The first time I gave a word of knowledge in public was to a lady at a health club in Chapel Hill, NC. I had never met her before. She was a doctor and her husband was an anesthesiologist. I stumbled around very awkwardly with my words, but managed to get them out. I told her the Lord had given me a word to encourage her. I then said, "You are married to your second husband. Your children are from your first marriage. There is tension in the home because your husband and the children do not get along.” She answered, “That’s right. My husband is rather immature."
I then told her the Lord wanted to encourage her and help her and her family.
My presentation was not polished, but I was relieved to know the Lord had used me in spite of my uncertainty.
Every Christian who is filled with the Holy Spirit should be moving in the Holy Spirit to minister to others. My book, Spiritual Power for Everyday Living, gives definitions and examples of spiritual gifts and helps the reader to better understand them. I encourage everyone to go to https://www.billylongministries.com to order a copy.
The paragraphs below give some practical instruction in how to step out and see the Holy Spirit at work. You don’t have to be a spiritual superstar; you simply have to present yourself by using your feet, hands, and voice in very simple ways. If you follow the instructions below, you will be surprised at how the Holy Spirit will work through you as you open your heart to Him and others. ---Billy Long
USE YOUR FEET
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news…” Isaiah 52:7
“Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ And he said, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold he is praying.’” Acts 9: 10-11
Make an Approach.
Go to someone. You may not know what to say or do. But don’t worry. You must make your approach. Sometimes it’s like diving for the first time---jump off the board and figure it out on the way down. It is okay if you “belly-flop” or hit the water at a bad angle. You learn by doing. Peter sunk in the water, but he was the only one who got out of the boat. Who is the Lord most pleased with…the ones safely in the boat, or the bold one struggling to walk on the water? Even sinking, he was ahead of the others.
“Arise and Go.”
When Jesus appeared to Ananias with instructions for him to minister to Saul of Tarsus, He told him to “Arise and go” (Acts 9: 10-16). Sometimes the first act of faith is to simply get out of the chair and walk over to someone who needs ministry. Sometimes we miss out on the presence and power of God among us because we remain at a physical distance.
In approaching Saul, Ananias had to overcome more fears than we face in our gatherings. He responded to the Lord’s bidding and went to Paul, and the power of God worked through him. We will never minister unless we actually go to the person and make an approach. It may mean stepping across the room, going to someone’s chair, walking to the front of the room, going across the street, or even across town. The power and the substance of what God wants to give will be given to us as we arise and go. We show faith and courage in simply stepping out.
“A Certain Disciple”
God will use you. You don’t have to be someone special. Ananias was not an apostle or some eminent person. He was like most of us. The Bible simply calls him “a certain disciple.” A true disciple is one who learns, follows, and commits to growth and usefulness in his walk with the Lord. When the Lord spoke to Ananias, his response was “Here am I,” which is equivalent to “Yes, Lord.” The Lord is pleased when we say, “Yes.”
“For Behold He is Praying”
We should be encouraged by the fact that the Holy Spirit works on both ends of the transaction. While the Lord was prompting Ananias to arise and go to Saul, Saul himself was praying and waiting before the Lord. He needed the touch and healing that Ananias was bringing. If we could glimpse into the spiritual realm and really see the needs, hopes, concerns, cries, and agonies that lie beneath the surface, hidden inside the hearts of the people around us, if we only realized how much God in His love desires to speak to, touch, encourage, and bless His children and those with whom we come in contact every day, we would be more motivated to reach out boldly with confidence and faith.
Use Your Hands
Implications of the Touch
If you don’t think you’re spiritual enough to say anything or move in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, you can at least walk over and lay your hand on someone’s shoulder. A touch can say a lot. The laying on of hands can signify sympathy, love, and caring when Christians pray and minister to one another. Reaching out to touch someone when praying for him or her can be a powerful channel for the Holy Spirit. The physical touch on the arm, shoulder, or head seems to break down the “walls” and helps people to open their hearts to receive. The touch implies compassion in the one ministering and receptivity in the one being ministered to. And the Holy Spirit does His work.
A Means of Impartation
Our hands represent the hands of Jesus when we reach out in His name. In the New Testament the laying on of hands was not just a liturgical, ceremonial activity. It was, and still is, a means of impartation. The Lord intends that something substantial and real actually happens. In the New Testament the laying on of hands was a means of…
a. … imparting blessing. Matthew 19: 13-15; Genesis 48:13-15.
b. …imparting the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:17; 19:6
c. …imparting healing. Mark 16:18; Luke 4:40.
d. …commissioning ministries. Acts 6:6; 13:3.
e. …imparting spiritual gifts. 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1: 6; Rom 1:11.
f. …releasing God’s purpose. Acts 9: 12-18.
An Instrument of the Holy Spirit
Your hand becomes an instrument of the Holy Spirit when you reach out in faith and compassion. Laying your hand on someone releases the flow of God’s power. The efficacy is in the touch. The woman who had been sick for twelve years said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made whole.” (Matthew 9: 21). Because of her faith, the power of God went into her body when she touched Jesus.
No matter where you are in your spiritual growth, you can always reach out and touch someone. You can allow your hand to be the instrument through which Jesus touches others, especially if you have been filled with the Holy Spirit.
USE YOUR VOICE
Then Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.”
So the Lord said, “Who has made man’s mouth....Have not I the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” −Exodus 4: 10-12
Speak up
The purpose of this segment is to encourage Christians to speak up in ministering to one another, especially in house groups and in one-to-one relationships. People are more likely to actively participate and interact with one another in a living room setting. Small groups, therefore, should be designed as a platform for openness and communication, a setting where people are at ease and comfortable enough to let down their walls, to listen, and to speak. We quench the Spirit when we are closed and silent. We allow the Holy Spirit to move when we remove the walls and open our hearts to one another. Churches need small groups that allow for relational interaction rather than always being centered around some agenda or a mini version of the large groups where people sit theater style listening to someone up front.
You don’t have to be a pastor to minister a word to others. The man Ananias whom Jesus sent to Saul was only a “certain disciple.” He held no ministerial office. A large portion of the church (except the apostles) was scattered abroad during time of Stephen’s persecution. They were not primarily preachers. They were Christians who had a testimony and went out “speaking” the word (Acts 11:19). The word “speaking” in this verse is not the Greek word for “preaching,” but simply the generic term “speaking.” The term implies individuals sharing their life and testimony in daily conversation with people they met every day in informal settings. They were willing to open their mouths and say something.
You don’t have to preach a sermon. You can share your testimony, tell someone what the Lord did for you or said to you. You can share the impression you received while listening or praying. As we interact with one another the Holy Spirit will use us in any of the following ways:
1. Prayer. To simply walk over to someone and pray for them.
2. Exhortation. To compassionately advise, encourage, or stir people to action.
3. Prophecy. To speak a word from the Lord by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
4. A word of knowledge. To share a revelation of some fact or issue.
5. A Word of faith. A confident word that brings God’s answer or stirs others to faith.
6. A word of wisdom. A word given to help in a difficult situation or time of perplexity.
7. A word of comfort or encouragement.
8. An expression of love and care
9. A simple word to let a person know you are there and that you care. (You don’t have to have all the answers. People often just need to know someone is standing with them.)
10. Weeping over someone. Our tears are effective in touching the
hearts of others.
Our ministry to one another does not have to be thunderous or overwhelming. The power is in the still, small voice as we share the life of the Lord through humble and encouraging words or prayers. Even if we have little to offer, we must realize that the Lord will multiply our “bread” as we step out in faith and share it. He touches people with His love as we present ourselves to be instruments of His love.
What’s in the heart is what flows forth in our speech. The mouth functions properly when the heart is cultivated properly. The Christians who are most effective in ministry to others are those who have a genuine relationship with Jesus, who fellowship with Him in daily Bible reading and prayer, and who desire to reach out to others.
Therefore, when you approach someone who has requested prayer or ministry, you must remember that the Holy Spirit is with you and “the word is very near you, even in your mouth and in your heart.” You must simply step out in faith and share it.
"The Lord has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.” Isaiah 50:4
If this article has helped you, you may want to consider ordering a copy of my book which gives very clear and practical teaching on the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, the manifestations and gifts of the Holy Spirit, and praying in tongues. This book is helpful to new believers and mature Christians alike. Go to my website to order a copy. See link in first paragraph. ----Billy Long
