Gifts of the Spirit

Does James 5:14-15 Mean All the Elders   in the Local   Churches Have the   Gift of Healing?

James 5:14-15 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

In 1 Corinthians 12:29-30, the Apostle Paul posed several questions to which the answer to each is clearly no. In verse 30, he asked, "Have all the gifts of healing?" First Corinthians 12:9 states, "To another faith by the same Spirit; TO ANOTHER the gifts of healing by the same Spirit." So, not everyone receives "the gifts of healing." 

However, that is not what is being spoken of in James. James was speaking of a general practice the ministry engages in, just as they deal with souls around the altar for spiritual help. As they gather together, there is power in agreement (Matthew 18:19), and they are inspired to pray "the prayer of faith" (James 5:15). This practice and "the gifts of healing" are two separate things.

Can a Minister Without the Gift of Healing Lay Hands on and Pray for the Sick?

​The answer, as evidenced by James 5:14-15, is a resounding yes! Part of the divine commission Jesus gave prior to His Ascension was, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:18). Recovery is not instantaneous healing. The instruction in James is predominantly for those cases where brethren are there, but one with "the gifts of healing" is not present. Thus, any God-called minister has the liberty to participate in laying hands on and praying for the sick. They do not have to either wait for or seek out one who has the special gifts. Provision has been made through this avenue recorded in James.

How Do the Gifts of   Healing,
​Faith, and   Miracles Differ? 

These are separate gifts for separate and distinct purposes. Let us consider "the working of miracles" (1 Corinthians 12:10). Jesus manifested this gift. John 2:1-10 relates the account of Jesus turning the water into wine. That was a miraculous event! Three Synoptic Gospel accounts relate Christ feeding five thousand men, not counting the women and children (Matthew 14:21). Afterward, He had "twelve baskets full" (Matthew 14:20) remaining. A miracle is not always related to healing, though it may be. 
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"Gifts of healing" (1 Corinthians 12:9) are specific for that purpose—"healing." The Apostle Peter had those "gifts" (it is mentioned in the plural because there are many different manifestations). When Peter spoke to the lame man "at the gate ... which is called Beautiful" (Acts 3:2), he said, "Such as I HAVE give I thee ... rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6). The Apostle Peter had a special gifting. In Acts 5:15, we read of people being divinely healed by "the shadow of Peter passing by." These "spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:1) differ in their purpose and performance.

First Corinthians 12:9 speaks of "to another faith by the same Spirit." This could be exhibited by such events as when the Apostle Paul received the divine call to "come over into Macedonia and help us" (Acts 16:9). The next verse reveals how they took faith in the call—"immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia." That was "faith" operating

How Can One Know  If He/She
​Has One or All of These Gifts?

There is no Scriptural premise that indicates any individual has, or will, receive "all of them." First Corinthians 12:11 speaks of the Spirit "dividing to every man SEVERALLY as he will." God may desire to use certain brethren for a very certain, and special, sacred service; so He equips them with various and several gifts for that usage. The Spirit will witness to the individual the gifts they have and for what purpose. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit" (Romans 8:16). 
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The wise man penned in Proverbs 18:16, "A man's gift maketh room for him." When an individual truly has a gift, or gifts, bestowed upon him, the saints will recognize it, and spiritual leadership will make "room for him.

Can One Be Given  Multiple Gifts?

First Corinthians 12:11 addresses this question, saying, "dividing to every man SEVERALLY as he will." So, the answer is yes. Peter and Paul are prime examples of this. The Apostle Peter had "the gifts of healing," but he also had "discerning" (1 Corinthians 12:9-10). Consider his discernment concerning Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). Peter had "prophecy" (1 Corinthians 12:10). Second Peter, Chapter 2, is full of "prophecy." Peter also operated the gift of "tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:10) in Acts, Chapter 2.
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The Apostle Paul had "the word of wisdom" and "the word of knowledge" (1 Corinthians 12:8). Peter said in 2 Peter 3:15-16, "Even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood." 

No doubt, the Apostle Paul had other gifts, such as "faith" (Acts 27:21-44; 28:3-6), "prophecy" (Acts 20:29-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-4; 2 Timothy 4:1-4) and "discernment" (Acts 14:9 says "perceived," which means "to discern clearly"; Strong's Exhaustive Concordance). I am certain many other Scriptures and gifts could be cited.

How Can We Determine   If It
Is Talents or a  Spiritual Gift? 

Can a Talent Be   Transformed or Converted Into a 
Spiritual Gift   at Salvation?​​

A spiritual "gift" is just that—a "gift." It is something one did not have before and was then divinely given. A "talent" is not to be confused with the Parable of the Talents, in which talents were instruments of monetary value. A "talent" such as we think of today has a totally different meaning. (Webster's New World Dictionary defines talent as "any natural ability or power; natural endowment; a special, superior ability in an art, mechanics, learning, etc.") 

The key word for describing a talent is NATURAL (natural ability, natural endowment). "Spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:1) are supernatural. They come from a supernatural source. "But all these ['all' the 'gifts'] worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:11). 
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A "talent" comes from a natural source or inclination. When an individual is saved (gains a real experience of salvation), and he presents his body "a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1), the Greek word for "bodies" is soma. According to The New Strong's Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words With Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary, "The word stands ... for the complete man." 

When an individual consecrates or sanctifies himself, it includes a surrendering of "natural" talents for sacred, or sanctified, use. When that individual yields that talent or talents to God, then certainly the Lord blesses the talent presented to Him. However, there is still a distinction between the "natural ability" that was developed and a spiritual gift that was given. It could become a sanctified natural talent, or the Lord could choose to add a supernatural gift (or not to add the gift) to the individual. The decision belongs to the Divine

Earl R. Borders

From the January 2026 issue of The Gospel Trumpeter