The Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Part 11

of our study of the Person & Work of the Holy Spirit

Welcome!

√ Let’s begin with I Cor. 12

I Cor. 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

I Cor. 12:8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

I Cor. 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

I Cor. 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

I Cor. 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Intro

√ Gift of Faith

√ Gifts of Healings

The Gift of Faith

√ Our text tells us that the spiritual gifts include the gift of faith.

I Cor. 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

We understand that all believers have a certain amount of faith – for it is by faith that we are saved!

Additionally Paul tells us…

Rom. 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

There is, however, the gift of faith which Paul speaks of in our text in I Cor. 12:9.

√ Definition of the gift

The gift of faith is a special God-given ability to trust god beyond the limits of what we normally think is possible.

Ex. Jesus exercised the gift in the midst of a lack of faith.

Mar. 9:22 "And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

Mar. 9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

Mar. 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

√ The purpose of the gift

1) Is to accomplish the work of God. As in our example in Mark 9 the Lord wanted to do a great work in this child’s life – however, the work required faith to be accomplished.

2) To encourage those who’s faith is weak. Just like the father in Mark 9, he wanted to believe, but he really didn’t have the faith to believe that Jesus could do the impossible.

That’s the key – an unwavering trust that God can and will do the impossible!

Ex. George Muller – 1900’s raised up and supported orphanages solely on faith!

Missionary William Carey…

“Attempt great things for God – expect great things from God!”

√ Using the gift

Those with the gift of faith can pray for others who have a great need – yet lack the faith to ask God to meet that need.

I often find that it’s easier to exercise faith for other people than it is when I have a need!

Keeps us from isolation and the Elijah syndrome!

Ap. There are times in all of our lives in which we are so beaten down that we cannot exercise faith for our situation. It’s at those times that those with the gift of faith are most valuable.

A good gift to pray for!

Gifts of Healings

I Cor. 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

√ Definition of the gift

The God-given ability to restore someone to health.

Not through modern medicine, not by the skill of a physician; rather, simply by the power of God as exercised through the gifts of healings.

We see many examples of this gift being operated by Jesus and His followers.

Jesus in Galilee…

Mat. 8:14 Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever.

Mat. 8:15 So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.

Paul on the island of Malta…

Ac 28:8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him.

√ The purpose of the gift

1) Sign to confirm the Gospel message.

Mar. 16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

Mar. 16:18 "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

2) To deliver God’s people

Jam. 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Jam. 5:15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

√ Using the gift

Most of the time in scripture we find that those who are sick come to those with the gift for healing.

However, not always!

Paul in Lystra

Acts 14:8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked.

Acts 14:9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

Acts 14:10 said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked.

The point is that the man wasn’t overtly seeking a healing, but God allowed Paul to see that this man had the faith to be healed and led Paul to initiate the healing.

The purpose? As a sign to those who would believe – including a young man named Timothy!

Ap. In our experience we most often use this gift when praying for those who come forward, or in a hospital setting, etc.

√ Does God still heal people?

I have to tell you that not all Christians believe that God still heals people today.

“With the possible exception of faith, all these gifts (knowledge, wisdom, healings, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits and tongues) seem to have been confirmatory and foundational gifts for the establishment of the church and were therefore temporary.”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary – Walvoord

The reason this commentator believes this is that he has not personally experienced these gifts in operation.

But, I have to ask…

…does that mean that the gifts are not for today simply because we haven’t experienced them?

I think a better approach is to find a Biblical basis by which to evaluate my doctrine against my experience.

My point; the Bible doesn’t ever say that the gifts of the Holy Spirit, including healing, were only for the 1^st Century Church.

In fact, quite the contrary, as we’ve seen in our study together the Bible exhorts us to…

1Co 12:31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

1Co 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

…which would be unnecessary if the gifts were not meant for us today.

Ap. Thus, we pray for people to be healed per the instruction of James 5:14-15.

√ Why doesn’t everyone get healed?

Good question!

Some folks teach that God has promised us “perfect health” and that anyone who isn’t experiencing perfect health is lacking faith, or in sin.

But is that true?

Let’s look at what the Bible says.

√ Did the apostles and the disciples experience perfect health?

Paul

2Cor. 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

2Cor. 12:8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

2Cor. 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2Cor. 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

And….

Gal. 4:13 You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first.

Gal. 4:14 And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Gal. 4:15 What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me.

May be an indication of the sickness which Paul suffered from – perhaps malaria.

Paul’s friends

2Tim. 4:20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

And…

1tim. 5:23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.

The point is that the experience of the Christians in the early Church was not one of perfect health.

We can be sure if that was God’s promise to us, then Paul and the others would have been praying toward that end.

√ What about the teaching that says if get sick it’s because of sin or a lack of faith?

First of all think about how silly that is. I guarantee you that every person that teaches that will die of the last thing that they get sick from!

More than that, Jesus corrects that wrong doctrine because it was being taught by the religious leaders in His day!

Joh. 9:1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.

Joh. 9:2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

Joh. 9:3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

Let’s balance that with Paul’s instruction in I Cor. 11

1Co. 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

1Co. 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

1Co. 11:29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

1Co. 11:30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

1Co. 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

Ap. Important that we recognize the balance of scripture.

We’re not guaranteed perfect health – the apostles didn’t experience it.

However, we are to pray for healing!

Not everyone we pray for is healed.

It’s God’s prerogative!

It’s fine to seek medical solutions to our health problems – Paul encouraged Timothy to do so.

However, let’s give God an opportunity to heal first!

Sickness is not always the result of personal sin.

However, Paul warned the Corinthians that some of them were sick because they were not honoring Jesus in their communion time.

Close

√ Continue to seek the Lord regarding what gift(s) He’s given you – and then use them for the benefit of the Church.

√ Sparky was healed at our communion!