Lesson 28
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Part III
by
Ruth Mahoney Swaim
The last three gifts to be discussed in this series on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are the three gifts of Doing. They are sometimes called the Power gifts.
They are listed 7th, 8th and 9th in the order of required faith. The faith level required for these next three is higher than the first six gifts which were discussed in Lesson 26 and 27.
Let's list all the nine gifts for your teaching convenience:
A. Three Gifts of Speaking
Tongues (languages)
Interpretation of Tongues
Prophecy
B. Three Gifts of Knowing
Word of Knowledge
Word of Wisdom
Discerning of Spirit
C. Three Gifts of Doing
Gifts of Healings
Working of Miracles
Gift of Faith
Gifts of Healings
I Corinthians 12:9, 28, 30
Gifts of Healings operate supernaturally to heal diseases and infirmities without natural means of any sort. It is the power of the Holy Spirit which comes upon a person's body, dissolving their disease and driving out their pains to heal them.
The use of the plural noun here illustrates that there are many Gifts of Healings for different diseases. The original reading in I Corinthians 12:9, 28 and 30 is charismata iamaton. Both words are plural giving the correct translation to this phrase 'Gifts of Healings.' It is the only gift which uses the plural in this way.
Hence, you may meet someone who has great success in praying for certain types of illnesses and someone else who may have success in another type. There is a great variety in the manifestation of this gift. I Corinthians 12:4, 7.
Jesus had power over 'all manner of sickness and disease.' God gave Him not the Spirit 'by measure,'
but in fullness. Jesus later bestowed on the twelve disciples (collectively) power over all manner of sickness and disease. Matthew 10:11.
The depth of healing brought through an individuals ministry relates directly to the depth or level of faith. Faith must operate in the gifts of healings since the different ministries of healing are actually different areas of faith.
Please note, however, that all believers may pray for the sick. Mark 165:16-18; I Corinthians 12:28-30; Matthew 19:19.
All believers have as their prerogative to believe God's word and pray for the sick. But the scripture indicates that some are used more in healing than others.
This is the Gifts of Healings, not the Gift of Miracles. Some healing may be instantaneous and some may be gradual. Some healing may involve areas in the life of the recipient being dealt with by God and needing to be worked out so that their healing can be completed.
Other healings may be instantaneous.
In participating in communion there is clear implication that there is a level of healing in the proper discernment of the Body of Christ which is not available from any other source. I Corinthians 11:27-34.
How does one know if they are operating in this gift? By results.
The test of any ministry or gift is the fruit it bears. If one has the gifts of healings, then people will be healed. Of course, the results will develop and increase with the spiritual growth of the person being used by the Holy Spirit in this gift.
What is the Purpose?
1. God wants His people to be in good health. III John 3:2-4
2. Confirms our message with signs and wonders. Hebrews 2:3-4
3. Part of the Great Commission. Mark 16:15-20. Jesus not only preached the Gospel of the Kingdom, but He demonstrated it as well.
One of the great mistakes of history is the separation of healing from the preaching of the message of salvation. This amounts to preaching a 'half Gospel,' and will never produce the results which God intended the preaching of the Gospel to produce.
Paul said For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have FULLY preached the Gospel of Christ. Romans 15: 18, 19.
When Jesus healed, He often also forgave sin. Very often He linked sickness with sin and forgave the sin before He healed. The two are also tied together by James in James 5:14-16. The two great aspects of Christ's earthly ministry were healing the sick and forgiving sin. Both are linked in preaching the full Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as He removes sin from us, He also removes sickness from us.
Where faith in salvation and healing is preached, you will get salvation and healing.
The Working of Miracles
I Corinthians 12:20
Miracles happen when God intervenes in the ordinary course of nature. The Gift of the Working of Miracles comes when God endues us with power by the Holy Spirit to do something completely outside the range of human ability.
A miracle is a happening or event which is supernatural, the performance of something which is against the laws of nature. Miracles defy reason and transcend natural laws.
This is what makes Christianity unique...the supernatural.
Purpose of Miracles
Miracles give undeniable proof of the resurrection. If Jesus were not alive His name would have no power to heal the sick and work miracles. Acts 4:33.
Working of Miracles gave boldness to the believers to preach Christ. Acts 4:29, 30.
Miracles encouraged prayer. It made believers pray to have more of God. Acts 4:29-31.
Miracles convinced of sin. It convinced and convicted men of their sins. Acts 5:28-33.
Miracles converted five thousand in one day through one miracle. Acts 4:4, 5; 5:14.
Miracles spread the Gospel quickly. Acts 5:14-16.
Before Jesus started to work miracles, no one followed Him anywhere. He must have preached often in the synagogue, for Luke 4:16 says it was His custom. But when miracles took place, His fame went out into every place of the country round about. Luke 4:27.
Some argue that we have the Scriptures and do not need miracles. The statement Jesus made to the Sadducee's could apply here. Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures OR the power of God. Matthew 22:29.
Not only do we need the Word, but the Power of God as well. Paul tells the Thessalonians that the Gospel came not only in word, but in power (dunamis).
The word 'miracle' in I Corinthians 12:20 is from the Greek word 'dunamis.' It speaks of God's energy or power, ability or might. It is translated 'power' 77 times.
Miracles are a major theme of the Bible. Miraculous manifestations always accompanied Jesus. They also accompanied His disciples and they are to accompany us because they are a part of the 'good news' (Gospel). Without the miraculous we have an incomplete Gospel.
His work must accompany His word. God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with diverse miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will... Hebrews 2:4.
Read the whole book of Acts. Miracles were in profusion.
The Working of Miracles is an enabling of the Holy Spirit. It gives the believer the ability to work a miracle. This is in contrast to God working miracles in the life of a believer. Thus any who have never received the Gift of Working of Miracles have experienced astounding miracles which God has wrought on their behalf.
The Gift of Working of Miracles is being restored to the church. Revelation 11:5 indicates miracles will again operate on a large scale just prior to the coming of the Lord. The two witnesses here mentioned seem to refer to the spirits of Elijah and Moses (Matthew 17:3, 4) resting on the last day church.
The church needs to contend for this gift. This gift is dependent on the faith and obedience of the believer. The main reason any gift or benefit is lacking in the experience of the Church is the lack of Faith and obedience.
See Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 11:22-24; 16:14-20; John 14:12-15; 15:7-16.
The Gift of Faith
I Corinthians 12:9
Studying the Gift of Faith is not the same as studying the general subject of faith. There are three types of faith mentioned in the scripture.
1. Saving Faith. John 1:12; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8
2. Fruit of the Spirit faith. This is growing faith, faith that is nurtured and allowed to grow in our lives. Galatians 5:22; Acts 6:5, 8; 11:24; II Corinthians 4:13; Colossians 2:5.
3. The Gift of Faith
What is the Gift of Faith?
The Gift of Faith is the God-given ability to believe Him for the impossible in a particular situation.
Jesus mentioned this level of faith in Mark 11:22-24. He tells us that this is a faith which leaves absolutely no doubt in the heart of the one believing. It totally discounts any doubt. The word used for 'ask' is the same as the word for 'take.' It is not in question form, rather implies an active receiving of the known will of God.
The Gift of Faith has a function which is superior to that of general faith. General faith grows from the original seed of saving faith which God has planted in our hearts. Romans 12:3.
The degree of general faith varies from the stage of development of the believer from little faith to great faith, etc.
General faith grows as a result of feeding on the Word, being exercised through the circumstances of life and the like. Some translators refer to the Gift of Faith as 'special faith.' This indicates a faith bestowed by the Holy Spirit to meet our need in special and extenuating circumstances.
This gift often deals with the future, the unseen and things not physically possible. The Gift of Faith is the special endowment given to someone God is calling upon to take impossible action steps because of what God has spoken to them.
The Gift of Faith is not permanently resident in any believer, but rather each manifestation is a separate Gift of Faith.
How does the Gift of Faith work?
The Gift of Faith often operates in connection with several other gifts. Usually, with the Gift of Miracles and Gifts of Healings. It nearly always involves a word of knowledge, and possibly even a word of wisdom and discerning of spirits. It may also involve prophecy.
The Gift of Faith can operate in a seemingly passive manner, such as in the case of Daniel in the lions den. His protection from the lions is a passive instance of the Gift of Faith. He simply stood in faith and let God work.
The impression that the Gift of Faith often works passively is because it often works in cooperation with more dramatic gifts, such as Working of Miracles, Gifts of Healings, etc.
The Gift of Faith also operates through the speaking of words of command and words of faith. I believed, therefore I have spoken. II Corinthians 4:13.
The results are not always immediate, but they are sure. This gift can function in many ways such as for blessing, cursing, creating, destroying, etc.
Note Joshua in Joshua 10:12-13; Paul in Acts 13:8-11; Peter in Acts 5.
The Gift of Faith is an irresistible, unshakable faith and may be involved in a broad spectrum of things.
As God restores this gift to the church we will see restoration of miracles on a greater scale.
This teaching by Ruth Mahoney Swaim may be duplicated, distributed and taught free of charge.
copyrighted for protection from commercial use.
No comments:
Post a Comment