In the previous lesson, the purpose of the laying on of the hands was presented. The apostles laid their hands on selected others to confer gifts, which allowed the apostles to maintain control of who received the power. Otherwise, people like Simon the Sorcerer would misuse the gifts for their own selfish and ungodly reasons. This lesson will cover some manifestations of the Spirit.

A great discussion in the Corinthian church revolved around the Spirit and who had them. A search of the scriptures reveals that in each case of conferring the Spirit on to people the powers were limited to the following listed in I Corinthians 12:7-11: 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; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. Though Paul listed the various gifts, he doesn’t say that all the people at Corinth had all the gifts. He is pointing out that God has given to each one different ways of serving Jesus Christ.  The people were arguing about who could do what and which gift was the best. Paul said it wasn’t important; it was the service that counted. Could the Corinthian Christians pass on the gifts? Scriptures don’t indicate that they did or could and since it doesn’t, the correct assumption is they didn’t because they weren’t given the authority or power to do so.   

Paul in Romans wrote of the indwelling Spirit, which is the manifestation in this day and age, if that which can’t be seen or heard is a manifestation. Every Christian receives the indwelling Spirit at baptism. According to Paul, the indwelling Spirit is operative in several areas of life, three of which are found in Romans 8:9-11: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. The indwelling Spirit creates an identity for the believer, verse 9; Spirit is life verse10; and in verse 11, it will raise up the mortal body when the resurrection occurs.

Paul continues in verses 13-17: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. With the help of the Spirit, sinful deeds can be put away; being led by the Spirit signifies one is son of God; and the Spirit, in accord with our willing spirit as a believer, tells God that you, a believer, are his child, testifying for each believer, giving meaning to Jesus calling the Spirit the Comforter. (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; and 16:7)

Lastly, Paul wrote in verses 26-28: 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. 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. 28  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. The Spirit helps when the believers pray since even the believers don’t know how to pray effectively.

The role of the Holy Spirit was and is many and varied. The Spirit appeared to the eyes of early believers and caused the working of miracles through the laying on of the hands of the apostles. Now the Spirit indwells to help the believer, but he can’t be seen. Some may doubt and try to find some manifestation of the Spirit to ease the mind.  But Paul wrote in II Corinthians 5:7: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) which is the way of salvation now.  Belief in the indwelling Spirit is by faith. There is no other manifestation of the Holy Spirit now.

© 02-06-2003 DEC

Revised 03-15-2008

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