Empowerment Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-10)

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:7-10)

The Empowerment Gifts, listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, are powerful expressions of the Holy Spirit’s work within the Body of Christ. While this material does not aim to explore signs and wonders in detail, we acknowledge that different parts of the Body have varying perspectives on these gifts. For our purpose, we will focus on how the Holy Spirit can affect culture through these gifts within the Culture Sphere.

Culture is what people naturally do when no one is watching—the shared behaviors, values, and unspoken norms that shape an environment. The early church exemplified this beautifully. In Acts 2:42-47, we see a Spirit-led community whose culture was characterized by awe, generosity, and unity.

“Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.” (Acts 2:43-44).

This sense of awe drove behaviors that reflected God’s presence, transforming their community and beyond.

Similarly, the Apostle Paul championed engaging with and transforming cultures. Each church he wrote to—from Corinth to Ephesus to Philippi—had its own unique culture shaped by the Spirit’s work in their context. When viewed through the lens of culture, the Empowerment Gifts reveal how the Holy Spirit can shape workplaces and communities into environments that reflect God’s presence. These gifts are not just for the benefit of believers but can reveal the Spirit of God to everyone, transforming cultures just as the early church did.

The Gifts:

  1. Wisdom

  2. Knowledge

  3. Faith

  4. Healing

  5. Miraculous Powers

  6. Prophecy

  7. Distinguishing Between Spirits

  8. Speaking in Tongues

  9. Interpretation of Tongues

1 Corinthians 12 is part of Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts, unity, and love. He emphasizes that the Spirit gives these gifts for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7) and that all church members are interdependent, like parts of a body (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

Why these Gifts Matter:

  • For the Common Good: Empowerment Gifts are not for personal display but for the benefit of the entire church community (1 Corinthians 12:7).

  • Unity in Diversity: Just as the body has many parts, each with a unique function, these gifts demonstrate the diversity of the Spirit’s work within the church (1 Corinthians 12:12-20).

  • Love as the Foundation: The context flows into 1 Corinthians 13, where Paul highlights that love must underpin all use of spiritual gifts. Without love, the gifts are meaningless (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).

  • Takeaway: Empowerment Gifts reveal the power of the Holy Spirit at work, promoting unity and edification within the church.