The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (3)

Lesson Two: Historic and Global Evidences

📖 Zechariah 4:6

“So he answered me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD of Armies.”

Introduction: Divine Communication

God has never ceased to speak to His people. From Genesis to Revelation, the Spirit of God reveals, empowers, and inspires His church. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are divine communication channels through which Heaven transmits supernatural wisdom, revelation, and power to the earth.

The operation of the Spirit’s gifts is not an optional expression for “charismatic believers” — it is the lifeline of the Church. Without the Holy Spirit’s manifestation, the Church becomes an institution rather than a living, Spirit-filled organism.

1. Communication Through the Spirit

The Gifts of the Spirit are divine communications transmitted from the Holy Trinity through the channel of the Holy Spirit into the Church of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:4–7 — “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit… Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

Howard Carter wrote, “The gifts of the Spirit are the tools of divine communication whereby God reveals His mind, executes His will, and manifests His power through men.”

These gifts function in three primary areas:

Revelation — The mind of God revealed (Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Discerning of Spirits).

Power — The hand of God demonstrated (Faith, Healing, Miracles).

Inspiration — The voice of God declared (Prophecy, Tongues, Interpretation). Together they make the Church an invincible force — stronger than any power known on the earth.

A Conquering Christ

Jesus Christ came not only to redeem but to conquer. His ministry was a manifestation of the anointing of the Holy Spirit — the same Spirit now residing in the believer.

Scriptural Foundation

Acts 10:38 — “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Luke 4:1 — “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit…”

Luke 4:18–19 — “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me…”

If Jesus operated in divine power as God, we could not follow His example. But if His ministry was directed, guided, and empowered by the Holy Spirit — then we too can walk as He walked.

“The works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do” (John 14:12).

Kenneth Hagin wrote, “The same Holy Spirit who anointed Jesus has come to dwell in us. The believer is not helpless. He has the power of God within to do the works of Christ.”

Old Testament Evidence

The Old Testament is filled with Spirit-anointed men and women who foreshadowed the Spirit-filled life:

Moses — led Israel by the pillar of cloud and fire, a symbol of the Spirit’s presence (Exodus 33:14–15).

David — operated in prophetic song, warfare strategy, and supernatural courage (1 Samuel 16:13).

Daniel — interpreted dreams by the Spirit of God (Daniel 5:11–12).

If these heroes functioned under the anointing before Pentecost, how much more should the Spirit-indwelt Church demonstrate His power today!

“If the same Spirit that was in them is available now, then the works that they did, we can do.”

The New Testament Church: Empowered and Victorious

The Church in Acts burst forth from the Upper Room clothed with power. In one generation, they challenged pagan Rome, confronted Greek philosophy, and broke the hold of witchcraft in barbarian tribes. Their success was not by intellect or organization but by demonstration of the Spirit and power (1 Corinthians 2:4).

The Pattern for the Church Today

The early Church used the gifts of the Spirit to win victories.

1 Corinthians 4:20 — “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.”

The modern Church can do the same works and win the same victories when it yields to the Spirit.

Gifts: Freely Given, Powerfully Necessary

James 1:17 — “Every good and perfect gift is from above…”

The gifts are not earned or deserved — they are received by grace through faith.

Yet, though free, they are not optional. They are the Church’s weapons of defense and offense.

Without them, the Church is helpless before the world, the flesh, and the devil. Rodney Howard-Browne says, “The Church without the power of the Holy Spirit is like a soldier sent into battle with no weapons, or a lamp with no oil.”

The Battle of the Spirit

The Church’s conflict is not natural but spiritual. We are engaged in invisible warfare against principalities, powers, and demonic systems.

Scripture References

Ephesians 6:10–12 — “Put on the full armor of God… our struggle is not against flesh and blood.”

2 Corinthians 10:3–4 — “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”

Illustrations

The Gifts of the Spirit to the believer are what the stone was to David against Goliath.

They are what the jawbone of a donkey was to Samson.

To fight the enemy without the Spirit’s power is to face an armed foe barehanded.

Jesus’ Strategy for Victory

Matthew 12:29 — “How can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man?” Only through the Spirit’s power can we bind the strong man and plunder his goods — freeing souls from sin, sickness, and bondage.

When darkness is pushed back, it is done according to Zechariah 4:6 —

“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.”

Historic and Global Evidences

Throughout history and across the globe, the operation of the Spirit’s gifts has proven to be the mark of true revival.

Early Church (1st Century): Miracles, tongues, prophecy, and healing turned cities upside down (Acts 2–5).

Azusa Street Revival (1906): The baptism of the Holy Spirit swept the world, igniting Pentecostal fire in over 100 nations within a decade.

Modern Testimonies: Missionaries, evangelists, and believers around the world continue to operate in gifts of healing, words of knowledge, and miracles confirming the Gospel (Mark 16:20).

These global evidences testify that the Spirit’s gifts were never meant for one age or people — they are God’s ongoing partnership with His Church to manifest His Kingdom.

Untapped Power in the Church

The greatest amount of latent power on the earth today resides in the Body of Christ. The Spirit of God has not diminished; only the Church’s awareness and faith in His power have.

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” – Ephesians 5:14

The Church must awaken, clothed in revelation, power, and inspiration, ready to fulfill the Great Commission. Kenneth Hagin once declared, “The world will not be won by theology, but by the demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”

The Call to Action

Awaken — Refuse spiritual complacency.

Equip — Study and flow in the nine gifts.

Engage — Take authority over darkness.

Expect — Supernatural results.

When the Church operates under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, it becomes an unstoppable force — a Spirit-empowered army fulfilling Jesus’ words:

“You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…” (Acts 1:8).

Reflection & Discussion Questions

Why is it vital to understand that Jesus ministered by the Holy Spirit and not merely by divine nature?

What are the three major categories of the gifts of the Spirit, and how does each empower the Church today?

In what ways can the modern Church reclaim the power of the early Church?

What does Zechariah 4:6 mean to you personally in the context of ministry or spiritual warfare?

What “untapped power” lies within you that the Holy Spirit desires to awaken?