No — believers should not ask God for a specific spiritual gift; the Holy Spirit alone distributes gifts as He wills, and our part is to accept and use what He gives.
Scripture says the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (1 Corinthians 12:7), and all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will (1 Corinthians 12:11). Les Feldick teaches plainly that "it is not our prerogative to ask for a particular gift" — you take the gift that God has given you and be content with it (Clip 0). Rather than requesting a specific gift, the believer should ask the Lord to use him and enhance what he is already able to do, leaving the specific gift to the Holy Spirit to discern (Clip 5).
1 Corinthians 12:7 — Paul states the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal — given, not asked for — which directly addresses whether gifts are requested.
1 Corinthians 12:11 — Paul shows the one Spirit divides to every man severally as He wills, placing the distribution of gifts entirely in the Holy Spirit's hands.
Romans 12:6 — Paul describes gifts differing according to the grace given to us, which Les cites to show God controls the gift-giving.
1 Corinthians 14:1 — Paul's instruction to desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy, is where Les draws the balanced teaching — desire spiritual things, but do not ask for a specific gift.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul writes that the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (1 Corinthians 12:7) — it is given, not asked for. He then explains that all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will (1 Corinthians 12:11). The Spirit Himself decides the distribution of gifts to each believer according to His own will. In Romans 12, Paul writes of gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us (Romans 12:6), and then lists prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, ruling, and showing mercy. These gifts are imparted by grace from God, not selected or requested by the recipient. The passage instructs believers to use what they have received, and nothing in the text invites a believer to ask for a particular gift. In 1 Corinthians 14:1, believers are told to follow after charity and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. Even here the emphasis is on desiring spiritual things generally and on speaking the Word, while the actual distribution remains in the Spirit's hands. Scripture never presents a specific spiritual gift as something a believer should request for himself.
Les Feldick is direct: "It is not our prerogative to ask for a particular gift. You take the gift that God has given you, and you be content with it" (Clip 0). He points to 1 Corinthians 12:7 — "The manifestation of the Spirit is given" — and emphasizes that it is not asked for. He then notes the same truth in verse 11: one and the selfsame Spirit divides to every man severally, as the Spirit wills (Clip 0). In Romans 12, Les asks and answers, "Who's in control of the gift giving? God is. God imparts your particular gift, whether it's great or small. He's the one who is building the body" (Clip 3). He also teaches that every believer has at least one gift, some are fortunate enough to have two, and it is according to God's will (Clips 1, 7). At the same time, Les does not say believers should be passive. In 1 Corinthians 14:1, he reads Paul as saying, "Follow after love, and desire spiritual things," but immediately clarifies: "Now we're not to ask for them specifically... ask the Lord to use you, ask the Lord to enhance that which you're able to do. But we're not to ask for a specific gift, that's up to the Holy Spirit to discern" (Clip 5). He also teaches that every believer should desire to prophesy — and defines prophesy as simply speaking the Word of God and sharing the Word, not telling the future (Clip 5). Practically, Les teaches that a believer can determine what capacity he is comfortable with and does not have to force something (Clip 6). Some believers have the gift of visiting the sick, some of prayer, some of giving, some of administration, some of teaching, and others various gifts (Clips 4, 6). The believer's responsibility is to determine his gift and put it to use, giving God the credit (Clip 2).
Les balances the prohibition on requesting a specific gift with a positive instruction: "ask the Lord to use you, ask the Lord to enhance that which you're able to do" (Clip 5). The proper request is not for a gift, but for the Lord to direct and employ the capacity He has already given. Les adds that a believer can determine what he is comfortable with and does not have to force something (Clip 6), which fits with making oneself available for the role the Spirit has provided.
God does. Les asks and answers, "Who's in control of the gift giving? God is. God imparts your particular gift, whether it's great or small. He's the one who is building the body" (Clip 3). Paul says the one and selfsame Spirit divides to every man severally as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11), and gifts differ according to the grace given to us (Romans 12:6). Les concludes that asking for a specific gift is "up to the Holy Spirit to discern" (Clip 5).
Les points to the lists in Romans 12 (Clips 2, 3, 4, 7) and notes that every believer has at least one gift, some have two, and they are given according to God's will (Clips 1, 7). He encourages believers to determine what they are comfortable with and not force something (Clip 6), and then, having determined it, to put it to use (Clip 2). Examples in his teaching include the ability to approach unapproachable people (Clip 1), the gift of exhortation and encouragement (Clip 4), visiting the sick, prayer, giving, administration, and teaching (Clip 6).
In 1 Corinthians 14:1, the instruction is to follow after charity and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. Les clarifies that this is not a request for a specific gift — "we're not to ask for them specifically" — but a general desire for spiritual things. He defines prophesy not as telling the future, but as "simply speak the Word of God. Share the Word," and says this is what every believer should desire (Clip 5).
Not Our Prerogative to Ask
Les's foundational teaching: it is not our prerogative to ask for a particular gift — the manifestation of the Spirit is given, not asked for, and the Spirit divides to every man severally as He wills.
Gifts According to God's Will
Les illustrates that every believer has at least one gift, some have two, and it is according to God's will, giving the example of a woman with a unique gift of approaching unapproachable people.
Determine Your Gift and Use It
Les encourages believers to determine their gift and put it to use without fear or pride, knowing it is a gift God has given and designated — not something to boast about.
God Controls Gift-Giving
Les teaches that God is in control of gift-giving and imparts each believer's particular gift as He builds the body; gifts differ according to the grace given to us.
Examples of Gifts in Operation
Les explains that gifts such as exhortation, giving, ruling, and showing mercy are abilities God gives to some and not to others — they are recognized as gifts, not accomplishments.
Ask the Lord to Use You, Not for a Specific Gift
Les's clearest answer to the question: we are not to ask for specific gifts — that is up to the Holy Spirit to discern — but we should ask the Lord to use us and enhance what we are able to do, and desire to speak the Word of God.
Serving in Your Own Capacity
Les explains that God leaves believers on earth to serve in whatever capacity they are gifted — whether visiting the sick, prayer, giving, administration, or teaching — and you can determine what you are comfortable with without forcing something.
Every Believer Has a Gift
Les points to Romans 12 as a clear list of the various gifts that every believer has at least one of, given at salvation by the Holy Spirit who places us into the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:7: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Les quotes this verse to show the gift is given, not asked for — the direct answer to the question.
1 Corinthians 12:11: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
The Spirit decides the distribution of gifts to each believer individually according to His own will.
Romans 12:6: Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Gifts differ according to God's grace, and God is in control of the gift-giving, as Les emphasizes.
1 Corinthians 14:1: Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
Les reads this as 'desire spiritual things,' yet clarifies we are not to ask for specific gifts — rather, we should desire to speak the Word of God.
Les says to ask the Lord to use you and to enhance that which you are already able to do (Clip 5). You can also ask the Lord to show you the capacity He has given you — determining what you are comfortable with and not forcing something (Clip 6). The desire to speak and share the Word of God is something every believer should have (Clip 5).
Yes. Les teaches that every believer has at least one of the gifts listed in Romans 12, and some are fortunate enough to have two (Clips 1, 7). It is according to God's will, and God imparts your particular gift as He builds the body (Clips 1, 3).
Les distinguishes. He says we are not to ask for specific gifts — that is up to the Holy Spirit to discern — but every believer should desire to prophesy, meaning simply to speak and share the Word of God (Clip 5).
Les said, "You take the gift that God has given you, and you be content with it" (Clip 0). He also encouraged believers to determine their gift and put it to use, giving God the credit (Clip 2).
Watch the Teaching: How the Holy Spirit Gives Spiritual Gifts — 1 Corinthians 12 Explained