Spirit Gifted
By David Feddes 

Miraculous gifts

  • Healings
  • Tongues
  • Prophecy

Healings by Peter
Peter and John healed a man who had been lame from birth. (Acts 3:1-10)
People brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. (5:15-16)
Aeneas had been bedridden and paralyzed for eight years. Peter healed him in Jesus' name. (Acts 9:32-35)
Peter raised Tabitha from death by Jesus' power. (Acts 9:36-42) 

Healings by Philip
Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:5-8)

Healings by Paul
In Lystra Paul healed a man who had been lame from birth and had never walked before. (Acts 14:8-10)
God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. (19:11-12)
After Eutychus was killed in a fall, Paul raised him from the dead. (Acts 20:9-10)


Healings FAQ

  • What were NT gifts of healings?
  • Are gifts of healings today the same as in Acts and NT churches?
  • If today’s healing ministry differs, is it always bad?
  • Are there gifts similar to NT healing that serve some similar purposes?


Miraculous gifts

  • Healings
  • Tongues
  • Prophecy

 
Tongues

  • Disciples on Pentecost (2:1-11) All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
  • Roman household of Cornelius (10:46)
  • Disciples of John the Baptist (19:6)


Tongues FAQ

  • What was the NT gift of tongues?
  • Are “tongues” today the same as tongues in Acts and NT churches?
  • If today’s “tongues” are different, are such “tongues” always bad?
  • Are there gifts similar to tongues that serve some similar purposes?


Miraculous gifts

  • Healings
  • Tongues
  • Prophecy


Prophecy

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18)

21:8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”


Prophecy

  • Apostles and prophets
  • Agabus, others (11:27; 21:10)
  • Barnabas, Saul, others (13:1)
  • Judas and Silas (15:32)
  • Ephesus converts (19:6)
  • Philip’s daughters (21:9)
  • Rome, Corinth, Thessalonica

Foundation
… the foundation of the apostles and prophets… revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets… Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers to equip his people. (Ephesians 2:20: 3:5; 4:11)


What is Acts?

  • History of church’s foundational period, a unique time that ended after apostles died and New Testament was finished.
  • Portrait of lively church and mission in the new covenant age of the Spirit, which continues until Jesus returns.

Prophecy FAQ

  • What was the NT gift of prophecy?
  • Is prophecy today the same as it was in Acts and NT churches?
  • If today’s “prophecy” is different, is such “prophecy” always bad?
  • Are there gifts similar to prophecy that serve some similar purposes?


Word gifts
When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. (Colossians 3:16)

Eagerly desire
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy… Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. (1 Cor 12:28; 14:1, 39)


Miraculous gifts

  • Attest apostles: validate authority
  • Glorify God: stir awe and joy
  • Spread gospel: attract attention
  • Meet needs: help the desperate
  • Build body: strengthen church


Miraculous gifts

  • Healings
  • Tongues
  • Prophecy


Spirit gifted
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. (1 Cor 12:1)
A spiritual gift is a significant ability given to each believer by the Holy Spirit, who thus equips and moves members of the church to serve in special ways for Christ and his kingdom.


Sample of gifts
… word of wisdom… word of knowledge… faith… gifts of healings … miracles… prophecy… distinguishing between spirits… various kinds of tongues… interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:7-10)
… apostles… prophets… teachers… workers of miracles… healing… helping… administration… tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28)
…prophesying… serving… teaching… encouraging… contributing… leading… showing mercy (Romans 12:6-8)
apostles… prophets… evangelists… pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service (Ephesians 4:11-12)
…speaking… serving (1 Peter 4:10-11)

Giving
God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. (4:33-35)

Encouraging
They sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. (11:22-24)

Helping/mercy
Tabitha was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died… All the widows stood around him, crying and showing Peter the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. (9:36-39)

Spirit gifted
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others... If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 4:10-11)


Last modified: Tuesday, August 8, 2023, 9:45 AM