Giftings of the Holy Spirit

Wade E Taylor

“And now… I want to write about the special abilities the Holy Spirit gives to each of you, for I do not want any misunderstanding about them.”  I Corinthians 12:1 TLB

Our being used in the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the result of our ability to yield to the presence and power of God.  The quality of that which flows out through the operation of the gift directly relates to the accumulated spiritual “substance” that abides within the one being used.  This spiritual “substance” develops through the integrity of our relationship to the Lord and to the quality of our devotional life.

“Now there are distinctive varieties and distributions of endowments, and they vary, but the Holy Spirit remains the same.”  I Corinthians 12:4. AMP

An example of this progression is prophecy, which functions on three levels of relationship.

The first level is the gift of prophecy, the second level, the office of the prophet, and the third, the spirit of prophecy.  This same pattern applies to other giftings of the Holy Spirit.

“For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.”

  I Corinthians 14:31

This prophetic “gifting” is available to all.  The only condition is our ability to yield to the Holy Spirit who then speaks through us.  This is a “part” realm, and is given for “exhortation, edification, and comfort.”

“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.”  I Corinthians 13:9

No one person has the full and complete word; thus the need for “body” ministry, where each supplies their particular part.

“For it is under His direction that the whole body is perfectly adjusted and united by every joint that furnishes its supplies.  And by the proper functioning of each particular part, there is brought about the growing of the body for its building up in love.”  Ephesians 4:16 Williams

The next level of the prophetic is the “Prophet.”

“And He Himself appointed some to be Apostles, some to be Prophets, some to be evangelists, some to be pastors and teachers, in order fully to equip His people for the work of serving--for the building up of Christ's body--till we all of us arrive at oneness in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, and at mature manhood and the stature of full-grown men in Christ.”  Ephesians 4:11-13 Weymouth

The “gift” of prophecy is available to all (You may all prophesy).  The office of the Prophet is limited (some - to be prophets).  A Prophet may, or may not, prophecy.  Being a Prophet is not necessarily related to prophesying.  Rather, a Prophet is one who is called to speak as an “oracle,” or, in behalf of God.  This is a very high calling, as the Prophet must be in the right place, with the right word, to be delivered to the right person, at the right time.  Both the “gift” and the “office” operate in a limited realm.

There is yet another, higher prophetic level.  This applies to the voice of the Lord being as the “spirit of prophecy.”  The “spirit of prophecy” is unlimited, as it is the Lord speaking though us.

“…I am your fellow-servant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: Worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”  Revelation 19:10b

The “gift” realm relates to the level of our “yieldedness” - the Holy Spirit quickening our faculties.  The “spirit” realm relates to “relationship” in which we become so “one” with Jesus that it is now His voice speaking through us.  That which He spoke through a single body in His first coming, He is now speaking through a corporate body in preparation for His second coming.

“…And His voice as the sound of many waters.”  Revelation 1:15b

Jesus ordained twelve “that they should be with Him” (Mark 3:13-15).  When we become sufficiently identified with Jesus, He will send us forth as an expression of His life and ministry.  As we become fully submitted, with our self-life fully crucified, we are lifted from the “gift” realm into “the spirit of prophecy.”  Now, our ministry has become “the testimony of Jesus” and we can say with the Apostle Paul,

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me…”

  Galatians 2:20a

Now there is one voice - His voice as “the sound of many waters.”  This spirit realm will become much more prevalent in these last days, as the Lord begins to openly come forth within the overcomers - those who have so died to self that their lives have become the expression of His life.  Through these, “dominion authority,” (the creative word) for which Jesus fully paid the price, will begin to possess people, the nations, and the earth, and bring all together under Kingdom government.

The Lord is preparing a body of overcomers for this day.  Mary yielded her body to become the vehicle that brought the baby Jesus into this world to become our Savior (gift realm).  Today, may we also so yield that we become the vehicle that will bring the fully mature and glorified Jesus into full view, as the head of the corporate man child (spirit realm).

May our Lord cause this word, as being a “fertile seed,” to develop within us, that the “gift” realm may be lifted into the higher, unlimited “Spirit” realm, that His Kingdom may be fully established.