Note 30 at 1Co 12:11: It is important to recognize that all believers can operate in these areas without having the specific gifts of the Spirit mentioned here. Every believer should have God's wisdom (1Co 1:30; Eph 1:8, 17; Col 1:9, and 2:3) and knowledge (2Pe 1:2-5), as well as His faith (Ro 12:3 with Ga 2:20). All believing Christians can lay hands on the sick and see them recover (Mr 16:18), and we should all see the same type of miracles that Jesus did happen in our own lives (Joh 14:12). At times, every member of the body of Christ can prophesy, discern spirits, speak in tongues, and interpret tongues, yet not all Christians have these things as supernatural gifts of the Spirit in their lives.

All believers are to teach others about their faith in Christ, but that doesn't mean they have been called to be teachers as mentioned in Eph 4:11. All believers are to evangelize, but that doesn't mean they have been called to be evangelists as in Eph 4:11. Likewise, all believers can operate in these areas that are called gifts of the Spirit, but that doesn't mean they have those gifts.

Not every Christian has the gift of speaking in tongues that operates in the church services (see note 28 at 1Co 12:10), but every believer who has been baptized in the Holy Ghost has the personal gift of speaking in tongues that is for their own edification (see note 13 at Mr 16:17). A person with the gift of speaking in tongues as mentioned here is a person who stands in the assembly of believers and speaks out a message in tongues that when interpreted, equals a word of prophecy (see note 12 at 1Co 14:5).

The person who has a gift of the Spirit will repeatedly operate in this area, and it will come relatively effortlessly compared to those who operate in that area without a gift. Also, a real love for or drawing toward that gift or what it accomplishes will be dominant in that person's life.

Note 31 at 1Co 12:11: These are separate gifts of the Holy Spirit (see note 8 at 1Co 12:4), but the Holy Spirit can give more than one gift to one individual. It is not unusual for some of these gifts to normally operate together in one person. The word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and prophecy frequently function together (see note 21 at 1Co 12:8). The gifts of healing and the working of miracles often are given to one individual to accomplish a healing ministry.

Note 32 at 1Co 12:11: It is the Holy Spirit who decides who receives which gifts, but the last verse of this chapter tells us to covet earnestly the best gifts (see my note at 1Co 12:31). This would imply that our seeking earnestly a certain gift could have some bearing on the Holy Spirit's decisions.