“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12 NKJV

Imagine a world, if you will, where every believer could do the works of Jesus Christ, and did them on a regular basis! Healings would happen on street corners, miracles of provision would be daily occurrences, wonderous inventions would come online regularly to serve the needs of all, beauty and art would fill everything from architecture to music, movies and entertainment. Liberty would reign for all people and nations! Though not destroyed, demons would be suppressed, and criminal activity would be rooted out and neutralized, with many of the criminals getting saved. Such a world is possible, right now!

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Cor 3:17NKJV

I’m writing my research proposal which will eventually be chapter one of my doctoral dissertation. A small group of us have been on a quest for the last eighteen months to get to this point, with wonderful professors in a small online setting, meeting twice weekly, and getting STRETCHED intellectually and spiritually. My research deals with the genius anointing, the word of wisdom. In your research proposal among other things you must write a central theological argument to support your hypothesis, your basic theory. My argument centers around a study of 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. I thought you would enjoy reading a portion (about 2400 out of 7000 words) of that study to challenge and inspire you to believe that the above imagined world…is possible! Please let me know what you think…

“4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 

Now here we come to the verses that form the central tenets of our discussion. We will take the time to analyze these verses in detail. Verses four through six detail the believers’ calling that God calls them to in that season. Callings can change, grow and decrease, and can be limited by time or renewed. But in each of those callings, regardless of the season, the whole triune nature of the Godhead is focused on that believer’s individual success, and the corporate success of the body of believers. Verses seven through twelve deal with the TOOLs the Godhead gives to each believer to enable them to be successful in whatever they are called to do.

…There are diversities (Grk. DIAIRESIS) of gifts (Grk. CHARISMATA), but the same Spirit…

The Greek word DIAIRESIS indicates differences through God’s choice or option. It is so used in all three verses. The Greek word CHARISMATA means gifts that come by grace. Grace is the loving favor of God that is given freely to all who will receive. Grace can be seen as an acronym – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Jesus paid it all for our redemption FROM sin and our redemption UNTO the graciousness of God our Father in all His fullness. It is impossible to overstate the greatness of grace! The CHARISMATA gifts of grace can include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, even miracle workers. In fact, each of the tools we will see in verses seven through eleven could also be given as ministries, and all by the grace of God.

But let’s take the time to understand DIAIRESIS. DIAIRESIS demonstrates the sovereignty of the Lord in our lives.

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided (Grk. DIAIREO) unto them his living. Luke 15:12 KJV

DIAIRESIS is only used in the Greek New Testament here in verses four through six, but the verb form DIAIREO is used two other times. In Luke the father divides, distributes or separates his goods among his two sons. The sons don’t choose what they want, they accept the father’s separation as fair and just. In Corinthians it is not us who chooses our calling, but it is separated unto us by the Father. In the Church we see people separating themselves out to be in a calling they may not be called to, but this is a prescription for failure. In true ministry the Lord does the separation!

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2-3 NKJV

Wherever you are, you believe that the Lord put you there and do your very best and seek to apply his gifts in that calling. If you are a dishwasher, make those dishes shine, and let the Lord show you how to reorganize the kitchen. Then He can promote you. Bloom where you are planted. If God calls you as a pastor, and He gives you ONE person to pastor, then be faithful with that one, and God will give you more. One great example of this humble acceptance and enthusiastic work is Joseph.

The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. Gen 39:2-4 NKJV

Joseph was unjustly taken as a slave. He had every reason to be sullen, resentful and angry, but he served the Lord with all his might in whatever he did, and the Lord prospered him. Whether it was Potiphar’s house, the prison, or finally the second to the king, he walked in favor because he did it as a ministry to the Lord whom he loved.

There are differences by God’s choice or option of CHARISMATA, and DIAKONIA.

…There are differences (Grk. DIAIRESIS) of ministries (Grk. DIAKONIA), but the same Lord…

DIAKONIA refers to ways of serving. This is much broader than just service in the Church. Colossians 3:23 indicates that all that we can do, in every category of life and work – doctor, lawyer, housewife, mother, construction worker, student, bricklayer or politician, etc. – can be DIAKONIA, ways of serving the Lord. Joseph was serving the Lord when he was Prime Minister of Egypt, and through his political ministry with the genius anointing the Lord saved the nations. Same was true with Mary the mother of Jesus, and Joseph His adopted father, who taught Him to be a carpenter! Bezalel was an artificer, a metallurgist, who through the genius anointing and his team, created the Tabernacle with all its instruments. It’s true of every believer today!

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. Col 3:23-24 NKJV

With this broader understanding of DIAKONIA, we will see that everything can be a calling, and a ministry, that the believer can then use the gifts of the Spirit as tools to accomplish that ministry.

And there are diversities (Grk. DIAIRESIS) of activities (Grk. ENERGEMA), but it is the same God who works (Grk. ENERGEO) all in all. 

ENERGEMA is only used twice in the Greek New Testament, here and in verse ten – ‘workings of miracles.’ We can conclude that miraculous energizing of the power of God can be seen in every believer’s life in every category of what they are called to do! The janitor can work miracles, the construction worker, the architect, the teacher, the housewife, the politician, and on and on as they approach their life’s work – whatever you do, do it heartily – as a calling of God and humbly seek to bring His presence and power into that endeavor.

What astonishes me as well is that in verses four through six we see the triune nature of the living God – Lord, Spirit, God – intimately involved in each believer’s life with the purpose of making them a success for His glory. Teaching these verses accurately with the accompanying truths of verses seven through twelve would revolutionize the discipleship ministry of the Church.

In verses four through eleven we see the breakdown like this:

                4-6: The calling of the believer.

                7-11: The tools available to fulfill the calling.

The Lord never made a failure. He calls us to success because He gives us the mighty tools to accomplish whatever He has called us to do.

But the manifestation (Grk. PHANEROSIS) of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:  

‘the manifestation’ – PHANEROSIS is an appearance or a demonstration whose root word is PHAINO meaning to lighten or shine, be seen. It’s used in the singular indicating all nine are available to be used by the believer.

‘Is given’ – The Greek word DIDOMAI meaning to give, thus implying that demonstration of the Spirit comes as a gift to the believer by grace. We don’t work to earn the gifts of the Spirit; we put ourselves in a place of submission where God can give them to us.

‘to each one’ – To each born again one without respect of persons. It’s amazing how young children can learn to hear the voice of God and carry out His instructions with very accurate results. Their pure hearts and unfettered faith are the perfect seed bed for the plantings of God.

‘for the profit of all’ – Profit is synonymous with benefit or blessing, indicating something valuable. Every gift or demonstration of the Spirit comes to glorify Jesus and bless the individual receiver and the Church, the ‘of all.’ It can even bring great blessing to the unbelieving world. Paul survived the shipwreck in the hurricane by the gift of faith and the working of a miracle and so did all the other people on that ship. Where we go, people live!

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, 

‘To one’ – meaning to one benefit. ‘One’ is a pronoun which is controlled by its nearest associated noun which here is ‘profit.’ The noun can substitute for its pronoun so that the verse would read ‘for to one benefit is given…’ Each gift brings a unique benefit that can be used to the greatest possible extent for the blessing of the believer, the Church and the glory of Christ.

Some have taught wrongly about this verse saying that the believer can only receive one gift. But we have just seen in verse seven that the ninefold demonstration of the Spirit is given to each born again one. Proving the fallacy of the one gift theory is easy from Scripture. James says the gift of the word of wisdom is given to any born again one by faith. Paul says it is God’s will that all speak in tongues, and that we are to prophesy by faith. There are three of the gifts! If we wanted to take the time, easily all six others could be shone to be available to every believer. The ‘one gift’ theory is dead, thank the Lord.

What are the benefits of these divinely powerful gifts? Let’s briefly summarize each gift, then we will look at some profound truth regarding ‘another.’ Seven of the nine were available under the Old Covenant. Tongues and Interpretation of tongues are new to the Church Age. We will see that each of these gifts are essential for the believer’s success, wholeness and blessing. We will also see that God truly is THIS GOOD to give us each of these all the time.

…for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Cor 12:8-10 NKJV

THE WORD OF WISDOM

I call this gift the problem-solving anointing on an individual or micro level, and the genius anointing on a macro or much larger level including family, business, church, community, region, nation or worldwide level. Joseph used the word of wisdom to save the nations. The word of wisdom enables the believer to connect with the promise of God in a very effective way, producing the results the promise promises. The word of wisdom is also given to show the future, both five minutes from now as well as fifty years down the road.

THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE

We live in two realms: spiritual and physical. The word of knowledge gives us spiritual insight into the physical realm. The Lord knows what is wrong with your car before you ever realize there is a problem. He knows where the money is! He knows who to marry, and what house to buy. The word of knowledge works very closely with the word of wisdom to show you what is available and how to receive it.

FAITH

Faith is the gift that makes it possible to do the impossible. The gift of faith is the bridge between the revelation gifts and the power gifts of workings of miracles and gifts of healing. The gift of faith is the absolute critical factor in the believer being able to walk in the power of God.

GIFTS OF HEALING

Four is the number for the world. Gifts of healings is the fourth gift listed in verses eight through ten. If you can master this gift, you can be successful in ministry wherever you go, because everyone – saved or unsaved – everywhere needs healing, all the time. Lightbearers Ministries was launched out into the world through two gifts of healing.

WORKINGS OF MIRACLES

There is no gift more fun than the working of miracles. The working of miracles is not arbitrary, but scientific in a divine sense. The formula for miracles is grace and love times the gifts of the Spirit equals power. Works every time!

PROPHECY

The Greek word PROPHETEIA comes from the prefix PRO meaning  ‘out’ and PHEMI meaning ‘to speak or to communicate.’ Everything you see and hear is technically prophecy. This is why we are commanded to judge prophecy. All utterance or everything that is communicated comes from one of three sources: the Spirit of God, the spirit of man, or an evil spirit, or some combination thereof. We are to receive what comes from the spirit of God, ignore what comes from man, and reject what comes from the devil. Prophecy is listed sixth, and six is the number for man’s frailty, so prophecy in practice is the most vulnerable gift for error.

DISCERNING OF SPIRITS

Discerning of spirits gives the believer spiritual insight into the spiritual realm. The primary purpose of discerning of spirits is not discerning what demons are doing, but what the Godhead is doing. Jesus said, I only do those things that I see my Father doing. Discerning of spirits unveils the spirit realm and when it does, you are never the same again. Getting a solid grasp upon the discerning of spirits requires years of diligent study and practice.

KINDS OF TONGUES

Tongues is one of the three speaking gifts. The benefits of this gift are manifold. Praying in the spirit or praying in tongues is the one gift that strengthens your spirit so that it can carry more of the glory of God. More glory equals more gifts in operation equals more blessing and power! You cannot oversell the importance of speaking in tongues much.

INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES

Interpretation of tongues is the making plain in understanding what has just been spoken in a tongue. I often refer to this gift as the lost gift in the Church because it is so rarely seen in manifestation. But it is a powerful demonstration of the Spirit with deep applications to be explored.”

“These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Acts 17:6 NKJV

We are coming! I’m pursuing this work to be prepared to develop a concept I call THE PNEUMA INSTITUTE which will be a training center for Christian professionals in the genius anointing, specifically the word of wisdom. Part of my dissertation, if approved, will be to develop a business plan, making the concept turn into something concrete. I’m studying with the SCORE trainers on that aspect of the plan. The gift of faith makes the impossible become possible. IMAGINE, indeed! Amen? Love you!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…