The Work and Person of the Holy Spirit. Pt. 15 Miracles, Prophecies, Discerning
This is another day that the Lord hath made, I will be rejoice and be glad in it!!! Good morning to you......
Today we will try to cover 3 more of the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12.
1 Corinthians 12:10-11 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Miracles
The Greek word translated "miracles" is found in the English word "dynamite" or "dynamic." Dynamite refers to explosives and dynamic refers to continuous productive activity or change. Both of these words give us an idea of what was taking place when Paul wrote to the church at Corinth.
Miracles included things like casting out demons, blinding a sorcerer named Elymas.
Let's look at part of Peter's first sermon in Acts 2. In this text Peter is connecting the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost to the prophecy from Joel 2. He references wonders, signs and salvation to all who call upon the name of the Lord.
Signs, wonders and miracles are proofs that God was speaking through these men
Peter then connects this to the work and person of Jesus Christ. The signs and wonders demonstrated beyond any doubt that Jesus was "approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs."
This is why I emphasize the purpose of the sign gifts at that juncture in history. It was needed because the New Testament had not yet been written and God provided proof that Jesus Christ and the apostles were His spokesmen.
Acts 2:19-22 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Miracles were done by the hands of the apostles that shook up the religious people and stunned those who witnessed them. Miracles were explosive in the sense that people were confronted with the fact that God was at work and no one could deny it. The miracles were dynamic in the sense that people were shaken to their core. Their hearts were troubled by the mighty works being done in the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 2: 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
When the church at Jerusalem was persecuted, the disciples began to leave and go to other cities and regions spreading the gospel as they went. The text below shows Phillip doing just that and tells us how the signs and wonders proved he spoke for God. The intent was to lead them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:4-7 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
Prophecy
We have already touched upon the need for prophecy during this period of time so I will not elaborate much on this gift. It was needed because they did not have the written New Testament and the birth of the church was something brand new and unexpected. Guidance from God was needed and He provided it through prophets in the early church.
We previously noted the example of Agabus who prophesied of a famine that would happen during the reign of Claudius Caesar in Acts 11. Later he prophesied that Paul would be taken prisoner in Jerusalem in Acts 21.
In the text below we see the immediate need of sending relief to the areas affected by the famine or dearth. The prophecy was given to show the urgency of the needs and to stir the people to action.
Acts 11:27-30 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Most prophecy after the birth of the church seemed to be directed at local or regional conditions and things that would happen within the immediate future.
They needed to hear from God
Some prophecy was the Word of God being given to the churches through men that God approved, so that they could hear from God about the church.
The New testament church was a mystery that was not known prior to the birth of the church. Jewish converts to Christ needed help in understanding what God was doing and how all of this related to the Old Testament they were familiar with. Paul describes the mystery in his letter to the Ephesians.
Ephesians 3:1-7 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
The only exception to this would be the book of Revelation written by the Apostle John. Revelation is the bookend to Genesis where God shows us the big picture of what will happen, how it will happen and why it will happen in the future.
Discerning of spirits
What is the gift of discerning of spirits? I think it is helpful to recall that we received the Holy Spirit of God when we were born again. However, there is also an unholy spirit in the world today as in the times of the apostles.
"Discerning" is a word that means to judge by searching things out in order to distinguish, in this case between a good or an evil spirit. One test is that the Spirit of God will never lead anyone to do that which is contradicted by the Word of God. Another test is that the Spirit of God will always elevate the work and person of Jesus Christ.
There is an unholy spirit in the world
Acts 5 is another example of discerning of spirits when Peter perceived the sin of Ananias and Sapphira and pronounced judgment upon them.
Here are some examples of discerning of spirits. According to John 16 the Spirit of God will always rebuke sin, point to the righteousness of Christ and coming judgement for those who are not born again. The Holy Spirit will always glorify the Son of God, Jesus Christ. (John 16:7-15)
1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Points to Ponder....
Today we will try to cover 3 more of the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12.
1 Corinthians 12:10-11 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Miracles
The Greek word translated "miracles" is found in the English word "dynamite" or "dynamic." Dynamite refers to explosives and dynamic refers to continuous productive activity or change. Both of these words give us an idea of what was taking place when Paul wrote to the church at Corinth.
Miracles included things like casting out demons, blinding a sorcerer named Elymas.
Let's look at part of Peter's first sermon in Acts 2. In this text Peter is connecting the gift of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost to the prophecy from Joel 2. He references wonders, signs and salvation to all who call upon the name of the Lord.
Signs, wonders and miracles are proofs that God was speaking through these men
Peter then connects this to the work and person of Jesus Christ. The signs and wonders demonstrated beyond any doubt that Jesus was "approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs."
This is why I emphasize the purpose of the sign gifts at that juncture in history. It was needed because the New Testament had not yet been written and God provided proof that Jesus Christ and the apostles were His spokesmen.
Acts 2:19-22 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
Miracles were done by the hands of the apostles that shook up the religious people and stunned those who witnessed them. Miracles were explosive in the sense that people were confronted with the fact that God was at work and no one could deny it. The miracles were dynamic in the sense that people were shaken to their core. Their hearts were troubled by the mighty works being done in the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 2: 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
When the church at Jerusalem was persecuted, the disciples began to leave and go to other cities and regions spreading the gospel as they went. The text below shows Phillip doing just that and tells us how the signs and wonders proved he spoke for God. The intent was to lead them to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 8:4-7 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
Prophecy
We have already touched upon the need for prophecy during this period of time so I will not elaborate much on this gift. It was needed because they did not have the written New Testament and the birth of the church was something brand new and unexpected. Guidance from God was needed and He provided it through prophets in the early church.
We previously noted the example of Agabus who prophesied of a famine that would happen during the reign of Claudius Caesar in Acts 11. Later he prophesied that Paul would be taken prisoner in Jerusalem in Acts 21.
In the text below we see the immediate need of sending relief to the areas affected by the famine or dearth. The prophecy was given to show the urgency of the needs and to stir the people to action.
Acts 11:27-30 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Most prophecy after the birth of the church seemed to be directed at local or regional conditions and things that would happen within the immediate future.
They needed to hear from God
Some prophecy was the Word of God being given to the churches through men that God approved, so that they could hear from God about the church.
The New testament church was a mystery that was not known prior to the birth of the church. Jewish converts to Christ needed help in understanding what God was doing and how all of this related to the Old Testament they were familiar with. Paul describes the mystery in his letter to the Ephesians.
Ephesians 3:1-7 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
The only exception to this would be the book of Revelation written by the Apostle John. Revelation is the bookend to Genesis where God shows us the big picture of what will happen, how it will happen and why it will happen in the future.
Discerning of spirits
What is the gift of discerning of spirits? I think it is helpful to recall that we received the Holy Spirit of God when we were born again. However, there is also an unholy spirit in the world today as in the times of the apostles.
"Discerning" is a word that means to judge by searching things out in order to distinguish, in this case between a good or an evil spirit. One test is that the Spirit of God will never lead anyone to do that which is contradicted by the Word of God. Another test is that the Spirit of God will always elevate the work and person of Jesus Christ.
There is an unholy spirit in the world
Acts 5 is another example of discerning of spirits when Peter perceived the sin of Ananias and Sapphira and pronounced judgment upon them.
Here are some examples of discerning of spirits. According to John 16 the Spirit of God will always rebuke sin, point to the righteousness of Christ and coming judgement for those who are not born again. The Holy Spirit will always glorify the Son of God, Jesus Christ. (John 16:7-15)
1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Points to Ponder....
- There were many miracles, signs and wonders worked by Jesus Christ and the Apostles.
- They were the sign of God's approval upon Christ and His disciples.
- The gift of prophecy was given because people needed to hear from God about the mystery of the Church and how this related to their lives.
- Some prophecies were focused on a local or regional need that required action.
- Discerning of spirits was needed because the spirit of antichrist is in the world seeking to undo the work of God.
- There are precise descriptions of what the work of the Spirit of God is like and we must compare what someone says or teaches to that Holy Standard.
- The Spirit of God will always elevate and glorify Jesus Christ.
- He will always exalt Christ as God manifest in the flesh through His virgin birth.
- He will always conform to what the entire body of scripture says and He never leads people to do that which is contradicted by the Word.
I hope you can see how many of these gifts are no longer needed because God inspired the New Testament text and has placed a copy of it into our hands. Today, we can discern spirits by comparing what we see or hear with the inspired New Testament text.
Many teachers and pastors come up with new or novel interpretations or doctrines that will not stand the test of scripture. The Word of God must be our only standard and this is why God gave it to us.
In our next post we will be studying the gift of tongues. We will see what it was and see God's intended use for this gift. You can read 1 Corinthians 14 to see Paul's lengthy discussion of this gift and you can read Acts 2 to see the first manifestation of tongues.
I hope and pray that these lessons will help bring scriptural clarity and Biblical guidance for all of us regarding these subjects.
Bob
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