having  “spiritual eyes” to be able to “view” into the spirit world and to detect and identify spirits, good or evil (see Angels & Demons), and their intentions.

10) faith:  ability to believe God and to accept His purposes and gifts, overcoming human doubts, disbelief, and faulty intellectual reasoning which stem from the natural.

11) healing:  ability to eliminate any illness, disease, or adverse physical or mental condition (even a terminal one), utilizing spiritual means rather than (or sometimes in addition to) natural means.

12) working of miracles:  ability to suspend the normal, familiar order of nature, counteracting natural laws by accomplishing acts which are beyond ordinary explanation and natural understanding.

13) prophesying:  verbal expression in one’s normal language, not only predicting future events but also praying and supplicating to God on behalf of others, as well as exhorting them to follow God’s ways, for their own edification and benefit.

14) speaking in tongues:  verbal expression in a human, angelic, or divine language not one’s own, praying to, singing to, and/or praising God so as to edify oneself (and others if the tongue is interpreted).

15) interpreting tongues:  verbal expression in a human language common to those present, explaining what has been spoken by another (in the tongue of a different human, angelic, or divine language) so as to edify the listeners.