The nine gifts of the Spirit are discussed and given names in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. The first verse in this great chapter makes this statement:
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant" (1 Cor. 12:1 NIV).
The Apostle Paul, who wrote this book under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, didn't want the Christians of that day to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts. We must then conclude that we're not to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts.
Notice what else is said with regard to spiritual gifts.
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy" (1 Cor. 14:1 NIV).
We're told to eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. I've learned from experience that a Christian who desires spiritual gifts will operate in them. Conversely, a Christian who doesn't desire them, will not operate in them. This is why we're being told to desire spiritual gifts. You can't desire something that you don't understand or know.
This is why it's so important for Christians to understand the gifts of the Spirit. God doesn't want any believer to be ignorant of the gifts of the Spirit. If the church doesn't operate in the gifts of the Spirit, the hurting world will go elsewhere for the supernatural.
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