“9 The same Spirit gives faith to one person. And, to another, that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. 10 The Spirit gives to another person the power to do miracles,” – 1 Corinthians 12:10a NCV
The Holy Spirit gives us special abilities that help us strengthen our spiritual family and participate in the cause of Jesus Christ.
The lists of spiritual gifts seen in the following Scriptures are spoken of as a list that is representative and not exhaustive: Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Peter 4:10-11. Paul doesn’t fully explain each gift as there is implied some common understanding. Paul encourages desiring gifts, as we seek Father God the giver of good gifts first.
Gifts: Faith/Healing/Miracles Faith, Gifts of healing, Ability to do miracles
Last week gifts of communication, this week gifts of participation. Gifts of Participation – God is doing something, and invites you to participate.
1. Faith – believe to the extent of complete trust and reliance,
Every Jesus-follower receives salvation through the gift of an ability to believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior King.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” – Ephesians 2:8
John 3:16-21
“This faith which is given by the Spirit as a grace is not just doctrinal faith but a faith which empowers activities surpassing human nature, a faith which moves mountains.… For just as a grain of mustard seed is of little bulk but of explosive energy, taking a trifling space for its planting and then sending out great branches all around, so that when it is grown it can give shelter to the birds, so in like manner the faith present in one’s soul achieves the greatest things by the most summary decision. For such a one places the thought of God before his mind and as enlightenment of faith permits it, beholds God. His mind also ranges through the world from end to end, and with the end of this age not yet come, beholds the judgment already, and the bestowal of the promised rewards.” – Cyril of Jerusalem
John 14:12-14
We receive the gracious gift of salvation, through faith in Jesus, and respond to God with our wholehearted devotion. As a result, we learn who God is and who we are. We receive from God our identity, value, and purpose. We believe what God has said. We rely on God completely. So, we trust God. We follow God’s guidance. We live in alignment with God’s instructions. We take faith-filled action for the cause of Jesus Christ.
2. Healing – God works a miracle of repair, restoration, and new strength in a person.
Peter and John see the healing power of Jesus in a man who had been unable to walk since birth, in Acts 3:2-11.
Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, is healed by Peter. Acts 9:34
Paul sees the healing power of Jesus in a man who had been unable to walk since birth, in Acts 14:8-10.
Many people healed on the island of Malta, in Acts 28:7-10.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners;” – Isaiah 61:1 CSB
In revealing his identity as Savior Messiah, Jesus quotes Isaiah 61 and describes the nature of himself, his work, and God’s Kingdom. Repeatedly we read stories of people turning to God in faith-filled wholehearted devotion and God responding with love, miracles, and healing. See: Deuteronomy 32:39, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Job 5:18, Psalms 41:4, 103:3-5, 107:20, 147:3, Isaiah 6:10, 19:22, 30:26, 42:4-6, 53:5, 57:18-19, 58:8, 61:1, Jeremiah 30:17, 33:6, Ezekial 47:12, Hosea 6:1, 14:4, Malachi 4:2. This is part of who God is. It is also an essential part of the proof of Jesus Christ’s identity as Son of God sent as Savior King, seen in Matthew 11:4-5, Luke 7:22-23.
“He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!” – Psalms 103:3-5 NLT
God is willing and able to bring healing. God heals people in various ways.
3. Miracles – God works through a person to do something supernatural, of various kinds.
Jesus turns water to wine. Moses Red Sea, serpent staff, water, through Exodus. Elijah rain, meal/oil, raise boy from the dead, fire from heaven, parting of the Jordan river & Elisha parting of the Jordan river, fill valley with water, fill vessels with oil, healing miracles, floating axe head, resurrection from the dead.
“many signs and miracles were done by the apostles,” – Acts 2:42-43, 5:12, 15
“Stephen, full of faith and power, worked wonders and great signs among the people,” – Acts 6:8
Many people believed in Jesus, seeing the miracles Phillip did among them, in Acts 8: 6, 13.
Tabitha (Dorcas) raised from the dead by Peter, in Acts 9:36-42.
Paul blinds a sorcerer, Acts 13:4-12.
Paul delivers a young lady from demon possession, in Acts 16:16-18.
Paul sends pieces of cloth to people who are healed and/or delivered from demons, Acts 19:11-12.
Young man raised from the dead by Paul, in Acts 20:7-12.
Paul survives bite from deadly snake, in Acts 28:5.
God gives faith. God responds to faith. God calls for faith.
* Hearing the Scripture initiates faith.
* Speaking the Scripture activates faith.
* Doing the Scripture demonstrates faith.
What should we do?
Read 1 Corinthians 12-14. Pray. Listen. Ask questions. Share the journey.