Greater Manifestations of the Spirit

Do you desire for the manifestation of the Holy Spirit to be seen through you?

The apostle Paul wrote, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). To each person, Paul said. No one is left out of this blessing. If you are Spirit-filled, then this includes you. To every one of us is “given” (didomi). This is a present tense verb that states something being bestowed or imparted without stopping. In other words, there is no end to the impartation that is given to us. What is imparted? Paul said the manifestation of the Spirit. The word manifestation (phanerosis) indicates something being displayed or disclosed. It means to announce, reveal, or to show something off. What is being disclosed? Better stated, who is being disclosed? Who is being manifested through each of us? The answer is the Holy Spirit! Let that thought sink into your heart for a moment. You are to be an instrument that God uses to constantly display the work of the Holy Spirit. These manifestations are not about you, but they disclose the activity of the Spirit; they point to Him. Finally, Paul said that the manifestation of the Spirit is for the common good. The word good (symphero) can be translated “profitable,” but it means to stand side by side with someone and hold them up. So when the Spirit’s manifestations occur through you, they strengthen and build up people around you. A healthy church is one where the manifestations of the Spirit are occurring through the people on all occasions.

Paul identified nine manifestations in this passage (see 1 Cor. 12:8-10) which we will look at in another post. It’s clear from 1 Corinthians 12:7 that a manifestation is given by the Holy Spirit. In Galatians 5:22-23 Paul identified the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and fruit is grown. Both, the fruits and the manifestations are the result of the Holy Spirit. Fruit and manifestations (functions) are not “worked up” in the flesh. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then eventually your life will grow fruit—nine fruit to be exact in Galatians. Likewise, if you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then you become an instrument that God can give manifestations to—nine functions in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10.

Let’s talk about the potential of manifestations for a moment. Someone once said to me, “I just want His presence in my life. I’m not interested in His power.” That’s not possible; if you have the Holy Spirit in your life, then power will be released through you. Without power exuding from your life we might question if you are actually filled with the Spirit. Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). One of the best definitions for power (dynamis) that I’ve read is a manifesting influence over all reality in a supernatural manner. The Holy Spirit will be demonstrative through you; that is, if you are filled with the Spirit and compliant to His leadership. It is possible to mistreat the Holy Spirit. You can blaspheme the Spirit (Matt. 12:31), resist the Spirit (Acts 7:51), grieve the Spirit (Eph. 4:30), and quench the Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19). That’s not advisable however. I hope that all of us will release the Spirit’s power wherever we might be. You might be in a factory, hospital, coffee shop, grocery store, or sitting in a church gathering. It makes no difference; if you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then you become an instrument for His power and manifestations to work through.

Additionally, power and manifestations can increase because we can have increases of the Holy Spirit. I believe that each day there can be an increase in the carrying capacity of the Spirit and His power in our lives. Some people have argued with me stating that He gets more of us rather than getting more of Him. I’m not interested in debating the subject, but when I look into the Bible it seems to state that greater outpourings of the Holy Spirit were given. For example in Acts 13:52 it says, “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” The phrase “continually filled” is an imperfect verb which represents continuous or reoccurring action in the past. So they were not merely filled once, but it continued over and over again. It would be safe to ask if you are increasing in the Holy Spirit each day. Jesus stated that we could have much more of the Spirit if we asked (see Luke 11:13) and John stated that the Spirit is given without measure (see John 3:34). How much do you want? I believe each day we can receive a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit in our life. So if the Spirit is increasing, then so is power and manifestations. And if power and manifestations are increasing, then the ability to strengthen and build up people around you increases, too. Who wouldn’t desire that? People in our cities, communities, and churches desperately need built up; they need someone filled with the Spirit manifesting His power that alters their reality in a supernatural manner. Open up your life and heart to a fresh baptism of His Holy Spirit. Allow your life to become an instrument in His hands (see Rom. 6:13) that He can continually fill with the Spirit, and then let Him manifest His Spirit through you to profit everyone around you.  

Let’s Pray

Father, we pray for a fresh increase of your Holy Spirit today. We cry out for a fresh baptism of your Spirit so that we can become the instrument you use to manifest your presence. We want to build people up and minister to them through the power of your Spirit, in Jesus’ name, amen.