1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NKJV) 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 kind 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.
This Scripture passage mentions three categories of spiritual gifts:
Revelation Gifts—Gifts that reveal something (word of wisdom, word of knowledge and discerning of spirits).
Oral Gifts—Gifts that say something (tongues, prophecy, and interpretation of tongues).
Power Gifts—Gifts that do something (faith, healing, and miracles).
Let us focus on the power gifts. The gift of faith is a gift or a supernatural endowment of faith that God gives the individual to fulfil an impossible task they could not do otherwise. This faith is unlimited because God is its source and it is not affected by what one sees, feels, or experiences. Examples are Peter walking on water, the parting of the Red Sea, and Sarah and Mary’s conceptions.
As for the gifts of healings, even the evangelist or anyone who possesses them will not be empowered to heal all sicknesses because if one person could heal every sick person all the time, this would detract attention from God. Only Jesus healed them all! Instead, somebody with this gift can be a conduit to heal certain sicknesses and illnesses as the Holy Spirit wills.
As for the working of miracles, it operates in transcending natural laws. A miracle is any supernatural occurrence that is beyond our comprehension. When Jesus turned water into wine and fed the 5000, both were miracles.
Because many of us confuse healing with miracles, we need to understand that there is a difference between “they will recover” (healing) and immediate recovery (miracle). In praying for the sick, we often get discouraged in the absence of a miracle or instantaneous healing, but the fact that healing is not instantaneous does not mean it won’t happen because it may be a process instead.
As believers, we will likely be called to minister to the sick at some point, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have the power gifts. Nonetheless, we must not be discouraged because all of us can base our faith on the promise in Mark 16:18b, where Jesus says, “We will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mark 16:17-18 (NKJV) And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; theywill take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Sermon Series: The Time is Now
能力的恩赐
哥林多前书 12:7-11 圣灵显在各人身上,是叫人得益处。 这人蒙圣灵赐他智慧的言语,那人也蒙这位圣灵赐他知识的言语,又有一人蒙这位圣灵赐他信心,还有一人蒙这位圣灵赐他医病的恩赐,又叫一人能行异能,又叫一人能做先知,又叫一人能辨别诸灵,又叫一人能说方言,又叫一人能翻方言。这一切都是这位圣灵所运行,随己意分给各人的。
这段经文提到属灵恩赐的三个分类:
启示的恩赐—能够揭示某些事物的恩赐(智慧之语、知识之语、辨别诸灵)
言语的恩赐—与话语有关的恩赐(说方言,预言以及翻译方言)
能力的恩赐—行某些事的恩赐(信心、医治和神迹)
让我们把重点放在能力的恩赐。信心的恩赐是上帝赐给个人的恩赐或一种超自然的信心,以完成原本无法完成的不可能的任务。这个信心是无限的,因为 神是它的源泉。这种信心的恩赐不被人的眼见、感觉或经历所影响。例如彼得在水面上行走,红海的分开,以及撒拉和马利亚的受孕。
至于医治的恩赐,即使是传道者或任何拥有这种恩赐的人都不会被赋予医治所有疾病的能力,因为如果一个人能够随时医治所有的病人的话,就会分散人们对 神的专注。只有耶稣能够医治所有的病人!相反,拥有这种恩赐的人可以成为一个管道,按照圣灵的意愿医治某些疾病。
至于神迹,它是超越自然法则而运行的。任何超出我们理解范围的超自然现象都是神迹。 当耶稣把水变成酒,当祂喂饱那五千人,这两者都是神迹。
因为我们当中有许多人将医治和神迹混为一谈,我们需要明白在“他们会康复”(医治)和“瞬间康复”(神迹)之间是有区别的。在为病人祷告时,我们常常会因为没有发生神迹或瞬间医治而感到灰心, 但是,医治没有在瞬息之间发生并不意味着医治不会发生,医治还可以是一个渐进的过程。
作为信徒,我们有可能会在某个时候被呼召服事病人,但这并不意味着我们拥有能力的恩赐。尽管如此,我们绝不能气馁,因为我们所有人可以将信心建立在马可福音16:18中的应许上,当耶稣说 “手按病人,病人就好了。”
马可福音 16:17-18 信的人将有神迹随着他们:就是奉我的名赶鬼;说新方言; 手能拿蛇;若喝了什么毒物,也不会受害;手按病人,病人就好了。
讲章系列:把握时机
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