Discipleship - Lesson 15

Defining the “manifestations of the Spirit”:

1 Corinthians 12:1  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1 Corinthians 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11

So, just what are these gifts or manifestations?

Word of Wisdom – a divine revelation of spiritual truth or of divine insight or purpose from the mind of
God.  (i.e. Peter received a revelation of God’s purpose to send the gospel to the Gentiles.)

Word of Knowledge – a divine illumination of a fact in the heart of man or in a human situation.  (i.e.
Nathan knew David’s sin; Elisha knew the enemies battle plans.)

Faith – a special touch of faith in times of crisis or opportunity.  
(i.e. Daniel in the Lions den; Paul in shipwreck.)

Gifts of Healing – supernatural healing without medical means.  (i.e. Luke 5:17 “. . . the power of the Lord
was present to heal them. . . “, and Acts 3:7 – the lame man healed.)

Working of Miracles – a release of divine energy to work powerful changes in the natural order of
things.  (i.e. the parting of the Red Sea . . . the sun standing still . . . raising the dead.)

Prophesy – speaking forth or revealing what God is about to do.  It may proclaim blessings or warn of
coming judgement and call for repentence.  Note that the office of a prophet is not the same as the
manifestation or gift of prophecy.  A person may speak forth a prophetic utterance in the context of a
worship service or prayer meeting, but that does not necessarily mean that person has the calling to be a
prophet.  A prophet’s calling is a hard and dangerous calling.
Prophecy must always be consistent with the written Word of God.  The Word tells us to “test the spirits”
and “judge the prophecies.”  Make sure it is from God.  Much of what is called “prophecy” today is no
more than fortune telling.

(i.e. Agabus told Paul what troubles he would experience in Rome.)

Discerning of Spirits – the ability to detect the presence or influence of an evil force in operation.  (i.e.
Paul detected an evil spirit in the girl fortune teller.  Acts 16:16-18)

Tongues –
1.   A prayer language given for special building up of ones spiritual nature.  (I Cor. 14:4)
2.   A special utterance in a service or meeting to be interpreted as a message from God.  
(I Corinthians 14:13 & 27-28)
3.   Speaking in a language not known to the speaker for the purpose of God’s work and glory.  
(Missionary H. B. Garlock preached to a cannibal tribe in tongues when his life was threatened.  They
understood and were converted.)

Interpretation of Tongues – giving the interpretation of an utterance in tongues in a meeting.  (The
speaker does not understand the words spoken, but the interpretation is revealed to him/her by the
Spirit.)

Signs

Mark 16:27 “And these signs shall accompany those who believe . . .”  This is the work of the Holy Spirit –
miraculous signs following those who believe and who minister in His name.

Receiving the Holy Spirit

1.        You must expect God to give you the Holy Spirit.  He wants you to have it.
Luke 11;11-13 -  “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  Or if he
asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?  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 the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

2.        Relax.  You don’t have to strain to receive the Holy Spirit.  It is not something you earn.  It is a gift
from God.  You simply ask and receive from Him.

3.        What about tongues?
In scripture there is evidence that those who received, or were baptized in the Holy Spirit, spoke in other
tongues.  Tongues is speaking in another language that you do not know.  It may be an earthly language
(foreign language), or a heavenly language (“ . . . the tongues of men and angels . . .” I Corinthians 13:1).
The Disciples – Acts 2:4  “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues
as the Spirit enabled them (gave utterance - KJB).
The household of Cornelius – Acts 10:45-46  “The believers who had come with Peter were astonished
that the gift of the Holy spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.  For they heard them speaking
in tongues and praising God.”
The Ephesian Church – Acts 19:16  “When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and
they spoke in tongues and prophesied.”
Even in Acts 8:17-18, it says Simon saw that the Spirit was given.  He saw something that evidenced to
him that they had received.  There was objective evidence to confirm the experience.

Why Tongues?

Only God can authoritatively answer that question.  Scripture does not really explain His reasons.  There
is evidence, however, that the tongue of man is terribly uncontrollable and that it can control our lives.  It
would naturally appear that God would want control of this member, (see James, chapter 3.)
The Apostle Paul seemed to feel that tongues was important:
I Corinthians        14:4        “He who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself.”
“        14:5        “I would like everyone of you to speak in tongues.”
”        14:18        “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.”
“        14:39        “ . . . do not forbid speaking in tongues.”
It is important to remember, though, that tongues is not the gift we seek.  The Holy Spirit is the gift.  
Tonues is the evidence, not the gift.  Do not get confused on this.

EVERY CHRISTIAN NEEDS THIS VITAL POWER SOURCE IN THEIR LIVES.