Spiritual, Natural and Acquired Gifts

Spiritual, Natural and Acquired Gifts

People often ask, “Can anyone have spiritual gifts?” What they are really asking is, “can an unbeliever or unconverted person have spiritual gifts?” Before we answer that question we have to be aware that there are different kinds of gifts: natural, acquired, and spiritual. All come from God, but there are differences between them.

What Are the differences between Spiritual, Natural and acquired gifts? Natural Gifts are given by God at conception, there are part of our nature (our makeup, if you will), gifts at birth that are relatively easily developed. Acquired Gifts would come through diligent study or practice, and the blessing of God. Spiritual Gifts are specially given by the Holy Spirit at any time after our conversion. Spiritual gifts are miracles.

Can Spiritual gifts be misused? Spiritual gifts by definition cannot be misused. As the word says they are given for a purpose. We read in 1 Corinthians 12:7,

1 Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Spiritual gifts are given to us so others may profit through us. So, who is the “all” Paul talks about? Paul answers that in Ephesians 4:12. Let us read,

Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Those who will profit from the Spiritual gifts are all that are in the church. However, only those in the Spirit get them. We know this based on the story of how the disciples received their spiritual gifts. In Luke 24 Christ explains the scriptures to the disciples. Giving instructions that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). And, further, that He would “send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” Luke24:49. This same advice is repeated in Acts 1: 4 and 5, specifying that the power from on High would be the “Holy Ghost” (Acts 1:5). In verse 8, the disciples are told that the power from on high would be for them to “be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

So the disciples tarried in Jerusalem and “continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” Acts 1:14. This prayer and supplication lead to confession of Sin and repentance. Their focus turned from themselves to Christ. And, in Acts 2 we find the rest of the story,

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

They were in one accord because they were all in Jesus. Those who let the Spirit use them, as the disciples did, allow the Spirit to use the gifts through them. Anyone not doing things according to the Spirit, the Holy Spirit can and probably will take the gift away from them.

Natural and acquired gifts are given to all and they can be misused. Talking about how all gifts[1] that God give us should be surrendered to Him for His use, Sister White says about this the following,

"The special gifts of the Spirit are not the only talents represented in the parable. It includes all gifts and endowments, whether original or acquired, natural or spiritual. All are to be employed in Christ's service. In becoming His disciples, we surrender ourselves to Him with all that we are and have. These gifts He returns to us purified and ennobled, to be used for His glory in blessing our fellow men."—Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, p. 328.

Only those who yield to the Holy Spirit will give to Christ all that they have and are. In this we see true stewardship. Recognizing that all we are and have is from God and is to be surrendered to Him so that it used to glorify Him and bless others. But, who is willing to surrender all? Those who themselves yield completely to Him. Are you willing to yield completely to Him?

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[1] Sister White’s definition of gifts may be different than mine. It seems that in her quote she uses two different classifications for gifts. One classification would be original or acquired. Original is what you are born with and acquired is what you are not born with. The other classification is natural or spiritual. Natural gifts may refer to the flesh and spiritual gifts, of course, to the Spirit. It is not clear whether these classifications are parallel. If they are, then by acquired gifts she would mean acquired from the Spirit.