Jesus told us in John 15:5 that apart from Him believers would not have the ability to produce results. Jesus said these words in the same breath as He spoke of the ministry of the Holy Spirit that was coming into view on planet earth. The Holy Spirit was coming, Jesus said, to be our Comforter and Helper (John 14:16), our teacher (John 14:26) and our guide (John 16:13). Learning all you can about working with the Holy Spirit will help you produce results; for it is in conjunction with His ministry through the believer that we can produce fruits fit for the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1–4 (ESV)
1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

• Verse 1 describes a methodology, a mindset of how believers should carry themselves; “when I came to you…” – they indicate the way that we are to walk – the way we are to approach situations.
• Pentecostal people, that is Acts chapter 2 people, should have Pentecostal things happen around them all the time. We should expect that and we should determine to hook up with the Holy Spirit and approach life – approach situations, approach ministry/witnessing opportunities with Spirit and Power.
• This involves an attitude whereby we look for the ‘Spirit and Power’ answers to a situation first before we look at any other area.
• Verse two indicates that this comes ‘by decision’ – Paul said I decided to be this way. I decided to not know anything except Jesus Christ and Him crucified – ‘Him crucified’ means all that the cross accomplished – every benefit.
• Paul states that there is a certain decided way that he would operate when it came to people.
• Paul said this way of operating put me into a state of ‘weakness, fear and trembling’. Why?
• Because when you live this way, when you stretch out on the Spirit in faith, you come up to situations where you wonder if this is going to work this time.
• ILLUSTRATION: Kathryn Kulmann used to come to the platform to minister – people would come from miles around to be healed – the word of knowledge and gifts of healing working strongly in her. But, she was utterly dependent on the Holy Spirit and often she would come to the platform trembling wondering whether or not the Holy Spirit would manifest and minister to the thousands of people that came to be healed.
• Paul chose to depend upon the Spirit of God and not just his persuasive message delivery. This is the marriage of the Word and the Spirit.
• Paul said my speech, my message was in ‘demonstration of the Spirit and power’
• Greek word for ‘demonstration’ means manifestation with the intent of evidence or proof.
• Paul’s decided purpose was to allow the Holy Spirit to manifest in power thus proving that the crucified Jesus was in fact alive.

The Manifestation of the Spirit is Given to Every Man

1 Corinthians 12:1 (KJV)
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

• The will of God is that you not be ignorant
• There are certain topics that God wants us to be real smart about instead of uniformed.
• The commandment of God is that we have knowledge in these areas.

Areas Where We Should Not Be Ignorant

• What Happened to Israel in the wilderness

1 Corinthians 10:1 (KJV)
1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

The Rapture

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV)
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

The Devices of Satan

2 Corinthians 2:11 (KJV)
11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

What time is Like in Heaven

2 Peter 3:8 (KJV)
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

• Since ignorance is forbidden in these areas, you should apply yourself to know. Don’t just wait until the information comes to you – search it out.

1 Corinthians 12:1 (KJV 1900)
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

The Manifestation of the Spirit is Given to Everyman

Gifts, Administrations, Operations

1 Corinthians 12:4–6 (KJV)
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

• The manifestations of the Spirit are broken down into three areas
• Gifts
• Prophecy
• Tongues
• Interpretation of Tongues
• Healing
• Administrations
• Word of Wisdom
• Word of Knowledge
• Discerning of Spirits
• Operations
• Gift of Faith
• Working of Miracles
• The importance of dividing them lies in understanding the fact that technically, they are not all ‘gifts’. People use the terminology ‘the nine gifts of the Spirit’. Technically there are not nine gifts but nine manifestations. Only 4 of the nine manifestations are actually gifts.
• Gifts are available to everyone.

Four Spiritual Gifts Available to Every Believer

• Tongues
• Interpretation of tongues
• Prophecy
• Gifts of healings
• That’s why these four are called gifts.
• Everyone can be used in these 4 areas without a special calling or ministry office.

Prophecy – 1Corinthians 14:31

1 Corinthians 14:31 (ESV)
31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,

Tongues – 1 Corinthians 14:5

1 Corinthians 14:5 (ESV)
5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

Interpretation – 1 Corinthians 14:13

1 Corinthians 14:13 (ESV)
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

Healing – Mark 16:17–18

Mark 16:17–18 (ESV)
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

• Everyone can be used of God to operate in these four manifestations.
• You may come across this verse (1 Cor. 14:30) and think, that this cannot be.

1 Corinthians 12:30 (ESV)
30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?

• People use this verse to disprove and invalidate tongues for example.
• The answer to this lies in looking at the context of this particular verse, which begins in vs. 27.

1 Corinthians 12:27–29 (ESV)
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?

• The context refers to people who are called to ministry offices like apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers etc. People called to the ministry are equipped at a higher and more distinct level. The anointing is greater and the manifestation sharper. What I am saying is that there is a higher level of manifestation of tongues and interpretation of tongues, prophecy, and healing than you see in a normal church service.
• Let’s define what it means to have a manifestation of the Spirit.
• People say I have the gift of … – what they are trying to communicate is that they are used more along that line. Saying that you have a gift of the Spirit does not mean ownership. You do not own these manifestations like you own your watch.
• Anyone can at any moment have any of these 9 manifestations but God chooses to use some people continually along a particular line.

The Word of Knowledge and the Word of Wisdom

Jesus Encounters the Woman at the Well

John 4:7, 16–19 (ESV)
7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.

• The woman was correct when she indicated that Jesus was a prophet. At that precise moment, Jesus was operating in that special ministry capacity.
• The woman then goes into the city and testifies to them all of what Jesus did.
• Nobody was healed here. But the result is the same as any healing crusade where gifts of healing and the Word of knowledge operate together.

John 4:39–42 (ESV)
39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his word. 42 They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

• Look at the result.
• The manifestation of the Spirit opened up the door for the Word. Jesus demonstrated Spirit and Power just as Paul said he would do. He established the message not with enticing words but in demonstration of the Spirit or proving the Word with evidence.
• Pentecostal people, that is Acts chapter 2 people, should have Pentecostal things happen around them all the time!

Call to Action

The Lord is looking for people who are available to be used by Him so that lives can be touched. We are God’s hands in this earth. The scripture admonishes us earnestly covet spiritual gifts (1Cor. 14:31). All that is left for us to respond to the Father’s call in faith and love and say, “Yes Lord use me.”

Question: How did you get past fear and allow the the Lord to use you in gifts of the Spirit? Please leave a comment below.