What is the biblical term manifestation?
First Corinthians 12:7 (KJV) says, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”
Finally we see that the apostle Paul states that the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit all. In other words, we are to benefit from the manifestation of God’s Spirit present among us through each other. As he makes clear the various spiritual gifts, ministries, administrations, operations, or working of the Spirit through the body of believers, Paul states that the manifestation of them is the evidence of the Lord’s activities. When we see the visible manifestations of the Spirit among us, then we believers know that it’s the Lord’s working and expressing Himself through the many-membered body of Christ. Paul felt the need to explain thoroughly the different spiritual gifts, ministries, and operations so that everyone in the Corinthian church would help each other build the church of Jesus Christ and others would profit from it.
We must be clear that the Holy Spirit bestows the gifts sovereignly to whomever He wills as the occasion recommends and demands. I love seeing people manifest the gifts of the Spirit; in other words, prophets prophesying by the power of God, apostles working miracles, evangelists winning the lost and bringing restoration, teachers explaining and expounding, pastors committed to the flock and other spiritual gifts on display brings great joy, unity, love, and strength. The gifts of the Spirit are, to me, exhibited for others to see God and be encouraged. When a prophet ministers in the prophetic gift it brings encouragement, exhortation, and comfort to the body of Christ at large.
A prophet is displaying the manifestation of the Spirit when he or she is prophesying. In other words, when they speak, they are speaking and moved by the Spirit of God. They are releasing the word of the Lord by the inspiration and working of the Spirit. The diversity and manifestations of the Spirit is the direct expression of God through the believer. Just as we have different personalities, character, gifts, etc., this uniqueness in the body of Christ expresses the multifaceted dimensions of how the Lord wants to display Himself through His corporate and local body. The word manifestation is translated in Greek “phanerosis,” which means to display or make visible.49
Gift(s) of the Holy Spirit and Gift of the Spirit
I have already given a brief description of what the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit are, but I have found that there are those who simply make the mistake of confusing the gifts of the Holy Spirit with the gift of the Spirit. There is a difference. The gift(s) of the Holy Spirit are manifested in nine expressions of the Holy Spirit outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:6–10: the word of wisdom, knowledge, discerning of spirits, gifts of healing, working of miracles, faith, prophecy, diversities of tongues, and interpretation of tongues. Meanwhile, the gift (singular) of the Spirit is not the gifts (plural) of the Holy Spirit. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are the supernatural abilities endowed by the Spirit to equip believers for ministry service (see 1 Cor. 12:1–31), but the gift of the Holy Spirit is referring to the Holy Spirit Himself that a person receives at salvation. The Holy Spirit is the Promise sent by our Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 2:38 (NKJV, emphasis added) says, “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” It is clear that Peter was not referring to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Gifts of the Spirit and Fruit of the Spirit
I will not try to beat a dead horse by going over the gifts of the Spirit again, but I would like to make a clear biblical distinction between the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit can be found in the Book of Galatians chapter 5. Note that I said the fruit (singular) and not the fruits (plural) of the Spirit. I have heard believers call it “fruits of the Holy Spirit,” which is incorrect even though there are nine characteristics of the Spirit expressed. We must understand that there are nine gifts of the Spirit and nine different characterized expressions of the Holy Spirit that should be visible in the life of the Christian believer and especially those who are called to the headship ministries outlined in Ephesians 4:11–13.
We must not confuse gifts of the Spirit with the fruit of the Spirit. To give an illustration, there is one fruit that is cut in nine pieces, and each believer can manifest that nature of the Spirit in their Christian walk. It is the Lord’s desire that we walk in the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. We must pursue to manifest the whole fruit of the Spirit in our lives. So we know that there is one fruit of the Spirit divided into nine pieces, not nine different type fruits that one would see in a cornucopia. In Galatians 5:22–23 (NKJV, emphasis added) it says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” The above passage of Scripture speaks of the different gifts of the Spirit. Nowhere in Galatians chapter 5 does it talk about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but the godly character that all believers should walk in, and that is in the Spirit.
Spiritual Gifts and Natural Talents
This is an interesting topic in regards to the difference between a natural gift or talent and a spiritual one. The title of this book speaks of what we were born and created to accomplish in the earth for the Lord. Even though I speak on the subject of prophecy, prophets, prophetic ministry, and the spiritual gifts of God, we must keep in mind that we all were born with a natural gift, and even given spiritual gifts that may be dormant within us until we receive salvation and the infilling of the Spirit that activates it. I believe we all were born with a natural ability and talent to do what many others are not able to do. I am reminded of Michael Jordan, one of the greatest basketball players of our time, who is exceptionally gifted and talented in the area of basketball. He is in a different class all by himself among the rest, while on the other hand another basketball player in the NBA may not be as gifted or great as Michael Jordan. My point is that Michael was gifted and may even have been called to dominate in the area of the basketball, while the other player may be called to basketball as well, but not called to excel in it like Michael. Why? Because there is only one Michael Jordan.
Furthermore, there are those who look up to the legend and try to become like him because he set a standard that seems impossible to achieve. We must understand that when we were born, we were born with gifts and talents. It is our responsibility to discover what they are and fulfill them. But when born again by the Spirit, we are then given spiritual gifts, both natural, referring to talents, and supernatural (spiritual). Natural talent may be someone who can sing or dance, or any other natural talent without any prior training. In other words, a person’s natural talent will come naturally. I believe a person can develop and master his or her natural ability to become greater.
Galatians 1:15–16 (NKJV) says, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood.” We can see that Paul was separated from his mother’s womb and called by the grace of God to preach Christ to the Gentiles. This confirms that he was born with a specific calling and called through the grace of God, which was his apostolic mission to the Gentile people. Paul had a spiritual gift from the Lord, which was the call of an apostle sent with a message of Christ to preach. Paul had the innate gift to preach in his mother’s womb, but it didn’t manifest until later on in his apostolic calling. Moreover, Paul evidently was wired with the tools, natural talents, and gifts at birth but he needed the empowerment and infilling of the Holy Spirit to cause his gifts to become spiritual. For example, if a college professor by profession in the secular realm has a natural teaching gift and suddenly receives the gift of the Spirit, now his teaching ability becomes empowered and takes on a supernatural ability beyond his own ability.
; A college professor and a fivefold ministry teacher function in similar ways, but there is a difference, because one is natural and the other is supernatural. I have a natural talent to sing, but when I received the Holy Spirit in my life, my singing ability became Holy Spirit-anointed and brings results. I have witnessed people make their natural talents and gifts a calling. We should never confuse our natural gifts with the call of God on our lives. I know that I am called to be a prophet, but that doesn’t mean that I was called to be a singer on American Idol. As a prophet I can use my singing ability to sing the song of the Lord in worship and to bless the body of Christ.
These people have not come into what God has called them to do. I believe one’s natural gifts can accompany and assist in one’s calling, but it’s our job to know for a fact what we were destined to become in the earth. I knew from a very young age that God called me to minister for Him, but I was unsure in what capacity until I received many encounters with God and through the prophetic ministry. I believe the prophetic ministry is vital to the body of Christ because prophets can identify different gifts and callings in a person. There is nothing wrong with allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you personally about your spiritual calling and gift, but prophets and apostles are uniquely gifted to identify, recognize, set, ordain, establish, activate, and release you into your God-given destiny.
Prophets and prophetic ministry is a ministry that should be utilized in the church today. We must understand contemporary prophets and prophecy to comprehend God’s idea of this building gift to the church.
36 Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “charisma,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G5486 (accessed June 5, 2013); s.v. “charis,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G5485 (accessed June 5, 2013).
37 Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “doma,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1390 (accessed June 5, 2013); s.v. “dorea,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1431 (accessed June 5, 2013). For more information, see http://nephos.com/PatriaIIpage73.htm.
38 Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “pneumatikos,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4152 (accessed June 5, 2013).
39 Mary Fairchild, “What Are Spiritual Gifts?” About.com, http://christianity.about.com/od/holyspirittopicalstudy/a/spiritualgifts.htm (accessed July 10, 2013). See also Wikipedia.org, s.v. “spiritual gift,” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charismata (accessed July 10, 2013).
40 Conner, 139. See also Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “apostolos,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G652 (accessed June 5, 2013).
41 Conner, 154. See also Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “propheteuo,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4395 (accessed June 5, 2013).
42 Conner, 170. See also Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “euaggelistes,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G2099; s.v. “euaggelizo,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G2097; s.v. “euaggelizo,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G2097 (accessed June 5, 2013).
43 Conner, 176. See also Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “poimen,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4166 (accessed June 5, 2013).
44 Conner, 187. See also Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “didaskalos,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1320; s.v. “didaktos,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1318; s.v. “didasko,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1321; s.v. “didaktikos,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1317 (accessed June 5, 2013).
45 The King James Study Bible (previously published as The Liberty Annotated Study Bible as The Annotated Study Bible, King James Version) © 1988 by Liberty University, “Pneumatikon” term word for “spiritual” is found in the reference of 1 Corinthians 12:1 on page 1781. See also Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “pneumatikos,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4152 (accessed June 4, 2013).
46 Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “charis,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G5485; s.v. “charisma,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G5486 (accessed June 4, 2013).
47 Conner, 124. See also Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, s.v. “diakonia.”
48 Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “energeia,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon/cfm?strongs=G1753 (accessed June 4, 2013).
49 Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “phanerosis,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G5321 (accessed June 4, 2013).
Chapter Eleven
PROPHETS AND PROPHECY
He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.
—MATTHEW 10:41, NKJV
APROPHET OF GOD is simply an inspired spokesman, a prophetic ambassador sent to speak on behalf of God to the people. In the Old Testament we see that prophets were sent by God as His divine messengers to declare and proclaim a “thus saith the Lord” to the children of Israel and surrounding nations. Moreover, we see Jesus, a prophet as well, making mention of sending the people prophets and apostles (Luke 11:49). Prophets are sent by the Lord. They have an apostolic dimension and ambassadorial function, because the word “sent” in Luke 11:49 comes from the word apostolized.50
The prophets were apostolized (sent) to the people.51 Prophets are also set governmentally by God in the church in second ranking. (See 1 Corinthians 12:28.) Prophets and apostles are mentioned together as a team in the Book of Ephesians 2:20; 3:5; and 4:11. The primary function of a prophet who stands in that office is their remarkable relationship and communion with their Lord and King. A prophet’s desire and passion is knowing God’s original plan, purpose, will, and intention while cooperating with the Father to execute what is on His heart and mind. Prophets do instruct, teach, equip, train, lead, empower, correct, encourage, deliver, heal, and navigate God’s people through His word, into right relationship with Him, and in righteous living.
A source of discontentment for a true prophet of God is heresy, doctrinal error, erroneous teachings, idolatry, apostasy, hypocrisy, and misrepresentation of the Lord and His eternal Word. Prophets cannot stand unrighteousness, injustices, and perversion of any sort. There is a holy indignation and discontentment that causes them to judge these areas and bring them under the ruler of the King, Jesus. In addition, a prophet has an innate ability to discern and judge spirits of divination, witchcraft, deception, error, and the motives and intents of one’s heart, especially false prophets and prophecies.
PROPHETS MUST BE ACTIVATED IN THE LOCAL CHURCH
I believe that it is imperative and vital to have prophets presently active or activated in the church. A church that operates in error and sin is typically a sign that there are no true prophets plugged into the local assembly. As it was important in the early church that prophets and prophecy be the culture, it should be the culture of today’s church as well. Without prophets and the prophetic dimension within the local church, it can be boring, rigid, religious, ceremonial, and un-kingdom-like. We need prophets today speaking because God still speaks. To say there are not prophets today is to say that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have stopped speaking today. Prophets are one of the foundations of the church that Christ has built along with apostles. We need them, as well as the rest of the five ministry gifts.
I like what John Loren Sandford said about hospitality for prophets in his book Elijah Among Us:
People in the Bible time knew God would bless through His prophets. The people may not have wanted to be around when God spoke warnings and scolded through His prophets publicly, but they always wanted His prophets to be with them privately, in their homes. There were two major reasons for this. First they knew this: “He who receives a prophet in a name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward” (Matthew 10:41). They knew if the
y did anything good for a prophet, the prophet became duty-bound to bless them. Second, Galatians 6:7 says what all had known for centuries, “Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” The people knew if they did a good deed they would reap good from it.
Thus, they fully understood what Jesus meant when He said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal” (Matthew 6:19–20). They knew the only way to lay up treasures that would not perish was to do good deeds. God’s laws are incorruptible and infallible. If they helped a man of God, they knew they would receive their reward (Matthew 10:42).52
However, true prophets are sometimes not received, honored, embraced, or respected, and are reluctant to be accountable to senior leadership due to misunderstanding and so often rejection of them. We see during the Old Testament where prophets were used instrumentally to prophesy against false prophets, wicked kings, and a rebellious nation.
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS
There are those in the twenty-first century who believe that they are to be like the Old Testament prophets in their generation. During my prophetic career I have heard good prophecies and I have heard very bad ones, which will come with the territory. This doesn’t mean that the person was not a genuine prophetic minister, but it may be due to the understanding of the new covenant role of the prophets in the church. Don’t get me wrong, there are those who prophesy and are not called to the ministry office of the prophet; but my point is that we must understand the difference.
Simply, there are two primary differences between the old and new covenant prophets. First, the Old Testament prophets were used of the Lord for direction, counsel, God’s will, mind, and provision, because the Spirit was not accessible at that time for all flesh. On the other hand, there is no New Testament record of a prophet in the new covenant being used to dictate a believer’s life by guiding them as the Old Testament prophets like Moses, Aaron, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, and others did. These Old Testament prophets were used in the ministry of guidance. They were God’s spokesmen, and so His New Testament prophets were as well. During those Old Testament times man did not have direct access to the Lord through Christ but through earthly mediators and priests.
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