Spiritual Gifts and Graces by Grace E. Rocca

“And yet, I am going to show you a far better way. 

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  If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.

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  Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. 5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

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  Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know in part and prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 12:31b-13)

Holy Spirit played these verses in my mind the other night…on repeat for hours and so I knew that with, through, and in these verses we are meant to start— From the most excellent way, a way of love. 

This type of love isn’t your mercurial flimsy emotion that looks like brand-new fancy shoes saved only for special occasions. This love is the well worn, broken-in “work blue jeans” that are stained, holey and a badge of honor to all the things you’ve worn them for. It is that kind of love which has nothing to do with your feelings. It is your will, your commitment, your faithfulness, your very life laid down. 

It’s been beaten-up. It has grieved. It’s had to make the same decision to lay its life down over and over. Love is the air you breathe, the marrow in your bones, it’s enmeshed in the very cells that make you, you. And it’s one of the most cherished and beloved gifts we can offer. 

Which is why this is the starting point for the spiritual gifts listed and explained below. These gifts or graces are given to mankind and they only have significance when we choose to allow them to operate alongside this kind of love. In fact, it’s better if you think of yourself as a funnel when you read and learn about these gifts. They aren’t you. You did nothing to earn them. You can’t hold on to them and use them as you please like a party trick. 

You are simply a funnel. 

When you choose to be a funnel, you allow the Triplets (Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit) to pour through you into another and the true church—Jesus’ Bride is blessed. These graces are meant to serve and build-up the bride. They aren’t for entertainment. They aren’t for showing off. They are for love and it takes a life laid down to really allow the Giver of these Gifts to shine. 

This is a comprehensive list of ways Father has poured out himself into us, the bride. It’s compiled from scripture and first hand knowledge gifted from Papa God to and through His children. Stuart Mitchell and Mike Mader have been foundational in these lists through their teaching and mentoring. 

I know I said comprehensive, but know the explanations and list is not necessarily exhaustive. I tried to explain and give examples of ways things could look, but all this needs to be taken with the caveat that Papa God’s ways are higher than our ways and He can choose to gift and grace in whichever way He chooses. So think of these as guidelines. 

I’d love to hear if any of you have any examples or ways that you’ve seen these graces work or revelation Holy Spirit has shared with you. Feel free to add comments or suggestions. I’ll occasionally go through and edit where it needs to be edited. 

But most of all, may this be a gift to you as you understand and grow in the knowledge of who Papa God is and how you get to partner with him. 

Gifts of God (7): 

Think ”General personality traits” 

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  Given to all humanity

• “3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; 7 if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; 8 or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” -Romans: 12:3-8 NASB
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  Prophecy: One who naturally is intuitive and can sense things before they happen.

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  Service: One who sees a need and desires to fill that need. These are the people who would rather be serving than in the spotlight.

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  Teaching: One who naturally is inquisitive and filled with wonder, they ask great questions and are almost contagious in their mindset.This person is able to pull people in and pass on knowledge without you even knowing they’ve done it.

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  Exhortation/Encouragement: One who is a natural encourager. When you are around them, you can’t help but feel good and encouraged.

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  Giving/Contributing: One who is naturally generous and giving. They would give you their last shirt off their back. They give even when they have nothing left.

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  Leadership: One who naturally excels in leadership and building successful endeavors.

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  Mercy: One who naturally empathizes and sympathizes with those who are suffering. They intuitively know how to come alongside the person so that they don’t feel alone. They are able to connect with people and lead them into healing and peace.

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Gifts of Jesus: 

“Think people” 

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  Two groups: Five-Fold Ministers and gifts of People

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  Given for the perfecting of saints and edifying of the body of christ (equipping of saints)

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  All of Jesus’ character and ministry are represented and demonstrated by his gifts he gives.

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  Does everyone get a gift from Jesus? Everyone can find that they are given as a gift to someone, if they have eyes to see and care to know it. They might be a gift to only a few people, not necessarily a gift to the entire body of Christ.

First group: “Five-Fold” ministers 

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  “Ascension gifts”

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  These people are specific people who are: called, anointed, prepared, and sent by God for a specific role.

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  Can function in multiple roles as led by Holy Spirit.

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  Concept: our hand: works together for the entire body, as the hand works and is the main contributor for growth of the body.

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  “Right hand of God”-expresses God’s glory and power (Acts 7:55-56), mercy, grace, honor, and authority. (Isaiah 41:9-10)

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  These people minister to all members of the Body of Christ not just one assembly.

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  The true value of these people are not in the “signs and wonders” they display, but by their life and ministry as manifestation of scripture itself—imparting life to the ecclesia.

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  These people are not the knights-in-shining-armour sitting atop noble steads preparing to ride into battle, they are the stable hands cleaning the hooves of the horses so the bride of Christ can ride into battle. They equip and provide the necessary tools for the bride to grow to be healthy.

Apostle: 

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  (Thumb) Lay down foundational governance and docterins so that the ecclesia can grasp the concepts of the kingdom of God. (1Corn 3:10,11)

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  Gift of Jesus to his bride.

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  Imparts the government of God that brings peace and good order. This looks like bringing order to chaos.

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  Demonstrates the power of God’s kingdom over all the powers of darkness. This demonstration helps each member of the body to see that he/she also has power over all the powers of darkness to cast out demons, heal the sick, and to do all the things that God empowers believers to do.

Prophet: 

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  (forefinger) Points and leads the ecclesia in the right way and keeps those on track when someone falls out of line.

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  Teaches the body how to hear God for themselves.

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  Imparts vision of what Holy Spirit is currently doing. Sees what is in the eternal realm and speaks it into time and space.

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  Demonstrates how to hear God with confidence. So that the body can learn to hear God better than previously thought.

Evangelist: 

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  (Middle finger) First to touch someone spiritually, demonstrate and teach the love of the lost to the ecclesia.

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  Imparts the love Jesus has for the lost.

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  Demonstrates how to reach out and touch those who seem to be unlovable.

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  Stirs up the hearts of the saints to reach out and touch people.

Pastor: 

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  (Ring finger) Signifies faithfulness in relationships.

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  Imparts the love that Jesus has for his own people.

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  Demonstrates faithfulness for the body in covenant relationships. This faithfulness is demonstrated in order to spur on more faithfulness.

Teacher: 

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  (pinkie) Imparts the security and stability that comes from knowing our own identity as sons of God.

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  Demonstrates how to receive revelation from the written scriptures.

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  Comprehends truth and understand in the word of God with accuracy and depth that no other 5-Fold Minister reaches.

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  Impart truth often by questioning man’s traditional beliefs, causing people to search scripture for the truth.

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  Communicate revelations that stimulate spiritual growth and imparts wisdom to the ecclesia. Those who hear the teacher and apply principles to their lives effect lasting change.

Group 2: General gifts of people to the body: 

“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31But earnestly desire the greater gifts.” 

1 Corinthians 12:28 NASB 

‘’Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” -2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NASB 

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  Miracle worker: Someone who walks like Jesus did, when they see/hear the Father, they speak into existence the miracle seen. This can look like calling into existence new bodily tissue, bone, organ.Raising someone back from the dead would fall into this category. (ie: A person born blind without eyes now has eyes and can see, growing of new bones or tissue)

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  Healer: This is someone who walks like Jesus did, when they see/hear the Father they bring physical healing to sickness, diseases, or growths.

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  Helps: This is someone who sees/hears what Father says is needed in a particular situation and facilitates these needs being met.

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  Different tongues: Ministry of speaking in different tongues. Corporately, this is sometimes done for someone else in the room who speaks another language or because there is someone who can interpret. This person is able to speak in one or many foreign languages that they do not previously know. They do not know what they have said and it needs interpretation. It is not of their intellect. Note: There are others who are graced with the ability to understand what is being said.( ie: interpret tongues)

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  Administration: “triage nurse”, Able to put a bandaid on a situation, sees/knows what is needed to “fix” a situation and then connects the one with needs to a person who can fill the need. (ie: you need an apostle for this situation or you need to speak with a prophet to help, ect.) Everyone partakes as these: 
  
  

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  Ambassador

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  Minister of Reconciliation

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  Peacemakers

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  An individual could be a Gift of Love, Encouragement, Faithfulness or any gift that displays a virtue of God to those around them.

Gifts of Holy Spirit (9): 

Think: “tools to work with” 

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  Given to those who accept the gift of Holy Spirit and invite him to live within the believer.

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  Not natural, not a product of intellect. All are a product of Holy Spirit working within them.

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  Supernatural.

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  These “graces” can be divided into three main groups:1) Things where you inject the power of God into the physical world; 2)Things you know in your mind; 3)Things

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” -1 Corinthians 12:8-11 

Things where you inject the power of God into the physical world: 

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  Works of Faith: Physical world manipulated, reproduced, or changed (ie: Gas in tank of car refilling on its own, mountain falling into the sea, cell phone working when service has been cut off)

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  Working of miracles: Supernaturally bodily tissue being created or formed. This would encompass bringing someone back from the dead. (ie: A person born blind without eyes now has eyes and can see, growing of bones or tissue)

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  Gifts of healings: Healing of sickness, diseases, growths, ect. in someone’s physical body.

Things you know in your mind: 

Revelation of curses, vows, judgements, or unforgiveness could fit under any of these gifts or even under prophecy. (Things you speak) 

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  Discernment of spirits: Holy Spirit revealing to the person what kind of spirit is controlling or governing in a situation. (ie: Is it Holy Spirit, a demonic spirit, or a person’s own spirit? Sometimes this looks like a discernment about which demonic spirit is causing the bondage or discerning what to say to bring the bondage to light.)

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  Word of wisdom: Knowing what to do about a situation. (ie: When someone doesn’t know what they need or what to do about something, a person with this grace would be given an understanding about what to pray/speak about the situation.)

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  Word of knowledge: A Word that deals with the facts of a situation. (ie: Hearing the word ‘Father’ then asking: “Tell me about your father.” This word is the key to unlocking what a person needs help with spiritually)

Things you speak: 

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  Speaking in tongues: The ability to speak in a different language that one does not already know. This could be speaking in tongues of men (known human languages) or angels (angelic language). The person speaks whatever language Holy Spirit gives to speak. It could be specifically to another person in the room or for interpretation.

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  Speaking in interpretation of tongues: Interpret what was said by way of listening to Holy Spirit and the interpretation that is given. This is not from intellect but from the Spirit. It could be in any language: human or angelic.

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  Prophecy: Imparts to the body vision of what the Holy Spirit is currently doing. Sees what is in the eternal realm and speaks it into time and space.