Let’s look first at 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 which says, “But the MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”

Although all the spiritual gifts come from the one God and Spirit, the “manifestation” by which the Spirit acts will vary in each individual.  Before being saved, these Corinthians were heathens.  They had been under the control of evil spirits, who had deceived them and led them into idolatrous worship.  We read in verse 2, “Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.”  However, now as believers on the Lord Jesus, they were led by the Spirit and He would manifest Himself through them. 

This MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT is given to every believer on the Lord Jesus.  It is given to each one so that, using the various gifts, we might bring profit to the body of Christ.  Nine gifts by the same Spirit are mentioned here. They are the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, the gift of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy; discerning of spirits; tongues and interpretations of tongues.

At this point, let me quote A.C. Gaebelein, a knowledgeable and gifted writer, from his book GAEBELEIN’S ANNOTATED BIBLE.  He writes, “It will be seen that the miraculous sign-gifts hold a secondary place, the last being speaking in tongues and their interpretations. The word of Wisdom stands at the head of these gifts and is followed by the word of Knowledge. They stand for the gifts to understand the deep things of God and to impart them unto others. It means a spiritual apprehension of the truth of God in all its phases and the power to communicate this truth to others. The gift of faith is a special endowment of confidence in God and His promises, which enables the possessor to lay hold on God and accomplish great things. All believers have faith and live by faith. The gift of healing and the working of miracles were sign-gifts for the inauguration of the Christian dispensation. There is no intimation that these miraculous gifts were to continue in the church throughout this age.”

Now, let’s look at the gifts mentioned in Ephesians, chapter 4.  We read in Ephesians 4:7-11, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”  Except for the gifts of apostles and prophets, these are permanent gifts that are still being distributed to saved men and women today by the Spirit of God.  Why do I say that the gifts of apostle and prophets are not for us today?  The apostles and New Testament prophets laid the foundation of the church as we read in Ephesians 2:19-20 which says, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”  Once a foundation is laid, there is no need for another foundation.  No, we build upon the foundation that has been laid.  The Apostle Paul emphasized that point in 1 Corinthians 3:10 saying, “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I HAVE LAID THE FOUNDATION, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

It is by the operation of the Holy Spirit, that each gift is bestowed on each believer as it pleases the Lord.  1 Corinthians 12:18 tells us, “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”  Together, we have the gifts of the Spirit and the manifestation of the Spirit.  The Lord determines who gets a certain gift or gifts.  He leads us to use our gifts to profit the body of Christ.  This is a wonderful thing to realize for we read in Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”  (CC)  (598.2)