OVERFLOWING STREAM OF THE SPIRIT
Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, He said, “Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8
). This promise of power comes after the Holy Spirit visits your life, empowering you to witness, strengthening your Christian walk, and equipping you for Christian service to defeat the Enemy.
As our life is empowered by the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts or new abilities called the “gifts of the Holy Spirit” enable us to do the Lord’s work in new and powerful ways. ). This promise of power comes after the Holy Spirit visits your life, empowering you to witness, strengthening your Christian walk, and equipping you for Christian service to defeat the Enemy.The Father desires that we understand spiritual gifts. The apostle Paul wrote, “Now, concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant” (1 Corinthians 12:1
). Remember, the devil’s success is dependent upon our ignorance. When you understand how to stir up these spiritual gifts in your life, you will have power and authority over the Enemy. The Father has provided these gifts to profit His children. Paul said, “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (1 Corinthians 12:7
). God doesn’t want us to miss these special gifts (1 Corinthians 1:5). Our Father wants us to actively pursue the gifts He has provided. Paul wrote, “Covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31
). This scripture encourages us to seek the gifts, which are available to each of us and necessary for our spiritual success. Now it is up to you and me to understand these gifts and stir them up.Three Groups of Spiritual Gifts
Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, listed each of the nine gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8-10), which can be divided into three groups: revelation gifts, vocal gifts, and power gifts.- Revelation gifts include the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and discerning of spirits.
- Vocal gifts are tongues, interpretation of tongues, and prophecy.
- Power gifts include faith, healings, and the working of miracles.
The following information provides only a brief overview of each of the gifts. I encourage you to take time to study each of these gifts in depth and stir them up in your soul.
Revelation Gifts
There are two revelation gifts:1. Word of Wisdom: the application of knowledge
We experience the word of wisdom when the Holy Spirit gives us supernatural wisdom or understanding through His Word in certain situations.
When Jesus was faced with temptations in the wilderness, He ignored what Satan attempted to offer and responded by quoting the Word of God. On the other hand, Eve, in the garden, failed to confront the devil’s lies and was deceived.
You can use the word of wisdom to defeat the purposes of the Enemy by knowing how to apply the Word, and at times it can mean the difference between life and death. In fact, the word of wisdom is essential in the operation of all the other gifts, so it is important to seek this gift. Pray for this gift. Ask God to saturate your life with it, and as you study Scripture, the Lord will begin to give you the word of wisdom to illuminate your understanding.
2. Word of Knowledge: receiving facts supernaturally by the Spirit
The word of knowledge is something that couldn’t possibly be known without the Holy Spirit’s prompting. There are numerous examples throughout Scripture where the word of knowledge is given by the Holy Spirit, with specific information concerning a need or problem. (Example: Elisha the prophet knew that Gehazi had lied to Naaman the leper (2 Kings 5).
Ananias and Sapphira pretended to sell their land and give all to God’s work, but Peter received a word of knowledge that allowed him to boldly ask, “Why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?” (Acts 5:3
).A word of knowledge can be personal or may be given for you to share with others. When you receive it, you should immediately begin praying for God’s wisdom to share or apply this word.
3. Discerning of Spirits: perceiving the source of a manifestation
The last of the three revelation gifts helps us perceive whether a spiritual manifestation is from God, man, or the devil.
It was the discerning of spirits that helped the apostle Peter understand the vision mentioned in Acts 10 that in turn led to evangelism among the Gentiles, for he said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.”
It was the gift of discerning of spirits that led Paul to cast the evil spirit out of a fortune-teller, who seemingly spoke all the right words, saying, “I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her” (Acts 8:23
).We’re in a battle, and the devil is cunning. Sometimes, evil masquerades as good. So we must be watchful with our supernatural senses, exercising the revelation gift of discernment along with wisdom and knowledge.
Vocal Gifts
The following are the Spirit’s three vocal gifts:1. Tongues: three supernatural means of communication
There is some confusion about the first of the vocal gifts, because there are actually three different kinds of tongues.
- Tongues unto God.
).- Tongues as a sign to the unbeliever.
- Tongues that edify the body of believers.
).There is a place for each kind of tongues. Paul was certainly not dismissing the value of tongues, for he wrote, “I would that ye all spake with tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:5
) and “forbid not to speak with tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39). He even wrote, “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all” (1 Corinthians 14:18). This gift is critical for intercession and spiritual warfare. It’s a powerful entranceway to deep, intimate fellowship with the Savior. Without tongues, you overlook one of the most special of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
2. Interpretation of Tongues: translation of divine utterances into recognizable language
To understand the interpretation of tongues, the second of the vocal gifts, we must remember that there are three different kinds of tongues. Only the third type, edifying the body of believers, requires interpretation. With this type of tongues, the interpretation of tongues is crucial. The Word shows that interpretation becomes equal to prophecy.
As we begin to use this gift, it’s important to understand this instruction: “Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret” (1 Corinthians 14:13
).This gift requires spiritual maturity and is received only through diligent prayer, study of the Scriptures and intense time with the Holy Spirit. May we all be more willing to pay this price, for the interpretation of tongues to edify the church is desperately needed today in the church.
3. Prophecy: revelation for edification
For the third vocal gift, prophecy, Scripture is clear: “He who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men” (1 Corinthians 4:3
).The gift of prophecy builds up and encourages us. It stirs us up. It comforts us. It is not condemning. It always exhorts and encourages. It brings life and vision and light, not doom and gloom and death.
And we must remember that anything spoken out of the gift of prophecy must always be completely consistent with the Scriptures, and it will never contradict God’s Word in any way.
Power Gifts
The following are the Spirit’s three power gifts:1. Faith: the God-given ability to believe Him for the impossible
The gift of faith is the greatest of the power gifts. It’s the exceptional ability to trust God to work, even in unusual ways or in particularly challenging situations.
Again, there is sometimes confusion about the gift of faith. There are actually three revelations of faith in the Bible:
- Saving faith (Romans 5:1) is that measure of faith given to every person.
- Fruit of faith (Galatians 5:22) is an important part of the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of faith is within each of us, as planted by the Holy Spirit.
- Gift of faith (1 Corinthians 12) comes for a moment, for a season and for a reason. The gift of faith is the instantaneous assurance of God’s ability to act in a specific situation. It does not deny fact but changes it
How do we move into this gift? Paul said, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:172. Healings: restoration of health
The power gifts of healing (1 Corinthians 12:9
) are plural, not singular, for they apply to both physical and emotional areas of life, and the gifts also come in two ways, immediate and gradual.Healing restores what is broken. The Holy Spirit can use a multitude of acts of faith to heal. The spoken word is used most often, but the woman with an issue of blood was also healed as she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and by faith was made whole. We read of the laying on of hands and anointing with oil, but even the apostle Peter’s shadow brought healing.
God desires that we be healed and be used as instruments of healing. The secret is obedience to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
3. Working of Miracles: divine creative acts
The power gift of working of miracles is a supernatural occurrence against the law of nature. It was against the natural order of things for God to turn back the Red Sea for the children of Israel to walk on dry land to the other shore. It was not natural for God to suspend the rotation of the earth to allow time for victory or for the walls of Jericho to fall flat, but these miracles happened to Joshua and his armies.
When arthritis no longer afflicts a body or blind eyes see again, we sometimes call them miracles, but they are actually healings. Healing is a work of restoration, but miracles are creative acts that go against normal laws of nature.
I believe we are coming into a new dimension of creative miracles, when we will see supernatural moves of the Holy Spirit’s power in ways that we’ve only dreamed about. Readiness can only come through the Word. God’s Word points to this: “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made” (Psalm 33:6
)True miracles are a product of His Word. The more we read, understand, and act on His Word, the more we will be able to move into the powerful dimension of His gifts, including the working of miracles.
The Holy Spirit’s Gifts Are for You Today!
God gives us these three revelation gifts, three vocal gifts, and three power gifts—nine gifts in all.These gifts were given as a means to spread the Gospel and establish His kingdom. None of the gifts are to be forbidden (1 Corinthians 14:39
), and everything must be done in an orderly manner (verse 40). As we heed His commands, both empowered by the Holy Spirit and guided by the Scriptures, we can move, even today, toward the unity of believers and a dimension of power and authority in the realm of the Spirit that the prophets of old only dreamed of.
The greatest days are here. Decide to be empowered for service!
Are you willing to be used in the mighty outpouring that is coming in an unprecedented way upon believers around the globe?
Seek Your Gifts
The Enemy has always hated the Spiritual gifts, because they strangle his effectiveness. These gifts are not only essential to doing God’s work, but stirring up and releasing the gifts brings divine, scriptural prosperity in all areas of life.We cannot do any part of God’s work effectively without His gifts. The Holy Spirit uses these gifts to produce eternal fruit.
If a time ever existed when the gifts of the Holy Spirit are essential for victorious Christian living, that time is now!
And this is my prayer for you.
Coming, a Mighty Outpouring
A mighty outpouring is already beginning to shake the nations, as prophesied in Scripture: “I will shake all nations…and fill this temple with glory” (Haggai 2:7).
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