You Don’t Have to Talk About What You Demonstrate

The Christian life is not just about words; it’s about action. It’s about living in such a way that your life becomes a testimony to the power of God working within you. As Paul said to the Corinthians, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit¹ and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4 KJV).

This verse highlights a crucial distinction: the difference between the demonstration of the Spirit and the demonstration of power. While both are important, they manifest in different ways.

Contrasting Demonstrations

Paul elaborates on these distinct manifestations in 1 Corinthians 12:7-10:

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the² Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy;³ to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.”⁴

From this passage, we can categorize the manifestations as follows:

• Demonstration of Power: Faith, Healing, Miracles
• Demonstration of Spirit: Wisdom, Knowledge, Prophecy, Discerning of spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of tongues

These manifestations are interconnected. Often, the demonstration of the Spirit, particularly through prophecy, precedes and activates the demonstration of power.

The Relationship Between Spirit and Power

Consider John the Baptist. He performed no miracles, yet Jesus affirmed his ministry: “And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true” (John 10:41⁵ KJV). John’s ministry was characterized by the demonstration of the Spirit, specifically prophecy. He prepared the way for Jesus, whose ministry was characterized by both the Spirit and power: “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him”⁶ (Acts 10:38 KJV).

It was John’s prophetic declaration, identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God, that initiated Jesus’ public ministry and the manifestation of His miraculous power.

Coming Out of the Gap

History reveals a pattern of God moving in 500-year strides, marked by periods of spiritual awakening and reformation. After 400 years of silence following Malachi, John the Baptist emerged, ushering in the era of Jesus. Similar shifts occurred around the end of the persecution of the early church, the time of Charlemagne, the Reformation with Martin Luther, and arguably, the present day.

John’s baptism was not about ritual cleansing; it was about identifying the One who would come in the Holy Ghost and power:

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I⁷ knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode⁸ upon him. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see⁹ the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost”¹⁰ (John 1:29-33 KJV).

A Time of Shift

We are living in a time of significant spiritual shift, perhaps comparable in magnitude to the Reformation. The prophet Hosea spoke of a time of restoration and revival:

“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.¹¹ Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth” (Hosea 6:1-3 KJV).

This passage speaks of God’s restorative power and the importance of pursuing Him. The “former and latter rain” symbolize the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, bringing refreshing and empowering believers for service. This outpouring is intricately linked to the demonstration of the Spirit, especially through prophecy, and the subsequent demonstration of power.

The Point of the Prophetic

The purpose of prophecy is not to impress or mystify but to edify and equip the body of Christ. Paul encourages all believers to prophesy: “For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted” (1 Corinthians 14:31 KJV).

Moses expressed a similar desire: “And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:29 KJV).

The ultimate goal is that all would know the Lord intimately: “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest¹² of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more”¹³ (Jeremiah 31:34 KJV).

This intimate knowledge of God is facilitated by the Holy Spirit: “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even¹⁴ as it hath taught you, ye shall¹⁵ abide in him” (1 John 2:27 KJV).

Who is the Prophet in Your Life?

While all believers are called to prophesy, God has also given specific individuals to the Church as prophets:

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto¹⁶ men… And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of¹⁷ the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:¹⁸ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby¹⁹ they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ” (Ephesians²⁰ 4:7-15 KJV).

These individuals play a vital role in guiding, encouraging, and maturing the body of Christ. It is crucial to recognize and honor those whom God has placed in your life as prophets, allowing their ministry to shape and strengthen your walk with the Lord.

In conclusion, the Christian life is not merely about talking the talk; it’s about walking the walk. It’s about allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you in both demonstration of the Spirit and power. As we embrace the prophetic and follow on to know the Lord, we will see His power manifested in our lives and through His Church in unprecedented ways.