The gifts of the Spirit are defined as the unique skills and abilities given by the Holy Spirit that cannot be achieved by our own human merit. There are a few different lists of the gifts of the Spirit that are found in the Bible, the most commonly known list found in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, Romans 12:3-8 and Ephesians 4:7-13. These gifts are given to born again believers, for the benefit, edification and growth of the church and the believers. The Holy Spirit supplies these gifts, they are not conceived from our own will or strength. These gifts are what God gives us to propel the Gospel message and show His power in His people on the earth Matthew 28:16-20. It is His Kingdom manifested on earth as it is heaven. 

These gifts are for the body of Christ and are distributed to each believer according to God’s will and direction 1 Corinthians 12:11, 1 Corinthians 7:7 & Ephesians 4:11. Though the gifts are different and range in variety and manifestation, they all come from the same Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-5). These can only be proven to be of God if a) they point to Christ (1 Cor 12:3), b) benefit the church (1 Cor 12:7, 1 Cor 14:1-5) and c) if they align with Scripture. 

The gifts outlined in 1 Corinthians 12 are upheld and informed by the following chapter, 1 Cor 13  where Apostle Paul speaks on the ways of love and in 1 Cor 14 how to live out these gifts in light of love. Because without love all these gifts mean nothing (1 Cor 13:1-3). Love is the fulfilment of all these gifts and it is eternal (1 Cor 13:8-10).

Spiritual gifts are not to be graded or rated one more than the other. As 1 Corinthians 12: 31 displays, gifts were given for the benefit of the body of Christ- to complement each other and work in unity for the efficient spiritual functioning of the Church- were there is no division or partiality between giftings and functions, they are to be exercised according to the grace given to each of us (Rom 12:6). 

So what are the gifts?

1 Corinthians 12:8-10: To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

Ephesians 4:7-13: But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Romans 12:3-8: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

What are the functions of each gift? (Sourced from Christianity.com) 

• The Gift of Wisdom – the gift to make choices and give leadership that is according to God’s will.
   
• The Gift of Knowledge – the gift to have a comprehensive understanding of a spiritual issue or circumstance.
   
• The Gift of Faith – the gift to trust God and inspire others to trust God, no matter the conditions.
   
• The Gift of Healing – the wondrous gift to use God’s healing power to cure a person who is ill, wounded or suffering.
   
• The Gift of Miracles – the gift to display signs and miracles that give credibility to God’s Word and the Gospel message.
   
• The Gift of Prophecy – the gift to declare a message from God.
   
• The Gift of Discerning Spirits – the gift to recognize whether or not something is truly from God or in accordance with righteousness.
   
• The Gift of Tongues – the gift to communicate in a foreign language that you do not have experience with, in order to converse with those who speak that language.
   
• The Gift of Interpreting Tongues – the gift to interpret the speech and writings of a different language and translate it back to others in your own.
   
• The Gift of Administration – the gift to keep things ordered and in agreement with God’s principles.
• The Gift of Helps – the gift of a desire and capacity to always help others, to do whatever it takes to get a task achieved.