The Gifts of the Spirit Part Three
Notes
Transcript
The Gifts Part Three
The Gifts Part Three
Over these last few weeks we have spent time focusing on the internal gifts, like helps, teaching, faith, and gifts that may not seem so big. This week and next we are going to spend time looking at external gifts of the Spirit. These are the gifts that people get real nervous about. These next gifts are the gifts that many disregard or say they are no longer for us today.
With that let’s get right into these:
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
Healing – Although God does still heal today, the ability of men to produce miraculous healings belonged to the apostles of the first century church to affirm that their message was from God. Christians today do not have the power to heal the sick or resurrect the dead. If they did, the hospitals and morgues would be full of these “gifted” people emptying beds and coffins everywhere.
to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
1 Corinthians 3. The Varieties of the Manifestations of the Spirit (7–11)
Adam Clarke on gifts of healings: “The power which at particular times the apostles received from the Holy Spirit to cure diseases; a power which was not always resident in them; for Paul could not cure Timothy, nor remove his own thorn in the flesh; because it was given only on extraordinary occasions, though perhaps more generally than many others.”
Here is what Wersebie says on this gift:
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Ten: Be Wise about … the Church Body (1 Corinthians 12–13)
In the early church, miracles were a part of the credentials of God’s servants (Heb. 2:1–4). In fact, miracles, healings, and tongues all belong to what theologians call “the sign gifts” and belonged in a special way to the infancy of the church. The Book of Acts, as well as church history, indicates that these miraculous gifts passed off the scene.
Again the idea that these are no longer needed in our world today seems to me to a stretch. I understand the needs for the foundation of the church, which many says this was particularly for. But what of our world today, are there not those who could be healed to bring glory to God. Are there not miracles that happen today, are there not healings that happen in our world. I know they do and I know of them. You can call them workings of technology if you want, or the skill of a doctor, but there are situations we pray and people are healed. There are miraculous situations of people walking that should not be walking, no longer having any effects of drug use instantaneously. Why would we want to take this away from the power of God if He is us in us in this way.
What is this gift? It is the gift of healing by the power of God. I know what many have seen on TV and read about, but this is not some fabercated event. It is not trickery to get money. It is a gift that people are able to heal those who cannot be healed by medicine.
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.
This is the gift of healing. When one hears from the Lord and acts on it. We see this through out the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. And yes it does not seem to happen the same as in these times, or does it. Years ago my Friend Russ was in Africa and as he was there a man in the village they were at was bit by a snake. One that should have killed him within days. Russ and other leaders prayed for this man. The next day he was healed and able to get up and eat.
What about the young child we prayed for for years who was not even expected to live outside the womb. Today she is alive, and she is not perfect but she is a walking miracle.
Does this mean that everyone will be healed no not at all. We all die, no matter how strong our faith is, 1 out of 1 die. Paul could not heal Timothy:
(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)
Paul also prayed for himself to be healed:
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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He was not healed, not because he was not faithful or a strong man of God but because it was not the desire of God at that time. The gift of healing in one that will come and may go it is not one that we may have forever. I know that there are healing ministries or ministers. But this is a work that I just think is fabricated and gives the Christians community a bad name.
Have I seen people healed, yes, I have seen God do great works. I have also seen those I love die. it is not because of anything but the sovereignty of God. This is something that is so hard to comprehend at times. Yet as we understand who He is and His will is always for us it does help us to understand His work in our lives.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Miraculous powers – Also known as the working of miracles, this is another temporary sign gift which involved performing supernatural events that could only be attributed to the power of God (). This gift was exhibited by Paul (), Peter (), Stephen (), and Phillip (), among others.
Often the gift of healings and miraculous powers go hand in hand. Here is an example of this gift:
And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”
These gifts cannot be explained by any other act then by the hand of God.
Distinguishing (discerning) of spirits – Certain individuals possess the unique ability to determine the true message of God from that of the deceiver, Satan, whose methods include purveying deceptive and erroneous doctrine. Jesus said many would come in His name and would deceive many (), but the gift of discerning spirits is given to the Church to protect it from such as these.
This is a gift that is much needed in our church today, well the reality is we need all the gifts working in our church today. This is a gift that is very hard to share with others. It is (the only way I can explain it) a feeling. I hate saying it that way, but I am not sure how else to put it. Some call it a gut feeling, but still that does not seem to be adequate .
The way this gift works is God gives us an incite to people and situations arounds us to stay away or move forward. The way this gift works for me is I just know, or see, as God is speaking to my hear that something is not right. For example there have been times were people are in the church I people love them, but I get a “feeling” directive from God that I need to be careful of this person. Now this is not something you can tell others straight out, but God does this so I can pray, and so I can be cautious.
Years ago I know God warned me about a young person. Yet I reacted wrong. I actually took a position away from them before they did anything wrong. My warning by God was not to act but to pray. In fact I know I did harm in that situation. The end result was still reviled but the way I handed it was wrong.
Erin has this gift. She sees things so clearly that others just do not see. I do not understand it. I often will ask her about a person, even if she does not know them, because I know she has this gift and God uses her to help me see into a situation.
This is a gift that we need so we are able to be warned but also a gift that can do much harm when not worked out in the right way.
Word of wisdom – The fact that this gift is described as the “word” of wisdom indicates that it is one of the speaking gifts. This gift describes someone who can understand and speak forth biblical truth in such a way as to skillfully apply it to life situations with all discernment.
Word of knowledge – This is another speaking gift that involves understanding truth with an insight that only comes by revelation from God. Those with the gift of knowledge understand the deep things of God and the mysteries of His Word.
Speaking in tongues – The gift of tongues is one of the temporary “sign gifts” given to the early Church to enable the gospel to be preached throughout the world to all nations and in all known languages. It involved the divine ability to speak in languages previously unknown to the speaker. This gift authenticated the message of the gospel and those who preached it as coming from God. The phrase “diversity of tongues” (KJV) or “different kinds of tongues” (NIV) effectively eliminates the idea of a “personal prayer language” as a spiritual gift.
Interpretation of tongues – A person with the gift of interpreting tongues could understand what a tongues-speaker was saying even though he did not know the language that was being spoken. The tongues interpreter would then communicate the message of the tongue’s speaker to everyone else, so all could understand.