It is interesting to note that this listing is not of nine gifts given to an individual. Rather, these are nine ways in which Holy Spirit is manifested. Jesus' word to His disciples was that when The Holy Spirit came He would guide us into all truth.
One of the ways that He uses to "guide" us, is with supernatural manifestations.

Once again, these are not gifts given to us. They are ways that Holy Spirit will "use" in order to reveal truth to people.
It is true that once someone has been "used" in a manifestation of Holy Spirit, that person will be likely to be used in the same way in the future. However, the emphasis should be on the truth given rather than the individual used in it's delivery. (Remember God's use of Balaam's donkey in the delivering of a word to Balaam).

• Revelation
  
  
  • Word of Knowledge - To be made aware of a particular matter. This is often effectively used to illustrate to an individual that God is aware of their situation and tends to give them hope of a supernatural solution to the solving of problems.
    The word of knowledge will often define a situation that exists and then a word of wisdom will be given to provide a solution to that problem.
  
  
  • Word of Wisdom - An insight into the true nature of things. A word of wisdom will often be delivered by an individual who may or may not be conversant with all of the "facts" of a matter that is of concern.
    Also, that person may or may not say, "Thus saith the Lord". It is not necessary to "sound spiritual" while giving any of the revelation words.
  
  
  • Faith - This is a manifestation of faith that is beyond "the measure of faith" that is given to each individual Christian.
    When supernatual faith is given, There is a strong unction that will not allow an individual to back down from a particular course of action. To renounce the projected couse of action would result in that person's being in direct disobedience of God.
    Someone moving in supernatural faith, "knows that he knows that he knows".
  
  
  
• Power


• Gifts of Healing - Divinely imparted cures for particular ailments. Notice that "gifts" is plural.
  It is not uncommon for someone to be primarily used for specific ailments, such as headaches, cancer, arthritis, etc.
  However, we should always remember that all of these sicknesses have been "put under our feet". We have both the authority and direction to stand against any sickness that may come against us.
  Nevertheless, there have been times for all of us that a supernatural gift of healing was necessary for us to obtain a manifested healing.
  Note: there is also the "walk of faith" that is necessary to maintain a healing that we have received.


• Working of Miracles - This can include any number of supernatural occurances.
  The one thing that they will all have in common is that they are centered in the will of God and happen with precise timing.
  When Jesus healed the ten lepers, this was of course, an example of healing. When two of the lepers returned to thank and worship Jesus, they then received miracles in their bodies.
  Do you recall? Jesus said, "Be thou made whole".
  To be healed, means that the disease is stopped. To then have your mutilated fingers, toes, and nose restored to their former state before the disease, this is to be "made whole".
  Note: The general difference between a healing and a miracle is that a miracle is often instantaneous while a healing will begin to occur and will then take a period of time before the healing is completely manifested. This is not always true but can be used as a general "rule of thumb".


• Prophecy - This can include both prediction (fore-telling) as well as declaring (forth-telling).
  Foretelling will give specific things that will happen in the future. When giving a prophecy, it is a good idea to refrain from the use of dates or times unless specifically directed The Spirit. The reason for this is that the actions of people can have an effect on the coming together of events. In fact, as with the people of Ninevah in response to Jonah's prophecy, a predicted event can change completely whenever a people will repent.

  DIFFERENCE IN PROPHECIES

  During the times of the First Covenant (Old Testament), prophecies or words from prophets were the primary means for God's people to receive directions and instructions. Because of this, the Old Testament prophet was not allowed any mistakes.
  However, with the new covenant, we have the Word "ingrained in our hearts" as well as having the written word of God. Because of this, the Prophet has no more responsibility or penalty on him or her than do any of the others in the "five fold ministries".


• Spoken


• Discerning of Spirits - A supernatural determination of whether a particular individual or occurance is of God or of Satan.
  If something or someone is directed or controlled of Satan, the name or characteristic of the particular spirit or spirits will often be revealed.
  Note: This is different from intuition which can also be helpful in a more limited way.


• Tongues - languages The phenomenon of "speaking in tongues" can actually be divided into three categories. They are:
  
  • Speaking in an earthly language that one has not previously learned.
    This will often be in a group setting to the people of a different language. This is what happened on the Day of Pentecost.
  
  
  • Speaking in an assembly in either a heavenly or earthly language other than your own, to provide a revelation which someone will then interpret.
    Note: If no one then interprets a "tongue", we are to pray that we can have the interpretation.
  
  
  • Your private prayer language. This is provided to every believer at their initial infilling of the Holy Spirit. According to scripture, you will be speaking "mysteries", but the Holy Spirit is directing your prayer into areas of which you may not be aware. He will also be praying the "perfect will of God".
  
  
• Interpretaion of Tongues - Interpreting to those present, what was said in an unknown language.
  It is not often practiced, but you can also explain why something has been occuring in a meeting that is not readily apparent to everyone present.

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