Sermon: Gifted With Power From on High
#1711A-AM
Martin G. Collins
Given 28-May-23; 60 minutes
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transcript:
God established His holy days around the two major harvests of the year, a small one in the spring and a larger one in the fall. These harvest seasons typify two spiritual harvests. Pentecost symbolizes the first spiritual harvest and reveals that this is not the only day of salvation. Those whom God calls now are merely a forerunner group that He has specifically selected to be His "firstfruits." This day is also the anniversary of God's church—the beginning of the portion of God's master plan in which He calls people out of this evil world to create in them His holy, perfect, spiritual character.
The day of Pentecost symbolizes a major key to spiritual understanding because, upon this day, God sent His Holy Spirit to His church, providing Christ's disciples with the power, love, and understanding to carry out the work of the church. This regeneration by the Holy Spirit, the key to understanding the spiritual principles of God's Word, opens our understanding of the plan God is working out among humanity.
True power, which is the ability to exercise authority effectively, belongs to God alone. In Scripture, the only true strength is the omnipotent sovereignty exercised by God, or the ability that finds its source in God. Jesus Christ shares this power, and members of God’s church also do. The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” In the Old Testament, power and might are attributed, above all, to God. His power is shown in the fact that He created and sustains the world, and He remains more powerful than all the forces within it. His power is also seen in His mighty acts of salvation.
When God delegates His authority to humans, it provides a certain power. And so, humans have a great deal of God-given authoritative power over the earth to care for and properly use.
Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion [authority] over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion [authority] over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
Although God has given limited authority and power to humanity, He still often actively intervenes, showing His power in miraculous works, especially of deliverance. With a mighty hand and outstretched arm, He brought His people out of Egypt and demonstrated His power in giving them the Promised Land.
As we see in the New Testament, the emphasis on God’s use of His power shifts more to the spiritual. Christ had all authority given Him by His Father, and He used it to forgive sins and to cast out evil spirits. He also gives limited authority to His disciples by sharing in His work.
The greatest show of His power of deliverance is in our individual calling and conversion to His truth—to His way of life.
Just before His ascension to heaven, Christ told His disciples,
Luke 24:49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”
Jesus’ Father promised them through Christ the Savior that they would be aided by His power in the form of His Spirit abiding in them. Endued means, “provided, invested, or endowed with some gift, quality, or ability.” This was to happen on the Day of Pentecost when the power of God’s Spirit would become operative in the life of the church.
Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Even after the great demonstration of God’s powerful Spirit on that first Pentecost following Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, years later, the apostle Paul found it necessary to encourage the church regarding the “exceeding greatness of God’s power.” He prayed for knowledge to be given to the Ephesian saints, so they could know the power of God that was already working in them. He wanted to assure them that the saints can always be confident in God’s promises.
Ephesians 1:18-23 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He [the Father] worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Paul looks back to the resurrection as the primary evidence of God’s power and sees the gospel as how that power works in people’s lives. Paul emphasizes the power of God in the saints rather than the power God gives the saints.
It is important to realize that this letter to the Ephesians does not say that salvation results from something we do, plus the power God gave us. It is not a matter of, “I, plus the power of God.” Salvation results from God’s power at work through Christ in us. So, verse 19 tells us, “What is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe.” Paul emphasizes the power of God working on our behalf. Of course, God gives us strength and stamina, which we need constantly.
Paul is trying to make us realize the greatness of God’s power and what He is doing in us. The result should be that our fears vanish, and we have new confidence and assurance with respect to our salvation. He is very clear in his letter about the nature of the call itself and how it is founded on the character of God. He gives us a glimpse into the glory for which we are destined.
Paul is very concerned about the other saints: He knows that they believe; that they have trusted in Jesus Christ; and that they have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. He is still praying for them without ceasing, praying they will advance into greater knowledge, understanding, and conviction of what God is working out in them (and us) and the potential that becomes available.
Let us look at two main principles Paul emphasizes here in Ephesians 1. First, the greatness of God’s power in and of itself, and second, how we can be sure that this great power is working in us.
The first principle is that the conversion process (in other words, sanctification) and ultimate salvation demonstrate the greatness of God’s power in us. The eventual trouble with those who spend so much of their lives in the shallows and miseries of doubt, vagueness, and hesitancy is that they do not really understand this first essential principle. No human can make himself a saint; God alone makes saints.
Let us consider several supporting statements in Paul’s epistles that show this spiritual power in us. It is not on human terms and initiative by seeking a sign or wisdom, but on God's initiative that we find what we need—God’s power and wisdom. In the preaching of Christ crucified, God calls us to open our eyes in faith and believe the gospel.
In Paul’s eyes, preaching is useless unless it is in demonstration of the Spirit and power!
I Thessalonians 1:5-6 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.
The response of the Thessalonian converts was a supernatural work of God, not a natural response to a clearly delivered sermon. When Paul preached to them, he did not just share human opinion and philosophy. Rather, his message was discernible by the power of God. The Holy Spirit enabled it to be absorbed into their hearts with deep conviction. Paul did not want the saints to remain spiritual babies; he wanted them to mature spiritually.
Elsewhere he prayed for the complete sanctification of the saints. He preached the fullness of the gospel so they could have the fullness of the life Jesus promised. Paul expended all his God-given strength for this purpose. Developing maturity in the church members took a lot of extremely tiring work. He struggled and agonized like an athlete in an arena would. The power for this struggle came from God through Christ by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
He explains that what makes us saints is that we are a new creation. We are nothing less than that. We are not merely a member of a church; we are not merely good people; and we are not merely people who have made a decision. We can do all that and still not be a saint.
When we are called, we have a responsibility to obey and overcome, but the entire teaching of the New Testament emphasizes, above all else, that we can do nothing until God has first done something in us—given us life and created us new.
The second principle is, "How can we be sure that this great power works in us?" In describing the power of God, Paul seems to struggle to describe the power God uses with human language that will always be inadequate. But he tries:
Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.
He prays here that the Ephesians will know what exceeding greatness is, not only greatness but exceeding greatness. The word Paul uses is translated as "exceeding" and can also be translated as "surpassing." God’s power surpasses not only our power of expression but also our power of comprehension! For example, take all of the world’s dictionaries, exhaust all the vocabulary, and when you have added them all together you still have not begun to describe the greatness of God’s power.
Paul uses the best terms available—surpassing greatness, and exceeding greatness—but they are insufficient descriptions. He adds to them by saying, "According to the working of His mighty power." Let us analyze this new phrase because it is one of Paul’s greatest uses. We must know, “The exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power.”
A better word than “working” would be "energy." Energy is a much stronger word because it gives the impression of something effective, or valuable and successful. It is not static or potential power; the energy has been liberated and works to accomplish something. It is kinetic power; manifested power; the energy working itself out and permeating everything.
Then take this second word, “mighty” which stands for strength; strength in a very special way. Paul’s word suggests a strength that overcomes, prevails, and conquers. It overcomes resistance when it comes up against resistance. It is the strength that can take down every high mountain or raise every valley; nothing can resist it. Paul describes this power of God as, "The energy of the strength" of God for whom nothing is impossible!
The third word that appears in Ephesians 1:9 is “power,” which really stands for "might"—the might of God; God’s own essential might; and inherent power. Paul is not using words here in a haphazard manner. There is a definite gradation in their use.
Paul first speaks of energy, power in action, and then says that it comes from an overwhelming and overpowering force; an energetic force that comes from the ocean of God’s might, which is limitless and infinite.
A similar description of God’s power is given by Isaiah in chapter 40 of his prophecy. He expresses it by asking a series of rhetorical questions: “To whom can we liken God? With whom can we compare Him?” Once that is said, all comparisons are useless.
Isaiah 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?
Nothing can compare with God’s power. He is everything in and of Himself, and everlasting in might, strength, and power. And all this is guided by His love!
By way of His powerful Holy Spirit, God provides spiritual gifts to His saints for the purpose of accomplishing things that glorify Him and edify His church. Everyone receives at least one gift from God. But the saints receive spiritual gifts that allow them to grow in character and produce spiritual fruit.
While Paul was advising on marriage, he mentioned that everyone is gifted.
I Corinthians 7:7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
Some gifts are physically oriented, meaning they are natural tendencies or abilities God has given us through the spirit in man. And some gifts are spiritual gifts imparted through the Holy Spirit to members of God’s church. A spiritual gift does not conflict with what God has bestowed naturally on people. Spiritual gifts are often built on the natural gift. But the natural gift should not be confused with the spiritual gift. All gifts belong to God and should be used to glorify Him. Peter explained this principle regarding the use of spiritual gifts.
I Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers [serves], let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
In I Corinthians 14:1, the apostle Paul tells us we should desire spiritual gifts. And in I Corinthians 12:1 he says he does not want us to be ignorant about them. Obviously, they are important, so Paul spends a significant portion of his letters on them.
I Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.
Everyone has his proper gift and must produce spiritual fruit.
What are spiritual gifts? And what is their purpose?
The New Testament term "spiritual gifts" is literally "the spiritual supply of gifts." The word “gifts” is the English rendering of the Greek noun charismata, formed from the Greek root word charis, which means [grace]. The gifts are the physical manifestation of grace visibly seen in a person’s actions.
Spiritual gifts are any extraordinary endowment given to members of God’s church for the benefit of the church and are given by the grace of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 2:4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
In Romans 12:5, Paul tells us that even though we are many members, we are one body—members one of another. He continues in Romans 12:6, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.” A gift is given to an individual according to the measure of his personal capacities. Depending on the need, the Spirit infuses entirely new powers in an individual or stimulates those already existing to higher power and activity.
The main purpose of spiritual gifts is the edification and unity of the church.
I Corinthians 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
Edify means enlightening; improving; illuminating; uplifting; enhancing; and educating.
I Corinthians 12:7-11 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Paul’s goal in I Corinthians 12 is to stress the essential unity of the church. God’s church is the Body of Christ, and the characteristic of a healthy body is that every part of it performs its own function for the good of the whole body.
But unity does not mean uniformity; therefore, there are different gifts and functions within the church. But every one of them is a gift of the same Spirit and designed not for the glory of the individual member of the church but for the glory of God.
In the middle of the main listing of spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 12, Paul emphasizes that the gifts work together as the different body parts unite by one Spirit. And although we may not notice a spiritual gift in someone, he is a vital functioning part of the Body of Christ.
In our own physical bodies, the muscles are not seen but are vital. The respiratory system functions reliably and for most of us without being noticed. The circulatory system carries nutrients to all the parts of the body unseen. This is described by Paul in I Corinthians 12:
I Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.
I Corinthians 12:24-27 But our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.
Since there is one body with many members, the individual members must be concerned about the health of the other members.
Ephesians 4:7-8 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
Why did Christ give spiritual gifts to the church?
Ephesians 4:12-13 For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
God gives different gifts according to the many needs of the church, and to every member He gives specific gifts as a share in His service. Remember, Paul told us that “every man has his proper gift of God.” Although Paul spoke of different gifts, he does not give exhaustive lists. He is more intent on emphasizing the need to exercise the gifts correctly.
Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12 contain Paul’s long lists of spiritual gifts. These lists are obviously incomplete since we find other gifts individually mentioned throughout the Bible, but they give us a good overview of the extent to which God is involved in His church.
Let us quickly read two of Paul’s lists:
Romans 12:6-8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
I Corinthians 12:4-11 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given by the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another the gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
I Corinthians 12:28-30 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have all the gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
The gifts fall most simply into two main categories—those that qualify their possessors for the ministry of the word, and those that equip the ministry and lay-members for practical service.
The first main category of spiritual gifts is the ministry of the word, that is, most of the gifts in this category involve ‘speaking.’
I am, in a sense, going to do a survey of many, if not most, of those gifts that I just mentioned. I think it will help you to understand a little more that more of these gifts can be part of your life than you realize.
Gift of Apostleship (I Corinthians 12:28)
As its meaning suggests, an apostle's special function is proclaiming the gospel to the whole world. This is a rarely imparted gift; it is only given after other gifts, such as knowledge, wisdom, and preaching, have been active for a while.
Gift of Prophecy (Romans 12:6; I Corinthians 12:10, 28)
This gift is primarily directed to the church in the way of preaching. Its primary function is to convey divine revelation of immediate significance to the church on what it needs to know and do in specific circumstances. This is primarily for edification, exhortation, and consolation for the church; and includes occasional authoritative declarations of God’s will regarding specific cases and, secondarily, very rare predictions of future events. "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy [preach and teach] (I Corinthians 14:1).
Gift of the Discerning of Spirits (I Corinthians 12:10; 14:29)
The ability to distinguish between different kinds of spirits and attitudes is used within the church when listening to preaching and when interacting with others. Anyone with the gift of discerning spirits recognizes statements of divine origin and distinguishes the genuine prophet from the false. Anyone with God’s Spirit will have a certain amount of this gift. But some people have more of this gift than others. It can also be considered a gift of understanding.
I Corinthians 2:12-14 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God. These things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Gift of Teaching (Romans 12:7; I Corinthians 12:28)
Teaching requires a good, thorough knowledge of the Word of God. The teacher expounds and applies established Christian doctrine and principles of living.
Initially, the gift of teaching begins in each member’s home when the father and mother teach their children God’s way of life.
Deuteronomy 11:18-19 “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Teaching involves imparting God’s knowledge with specific individual attention to the learner.
Gifts of Kinds of Tongues and Interpreting Tongues (I Corinthians 12:10, 28, 30)
The gift of tongues is the God-given, miraculous ability to speak fluently in a human language or languages in addition to one’s native tongue. In I Corinthians 14, Paul explains that preaching is preferred over speaking in many languages because preaching must be understood to edify the church, whereas speaking in unfamiliar languages without an interpreter does not.
So, these spiritual gifts we have just touched on fall primarily under the ministry of the Word category.
The second main category of spiritual gifts is practical service. A fault of the church, in modern times at least, is that it has interpreted the idea of special gifts far too narrowly, which may have limited their use. Quite often, when the church has mentioned spiritual gifts, it has been with the assumption that the special gifts consist of things like speaking, praying, teaching, and writing—the so-called intellectual gifts. But we must realize that the physical gifts of those who can work with their hands are very special gifts. The carpenter, the electrician, the painter, the engineer, and the plumber all have received their special gifts from God and can be used for Him.
Take these physical gifts and add to them the spiritual gifts of service. We have powerful tools for the edification and unity of the whole church, especially when every member utilizes his gifts.
Under the category of gifts for practical service, there are four main types.
The Gifts of Understanding
The first type of gift for practical service is gifts of understanding. In I Corinthians 12, Paul mentions two things that sound very much like each other—the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge. Paul refers to the highest kind of wisdom—the wisdom from above, of which James also speaks.
James 3:13-18 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
In contrast, worldly wisdom is based on intuition and experience without revelation and has severe limitations. The failure to recognize these limitations brings condemnation to all who arrogantly attempt to cope with spiritual issues through human reasoning and wisdom. Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. The gift of wisdom comes from an intimate relationship with God.
Proverbs 9:9-10 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
This knowledge of righteousness leads to understanding. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proper fear, respect, and obedience to God are essential before the gift of the word of knowledge is imparted to anyone.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the LORD, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight,” says the LORD.
Knowing God enables knowing His unwavering love, justice, and righteousness. The person that receives this gift is educated in God’s truth; clearly sees and understands God’s plan of salvation; and the doctrines and duties of the church. He is able to use the knowledge God teaches by putting it into practice in the daily life in the world and the church.
The gifts of the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge is most openly seen in the ministry. One man is well-known as a wise man, while another as a man of intelligence and knowledge; both may be equally useful in their place in the church.
The Gifts of Power
There are three of this type: Gifts of faith, healings, and miracles.
Gifts of Faith
In regard to faith, Paul means more than what we might call ordinary “faith.” This is the faith that produces miraculous results. It is not just the intellectual conviction that a thing is true. The commitment and passionate belief that God is supreme and reliable make us put all that we are and have into it. Even though we all have access to the gift of faith, few obtain it at the faithful of Hebrews 11 level. Nevertheless, God endows us with the faith to rise to the occasion at hand.
Hebrews 11:32-34 And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and Samson and of Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
The gift of faith is distinguished by simple confidence in God. Many of the most effective people in the church are used mainly for their simple confidence in the promises of God. They often accomplish more by prayer and faith than they are known for their wisdom and learning.
This faith is not the normal saving faith, but a higher measure of faith by which special, wonderful deeds are accomplished.
Gifts of Healing (I Corinthians 12:9, 28, 30)
The translation of the Greek seems to have unusual significance. In I Corinthians 12:9, it is literally “gifts of healings”—both words are plural. These spiritual gifts of healings enable God in many ways, out of His grace, to heal different people, relationships, and even situations.
When Peter and John told the lame man to get up and walk, and he was healed, the people who witnessed his healing marveled at the apostle’s power. But Peter set them straight!
Acts 3:12-13 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.”
Both Paul’s teaching and James’s instructions in James 5:14 command us to call for the elders for prayer and anointing with oil, encouraging us to rethink our actions and reactions whenever there is any sickness in the body of Christ. When we become sick, do we turn first to God?
Maintaining good health through nutrition is a requirement for all saints. It is not just our minds that we must educate, but our bodies and the whole person. We cannot split ourselves in two and expect it to function properly in the mind or body.
God is our healer, and He distributes gifts of healings through members of the body of Christ to the sick. The gifts are for the sick, not for those in the ministry to perform miracles. Both the variety of these gifts and the variety of healings to which they are directed encourage us not to exclude any form of sickness from the gifts of healings.
Gift of Working Miracles (I Corinthians 12:10, 28, 29)
The Greek word for “miracles” in I Corinthians 12 literally means “powers.” It is used in several places in the book of Acts to cover cases of exorcism and the cure of disease, which in Paul’s list are placed under the separate category of “gifts of healings.”
The working of miracles is distinguished from the ordinary healing gift in that even though a person may be used with the gift of healings, they are not significant regarding power. The “powers” point to a more powerful gift more properly described as miraculous wonders and bestowed only upon certain principal men in the church.
In II Corinthians 12:12, Paul speaks of the “powers” he wrought in Corinth as among “the signs of an apostle.” In Hebrews 2:4, the writer mentions the manifold powers of the apostles to confirm their witness. In Romans 15:18, Paul refers to his miraculous gifts as an instrument that Christ used to further the gospel and bring the Gentiles to obedience.
The working of “powers” is primarily given to apostles to declare the truth of God. But, like the gift of healings, the gift of miracles is primarily a gift of practical benefit and only secondarily as a means of confirming the truth and its messenger by way of a sign.
The Two Witnesses will have the gift of working miracles:
Revelation 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
The book of Acts gives several examples of “powers” that are different from ordinary healings, for example: The raising of Dorcas in Acts 9, and also of Eutychus who fell from the loft in Acts 20.
So the gifts of power are: faith, healings, and miracles.
The Gifts of Sympathy
There are five of this type: Gifts of helps, exhortation, almsgiving, works of mercy, and gifts of ministry.
Gift of Helps (I Corinthians 12:28)
The gift of helps gives a person greater ability to care for the poor, the sick, strangers, widows, and orphans. The most obvious example is the offices of deacon and deaconess, although the gift of helps is not limited to someone ordained. This gift may also be given to those who aid church leaders. In Romans 16:3, Paul says, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.”
In Greek, the English word “helps” is literally acts of helping; help, aid, support, relief, or comfort rendered to the weak by the strong. It is used in Acts 20 when Paul exhorts the elders of the Ephesian church to follow his example in helping the weak.
Acts 20:35 I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
In general, the gift of help gives the extra ability to those who in any way aid or render assistance in the church and may refer to care for the poor or the distribution of aid. This is assistance provided from anyone to anyone.
Gift of Exhortation (Romans 12:8)
He that “exhorts” is the translation of the Greek word paraklesis, which has a variety of meanings. Only the context can indicate whether the most suitable rendering is “encouragement,” “exhortation,” or “comfort.” All are closely related. Encouragement is a major thrust of exhortation. The exhorter urges people to follow the practical requirements and duties of God’s truth. Exhortation should not be disheartening. Real exhortation is not pointing out all a person’s faults but urging him to the joy of living God’s way of life.
Gift of Alms Giving (Romans 12:8)
He that “gives,” has to do with spontaneous private generosity.
I John 3:17-19 But whoever has this world's good, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.
This gift of “alms giving” differs from the gift of “ministry” mentioned in Romans 12:7. This gift relates more to the public distribution of aid by the church to its needy. It is to be done with simplicity, with singleness of heart, free of mixed motives, and without regret over giving so much.
Gift of Works of Mercy (Romans 12:8)
He that “shows mercy” does not pertain to the area of forgiveness, or sparing judgment. It has to do with ministering to the sick and needy. This is done in a cheerful, spontaneous manner that will bestow blessing rather than produce self-pity. This gift of showing mercy refers to those who have care for the sick, the aged, and the needy. Not necessarily providing charity for them but attending to them in their affliction; caring for them. It is done with cheerfulness, pleasantness, and joy, with a kind and joyful character.
Gift of Ministry (Romans 12:7)
The Greek word translated as “ministry” means service of any kind. Service is the function to which every Christian is called and the purpose to which every one of the special gifts should be devoted. This gift is a serving of the brethren’s material needs and the external matters of the church. In this sense, a variety of brethren could give aid to the needy. Usually, this is thought of as the responsibility of deacons, but it is not limited to them.
Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
I Corinthians 16:15 “I beseech you, brethren—you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints—
This gift of ministry refers to the service that is rendered to God’s church and applies to all ministers and servants of Jesus Christ.
In addition to our survey of spiritual gifts, one gift stands above all other spiritual gifts:
The Gift of Love
The greatest of these is love. The gift of love surpasses and regulates the use of all other gifts and is necessary to use all other spiritual gifts properly.
I Corinthians 13:1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 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, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Paul goes on to say that such spirit-inspired love—the gift of love—never fails, never ceases, but always flourishes. Our use of the gift of love can only be achieved with the help of God from whom it comes. It motivates us to deliberate caring efforts on behalf of others. To use the free and gratuitous gift of love from God, we are “gifted with power from on high.” The gift of the Holy Spirit endues us with God’s power!
Let us assume for a moment that you only have one gift. You probably have more but let us narrow in on one. How have you used it for the edification and benefit of the church and individual brethren? How have you used it to glorify God?
With the church thinly spread throughout the world, it is easy to neglect the use of our gift. Let me remind you of what the apostle Paul said in I Corinthians 7:
I Corinthians 7:7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
The expression, “each one has his own gift from God,” implies that at least one gift continues in each of us, or another spiritual endowment is given to take its place according to God’s will.
In a technical sense, the term “spiritual gift” signifies extraordinary powers that distinguish us (the saints) for a specific purpose enabling us to serve the church of God more effectively. The number of spiritual gifts is as varied as the needs of the church.
The lists of I Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 do not enumerate all the spiritual gifts, but they reveal to us the personal involvement that the Father and Jesus Christ have in the body of Christ; in our lives as individual members. The gifts God gives us provide a wonderful opportunity to serve Him and His children. Spiritual gifts are essential tools for the edification and unity of the Body of Christ. God bestows these gifts by way of His Spirit on those whose heart is stirred up—on those saints who are passionate about God’s work and His way of life!
May God grant you as many spiritual gifts as you can put to use in His service!
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