SUNDAY, JULY 14TH 2013 - THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (4) Among the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit which He bestows upon the believers according to His sovereign will, three can be classified as the Power or Miracle-working Gifts, namely the gift of Faith, the gifts of Healings, and the Working of Miracles (1 Cor. 12:9-10). These gifts are supernatural abilities to demonstrate and manifest the awesome and supernatural power of God through the believers. Let us examine these gifts one after the other. First, the Gift of Faith: This is a supernatural impartation of a tiny portion of God’s faith to the believers to accomplish God’s purpose in a specific situation. The gift of faith is analogous to the gift of the Word of Wisdom and the gift of the Word of Knowledge in a sense that it is not possessing all of God’s faith, but a divine impartation of a fraction of it; just as the Word of Wisdom and the Word of knowledge is not possessing all of God’s wisdom and knowledge but a tiny portion or fraction of it for a specific moment and situation. When the gift of faith is in operation, the believer is inspired and emboldened to speak and act in an unusual, uncommon, or unprecedented manner resulting in a miraculous, awesome and supernatural display of God’s power. When the gift of faith is in operation, the believer spontaneously confronts adverse circumstances or complex situations with an unusual boldness and confidence in God. The gift of faith is crucial to exercising the other Power Gifts – Healings and Working of Miracles. All the power gifts always flow or work together. It is often difficult to distinguish which one among them is in the operation in some situations. The exercise of any of the power gifts always produces mighty miracles, signs and wonders. The operation of the gift of faith is obvious in the lives of Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, and many patriarchs of old, and also in the lives and ministries of the early apostles of Christ (Exo. 7:10-12, 14:21-31, Acts 3:1-9, 9:36-43, 14:7-10). The gift of faith is not the same as the saving faith or “the measure of faith” that God has distributed to every believer at the New Birth. Paul writes: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Rom. 12:3 KJV). Every believer has received “the measure of faith” from God at the New Birth and he is expected to walk and live by the faith (2 Cor. 5:7, Gal. 3:11, Heb. 10:38). Every believer already has in his born again spirit the faith he needs to live a daily victorious, overcoming, or prosperous life (Eph. 2:8). The Scripture says: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.” (1 John 5:4 NKJV). However, not all the believers have the gift of faith. The Holy Spirit imparts the gift of faith or supernatural ability to exercise unusual trust and confidence in God to some believers as He wills to demonstrate, manifest or display God’s supernatural power to the world. This He does by inspiring and emboldening them to speak and act in a spontaneous or unusual manner at a given time or in a particular situation resulting in great miracles, signs and wonders. Second, the Gifts of Healings: It is interesting to note that the Bible refers to this gift in a plural sense – “the gifts of healings.” This is because there is much diversity to healing. There are primarily three types of healings: spiritual, physical and emotional healing. The gift of healings is a supernatural ability imparted to the believers to heal a sick person spiritually, emotionally and physically from all manners of diseases and sicknesses without any human aid or medicine. When the gifts of healings are in operation, the healing power of God is channelled or conveyed through the believer having the gift of healing to the body of the sick to effect divine healing. The healing power can be conveyed or released by the believers through the word of faith (Luke 7:1-10); through the touch of faith (Mark 6:56; 16:18); and through any medium (Acts 5:15; 19:12). Third, the Working of Miracles: This gift operates closely with the gifts of faith and healings to demonstrate or display God’s awesome power. While healings are often gradual and invisible to the eyes, miracles are often instantaneous and visible to the eyes. The gift of working of miracles is a supernatural ability given to the believers to perform signs and wonders in a way contrary to the nature. The exercise of the gift of working of miracles brings supernatural intervention into a specific situation. It often takes an inspired act of faith to release the miraculous power of God. This gift is not for mere showmanship, but to demonstrate God’s supreme authority and power above all forces, to combat unbelief, and to confirm divine messages and messengers (Mk. 2:1-12, John 2:1-11, Acts 5:12, 8:1-8). Beloved, all that it takes to receive the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit is your desire and asking in faith (1 Cor. 14:1, Jam. 1:6-7). The gifts of the Holy Spirit can also be imparted to you through prophecy and laying on of the hands by someone who has the gifts. Paul said to Timothy, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.” (1 Tim. 4:14 NKJV). However, it is the Holy Spirit who ultimately gives according to His sovereign will and God’s purposes for your life (1 Cor. 12:11). All the gifts of the Holy Spirit needs to be stirred up, exercised or utilized through faith and love for God’s glory lest they become dormant or inactive. This is why Paul said to Timothy: “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Tim. 1:6 NKJV). Above all, you must pursue divine love, for all the gifts without love is nothing and profits nothing (1 Cor. 13:1-3, 14:1). This is why the Scripture commands: “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.“ (Col. 3:14 NKJV).
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 14:19:59 +0000