Spiritual Gifts for the Body of the Messiah
The gifts of the Holy Spirit descend upon the Body of the Messiah not to exalt any one individual, but to unite and strengthen the entire community, making it a living testament to God’s power. When Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth, opened the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, and read: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18–19), He demonstrated that these gifts, this anointing and calling, are now available to every believer.
The Body of the Messiah is a fellowship in which God, through five ministries—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—equips the church with guidance and purpose. These “five callings” provide structure and vision, yet each member also receives personal manifestations of the Spirit for mutual enrichment; without their conscious development, the church’s inner life grows weak.
“We are ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Cor 3:6). Knowledge of Scripture without the Spirit’s inspiration remains dead, and actions without the Word remain blind. Only their union produces the living faith capable of healing hearts and transforming destinies.
Among the spiritual gifts, the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge stand out, as do the gifts of faith, healings, and miracles. The word of wisdom unveils God’s plans, the word of knowledge reveals hidden obstacles, the gift of faith moves spiritual mountains, and through healings the Lord restores strength to the weak and performs supernatural signs.
The gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues deepen our prayer life: by praying in “other tongues,” we enter into a hidden dialogue with God, and through interpretation we share divine revelation with one another, strengthening unity and understanding.
Our task is not merely to know that these gifts exist, but to actively “ignite” them through prayer and practical ministry. Prayer without deed or service without prayer is doomed to superficiality; only their combination brings genuine power and fruit.
The cares of this world—pursuit of material comfort and daily distractions—draw us away from vibrant fellowship with God and one another. Yet when our hearts focus on serving the Body of the Messiah, earthly anxieties dissolve, making room for the Spirit’s work.
“If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were hearing, where would be the sense of smell?” (1 Cor 12:17). The variety of gifts makes the Body whole: each gift is indispensable to the fullness and balance of our shared ministry.
The zeal for gifts that Paul urges—“Pursue love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” (1 Cor 14:1)—is not envy, but a holy longing: to see God’s power flow through us for the blessing of others. This zeal springs from love for God and neighbor and leads the church to become a true vessel of grace.
May every member of the Body of Messiah, upon discovering their gift, refuse to hide it in inactivity, but through obedience to the Spirit, prayer, and hands‑on service release those gifts to ignite others. Then through us the fullness of God’s grace will be revealed, and our fellowship will become a source of spiritual renewal for the whole world. Amen.
Pastor Oren Lev Ari