THE POWER GIFTS
“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.” (1 Timothy 4:14 NKJV)
Among the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit which He bestows upon the believers according to His sovereign will, three can be classified as the Power or Miracle-working Gifts, namely the gift of Faith, the gifts of Healings, and the Working of Miracles (1 Cor. 12:9-10).
These gifts are supernatural abilities given to the believers by the Holy Spirit to demonstrate and manifest the awesome and supernatural power of God resulting in God’s glory, in effectiveness and fruitfulness in God’s service, and in the edification of God’s people.
Let us examine these gifts one after the other.
First, the Gift of Faith:
This is a supernatural impartation of God’s kind of faith to the believer’s heart to accomplish God’s purpose in a specific situation.
When the gift of faith is in operation, the believer is inspired and emboldened to speak and act in an unusual, uncommon, or unprecedented manner resulting in a miraculous, awesome, and supernatural display of God’s power.
When the gift of faith is in operation the believer spontaneously confronts, handles, or deals with adverse circumstances or complex situations with an unusual boldness and confidence as God would and gets the supernatural results that God would get.
The gift of faith is crucial to exercising the other Power Gifts – Healings and Working of Miracles.
All the power gifts always flow or work together. It is often difficult to distinguish which one among them is in operation in some situations. The exercise of any of the power gifts always produces mighty miracles, signs and wonders.
The gift of faith is not the same as the saving faith or “the measure of faith” that God has distributed to every believer at the New Birth.
Paul writes, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Rom. 12:3 KJV).
Every believer has received “the measure of faith” from God at the New Birth and he is expected to walk and live by this faith.
Every believer has in his born-again spirit the faith he needs to live a daily victorious, overcoming, or prosperous life (Eph. 2:8, 2 Cor. 5:7, Gal. 3:11, Heb. 10:38).
The Scripture amply attests to this truth.
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world–our faith.” (1 John 5:4 NKJV).
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Gal. 2:16 KJV).
“Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 1:1 NKJV).
Every believer has received “the measure of faith,” “the faith of Jesus Christ,” or “like precious faith” with the early apostles of Christ through the New Birth as stated in the above scriptures.
However, the Holy Spirit imparts the gift of faith or supernatural ability to exercise unusual trust and confidence in God to some believers as He wills to demonstrate, manifest or display God’s supernatural power to the world in unusual manners.
The Holy Spirit does this by inspiring and emboldening the believers to speak and act in a spontaneous or unusual manner at a given time or in a particular situation resulting in unusual great miracles, signs and wonders.
The operation or manifestation of the gift of faith is obvious in the lives of Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, and many patriarchs of old, and also in the lives and ministries of the early apostles of Jesus Christ (Exo. 7:10-12, 14:21-31, Acts 3:1-9, 9:36-43, 14:7-10).
Second, the Gifts of Healings:
It is interesting to note that the Bible refers to this gift in a plural sense – “the gifts of healings.” This is because there is much diversity to healing. There are primarily three types of healings: spiritual, physical, and emotional healing.
The gift of healings is a supernatural ability imparted to the believers to heal a sick person spiritually, emotionally and physically from all manners of diseases and sicknesses without any human aid or medicine.
When the gifts of healings are in operation the healing power of God is channelled or conveyed through the believer having the gift of healing to the body of the sick to effect divine healing.
The healing power of God can be conveyed or released by the believers to effect healing in the sick person through the teaching, preaching or speaking of word of faith (Luke 7:1-10); through the laying on of hands or the touch of faith (Mark 6:56; 16:18); through anointing with oil in the name of the Lord (James 5:14); through the prayer of faith (James 5:15); through handkerchiefs or aprons (Acts 19:12); or through any other medium (Acts 5:15).
Third, the Working of Miracles:
This gift operates closely with the gifts of faith and healings to demonstrate or display God’s awesome power. While healings are often gradual and invisible to the eyes, miracles are often instantaneous and visible to the eyes.
The gift of working of miracles is a supernatural ability given to the believers to perform signs and wonders in a way contrary to the nature. The exercise of the gift of working of miracles brings supernatural intervention into a specific situation.
It often takes an inspired act of faith to release the miraculous power of God. This gift is not for a mere showmanship, but to demonstrate God’s supreme authority and power above all forces, to combat unbelief, and to confirm divine messages and messengers (Mk. 2:1-12, John 2:1-11, Acts 5:12, 8:1-8).
How can you receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
All that it takes to receive the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit is your desire and asking in faith!
Paul instructs, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” (1 Cor. 14:1 NKJV).
The Lord Jesus assures, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Luke 11:9 NKJV).
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13 NKJV).
James also instructs, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” (Jam. 1:6-7 NKJV).
The gifts of the Holy Spirit can also be imparted to you through prophecy and laying on of the hands by someone who has the gifts.
Paul reminds Timothy, “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.” (1 Tim. 4:14 NKJV).
However, it is the Holy Spirit who ultimately gives, imparts or distributes His gifts according to His sovereign will, plans and purposes.
Paul writes, “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1 Cor. 12:11 NKJV).
How can you exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit that you have received?
All the gifts of the Holy Spirit needs to be stirred up, exercised or utilized through faith and in the spirit of love and meekness, lest they become dormant or inactive.
Paul said to Timothy, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2 Tim. 1:6 NKJV).
Above all, you must pursue love, for all spiritual gifts without love is nothing and profits nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 – NKJV
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging 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, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 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.
Therefore, Paul instructs, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” (Col. 3:14 NKJV).
Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, I pray and receive today every supernatural ability or gift I need to fulfill my calling and purpose in life. My Dear Holy Spirit, teach and help me to always exercise Your gifts in the spirit of love and meekness so that it may result in God’s glory, in fruitfulness in God’s service, and in edification of God’s people, in Jesus’ name. Amen.