May 25, 2014

Holy Spirit Sermon Series The Manifestation of the Holy Spirit When God created Adam and placed him in the Garden of Eden, as God’s representative, he was made responsible for manifesting the Kingdom of God in the earth. When Adam failed, through his disobedience, God set in motion His plan for the redemption of mankind and the ultimate expression of God’s divine rule and gracious blessing. I. Jesus Brought the Kingdom to Earth As the last Adam, under the anointing and direction of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ of Nazareth brought the Kingdom of God to earth through everything He said and did. Jesus told His followers: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matt. 6:33 (NLT)

Although the Kingdom of God was manifest in and through the Lord Jesus, while He was here on the earth, it is now being made manifest through the many membered body of Christ. But its ultimate expression will not be fully realized until Jesus returns to rule and reign on the earth. Luke 16:16 – “Until John the Baptist, the Law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in.” (NLT)

When questioned concerning the source of His power, Jesus said, “If I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you” (Matt. 12:28). Mark 1:14-15 – “Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” (NLT) Acts 10:38 – “And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (NLT)

When Luke was penning the works of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts, in the 8th chapter, he recorded that a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Those who had been scattered, went everywhere preaching the word. Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ to them. And when they heard Philip preach the good news of the Kingdom of God and saw the miraculous signs of many paralytics and cripples being healed, and evil spirits coming out of many, they believed and were baptized, both men and women. So there was great joy in that city. II. Jesus Commissioned His Disciples to Bring God’s Kingdom to Earth When Jesus was preparing His disciples for ministry, He told the disciples that “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” and then He instructed them to preach the message of the Kingdom of God. He instructed them to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, and to cast out demons, because freely they had received, thus freely they were to give. Luke 10:8-9 – “Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ ” (ESV)

But Jesus warned them, “every town is different!” It’s made up of people with a particular social setting and religious mindset. Some will receive you, but others will reject you and if they reject you, shake the dust off your feet and declare that the Kingdom of God has come near. Yes, some will receive you demonstrating lavish hospitality, while other towns are poor and may not receive you with generosity. But whatever the case – we are to heal the sick and with love and truth, bring the reality of the Kingdom of God into their midst. Then, just before Jesus ascended to the Father’s right hand, He met with the disciples behind locked doors and gave them a charge as to how they were to conduct themselves as His body in the earth. John 20:20-22 – “…he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ ” (ESV) 1 John 3:8 – “But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.” (NLT)

What I realize today is that without the activity and manifestation of the Holy Spirit the body of Christ becomes something quite different from that which God intended. And you and I know from personal experience that when we are not actively pursuing more of God and yielding to the Holy Spirit, we fall prey to the wiles of the devil and the lusts of our own flesh. We give ear to the lies Satan uses to deceive the world. We cannot shift our spiritual walk into neutral and expect to live the victorious Christian life. After the apostolic period, the gifts of the Holy Spirit seemed to disappear from the Church. A common explanation is that when the New Testament canon was completed, these gifts were no longer needed. But the reality is that their manifestation diminished because the Church became lukewarm. The history of the Waldenses and Albigenses shows that the gifts of the Spirit were in manifestation even during the Middle Ages. John Wesley, in the 18th century, records in his journals remarkable Pentecostal phenomena in the meetings of the early Methodists. The Moravians and other contemporary groups experienced many unusual supernatural manifestations. So, while the operation of the gifts greatly diminished during the ensuing centuries of the Church age, they never did entirely disappear. And when at last people began to earnestly pray for their restoration to the Church, the present “last days” outpouring of the Holy Spirit resulted. I believe that just as Paul admonished Timothy to stir up the gift that was in him, so we today need to awaken and stir up the gifts God has given to us as His body. Last week, Pastor Mike spoke on the unity of the Spirit. I wasn’t here to be blessed by that message, but I do know that the Holy Spirit is the source of God’s love being shed abroad in our hearts and He is the source of our unity. We need the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

2 © Vashon Island Community Church

Pastor Frank R. Davis

Now turn with me to the 12th chapter of first Corinthians. Paul had previously focused on providing correction to the division in the Corinthian church; however, in this 12th chapter, Paul emphasizes the oneness of the church. He points out four wonderful bonds of spiritual unity. I. We confess the same Lord (vv. 1–3). Formerly, as sinners, the Corinthians were led astray by the influence of demons, but now as believers in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit they could honestly say, “Jesus is Lord.” Paul contrasted their experience as unconverted idolaters with their present experience as Christians. They had worshiped dead idols, but now they belonged to the living God. Their idols never spoke to them, but God speaks to them by His Spirit, and He even spoke through them in the gift of prophecy. When they were lost, they were under the influence of demons and were led astray. But now the Spirit of God lives in them and directs them. It is only through the Spirit that a person can honestly say, “Jesus is Lord.” A mocking sinner may mouth the words, but he is not giving a true confession. If Jesus Christ is truly Lord in our lives, then there should be unity in the church. Division and dissension among God’s people only weakens their united testimony to a lost world (John 17:20–21). II. We receive from the same God (vv. 4–6). There is a trinitarian emphasis here: “the same Spirit … the same Lord … the same God.” We individually may have different gifts, ministries, and motivational ways of working, but as (Phil. 2:13) says, “It is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” The source of the gift is God; the sphere for administering the gift is from God; and the energy for functioning in the gift is from God. Why, then, do we think men should be exalted? And why do we compete with one another as though the gifting originates with us? III. We minister to the same body (vv. 7–11). 1 Cor. 12:7 – “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (NIV)

All the gifts or manifestations are resident in the Holy Spirit and are distributed as He sees fit. That’s why we have to learn how to cooperate and yield to the Holy Spirit so He can manifest His gifts through us. The gifts or manifestations of the Spirit are given to every believer and are given for the good of the whole church. They are not for individual enjoyment, but for corporate edification. The Corinthians especially needed this reminder, because they were using the expression of spiritual gifts selfishly to promote themselves and not to prosper the church. However, when we function in our gifts with humility, then we use them to promote blessing & harmony, and this helps the whole church. IV. We depend upon the same Holy Spirit (vv.8-12). We have obviously been deficient in the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit here at VICC; but by humbly acknowledging that fact, it gives us an opportunity to learn together and begin to function together as the Holy Spirit enables us. 1 Cor. 12:8-12 – “For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance [word] of wisdom, and to

another the utterance [word] of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to 3 © Vashon Island Community Church

Pastor Frank R. Davis

another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish [discern] between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” (ESV) The manifestations of the Holy Spirit are usually divided up into three groups:  The power gifts – The gift of faith; the gifts of healing; and the working of miracles.  The knowledge gifts – The word of wisdom; the word of knowledge; and the discerning of spirits.  The vocal gifts – Prophecy; Tongues; and the Interpretation of Tongues. V. The Word of Wisdom – There are three kinds of wisdom described in the Scripture. There is divine wisdom. There is human or natural wisdom, and there is the wisdom of Satan. The word of wisdom is a fragment of God’s wisdom that is given for a specific situation by supernatural means. Proverbs 4:7 – “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” (NKJV) James 3:14-17 – “But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” (NLT) James 1:5-6 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.” (ESV)

The Wisdom from God will exalt Jesus, promote life, and further God’s Kingdom. VI. The Word of Knowledge – It has nothing to do with the attempt to invade the privacy of another person’s thoughts, or the pseudo-professions of mind-reading or fortune-telling, which very often are demonically inspired. The word of knowledge involves a supernatural impartation of facts which the individual at the time has no way of learning by natural means. It is a very important fragment of divine knowledge. For instance, had not the Lord revealed Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel when He did, both he and his companions would have been slain. In many instances, the word of knowledge came at a crucial moment, and in some cases making the difference between life and death. VII. The Discerning of Spirits – The discerning of spirits is not the ability to see faults in others. It is however, the doorway into the spiritual realm. The gift enables one (at such times as God permits) to perceive spirit beings – angelic spirits as well as demonic spirits. When Jesus was not received by the people, James and John sought to call fire down from heaven to consume them, but Jesus rebuked them saying, “you do not know what spirit you are of.” 4 © Vashon Island Community Church

Pastor Frank R. Davis

VIII. The Gift of Faith – There are two kinds of faith – natural and supernatural faith. Natural faith is the level we live on and it can accomplish many things. But the gift of faith is a direct impartation from God and it takes a person to a whole new level of faith enabling them to believe God for great things. Hebrews chapter eleven sums up the exploits accomplished through this gift of faith. IX. The Gifts of Healing – As with the gift of faith, the gifts of healing are supernatural. Everyone may pray for healing, but the gifts of healing require a greater dimension of faith along with a special anointing from God. Gifts is plural because there are different kinds of healings that require different levels of faith. X. The Working of Miracles – The manifestation of miracles works with the gifts of healing in that although healing takes place over time, miracles are instantaneous. Also, some healings require creative action by God and thus are considered a miracle. But miracles are not limited to the restoration of physical bodies. The working of miracles can involve the raising of the dead, delivering the possessed, overruling physical laws, like gravity, rolling back a river or the sea in order to cross on dry ground, or staying the sun in its course. XI. The Gift of Prophecy – Prophecy in the Old Testament was primarily the foretelling of judgment or blessing, whereas in the New Testament the gift of prophecy is forth-telling. The primary purpose of New Testament prophecy is to bring edification, to offer exhortation, and to bring comfort to the assembly of believers. Speaking in tongues allows a person to supernaturally speak to God, while prophecy allows God to supernaturally speak to men. XII. The Gifts of Tongues and the interpretation of Tongues – I have combined these two manifestations under one heading because in the assembly of believers they function together. The purpose of tongues accompanied by the interpretation brings edification to the entire body of believers because it lifts the believers into a higher level of praise or prayerful intercession. I have only scratched the surface in describing these gifts of the Holy Spirit, because they will be dealt with in-depth in the near future. In the early church, miracles were a part of the credentials of God’s servants. In fact, miracles, healings, prophecy and tongues all belonged to what theologians called “the sign gifts” and were necessary for the growth of the church. Hebrews 2:1-4 – “So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.” (NLT)

In these last days, these “sign gifts” are once again necessary for the ingathering of the final harvest of souls. If we want to see Vashon Island impacted with the reality of the Kingdom of God, we must contend for the release of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 5 © Vashon Island Community Church

Pastor Frank R. Davis

It’s not enough to rejoice that God is moving in other parts of the world. We want Him to move, right here on this island, through our lives. All these gifts or manifestations are resident in the Holy Spirit and they are distributed as He sees fit. What we need to be doing is desiring earnestly the best gifts, so we can bring the reality and blessing of God’s Kingdom to the earth.

6 © Vashon Island Community Church

Pastor Frank R. Davis