Supernatural Manifestation In The Local Church

Exodus 25:33 - "Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower - and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand."

There were eighteen almond blossoms on the branches of the lampstand; nine on one side and nine on the other. This corresponds directly to the dual lists of nine in the New Testament. The first of these are the nine fruit of the spirit - which describes the supernatural nature of the local church. The second of these describes the supernatural activities of the local church. These are the nine gifts of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:7-10 - "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 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."

How The Holy Spirit Manifests Himself

The first thing you need to notice about this passage is this: These gifts are manifestations of the Holy Spirit. This is the way He makes Himself known, the way that He reveals Himself to the church. Each of these gifts are spiritual and supernatural.

This means that, whatever the Biblical definition of "word of wisdom" is - it is not simply wise advice from someone smarter than you. Whatever we'll learn about "the gifts of healings" - we know it cannot be something you learn in medical school. And since "different kinds of tongues" and "interpretation of tongues" are spiritual gifts - then it is NOT something you can get from Google Translate!

These are given by the Holy Spirit to the church, to believers. This means they cannot be obtained in natural ways - they are supernatural.

Awaken To These Things

So what are these nine gifts of the Spirit? Well, just like the fruit of the Spirit; we cannot possibly study these things out completely in a single post. But let's look at a brief summary of each of these nine gifts, and get a picture of what a church looks like when they begin to awaken to what the Holy Spirit wants to do their congregation!

Word of Wisdom

This is a supernatural message of direction given by the Holy Spirit. 

This goes so much further than wise counsel - or advice that says, "I'm older than you, here's what I would suggest." Since the Holy Spirit knows everything, including what the future holds; He is able to give direction like no other! 

A Biblical example of the Word of Wisdom would be when Jesus instructed His disciples to throw their net on the other side of the boat. This was supernatural direction, and following it led to supernatural results.

Word of Knowledge

This is a supernatural insight into something that would normally be a secret to the speaker.

This is often used by the Holy Spirit to grab someone's attention (like when Jesus told the Samaritan woman about her previous five husbands; something that only she knew). After a person has the secrets of their heart revealed, they're generally more open to receive the Word of God.

Other times, the word of knowledge works together with the word of wisdom. For example, Jesus told His disciples that they would see a man carrying water when they entered a town (word of knowledge). Then He went on; directing them to follow that man to a house (word of wisdom), where they would find a room furnished and ready for a Passover dinner. 

Faith

Since we know that we're saved by grace through faith, then we know that all believers have faith. We also know that God gave to each of us the same measure of faith when we were born again. But, we also read in 1 Corinthians 12 that the Holy Spirit gives certain individuals the gift of faith. What does this mean? 

It means that the gift of faith is not the same thing as the personal faith that we all share. What is the difference? 1 Corinthians 12:7 shows us the defining factor; each spiritual gift given to individuals for the profit of others. So the gift of faith is intended for someone else's benefit. This supernatural gift of faith receives promises on behalf of other believers.

We see an example of this when Jesus fed the 5,000. We know He had faith in God's provision, because John 6 tells us that Jesus already knew what was going to happen beforehand. And then He gave thanks as He broke the bread - I believe He was thanking His Father for what was about to happen. His faith brought a blessing on the bread and fish, and He received the promise of provision for the sake of the multitude.

Someone operating in the gift of faith will move mountains in other people's lives, and pull in the promises of God for them.

Gifts of Healings

This is as straight-forward as it seems. The gifts of healings is an umbrella gift, under which the many different supernatural healings take place. Some of the healings are physical. Some of them are mental. Sometimes broken relationships are restored. Other times physical addictions (caused by dependence on some kind of substance) are miraculously cured. 

Even each of these different types of healings can occur in different ways. Jesus sometimes spoke a word. Other times He laid hands on people. Once He spit on a man. When Peter and John encountered a lame man, they pulled him up on his feet.

But all these different types and methods of healings all have something in common: Someone was supernaturally used by the Holy Spirit to fix what was broken in another person's life.

Working of Miracles

The working of miracles is a divine cooperation with the Holy Spirit to do achieve a result that is naturally impossible. 

Examples of the working of miracles in Scripture include when Jesus calmed a storm, when He (and Peter) walked on water, and when Paul called blindness down on a false prophet. None of these were possible in the  natural. The were, by definition, miracles.

Prophecy

This gift of prophecy is different from the office of the prophet. The 1 Corinthians 12 gift of prophecy, which is sometimes called "simple prophecy"; is manifested in the congregation, not only in the specific office of the prophet. This means this gift is available to anyone to operate in.

1 Corinthians 14:3 describes what how this gift of prophecy operates. "But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation, and comfort to men." Prophecy is a word of supernatural encouragement - exactly the right word, given at exactly the right time, to build up other believers in their faith.

The two best examples of this you can see in Scripture are found in Jesus' supernatural word to Zacchaeus ("This man is also a son of Abraham") and Paul's supernatural word to the storm-tossed sailors ("Take heart, there will be no loss of life"). 

In the case of Zacchaeus, that word of encouragement was exactly what this hated, reviled, outcast tax collector needed to hear. From that point forward, Zacchaeus knew God accepted him, and it changed his entire life.

In the case of the sailors sharing a boat with Paul, the encouragement was more than just hopeful thinking. When Paul said "take heart", that carried authority. It strengthened the men, and may actually have been the reason none of the prisoners on board were killed when they abandoned ship.

Discerning of Spirits

Contrary to popular opinion, this is not the gift of suspicion. This gift doesn't turn you into a spiritual investigator, constantly throwing doubt on the motives of fellow believers.

No, discerning of spirits is a supernatural insight into the motives behind words and actions of people. There are three possible spiritual sources for a person's behavior: the spirit of God, an evil spirit, or their own human spirit. The gift of discernment will reveal those motives for the benefit of the church. 

This gift is how Jesus could openly rebuke most of the Pharisees, but then have a private conversation with Nicodemus. This gift is why Peter confronted Ananias and Saphira. And this gift is why Paul knew that the Philippian slave girl was demon-possessed, even though she was always saying the right things. 

As the church moves into spiritually and naturally dangerous times, this gift is going to be vital for keeping our congregations safe from people who come in with evil motives.

Different Kinds of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues

When a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, they have access to their own prayer language, known as tongues. Paul says that each of us can pray in tongues, speaking directly to God. During this prayer time, no man understands what we're saying, not even us. It is a direct spirit-to-Spirit connection that bypasses your mind.

But the gift of tongues operates differently - it is given for the "profit of all." This is not tongues directed up toward God; but it is a word from God, directed out to the rest of us. It's not praying in tongues, but is a speaking out in tongues. 

Remember when I said the fruits of kindness and goodness need each other - that you can't have one without the other? Well, that is even more true for tongues and the interpretation of tongues. They work together like a power drill and a screwdriver bit - either one is useless without the other!

This is why 1 Corinthians 14 tells us to look around before we speak out in a tongue. We're told to find someone in attendance who has a track record of interpretation. But if there isn't someone like that in the service, then we should pray for the interpretation - or be silent and not speak out at that time. A proclamation of tongues must always have an interpretation for the congregation.

However, when the two work together, they will actually move in the same direction as a prophecy. 1 Corinthians 14:5 says, "for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification."

Effectively: tongues + interpretation = the same results as prophecy.
When done correctly, these two gifts work together to encourage, edify, and strengthen the Body of Christ. 

To Each, For The Profit Of All

Now let's clarify a couple of things: 

One: These gifts are not given to exalt individuals in the church! If the Holy Spirit decides to use you in one of these things, stay humble about it. Don't leave your church to build your own healing ministry, or prophetic ministry, or discerning of spirits ministry. Stay in your church, stay submitted to your leadership, and use that gift for the profit of everyone there!

Two: Nowhere in scripture did these gifts ever pass away. They WILL pass away - but we know when that will be. 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 tells us that these things will pass away when perfection comes. Has that happened yet? No! So then these gifts are still intended to be part of our churches!

Three: We are commanded in 1 Corinthians 12:31 to "eagerly desire" these gifts. It's not pleasing to the Lord if you are stubborn in this area and refuse to step out. As parts of the Body of Christ, we must all ask the Holy Spirit to use us in these things - for the sake of our brothers and sisters. We need you to do your part!

When these gifts are in operation in a local congregation, they turn it into a powerful church.
At this point; when our churches are totally defined by the fruit of the Spirit, and consistently operating in the gifts of the Spirit, our local churches will be changing the entire world around them!