The Baptism And Gifts Of The Holy Spirit

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< > Chapter Seven The reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit The reception of the gifts of power and demonstration Abiding in Jesus is the key to a powerful manifestation of the power gifts. As we have seen, the gifts of power and demonstration are, workings of miracles, gifts of healings, and the gift of faith. These power gifts, like all the gifts, are given through Divine grace and are not received on merit. Ps.68v18. However, we have to walk with God for these gifts to operate as God desires, on the higher levels of power. “Greater Works,” are promised to those who abide in Christ, and have a life of constant communion with God. Jn.14v12-14. 15v1-8. N.B. v7. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” It is abiding in Christ, and living contact with Christ in our spirit, that brings about the reception of these gifts in power; not just the saying of a prayer with our lips. The Christian co-works with the Holy Spirit to meet needs in the spiritual, material and physical realms. It usually operates in these three realms in blessing, but it can operate in judgement upon men or angels. In 1Cor.14v14-18., Paul gives us the secret of his own powerful manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit; Paul thanked God that he prayed in tongues more than the verbose Corinthians; He edified himself spiritually with tongues, and this enabled him to powerfully manifest the other gifts of the Holy Spirit. The greater manifestations of the power gifts will be directed by words of wisdom. God's directive words of wisdom will often precede the greater operations of the power gifts; our Lord Jesus said that He followed through the directions that the Father gave Him in visions. Jn.5v19,20,30. In other words, Jesus manifested gifts of demonstration under the guidance of His Father's words of revelation. This did not mean, of course that He had to have a revelation every time He prayed for the sick, but it did mean that God showed Christ the most strategic miracles He desired to perform in advance, as in the case of the resurrection of Lazarus. The possession of a gift of healing will bring results; however, as with Jesus at Nazareth; unbelief can hinder or positively stop healing. Mk.6v4-6. Gifts of revelation can sometimes help in situations like this, they can raise the faith of a person, so that gifts of healings can operate. The operation of the power gifts often demands the previous operation of the gifts of revelation, particularly in the greater operations of the power gifts. The need for mature supervision, and a Divine commission as well as "agape" love. Paul tells us that when we walk on “the more excellent way” and pray with “agape” love and faith, the gifts of the Holy Spirit automatically operate. 1Cor.12v31. However, this does not mean that we will possess the greater manifestations of the power gifts. You have to have an apostolic authority and commission from Christ, as well as real faith and love, to have the comprehensive and powerful manifestation of all the power gifts. All Christians do not have a ministry of healing to the sick, or work miracles on nature; nor do all Christians receive a commission to cast out devils, or be used in the renewal and healing of wounded personalities; these are specialised ministries from Christ. The apostles manifested these gifts because they had received power and authority from Christ to do so, and were under His guidance and supervision. The manifestation of these gifts demands mature supervision; otherwise, Christians will certainly be in grave danger of going astray into fanaticism, and carnal imitations of the real thing. The satanic onslaughts that come against those who genuinely have these gifts has to be experienced to be appreciated, so they need to be exercised under mature guidance. Lk.4v1-11. The apostles and the seventy were given authority to use the name of Jesus. Under His guidance and supervision, our Lord gave His twelve apostles, and the seventy evangelists, authority to act in His name and work mighty miracles. The initial surprise of the seventy at the miracles happening through them in the name of Jesus is clearly seen. Lk.10v17. It is clear that our Lord carefully chose those who were to have this authority, for he spent a night in prayer before he chose His apostles. Mt.10v1-8. Mk.3v13-19. Lk.6v12-19. Paul tells us in 1Cor.12v28., that it is God who has set the ministries in the Church, not men; and in Eph.4v7-16., he also states that Christians are given ministries, “to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Authority in Christ's Church comes from Heaven and not from men. Church history indicates that this authority from Heaven is almost inevitably looked upon as a threat to those whose authority is derived from men, and the religious kingdoms that men have built out of God's past revivals. The ministry of intercession and the invocation of the names of God have an important part to play in the manifestation of the power gifts; we will consider these later in the Appendix. Let us now go on to consider the ministry of the laying on of hands, for it too has an important part to place in the impartation and manifestation of the power gifts. < >
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Chapter Seven

The reception of the gifts of the Holy Spirit

The reception of the gifts of power and demonstration

Abiding in Jesus is the key to a powerful manifestation of the power gifts.
As we have seen, the gifts of power and demonstration are, workings of miracles, gifts of healings, and the gift of faith. These power gifts, like all the gifts, are given through Divine grace and are not received on merit. Ps.68v18. However, we have to walk with God for these gifts to operate as God desires, on the higher levels of power. “Greater Works,” are promised to those who abide in Christ, and have a life of constant communion with God. Jn.14v12-14. 15v1-8. N.B. v7. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” It is abiding in Christ, and living contact with Christ in our spirit, that brings about the reception of these gifts in power; not just the saying of a prayer with our lips. The Christian co-works with the Holy Spirit to meet needs in the spiritual, material and physical realms. It usually operates in these three realms in blessing, but it can operate in judgement upon men or angels. In 1Cor.14v14-18., Paul gives us the secret of his own powerful manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit; Paul thanked God that he prayed in tongues more than the verbose Corinthians; He edified himself spiritually with tongues, and this enabled him to powerfully manifest the other gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The greater manifestations of the power gifts will be directed by words of wisdom.
God's directive words of wisdom will often precede the greater operations of the power gifts; our Lord Jesus said that He followed through the directions that the Father gave Him in visions. Jn.5v19,20,30. In other words, Jesus manifested gifts of demonstration under the guidance of His Father's words of revelation. This did not mean, of course that He had to have a revelation every time He prayed for the sick, but it did mean that God showed Christ the most strategic miracles He desired to perform in advance, as in the case of the resurrection of Lazarus. The possession of a gift of healing will bring results; however, as with Jesus at Nazareth; unbelief can hinder or positively stop healing. Mk.6v4-6. Gifts of revelation can sometimes help in situations like this, they can raise the faith of a person, so that gifts of healings can operate. The operation of the power gifts often demands the previous operation of the gifts of revelation, particularly in the greater operations of the power gifts.

The need for mature supervision, and a Divine commission as well as "agape" love.
Paul tells us that when we walk on “the more excellent way” and pray with “agape” love and faith, the gifts of the Holy Spirit automatically operate. 1Cor.12v31. However, this does not mean that we will possess the greater manifestations of the power gifts. You have to have an apostolic authority and commission from Christ, as well as real faith and love, to have the comprehensive and powerful manifestation of all the power gifts. All Christians do not have a ministry of healing to the sick, or work miracles on nature; nor do all Christians receive a commission to cast out devils, or be used in the renewal and healing of wounded personalities; these are specialised ministries from Christ. The apostles manifested these gifts because they had received power and authority from Christ to do so, and were under His guidance and supervision. The manifestation of these gifts demands mature supervision; otherwise, Christians will certainly be in grave danger of going astray into fanaticism, and carnal imitations of the real thing. The satanic onslaughts that come against those who genuinely have these gifts has to be experienced to be appreciated, so they need to be exercised under mature guidance. Lk.4v1-11.

The apostles and the seventy were given authority to use the name of Jesus.
Under His guidance and supervision, our Lord gave His twelve apostles, and the seventy evangelists, authority to act in His name and work mighty miracles. The initial surprise of the seventy at the miracles happening through them in the name of Jesus is clearly seen. Lk.10v17. It is clear that our Lord carefully chose those who were to have this authority, for he spent a night in prayer before he chose His apostles. Mt.10v1-8. Mk.3v13-19. Lk.6v12-19. Paul tells us in 1Cor.12v28., that it is God who has set the ministries in the Church, not men; and in Eph.4v7-16., he also states that Christians are given ministries, “to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Authority in Christ's Church comes from Heaven and not from men. Church history indicates that this authority from Heaven is almost inevitably looked upon as a threat to those whose authority is derived from men, and the religious kingdoms that men have built out of God's past revivals.

The ministry of intercession and the invocation of the names of God have an important part to play in the manifestation of the power gifts; we will consider these later in the Appendix. Let us now go on to consider the ministry of the laying on of hands, for it too has an important part to place in the impartation and manifestation of the power gifts.

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