"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good..." (vs. 7).
These are specifically supernatural endowments by the Spirit that, when given, reveal His presence in our midst. The word used here is phanerosis. The root of the word is phanos, which means "light" or "lamp." So, it is a revealing of something that was hidden.
Imagine it this way: whenever a believer is present, the Holy Spirit is also present but hidden from our senses, like a lamp with a shade that completely covers the light. When the Holy Spirit decides to act through the believer, he imparts a charisma, that is, a gift (or what Dr. Russell Spittler called a grace-let). The believer is like a conduit to impart that grace-let in a way that blesses someone else. When that happens, it is like lifting the lampshade to reveal the light.
Paul never uses the word charismata (gifts) in the technical way we do today. Biblically, the charismata refer to more than just this list and more than just supernatural endowments. For instance, in another part of this same book, Paul refers to the ability to be celibate or married as charismata. "But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that" (1 Cor. 7: 7). However, this list describes a kind of charismata which I refer to as The Manifestation Gifts.
The writer of Hebrews uses another word for gift, doron, which refers to a parcel given to me. "God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will" (Heb. 2:4). But it still supports the same idea of God distributing supernatural impartations.
I organize the nine manifestation gifts in three groups:
1) The Revelation Gifts--Word of Knowledge, Word of Wisdom, Discerning of Spirits;
2) The Speaking Gifts--Prophecy, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues;
3) The Power Gifts--Gifts of Healings, Workings of Miracles, Gift of Faith.
Notice that through all these gifts, the church is empowered to SEE supernaturally, SPEAK supernaturally and ACT supernaturally.
A survey of the book of Acts shows that these kinds of manifestation gifts were evident through the church throughout its early expansion. Luke, like the writer of Hebrews, loves the term "signs, wonders and miracles." It was the manifestation of the Holy Spirit through believers in the early church that was like the uncovering of a lampshade to reveal the presence of God Himself. The manifestation of God's presence in this way confirmed the validity of the Gospel message and brought conviction. "God also testified to [the Gospel] by signs, wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit..."
"So Paul and Barnabus spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders" (Acts 14:3).
Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal His presence through you
to those around you?
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