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A look at the 9 manifestations of God’s Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12v.1 tells us that he wants the church to be informed. He’s noticed that when the Corinthians were lost or pagans they were led astray by mute idols. Now he’s wanting to give the church some guidelines regarding manifestations of God’s Spirit. It’s implied that they may be prone to error due to their gullibility from the past.
The rule is, the manifestations of the Spirit have to give glory to Jesus, v. 3 says, I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. Father, Son, Holy Spirit
John 16:13-15
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
Imagine, if you will, a flow chart with the Holy Spirit at the top flowing down into an individual person. What flows out of that person are works. These works consist of service and spiritual gifts. Imagine the flow chart now consisting of many people. There’s only one Holy Spirit but many expressions of the Holy Spirit through people.
God Gives Good Gifts to those Who Ask
Matthew 7:7-11
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
1 Corinthians 12:7
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. Meaning these gifts are not only for you but to help others.
If the gifts become self serving then things are out of order. (Tongues, without public interpretation, are for self edification 1 Cor. 14:4)
- Message of Wisdom
- Message of Knowledge
- Faith
- Gifts of Healing
- Miraculous Powers
- Prophecy
- Distinguishing Between Spirits
- Speaking in Tongues
- Interpretation of Tongues
Wisdom is the synthesis of knowledge (facts). It causes one to draw conclusions that people without wisdom cannot draw. Facts and knowledge are the building blocks upon which wisdom is built. Supernatural wisdom would have a God component to it that would make it elusive to anyone without the Holy Spirit. Sometimes lost people are very wise in their synthesis of facts.
James 1:5,6
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Knowledge
Holy Spirit Knowledge-
John 1:47-51
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe[h] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[i] you[j] will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’[k] the Son of Man.”
Faith
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
The Faith of the Centurion
The Centurion’s faith was rooted in his natural understanding of authority and his supernatural understanding of who Jesus was. Combining these two components leads Jesus to proclaim, “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”
If we want to be people of great faith like the Centurion we also will have to know who Jesus is. Compare the Centurion to Martha.
John 11:21-24
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Gifts of Healing
As an extraordinary charism, gifts of healing are supernatural enablements given to a believer to minister various kinds of healing and restoration to individuals through the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Greek of the New Testament, both the words gift and healing are plural.
I have noticed that some people who have gifts of healing may have greater success with healing some people with certain diseases over other diseases. I have a ministry friend that says, “Send me people with fibromyalgia”. They’ve seen a lot of success with the Holy Spirit flowing through them in healing this particular disease. I’ve also known a man who could touch a wart and it would disappear within a few days. It seems strange, but gifts and healing are both plural in the Greek.
Miraculous Powers
Every time something happened for the first time in the Bible it had never happened before. Today, in our time, if God did something that was not recorded in Scripture that was miraculous and brought glory to Jesus, there are some in the Body of Christ who would say, “That’s the Devil”. Be open to God doing miracles that don’t necessarily fit into our box, but the manifestation must point people to Jesus.
Signs and Wonders by their very nature will make a person wonder.
John 21:25
25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Prophecy
Foretelling – Knowing the future, knowing hidden knowledge.
Forth telling – Expressing the heart, mind, and will of God about a situation supernaturally.
1 Corinthians 14:3
3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
A word of Wisdom regarding directional words. Be careful. You should be able to hear God for yourself any way but if God uses a prophet to speak a directional word please be cautious. You don’t have to do what the person prophesying says. Unfortunately some can “prophelie” their own feelings or use the prophetic platform to manipulate.
A Truly Seeker Sensitive Environment
The gift of prophecy when in operation
1 Corinthians 14:24,25 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
Distinguishing Between Spirits
Demons have various agendas usually tied to a sinful habit or behavior. A spirit of lying for example that influences a person’s thinking and words to lie. When a demon is manifesting they seem to try and mask their true nature because, for a reason I don’t fully understand, they lose part of their hold on the person when their true nature is revealed. In the Bible a name=nature.
In Mark 5:9 we see Jesus asking the Gaderene demoniac’s demon what its name is. The demon answers it’s name (nature or character) is legion for we are many.
When the nature of a demon is uncovered it’s exposed and less likely to retain it’s hold on the person.
Tongues
A sign that consistently accompanies the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:4, Acts 8:12-17, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:14-16, Acts 15:7-9
A sign in a one on one setting for unbelievers.
1 Corinthians 14:22
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; A Language to God 1 Corinthians 14:2 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
Personal Edification
1 Corinthians 14:4a
4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves,
Jude 1:20
20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, Interpretation of Tongues
Conclusion
1 Corinthians 12:31 (Amplified)
31 But earnestly desire and zealously cultivate the greatest and best gifts and graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces).
1 Cor. 14:1
Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy ([a]interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching).
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