How to Manifest the Gifts of the Spirit
Do you know the “manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit” and their purpose? If you are exploring the topic of spiritual gifts, you aren’t alone. Many are coming to understand the prophetic words spoken by Joel (Joel 2:28) and then quoted again on the Day of Pentecost are being released again as we approach the return of Jesus, the Messiah.
- “‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.’”—Acts 2:17
We are in this exciting season now!
The Church Needs the Manifestation of the Gifts in This Season
Maybe you’ve been told that manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit no longer includes things such as healing and miracles because they are no longer relevant for or to the Church. However, as we can see from our culture and the condition of our world, healing and miracles are incredibly relevant, as is the gift of discernment, faith, prophecy, speaking and interpreting tongues.
The purpose of the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit is to reveal and release the power and influence in the life of a Believer revealing the Father’s heart and nature to others.
Let’s remember that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same Spirit that hovered above the waters during creation is the same Spirit that empowers Believers today. Romans 8:10-11 reminds us that the Spirit of God raised Jesus from the dead and lives in us. This is miraculous power!
Just as God raised Christ, He will give life to our mortal bodies by this same Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, who lives in us.
- This Spirit heals.
- This Spirit does miracles.
- This Spirit releases wisdom and discernment.
- This Spirit prays for us in groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
All of these are acts of the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us and seals us for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). One of the Hebrew names of God is ha’El ‘oseh pele’, the God Who Works Wonders (or Performs Miracles) in Psalm 77:14. This is still the God we serve today!
You can also be certain that every Believer has a gift and purpose to expand the Church on earth. For this reason, we can see how God wants the manifestation of the gifts to be released in and through His people.
- “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:”—1 Corinthians 12:7 (emphasis added)
Defining “Manifestation”
Manifestation is defined as an event, action, or object that clearly shows or embodies something, especially a theory or an abstract idea.
In other words, a manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit is when God’s Holy Spirit exposes His supernatural power through you for the good of His Kingdom glory.
What Are the Gifts of the Spirit?
Because God is eternal, there are endless manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit. Yet, the apostle Paul breaks them down into nine categories for the church in Corinth.
The 9 manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit…
- The word of knowledge: Knowing something to be true that exceeds natural human intelligence.
- The word of wisdom: A supernatural wisdom that works within the parameters of the truth presented in God’s Word.
- The gift of prophecy: A direct Word from the Lord to build up others and to further His divine will.
- The gift of faith: Walking in stride with and being empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish miracles and wonders in His name.
- The gift of healing: A supernatural power to heal yourself and/or others.
- The gift of miracles: A supernatural ability to perform things unexplained by our natural world through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Discerning of spirits: A unique ability to see beyond our natural realm into the supernatural realm and help others experience breakthroughs from bondage caused by oppressing spirits.
- Speaking in tongues: A supernatural ability to pray and speak in a tongue or language that you do not naturally know.
- Interpreting tongues: Interpreting a tongue that is spoken either by yourself or another.
As you read this list, can you identify with any of them? Whether there are several or few, your spiritual gifts are waiting to be activated and put into practice. When discovering how your gift will manifest, it is important that you position your heart to receive whatever God is pouring out upon you for His glory.
Think of it this way: Any time a gift is given in the natural realm, there is a moment when the person who receives it decides whether or not to unwrap it and use it. Spiritual gifts are no different. We have a choice to partner with the Spirit for their manifestation.
Faith | Receiving Your Spiritual Gift
God has given the gift. Now it’s up to you to decide whether you will activate your gift through the measure of faith you have received.
- “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”—Romans 12:3 (emphasis added)
Paul then goes on to say ….
- “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;”—Romans 12:6 (emphasis added)
Simply put, a manifestation of the gifts is activated by your faith!
What happens when your faith begins to waver and unbelief creeps in? Fear not! After the disciples could not perform the miracle of casting a demon out of a young boy, Jesus reminded them that they only needed faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain.
- “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.’”—Matthew 17:19-20 (emphasis added)
This is great news because what was true then is true today. Your faith may be small now, but as you continue to practice operating in the gifts of the Spirit, your faith will grow, and so will your gifting. It’s a beautiful circle that continues, never running out of God’s mercy and power.
Obedience | Operating within Your Spiritual Gift
Just as faith activates your manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit, obedience allows your spiritual gift to mature.
Have you ever been prompted by the Holy Spirit to act, only to decide that what God was asking you to do could put you outside your comfort zone? So then, instead of approaching that person or freely raising your hands in praise and worship, you chose not to. Or maybe you decided you would act at a later time.
Let’s remember that delayed obedience is disobedience. Does this mean God punishes you for not acting on the prompt of the Holy Spirit? No, but it does hinder your growth and can delay the blessings God has for you. His gifts are big and powerful. He wants to grow, mature, and shape you into a vessel to hold what He is releasing. When you ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit, you block the manifestation of the gifts in your life.
Do not let complacency hinder the manifestation of the gifts God has for you. Move forward in faith and receive, activate, and operate in your spiritual gifts with the zeal Paul described in his letter to the Romans…
- “…not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.”—Romans 12:10-13
3 Points to Manifesting the Holy Spirit
As a born-again Believer, you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. The power of the manifestation is given to each of us for the profit of all (1 Corinthians 12:7). However, remember what James said, “You have not because have not because you ask amiss, to use for your own pleasures” (James 4:3). Keep this in mind as you seek to walk in the manifestation of the gifts.
- Be filled with the Spirit.
When you are filled with the Spirit, He seeps into every crack and crevice in your mind, body, and soul. He gives you a heavenly perspective on everything happening in and around you. You begin to see things the way God sees things. You speak the way your Father speaks–life, not death.
Jesus said that the Spirit of truth is given to us in His name by the Father, teaching us and bringing to remembrance what He has said. He also prayed for “those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one is Us…” (John 17:20-21).
The words “through their word” refers to the disciples taking the message of the Gospel–the Word of God–out to the world. The disciples were to speak the good news of the Father’s heart to reconcile humanity to Him and each other! And as Believers who want to see the manifestation of spiritual gifts, we are to speak in alignment with the Father too.
Ask the Holy Spirit to fill your mind, will, and emotions. Ask Him to give you words to speak that align with Him. Ask Him to fill you with the joy of your salvation. Then operate out of this fresh filling.
- Practice Intimacy with God
If you’ve ever been around a couple married for years, you may have heard them finish each other’s sentences, order for the other one at a restaurant, or make plans knowing exactly what the other prefers. This is because of their deep knowing of each other. This, of course, was a process that took time and practice. It took years of asking questions, listening, and seeking to honor and love each other.
This is a picture of how God wants your relationship with Him to be. It takes practice. And the more you practice asking HIm questions, listening, and seeking to honor His name, the more His Spirit manifests in your life.
Practice asking Him questions throughout your day and listening for His voice. Seek ways to honor Him.
- Earnestly Desire the Gifts
Through the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit, God speaks truth to His people. Therefore, we should earnestly desire them and seek to use them according to God’s plans of restoration and reconciliation through His love.
The focus should not be a desire to get the gifts but a passionate pursuit to use them to encourage and equip others to connect to the Father’s heart. They are intended to be a path of receiving and expressing God’s love to others.
The word “earnest” implies zealous pursuit. In essence, God wants us eagerly, honestly, zealously, and enthusiastically, with a fiery passion, to desire these gifts to reflect His endless love and pursuit of the human heart. His love is the most excellent way.
“But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”
—1 Corinthians 12:31
Be Encouraged
Be encouraged. You have an identity of authority through Christ. He has given you everything you will need to carry out your purpose through a manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit. Trust in the power of God.
“Now may the God of peace… make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
—Hebrews 13:20-21