THE THREE GIFTS OF POWER AND DEMONSTRATION.

Paul says that these three manifestations of the Holy Spirit are faith, gifts of healings, and workings of miracles.

1. These three gifts give the Church the power to fulfil its New Testament evangelistic commission.

The New Testament commission included the command to heal the sick in body and mind as well as the command to preach the Gospel. These three gifts are the active manifestations of divine love and power, they are the gifts of deliverance and power. The Lord Jesus and His early Church experienced a continual manifestation of these three gifts of the Holy Spirit, they needed them and so do we. These gifts inspire faith and godly fear by a revelation of God's power, love, justice and wisdom, and cause people to glorify God. How can we fulfil the New Testament evangelistic commission unless we possess the gifts that Christ considered indispensable for Himself and His Church?

2. God's sovereign acts and the gifts of power.

Some operations of God's power are outside the operations of the power gifts, they are not channelled through men, they are God's sovereign dealings with His creation. God can work without any person being the channel or recipient of His power. We think particularly of God's purposes in creation and His judgements in history, God's judgements upon nations have taken place without any record in Scripture, or any prophet to foretell them, we will learn of them in glory. However, in this Church age God desires His Church to go to every nation and preach the Gospel and confirm the Gospel by signs, wonders and miracles. Though God still deals directly with nations and people, God has in this age of grace given the responsibility of manifesting His power and love to His Church.

3. The tremendous contrast between Satan's counterfeit gifts and the Holy Spirit's genuine pure gifts.

Satan tries to counterfeit the gifts of God the Holy Spirit in an attempt to deceive people and damn their souls. The Holy Spirit's gifts are a blessing to the channel and recipient, but Satan's gifts are a danger to, and spiritually defile, both the channel and the recipients. It is very dangerous to have dealings with a roaring lion whose only aim is to devour and destroy, and his masquerades as an angel of light are only to further this evil aim. We have the self-sacrificial Lamb of God and the gentle dove, the Holy Spirit, to guide and empower us, if we are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ and born-again and filled with the Holy Spirit. Those who say that the gifts manifested by Christians redeemed by the blood of Christ, are Satanic, have a great deal to answer for. Christ said that those who attributed the works of the pure Holy Spirit, the dove, to the manifestations of Satan, the roaring unclean lion, were committing a very grave sin, and putting themselves in the gravest spiritual danger, Mk.3v22-30. Mt.12v22-32,43-45. It is a staggering fact that demons said Christ's authority and power was from God, and the religious leaders said it was from Satan, and went on to eternal judgement. Jn.15v18-25. 8v24. Some today scoff, ridicule, oppose and blunder on where even wicked angels fear to tread.

4. The three gifts of power are all manifested by a supernaturally increased faith.

"The faith of God" spoken of in Mk.11v22. seems to speak of the faith that is given by the Holy Spirit to manifest the gifts of power. Christ was encouraging the apostles to have faith and expectancy that would enable the anointing of the Holy Spirit to produce a miracle faith for the gifts of power. In the Scriptures we read of people having a special filling of the Holy Spirit to manifest spiritual gifts. Exod.28v3. 31v3. 35v31,35. Lk.1v41,67. Acts.2v4. 4v8,31. 9v17. 13v9,52. 5v18. With all the gifts, and particularly the gifts of power, there is a deepening of faith by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, all of them are operations of the power of God to perform miracles. Because of this divinely increased faith Christians can manifest far greater spiritual power over Satan's false prophets, as the ministry of Moses, Elijah, Philip, the apostles, and our Lord's ministry demonstrates.

The Three Spheres of Operation of the Power Gifts.

As we consider the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we realise that the gifts of revelation and inspiration fall into easily recognisable departments and their spheres of operation are easily distinguishable from each other. However, as we come to the gifts of power we have to think more carefully about the sphere of operation of each gift, and we have to give particular thought to which areas the workings of miracles and the gift of faith cover. The important thing, of course, is to have the gifts of power in operation, for possession of the gifts of power is far more important than the correct definition of them, as C.L. Parker says in his book "Covert Earnestly:" "It is not an absolute correct definition of each gift that is of first importance; it is possession and use that is vital. It does not matter whether Lazarus came out of the tomb by a gift of healing, or a miracle, or a word of faith. What does matter is that he came out! The mourner's did not try to place the miracle in its exact category; they believed on Jesus, and their lives were changed by the companion miracle of Jesus leaving His tomb."

The reason why I am going to try to define the area of operation of the gifts of power, is because truth is intended to be a gateway to experience, and a correct definition of the power gifts can help us to an experience of them, and there are some very important spiritual truths that we can learn from a correct definition of the gifts of power. Having considered many definitions of the areas of operation of the power gifts, the writer considers the following interpretation to be the most consistent and most Scriptural.

1. The gifts of power are the effects of the power of God operating in three different spheres of authority.

The three gifts of power all produce miracles, they are all acts of spiritual power, they are all the result of a faith strengthened by a special anointing of the Holy Spirit, they can all three be manifested on one occasion in one burst and display of God's power, however, Paul tells us that they can be looked upon as separate gifts operating in different spheres of authority.

The gifts of revelation give us the knowledge that we need to possess of the spiritual, intellectual, physical and material world; through them we can receive the knowledge of God's purposes and wisdom, the knowledge of people and things, and the knowledge of the activities of spirits. The gifts of power give us authority and power, as we need them, in these same spiritual, intellectual, physical and material areas. The gift of healing obviously only deals with the healing of the body and physical well-being, so the other two power gifts cover all the other needs for spiritual power that a Christian requires in the other areas of his life and ministry.

If we say that the workings of miracles produces miracles in the unseen spiritual world as well as the material world, we are left with no reason for a gift of faith its area of operation would be covered by the workings of miracles. The gift of faith is not saving faith, the fruit of faith, or the prayer of faith, it is a supernatural imparted faith and power for miracles. It is third in the list in 1Cor.12v8-10. and is undoubtedly of greater importance than the other power gifts. I suggest that Paul calls this gift the gift of faith: A. because it deals with the spiritual realm and spiritual things, where only faith can see and minister: B. because it describes the nature of the gift, it trusts God to manifest His power in us, for us, and on our behalf, rather than through us in miracles visible all to see, as in the workings of miracles. I also suggest that man being a creature with a spirit and capable of communing with God, is in a different category and sphere of authority than animals, vegetables, or mineral substances. The gift of faith obviously covers the spiritual realm and beings capable of having faith and spiritual experience and capable of communing with God. The gift of faith gives the power to bind heaven and earth, a power only given to apostles, whereas the ministry of workings of miracles being 4th in the list in 1Cor.12v28., carries with it no such authority and is a less powerful gift. Each gift has its own area of authority and will not minister in the area of another gift.

The gift of faith gives one authority in the spiritual realm, it gives authority over men and angels. The working of miracles gives authority and power over material things and nature apart from man, it affects man's environment. The gifts of healing give one authority and power in the physical realm over infirmity, disease and sickness. However, we need to remember that we cannot manifest these gifts at will we only have this power and authority when the Holy Spirit gives it to us.

2. The three gifts of power operate directly and exclusively upon their sphere of authority.

The gift of faith operates directly upon men and angels, except in physical healing, which is the sphere of gifts of healings. The workings of miracles operate directly upon man's environment, i.e. upon material things and nature apart from man. The gift of healings operate directly upon man for physical healing. So we can say

a. The gift of faith will protect a child of God by clothing them with supernatural power.
It imposes spiritual power, but does not change material things or alter natural law. The workings of miracles protects by altering material things and by influencing nature. e.g. The three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace were protected by supernatural power; the heat of the fire was not changed. If the fire had been extinguished by supernatural power it would have been a working of miracles and a lesser miracle and sign.

b. The gift of faith provides for a child of God by dealing directly with men or angels to meet the need, the working of miracles provides by directly affecting nature, either by creation, alteration, or direction of nature. e.g. The angel bringing food to Elijah was a gift of faith, the ravens bringing food was a working of miracles.

c. The gift of faith in the areas of protection and provision causes God's power to act directly on our behalf, rather than as a manifestation of power through us. e.g. Paul's deliverance from the storm was an operation of the gift of faith, that was manifested by God on Paul's behalf, rather than a manifestation of power through Paul. It directly protected Paul and the others on board, but it did not stop the storm. If, like Christ, Paul had commanded the storm to be stilled it would have been a working of miracles. God did not give Paul the authority to stop the storm, He wanted Paul to evangelise Melt, so the gift of faith protected Paul and the working of miracles did not operate. God's wisdom directs the manifestation of the greater gifts not our desire.

d. The gift of faith and the working of miracles can both be the means of judgement. The direct judgement on man by supernatural power, which results in sickness and death, is in the realm of the gift of faith. The indirect judgement of man through nature is in the realm of the working of miracles, it first affects nature and then man. This kind of authority was only given to the greatest of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament prophets who were also apostles.

e. If there is a creative miracle of healing, it is still in the sphere of a gift of healing. The destruction of germs, the removal of cancer, the recreating of organs removed by surgery or injury, and all other physical healings by divine power, are in the realm of the gifts of healings.

3. Christians will vary very considerably in the power and authority they manifest through the gifts of power.

Paul tells us in 1Cor.12v8-12., that in a gathering of a local church, all the power gifts can be operated by different members of the local church acting together as a body. However, this does not mean that they will be operated with the same power or regularity as the higher ministries of the Church. Every Christian can expect God to manifest a power gift through them, if they are in need of it, and a Christian in the local church can minister a power gift to others, but it is quite another thing to have a regular ministry of power gifts entrusted to you by God.

Paul's list in 1Cor.12v28., shows us the order of spiritual authority in the Church of God, all the higher ministries in the New Testament, teachers, manifested spiritual gifts, indeed, the extent of their authority from God was shown by their manifestation of spiritual gifts. Christian authority, "exousia," in the New Testament is proved by spiritual power, "dunamis," and the miracles that spiritual power performs. We also see from 1Cor.12v28., and other Scriptures, that a person may have the authority from God to have a regular ministry of one gift, but no authority to manifest another gift as a regular ministry. The person who has authority from God to have a ministry of gifts of healings, may not have the authority from God to manifest the more important and more powerful ministry of workings of miracles. Even those with the gift of workings of miracles as a ministry, will not be allowed by God to manifest this gift on its highest level of power in the judgement of people or nations, this authority was only manifested by the greatest of Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles.

The authority given to the apostles to bind and loose in heaven and earth, definitely goes beyond the authority given to the 70 to have "power over all the power of the enemy." Mt.16v18,19. Jn.20v21-23. Lk.10v19. Both groups had authority in the spiritual realm over evil powers, but the apostles had the additional authority to raise the dead, which the 70 did not have. Mt.9v1,2. 10v1,7,8. with Lk.10v1,9,17. The apostles had the authority to bring judgement upon people who were committing grave sin, as we can see through the judgements upon Ananias and Sapphira, Elymas, Hymenaeus and Alexander. Acts.5v1-11. 13v6-12. 1Tim.1v20. This authority that was given to apostles as individuals could only be manifested in the local church by all the Christians acting as a body. Mt.18v15-19. with 1Cor.5v1-7.

In 1Cor.12v28. Paul gives us the order of authority in Christ's Church; apostles first; prophets second; teachers third; workers of miracles fourth; those with gifts of healings fifth; helps sixth; governments seventh; diversities of tongues eighth. We particularly need to remember that New Testament teachers had spiritual gifts and ministries of spiritual gifts, their equipment was not mere intellectual gymnastics, they preached with the Holy Spirit and the gifts sent down from heaven. 1Pet.1v12. The higher ministries of the Church have the greater gifts operating through them at a greater level of power through one person, than the local Church will manifest them as a body. It is one thing to have a miraculous provision of ones needs by a catch of fish, or the multiplying of oil, it is quite another thing to raise the dead, or to judge a person or nation through God's power. We have to recognise that it is God and God alone that sets His ministries in the Church, much of the present failure in Christian work is due to the fact that men have assumed God's prerogative, and set their standards for the ministry instead of God's standards. Christ and His early Church had to fight the most dreadful battle with religious leaders who had replaced God's word and authority with their traditions, and those today who have authority given to them by God will experience a similar kind of opposition from those who follow the traditions of men instead of the Word of God.

The manifestations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit will grow in power as a Christian grows in grace, faith and Christian maturity, by communion with God and obedience to God. Christian authority can only be kept by fervent prayer and abiding in Christ, as the apostles found out to their sorrow and shame. Lk.9v1, 2, 40. with Mk.8v28,29. It takes real prayer and consecration to keep a God-given authority, as Christ said to His disciples, it is only as we have communion with Him, are obedient to Him, and have faith in His name, that we have His authority. Jn.15v7.

To summarise then, we can say: The gift of faith, believes, commands and directs in the unseen spiritual realm, and deals directly with men and angels. The workings of miracles, believes, commands and directs in the material realm, it deals directly with man's environment. The gifts of healings believe and command in the physical realm, and deal directly with illness, disease, infirmity and sickness.

THE CLOSE CO-ORDINATION OF THE GIFTS OF POWER IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES.

As we have seen, all the power gifts are the result of the same power of God operating in different spheres of authority, they are the varied manifestations of God's power in different areas of our experience. Just as we can have all three of the gifts of revelation operating in one manifestation of God's knowledge and wisdom, we can have the manifestation of all the power gifts in one burst and display of the power of God. In the Scriptures we see many cases of what we may define as two separate gifts of the Spirit being manifested in one burst and display of the power of God, we will now consider some of them.

1. The gift of faith and the workings of miracles often gave Israel protection and victory in war.

On many occasions the power of God protected the Israelites and at the same time gave them the power, or worked miracles to defeat their foes. The most notable example of this is probably Exod.17v11-13., where we see that it is only the operation of the gifts of power through Moses that brought victory against the army of the Amalekites. Joshua conquered Jericho through the gifts of power. Joshua.6v20.. Samuel's power gifts were more mighty than Saul's picked army. 1Sam.7v4-14. 13v1-23. God helped Jehoahaz out of pure compassion and not because he or Israel deserved it. 2Kings.13v1-6. Both Asa and Jehoshaphat were given marvellous victories by divine grace and power. 2Chron.14v9-13. 15v6. 17v3. 20v1-25. Time would fail us to tell of Abraham, Gideon, Samson, Jonathan, David, and many others, who defeated "invincible" foes through God's power. Gen14v1-17. Judges.7v16-25. 15v7-20. 1Sam.14v1-14. 17v11-58.

2. The gift of faith and the workings of miracles have provided supernatural means of transport.

Elijah was well known for it. 1Kings.18v11,12. 2Kings2v16-18. We also see that Ezekiel, Philip, and the whole apostolic band experienced this also. Ezek.3v12-15. 8v3. Acts.8v39,40. Jn.6v20,21. also Rev.12v14. The same burst of supernatural power transported both materials and men.

3. When ministering to the sick and needy, gifts of faith and gifts of healings can operate in one burst of God's power.

A very good example of this is seen in Acts.19v11,12., where pieces of linen and clothing which Paul had handled were laid upon the sick and demon-possessed and they were made whole. Elisha's bones were so full of God's power that they raised the dead. 2Kings.13v20,21. A person may come for prayer who is both sick and demon-possessed, and so one will need both a gift of faith and a gift of healing to meet their needs; this can be given in one burst of power from God that meets both needs. Lk.4v17-19.

4. In deliverance from danger or death.

The apostles and Peter were delivered from prison by angelic ministry that brought into operation both the gift of faith and the workings of miracles in one display of God's power. Acts.5v16-24. 12v1-17. It was prayer that brought the manifestation of this spiritual power and the deliverance of Peter, even if the faith of those praying was not to high.

5. In the resurrection of the dead.

The resurrection of the dead manifests at least two of the gifts of power, and possibly all three. The gift of faith returns the soul and spirit to the body, the workings of miracles and gifts of healings seem to be both involved in the recreation and healing of a composed body, so what we could define as three separate gifts are really one burst and display of God's power. In the New Testament only the apostles were given the authority to raise the dead. Mt.10v8.

This is one of the greatest signs that God can give to convince people of the truth. However, even this great sign will fail to win some people to God, for if people don't want to believe, nothing will make them believe, some people fight God to the bitter end. Lk.16v19-31. N.B. v28-31. Jn.12v37-41. 15v22-25. Acts.7v51-60. Rev.19v19,20. At the second coming of Christ, Heaven and earth will shake with the glory, might and power of Christ's coming, and this glory will be seen by all; millions of saints will be raised from the dead in a moment of time, but in spite of all this, Antichrist and his armies turn to fight against the Lord. Our God is omnipotent, it is an easy thing for Him to raise the dead, and Christians should not think that this is incredible. Acts.26v8. However, in the New Testament, this kind of ministry was only given to those who had the greatest ministries, in the Scriptures only men with apostolic and prophetic ministries have raised the dead. 1Kings17v17-24. 2Kings.4v32-37. Lk.7v11. Mk.5v22. with Lk.8v41. Jn.11v41,47. Mt.28v1-10. with Mt.27v51-53. Acts.9v36-42. 20v9-12. 14v19,20.

N.B. Some have felt that prolonged provision of one's needs, as Elijah being fed by ravens, and the never-failing barrel of meal, are a combined manifestation of the gift of faith and the workings of miracles; however, I feel that these are probably manifestations of the workings of miracles. In cases like this we cannot be too dogmatic, as we have said before the important thing is to have possession of the gifts not just a correct definition of them. We shall certainly not know all the facts about spiritual gifts while here on earth, we shall have to wait until we meet our Lord for the full and perfect explanation of their workings.


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