Supernatural Power And Prayer
Introduction: There are a total of nine gifts of the Holy Spirit which fall into three different types of categories. They categories are:
1. The mind of God. This includes
a. The gift of Wisdom
b. The gift of Knowledge
c. The gift of discerning of spirits
2. The voice of God. This includes:
a. The gift of Prophesy
b. The gift of Tongues
c. The gift of interpretation of Tonges
3. The hand of God. This includes:
a. The gift of working of miracles
b. The gifts of healing
c. The gift of faith
These nine gifts are ministering gifts of supernatural power and each of them are quite distinct in their uses. They come directly from God Almighty, Himself to minister to the needs of the people, and all of them lift up and exalt and glorify God as we operate in them. As we operate in them, we are perfectly on the same page with God’s will as He is supernaturally directing us in the use of each of these individual gifts (expound).
Today however, I want to speak to you about the three gifts of the Holy
Spirit, which incorporate the voice of God. The gift of Prophesy, the gift
of Tongues, and the gift of Interpretation of Tongues.
Title: The title of my sermon today is, Supernatural Power And Prayer.
Prayer: Let’s pray.
Text: Our text today is from Romans chapter 8; 1 Corinthians 13:1-2;
14:31; 14:26-29; James 5:16 and Acts chapter 2.
I. We Operate In These Three Gifts – As We Praise and Worship The
Lord, And As We Are Also In Corporate Prayer, So That We Can
Clearly Hear The Voice Of God.
A. The Gift of Prophesy - prof-ay-ti'-ah – This is God Communicating
with us to declare His thought/will of divine purpose (whether
reproving or lifting up) and could include foretelling future events.
B. The Gift of Speaking in Other Tongues/Languages. - gloce'-sah –
This is a gift that can lift up an entire church or just an individual –
depending on how the gift manifests itself.
1. In a group – no one understands what’s being said except God – unless there is an interpretation of the tongue or language.
2. As an individual – it can edify that person supernaturally (expound).
a. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 (NKJV), “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
C. The gifts of Prophesy and the gift of Tongues are extremely powerful
and can be used to show people the power of God (expound).
D. The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues - her-may-ni'-ah – to interpret
(not translate) what was said in the message of Tongues.
II. These Gifts Are To Be Used When We Come Together As A Church
A. 1 Corinthians 14:26-29 (NKJV), “How is it then, brethren? Whenever
you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a
tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be
done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be
two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if
there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him
speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak,
and let the others judge.”
1. As we come together as a body of believers, God uses these gifts for declaration, guidance, and to edify or lift up (expound).
B. Don’t you think it’s important to hear from God – to know what it is
He wants from us and how to do it?
1 Corinthians 14:31 says, “For you can all prophesy one by one, that
all may learn and all may be encouraged.” (expound).
C. When we come to church, we have to do it God’s way so that we get
what He wants us to get. Verse 33 tells us: “For God is not a God of
disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.”
III. When We Pray Using The Gift Of Speaking In Tongues – The Holy
Spirit Helps Us Pray What We Should Be Praying!
A. Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses.
For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the
Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot
be uttered.”
B. The word translated “helps” is a complex word that means the Holy
Spirit “takes hold of” our weakness and He then takes over and becomes our intercessor (i.e., one who pleads a case on behalf of another).
1. That means that the Holy Spirit joins with us to help and
empower us to be victors—not victims—in our circumstances.
2. But get this: the Holy Spirit also works apart from us to take
action on our behalf. When we are helpless, the Holy Spirit is
truly our “helper”. (from PC Study Bible).
C. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we are praying in tongues.
1. As children of God, we have two main intercessors (i.e.,
mediators—ones who plead a case for others or take
responsibility for others’ needs and situations):
a. Jesus intercedes for us in heaven (v. 34),
b. The Holy Spirit intercedes from within us on earth - “With
groans” which probably indicates “tongues/languages” that
communicate with God the Father through our prayers.
2. The desires of our hearts must come from the Holy Spirit, who
lives within us.
D. When we pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit is appealing to the Father
for our “exact” needs “in exact accordance with God’s will” (v. 27).
1. When God’s desires become our desires, our prayers will be
Effective – Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”
James 5:16 (NLT), “The earnest (mighty prayer in the
Holy Spirit) prayer of a righteous person has great power and
produces wonderful results.”
IV. God Has Given Us A Vision For Our Church! It’s Here! It’s Now!
Don’t you think that as we come together as a body we should be
getting in touch with God – in complete unity? Don’t you think that we
should be finding out exactly what God is doing and how He’s going to
do it? It you agree with that then we all should be operating in the gifts
of the Holy Spirit – don’t you think? (expound).
A. How do we operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit? We get baptized in
the Holy Spirit just like they did in Acts chapter 2 (expound).
Conclusion: Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me
everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the
ends of the earth.”
God has given us a vision for our church – what is going to happen, who is going to be affected by it, and when it’s going to take place.
The what is a great revival that starts in me and you and spreads out into this community, etc. The who is you and me and the unsaved and the hurting, the lame, the desperate, and those that are far from the Kingdom of God. The when is now! We have to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit; to be refreshed everyday with Him; to walk in His power – to pray in His power – to live in His power.
If you need to be refreshed in the Holy Spirit today – do it now! If you’ve never received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit – do it now (expound and close).
