Considering the spectacular nature of the manifestation that swept Paul out of darkness and into the light, you might think he’d never need another one. But he actually received many more throughout his life. Why?
Because he needed them.
You see, even though Paul was saved after Jesus appeared to him on the Damascus road, he still wasn’t equipped to fulfill the call of God. He’d been physically blinded by the glory of God, for one thing, and he hadn’t yet received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. What’s more, he didn’t really know what God wanted him to do.
But God took care of all that by sending a manifestation of the Spirit to a believer named Ananias. He gave Ananias what the New Testament calls the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge (1 Corinthians 12:8) to let him know where Paul was and what he needed. He said:
“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. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” (Acts 9:11 – 12)
Ananias obeyed. He found Paul, laid his hands on him, and not only was Paul’s sight restored, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then Ananias began to prophesy to Paul about his future (prophecy is another manifestation of the Spirit) and said, “… You will be [the Lord’s] witness to all men of what you have seen and heard” (Acts 22:15).
Later, Paul received more specific direction for his life and ministry through yet another manifestation of the Spirit. When he was praying at the temple in Jerusalem, he fell into a trance. (Think of it. Paul, the learned theologian and scholar, the intellectual, fell into a trance! That proves manifestations aren’t just for the ignorant and foolish.) While he was in that trance, Jesus appeared again to him and told him to leave Jerusalem, “Depart,” He said, “for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles” (v. 21).
If you’ve read about Paul’s life, you know he had to suffer tremendous hardships to obey those instructions and fulfill his ministry. He was persecuted, beaten numerous times, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked and stranded in the sea, imprisoned, and eventually executed for preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles. Despite it all, however, he said, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19).
The heavenly vision kept Paul going. The manifestations of the Spirit, the divine visions and visitations, spiritual dreams, angelic appearances, and other supernatural operations of the Holy Spirit that God gave him throughout his life helped him get where he was called to go and do what he was called to do. They set him on his course, kept him there, and spurred him on when the going got tough.
Although few believers must endure hardships like Paul, we will all face our share of challenges. So let’s follow his example. Let’s believe God for our share of spiritual manifestations to see us through.
Scripture Reading: Acts 21:40; 22:1 – 21
On the chilly March night in 1972 when Lynne Hammond took her first step into a life of Spirit-led prayer, she had no idea what was about to happen. All she knew was the hunger in her heart for God wouldn’t let her sleep. In the few short months she’d been born again, her desire to fellowship with Him had grown so strong she could hardly contain it. “Help me, God!” she cried. “I want to know you. I want to be able to talk to you. Please, teach me to pray!”
Suddenly, a heavenly presence flooded the room. Lynne sensed waves of spiritual fire sweeping over her and a beautiful language began to flow like a river from within her. Although she’d never heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, she knew instantly, without a doubt—this was God!
What began that night soon blossomed into a life of prayer that ultimately became a ministry of prayer when, in 1980, Lynne and her husband, Mac, founded Living Word Christian Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Under Lynne’s leadership, the prayer ministry at Living Word has become an internationally recognized model for developing effective pray-ers in the local church.
A teacher and an author, Lynne publishes a newsletter called Prayer Notes, has written numerous books, and currently serves as the national prayer director for Daughters for Zion. Her passion for inspiring and leading others into the life of Spirit-led prayer continues to take her around the world to minister to believers whose heart cry, like hers, is “Lord, teach me to pray!”