Summary of The Spiritual Gifts Handbook by Randy Clark and Mary Healy

Introduction

In The Spiritual Gifts Handbook, Randy Clark and Mary Healy show that “what Jesus did through His disciples then, He is still doing and desires to do through us” (15). They remind us that signs and wonders—especially healing and deliverance—are “part and parcel of the Good News” (35), meant to accompany all believers in the proclamation of the Gospel (cf. Mk 16:20; Mt 10:7–8).

At the same time, the authors explain why such gifts are not seen more often—many Christians “are afraid of being radically dependent on the Holy Spirit” (19). With pastoral clarity and personal witness, Clark and Healy show how to activate and grow in these gifts through prayer, faith, and love, so the Church may proclaim the Kingdom today with the same power and compassion as the first disciples.

Chapter 1: What are Spiritual Gifts?

1. Definition and Purpose of Spiritual Gifts

The word charism (charisma in Greek) means a gift freely given, rooted in the word charis (“grace”)—a term Paul coined. Charisms are not natural talents but supernatural abilities given by the Holy Spirit to serve others and build up the Church (1 Cor 12:1–7). They are always “for the common good” (1 Cor 12:7; cf. 1 Pet 4:10). No one receives all the gifts; God designed the Body of Christ to need each member’s contribution. There is no unemployment in God’s family—everyone has a role to play.

2. Biblical Lists of Gifts

Scripture gives several lists (Isa 11:1-3, 1 Cor 12:8-10, Rom 12:6-8, Eph 4:8-11, 1 Pet 4:10-11). This book follows the traditional list of 9 “inspirational” gifts, with 3 categories:

1. Gifts of Revelation: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discernment of spirits.
2. Gifts of Power: faith, healings, working of miracles.
3. Gifts of Speech: prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues.

3. Common Misunderstandings

• ❌ “The seven gifts in Isaiah are the only gifts.” Catholic tradition affirms the seven sanctifying gifts (Isa 11:1–3) but also recognizes the charisms of 1 Cor 12. 
• ❌ “These gifts are rare and only for saints.” Vatican II teaches that charisms are given to all the faithful and are structurally necessary for the Church’s mission (John Paul II: institutional and charismatic dimensions are co-essential).
• ❌ “Seeking gifts is dangerous.” Saints like John of the Cross caution against pride and misuse, but not against the gifts themselves. Paul urges us to “earnestly desire the spiritual gifts” for the love of others (1 Cor 14:1).
• ❌ “Gifts are for personal benefit.” Charisms are for evangelization, service, and building up the Church—not private mystical experiences. They belong first in ecclesiology, not mystical theology.

Chapter 2: The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me

1. Mary: First Model of the Spiritual Gifts

Mary’s Annunciation and Visitation reveal how charisms work in practice. First, the Holy Spirit came powerfully upon Mary. Second, she allowed that divine life to burst forth in both word and action. Mary’s Magnificat is a prophetic song—modelling how the gifts of the Spirit—prophecy, wisdom, discernment—flow from intimacy with God.

This foreshadows Pentecost: “As the Holy Spirit comes powerfully upon Mary, with the result that Christ becomes present in her and she brings Him forth into the world, so the Holy Spirit will come powerfully upon the disciples at Pentecost, with the result that Christ will become present in them, so they can bring Him forth into the world through their proclamation of the Gospel” (49).

2. Jesus: Perfect Model of the Spiritual Gifts

Aquinas teaches that “Christ is the first and chief teacher of spiritual doctrine… all the gratuitous graces [spiritual gifts] were most excellently in Christ.” Jesus shows us the fullness of life in the Spirit—not only to prove His divinity, but to reveal the Kingdom and demonstrate what the Spirit can do through a human life fully surrendered to God. His Baptism was truly a Baptism in the Holy Spirit, filling His human heart with God’s love. From His baptism forward, Jesus ministered “full of the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1). His mission statement (Isaiah 61; Luke 4:18–19): “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… liberty to captives… recovery of sight to the blind… to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Using the same three categories from 1 Corinthians 12, Jesus perfectly embodies each:

Gifts of Revelation – insight beyond human capacity, revealing God’s truth

• Word of Wisdom – offering divine counsel, e.g., “Render to Caesar…” (Mark 12:17).
• Word of Knowledge – telling the Samaritan woman her hidden life (John 4:16–18).
• Discernment of Spirits – recognizing demonic presence and casting out demons (Mark 1:23–26), perceiving the thoughts of Pharisees (Luke 5:22).

Gifts of Power – supernatural acts demonstrating God’s reign

• Faith – cursing the fig tree as a sign of authority (Matt 21:21–22).
• Healings – curing the sick, restoring sight, cleansing lepers. Dr. Mary Healy notes that such healings are not optional signs, but part of the normal life of the Spirit.
• Working of Miracles – raising the dead, multiplying loaves, calming storms, walking on water.

Gifts of Speech – Spirit-inspired words that reveal and build up the Kingdom

• Prophecy – foretelling His Passion and Resurrection, predicting Peter’s denial and restoration.
• Tongues – possibly in His Spirit-filled praise to the Father (Luke 10:21).
• Interpretation of Tongues – explaining divine truths in ways that make them understood, as in His parables and private explanations to His disciples.

In every case, Jesus used the gifts in perfect charity—for proclamation, healing, liberation, and the upbuilding of faith.

💡Key Takeaway

The same Holy Spirit who overshadowed Mary and filled Jesus at His baptism is poured into us at Baptism and Confirmation, empowering us for an Isaiah 61 mission. Evangelization flows not from human strategy, but from Christ alive within us—overflowing in Spirit-filled words, deeds, and love.

Chapter 3: Clothed with Power

1. The “Great Omission” – Waiting for Power

Before His Ascension, Jesus entrusted His disciples with the Great Commission—to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Yet there is a part of that commission often neglected, what could be called the Great Omission: “Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

How can Christians possibly fulfill the monumental task of making disciples of all nations? There is only one way: by divine empowerment—the power of the Holy Spirit and His gifts. These gifts are not ornamental graces for a select few; they are the God-given equipment that enables the Church to carry out her mission (67).

2. Signs, Wonders, and Church Growth

Luke links the Church’s explosive growth as the fruit of power evangelism—the Gospel preached in word and confirmed by deeds of the Spirit (Acts 5:12–16). “The evidence for being Spirit-filled, according to Luke, is the receiving of power—power to serve; power to love; power to heal, deliver, or work a miracle; power to suffer persecution; power to preach the Gospel; power to comprehend the Gospel. This is seen by the diversity of experiences that Luke records” (75).

Historically, this Spirit-empowered ministry propelled the Gospel beyond its Jewish origins. In the first centuries, despite intense persecution, the Church grew at an astonishing rate (≈40% per decade) because Christians combined bold proclamation, visible love, and miraculous signs. Pagans were drawn by the visible inbreaking of the Kingdom—healing the sick, casting out demons, and caring for the vulnerable.

3. Witness of the Fathers and Saints

In the early centuries, the Church Fathers bore strong witness to the presence of spiritual gifts among the faithful. St. Irenaeus (2nd c.) testified that believers throughout the Church cast out demons, healed the sick, prophesied, and even raised the dead (81). Centuries later, St. Augustine (4th–5th c.)—who had once believed miracles had ceased—was compelled to change his view after personally witnessing and recording over seventy miracles in just two years (City of God, XXII.8). The Fathers also attested to the ongoing gift of tongues, known in their day as jubilation: exuberant praise in an unintelligible language. Augustine encouraged the faithful to jubilate when their joy in God surpassed the limits of speech.

Although the charisms never entirely vanished, their practice declined over time. Contributing factors included the legalization of Christianity, which led to nominal conversions; the distortions of heretical movements such as Montanism; and a growing tendency to associate supernatural gifts solely with monastic or ascetical holiness. Yet the Spirit continued to act powerfully in the lives of the saints. Figures such as St. Patrick and Gregory the Wonderworker were renowned for healings, prophecies, and miracles that drew many to faith and reminded the Church that the gifts of the Spirit are never bound to a single era.

4. Then and Now – The Same Spirit’s Power

Being “clothed with power” is more than receiving gifts—it is being so filled with God’s love that one appears “inebriated” with divine joy (Acts 2:13). From Pentecost to the present, the Spirit has repeatedly renewed the Church: in the Shantung Revival (1932), the Toronto Blessing (1994), and countless other outpourings, empowering believers for mission.

As St. Paul’s ministry shows, fulfilling the Gospel is more than preaching—it is Christ Himself working through us in the power of the Holy Spirit (79).

💡Key Takeaway

The Spirit who shook the Upper Room still clothes believers with power today. In every age, evangelization advances when word and deed unite and the Gospel is confirmed by the Spirit’s gifts, signs, and wonders—works the Church not only recognizes but actively encourages for the building up of the Body of Christ.

Chapter 4: Fire on the Earth

Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem and the Cross, declared: “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!” (Luke 12:49). That “fire” was fulfilled at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended as tongues of fire (Acts 2:1–4). Jesus had promised that this baptism in the Holy Spirit would bring power from on high (Acts 1:5, 8), immersing believers in divine life (Rom 5:5)—a grace the apostles sought for every new convert in Acts. Pentecost was never meant to be a one-time blessing, but an ongoing reality in the Church.

In the 20th century, God renewed this grace in unexpected ways. In the Catholic Church, Elena Guerra urged Pope Leo XIII to promote devotion to the Holy Spirit, leading him to consecrate the new century to the Spirit on January 1, 1901—unaware that the same day the Spirit was being poured out at Bethel Bible School in Kansas. This sparked the Pentecostal revival, which quickly spread worldwide through movements like Azusa Street, the Welsh Revival, and similar outpourings in India, Chile, Korea, and Brazil. In 1967, two years after Vatican II’s affirmation of the charismatic dimension of the Church (Lumen Gentium 12), the Duquesne Weekend ignited the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. One participant testified: “Our faith has come alive… Jesus Christ is a real person to us… We have also been showered with charismata.” Today, over 150 million Catholics have experienced this grace, leading to deeper love for Christ, Scripture, the Church, and mission.

Christians have understood baptism in the Spirit in four primary ways:

1. Activation View – This sees baptism in the Holy Spirit as an awakening of graces already received in baptism or confirmation—like stirring chocolate syrup into milk so its flavor permeates the whole. Cardinal Léon Joseph Suenens, Ralph Martin, and Raniero Cantalamessa describe it as “fanning into flame” what God has already given, turning dormant grace into a lived reality. It preserves continuity with the sacraments while affirming the need for a fresh experiential release of grace for mission.
2. Post-Conversion Gift – Here, baptism in the Spirit is understood as a distinct encounter after conversion, often linked to confirmation, imparting fresh power for witness and service. John Wesley called it a “second blessing,” and Stephen B. Clark saw it in Acts 8, where new believers received the Spirit through the apostles’ laying on of hands. This view emphasizes progression—conversion first, then empowerment—mirroring the apostolic pattern of mission readiness.
3. New Sending – This view understands baptism in the Spirit as a fresh impartation for a new mission or stage of spiritual growth. Francis Sullivan, drawing on Aquinas’ teaching about “invisible sendings” of the Spirit, distinguishes it from mere activation: it is God giving a new grace, not simply stirring the old. This underlines God’s freedom to pour out His Spirit repeatedly for specific tasks.
4. Eschatological Turning Point – This perspective sees today’s global outpouring not merely as personal renewal but as a prophetic sign of the “last days” (Acts 2:17). Historian Peter Hocken argued that such widespread charismatic renewal signals a decisive moment in salvation history, preparing the Church for Christ’s return. It shifts the focus from individual experience to the Spirit’s action in the whole Body of Christ on a global scale.

These perspectives are not mutually exclusive; baptism in the Spirit can be a personal empowerment and a sign of God’s wider work. It is received through openness, repentance, and prayer—often in a community setting like a Life in the Spirit Seminar. As Mary Healy notes, people must hear of God’s love, receive inner healing, and be taught how to use the gifts. Yet the Spirit’s coming is never confined to formulas: God is sovereign, and “He can do what pleases Him” (Ps 68:34). Testimonies show Him baptizing even the resistant or unprepared, confounding human pride and underscoring that the gifts are pure grace.

💡Key Insight

The fire Jesus came to cast is still burning, kindling hearts with God’s love and empowering His people for mission. Whether by stirring up grace already given, imparting fresh power for a new call, or uniting the Church for Christ’s return, the baptism in the Holy Spirit remains a living reality—an invitation to every believer to be set ablaze for the Gospel.

Chapter 5: Revelation Gifts

The revelation gifts—words of wisdom, words of knowledge, and discernment of spirits—depend on the Holy Spirit revealing what only God knows. They often overlap and work together.

Word of Wisdom is a Spirit-given, practical insight for a specific situation that leads to the right action or decision. Story: Peter’s vision of the sheet in Acts 10 gave him supernatural wisdom to welcome Gentiles and preach to Cornelius, opening the door for their conversion.

Word of Knowledge is a Spirit-given awareness of facts not learned by natural means, often stirring faith for healing or evangelization. Stories: Peter knew Ananias and Sapphira were lying (Acts 5). Paul knew a crippled man had faith to be healed, told him to stand, and the man walked (Acts 14). In Brazil, 99 first-time participants correctly called out specific ailments, leading to instant healings and 1,100 total healings in one night. At a prayer meeting, Dr. Mary Healy impressions about a man with a skin condition and same-sex attraction, a woman with jail experience, and left-ankle pain all proved accurate, with multiple people set free or healed.

Discernment of Spirits is a Spirit-given ability to recognize whether something comes from the Holy Spirit, a demonic spirit, or the human spirit, guiding response and protecting ministry. Story: In Philippi, Paul discerned that a slave girl’s proclamation, though true, was driven by a spirit that hindered the mission, and he commanded it to leave (Acts 16).

Closing note: These gifts require humility, sensitivity, and wisdom. Believers can grow in them through faith-filled practice, always allowing others to confirm or reject what is shared.

Chapter 6: Power Gifts

This chapter explores the power gifts—faith, healing, and miracles—which vividly display God’s authority over sickness, demons, death, and all destructive forces (Mark 16:17–18).

Gift of Faith – A supernatural conviction, given by God, that He will act in a specific situation. It cannot be manufactured by human effort but comes through divine revelation—often via prophecy or a word of knowledge—which removes all doubt and releases God’s power (1 Cor 13:2; 1 Jn 5:14). “This communication, coupled with “the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us” (1 John 5:14), creates a cause and effect in the Kingdom of heaven, and the result is the releasing of God’s power for healings or miracles” (154).

Gifts of Healing – God’s supernatural action to restore physical, emotional, or spiritual health. Paul calls them plural (“gifts of healings,” 1 Cor 12:9) because there are many forms. Healings are not just proofs of the Gospel—they embody it, visibly demonstrating that the Kingdom of God is present and pointing to the complete healing we will receive at the resurrection (Luke 9:2, 6; Luke 10:8–9; Mark 16:15–18). “The reason healings are so important for evangelization is that they are not just an external proof of the Gospel. They are the embodiment of the Gospel. They visibly demonstrate the fact that the Kingdom of God is here and that Jesus has come to free human beings from sin and all its destructive effects, as well as to restore us to the fullness of life. They are signs of the fullness of healing that will be accomplished on the last day, when our bodies will be raised from the dead to share in God’s own life forever” (157). “When we pray for people, laying hands on them, and nothing happens, we see what we can do. On the other hand, when the person is healed, we see what God’s energy can so powerfully do through us (see Colossians 1:29)” (156).

Working of Miracles – God partnering with His children to perform mighty deeds (dunamis) that defy human explanation. Living in this gift involves learning the “ways of God” and seeking His glory, as Moses did (Ex 33:13, 18). “The key to a life of miracles is becoming more aware of the ways of God” (160).

Throughout the chapter, Randy and Mary share many miracle stories that illustrate how these gifts operate today, showing that God still works powerfully through His people.

Chapter 7: Gifts of Speech

“The gifts of prophecy, tongues and interpretation of tongues are loosely grouped together because they all involve speech—whether in a human language or in a language known to God alone. A Spirit-inspired hymn composed during a time of worship, an anointed teaching or a revelation (a deeper insight into God and His plan) also belong to this category of gifts” (169).

Prophecy

Prophecy is a Spirit-inspired message for the “upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” of others (1 Cor 14:3). Paul calls it the most valuable gift for the Church: “Earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy” (1 Cor 14:1).

• Nature of prophecy: spontaneous, not prepared, directly inspired by the Holy Spirit. It releases God’s revelation into the present moment.
• Forms of prophecy: specific guidance (Acts 13:1–3), visions and dreams (Joseph, Cornelius, Peter, the Magi), reading hearts (1 Cor 14:24–25), recognizing hidden realities (Anna and Simeon, Lk 2:25–38), and sometimes foretelling the future (Agabus, Acts 11:28).
• A “now word”: “More often, prophecy is not a prediction, but a ‘now word’ from God, speaking God’s revelation into the present situation” (171).
• Value of prophecy: Unlike tongues, prophecy is intelligible and edifies others: “The one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” (1 Cor 14:3–5).
• Prophetic Evangelization: Prophecy can reveal the secrets of hearts and bring unbelievers to faith: “The secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so… he will worship God and declare that God is really among you” (1 Cor 14:24–25).
• Prophesying with love and respect: Prophecy must be given humbly: “I think the Lord is saying…” rather than with domination. Even correction must edify, never condemn.
• Can everyone prophesy? At Pentecost, Peter declared Joel’s prophecy fulfilled: “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy” (Acts 2:16–18). While not all have the stable charism of prophecy, all believers can prophesy under the Spirit’s inspiration (1 Cor 14:31).
• Growing in prophecy: Growth requires humility and practice. “Whoever tries to walk in the gifts of the Spirit will make mistakes, but mistakes can be the occasion for further growth” (176). Journaling, praying with Scripture, and immersing oneself in God’s Word help the gift mature.

Tongues

The gift of tongues is Spirit-inspired speech in a language not known to the speaker.

• Miraculous xenolalia: At Pentecost, the disciples spoke in languages they had never learned (Acts 2:4–11). Modern testimonies describe similar events, such as a prayer in tongues that turned out to be perfect Korean, bringing healing and conversion.
• Personal prayer and praise: “One who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God… he utters mysteries in the Spirit” (1 Cor 14:2). This form builds up the individual: “The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself” (1 Cor 14:4). It is contemplative prayer, bypassing the mind and flowing from the heart.
• Public message: When spoken aloud in the assembly, tongues requires interpretation to edify others (1 Cor 14:5, 13).
• Intercession: Tongues can express “groanings too deep for words” (Rom 8:26–27), especially in seemingly impossible situations.
• Tongues in Church history: Though less common for centuries, tongues never disappeared. Saints like Bernard, Aquinas, Teresa of Avila, and John Vianney describe prayer beyond words—jubilation, sighs, or unknown speech.
• Exercising the Gift of Tongues: Paul affirms: “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you” (1 Cor 14:18). Tongues requires childlike surrender: “To speak in tongues requires a willingness to become like a child—to look foolish or feel foolish for Christ” (186). Far from losing control, the person remains free, cooperating with the Spirit.
• Interpretation of Tongues: Interpretation is a Spirit-given ability to make a public message in tongues intelligible. It is not a direct translation but conveys the meaning so the Church is edified. Paul instructs: “If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret” (1 Cor 14:27). The effect: the mysterious majesty of a message in tongues draws hearts to God, and its interpretation strengthens faith.

Discerning Prophecy and Other Gifts

Prophecy must be weighed: “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said” (1 Cor 14:29). Because prophecy passes through human vessels, discernment is essential.

Five Tests for Discernment

1. Truth test: must align with Scripture and Church teaching (1 Cor 12:1–3; 1 Jn 4:1–3).
2. Love test: without love, charisms are “nothing” (1 Cor 13:1–3). Even correction must be rooted in love.
3. Glory to Christ: true gifts direct attention to Jesus, not the individual (Acts 3:12, 16).
4. Good order: gifts should be exercised “decently and in order” (1 Cor 14:39–40), though openness to surprise is necessary (Acts 16:6–9).
5. Good fruit: “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Mt 7:16). Both the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22–23) and Christlike works confirm authenticity.

Who Discerns?

• First: the one exercising the gift.
• Second: local pastoral leaders (e.g., prayer group leaders).
• Ultimately: pastors and bishops of the Church.

Do Not Quench the Spirit

Paul exhorts: “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thess 5:19–22). Leaders must guard against heavy-handed suppression; instead, they should pastor gifts wisely and “fan them into flame” (2 Tim 1:6). St. John Chrysostom taught: the true leader discerns and encourages the gifts of the people, rejoicing in their flourishing.

Chapter 8: Activating the Spiritual Gifts

The authors emphasize that spiritual gifts are not mastered techniques but the Holy Spirit working through us. These keys help us open ourselves more fully to His action:

1. Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
   • The gifts flow from receiving the Giver Himself. We must continually invite the Spirit to come and fill us, surrendering daily to His presence and power.
2. Stay Close to Jesus
   • The Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus. The more intimately we abide with Him in prayer, Word, Eucharist, and community, the more He radiates His power through us.
3. Get God’s Heart for the Lost and Broken
   • Gifts are not for self but for mission. Compassion for sinners, the sick, and the marginalized releases God’s healing power through us.
4. Ask, Seek, Knock
   • Jesus commands us to ask boldly for the Spirit and His gifts. Asking in faith and in His name pleases God and aligns us with His will.
5. Take Steps in Faith
   • Faith grows by risk. Acting on small promptings allows God to work miracles. Like Elisha and the apostles, we step out and watch God move.
6. Do Whatever He Tells You
   • Mary’s counsel at Cana applies today. Obedience, even when it seems unreasonable, unlocks the miraculous.
7. Know Your Authority in Christ
   • As heirs with Christ, we share in His authority over sickness, sin, and evil. Knowing our identity in Him gives confidence to minister with boldness.
8. Learn from Others
   • Watch and walk alongside those experienced in the gifts. Observation, questions, and mentoring help us grow in wisdom and discernment.
9. Use Testimonies to Stir Up Faith
   • Sharing stories of God’s power inspires faith and expectation. Sometimes people are healed simply by hearing a testimony.
10. Remove Obstacles and Misunderstandings
    • Many block God’s action through unworthiness, resignation, or false theology. The truth of Scripture dismantles lies and opens hearts to receive.
11. Give the Holy Spirit Room to Work
    • The Spirit often moves in unexpected, “messy” ways. Flexibility, openness, and pastoral discernment allow Him freedom to act.
12. Take It Out
    • The gifts are for mission, not for private circles. Signs and wonders accompany evangelization. A Church that goes out will see God’s power manifest.

📌 Summary Thought: These 12 keys remind us that activating the gifts requires openness, faith, humility, and mission focus. When Christians live this way, the Church shines as the radiant bride of Christ, clothed with power from on high.

Review

This is a wonderful ecumenical book, co-written by a Protestant (Randy Clark) and a Catholic (Mary Healy)—a sign of the Spirit’s work in breaking down barriers among Christians. It responds to the deep hunger for unity stirring in the Body of Christ today.

The divisions among Christians have long been a tragic counter-witness, yet this book shows that what unites us is infinitely greater than what divides us—the living presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Clark and Healy explain each of the spiritual gifts with clarity and pastoral wisdom, showing how they operate, why they matter, and how believers can step out in faith to use them. The inspiring stories—of saints, missionaries, and ordinary Christians—demonstrate that the gifts of the Spirit are part of the normal Christian life.

📖 I highly recommend this book—it will deepen your understanding of the gifts and stir in you a longing for a new Pentecost in our time.