Gifts of Faith, Miracles, Healings

Topical Discussion Group  —  “Faith, Healings, Miracles ”

Stoughton Apostolic Church

March 25, 2025

Holy Spirit’s Gifts:

Holy Spirit is a “He” (person),   and not an “It.”

John 16:13-15 (KJV)

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Application of the gifts must be governed by relationship with the Holy Spirit.  The gifts flow in relationship with him, not in learning how to manipulate, conjure up, or become a “conduit” for a power source.

He is a person, not an impersonal force or energy.

1 Corinthians 12:7 (AKJV) — But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

“Manifestation” / phanerósis / φανέρωσις: Manifestation, Disclosure, Revelation

The gifts are the person of the Holy Spirit being made visible, revealed, disclosed. Again, they are the expression of a Person.

Guiding Principles:

1. We are not pursuing power but the knowing and revealing of a Person.

2. We are not pursuing ministry, but the sharing of the ministry of Jesus.

3. We are not testifying to who we are, but allowing God by faith, to manifest his nature through us to others.

4. Practical applications take into consideration the benefit of all, not just the gift doer.

Gifts of Spirit = GRACE

1 Corinthians 12:4 (AKJV) — Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

Gift / charisma / χάρισμα / grace-gift, spiritual gift

Gifts are not about you being gifted, as in you have an ability. Its about you receiving and manifesting grace. God manifests something of himself in you that you did not earn, nor could you qualify to do.

1. Gift of Faith:

1 Corinthians 12:9-10 (AKJV)  —- “…to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers…”

A manifestation of confidence in God, an inner persuasion by Him in regards to a specific issue, task, act, word, or endeavour.

The gift of faith is not saving faith, nor is it the fruit of the Spirit. It is a gift.

Analogy from Derek Prince: The fruit of faith, developed in our life by the Holy Spirit as we abide in Christ, is like an apple growing on an apple tree. The apple grows simply by the apple tree being an apple tree over time. A Christmas tree on the other hand, it has hung on it, or it overshadows gifts that can be planted there instantaneously. So is the gift of the faith verse the fruit of faith.

Example: Peter walks on water

Matthew 14:28-31 (AKJV) — 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Faith comes by hearing God’s word, being persuaded by him, and then acting out on it.

Peter stepped out not on water, but by faith, he walked on Jesus’ word.

Faith vs Presumption: Faith originates in a communication from God, presumption originates in our idealism, ambition, and selves.

Psalms 91:11-12 (AKJV) — For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12  They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Luke 4:9-12 (AKJV) — 9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10 for it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11 and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Practical Application:

• Hear God

• Step out in faith (on his word).

• Don’t try to bring others out of the boat with you. We are not subject to your idealism nor your presumption, but we will benefit from the fruit of your faith.

2. The Working of Miracles

The ability to work miracle producing power.

1 Corinthians 12:9-10 (AKJV)  —- “…to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers…”

Miracles  / dunamis / δύναμις /  Power, strength, ability, might, miracle

Acts 1:8 ( AKJV) — “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…”

Power is same word as miracles. Receive power.

Receive /  lambanó /  λαμβάνω /To take, receive, obtain

WORD HELP STUDIES: 2983 lambánō (from the primitive root, lab-, meaning "actively lay hold of to take or receive," see NAS dictionary) – properly, to lay hold by aggressively (actively) accepting what is available (offered). 2983 /lambánō ("accept with initiative") emphasizes the volition (assertiveness) of the receiver.

Work the miracle by receiving, picking up the power so as to use the power!

Example: Loaves and Fishes

Matthew 14:16-21 (NIV) — Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Verse 19 “Taking the five loaves and the two fish”

Taking = Receive /  lambanó /  λαμβάνω /To take, receive, obtain

The loaves did not multiply on their own, the miracle was worked by Jesus and his disciples. So it is with us, Jesus speaks ( again he initiates, as even Jesus only did what he saw the Father do), and we step out by doing the seemingly impossible.

What is in your hand?

Exodus 4:2-4 (NIV) — 2 Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied. 3 The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.

What is in your house?

2 Kings 4:2-7 (NIV) — 2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” 3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” 5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

Practical Application:

• When faced with the impossible, listen for a supernatural solution.

• Don’t limit what is possible in your mind ( we only have).

• See what’s in your hand and what’s  in your house. God will use what you have.

• Don’t be afraid to work the miracle. It may be a multi-step process.

• If you are manifesting the gifts, it is on you. Don’t bring others into your responsibility, but bring them along for the journey.

3. Gifts of Healing

1 Corinthians 12:9-10 (AKJV)  —- “…to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers…”

Plural: many types of healings.

Healing is the power of God manifesting in and through the person who is doing the healing,  into the body of the one being healed.

Healing can be applied via gift, but also via:

Healing is something all believers are commanded to do (Mark 16:15-18)

Healing is done be the elders (James 5:14-15)

Healing received by your own personal faith (Mark 5:24-34) “Your faith healed you!”

What you believe about healing will affect your ability to manifest it.

As in all gifts, faith is the operative force. God speaks to you from his written or spoken word, and you in faith manifest his will.  Hard to manifest the gift of healing and the faith it takes, when you are not sure that God wants to do it.

Because it is in the atonement, I believe that it its always God’s first intention to heal. If you think otherwise, keep it to yourself expect for exceptional circumstances.

Matthew 8:16-17 (AKJV) — 16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Isaiah 53:4-5 (AKJV) — Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Griefs =  kho-lee' / חֱלִי / Sickness, disease, illness

Sorrows =  makob / מַכָאֹב: /  Pain, sorrow, suffering

Healed =  rapha / רָפָא / To heal, to cure, to restore

Usage: The Hebrew verb "rapha" primarily means "to heal" or "to restore to health." It is used in the context of physical healing, emotional restoration, and spiritual renewal.

Multiple ways to administer healing:

Cast out a demon

Matthew 12:22 (AKJV) — 22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

Luke 13:12-13, 16 (AKJV) —  And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.   …And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

As they went…

Luke 17:14 (AKJV) — And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

Progressive

Mark 8:23-25 (AKJV) — And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

Instant

Acts 3:4-7 (AKJV) — And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

What you see is what you will believe for…

John 9:1-4 (AKJV) — And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

Practical Application:

1. With the gift, you heal the sick, you don’t pray for them (Matthew 10:8, Luke 9:2)

2. Bring a partner & keep your eyes open. ( Mark 6:7, Luke 10:1)

3. Listen for God’s leading ( often other gifts accompany it)

4. Engage the believing, and remove the doubters (Matt. 9:25)

5. Lay hands on the sick - Ask permission. Be sensitive &  appropriate (Mark 16:18)

6. Jesus did not heal everyone, but he did all who came to him (Matt. 15:30)

7. Work with people’s faith, not against it. (Mark 5:34, Luke 17:18 - your faith has made you well)

8. Meet people were they are. Acts 14:9-10 (AKJV) — the same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

9. Don’t push your faith on others, let them direct the process. Ask if you can pray, but they lead the way. Mark 10:51-52 (AKJV) —  And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

10. It is faith not technique that gets the job done.  It’s not our power nor personal holiness (Acts 3:12), but faith in his name (Acts 3:16).

Some healing don’ts:

Do not prophesy your theology of why this or that is or is not happening. If you don’t heal the sick it is not their fault nor is it God’s. No blame or shame, just believe.

Faith in God for healing is no excuse for poor relationship skills, bad emotional intelligence (EQ). Suffering people are not experiments or testing grounds for our faith. We can step out in faith and in love, caring more as manifested by our desire to connect with them (help them feel seen, heard, and valued by God), than we care about a result for our reputation.

Enemies of the gifts: Offence and Familiarity

Matthew 13:54-58 (AKJV) — And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.