We all know the value of physical exercise for adding to our quality of life. As Christians, we also need a spiritual exercise routine to strengthen our spiritual walk with Jesus. What does that look like?

At the point of salvation, God gives every new believer a spiritual gift, almost like saying, “Happy Birthday to your new life.” The purpose of the gift is to provide every believer with the means to minister or serve each other for the benefit and good of the other person in strengthening his or her relationship with God and with other believers.

A spiritual gift is not a natural talent or learned skill. It is a supernatural ability given by the Holy Spirit to a believer so that, when exercised, it blesses other believers in their walk with Jesus and glorifies God. It is not about self-promotion or self-glory. The gift originates from God and is used to bring glory to Him.

A spiritual gift is not the same thing as the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) is inward growth of a believer to bring that believer more into the likeness or image of Jesus. The gift of the Spirit is the outward display of God’s love in serving and ministering to other believers. Both, however, complement each other. The more we allow the Spirit to grow His fruit to become like Jesus inwardly, the more we outwardly demonstrate or manifest God’s love to others for their benevolence and for God’s glory. The more we exercise or use that gift as God intended, the closer our walk with Jesus and the more we inwardly take on His characteristics.

There are 18 spiritual gifts listed in scripture in three different New Testament passages: Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. The Apostle Paul states in I Corinthians 13 (the love chapter) that regardless of what gift a believer has been given, God’s love trumps all. In other words, we are to exercise our gift(s) in God’s love. Paul describes throughout the chapter how God’s love works so that in everything we do, we do for the benefit, the good, and the encouragement of those who are receiving the blessing of our gift(s) — not puffed up, not envious, not judgmental, but for lifting each other up, being patient with one another, enduring things for the other person.

In I Corinthians 14, Paul then addresses specifically the gift of speaking in and interpreting of tongues and how those gifts should focus in more private worship setting, whereas the gift of prophesying (proclaiming the Word of God to others) is more beneficial in public/corporate worship. He states further that any believer who chooses to speak in tongues in a public gathering without an interpreter is not fulfilling God’s will. That person simply sounds to others like he or she babbles, is confused, and does so to edify him or herself. It has no value in a public worship context. The point is always using the gifts to build up and encourage others in their walk with Jesus. When that cannot happen, those gifts are not to be used.

So, with the 18 identified gifts: five are “miracle/sign” gifts (office of Apostle, speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, miracles, and healing); four are categorized as “enabling” gifts (faith, discernment, wisdom, and knowledge); nine are the ministry gifts (evangelist, prophet, teacher, exhorter, shepherd, mercy-showing, server, giver, administrator).

As a sidenote, as there are nine ministry gifts of the spirit, there are also nine characteristics given that make up the fruit of the Spirit. There is one Spirit with many gifts for one Body to serve the Body; there is one Spirit with many characteristics of one fruit to make us like Jesus.

When a Christian who knows what his or her spiritual gift is, that person knows how to serve other believers in the Body of Christ as God intended. The more the believer uses or exercises that gift, the more fulfilled he or she becomes in their walk with Jesus while they are using the gift to bless other believers for the glory of God.

There are numerous passages in the Bible that address spiritual gifts. A primary passage is Paul instructing the Ephesian church (Ephesians 4:11–13) on why some of the ministry gifts are given. These are called “speaking” gifts that are intended to teach, train, and encourage other believers to perform their works of service. The Apostle Peter (I Peter 4:10) tells us that as each of us have received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards. Yes, knowing and using spiritual gifts are part of living a stewardship lifestyle.

Paul tells the Romans that as each of us have different gifts, use them (Romans 12:6). He tells the Corinthian church that each gift is to be used for the common good (I Corinthians 12:7) in the Body of Christ. In context, Paul is teaching them to stop the believers from pursuing or seeking after one gift and use the gift you were given because they all are to be used, fitly joined together to benefit the whole Body (Ephesians 4:16). Paul tells Timothy (2 Timothy 1:6) to fan into a flame the gift he has been given — exercise it, not to neglect it (I Timothy 4:14).

These are not all-inclusive on the subject. To offer one last reference to make the point, Peter tells his audience that whoever speaks (evangelist, prophet, teacher, exhorter, shepherd), do so in the power of God. Those who serve (mercy-showing, server, giver, administrator), do so in the strength that God supplies. And here it is — so that in everything, God is glorified through Jesus Christ… (I Peter 4:11).

When you exercise your gift, you experience God’s joy and blessing. You are helping others to be refreshed, recharged, and ready as they exercise their gifts to help you to go back into the world to fulfill the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). Exercising your gift strengthens you spiritually. It enhances your spiritual quality of life as you serve in God’s strength to become more like Jesus.

Exercising your gift in God’s love outwardly demonstrates God’s love through your good works which, in turn, grows more of the fruit of the Spirit in your life (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control). Go serve by exercising your gift and see the benefits of God on your life!

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