The Spirit gives the gifts, they are not of us.

The Spirit gives the gifts they, are not of us. 1Corinthians 12:3-11 (English Standard Version, ESV)

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.  

My Comments: The Lord sent many gifts to the early church and He continues to do so, and always He sends them through His Spirit. The gifts are only gifts and they do not come by anything we ever did, are or will do. They are freely given and to be freely used for the good of the body. Nor are we ever to take credit for having them yet we are to give credit to our Heavenly Father. Some are given one gift and some more and even some do not know what their gift is yet what ever the gift (s) is (are) we always need to guard against our fleshly sin nature of pride.

Sometimes people treat the gifts of the Spirit as something they are causing to happen. If we look at the Bible and the greatest of the Prophets we never see them taking credit for anything they do. Elijah healed yet did not say, "It was me," and Jesus healed but always gave the glory to God the Father. Those who have the gift of prophecy were always careful to make sure it was of God and give Him the credit and never took credit for anything they said. The gift of tongues was never gibberish it was understood by those within hearing of the Apostles as they stood telling the Gospel in the languages of those who listened and thousands came to the Lord through the preaching of the Gospel in their own languages. Incidentally if we look throughout different people groups throughout the world and the ages we see those who speak in tongues that come out as gibberish we find pagan religions. God's people speak in the tongues of real people and they proclaim the Gospel of Jesus and tell of the things our Abba wants people to know. Be careful. It is a gift yet not anymore important than others nor does one have to speak in tongues to be one with Jesus. Many cults preach this and they lead many astray. We cannot force the Spirit to give us any gifts and when He does the gift is to be used for the glory of God not for our own glory.

Abba thank You for any gifts You allow us to have and help us to use them for Your glory and not for our own. Keep us from the pride and avarice that comes from having something someone else does not have. We are like children and often we act childish and this is not what you want us to behave like so Abba help us to be mature in the use of the gifts You entrust to us. Help us to help others especially those in the body with our gifts even if the gift we have is being able to run a meeting well, help others to understand the Gospel, or taking care of children in the nursery at church or teaching a Bible study. Whatever our gift give us wisdom and understanding, humility and truth as we use our gifts for Your glory and honor and praise. In Jesus name. Amen
Rebishka