Contending to Operate in the Gifts of the Spirit
I. THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH: PROPHETIC SERVANT COMMUNITY
A. Prophetic – operating in the gifts of the Spirit which is foundational to functioning as a body
7 The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of
wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by
the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 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. 11 The Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He
wills. 12 For…all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
(1 Corinthians 12:7-12)
B. Servant – servant spirit based on Sermon on the Mount character and lifestyle
26 Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. (Matthew 20:26)
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For
I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you… 17 If you know these things, blessed
are you if you do them. (John 13:14-17)
C. Community – operating as a spiritual family by all having several good “Kingdom friendships” in which they walk out
the Kingdom lifestyle by serving and sharing their life in God in a deeply personal way. They share one another’s joys and
burdens. The community dimension only works and deepens to the degree that we genuinely serve our friends and share
the Word and operate in Spirit in our relationship with them. “Kingdom friendship” must not lack a servant spirit and a life
flow in the Spirit together, thus, being deduced to a social club or fraternity.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)
II. THE PROPHETIC ANOINTING IS THE INHERITANCE OF EVERY BELIEVER
7 The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…11 the Spirit works all these things,
distributing to each one individually…31 Earnestly desire the best gifts. (1 Corinthians 12: 7, 11, 31)
1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy...3 he who prophesies speaks
edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4…he who prophesies edifies the church… 24 If all prophesy,
and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all. 25 The secrets of his heart are
revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. 31 For
you can all prophesy one by one… (1 Corinthians 14:1-4, 24-25, 31)
17 It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And
on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; they shall prophesy.
19…before the coming of the great… day of the LORD. (Acts 2:17-19)
III. WE MUST WELCOME AND HONOR THE HOLY SPIRIT: ASKING FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
A. We must be intentional about receiving the Spirit’s prophetic leading when we gather. We do this simply by asking
the question, “What are you doing Lord?” Ask the Lord to give you prophetic impressions, even one phrase that gives a
“hint” as
to what the Lord might want to do.
19 Jesus answered…, "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)
9 To be filled with the knowledge of His will in wisdom and spiritual understanding… (Colossians 1:9)
17 May give the spirit of revelation in the knowledge of Him (what’s on God’s heart). (Ephesians 1:17)
10 For the testimony of Jesus (what is on God’s heart) is the spirit of prophecy… (Revelation 19:10)
B. Watchfulness: the simple act of asking this question creates the necessary spiritual environment as it opens the gate
of our heart to receive prophetic impressions. We do not have prophetic direction simply because we do not ask (James 4:2).
2 You do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2)
C. Being watchful includes asking and being attentive to what God is saying when we gather.
7 Be serious and watchful in your prayers (1 Peter 4:7)
18 Praying always…being watchful to this end with all perseverance (Ephesians 6:18)
D. We must specifically ask this 5-10 times in preparation before a worship meeting. The worship teams may pray this at
the briefing and then ask it another 5-10 times during the worship time. We want to be intentional about our focus to receiving
the Spirit’s prophetic leading in our worship gatherings (IHOP, FCF, EGS, etc), FSM classes, baptisms, small group (E-12
groups, home groups etc.), friendship and fellowship times.
26 Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation,
has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
E. Do not feel pressure to come up with something. Neither fear experimenting or taking a risk. We must be faithful in
small things by giving expression to the impressions the Lord gives us.
F. We can use four basic categories to ask for prophetic direction in ministry times whether we are in corporate
worship meetings or small group meetings.
1). Heart issues: Impartation of positive things (call to refocus on intimacy, receive revelation or impartation of grace).
Freedom from negatives (grace to overcome bondages, compromise, oppression, torment, discouragement,
condemnation, etc.)
2). Personal Circumstances: Positives (new job opportunity). Negatives (crisis in their family, job, economics, being
mistreated, need for direction, law suit, etc.)
3). Physical healing: words or knowledge on specific needs or general healing
4) Ministry impartation: prophetic spirit, evangelism, intercession
Contending to Operate in the Gifts of the Spirit - Part 2
I. THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT IS THE INHERITANCE OF EVERY BELIEVER
7 The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of
wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by
the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 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. 11 the Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually…
(1 Corinthians 12:7-11)
31 For you can all prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:31)
17 It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons
and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.
18 On My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; they shall prophesy.
19…before the coming of the great…day of the LORD. (Acts 2:17-19)
17 These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new
tongues 18…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover…20 They went out and preached
everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word… (Mark 16:17-20)
II. WE MUST WELCOME AND HONOR THE HOLY SPIRIT: ASKING FOR HIS LEADERSHIP
A. We must be intentional about receiving the Spirit’s prophetic leading when we gather in large or small groups or in
social gatherings. We do this simply by asking the question, “What are you doing Lord?” Ask the Lord to give you
prophetic impressions. One simple phrase from the Spirit gives us a “hint” as to what the Lord might want to do.
19 Jesus answered…, "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)
B. Jesus embraced significant limitations in His humanity as He walked by faith in relying on the Spirit to work miracles.
Jesus’ life is the model of operating by faith and reliance on the Spirit.
17 In all things He had to be made like His brethren…18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted,
He is able to aid those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18)
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points
tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
C. The spirit of Elijah operates with the prophetic whisper of God (still small voice).
11 The LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains…and after the wind an
earthquake…12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire (wind or earthquake); and
after the fire a still small voice. 13 When Elijah heard it…suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are
you doing here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19:11-13)
D. We seek to receive the prophetic whisper of God (Spirit’s impressions) in our heart. We must be faithful to act on it
by giving expression to it. The Kingdom operates on the “Gen. 1 principle.” First God’s word is spoken forth, then the Spirit
releases His power in response to it.
2 The earth was without form, and void…and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. (Genesis 1:2-3)
E. I compare functioning in the prophetic to putting up the sail in a boat on a lake during a calm day. When it seems
there is no breeze, the sail catches even the most gentle breeze that just barely moves the boat. However, it does move!
A similar dynamic occurs when we ask the Lord what He is doing. We may not see a great move of the “boat,” but it will
often slightly move.
F. Being watchful involves the simple act of asking and being attentive to what the Spirit is doing. This simple question
creates the necessary spiritual environment for God to move through us. The question postures us by opening “the gate
of our heart” to receive prophetic impressions.
7 Be serious and watchful in your prayers… (1 Peter 4:7)
18 Praying always…being watchful to this end with all perseverance… (Ephesians 6:18)
G. Watching: asking and being attentive to what God is saying is an aspect of the hearing of faith.
2Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Galatians 3:2)
H. We often do not have prophetic impressions simply because we do not ask for them.
2 You do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2)
I. Ask the Lord what He would do if we gave Him room. God will give us impressions that communicate to us what He is
willing to do. We must give expression to those impressions.
9 To be filled with the knowledge of His will in wisdom and spiritual understanding… (Col 1:9)
17 May give the spirit of revelation in the knowledge of Him (what’s on God’s heart). (Ephesians 1:17)
10 For the testimony of Jesus (what is on God’s heart) is the spirit of prophecy… (Revelation 19:10)
J. One way we prepare the way of the Lord is by taking the time to ask what the Lord is doing (putting up our sail)
so as to receive prophetic impressions, then taking the risk to express them.
I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You. 3 The voice of one crying:
“Prepare the way of the LORD…" (Mark 1:2-3)
K. When we pray for specific people or for a specific meeting, our spirit becomes sensitized and connected to God’s
heart (for those people or meetings). It postures us to receive prophetic whispers from God about them. The worship team
should ask the Spirit 5-10 times what He is doing in preparation before they lead a worship meeting. The worship teams
should pray this in the briefing and then ask the question another 5-10 times during the worship time. We want to be
intentional about our focus to receiving the Spirit’s prophetic leading in our worship gatherings (IHOP, FCF, EGS, etc),
FSM classes, baptisms, small groups (E-12 groups, home groups etc.), friendship and fellowship times, at the business
meeting, in the market place, on phone calls, at the mall, during home schooling or at your children’s soccer game, etc.
26 Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation,
has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
III. MEASURING GOD’S PRESENCE: GRATEFUL AND FAITHFUL IN SMALL BEGINNINGS
10 For who has despised the day of small things? (Zechariah 4:10)
A. In our pride, we can easily despise the smallness of God’s power in our midst. We must be faithful and grateful for
God’s presence in the “pre-revival small measure” of His manifest anointing. The measure of God’s manifest presence will
be significantly increased when God releases a season of revival, but we can grow much before such revival seasons.
19 Repent…so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord… (Acts 3:19)
B. Analogy: on a scale of 1 to 10, in times of great revival, the measure of refreshing from God’s presence with miracles
and power may be somewhere between 7 to 10. Today, the Church is functioning at about level 1 or 2, but with faithfulness
and diligence we can see level 3-5 even in a pre-revival time. In other words, there is much increase to receive now even
before revival.
C. John G. Lake faithfully functioned with a small measure of manifest power in healing for years while continually
seeking the greater breakthrough of the Spirit. He functioned in one of the most powerful healing anointings in Church
history.
D. Many of us must repent of despising the day of small beginnings and of being content with far too small a measure
of God’s power in our midst.
17 Because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities. (Luke 19:17)
10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much… (Luke 16:10)
21 You were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. (Matthew 25:21)
E. We must be grateful and faithful in the days of small beginnings. We must be faithful in small things by giving
expression to the impressions the Lord gives us.
F. It is God’s power that works when even 10% of someone’s headache is genuinely healed. It is not the work of the
devil nor of human ability if it is when any measure of healing suddenly comes. God usually starts by releasing very small
measures of His power. However, it is still the power of God. We must honor it as such and not despise it.
G. We are grateful for every good thing that comes from God’s hand. We cry out for revival because we see what we
lack, but we give thanks as we see what we have. The tension is being grateful for and faithful in the small measure of
power that we walk in God while being desperate for a greater measure of manifest power.
H. Some are only interested in God’s power when it is manifest as an unusual and dramatic measure. They will only
be zealous to function in healing and the prophetic spirit when there is a significant measure of release. In other words,
they want to walk in the prophetic on their terms instead of God’s terms. It takes humility to walk with God on His terms of
being faithful and grateful in the days of smallness.
IV. WE MUST ACTIVELY DESIRE AND SEEK TO PROPHESY
31 Earnestly desire the best gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:31)
1 Desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 31 For you can all prophesy. (1 Corinthians 14:1)
A. We seek His face first, however then we must seek His hand or the manifestation of His power.
B. We desire or seek the spiritual gifts by praying for them, making room for them and then functioning in them even in
the days of small beginnings. God will give us more if we desire or hunger for it.
C. Prayer sensitizes our spirit to receive more prophetic whispers of God or impressions for people. Fasting increases
and accelerates our capacity to discern impressions from the Spirit. We must repent of not aggressively desiring to
prophesy and of despising the small measure of the Spirit that God releases.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways
acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and
depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:5-7)
D. We must not harden our heart to God’s still small voice.
4 The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season
to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned.
5 The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away. (Isaiah 50:4-5)
The Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 do not harden your heart…” (Hebrews 3:7-8)