THE HOLY SPIRIT –
TEACHER OF ALL
THINGS
The spirit of Truth
LUNGANI NTOMBELA
CONTENTS
Introduction
CHAPTER ONE
Who is the Holy Spirit?
CHAPTER TWO
How to receive the Holy Spirit?
CHAPTER THREE
When the Holy Spirit comes upon you
CHAPTER FOUR
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
CHAPTER FIVE
The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
INTRODUCTION
M
ost people don’t know the Who is the Holy Spirit, especially those
who are not born again they are very ignorant in the spiritual things. This
book testifies and reveals who the Holy Spirit really is as most people
don’t know him nor receive him. The Holy Spirit was there in the
beginning as a Spirit of God hovering around upon the face of the waters.
(Genesis 1:2). But he was revealed to us in the New Testament at the day
of Pentecost, 50th day after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Where the 120 Disciples of Jesus were gathered, the Holy Spirit
descended from Heaven with fire and fill them and they start speaking in
“New Tongues” of fire as the Holy Spirit gave them the utterance to
speak in new tongues. They were all filled with the Holy ghost as Lord
Jesus Christ promised in John Gospel.
In the Book of Acts
The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
“2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one
place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from
heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw
what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on
each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:2-4).
CHAPTER ONE
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
T
he Holy Spirit is not a dove, wind, force nor smoke. He is a person
of the Godhead; if you read on the Gospel of John, we are being revealed
of who is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said:
“16 And
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter
(Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby),
that He may remain with you forever—
17 The
Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take
to its heart), because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him.
But you know and recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly]
and will be in you”. (John14:16-17). (AMPC)
The Holy Spirit is another comforter of the same kind as Jesus in Greek
the word “Another” of the same kind is ‘Allos’, He is precisely like Jesus
Unlimited, he is omnipresent, He can be anywhere at the same time
doing different work but when Jesus was here on earth he was limited in
position as he was at the same place, same time not in different places, he
lives in us as Jesus said “He may remain with you forever”. The Holy
Spirit is the POWER OF GOD. He is the spirit of Truth which came
from our heavenly father and it the one that bring truth to us of what was
told about Jesus Christ. He is not less than the Father nor Jesus Christ
Even Jesus was Empowered by the Holy Ghost to do works he was doing.
We were showed the Holy Spirit when it descended like a dove on Jesus
as he was baptized by John the Baptist. (John 1:32).
The Holy spirit is the power source! Reject Him, and you won’t see
miracles, healings, demons cast out, or speaking in tongues.
32 “And
John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from
heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.” (KJV)
Most people think that the Holy Spirit is a dove, but they have
misinterpreted this scripture, Here John the Baptist was describing it
descended like a dove it NOT a dove, when I say you walk like a chicken
it doesn’t mean you are a chicken, I’m describing the way you walk.
Holy Spirit does not have a name, Holy Spirit is not his name It what he
is. Just like you are a Human being doesn’t mean your name is Human
being it what you are but luckily you have a name.
John 14:26
26 “But
the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will
send in my name….”.
You see Jesus said the “Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my
name” The Holy Ghost don’t have a name but the father has sent it in the
name of Jesus Christ which means if you call the name of Jesus the Holy
Spirit respond and take action of what you have called him for and is
doing the same work Jesus was doing here on Earth as he came in the
name of Jesus. When the Holy spirit is with us is like Jesus in us because
He is like Jesus on earth he acts on his behalf as Jesus has gone to the
Father to prepare a place for us and where he is now so we will be.
Jesus told us what will happen when the Holy Ghost is come into his
disciples.
John 15:26-27
26 But
when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from
the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeded from the Father,
he shall testify of me:
27 And
ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from
the beginning.
CHAPTER TWO
How to receive the Holy Spirit?
Some people are born again but they have not yet received the Holy
spirit. Rev Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (Man of God) said when someone is
born again without the Holy Spirit is like a house which is decorated but
it empty. Jesus said, “The spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive,
because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him….”. (John 14:17). It not
because the Holy spirit cannot receive by anyone it because people, they
don’t let him in their hearts. In the bible they are so many scriptures
which steps on how to receive the Holy Spirit in your life.
Several ways to Receive the Holy Spirit
(1) 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38).
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did
(2)
unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I
could withstand God? (Acts 11:17).
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy
(3)
Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied.
(Acts 19:6).
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to
(4)
speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts
2:4).
(5)13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your
children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the
Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13).
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness,
(6)
giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; (Acts 15:8).
(7) 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith,
praying in the Holy Ghost, (Jude 1:20).
This are the ways people can receive the holy spirit in their lives, we
might receive him in different ways but it still the same spirit of God. If
you ask the father in heaven, he will give in fact he has already gave you,
what you need to do is to receive him by faith and open your hearts.
Jesus said who asketh shall receiveth, who knocketh it shall be openeth…...
and if you don’t ask the bible says in “asketh not, get not” (James 4:3).
17 Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When you are born-again you are a new creature, your Spirit is the one
that is being reborn now it not a human spirit but Godly spirit. You are a
creature that never existed before, you can talk, walk, and the same way
but your spirit is not the same as not born-again people. Old things are
passed away from your spirit and behold all things has become new to
you, it didn’t say ‘Some things’ but ‘All things become new’ so you are a
new being now. Now you have eternal life inside you and most people
don’t know that eternal life doesn’t start in Heaven when you have died.
It starts soon you receive Christ in your life as the bible says, “Whosoever
have the son of God has eternal life, who does not have the son of God
does not have eternal life”.
CHAPTER THREE
When the Holy Spirit comes upon you
W
hat happened when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, if we look
in the bible, they tell us what happens:
8 But
ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts
1:8).
You see it says …ye shall receive power… after the Holy Ghost comes
upon you, which means the Holy spirit brings the POWER of God, you
can’t receive power without the Holy spirit. The word ‘POWER’ in Greek
it “DUNAMIS” which means that ability then Power is “the dynamic
ability which cause changes”. When you have the Power of God you can
cause changes in any Area of your life as the Power of God is not just any
Power but a divine Power.
4” And
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”. (Acts 2:4).
So, when you filled with the Holy Spirit, it gives you utterance to speak in
tongues, so tongues are not the Holy spirit It gives utterance to speak.
You can’t speak in tongues without the Holy Spirit and it a gift which you
are given by him.
38 How
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with
power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed
of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38).
You see God first anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost, so first we must
understand what the anointing is. The anointing “It is an appointment
and ordainment to do what the lord has given us to carry out”. Anointing
and Power are different aspects sometimes they use it Interchangeable.
Now God anointed him with Power, Power is the dynamic ability to
cause changes. If you read on Luke 4:18 – Jesus said: “The spirit of the
Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel….”
which means he was first anointed, then the spirit of the Lord came upon
him. He didn’t say the anointing of the spirit is upon me, because Spirit,
Anointing and power are different aspects. But the Holy Ghost is the
POWER OF GOD. Power and Holy Ghost are not separated.
As you are baptized in the Holy Ghost it serves as a turning point from
natural to supernatural in Christ’s life. We saw Jesus after he was baptized
and filled with the Holy Ghost he was led by the Holy ghost into the
wilderness (Desert) to confront the devil (Luke 4:1-13)., being ‘led’ means
being guided and he claim victory of the devil temptation. So, when the
Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will be victorious because he is your
helper, and you have power of God on you. When you welcome the Holy
Spirit into your life is essential for you to experience victory and
abundance God has provided.
CHAPTER FOUR
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
SPIRIT OF WISDOM
This spirit helps us to make wise choices. It enables us to understand
difficult concepts and interpret them in ways that are beneficial for
ourselves and those around us. If you read on Isaiah 11:2 “2 And the
spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom…” So,
the spirit of wisdom brings the wisdom of God to you. We must
understand what wisdom is, is the insight of knowledge and the
controlling power of insight. Wisdom is a force not an ability.
Wisdom is the controlling power that works in us to do God good
pleasure. It brings understanding, information, and knowledge.
When the spirit of wisdom functions well in you, life becomes
bright and exciting. The spirit of wisdom also gives us insight into
how we can use knowledge from various sources, including
scriptures, to make decisions that align with God’s plan. Christ is the
embodiment of wisdom and wisdom can be seen and heard. Good
example of wisdom is King Solomon –
28 And
all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and
they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in
him, to do judgment. (1 Kings 3:28).
That where the King Solomon solved an issue of two women who came
to him. These women live in the same house, both had just
delivered their babies three days apart from each other. One of
them slept over her son and died. This woman switched the babies.
The other women realised that in the morning when she was
feeding her baby that it dead, but she realised that is not of his own
and she saw her baby of the other woman that switched the babies.
They bring this matter to King Solomon then the King wisely
requested a sword and ordered that the baby should be divided into
two. The woman STOPPED him not to cut the baby and other one
said “yes, kill him so he won’t belong to either of us.” King Solomon
saw who is the real mother that it was the one that stopped him
because there’s no mother that will allow her baby to be killed,
people feared him because of the wisdom of God that was in him,
how remarkable! is that. If you have the spirit of wisdom, you
handle any matter in your life and to people’s lives.
SPIRIT OF KNOWLEDGE
The spirit of knowledge is something that goes beyond just facts and
knowledge. It’s intimate, life-changing experience that can come
from revelation or understanding of a deep principle. Now we must
understand what knowledge really is. It is the fact or condition of
being aware of something or knowing something with familiarity
gained through experience or association. (WD). The spirit of
knowledge brings awareness.
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which
is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us
of God”. (1 Corinthians 2:12).
when you have the spirit of knowledge you become aware of the things
that are yours in Christ in your life. The Spirit of knowledge brings you
full understanding, 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that
ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May
be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and
length, and depth, and height.
19 And
to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye
might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19). You have
fulness of God. Adam had his life changed in Genesis 4:1 and it says,
“Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain,
saying, ‘I have gotten a man with the help of the lord.” This is the
intimate knowledge that the spirit of knowledge reveals to us.
GIFT OF FAITH
The gift of faith is a divine gracelet or impartation, a supernatural belief,
and the ability to do something beyond your capability. Here's how Paul
the Apostle described the gifting of the Holy Spirit:
7 But
the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit
withal.
8 For
to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the
word of knowledge by the same Spirit.
9 To
another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by
the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12: 7-9).
This divine gracelet of the gift of faith may come for just one incidence
in a person's life when they need God to show up like never before, or
the gift may stay with you for the rest of your life. It can come in the
middle of sheer desperation, such as the woman with the issue of blood,
who reached out and touched the hem of Christ's garment and was
healed (Luke 8:43-48). It most often comes to a person as an inner
knowledge within his being of something that God wants to do. When
Peter healed the crippled beggar at the Gate Beautiful, Peter looked
straight at him, as did John, and then reached out his hand to help him to
his feet with the words, 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but
such as I have given I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise
up and walk. (Acts 3:6).
With those words, instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong, and
he jumped to his feet. Do you think Peter and John were surprised as the
disabled man got to his feet wholly healed? How did that happen?
Peter or John's faith was not what healed him. Only a few weeks earlier,
Peter had denied he even knew Jesus, but now that Peter was restored
three times by the Lord Jesus (John 21), he was experiencing the Spirit of
God flowing in his life. This healing, I believe, was a divine impartation
of the Spirit, an intuition that came to his inner man, showing him
exactly what to do. Luke, the writer of the Book of Acts, tries to put the
impartation of the gift of faith into words when he writes:
4 And
Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
(Acts 3:4). This look was a fixed gaze where the Spirit was showing them
both what to do.
Two Examples of Great Faith in the Gospels
In the Gospels, there are two incidences where Jesus commended two individuals for
their great faith. They were both examples of a divine gracelet of the gift of faith.
Let's look closely and see what we can learn from them:
7 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people,
he entered into Capernaum.
2 And
a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick,
and ready to die.
3 And
when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews,
beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
4 And
when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying,
that he was worthy for whom he should do this:
5 For
he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
6 Then
Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the
house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord,
trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under
my roof:
7 Wherefore
neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say
in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8 For
I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers,
and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he
cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
9 When
Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him
about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I
have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
10 And
they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant
whole that had been sick.
What was it that so pleased the Lord about this man’s faith?
The passage tells us a lot about the Roman centurion’s character. He
probably had some servants because he was an officer in the Roman
army with over a hundred men under his command, yet he cared for this
sick one. We can assume, therefore, that this man was a kindly soul.
Because he loved the nation of Israel and had built the city a synagogue
with his own money, he was willing to spend the relational capital that he
had gained with the Jewish elders of the town not on himself but on his
servant, asking the Jewish elders to plead with Jesus to heal his attendant.
How many enslaved people would have loved to have a master such as
this centurion? When you travel to the ruins of Capernaum in Israel, on
the shores of the Sea of Galilee, you can explore the synagogue ruins.
There seems to be an indication (v. 6) that the centurion was told by
another servant that heard the elders speaking to Jesus that the Lord was
on His way to them. It could be that the centurion heard from this same
servant how the elders of the Jews told Jesus that the centurion was
worthy to have Jesus do this for him. But the centurion did not feel
worthy.
When he discovered that Jesus was on His way to his house, he
remembered that a Jew could not come under his roof (due to him being
a Gentile) and stay ceremonially “clean.” We see something similar that
happened in the ministry of Peter the apostle when the Lord sent him to
the house of Cornelius, another Roman centurion living in Caesarea. As
Peter broke with tradition by entering the Centurion's house, the Spirit of
God came in power upon those attending the meeting. Other leaders
severely criticized Peter for entering the home of a Gentile (Acts 11:1-2)
but understanding came when Peter shared the vision that the Lord gave
him (Acts 11:1-18). We read of a similar tradition at the trial of Jesus before
Pontius Pilate by the Jewish leaders. They would not enter the palace of
the Gentile Roman governor because it would have made them
ceremonially unclean, making them unfit to eat the Passover meal (John
18:28).
For this reason, the centurion sent another delegation of friends to meet
Jesus on the way (v. 6), saying that he understood delegated authority and
that Jesus did not need to come into his house. His leadership role as a
centurion under the chain of command of the Roman army led him to
believe that Jesus only had to speak the word of healing and that Christ’s
spiritual authority over sickness would be exercised over the servant.
This man put the pieces of the pie of his knowledge into his plate of faith
and stood in faith in what he believed. What were the pieces of the pie of
faith (See study 1) that he brought to the situation?
(1). He knew that healing was an act of spiritual power, and that distance was no problem to
God.
(2). He was not worthy even for Jesus’s walking into his house, but he knew that God acts
out of mercy, not worthiness.
(3). Not many of us would put something in the way of Jesus coming to our house. If Jesus
were on the road, most of us would not care about any difficulties, yet this man put himself
in the shoes of Jesus and was concerned about His entering into the house of a Gentile.
(4). His faith assured him that healing for his servant was inevitable, that it would be done
even if Jesus didn't lay hands on his servant. His words revealed his heart of great faith!
SPIRITUAL DISNERNING
The gift of discernment is the special ability that God gives to certain
members of the Body of Christ to know with assurance whether certain
behaviour purported to be of God is in reality divine, human or satanic.
4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are
of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1
John 4:1).
Apostle John warns here that we should not believe every spirit because
now not every spirit comes from God. We must evaluate the spirit; now
how do we evaluate the spirit? You evaluate the spirit by making it
confess that does it believe that Jesus Christ died and rose on a third day
now he is alive, if it denies that then it not from God. Because in these
last days many false prophets, false pastors have rose even Apostle Paul
warned us about them in Timothy. The Gift of spirit discerning you able
to see the different kinds of spirit possessing people Good and bad ones.
In 1 Kings 3, when the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked
him to name whatever he desired, Solomon pleased God by asking for
the spirit of discerning. Solomon’s words were” 9 Give therefore thy servant
an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good
and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (1 Kings 3:9).
Solomon’s request for discernment so pleased the Lord that God not
only gave Solomon a wise and discerning heart, but He also gave him
what he didn’t ask for.
“And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and
honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy
days.” (1 Kings 3:13).
In the New Testament, Paul prayed that believers would have and apply
the spirit of discernment: “9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet
more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.
10
That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and
without offence till the day of Christ. (Philippians 1:9-10).
Paul realized if believers were able to discern what is best from what is
just good or acceptable, they would be pure and blameless, and stand
apart from the rest of the world.
GIFT OF PROPHECY
First, we must understand that what is prophecy. Prophecy is the divine
message from God, or a revelation inspired by the holy spirit. Some
people say who have the Gift of Prophecy are called prophets. In the Old
Testament, a prophet was a man or woman called by God to deliver His
words to His people. Since Israel could not bear to hear the Lord’s voice
directly (Exod.20:18-19), God established the prophetic office as an
answer to their request that the divine word come to them through
human mediation (Deut.18:16-18). As such, while OT prophets had
secondary functions (like intercession; cf. Gen.20:7; Exod.32:3031; Num.14:17-19; 1 Sam. 12:23; 1 Kings 13:6; Jer.27:18, 37:3), their main role
was to act as spokespersons on the Lord’s behalf. This role is wellillustrated by the task given to Aaron in Exodus 17. There, God assigned
Aaron to be Moses’s prophet; as such, Aaron was to communicate to
Pharaoh what Moses had relayed to him. Just as Aaron was called to
speak Moses’s words to Pharaoh, so the prophets were called by God to
speak only His word to His people (Deut. 18:18-20).
In The New Testament. An examination of the NT data regarding
prophecy reveals significant continuity with the picture painted by the
OT. First of all, the NT also treats prophecy as an act of intelligible
communication. For instance, the synoptic Gospels refer to Isaiah’s
words as an example of prophecy (Matt. 13:14, 15:7; Mark 7:6). Zechariah’s
speech is called a prophecy in the book of Luke (1:67–79). Though he
incorporates a sign act, Agabus uses words when he delivers his prophecy
to Paul (Acts 21:11). Paul explicitly describes prophecy as a
communicative act when he says, “The one who prophesies speaks to
men” (1 Cor 14:3). And importantly, the entire book of Revelation
presents itself as a prophecy (Rev.1: 3, 22:18-19). This is a powerful gift
from God because you are able to things in the realms of the spirit.
GIFT OF HEALING
It a supernatural healing with the power of the holy spirit to heal the sick
from disease or infirmities. Spiritual gifts are powers, skills, abilities, or
knowledge given by God through the Holy Spirit to Christians. Paul tells
the church that the purpose of the spiritual gifts is to edify other
believers and to glorify God. God gives these gifts for His use, but in the
Corinthian church, they were a type of status symbol or being used to
indicate superiority. Interestingly, 1 Corinthians 12:9 refers to “gifts” of
healing in the plural, which may indicate that there are different gifts of
healing. The gifts of healing could mean a very wide range of skills or
abilities. This could be from the power to do miraculous or dramatic
healing, like making the lame walk, or the use or understanding of
medicine. It could even be the ability to empathize and show love to
others to the point of healing an emotional wound.
GIFT OF TONGUES
The gift of speaking in tongues, it when your spirit inner man prays but
you don’t understand of what you are saying, because you are speaking
mysteries of God. The bible says when you are in Christ you are a new
creature, new creation and all things has passed away which means your
spirit is not a human spirit anymore but a godly spirit in you and when
the holy spirit comes upon it comes with a new language as you are a
believer of Jesus Christ, Jesus said on ….”You shall cast out the devils in
my name and you shall speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17). Those
believe in Jesus Christ they will speak in tongues when the Holy Spirit
gives you the utterance to speak to.
We were being revealed the Gift of tongues in the book of Acts at the day
of Pentecost where the 120 disciples of Jesus were gathered together.
2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place.
2 And
suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty
wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And
there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat
upon each of them.
4 And
they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And
there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every
nation under heaven. (Acts 2:1-5).
All the 120 Disciples of Jesus spoke in tongues as the holy spirit gave
them utterance to speak and it the spirit that Jesus promised them that he
will ask the father whom he will send in his name. When you are born
again and filled with holy spirit, the power of God comes to reside in
you. This power triggered off or set in motion when you speak in other
tongues.
4 He
that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that
prophesieth edifieth the church. (1 Corinthians 14:4).
So, when you speak in tongues your spirit is being build up and it
becomes a giant and when you prophesy you edifying the church, when
you prophesy you speak the words of faith, power which will give the
church confidence. When you pray in tongues your spirit glows like
when you are charging the battery of the phone, the phone become
brighter that what is happening in your spirit it charged. Do you
remember Jesus on the Mountain of Transfiguration, the bible says as he
prayed the “the fashion of his countenance was altered” (Luke 9:29), his
raiment was white as light and his face was brighter as the sun, that what
happen when you pray in tongues because his disciples were on the
vision so it means their eyes were opened to see in the realm of the spirit,
because Jesus’s prayer was spiritual he was transfigured before them. So,
when we pray in tongues we say, “pray in the spirit” and in the spirit
realm we are transfigured.
26 Likewise
the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what
we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession
for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (Romans 8:26).
You see this are NOT tongues but the groanings which cannot be uttered,
tongues can be uttered as the holy ghost gives us utterance, groanings it
when the holy ghost prays through you sometimes you see yourself
weeping.
27 And
he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the
Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the
will of God. (Romans 8:27).
So the bible says that the one that search the heart which is God, know
the mind of the spirit so God looks the mind when you pray, when you
pray God knows what you need then why do we pray if the heavenly
father know what I need because the words you release are the one that
releases an Angel to give you answer. Our carnal mind is very corrupted
because sometimes as we pray, we are busy thinking other things now
God answers what is on your thought and on your heart. When we pray
in tongues our spirit is pure it been born again so it not corrupted, so it
has an amazing mind, so God look the mind of your spirit as you pray in
tongues then your spirit chooses good things for you amazing ones and
you are releasing God’s power in life. So, this gift is very amazing and it
for every new creature.
GIFT OF INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES
Along with the gift of speaking in tongues is another spiritual gift
mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:10—the gift of interpreting tongues. The
gift of interpreting tongues is the ability to translate a foreign language
into the language of the hearers. The gift of interpreting tongues is a
separate gift, but it seems to have been used in conjunction with the gift
of speaking in tongues.
The gift of tongues was the supernatural ability to speak a foreign
language that the tongues-speaker had never learned. We see this gift in
use in Acts 2:4–12, as the Jews in Jerusalem heard the gospel preached in
a wide variety of languages. A person with the gift of interpreting
tongues, then, could understand what a tongues-speaker was saying even
though he did not know the language being spoken. This lack of prior
knowledge of a language is what distinguishes the spiritual gift from the
natural gift of being able to understand and speak a variety of languages.
The tongues-interpreter would hear the tongues-speaker and then
communicate the message to anyone present who could not understand
the language. The goal was that all could understand and benefit from
the truth being spoken. According to the apostle Paul, and in agreement
with the tongues described in Acts, the gift of tongues was meant to
communicate God’s message directly to another person in his or her
native language. Of course, if those present could not understand the
language being spoken, the tongues were useless—and that’s what made
the tongues-interpreter, or tongues-translator, necessary. The goal was
the edification of the church (1 Corinthians 14:5, 12).
One of the problems in the church of Corinth was that tongues-speakers
were speaking out in the service, exercising their gift of tongues with no
interpreter and with no one present who spoke that language. The result
was that the tongues-speaker was commanding attention, but his words
were meaningless, since no one could understand him. Paul strongly
advised that all use of tongues in the church must be interpreted: “In the
church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than
ten thousand words in a tongue” (1 Corinthians 14:19). There was no
benefit to other church members in hearing something they could not
understand. Exercising the gift of tongues in church, simply for the sake
of showing everyone that you had the gift, was conceited and
unprofitable. Paul told the Corinthians that, if two or three tonguesspeakers wanted to speak in a meeting, then a spiritually gifted tonguesinterpreter must also be present. In fact, “if there is no interpreter, the
speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to
God” (1 Corinthians 14:28).
The temporal nature of the gift of tongues implies that the gift of
interpretation of tongues was also of a temporal nature. If the gift of
speaking in tongues were active in the church today, it would be
performed in agreement with Scripture. It would be a real and intelligible
language (1 Corinthians 14:10). It would be for the purpose of
communicating God’s Word to a person of another language (Acts 2:6–
12), and it would be done “in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Corinthians
14:40), “for God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the
congregations of the Lord’s people” (1 Corinthians 14:33).
GIFT OF WORKING MIRACLES
What is a miracle? A miracle is a supernatural occurrence that is brought
about by the intervention of God. It is something that happens by divine
orchestration but is humanly impossible. It is God’s intervention in the
natural state of things.
Many people find it difficult to believe in the possibility of a miracle or
accept the reality of it. It is because they so not believe or accept God.
They are the ones who try to logically explain the situation and try to
justify the event with their knowledge and theories. They do not want to
agree or hold the knowledge of God in their hearts, and they have
restricted their minds to the natural realm. So, if you attempt to tell them
about a miracle you experienced, they might want to speak you into
believing it is a spontaneous occurrence, without supernatural backing.
While there are many things to call a miracle, many of these are not a
miracle in the true sense of it. The common events that people call
miracle include waking up, giving birth, expression of nature’s beauty,
salvation of the soul, etc.
Critically, these might be a miracle, but in the real sense, they are not
supernatural manifestations. New birth or salvation of the soul is a
supernatural event that takes place in the supernatural realm. This is a
miracle, but not the miracle orchestrated by the gift of working of
miracles. In fact, we can say that all the gifts of the Spirits are miracles
since they are supernaturally powered and manifested by the Holy Spirit.
A true miracle, in the sense of it, is a supernatural manifestation in the
natural realm. It is an alternation or deviation of the natural by
supernatural manifestations of God’s power through the agency of the
gift of working of miracles. For instance, Elijah divided the river Jordan
with his mantle (2 Kings 2:8). This cannot occur naturally; it is a miracle.
There was a spiritual alteration or intervention in the natural state of
things.
The gift of working of miracles is part of the gifts of the Spirit. This gift is
unique and different in every sense from other gifts. While healing may
be miraculous, it is not necessarily a product of the gift of working of
miracles. More reasons healings are often called healing miracles and not
just healing.
11” And
Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he
distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set
down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12 When
they were filled, he said unto his disciples, gather up the
fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore
they gathered them together and filled twelve baskets with
the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above
unto them that had eaten”. (John 6:11-13).
Another account that will help us understand the operation of the gift of
working of miracles is the encounter between Paul and the sorcerer,
Elymas. The Bible says,
8 “But
Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation)
withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then
Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his
eyes on him.
10 And
said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil,
thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right
ways of the Lord?
11 And
now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be
blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on
him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him
by the hand.
12 Then
the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being
astonished at the doctrine of the Lord”. (Acts 13: 8-12).
The hand of the Lord came upon Elymas, and he was struck blind for a
time. This was the operation of the gift of the working of miracles. Paul
did not do this just for self-gratification; it was a supernatural
manifestation that brings others who witnessed the event to believe in
God.
CHAPTER FIVE
MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
In the John Gospel Jesus said that the Holy spirit will teach us all things
that he has said unto us.
26 But
the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will
send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to
your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26).
You see the Holy spirit teaches and bring remembrance of all things
which means we can call him “The Teacher of All things,” Jesus did not
say he will teach you somethings. No! he said he will teach you All things.
So, the Holy Spirit can also bring all things to your remembrance that is
amazing!
What can be hard for you to learn or to remember if you have the inner
man in you that is the divine person because the Holy spirit is a person
who has amazing personalities and we carry him everywhere we go
because the Holy spirit it everywhere helping people for their needs who
are willing. If you have the holy spirit in your life, you will never fail and
beg people.
Do you remember the story of Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego if you
read in the Book of Daniel chapter 3, This three men refused to bow
down and worship to the Golden statue which was built by King
Nebuchadnezzar and the King instructed the soldiers to make the
burning furnace to be 7 times hotter than ever so that they will thrown to
it. They did not beg the King and cry what they said is that “God will
deliver them from the burning furnace and even he does not deliver
them they will not bow and worship the Golden Statue of the King he has
made, King Nebuchadnezzar was very angry and instructs them to be
thrown on the burning furnace while they were thrown, the King said “
did we not cast three men on the burning furnace, I see four men loose,
walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of
the fourth is like the son of God” (Daniel 3: 24-25). King Nebuchadnezzar
was amazed of the power of God that now they should worship one true
God the Almighty. You see sometimes you will see your life in the midst
of the fire, now not just a fire which is burning but I mean fire (trouble),
when you have the Holy spirit in you it will deliver you from that trouble
in your life and you will be victorious because the bible says “whatsoever
is born of God is victorious in the world..”.
Most people think that the Holy Spirit ministers by talking into a loud
voice, or a shaking in their bodies but that not true. The Holy Spirit can
minister in many different ways and by your faith you will see because
the bible says:
6 But
without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to
God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6).
You see when you come to God you must believe that he is by your
faith, you do not need to hear the audibly voice to know that God is
present to you, he can speak inside you as he lives inside you now
because you have received him. The Holy Spirit is the one that brings
Joy, calm in your spirit.
He reminds you to pray, study the bible because he brings remembrance
it not your mind who says these things because your mind it very
corrupted and selfish it is thinking earthly desires. But he can correct
your way.
“21 And
thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, this is the way,
walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the
left”. (Isaiah 30:21).
You see this is amazing so when you miss your way the Holy Spirit will
show you a right direction so you cannot fail while you have the holy
spirit in you. It is impossible to fall into error or be defeated after hearing
that VOICE. Instead, you just keep winning all the way because greater is
He that is in you than he that is in the world.
Jesus Himself did not manifest the power of God until He had been
baptized in the Holy Spirit. Angels pronounced Him Lord at His birth,
but nothing that typified Christ's ministry preaching, healing, casting out
demons—occurred before the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a
dove. "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the
water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit
of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice
from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"
(Matt. 3:16-17). The baptism in the Holy Spirit served as the turning point
from natural to supernatural in Christ's life. Jesus immediately began His
ministry after being anointed with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit led Him
into the
wilderness to confront the devil (Luke 4:1-13). He emerged victorious and
then boldly declared in the synagogue of His hometown, "The Spirit of
the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel
to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at
liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord"
(Luke 4:18-19). From this point forward, Jesus did what He was anointed
to do! Many times, the Lord admitted His total dependence upon the
Father and the Spirit. He did His Father's will as the power of the Holy
Spirit flowed in and through Him. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit always
worked together in complete cooperation. As a part of this
interdependent, triune Godhead, Jesus would not and
could not do any miracles until the Holy Spirit had come upon Him.
God never does anything independent of His Spirit.
Therefore, welcoming the Holy Spirit into your life is absolutely essential
for you to experience the victory and abundance God has provided. If
the sinless Son of God had to be baptized in the Holy Spirit before
beginning His ministry, how can anyone presume to be an effective
Christian without it?
The disciples were spineless wimps before receiving the baptism in the
Holy Spirit. These men had followed Jesus for three and a half years,
observing His miracles, hearing His teaching, and experiencing everyday
life
with Him. They exhibited weakness, immaturity, carnal mindedness, and
strife. Upon Jesus' arrest, all their promises to stay with Him—to death if
need be—went right out the window. They forsook Him and fled for
their lives in terror!
Peter denied Jesus three different times just hours after
pledging his "undying allegiance." His natural strength
wilted before a damsel, the high priest's maid, and
certain others as they each successively asked, "Aren't you one of Jesus'
disciples?" Swearing and taking oaths,
he answered, "No, I don't even know the Man!" Peter
wept bitterly when he realized what he'd done. He
hadn't wanted to deny Christ, but in his own human strength, he was
powerless not to do so (Matt. 26:69-75).
Then Peter and the other disciples were baptized in the
Holy Spirit. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all
with one accord in one place. And
suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a
rushing mighty wind... And they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:1-2 and 4). They instantly
transformed into powerful witnesses and testified of
Jesus with great boldness. Three thousand were saved and water baptized
that first day alone (Acts 2:41)!
Jesus often referred to the Holy Spirit as the "Comforter."
He'll function in your life many different ways:
The Holy Spirit will abide with you forever. "And I will
pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you for ever" (John14:16). Wherever you go, whatever you do,
God Himself will be with you!
The Holy Spirit will comfort you through challenges and
difficulties. "Who comforted us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort them which are in any
trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (2
Cor. 1:4). He'll also enable you to
minister God's comfort to others.
The Holy Spirit will be your teacher. "But the Comforter,
which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall
teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14:26). He'll also remind you of
everything the Lord has said.
The Spirit of truth will testify to you of Jesus. "But when
the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from
the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he
shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been
with me from the beginning" (John 15:26-27). He'll also help you bear
witness of Jesus to others.
It's to your advantage that Jesus is in heaven and the
Holy Spirit is on earth. "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient
for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come
unto you; but if I
depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7). Jesus could
only be in one place at a time when He walked the earth as a man. Now,
through His Spirit, He can be with every believer all the time! The Holy
Spirit will convict and convince. "And when he is come, he will reprove
the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because
they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and
ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is
judged" (John 16:8-11). He convicts you of not trusting Jesus. He convinces
you that you're righteous in Christ. And the devil, who constantly hurls
condemnation and lies at you, is judged. The Holy Spirit will guide you
into all truth. "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear
them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he
will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of
himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will
shew you things to come" (John 16:1213). The Spirit of truth will progressively share Jesus' words with you as
you're mature enough to handle them. He'll even reveal things yet to
come! The Holy Spirit will glorify Jesus. "He shall glorify me: for he shall
receive of mine and shall shew it unto you" (John 16:14). He'll receive
things from the Lord and show them to you! God's power will flood into
you as you're baptized in
Him! "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy
Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto
me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
Wherever you go, you'll be an effective witness!
THANK YOU SO MUCH I LOVE YOU! HOLY SPIRIT THE TEACHER
OF ALL THINGS.
jjj great faith!