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Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 31
1 Now concerning spiritual [pneumatikos, adjective, literally "spiritual"] [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb [aphonos, "without faculty of speech"] idols, even as ye were led.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
4 Now there are diversities of gifts [charisma, "a gift from God's grace"], but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations [diakonia, "ministries"], but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations [energema, noun, "the results of the works of the power of God"], but it is the same God which worketh (energeo) all in all.
7 But the manifestation [phaneroo, verb, "to cause to shine, make visible, make known"] of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11 But all these worketh [energeo, verb, "to work in, to be operative, to effect] that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
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31 But covet earnestly [zeloo, verb, "a command to have a boiling desire for"] the best gifts [charisma, "God's grace manifested in His supernatural gifts of extraordinary powers"]: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way [the way of agape, God's love] (1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 31, KJV).
Introduction
Paul said, "I would not have you ignorant" of the Spiritual Gifts. The Amplified Bible reads, "I do not want you to be misinformed." May this study be a blessing to you and may it help fill the need to better understand the Gifts of the Holy Spirit today. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are works of grace and power that He gives to others through a Christian who is yielded to Him.
The nine spiritual gifts (Gifts of the Spirit) are often confused with the Ministry Gifts that are listed in Ephesians 4:11. Paul refers to these in verse 5 above as "administrations" [diakonia, "ministries"]. Ministry Gifts are peoplewhom Jesus has called into the ministry.
The Lord commands us to be filled with the Holy Spirit:
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18, NIV).
"Be filled" is one word, pleroo, "to make full, to fill up, i.e., to fill to the full." It is a present passive imperative (SEEDMASTER). Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, commands us to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit. An accurate translation is "be continuously filled." If God commands us to be filled with the Holy Spirit, then there is a reason. We are called to fight in a spiritual battle and we cannot be victorious through our mere human abilities.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the gateway to the Gifts of the Spirit. If you haven't received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, may the Holy Spirit open His precious Word to you concerning this need. May we all function in the Gifts of the Spirit as the Holy Spirit leads us. In this way, we help extend the Kingdom of God to the ends of the earth.
Much of the teaching on the Gifts of the Spirit I owe to Kenneth Hagin’s works in The Word of Faith, his tapes and his books. His primary sources are the Bible and his experience with Christ. In addition, I believe that his main human sources are Howard Carter and P. C. Nelson. Howard Carter served as the Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in Great Britain and founded the world's oldest Pentecostal Bible school. Hagin studied personally under P. C. Nelson at what is now Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie TX.
The Holy Spirit gives the Gifts of the Holy Spirit through a yielded Christian to others, as He wills. The gifts of the Holy Spirit can be categorized as follows:
1. Gifts of Power
1.1 Gift of Faith*
1.2 Working Of Miracles
1.2 Gifts of Healings
2. Gifts of Revelation
2.1 Word of Wisdom* *
2.2 Word Of Knowledge
2.3 Discerning Of Spirits
3. Gifts of Speaking:
3.1 Prophecy*
3.2 Different Kinds of Tongues
3.3 Interpretation of Tongues
The most important Gift of the Spirit is that which is needed at the time–the Holy Spirit decides this. However, in the Biblical hierarchy of values, the most important gift of all is that of the Word of Wisdom (marked by ** above). The most important gift of the gifts of power is the Gift of Faith (marked by a single asterisk). The most important gift of the gifts of speaking is prophecy (marked by a single asterisk).
Paul clearly teaches that love–the Fruit of the Holy Spirit–is more important than the Gifts of the Holy Spirit:
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [agape, "God's love"], I am become [as] sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, KJV)
A better way of saying this is that agape (love) is God's motive in giving the Gifts of the Spirit and we must be motivated by love in the exercise of these gifts. Paul is not depreciating what the Holy Spirit does in giving the gifts. He says to "covet earnestly the best gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:31, KJV).
Conclusion: Covet earnestly (zeloo) the best gifts and exercise them in love (agape). Now, let us study the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in more detail.
Gifts of Power
The Gift of Faith
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Definition: The Gift of Faith is the God-given ability to believe God for a specific miracle or occurrence that is according to His will. His will in specific situations always lines up with His Word.
Introduction:
Faith is the greatest gift of power. It is given by God that we might receive miracles. Working of Miracles is active as compared to the passive nature of the Gift of Faith. Also, Working of Miracles is more crisis in nature whereas the Gift of Faith is more progressive in nature; one works a miracle whereas the Gift of Faith expects a miracle.
1. Saving Faith
1.1 God's Part:
1.11 Jesus'death paid for our salvation.
1.12 God gave us the revelation of His Word.
1.13 God illuminated the Word so we could understand it.
1.14 God caused faith to be born in our hearts:
17 So faith {comes} from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ (Romans 10:17, NASB).
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, {it is} the gift of God; (Ephesians 2:8, NASB).
1.2 Man's Part:
1.21 We received God's Word into our hearts.
1.22 We received Christ in our hearts (believed in our hearts).
1.23 We confessed Jesus as our Lord:
8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"–that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus {as} Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation (Romans 10:8-10, NASB).
2. General Faith
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark 11:24, NIV).
2.1 God gives general faith at salvation.
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God (Mark 11:22, KJV).
22 And answering Jesus says to them, Have the faith of God (Mark 11:22, MARSHALL).
The word translated "Have" is echo, "to have, hold, own, possess." It is literally, "the faith of God" or the faith that God gives us–not our mere human faith. Jesus uses the present, active imperative form, i.e., Jesus commands us to have the God-kind of faith constantly.
2.2 We must nurture faith,
2.21 By feeding on the Word.
2.22 By exercising our faith.
2.3 Jesus gives two conditions to receive from God,
3.21 We must abide in Christ and
3.22 His Word must abide in us:
7 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you (John 15:7, NASB).
(1) We must be in Christ (born again) and we must remain in fellowship with Christ.
(2) His words must be in our hearts and minds. Unless we know God's will (His Word) how can we know how to pray? We must hide His word in our hearts.
3. The Fruit of Faith (Faithfulness)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23, NASB).
3.1 Sequence
3.11 Saving Faith–before salvation
3.12 Gift of Faith–after the Baptism of the Holy Spirit
3.2 Source
3.21 From the Holy Spirit
3.22 Into the human spirit
The essence of faithfulness is dependability. God requires faithfulness in His children:
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2, NIV).
The fruit of faith has to do with character development in the believer. The Holy Spirit works to make the believer faithful–dependable and obedient. We stay in a listening mode to the Lord and practice instant obedience as a lifestyle.
The fruit of faith (faithfulness) is the Reciprocal of faith–the more faithful we are, the more the Lord can use us in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of faith makes us strong in character–the gift of faith makes us a channel for God's power for a specific need.
4. The Gift of Faith
9 To another (wonder-working) faith by the same (Holy) Spirit... (1 Corinthians 12:9, AMP).
4.1 The Gift of Faith is special Faith.
4.2 Uses of the Gift of Faith
4.21 For supernatural blessings, E.g.: Isaac, Jacob and Joseph:
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, {leaning} on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones (Hebrews 11:20-22, NASB).
4.22 For personal protection:
16 Then the king gave orders, and Daniel was brought in and cast into the lions' den. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Your God whom you constantly serve will Himself deliver you."
17 A stone was brought and laid over the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles, so that nothing would be changed in regard to Daniel.
18 Then the king went off to his palace and spent the night fasting, and no entertainment was brought before him; and his sleep fled from him.
19 Then the king arose at dawn, at the break of day, and went in haste to the lions' den.
20 When he had come near the den to Daniel, he cried out with a troubled voice. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you constantly serve, been able to deliver you from the lions?"
21 Then Daniel spoke to the king, "O king, live forever!
22 "My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths and they have not harmed me, inasmuch as I was found innocent before Him; and also toward you, O king, I have committed no crime."
23 Then the king was very pleased and gave orders for Daniel to be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den and no injury whatever was found on him, because he had trusted in his God (Daniel 6:16-23, NASB).
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,
33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed {acts of} righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight (Hebrews 11:32-34, NASB).
4.23 For supernatural sustenance:
1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word."
2 The word of the LORD came to him, saying,
3 "Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.
4 "It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there."
5 So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.
6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook (1 Kings 17:1-6, NASB).
4.24 For raising the dead:
There are many instances of the LORD raising people from the dead throughout the Bible. The New Testament records Jesus raising the following people from the dead:
4.241 The son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17);
4.242 Jairus' daughter (Luke 8:40-56; Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43) and
4.243 Lazarus (John 11:1-44).
Wigglesworth was confronted with a situation where his strong faith could go no further. God then dropped a Gift of Faith in his heart to believe for the resurrection of a lady from the dead. Her spirit returned to her dead body and the Lord raised her from the dead.
Mel Tari tells of a decaying man–he had been dead two days in a tropical country–being raised to life in the presence of over 1,000 witnesses. Over 21,000 people came to Christ as a result of this resurrected man's ministry. [Mel Tari and Cliff Dudley, Like a Mighty Wind (Carol Stream, IL: Creation House, 1971), pp. 66-68].
4.25 For casting out evil spirits
4.26 For ministering the Holy Spirit:
5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? (Galatians 3:5, NASB).
The Gift of Faith is a special faith that the Holy Spirit gives a believer to trust God for a specific supernatural solution to a problem–a work of power that the Holy Spirit will perform.
Conclusion: Let us be receptive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in the exercise of this very important gift of the Spirit.
The Gift of Working of Miracles
Text: Corinthians 12:1-11
Definition: A miracle occurs when the Holy Spirit transcends known laws though which God normally governs the universe.
Introduction: The Greek word translated "working" is energema, noun, "the thing produced by God's energy or operations." "Miracles" is dunamis, noun, "powers."
What it is not:
1. A figure of speech, i.e., "miracle drug," "miracle fabrics," "a sunset," "birth of a child," etc."
2. General miracles such as all the gifts of the Spirit, the new birth, etc.
What it is: A specific supernatural act or acts by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus foretold that believers would do miracles in John 14:12:
12 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater {works} than these he will do; because I go to the Father (John 14:12, NASB).
1. Working of Miracles in the Old Testament
The Working of Miracles is more prominent in the OT, whereas Gifts of Healings are more prominent in the NT. Here are some OT examples:
1.1 Immediate miracles:
The immediate creation of the world, ex nihilo, "out of nothing" is a miracle.
1.2 Mediate miracles:
1.21 Plagues in Egypt (Exodus 7-14)
Moses' rod turned into a snake, dust into insects, etc.:
7:35 "This Moses whom they disowned, saying, 'WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?' is the one whom God sent {to be} both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the thorn bush.
36 "This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years (Acts 7:35-36, NASB).
1.22 Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-31)
1.23 Two widows' provision:
A miracle through Elijah:
17:10 So he [Elijah] arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, "Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink."
11 As she was going to get {it,} he called to her and said, "Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand."
12 But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die."
13 Then Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring {it} out to me, and afterward you may make {one} for yourself and for your son.
14 "For thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.'"
15 So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for {many} days.
16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah (1 Kings 17:10-16, NASB)
A miracle through Elisha:
1 Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves."
2 Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil."
3 Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels at large for yourself from all your neighbors, {even} empty vessels; do not get a few.
4 "And you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour out into all these vessels, and you shall set aside what is full."
5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing {the vessels} to her and she poured.
6 When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not one vessel more." And the oil stopped.
7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt, and you {and} your sons can live on the rest." (2 Kings 4:1-7, NASB).
2. Working of miracles in the New Testament
2.1 Judgment
2.11 Ananias and Sapphira:
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2 And kept back [part] of the price, his wife also being privy [to it], and brought a certain part, and laid [it] at the apostles' feet.
3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land?
4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things (Acts 5:1-5, KJV).
2.12 Elymas the Sorcerer:
4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to [their] minister.
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name [was] Barjesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also [is called] Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, [thou] child of the devil, [thou] enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord [is] upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord (Acts 13:4-12, KJV).
2.2 Mercy
2.21 Jesus calms the storm:
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? (Mark 4:33-40, KJV).
2.23 Jesus raised the dead:
Jesus' taught by raising the dead that he had power over death. Jesus raised at least three people from the dead,
2.231 The son of the widow of Nain:
11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare [him] stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. {bier: or, coffin}
15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people (Luke 7:11-17, KJV).
2.232 The daughter of Jairus:
41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:
42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
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49 While he [Jesus]yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's [house], saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
50 But when Jesus heard [it], he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done (Luke 8:41-42, 49-56, KJV).
2.233 Lazarus:
1 Now a certain man, named Lazarus, of Bethany, was lying ill—Bethany being the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was the Mary who poured the perfume over the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.)
3 So the sisters sent to Him to say, "Master, he whom you hold dear is ill."
4 Jesus received the message and said, "This illness is not to end in death, but is to promote the glory of God, in order that the Son of God may be glorified by it."
[Jesus goes to Bethany]
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When, however, He heard that Lazarus was ill, He still remained two days in that same place.
7 Then, after that, He said to the disciples, "Let us return to Judaea."
8 "Rabbi," exclaimed the disciples, "the Jews have just been trying to stone you, and do you think of going back there again?"
9 "Are there not twelve hours in the day?" replied Jesus. "If any one walks in the daytime, he does not stumble—because he sees the light of this world.
10 But if a man walks by night, he does stumble, because the light is not in him."
11 He said this, and afterwards He added, "Our friend Lazarus is sleeping, but I will go and wake him."
12 "Master," said the disciples, "if he is asleep he will recover."
13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought He referred to the rest taken in ordinary sleep.
14 So then He told them plainly,
15 "Lazarus is dead; and for your sakes I am glad I was not there, in order that you may believe. But let us go to him."
16 "Let us go also," Thomas, the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "that we may die with him."
[Lazarus was now Dead and Buried]
17 On His arrival Jesus found that Lazarus had already been three days in the tomb.
18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, the distance being a little less than two miles;
19 and a considerable number of the Jews were with Martha and Mary, having come to express sympathy with them on the death of their brother.
20 Martha, however, as soon as she heard the tidings, "Jesus is coming," went to meet Him; but Mary remained sitting in the house.
21 So Martha came and spoke to Jesus. "Master, if you had been here," she said, "my brother would not have died.
22 And even now I know that whatever you ask God for, God will give you."
23 "Your brother shall rise again," replied Jesus.
['The Resurrection and the Life']
24 "I know," said Martha, "that he will rise again at the resurrection, on the last day."
25 "I am the Resurrection and the Life," said Jesus; "he who believes in me, even if he has died, he shall live;
26 and every one who is living and is a believer in me shall never, never die. Do you believe this?"
27 "Yes, Master," she replied; "I thoroughly believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
28 After saying this, she went and called her sister Mary privately, telling her, "The Rabbi is here and is asking for you."
29 So she, on hearing that, rose up quickly to go to Him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him.
31 So the Jews who were with Mary in the house sympathizing with her, when they saw that she had risen hastily and had gone out, followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep aloud there.
[Lazarus brought back to Life]
32 Mary then, when she came to Jesus and saw Him, fell at His feet and exclaimed, "Master, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."
33 Seeing her weeping aloud, and the Jews in like manner weeping who had come with her, Jesus, curbing the strong emotion of His spirit,
34 though deeply troubled, asked them, "Where have you laid him?"
"Master, come and see," was their reply.
35 Jesus wept.
36 "See how dear he held him," said the Jews.
37 But others of them asked, "Was this man who opened the blind man's eyes unable to prevent this man from dying?"
38 Jesus, however, again restraining His strong feeling, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone had been laid against the mouth of it.
39 "Take away the stone," said Jesus.
Martha, the sister of the dead man, exclaimed, "Master, by this time there is a foul smell; for it is three days since he died."
40 "Did I not promise you," replied Jesus, "that if you believe, you shall see the glory of God?"
41 So they removed the stone.
Then Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me.
42 I know that Thou always hearest me; but for the sake of the crowd standing round I have said this—that they may believe that Thou didst send me."
43 After speaking thus, He called out in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out."
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped in cloths, and his face wrapped round with a towel.
"Untie him," said Jesus, "and let him go free" (John 11:1-44, WEYMOUTH).
Lazarus died and Jesus raised him from the dead. However, Lazarus' resurrected body was mortal. This miracle pointed to a future time when all believers shall be given an immortal body. Lazarus awaits the First Resurrection for his immortal body. Only Jesus has an immortal body at this time.
The miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus demonstrated that Jesus' claim to being the Son of God was true. It also demonstrated that there would be a future resurrection of the righteous when they would be raised with an immortal body.
Peter raised Dorcas from the dead:
36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
37 And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid [her] in an upper chamber.
38 And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring [him] that he would not delay to come to them.
39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning [him] to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her [his] hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive (Acts 9:35-40, KJV).
Paul raised Eutychus from the dead:
9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing [him] said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him (Acts 20:9-10, KJV).
2.24 Jesus fed the physically hungry:
Jesus fed 4000+ people:
32 Then Jesus called his disciples [unto him], and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?
34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes.
35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.
36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake [them], and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken [meat] that was left seven baskets full.
38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children (Matthew 15:32-38, KJV).
Jesus fed the people because He had compassion on them and their hunger. Assuming that there were four people to a family, Jesus fed 16,000 people here at one time.
Jesus fed 5000+ people:
1 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is [the sea] of Tiberias.
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.
3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.
4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
5 When Jesus then lifted up [his] eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?
6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.
7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.
8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,
9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.
12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.
13 Therefore they gathered [them] together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.
14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world (John 6:1-14, KJV).
Assuming that there were four people to a family, Jesus fed 20,000 people here at one time. One assumes that the multitudes' colorful clothing appeared like flowers as they sat in the green meadow (Ralph Earle).
3. Working of Miracles Today
3.1 Mel Tari
Mel Tari was an Indonesian Christian on fire for the Lord. The Lord worked miracles through him and his Christian friends. There were no grapes in Indonesia, so they prayed over water and the Lord turned it into wine for their communion service. Once, an evangelistic group encountered a flood and the Lord permitted them to walk on water in order to cross and witness for Him. Poison was neutralized. Also, the Lord raised a dead man and many were saved as a result.
3.2 Frank Folio's mother
Frank Folio's mother prayed over food and the Lord multiplied it for her family and guests.
2.3 You and me(?)
Does the Lord have an opportunity to prove Himself strong in our lives? He is no respecter of persons and He will confirm His Word with signs and wonders as we obediently proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion:
Seek earnestly the best gifts:
1 Be eager in your pursuit of this Love, and be earnestly ambitious for spiritual gifts... (1 Corinthians 14:1, WEYMOUTH).
Expect a miracle!
12 In most solemn truth I tell you that he who trusts in me—the things which I do he shall do also; and greater things than these he shall do, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12, WEYMOUTH).
The Gifts of Healings
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Definition: The Gifts of Healings are supernatural healings by the Holy Spirit, manifested through yielded human instruments.
Introduction:
Both "Gifts" and "Healings" are plural in the Greek text of 1 Corinthians 12:9. Here is a literal translation:
to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of cures by the one Spirit, (1 Corinthians 12:9, MARSHALL).
"Gifts" is charismata, "God's gifts of grace." "Healing" is iamaton "of cures."
The Gifts of Healings is one of at least seven different ways that the Lord heals:
1. Gifts of healings:
9 ...and to another gifts of healing[s] by the one Spirit, (1 Corinthians 12:9b, NASB).
NOTE: Paul moves from the nine spiritual gifts to ministry gifts at the end of 1 Corinthians 12:
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 [Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers? [are] all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? (1 Corinthians 12:28-30, KJV).
Ministry gifts are people–we call them ministers or preachers today. Evangelists' ministries are characterized by Gifts of Healings, but there are others whose ministries may be characterized by the Gifts of Healings.
2. Anointing with oil:
14 Is anyone among you sick? {Then} he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him (James 5:14-15, NASB).
3. Prayer of agreement:
19 "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven.
20 "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst" (Matthew 18:18-19, NASB).
4. Prayer of faith (individual):
Therefore, I tell you, all things which ye pray and ask, believe that ye received, and it will be to you [literal translation] (Mark 11:24, MARSHALL).
24 "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be {granted} you (Mark 11:24, NASB).
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them] (Mark 11:24, KJV).
The NASB translators worked from a better Greek text and therefore produced a better translation of this verse. Robertson comments,
Believe that ye have received them (pisteuete hoti elabete). That is the test of faith, the kind that sees the fulfilment before it happens. Elabete is second aorist active indicative, antecedent in time to pisteuete, unless it be considered the timeless aorist when it is simultaneous with it (Robertson's Word Pictures).
The Greek aorist tense is punctiliar and is usually translated by the English past tense. Here Jesus is teaching that the believer should see the prayer already answered. Then, God answers the prayer: And it will be to you (MARSHALL) (kai estai humin). God's order is (1) believe and then (2) receive.
5. Laying on of hands:
17 "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly {poison,} it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" [italics mine] (Mark 16:17-18, NASB).
6. Speaking the word:
Jesus heals the leper immediately:
40 And a leper *came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."
41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and *said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed."
42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed (Mark 1:40-42, NASB).
The Greek text of Mark 1:41 is not translated strongly enough in English. Based on Greek scholar Ralph Earle's exposition and Robert Bracher's translation–the TEV, here is a better translation:
41 And having been gripped with compassion, Jesus immediately laid his hand on him and said to him, "I want to; receive your cleansing now!"
Jesus clearly declared the Father's will to heal us in this passage. (God is impartial. Since he loved the leper, He loves us just as much!) Up to the time that Jesus healed him the leper had a revelation of the power of God, but was not sure about God's love. Jesus immediately let the leper know that God loved him and wanted to heal him. Jesus told the leper to receive his healing immediately. Then, God immediately healed him. Why wait to be healed when it is God's will to be healed now?
23 "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be {granted} him (Mark 11:23, NASB).
God uses Peter and John to heal a crippled man:
1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth {hour,} the hour of prayer.
2 And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.
3 When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he {began} asking to receive alms.
4 But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us!"
5 And he {began} to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!"
7 And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
8 With a leap he stood upright and {began} to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God (Acts 3:1-8, NASB).
7. Special ministries:
Please note that Paul is talking about ministry gifts—people—in this passage. (See "The Five-Fold Ministry Gifts" article for more detail.)
28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, {various} kinds of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28, NASB).
Paul was an apostle and the Lord used him in all the ministry gifts and all the gifts of the Spirit. God expanded and multiplied his ministry by using cloths—Paul didn't have to be physically present to exercise his ministry:
11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul,
12 so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out (Acts 19:11-12, NASB).
The Lord used Peter's shadow as a point of contact for people to release their faith:
12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico.
13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem.
14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to {their number,}
15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them (Acts 5:12-15, NASB)
1. What It Is Not
1.1 Healing through medical science
Doctor's treatments are not "gifts of healings"—they are not free! Also, human beings make mistakes—God does not. Thank God for medical science and it is not a sin to go to the doctor. However, we must turn to God first. Our faith must be in God for healing, even though God may use physicians to help us. Asa, king of Judah began to rely on human beings instead of God. King Asa jailed the prophet Hanani whom God had sent with a message. Asa sinned by turning from God to man and died:
12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians.
13 So Asa slept with his fathers, having died in the forty-first year of his reign (2 Chronicles 16:12-13, NASB).
1.2 Natural healing
God designed our bodies to heal themselves. However, because of Adam's fall, this process of healing does not work correctly and we will eventually die.
God has designed a wonderful plan of salvation that includes an immortal body like Jesus now has. Jesus is the only one with an immortal body, but at the first resurrection, God will give us a body like Jesus now has. Our new body will never get sick or die.
2. Jesus' Ministry of Healing
Isaiah prophesied concerning Jesus' healing ministry:
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD... (Isaiah 61:1-2, NASB).
Jesus only quoted the portion in Isaiah 61 concerning his first coming [Ryrie Study Bible]:
16 And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.
17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."
20 And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:16-21, NASB).
Here is another prophecy from Isaiah concerning Jesus' healing ministry:
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted (Isaiah 53:4, KJV).
4 Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried; Whereas we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God and afflicted (Isaiah 53:4, The Holy Scriptures According to the Masoretic Text).
Matthew records a fulfillment of Isaiah 53:4,
16 When evening came, many who were demon possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took our infirmities and carried our diseases" (Matthew 8:16-17, NIV).
Peter presented Jesus' healing ministry in capsule form:
38 "{You know of} Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and {how} He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him (Acts 10:38, NASB).
Dr. Dowie saw that Jesus was the healer and Satan was the oppressor. After God illuminated Acts 10:38 to Pastor Dowie, he prayed for his congregation and no one else in his congregation died from bubonic plague. (To read this amazing story, see "Jesus the Healer," Chapter 17 of my book, How to Raise Your Self-Esteem Using Proven Biblical Principles. Download this book free at http://BusterSoft.com/JRCM.)
2.1 Jesus ministered as a prophet, anointed by the Holy Spirit:
Moses prophesied that God would raise up the Prophet Jesus:
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs, and the obedience of the nations is his (Genesis 49:10, NIV).
Jesus said that he was that prophet:
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me (John 5:46, KJV).
57 And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his {own} household" (Matthew 132:57, NASB).
The people recognized Jesus as a prophet:
11 And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee" (Matthew 21:11, NASB).
Jesus emptied Himself of the exercise of his divine nature, but He remained fully God. This passage is the famous Kenosis or "self-emptying" of Christ (See the note in verse 7):
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation [kenoo, "to empty, make empty"], and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:5-11, KJV).
2.2 Jesus had the Holy Spirit without measure:
34 "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure (John 3:34, NASB).
2.3 Jesus had the gifts of healings.
3. Two Important Avenues of Healing
3.1 Gifts of Healings:
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings [italics mine], helps, governments, diversities of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28-30).
3.2 Personal receiving through personal faith:
God expects us to learn to walk by faith and to believe for our own personal needs as well as to believe for the needs of others.
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it [italics mine], and it will be yours (Mark 11:24, NIV).
Conclusion: The Lord wants believers to learn to trust God for their personal healing and for the healing of others.
Gifts of Revelation
The Word of Wisdom
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Definition: The word of wisdom is a supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit to a human instrument concerning God's plan for a specific situation in the future.
Introduction:The word of wisdom is the most important of all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
1. The Word of Wisdom may come through
1.1 Visions:
Everyone can see an open vision.
Only one person can see a closed vision. That person may be awake or asleep.
One of the classic visions bearing God's wisdom or plan for the future is this vision God gave Daniel:
20 Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God,
21 while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in {my} extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering.
22 He gave {me} instruction and talked with me and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding.
23 "At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued, and I have come to tell {you,} for you are highly esteemed; so give heed to the message and gain understanding of the vision.
24 "Seventy weeks [literally, "seventy sevens." "Sevens" = "years", therefore, 490 years] have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy {place.}
25 "So you are to know and discern {that} from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince {there will be} seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.
26 "Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end {will come} with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.
27 "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations {will come} one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate" (Daniel 9:20-27, NASB).
Gabriel is an angel, who appeared as a man to Daniel in a vision. God sent Gabriel to Daniel with a message concerning the future. It includes Jesus the Messiah, the Antichrist, and an outline of the "future history" of God's dealing with Israel. We are living in the Church Age, between the sixty-ninth and seventieth weeks. The Bible does not give the time span of the Church Age as it does the seventy weeks of the Jews.
1.2 Dreams:
God showed Joseph part of His plan to use him to save Egypt and his father's family:
5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
6 He said to them, "Please listen to this dream which I have had;
7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf."
8 Then his brothers said to him, "Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
9 Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, "Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."
10 He related {it} to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?"
11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying {in mind} (Genesis 37:5-11, NASB).
God gave Joseph a Word of Wisdom in a dream that came to pass later in his life. This Word of Wisdom probably helped Joseph endure much suffering. Joseph probably made a mistake telling his dreams to his family. Some information that God gives us should not be shared with others.
God spoke to Mary, the mother of Jesus, in a dream:
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
28 And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord {is} with you."
29 But she was very perplexed at {this} statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
32 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
35 The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.
36 "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.
37 "For nothing will be impossible with God."
38 And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:27-38, NASB).
God spoke to Joseph, Jesus' stepfather, in a dream:
13 Now when they [the magi] had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."
14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt.
15 He remained there until the death of Herod. {This was} to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON" (Matthew 2:13-15, NASB).
Herod wanted to destroy Jesus, whom he saw as a threat to his position. God sent an angel to Jesus' stepfather Joseph in a dream, warning him to leave the country. God communicated the Word of Wisdom through a dream.
1.3 Prophecies:
God spoke to the Apostle Paul through the Prophet Agabus. Agabus' prophecy contained a Word of Wisdom that would prepare Paul and his Christian friends for what was about to happen:
10 And as we tarried [there] many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver [him] into the hands of the Gentiles (Acts 21:10-11;).
1.4 Tongues and Interpretation:
Tongues and Interpretation are not found in the Old Testament. However, the Apostle Paul recognizes them as a New Testament phenomenon. The Holy Spirit may include a Word of Wisdom in them. The Tongues and Interpretation may be for a group of people or for one person. Oral Roberts noted that the Lord has directed him through these gifts.
1.5 Inward witness:
The Holy Spirit leads believers by an "inward witness" or spiritual impression. He may give believers a Word of Wisdom from time to time by an inward witness. This is not human intuition, the voice of conscience, or problem-solving by the unconscious. It is supernatural.
2. The Word of Wisdom and the Word of Knowledge often operate together:
2.1 The Word of knowledge has to do with facts about the present and past.
2.2 The Word of Wisdom has to do with the prudent application of facts for the future.
Here are two examples:
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
11 And the Lord {said} to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying,
12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight."
13 But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem;
14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."
15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake" (Acts 9:10-16, NASB).
The Lord came to Ananias in a vision and gave him a Word of Knowledge concerning Saul, who would be renamed Paul. The Lord gave him a Word of Knowledge with these facts: (1) a man named Saul was staying with Judas on Straight Street; (2) Saul was praying; (3) Saul had a vision in which Ananias would lay hands on him and his eyes would be healed. The Lord also gave Ananias a Word of Wisdom with these future facts: (1) The Lord will use Saul to proclaim the Gospel to Gentiles, kings and Jews; (2) Saul will suffer for the Lord.
26 But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, "Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a desert {road.})
27 So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot" (Acts 8:26-29, NASB).
An angel appeared to Philip. The angel gave him exact directions, a Word of Knowledge. The Holy Spirit then told Philip to go to a specific chariot on that road. This revelation may be interpreted as a Word of Wisdom, since Philip was to witness to him. God saw this eunuch's heart and had a plan to save him, which included Philip! Philip explained Isaiah's prophecy about Christ, the eunuch believed in Christ and Philip baptized him. Immediately, the Holy Spirit supernaturally transported Philip to Azotus (Acts 8:26-40).
3. The Word of Wisdom Is Not Natural Wisdom
3.1 Human wisdom rejected:
4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden {wisdom} which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
...............................
13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual {thoughts} with spiritual {words.}
14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised (Corinthians 2:4-7; 13-14, NASB).
As a highly educated man, Paul knew the evil and error of human thinking. The wisdom of the philosophers is futile, filled with rationalizations, logical error, misinformation and limited by finiteness. Paul then contrasts the wisdom of God with the pseudo-wisdom of man. God makes his wonderful wisdom available to his children. The Holy Spirit makes His Word come alive, enlightening the believer with His wisdom.
3.2 God's general wisdom is for all:
James writes to believers,
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord,
8 {being} a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (James 1:5-8, NASB).
The LORDspoke to Joshua after Moses died,
7 "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.
8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success (Joshua 1:7-8, NASB)
The Book of Proverbs is full of wisdom. Parents, churches and Christian schools should teach the Book of Proverbs to children, in "bite" size and on their age levels.
3.3 The Word of Wisdom is for some. The Holy Spirit gives a Word of Wisdom through a believer to others as He sees the need.
4. The Word of Wisdom Can Be Conditional
4.1 Sometimes God's plan can be changed. Here are two examples:
Isaiah prophesied Hezekiah's death and God healed him after Hezekiah prayed:
1 In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'"
2 Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying,
3 "Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
5 "Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.
6 "I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake and for My servant David's sake"'" (2 Kings 20:1-6, NASB).
God told Jonah to tell the people of Nineveh that they would be destroyed because of their sins. Everyone, including the King, repented and God spared Nineveh:
Jon 3:1 Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying,
2 "Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you."
3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days' walk.
4 Then Jonah began to go through the city one day's walk; and he cried out and said, "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown."
5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.
6 When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered {himself} with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.
7 He issued a proclamation and it said, "In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water.
8 "But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.
9 "Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish."
10 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do {it} (Jonah 3:1-10, NASB).
God is the constant–man is the variable. God is holy and when people change, turning to God with their whole hearts, God forgives.
4.2 Sometimes God's plan cannot be changed (Eg: Jesus' Second Coming).
Conclusion: God loves us and wants to reveal portions of His great plan of redemption to us in order that man can be saved, helped and edified.
The Word of Knowledge
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Definition: The Word of Knowledge is the supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit to an individual of certain facts in the mind of God. The Word of Knowledge has to do with past and present facts.
Introduction: God is the source of the Word of Knowledge—not man. Satan has counterfeits such as fortune telling—we need the real. The purpose of the word of knowledge is to glorify God and meet human need.
1. Ways manifested
1.1 Visions
(See Acts 9:10-12 in "The Word of Wisdom" above.)
God sent an angel in a vision to Cornelius, a Roman Centurion (who corresponds to a captain in our Army) and told him to send for the Apostle Peter. Cornelius had been walking in the light that God had given him and now God was going to speak to him about Jesus, through Peter. The angel gave Cornelius certain facts he could have not known in the natural:
1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian [band],
2 [A] devout [man], and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for [one] Simon, whose surname is Peter:
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do (Acts 10:1-6, KJV).
However, Peter was prejudiced against Gentiles and God was about to reveal to him that Gentiles could be saved. So, God dealt with him through a vision. Then the Holy Spirit gave him a Word of Knowledge concerning the three men that Cornelius had sent to fetch Peter. God chose Peter to preach Christ to Cornelius and his household:
9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice [spake] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, [that] call not thou common.
16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate,
18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them (Acts 10:9-20, KJV).
1.2 Angels
God spoke to Mary, the mother of Jesus, through the angel Gabriel. Gabriel left this Word of Wisdom with her:
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name [was] Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, [thou that art] highly favoured, the Lord [is] with thee: blessed [art] thou among women. {highly...: or, graciously accepted, or, of much grace}
29 And when she saw [him], she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her (Luke 1:26-38, KJV).
After the birth of Jesus, one of the Lord's angels appeared to shepherds with a Word of Knowledge. The angel told them that the Messiah had been born in Bethlehem. The angel told them that the baby Jesus was in a manger. They were able to see Him and visit with Mary and Joseph:
7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 In the same region there were {some} shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 "This {will be} a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds {began} saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."
16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.
18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart (Luke 2:7-19, NASB).
1.3 Prophecy
The Lord gave Saul a Word of Knowledge through Samuel concerning his father's lost donkeys. The Word of Knowledge is in the last verse:
1 Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.
2 He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome {man,} and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.
3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, "Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys."
4 He passed through the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find {them.} Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but {they were} not {there.} Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find {them.}
5 When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, and let us return, or else my father will cease {to be concerned} about the donkeys and will become anxious for us."
6 He said to him, "Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; all that he says surely comes true. Now let us go there, perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out."
7 Then Saul said to his servant, "But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"
8 The servant answered Saul again and said, "Behold, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give {it} to the man of God and he will tell us our way."
9 (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, "Come, and let us go to the seer"; for {he who is called} a prophet now was formerly called a seer.)
10 Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said; come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11 As they went up the slope to the city, they found young women going out to draw water and said to them, "Is the seer here?"
12 They answered them and said, "He is; see, {he is} ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for the people have a sacrifice on the high place today.
13 "As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up for you will find him at once."
14 So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.
15 Now a day before Saul's coming, the LORD had revealed {this} to Samuel saying,
16 "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me."
17 When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people."
18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."
19 Samuel answered Saul and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is on your mind.
20 "As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's household?" (1 Samuel 9:1-20, NASB).
1.4 Dreams
The Lord gave Joseph a Word of Knowledge in a dream concerning his wife Mary being pregnant with Jesus. The angel told Joseph that Jesus had been conceived (begotten) by the Holy Spirit:
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. {conceived: Gr. begotten}
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:18-21, KJV).
1.5 Inward witness
Jesus gave a Samaritan a Word of Knowledge that led her to accept Him as the Messiah:
7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
18 For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
25 The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am [he] (John 4:7-26, KJV).
Naaman, the commander of the Syrian Army had been healed through the ministry of Elisha. In his gratitude, Naaman offered a gift to Elisha, which Elisha refused. However, Gehazi, Elisha's servant, was greedy and ran after Naaman and asked him for some gifts. Gehazi lied to Naaman, saying that Elisha changed his mind. Then Gehazi hid the gifts and returned to Ehisha:
25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence [comest thou], Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. {no whither: Heb. not hither or thither}
26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart [with thee], when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? [Is it] a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper [as white] as snow (2 Kings 15:25-27, KJV).
1.6. Tongues and interpretation
Tongues plus interpretation is similar to the Gift of Prophecy. Thus Tongues and interpretation can contain a Word of Knowledge, a Word of Wisdom or a Gift of Discerning of Spirits.
2. Present day Examples
Pat Robertson and others give Words of Knowledge quite frequently on the 700 Club. This usually includes a message of healing for individuals.
Kenneth Hagin's ministry was characterized by the Word of Knowledge and Prophecy. His books and tapes have many recorded examples.
While pastoring, the Lord used me in the Word of Knowledge. The Gift of Tongues, the Gift of Interpretation of Tongues, The Word of Knowledge, and the Gift of Prophecy all fit with the Ministry Gift of Pastor.
Conclusion: By the Word of Knowledge, sinners can be saved, the Church can be purified, the distressed comforted, the saint gladdened, lost property recovered, the enemy defeated and the Lord Jesus Christ glorified.
The Gift of Discerning of Spirits
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Definition: Through the Gift of Discerning of Spirits, the Holy Spirit gives insight into the spirit world to a Christian.
It is not:
1. "Discernment." There is no such gift. However one could mistakenly call the Word of Knowledge "discernment."
2. "Mind Reading." There is no gift of mind reading. At times, Jesus knew what people were thinking, but this was a Word of Knowledge.
3. "Mental Penetration." This may be a Satanic imitation or a simple trick.
4. "Power to discern the faults of others," i.e., a critical spirit. Jesus taught,
Matt 7:1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
3 "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye?
5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye (Matthew 7:1-5, NASB).
Christians must walk in love:
4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such {a word} as is good for edification according to the need {of the moment,} so that it will give grace to those who hear.
30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma (Ephesians 4:29-5:2, NASB).
Introduction:
The nine gifts of the Holy Spirit can be categorized as those that
1. Do something:
1.1 Gift of Faith
1.2 Working of Miracles
1.3 Gifts of Healings
2. Say something:
2.1 Prophecy
2.2 Tongues
2.3 Interpretation of Tongues
3. Reveal Something:
3.1 Word of Wisdom
3.2 Word of Knowledge
3.3 Discerning of Spirits
It is humanly impossible to see what is motivating a person. A spirit is invisible. The Holy Spirit gives this gift so that a Christian can tell if God, holy angels, fallen angels or one's own human spirit is motivating an individual.
1. Discerning God,
1.1 The Father.
Moses' example:
16 "For how then can it be known that I [Moses] have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the {other} people who are upon the face of the earth?"
17 The LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name."
18 Then Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!"
19 And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion."
20 But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!"
21 Then the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand {there} on the rock;
22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
23 "Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen" (Exodus 33:17-33, NASB).
Isaiah's example:
1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple (Isaiah 6:1, KJV).
1.2 The risen Christ:
Paul's example:
1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,
2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him;
4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
5 And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He {said,} "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,
6 but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do."
7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank (Acts 9:1-9, NASB).
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? (1 Corinthians 9:1, NASB).
1.3 The Holy Spirit
John's example:
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne (Revelation 1:4, NASB).
[Note: the seven Spirits "Many understand this to refer to the Holy Spirit in His perfect fulness...(Ryrie).]
2. Discerning Good Angels and Fallen Angels,
2.1 Satan
Jesus' example:
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry.
3 And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread" (Matthew 4:1-3, NASB).
2.2 Demons
Paul's example:
16 It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortune-telling. Acts 16:17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, "These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation." Acts 16:18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out at that very moment (Acts 16:16-18, NASB).
2.3 Good angels
See the examples of good angels above. Keep in mind that Satan can appear as an angel of light (a good angel):
12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting.
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.
14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:12-14, NASB).
3. Discerning Human Spirits,
3.1 Human or God motivated?
In the Old Testament, some prophesied out of their own spirit or minds:
14 Then the LORD said to me, "The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds (Jeremiah 14:14, NASB).
3.2 Human or demon motivated?
The Bible speaks of doctrines of demons:
1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, (1 Timothy 4:1, NASB).
If one knows the Scriptures, some doctrines we may hear will not line up with the Word of God. Only this gift will reveal whether or not it is human or demonic in origin.
If someone has convulsions, it can be due to a brain disorder or it can be produced by a demon. Only this gift will reveal whether or not it is demonic in origin.
Conclusion: Through the exercise of the Gift of Discerning of Spirits, the demonized can be recognized and set free, false prophets exposed and the voice of God discerned.
Gifts of Speaking
The Gift of Prophecy
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; 14:1-5
Definition: Prophecy is speaking supernaturally by the Holy Spirit in a known language. It is not preaching. The Greek word is propheteia, from pro, "for, on behalf of" + phemi, "to speak", hence, "to speak for [God]."
Introduction: The Gift of Prophecy is generally the most important of the three Gifts of Speaking. A Gift of Prophecy is usually given in the first person, as though God Himself were speaking through the prophet.
Different kinds of tongues is speaking by the Holy Spirit in an unknown language. Interpretation of tongues is the interpretation of a message in tongues into a known language by the Holy Spirit. These two gifts taken together are similar to the Gift of Prophecy.
1. The Distinction Between the Gift of Prophecy and the Ministry of a Prophet
Luke gives us New Testament examples of female and male prophets:
8 On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.
9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.
10 As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
Acts 21:11 And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles'" (Acts 21:9-11, NASB).
1.1 The Gift of Prophecy can be for all:
1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual {gifts,} but especially that you may prophesy" (1 Corinthians 14:1, NASB).
1. The simple gift of prophecy has no "foretelling," predicting the future.
2. The purpose is to edify, to exhort and to comfort.
3. A prophecy can have one or more revelation gifts: word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits.
1.2 The Office of Prophet Is a Special Calling:
1. The O T Prophet's ministry was characterized with foretelling and guidance of kings.
2. The N T Prophet' ministry was characterized with forth telling and confirmation of personal guidance by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit now indwells believers in a unique way and guides them personally. The believer's role is to listen and obey.
3. Both OT and NT prophets' ministries included at least two of the three revelation gifts.
2. Proper Use of the Gift of Prophecy
2.1 Improper use of the gift:
2.11 Predicting "out of one's own mind." An example of this is telling a person to leave a marriage partner and marry another specific person, because "your marriage wasn't made in heaven."
2.12 Controlling other people's lives. This includes micromanagement and intrusion into areas in which the prophet should not be involved.
2.13 Giving people a "call" or a "gift" that is spurious.
2.2 Proper use of the gift:
2.21 As the Holy Spirit inspires, the prophet speaks to edify, exhort and comfort.
2.22 As the Holy Spirit inspires, the prophet confirms guidance that the Holy Spirit has given.
2.23 As the Holy Spirit inspires, the prophet serves as a vehicle of the gifts of revelation and other gifts.
2.3 Proper attitudes toward the gift:
2.31 Accept the gift with thanksgiving to God. (Some improperly reject the gift because they have seen it misused.)
19 Do not quench the Spirit;
20 do not despise prophetic utterances.
21 But examine everything {carefully;} hold fast to that which is good;
22 abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22, NASB).
2.32 Prove all prophecy and accept the genuine as a precious gift from God.
2.33 Yield to the Holy Spirit rather than quenching the Spirit.
2.34 Accept and thank God for both public and private prophecy.
1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual {gifts,} but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in {his} spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation (1 Corinthians 14:1-3, NASB).
Conclusion: Let us desire and pray that the Holy Spirit will manifest His gift of Prophecy both in our personal and corporate lives.
The Gift of Tongues
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Mark 16:15-18
Introduction: The Gift of Tongues is not generally understood by Christians and especially not understood by the unconverted. The text has "[divers] kinds of tongues." [Divers] is in brackets, showing that it is not in the Greek text, but is implied. "Kinds" is genos, "kinds, classes, sorts." "Tongues" is glossa, "physical tongues, languages."
Definition: Different kinds of tongues are supernatural utterances by Christians as they are inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak in languages never learned by the believers, no understood by the believers nor always understood by the hearers.
1. Tongues are Prominent Today
1. Tongues are distinctive of this dispensation.
2. Paul emphasized them to place them in perspective.
3. Tongues are the initial physical evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
4. The use of tongues in public is possibly the least of the gifts and therefore expressed more.
2. Tongues are a Supernatural Sign
15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
16 "He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
17 "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly {poison,} it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:15-18, NASB).
2.1 To the unbeliever so that he can be saved:
22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy {is for a sign,} not to unbelievers but to those who believe (1 Corinthians 14:22, NASB).
2.2 To the believer as evidence that he has received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. See http://jrcm.faithweb.com/goodnews/i_holyspirit.html. Believers spoke in tongues in three of the five recorded passages in the Book of Acts where people received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the fifth passage, Luke does not say that Paul spoke in tongues, but Paul later says that,
I [Paul] thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: (1 Corinthians 14:18, KJV).
3. Tongues are a Gift for Personal Edifications and for Intercession for Others.
3.1 Personal edification:
4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church (1 Corinthians 14:4, NASB).
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life (Jude 1:20-21, NASB).
3.2 Intercession
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for {us} with groanings too deep for words;
27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to {the will of} God (Romans 8:26-27, NASB).
5. Tongues Are for Public Ministry.
28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, {various} kinds of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28-30, NASB).
5.1 The Gift of Tongues is to be given in order:
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, {it should be} by two or at the most three, and {each} in turn, and one must interpret;
28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
.................................................
40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:27-28,40, NASB).
5.2 The purpose of tongues is to edify the congregation:
5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but {even} more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying (1 Corinthians 14:5, NASB).
5.3 God has special uses for tongues:
In addition, a Gift of Tongues can speak directly to someone who knows the language being spoken when the speaker does not know the language. As I recall, during a service in Pastor Jerry King's church in Fort Worth TX, someone gave a message in tongues that was apparently in Arabic, to a visiting Muslim. Another person interpreted it in English so that the English-speaking congregation could understand it. This was a supernatural witness about Jesus Christ to the visiting Muslim.
Another example is that of John Garlock. John and a friend had been captured by cabals. They did not know the language of this tribe. However, the tribe had a tradition of allowing those who were about to be eaten to defend themselves. The Holy Spirit anointing came on John and he began to speak in a language he did not know--the language of the tribe. Their lives were spared as a result.
Conclusion: Paul instructs us concerning tongues and other spiritual gifts in order that we might use them to glorify God and help people.
The Gift of Interpretation of Tongues
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Corinthians 14:13-15,27-28,40
Introduction: Interpretation of tongues may be considered the least of all gifts in that it is dependent on another gift, i.e., the Gift of Tongues (1 Corinthians 14:5). However, both the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of tongues used together are generally equivalent to the Gift of Prophecy.
Definition: Interpretation of tongues is the supernatural utterance of the meaning of a message in tongues given by a believer who is inspired by the Holy Spirit. The word translated "interpretation" is hermeneia, a noun, from Hermes the Greek name of the pagan god Mercury, who was supposedly the god of speech and the messenger of the gods. The etymology of the word does not contaminate the meaning of the word, which is sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Note that it is the gift of interpretation, "explaining the meaning of words in a different language," not a literal translation (Robertson's Word Pictures, Vine, Strong). Hence, the interpretation may be longer or shorter than the message in tongues/an unknown language. The interpreter may finish the interpretation and go into prophecy. The prophecy may have a greater unction.
Note that the people of Lystra called the Apostle Paul, "Hermes":
8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother's womb, who had never walked.
9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well,
10 said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And he leaped up and {began} to walk.
11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have become like men and have come down to us."
12 And they {began} calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker (Acts 14:8-12, NASB).
There was also a Christian named "Hermes," a common slave name (Robertson's Word Pictures):
14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them (Romans 16:14, NASB).
1. Interpretation in Private Prayer Life,
13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What is {the outcome} then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
............................................
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, {it should be} by two or at the most three, and {each} in turn, and one must interpret;
28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
............................................
40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:13-15;27-28,40, NASB).
1.1 Seek to interpret private tongues if God so wills.
1.2 The Holy Spirit will edify, instruct and guide the individual.
1.3 This could be the start of a public ministry of interpreting.
1.4 Not all tongues need to be interpreted:
2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in {his} spirit he speaks mysteries (1 Corinthians 14:2, NASB).
2. Interpretation of Tongues in Public Ministry
2.1 Only two or three people should interpret in a service:
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, {it should be} by two or at the most three, and {each} in turn, and one must interpret; ["two" and "three" are personal pronouns in the Greek text.] (1 Corinthians 14:27, NASB).
2.2 One person should interpret one message in tongues. (We should not give competitive interpretations.)
2.3 The same person may give a message in tongues and interpret it.
3. The Gift Should Be Used Decently and in Order:
33 for God is not {a God} of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
............................................
40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner (1 Corinthians 14:33,40, NASB).
3.1 We must follow the Scriptures.
3.2 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit by acting carnally or misusing the gift:
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin) (Ephesians 4:30, AMP).
3.3 Do not quench the Holy Spirit by failing to obey Him in manifesting a gift of the Spirit:
19 Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the [Holy] Spirit; (1 Thessalonians 5:19, AMP).
3.4 Judge the Interpretation of Tongues by the Bible and by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion: All the Gifts of the Spirit require the believer to exercise general or common faith (not the gift of faith). Let us step out in the exercise of the Gifts in obedience to God by faith. Then God will be glorified, saints and sinners will receive ministry and even history will be altered according to God's will!
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