Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12 v 8 - 10: "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:"
We started talking about prophecy yesterday and we need to differentiate between the gift of prophecy and the ministry of a prophet. A person with a prophetic ministry would have the gift of prophecy as well, while one with a gift of prophecy only, would not also have a ministry of prophecy.
A Prophetic Ministry would be a lifetime event, like Jeremiah, before you were conceived in the womb I knew you and ordained you a prophet. Jeremiah 1 v 5. He was a prophet from the womb but may only have realised his position when God revealed it to him. It carries a serious anointing with great responsibility. Those so-called prophets who claim a 60% success rate in accurate prophesies are hopelessly inadequate.
The gift of prophecy is usually a gentle word from God to unite, confirm and bless the church. A Prophetic Word from a true prophet can be very different. Prophets can portray the anger or disappointment of God and lay down corrections. Like in Jeremiah 23 v 1 - 3:
"Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase."
The first gift in 1 Corinthians 12 v 10 is miracles. Jesus did many miracles including raising the dead, cleansing lepers, cursing the fig tree, walking on water, healing the sick. If we have this gift we can do everything Jesus did. We can even get creative and do different things as well. He gave us examples and we can and should add to that in our own experiences.
Then there is the gift of Faith, which is not the same as the faith we need to get saved and continue our Christian lives. Faith is confidence in God's ability but the gift of Faith goes even further. The gift shows us that no matter what we see, hear or imagine, that which God has promised will happen. That astonishing faith is unbreakable. We know without a shadow of doubt that what we believe will manifest.
The last gift to be discussed today is the gifts of healing. The reason why gifts is plural is because the gifts of healing are for the sick. Some believe they have a Healing Ministry but in Mark 16 v 16 it says that one of the signs of a believer is if you lay hands on the sick they will recover. So all believers can expect people to be healed.
I remember Pastor Gerald Rowlands from Australia sharing about a conference he was speaking at. All week, when people came forward for prayer, one woman who was deaf came every night. On the last night she was there again, and as she turned to go he saw a demon across the back of her head holding her ears. He took authority over that demon and commanded it to leave. Suddenly she turned with a joyful expression on her face. She could hear! You cannot heal a demon it has to be cast out.
Tomorrow the unpacking of the gifts will be concluded.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, there are millions of testimonies from all over the world of miracles and healings, showing Your great love for us. We thank You with grateful hearts for every one who has been touched and changed by You. Not everyone believes and receives and we pray for them O Lord because be living is seeing! In Jesus' name. Amen.
