The Holy Spirit – Part 7

The Holy Spirit – Part 7

1 Corinthians 12:1 BBE But about the things of the spirit, my brothers, it is not right for you to be without teaching.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 NKJV (1) Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: (2) You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. (3) Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. (4) There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. (5) There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. (6) And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. (7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: (8) for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

In verse 3 notice Paul said that the Holy Ghost will always exalt the Lordship of Jesus, not the lordship of a man or even draw attention to some man.

The gifts of the Spirit are categorized:

Three Revelation Gifts:

• The word of wisdom
• The word of knowledge
• The discerning of spirits

Three Power Gifts:

• The gift of faith
• The working of miracles
• The gifts of healings

Three Utterance or Inspirational gifts:

• Prophecy
• Divers kinds of tongues
• Interpretation of tongues

These are often in manifestation together such as tongues and interpretation of tongues.

Word of Knowledge:

The Word of Knowledge is the supernatural revelation by the Holy Ghost of certain facts in the mind of God.

A word is a fragmentary part of a sentence just as the Word of Knowledge is a fragmentary part of the complete knowledge that God has.

The Word of Knowledge can come through several different means: inward revelation, audible voice, an angel, dreams, tongues and interpretation, etc.

The Word of Wisdom

The Word of Wisdom – a supernatural revelation by the Spirit of God concerning the divine purpose and plan in the mind and will of God. It is the revelation of the plans and purposes of God.

The difference between the Word of Knowledge and the Word of Wisdom is that the word of knowledge is always present tense or concerning something that has happened in the past. The word of wisdom always speaks of the future.

Examples of the Word of Knowledge and the Word of Wisdom operating together in the Scriptures:

1. John on the Isle of Patmos and the Book of Revelation
2. Ananias in Acts 9:10-16

Acts 9:10-16 NKJV Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” (11) So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. (12) And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” (13) Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. (14) And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” (15) But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. (16) For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 

Examples of the Word of Wisdom in the scriptures:

1. Noah – Genesis 6:13-18

Genesis 6:13-18 NKJV And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (14) Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. (15) And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. (16) You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. (17) And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. (18) But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark–you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

2. Joseph – Genesis 37 – 50

3. Agabus the Prophet – Acts 11:28; Acts 21:10-13

Acts 11:28 NKJV Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.

Acts 21:10-13 NKJV And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. (11) When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” (12) Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. (13) Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

4. Apostle Paul – Acts 27:10-11

Acts 27:10-11 NKJV saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” (11) Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.

Gift of Discerning of Spirits:

The Gift of Discerning of spirits: the seeing or hearing in the realm of spirits.

It is somewhat limited because it is only revelation in regards to the realm of the spirit and not as broad as the word of knowledge or the word of wisdom.

• It is not the gift of discernment. 
• It is not the gift of discerning the faults of others. 
• It is not limited to the discerning of devils.

The gift of discerning of spirits is supernatural insight into the spirit world where there are Divine spirits as well as evil spirits.

It can be discerning the Similitude of God. (form or likeness – No man can see God and live.)

Exodus 33:18-23 NKJV And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” (19) Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” (20) But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” (21) And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. (22) So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. (23) Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

Isaiah 6:1 NKJV In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.

The gift of discerning of spirits also reveals the kind of spirit behind a supernatural manifestation – whether evil or God. They can come from either God or the devil.

Acts 16:16-18 NKJV Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. (17) This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” (18) And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.

You don’t necessarily need the discerning of spirits to know when something is out of order. You can know that simply by the inward witness of your spirit.

You can also be aware of spiritual activity by the word of knowledge because you may not see into the realm of the spirit but you may know by revelation.

Any time in the scriptures that someone had an angelic visitation and “saw” the angel, this was through the gift of Discerning of Spirits.

Remember, these manifestations are to operate in the life of believers not just preachers and great ministers.

They are, however, as the Holy Spirit wills and not as we will.

The Gift of Faith 

The Gifts of faith is not the same as saving faith.

Ephesians 2:8 NKJV (8)  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Saving faith comes to us by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17).

The Gift of Faith is a supernatural manifestation of Holy Spirit whereby a believer is empowered with special faith, or wonder-working faith and it is beyond simple saving faith.

• The gift of faith is given to the believer so that he can receive miracles.
• The working of miracles is so the believer can work miracles.

You start with simple faith in stepping into any of the manifestations of the Spirit as He prompts you, then the manifestation steps in to do the work.

It is not the same as the fruit of the Spirit called faith which actually is faithfulness.

We rely on the simple saving faith to receive answers to our prayers because if it was based on special faith, then some could say they did not receive answers to their prayers because they were not operating in special faith. This is by the Spirit and would thus make God a respecter of persons.

Special faith receives a miracle while the working of miracles actually works the miracle.

Different Kinds of Faith:

• Saving Faith – which leads one to salvation
• General Faith – which every believer possesses
• Fruit of Faith (faithfulness) fruit of the recreated human spirit
• Gift of Faith – Supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit

Fruit is something that is grown and this gift of faith is given.

When special faith is in operation, the believer will believe God in such a way, that God honors their word as if it is His own and miraculously causes it to come to pass.

This special faith is not the faith that one receives to answers to prayers for the most part.

That answer comes to you based on the Word and simple faith in God’s Word.

The Word says that this gift, as do the others, operate as the Holy Spirit wills. If answers to prayers depended on this special faith would have to wait for a manifestation of the Spirit but we all know that one can receive answers to prayers anytime that the believer wills or desires.

This special faith cannot be increased by hearing the Word of God like simple saving faith can.

Daniel 6:23 NKJV (23)  Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

Daniel received a miracle, he did not work a miracle. (gift of faith vs. working of miracles)

Now we know that this was the gift of faith even in the Old Testament because there were even Christians who were martyred for their faith in the New Testament that were thrown in the lion’s den and were eaten by the lions.

Mark 4:38-39 NKJV (38)  But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (39)  Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

Jesus went to sleep aided by special faith, but notice He spoke to the storm with simple faith.

Many times we see in the scriptures this special faith in operation in the face of danger. This is a calmness that comes beyond the natural.

The gift of faith works in conjunction with the working of miracles to actively work a miracle.

The gift of faith employs active faith that expects a miracle.

The gift of faith is a divine enabling by the Spirit of God that causes what is spoken or desired by man or spoken by God to eventually come to pass.

We saw this sometimes as the Patriarchs spoke over their children to pronounce blessing and curses that would sometimes take years to come to pass.

That word will come to pass.

Smith Wigglesworth said that if you will take a step of ordinary faith, when you come to the end of that faith, very often this supernatural gift of special faith will take over. One reason more folks don’t see the manifestation of special faith operating in their lives is that they don’t first use what faith they already have.

The working of miracles is an act whereas that the gift of faith is a process.