We are going to
look at three gifts that DO or gifts that are referred to as the hands of
God. They are the gift of faith, the
gifts of healing and the gift of working of miracles.
Read 1 Corinthians
12:7-11
The Gift of Faith
The mysterious surge
of confidence that arises within a person faced with a specific situation or
need.
It has also been
defined as unlimited faith in a specific situation to see supernatural
results. When this wonder is manifested
in your life, God supernaturally empties you of all doubt and unbelief.
Faith – the word here
means faithfulness, steadfastness. It is
firm persuasion, conviction that is based upon hearing, not upon sight or
knowledge, a firm reliance in what we hear from God and in His Word.
It is not natural
human faith
It is not the measure
of faith of general faith that all believers are called to possess when putting
their trust in Jesus of Saviour. It is
not the faith obtained by simply hearing God’s Word. It goes beyond saving faith.
The Gifts of Healing
Defined – to
supernaturally bring cure for the sick, physical, spiritual and emotional; to
make whole in the fullest sense of the word.
Also, notice that this gift is in the plural form as well. Healing was a vital part of Jesus’
ministry. He taught His disciples to
follow His example and also heal the sick.
Healing can certainly
take place through doctors or medicine but this healing described here
supercedes this.
Gifts of healing and
working of miracles often operate together with the gift of faith The act of
healing isn’t done on the whim of the individual, as if the power to heal or
work miracles was at their permanent disposal. Instead, they operate as an
individual is prompted by God and given the faith to perform such a work. There is a complete dependence upon God and
listening for the Holy Spirit’s leading in such a moment.
Healing can be found
through trusting in God’s Word. Healing
can be experienced through the power of communion. “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. However, they were
always ready to go after healing and had faith that God could heal in all
circumstances.
The Gift of Miraculous Powers
A remarkable or
surprising event that happens by direct intervention of God, not following the
general known laws of nature.
The word ‘working’ is
an action word, translated meaning, “energy, inworking” and the capability to do anything that is
beyond human possibility.
Another definition
describes it as a special, momentary gift of authority that enables us by the
anointing of God to intervene in the ordinary course of nature to do something
that we could never do naturally.
Literally dynameis, or
“acts of power.” This describes when the Holy Spirit chooses to “override” the
laws of nature (as a pilot might use manual controls), working in or through an
available person.
Now we are going to
look at some stories that involve all thre of these gifts because often they
all overlap. As I share the stories with
you, I want you to identify what stands out and what gifts are taking place in
each story.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
Daniel 3:16-18 who replied “King
Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to
deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But
even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve
your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
What gifts were in
play here?
The Roman Centurion
Let’s begin with the
story of the Roman centurion in Matthew 8:5-10
In that day a Roman
centurion would be the commander of about 80 soldiers
·
The soldier
understood authority.
·
The
soldier knew that Jesus could heal.
·
The
soldier humbled himself and declared his need.
What
gifts are in play here? The centurion
had the gift of great faith.
The
gift of healing – Jesus said “Go, let it be done just as you would believe it
would.
The
gift of the miraculous – Jesus was nowhere near the servant who was healed
Manor
Church and City Hall
Shortly after we agreed on a start date to do
church services The cost was going to be
around $1700- We received a call from
Roger, the owner of the Manor, who let us know that due to city by-laws we
would not be able to do church at the Manor.
He had been told that it was not zoned for a “religious
institution”. The only way that this
could be rectified is applying for a zoning by-law change. So we had a well-
meaning Christian friend offering to help with doing fundraising because but we
knew in our spirit that this wasn’t the route we were meant to go.
Sharon walked into
Roger’s office that morning and she firmly planted her hand on the table and
said, “If God is in this, it will be easy!”
Faith rose up in her in such a confident way that she will tell you what
did I just do?
So Sharon and I set up
a meeting with city by-law officials.
Sitting with city officials we were confident that God would make a way. They opened their large binders and right
away in our spirit, we knew that this was going to work out. As they listened to what we were planning,
they said this sounds more like a “social service” We will zone you as such. It
felt like they were on our team right from the get-go.
We had such an
expectancy, there was no fear and we didn’t spend a dime on this official
letter that gave us complete freedom to start doing ministry there. In and of ourselves, we wouldn’t have had
this kind of boldness.
·
What gifts
were in action? faith
Bob Attrell’s story
· He was first willing to
participate, willing to be stretched, willing to be used
· They prayed expecting that God would do something crazy, miraculous
·
Bob shared
“she went away rejoicing and believing. It was weeks after that this lady would become pregnant after years of infertility!
I
·
It’s not
about us, it’s about God who is amazing and what He can do
·
What gifts
were in action – faith, healing
John Wilson’s story
·
The young
man, Musa, was 3-4 days unconscious
·
They had
no way to get him to a hospital
·
He didn’t
even remembered what he prayed
What gifts were in
play here? The miraculous, healing and faith as Musa was fully conscious following the prayer and showed no ill effects from what was seen as cerebral malaria.
From Scripture we can see that the gifts are:
Given by God’s
sovereign choice
Often gifts are
imparted by laying on of hands
Received by asking in
faith
Operated by boldly
stepping out in faith
Exercised by practice
and continual use
We walk it out in
faith
Great faith knows that you don’t need to lay hands on someone for healing
Great faith knows that
you don’t have to say a fancy prayer for the sick to recover or a miracle to
take place.
Great faith knows that
you don’t have to be physically present for a miracle to happen.
Great faith know that
I can also believe and step into this very same act of faith.
Ultimately we don’t
know what gifts we have until we practice them.
Also remember that God
will give you certain gifts especially in a specific situation, but we need to
stay hungry, desire the gifts so that we can be used for His glory.
Be sensitive to the
LORD’s leading and prompting. He wants
you to walk out what’s in front of you right now. Some people only want to pursue the gifts to
get rid of their own personal doubts. For example... I wish I could see
someone get healed so it will increase my faith….but that is backwards.
The gifts are not toys and they are for
others.
You need to earnestly
desire the gifts… sometimes you won’t see it for a long time. You will pray and pray and pray again for
healing and maybe not see anything happen.
However, we need to continue to press in.
It’s a relationship of
trust that we are growing in and walking out
The TAKEAWAY
Follow the way of love
and eagerly desire, go after the gifts!
Keep walking it out in faith and be amazed at how God can use you when
you make yourself available.
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