Spiritual Manifestations

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 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. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:7



The manifestation of the Spirit. Today we often hear preachers and believers talk about the "moving of the Spirit" or the "demonstration of the Spirit". There are countless believers that attend meetings desiring to be a part of the moving of the Spirit. But what is a true manifestation of the Spirit? According to Scripture it must fall into one of the categories listed above. These are what I like to call real manifestations of Holy Spirit power. They are specific and are the working of the Holy Spirit through a yielded vessel.

To borrow a line from the Twilight Zone, "Imagine you are in a room...". Since this is a blog you will have to supply your own music. In that room there are unbelievers listening to you preach the Gospel and watching as you lay hands on people in need. Now, contrast the following scenarios and determine which will bring glory to God? People fall on the ground, shake or convulse, or do one of the many so called "manifestations" of the Spirit that we see today. The alternative is the opening of blind eyes, the restoration of hearing, the casting out of demons and the prophetic word spoken that pierces to the heart and causes sincere repentance and transformation. The answer is obvious. The real manifestations of the power of the Holy Spirit confirm the Word of God and bring glory to His name.

It is important to realize that Satan attempts to distract us at every step of our journey. He tried to distract us when we first believed. Perhaps with friends or false religions. He tried to distract us when we began to study God's Word. He tried to distract us when we sought the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Our adversary the Devil is as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. His most powerful weapon is to distract us and steal the blessing that God has given to us. Satan never stops trying to steal, kill, and destroy the glory of God that he sees in the body of Christ.

One of the things Satan wants to do is get us to substitute the real power of God for a watered down version that does not accomplish the purpose of God. When we accept the reaction of the flesh to the power of God as a manifestation of Spirit Power we become distracted. Let me explain. "Falling Out" or "falling down" in the spirit is really a reaction of the flesh to the presence of the Holy Spirit. It is not a legitimate manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit and when we are distracted by the fleshly reaction we neglect the real thing. We settle and even begin to seek for the substitute and that is how the enemy side tracks the revival that we need in our church, our town, and our country. We need the Holy Spirit confirming the Word with signs and wonders. That is what propelled the early church to become a soul winning force in the world and it will do the same today. More on this later.