INDWELLING SPIRITUAL GIFTS
Manifestation Gifts
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Overflow Of The Holy Spirit
Gaining Understanding:
Since the very beginning, the Spirit of the Living god has been seeking to find believers who are willing to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself. In referring to Eldad and Medad, Moses writes in Numbers 11:26-30, “
Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them
.” In Acts 2:14-21, Peter says the day prophesied by Joel has arrived. We now live in that day and God is manifesting in those who desire His manifestations.
Please know that God works in all of His children,
but God pours Himself through willing vessels. Many Christians do not like the idea of God healing people through them, casting out demons, performing miracles, speaking in tongues, or speaking words directly from God’s mouth. God desires to manifest Himself through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit in any way He deems necessary to further the work of the Kingdom of God.
These manifestations are not to be thought of as residing gifts (gifts that stay with you 24 hours a day like occupational gifts). Manifestation gifts are the inward and outward signs of the Holy Spirit welling up in a believer to do a powerful and mighty work of God. These manifestations belong to God. They are God’s personal tools in the Holy Spirit to do His work of service in and through the believer.
These manifestations are delivered by
the sovereign hand of God (1 Corinthians 12:11). All Christians receive manifestations. The more willing the Christian, the more manifestations there are for them. The less willing the believer, the more a manifestation passes on to another who is saying: Lord, here am I, send me. This is why it appears that God is picking favorites. God is not picking favorite vessels; He simply is picking willing vessels. God is interested in getting His work done (1 Corinthians 12:7). In general, manifestations are given by the moment for the ministry moment. Manifestation gifts are at the disposal of the Holy Spirit, not the believer, whereas occupational gifts are at the disposal of the believer (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Each of these Holy Spirit manifestations is for the common good of the body of Christ. The Spirit will never use theses manifestations in a believer to bring division and fear. God uses them for the good of the Body of Christ.
When do we see these manifestations? When God chooses. One time we will see God manifest through someone to bring healing to a sick, blind or distressed person. However, the next day we may see someone who is worse off than the person is the day before and God will do nothing. This is why the Manifestation Gifts are truly a manifestation of the sovereignty of God.
A place we see God manifest consistently is in worship. This seems to be a time that the Holy Spirit relates the most to God.
How do you know a manifestation is real?
Satan is the great deceiver! He loves duplication the work of God. Since he cannot create or invent something on his own, he steals from God and signs his own name to it, trying to deceive others into believing he created it. This is for the sole purpose of vain self-glory. He uses his “manifestation” to bring division, and God uses His manifestations to bring unity. When you see the “manifestation gifts” bringing division and fear, be assured that Satan is at work pretending, duplication and stealing more of God’s Glory.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when watching for true manifestations:
- Fruit (Galatians 5)
- Character (Matthew 5)
- Submission (Ephesians 5:18-21)
- The presence of God
Using this guideline:
if a person is claiming a manifestation and the fruit of the Spirit (all of the fruit) is not present, the question needs to be asked, Is this of God?
When studying the manifestation passage (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), notice the number of times God mentions the terms same Spirit, same Lord, & same God. God is stressing the importance of unity in the manifestations of the Spirit.
It is time to take each manifestation
and look at the definition and purpose of each.
Next:
Manifestation Gifts - 1-3
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