God made me a “teacher” before He fulfilled my desire to be a “missionary.” I taught Primary grades in public school and later taught Piano lessons in Private Schools; but my favorite times were teaching under our Chaplain Sandy at Valley State Prison for Women. I loved the Leadership Class of twelve women serving “Life Without Parole.” Chaplain Sandy watched their spiritual growth and allowed them to conduct “their own” Seminar! They led Praise & Worship, taught and preached the Word, sang solos and duets, then individually prayed with their inmate sisters on a Saturday in the VSPW Chapel…a first for any prison ministry! Here’s our teaching “Using Gifts of the Holy Spirit.”
When the Holy Spirit comes into your life at Salvation, He brings nine gifts with Him. They are to be used in your daily living. God anoints you with His power and wants to release His potential in you to “go forth and do good” like Jesus did. You learn to activate these gifts by praying-in-the Spirit, filling yourself with His Word, and staying connected to JESUS, the Vine.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised…
You can study these gifts in I Corinthians 12 & 14 and the book of Acts. They are best understood and applied when divided into three Groups.
REVELATION, “mind gifts”: are usually FIRST to be used in various situations. Word of wisdom, Word of knowledge, & Discerning of spirits. When praying for someone, the Holy Spirit may bring a scripture or a mental-picture to your mind which may be the answer. Ask the Holy Spirit to show “how to pray” it for them.
INSPIRATION, “vocal gifts”: Tongues, Interpretations, & Prophesy are often used AFTER you have a thought or “picture” of a situation. Learn to pray it for the person to understand. “To prophesy is to ‘speak aloud’ the potential of a thing!” (Quote by Jack Hayford)
POWER, “working gifts”: often FOLLOW vocal gifts…you are “to do” something! Faith, Healing, & Miracles. Our faith is activated, we pray and expect God to answer.
You should be ready for the Holy Spirit to use you to help someone at any time. JESUS is the WORD! When we PRAY using the WORD, we are bringing JESUS into the situation. It is WHY we should keep our mind clear & “focused on Jesus.”
NOTE: FRUIT of the Spirit GROWS. GIFTS of the Spirit OPERATE.