1 Corinthians 12:4-11 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
As we have noted previously, Jesus performed many miraculous wonders during his earthly ministry. The Apostle’s group, too, performed miracles that authenticated the message of Jesus. Yet in every single case healing and miracles were never designed to draw attention to themselves, but to ultimately glorify God through belief in Jesus Christ.
John 9:1-3 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”
John 20:30-31 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
During Paul’s time, one was more likely to seek help for medical issues and illnesses from the priest in the temple rather than from a doctor. You might recall when Jesus healed the ten lepers (Matthew 17:11-19) his instructions were to show themselves to the priest which was the usual practice of the day. Healing and miracles were common-place; it was the age of cures. There is no doubt that this was a time in the early church that gifts of healing and miracles did exist. But in Christ’s ministry and for the building of the early church, these were always a means of pointing one to salvation and faith in God.
The gifts of “miraculous powers” (NIV) or “wonderful deeds of power” (KJV) may have been a reference to exorcisms which were also common-place during Paul’s time. Whether in each case the mental illness was real or perceived in the mind of the individual, it was still the responsibility of the church to address those whose minds were diseased or disturbed. Scientific means and methods were emergent and primitive at best.
The fallacy in modern spiritual revolutions is that the healing “experience” becomes more significant than the message. The tragedy is that the healing “experience” validates only itself and answers to no one. And with this modern-day emphasis on experiences of healing and miraculous powers, one might presume this to be the signs of elevated spirituality. Yet when Paul sought three times to be relieved of his “thorn in the flesh” he received quite the opposite response:
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
As stated at the onset of this series, one must never minimize the work of the Holy Spirit. Nor must one ever deny the sovereignty of God in bringing to pass any miraculous event or sequence of events. The danger lies in seeking the gift more than the Giver.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
We thank you for your work in our lives today. Thank you for every measure of daily strength and healing. Thank you for first responders and medical teams available to us that were not available to the early believers. Forgive us for seeking gifts more than You, the Giver of life and health. Thank you for the promise of a future hope in your Kingdom where there will be no more tears, death, mourning, crying, or pain. Teach us to live in faith.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
The devotional Gifts of Healing and Miraculous Powers appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
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