Biblical principles and our obedience to them are vital keys concerning the authority Scripture brings to areas of personal need, such as healing to those who are physically, emotionally, spiritually or mentally impaired to varying degrees by debilitating points of oppression. These principles also relate to the revelational gifting’s (chrisms) such as words of knowledge, words of wisdom, prophetic utterances, ecstatic speech (tongues), that help the needy to receive a current word that is based upon the Eternal Word.
The grace manifestations are relational expressions that flow from both the Spirit’s presence and His desire to intervene within the matrix of human suffering as a willing agent of redemptive power. The ability to exercise the supernatural gifts are an operation of faith in God on the part of those who walk in relationship with Him. The church has been empowered to be naturally supernatural in its ability to perform the works of the Kingdom. These works are the external proofs of the living care of God in the lives of those who seek Him, and these grace operations have been designed by God to extend the Kingdom beyond the mere confines of intellectual ascent.
When faith is exercised and released through these principles you set up the possibility for good things to happen in the lives of those who live in need for divine intervention. Conversely, when these principles or rules are ignored, neglected, left to a place of inactivity, or are relegated to a place of disbelief due to theological prejudices, doubt and fear become the breeding ground for ignorance and shallowness concerning these applications. When these principles of the naturally supernatural lifestyle are consistently implemented in the life of the church, authority and confidence become the natural by products.
Spiritual gifts are the legacy of Holy Spirits activities among men.
Everyone who is born again receives Holy Spirit as an indwelling agent of redemption. He in turn grants us various abilities that help us in our personal walks and in the administration of Kingdom ministry as we yield to His presence and the desire for Him to empower us. They are grace expressions designed to bring glory to the Father as they visibly demonstrate the reality of the Kingdom of God in the midst of creation. These grace expressions are designed to enhance the ministry and the message we all carry, providing assistance for the Gospels proclamation and are available to all believers. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian Church. With these grace gifts comes the endowment of power for life and service. The bestowment of these gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry are for the entire Body of Christ (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4, 8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31).
These experiential phenomena are experiences such as: an overflowing fullness of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; Acts 4:8), a deepened reverence for God (Acts 2:43; Hebrews 12:28), an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work (Acts 2:42) and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost (Mark 16:20).
1) Relationship with God and Gift Operations
a) To be in proper relationship means that we are consistently experiencing a relationship with God that is growing and non-static, dynamic with hints of power that leads to an overcoming lifestyle, and an intimate relationship with the Lord as an end in itself; which means we are not in a platonic or intellectually functional relationship exclusively. By this we mean that our relationship is not confined to the need to find gratification on theological lines alone. The lifestyle of the believer is one that expresses a living dynamic, with divine presence and intervention as an ongoing extension of the relationship. This does not mean that the production of benefits alone is the exclusive domain of the participant in the divine interaction between humanity and God in order to remain in relationship. There will always be an functional intellectual component that for the relational quality that exists between man and God to be present. This relates to the fact that man was made in the imageo deo (divine image) and God is an intelligent, sentient being. But it is a grave mistake to think that the relational qualities God offers is sequestered to intellect alone. This would deny God access to the holistic component of man, who consists of body, soul and spirit.
b) All of the principles that are key to grace manifestations of the charismatic variations as an ongoing dynamic, and our ability to display the exercising of authority to demonstrate these said gifting’s, flow out of this truth which is simple to state, yet difficult to enact. Developing an intimate relationship with God, and in particular, Holy Spirit, is the key to success in this area. The history of theology in the western world has been prohibitive in this area throughout most of its existence, as there was an early proclivity to see the Holy Spirit as being subservient to the Father and the Son (processional theology). This view led many western theologians to develop an understanding that equated the Spirit as the church on earth, which becomes antithetical to the operational quality of the gifts.
2) Faith in what God has said (and may say through revelation)
a) We need to become intimately acquainted with what God has declared about us, and what God says about us in terms of our new identity that we have in Christ, the new position we have been placed into, and the divine commissioning we have been entrusted with as commissioned agents of redemption. The only way this can come into existence is by becoming a Berean, a disciplined student of the Word of God.
b) It is also imperative that we both know and believe what God has done through Jesus in His finished work as it applies to the act of destroying the enemy and his works of deception. Theology was never meant to be exclusive to debate. For theology to be effective, it has to have a living component. Discipleship means we are living enactors of the principles, dynamics and teachings of Scripture.
c) I have always found it interesting how that through simply believing God for what He has said, brings a measured release of authority, that is expressed in the union of the believer to God metaphysically. Some people did accept him. They believed in his name. He gave them the right to become children of God (John 1:12). The act of belief, which by necessity needs to be followed by action to become durable, should be a daily practice on the part of the members of the body of Christ
3) Obedience to His Spirit: both objectively and subjectively
a) Let’s be clear on this point: obedience always means we are doing what God says the Scriptures (objective). Obedience is the great releaser of reward and promotion. The ability to obey makes itself available through a growing knowledge of the Holy Bible, as it is the self-revelation of God and His desire to relate to us.
b) As objective knowledge and experience based upon the implementation of what we know grows, we then begin to listen for and then obey as quickly as possible the voice of the Spirit within. As we learn to decipher His voice as He speaks to our hearts, He will show us what the real issues are, leading us to real solutions and answers for the complexities we may be facing. It is essential to have an open heart to the giftings in order to enter into this level of operation.
c) This aspect of a Christian’s disciplined life is crucial, as < 1 Corinthians 12:7, Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good uses the Greek term phanerosis (Spirit) to identify Holy Spirit. The Scripture tells us that He desires to manifest Himself, or make Himself known in a visible and tangible way. The only way a ghost becomes visible is to shine through another object (believer’s lives). The Greek indicates that phaneros (manifestation) literally means to make visible, evident, to reveal, revelation, appearance, to appear, to show, to be visible in a magnificent way. Each of these applications apply to the term manifestation (Kittle’s).
d) What this means to us is that God reveals Himself in everyday life through the chrisms (grace/gifts) as a means of revealed glory. God shines like a phosphorus light through the demonstration of the miraculous as His people obey His Word and ways4) Submissive attitude. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it (Matthew 8:9). “Under authority therefore, having authority. . .”)
a) The opening volley of submission starts with us learning how to be in a living relationship, which brings us into direct harmony with God. Learning to live at this strategic place of residence helps us to be in a position to both know and do His will as we willingly submit to Him.
b) Secondarily, learning to live in harmony with the brethren becomes an essential component of the naturally supernatural individual, as we walk in harmony with each other, instructing one another and encouraging one another. As we receive and learn from the many and varied ministries God has brought into our lives, and apply the lessons others pour into us, submission to others helps us to walk in a place of obedience and accountability.
5) Developing a servant’s heart
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)
a) If you want to be a person who has authority, you have to practice from the only place it is released. Authority only comes through service, which means we must constantly position ourselves to minister to people, inside and outside of the body.
Servanthood does not necessarily flow through structural position. It can, but only if the structure makes allowance for relationship to supersede the implementation the structure. This deficiency accounts for most, if not all eventual problems that develop in improper authority structures in the church.
b) Healing is one way God’s favor is placed on open display through those who develop a servant attitude and develop a faith injecting belief system that coincides with their activities: “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’” (Luke 10:9). We are ambassadors of healing who proclaim that the Kingdom is near. As we lay our hands on the sick, Jesus’ love and favor flow through us to minister to them. As ambassadors, we are called to announce to the sick, tormented, troubled, the ‘who-so-evers’ that they can be freed from the bondage of sickness.
c) Delivering the oppressed is also a sign of God’s favor demonstrated among us: the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” (Luke 10:17). The seventy had authority in Jesus’ name to set the captives free from oppression and bondage, as they obeyed the mandates of Kingdom enforcement
6) Faithful Stewardship: Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with the two talents also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 “Then the man who had received the one talent came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 25:14-30).a) Becoming diligent and persistent in what God has gifted us for, and commissioned us with (supernatural
al expressions), releases us into a greater operation of authority. The ability to practice and practice and practice… brings us into a place of mastery, or at least increased ability.
b) Stewardship implies that we have an ability to oversee that, which is not naturally ours. In other words, we are looking out for someone else’s possessions. The term steward, administrator and dispensation all have a common Greek root (oikonomos). The implication of the term relates specifically to economy and treasury.
c) It is probably best to state that in this period or dispensary of grace, God uses us to administrate over the disbursement of His treasury as it relates to the supernatural. In order to ensure proper disbursement, He has chosen to dwell within us, overseeing the advancements we make, as He disciples us through our faithful application of His provisions and the acts of obedience we follow through with in relationship to His Word.
d) Our application of His presence, power and displaying of His Word serves as an external adornment, showing the viability of His Kingdom in real and tangible ways that extend beyond the constraints of logic and philosophy. Oikos (GR.) literally means house, it addresses the dwelling place where God Tabernacles: our hearts and lives. The external adornment application can be seen as a gracelet. There are spiritual applications that hang suspended from the gracelet, which are available to the practitioner of spiritual disciplines to remove and impart to the needy through prayer, proclamation and the laying on of hands.
7) Proclaiming the Word of the Kingdom.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” (Mark 1:27).
a) There is great power in the proclamation of the tongue. Scripture teaches that the power of life and death are contained in the tongue, Your tongue has the power of life and death. Those who love to talk will eat the fruit of their words (Proverbs 18:21). We as believers are to walk with a measured (controlled) tongue that speaks about the Kingdom truths we have embraced and are beginning to control us. It is no coincidence that the gift offices that are elder in operation and function, and that all of these gifts to the church for its administration relate to the proclamation functions of the Gospel: the apostolic, the office of the prophetic, the evangelists, and the pastor/teachers.
b) Speak to the sickness or problem by commanding it to do what God is saying to you. Note that being loud will not release more authority.
c) We need to include our understanding of the in vocational welcome we put out for Holy Spirit’s presence to be with us and among us. When we pray, it is more than appropriate to state: Come! Remember, we are not commanding or controlling Holy Spirit. We are merely agreeing with Him as to what He desires to do any way.
d) The prayer: come acknowledges that we are interceding, that we are putting out a banner of welcome, it serves as a statement of faith verbally, by making this declaration, we are simply agreeing with what is occurring, and the prayer come is a prophetic proclamation relating to what is about to erupt on the scene. We demonstrate the power of our relationship with God through this release of authority that comes through the proclamation of the good news and through prayer.
8) To bind and/or loose representing Kingdom authority; I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. What you lock on earth will be locked in heaven. What you unlock on earth will be unlocked in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19).