The Holy Spirit – Part 9
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.
The Gift of Faith
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.
When special faith is in operation, the believer will believe God in such a way, that God honors their word as if it is their own and miraculously causes it to come to pass.
This special faith cannot be increased by hearing the Word of God like simple saving faith can.
The gift of faith employs active faith that expects a miracle.
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 Gift of the Working of Miracles
The Gift of the Working of Miracles: a supernatural intervention by God in the ordinary course of nature, a temporary suspension of the accustomed order, or an interruption in the system of nature as we know it, operated by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Gift of Faith vs. the Working of Miracles
The working of miracles is used to deliver people from unavoidable danger or harm. The gift of faith would carry a person through the danger with great peace and calm without the person being harmed at all.
Remember, the gift of faith receives the miracle, where the working of miracles does the miracle.
The Greek word for “miracles” in 1 Corinthians 12:10 is “dunamis” and means: acts of powers, explosions of almightiness or impelling, staggering wonders or astonishments.
The Gift of Healings
The Gifts of Healing have nothing to do Gifts of healings are manifested for the supernatural healing of sickness and disease without any natural source or means. The purpose of the Gifts of Healing is to deliver the sick and to destroy the works of the devil in the human body.
The Working of Miracles was more prevalent in the Old Testament than in the New Testament and Gifts of Healing are more prevalent in the New Testament than in the Old Testament.
Notice in some verses that “gifts of healing” and “gifts of healings” appear. Vines Expository Dictionary states that in the Greek the word for healing is actually in the plural in all instances.
One possible explanation to the plurality of the healings is due to the many types of diseases known and unknown to mankind. One gift might not possibly heal every kind of disease.
Utterance Gifts:
The Gift of Diverse Kinds of Tongues
The Gift of Divers kinds of tongues is a supernatural utterance in an unknown tongue.
The Gifts of Tongues is the most prominent as it is often the most manifested gift in our services, it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and it is only found in the Church Age.
Divers Kinds of Tongues is supernatural utterance by the Holy Spirit in languages never learned by the speaker, nor understood by the speaker, nor necessarily understood by the hearer.
Speaking in tongues has nothing to do with linguistic ability; it has nothing to do with the mind or intellect of man. It is a vocal miracle of the Holy Spirit.
Tongues is unique to this dispensation.
Tongues is the initial evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues
The Gift of Interpretation of tongues is a supernatural revealing of that which has been said in an unknown tongue.
Remember, interpretation of tongues is not a translation of a message in tongues.
The purpose of this gift is simply to render the gift of tongues understandable to the hearers so the whole church congregation as well as the one who gave the utterance in an unknown tongue, may know what has been said and be edified.
1 Corinthians 14:27 NKJV (27) If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.
Notice this verse is not referring to utterances but rather people and the number to give an utterance. He said to let two or three people speak and let it be by course or in succession. (Not speaking at once)
Often times, during interpretation of tongues, as it concludes the speaker may flow over into prophecy.
Interpretation in our Private Prayer
1 Corinthians 14:13 NKJV (13) Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
It is right for us to pray that God will allow us to interpret our prayers in other tongues but this is always as He wills. Sometimes He will want you to know and sometimes He does not.
Interpretation in a Public Service
1 Corinthians 14:27 NKJV (27) If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.
Paul is not saying there can only be two or three utterances in other tongues. He is saying that there should not be more than one to interpret at a time.
The Gift of Prophecy
The gift of prophecy is greatest of the utterance gifts because it takes the other two, divers kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues to equal this one gift.
The Gift of Prophecy is a supernatural utterance in a known tongue.
Divers kinds of tongues is a supernatural utterance in an unknown tongue.
Interpretation of tongues is a supernatural showing forth of that which has been said in an unknown tongue.
In the Hebrew, prophecy means to flow forth, bubble forth like a fountain, and to spring forth.
In the Greek, the word prophecy means to speak for God or be His spokesman.
1 Corinthians 14:1 NKJV (1) Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
1 Corinthians 14:3-5 NKJV (3) But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. (4) He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. (5) I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
1 Corinthians 14:39 NKJV (39) Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
In the simple gift of prophecy there is no revelation, only edification, exhortation and comfort.
In the office of the prophet we do find that revelation or foretelling does come forth through the vehicle of prophecy.
In other words, with the Gift of Prophecy you are forth telling but with the Office of the Prophet, you may be foretelling.
The gift of prophecy goes beyond speaking by our own reasoning processes and intellect.
A prophet will prophesy, but one who prophesies would not necessarily be a prophet.
It may be involved in preaching as preaching may be an inspired utterance.
It may be involved in witnessing or sharing because one may be inspired to share something with someone else. For instance, one may be led to share a scripture or encouraging word with someone. That can be the Gift of Prophecy in operation.
Someone who stands in the office of the Prophet must have operating in his/her ministry the Gift of Prophecy plus at least two of the revelation gifts: the word of wisdom, word of knowledge or the discerning of spirits.
New Testament Example of the Gift of Prophecy:
Acts 21:8-9 NKJV (8) On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. (9) Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
New Testament Example of the Office of the Prophet:
Acts 21:10-11 NKJV (10) 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.’ “
Simple gift of prophecy in private prayer along with the word of wisdom is available to every believer.
Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs are a form of prophecy as they are an inspired utterance given to us by the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18-19 NKJV (18) And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, (19) speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
1 Corinthians 14:33 NKJV (33) For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
1 Corinthians 14:40 NKJV (40) Let all things be done decently and in order.
I believe if we will follow God’s instructions in these matters, even visitors can understand and be blessed by what is happening.
In order to be used by God in the utterance gifts as with all of the gifts, you must be in tune with the Holy Spirit.