Devotional | The Person, Purpose, and Power of the Holy Spirit
‘While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? ” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.’ Acts 10:44-48
This passage is a beautiful picture of the ministry of the Holy Spirit and how He works on our behalf. The gift of the Holy Spirit—the baptism of the Holy Spirit—opens a floodgate of the spirit world. There are supernatural gifts that God has given to us for our edification, and they are GOOD gifts.
‘Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:‘ 1 Corinthians 12:1
Paul encourages us to have an open heart and to grow in our knowledge of the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t want us to be willfully ignorant by rejecting or neglecting what the Scriptures say about the Holy Spirit.
‘But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.’ 1 Corinthians 12:31
No one gift of the Holy Ghost is better than another, but the manifestation of a specific gift for a specific crisis or issue would always be the best gift in the moment (prayer combined with the gift of healing for someone who is ill). Paul highlights three things overall: don’t be ignorant of the gifts, be passionate about the gifts, and desire the best gifts.
‘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. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.’ 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not at our command or our will, they’re distributed as the Spirit wills.
There are three gifts that SHOW something, three that DO something, and three that SAY something.
Word of knowledge is a supernatural word from God. It is a specific word, fact, or piece of information about a place, person, or thing. It can be in the present or past tense. It is seen often in the Old Testament through the prophets. Jesus had a word of knowledge for the woman at the well (John 4:16-18).
Word of wisdom is a supernatural word from God about an upcoming event. It is also seen in the Old Testament through the prophets (Jonah 3:4). They are events or things revealed supernaturally by the Spirit, that COULD come to pass if things do not change. The word for Paul from Agabus is an example (Acts 21:10-14).
Discerning of spirits concerns the spirit world—demonic, angelic, and/or human spirits. The only way we, as humans, can know the heart of another human being is by a gift of the Holy Spirit. This is a gift that unveils what may be happening in the spiritual world or identifying spiritual activity.
Faith is a supernatural portion of faith for the moment—a powerful boost for a particular situation. The Amplified Bible calls it wonder working faith. It is faith by the Spirit that generally works with another ministry gift like miracles or healings. God wants these gifts to be operating in every local Body.
Working of miracles is an occurrence or event outside the realm of possibility. Miracles can be healings or signs and wonders. They are completely unexplainable without the supernatural power of God. The story in 2 Kings of the axe head is an example in the Old Testament and turning water into wine in the New Testament.
Gifts of healings are plural, not singular. These manifest when praying for people to be healed and we discover time after time, certain things are being healed when we pray. As these gifts of healings kick in, we see more answered prayer and more healings.
Diverse kinds of tongues is a ministry gift in the Body that not everyone has. It is not to be confused with speaking in tongues, which is a prayer language (personal). We’re all called as a Body to minister to others, but not everyone is called to minister to the Body. When this public tongue (ministry gift) comes, there must be the gift of interpretation. This tongue is not us talking to God (prayer language), but God talking to us.
Interpretation of tongues works together with diverse kinds of tongues to bring interpretation (not translation) of a public message from God in tongues. It is the general meaning or overview in some cases, of what God is saying. Many times it could affect our actions and/or our direction.
Prophecy is sharing the mind of God, edifying the body of Christ in the known tongue of the community. We are to earnestly desire all the gifts, but prophecy most of all.
Because there are different members and we’re not all the same member, we have different gifts within the Body of Christ. Paul’s description of the gifts is followed by the ‘love chapter,’ 1 Corinthians 13, demonstrating that all the gifts work within the love of God.
In chapter 13, Paul talks about love and the character traits of God’s love, explaining that the gifts must not operate carnally, but within the love of God. God desires for these powerful supernatural gifts to be in operation, but He desires even more that they operate within the love of God.
1 Corinthians 12 is a description of the gifts. 1 Corinthians 13 explains how the gifts work within the love of God. And then chapter 14 dives deeply into prophecy and speaking with other tongues.
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The Person, Purpose, and Power of the Holy Spirit
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This content will show you the three different baptizers, and the three different, distinct baptisms found in the New Covenant. The Holy Spirit USB package offers more than just the booklet—it’s a full set of teachings and study tools designed to increase your spiritual growth and connection with God.
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The Holy Spirit is the gift of all gifts, second only to the gift of salvation. Learn more today.
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