Operating in the Spirit, whether in prophesy, healing, discerning of spirits, or preaching or teaching, works by the Spirit in the same way even though there are these different operations.  In all these operations it depends first on revelation.  God is the author of all the operations and if we act from our own initiative we are not operating in the Spirit.  Spiritual operation is more than having a set of habits or routines focused on religious subjects.  Many religious people never operate from the Spirit even though they are doing religious things.  But if a person is blessed to receive revelation, then that person can begin to operate in the Spirit in whatever gift or gifts of the Spirit God has chosen to give them.  If that person is operating in the gifts of healing for instance, as God reveals in what manner to deal with the sickness, by engaging in the revelation, one begins to discern how to approach the person needing assistance.  At this point the minister begins to pray or take authority over the situation and resolves to see the healing manifest in the person being prayed for.  If the gift is prophesy then as God reveals the direction or impresses upon the minister the approach to take in a particular situation, by engaging in the revelation, the minister will begin to utter the prophesy through the Spirit for the word to be brought forth to the congregation.  When I give a teaching, the teaching first depends on the prompting of the Spirit before I engage in discerning in what direction God wants me to go before I actually sit down and write the teaching.  The thought might direct me to scripture, the scripture might direct me to experience and the actual writing is a manifestation of God's desire for the body of Christ.  Neither the person operating in the gifts of healing nor the person operating in the gift of prophesy nor me when I am writing a teaching know exactly where the Spirit will lead.  But though there are diversities of operations, the Spirit is the same God which worketh all in all.  All the gifts seem to operate in this way.  When a preacher begins to preach, good preaching depends on revelation, the obedience of the preacher to engage in the revelation, and then the bringing forth of the word.

            To be a good minister to the body of Christ one needs to cultivate a good spiritual life.  The need to be free of sin, free from the spiritual maladies of the flesh, and to have a good handle of scripture are essential.  Entering into silence, spending time with nature, forsaking the world are also essential.  But ultimately our destiny resides with God who gives the gifts and is the author of all true revelation.  But in order to allow the Spirit to flow effectively one has to die to self, self will, and self glory and enter into the kingdom of God.  One has to learn the art of listening, obedience, and loving action for God to be able to minister through the Spirit effectively through you.  Whatever gift God may choose to give you, they all work the same way.  So be grateful for the gift.

amen