There is a difference between having an ability and having a gift. For example, all believers must have some faith, but not all have the gift of Faith (with a capital F, if you will). All Christians should be giving people, but some have a special dispensation of Giving. All should teach (at least with lifestyle) but "Are all Teachers"? We all should be able to win someone to Christ, but some believers have an exceptional passion and ability to Evangelize. With the sign gifts (like tongues) there is no gradation, it is either / or; but for most of the spiritual gifts we all have some ability. Unique and powerful spiritual gifts are given by the Lord to certain believers among us for the benefit of the entire body. We "have all the gifts" in fullness only in so far as we submit to the whole body.
Gifts are up to God, and He has made it abundantly clear that
He chooses who gets which. Let us give the Holy Spirit His due. If we say "all" receive any particular gift ("Do all speak in tongues?") or alternatively that everyone receives all the gifts, then our assertion grieves the truth of the Holy Spirit's sovereign choice. For there is no choice if "all".
1 Cor 12:1-11 (Wey) It is important, bre
thren, that you should have
clear knowledge on the subject of spiritual gifts. Now there are
various kinds of gifts, but there is one and the same Spirit; various forms of service, and yet one and the same Lord; diversities in work, and yet one and the same God--He who in each person brings about the whole result. But to
each of us a manifestation of the Spirit has been granted for the common good... who bestows His gifts upon each of us
in accordance with His own will
Acts 17:11 Dialog: Use and Abuse of the Spiritual Gifts
