We know one of the greatest topics within the Body of Christ is the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, and yes we should see them moving, and we must be grateful for them. However, we need to better understand how these gifts must flow to ensure that Jesus gets the glory and not man.
So let’s begin this quick study in the book of Romans. We can see in chapter twelve where Paul begins to reveal the gifts, scripture says “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 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; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:4-8)
So we see the following:
1. Prophecy (speaking)2. Ministry (serving)
3. Teaches (teaching)
4. Exhorts (encouragement)
5. Gives (generous giver)
6. Leads (leadership)
7. Mercy (hospitality)
So we see seven gifts here in Romans 12, and we know that the number seven is a number that reveals completion. So is this the complete Gifts of the Holy Spirit? Continuing on through the New Testament when we come to the book of First Corinthians and in chapter twelve we see Paul continues revealing the Gifts of the Spirit. Scripture says, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
So we see the following:
1. Word of Wisdom2. Word of Knowledge
3. Faith (great faith)
4. Gifts of Healing
5. Working of Miracles
6. Prophecy (duplication from Romans 12)
7. Discerning of spirits
8. Different Kinds of Tongues
9. Interpretation of Tongues
Here we have nine additional Gifts of the Holy Spirit revealed, however prophecy was already revealed in Romans 12, so we actually see eight unique Gifts of the Holy Spirit. So in total that's fifteen, which is a multiplier of five (5x3). Now five is the number for grace, and three is the number for the Trinity, so one revelation is that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit come from the grace of the Trinity! It’s only by the grace of God that the gifts can flow properly!
Notice how I said “flow properly”, everything must begin and end in the correct order. So can we see anything in scripture that would reveal where the flowing of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit should begin?
Let's go back to the Old Testament in the book of Isaiah and chapter eleven. Scripture says, “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:1-2)
Who is Isaiah prophesying about here? It is Jesus Christ! The Lord Himself is our very pattern we are to follow, scripture says “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” (Ephesians 5:1). So the seven flames that rested upon the Lord Jesus are to also rest upon His people. So what are the seven flames?
1. Spirit of the Lord2. Spirit of Wisdom
3. Spirit of Understanding
4. Spirit of Council
5. Spirit of Might
6. Spirit of Knowledge
7. Spirit of the Fear of the Lord
This is also a picture of one of the furnishings found in the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, the lamp stand (Exodus 25:31-40). Now verse 37 says, “You shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall arrange its lamps so that they give light in front of it.” What is the purpose of the lamps? To give light in front of it! Who does Jesus say He is?
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Who does Jesus say we are?
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
Again, what was the purpose of the lamp stand? To give light in front of it, and Jesus says to let our light (which is Him) shine before us to men! Oh I hope you are seeing something wonderful here!
The human body has two main parts, the head and the body. Scripture says, “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:22-23)
We see a union of the head and the body, now there is no way a body can properly function if it is not getting its commands from the head. So everything must flow from the top and then down (Psalms 133)! So in order for the fifteen gifts that have been given to the Body to flow properly, they must begin from the seven flames of the Spirit!
Another wonderful revelation seen when we bring the union of the Head and the Body together is:
7 (seven flames/Head) + 15 (gifts/Body) = 22, which reveals the Hebrew alphabet as there are 22 letters within it which begins with the Aleph and ends with the Tav. Scripture says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” (Revelation 22:13)
Beloved, all manifestations of the Holy Spirit are to begin with Jesus, point people to Jesus, and end with Jesus, so that He gets ALL of the glory! Apart from this man knowingly or even unknowingly gets the glory and then flesh is exalted!
Jesus gives us a great warning of where the gifts were operated apart from abiding in Him and flowing in the proper order.
“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:22-23)
May the children of God look to pattern ourselves after the Lord Jesus!
“Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19), “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.” (John 12:49-50)