SDCCM Blog

Mark 16:18 – . . . they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover

In the early church, the gifts of healing were displayed many years after the resurrection of Christ. Paul had power to heal through special miracles. “God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits went out” (Acts 19:11-12). It is recorded that Paul prayed for Publius’ father and then “laid his hands on him and healed him” (Acts 28:8).

Twenty-six years after the resurrection of Jesus, ordinary believers were still operating in the gifts of healing. Paul speaks of healing gifts in the plural in I Corinthians 12:9. In Galatians, Paul asked a question concerning the Spirit and miracles. “So then, does he who provides you with the Spirit, and work miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law or by hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:5)? James, many years after the earthly ministry of Jesus, gave direction for the Elders to pray for the sick, with a promise of healing and forgiveness (James 5:l4-16).

The Scriptures are filled with many divers operations of the gift of healing. I have listed a number of references which speak about this wonderful gift. Take time to study the Scriptures for yourself. Ask the Father to reveal His will to you concerning healing. Trust Him in faith that the Holy Spirit would give gifts of healing to you. Ask Him to use you to bring healing to those in need. Father, supply my life with Your gifts of healing as You would direct. There are many in need of God’s healing power. There is a great need for God’s people to allow the Holy Spirit to minister His gifts through their life.

Here are a few examples of the diversity of the healing gifts: Touch of a hand – Matthew 9:21; Sending the Word – Psalm 107:20; Peter’s shadow – Acts 5:15; Aprons and garments – Acts 19:12; Anointing with oil. – James 5:14; Laying on of hands – Mark 16:18; Prayer in Jesus’ Name – Acts 3:6; The Word of Knowledge – Acts 9:11.18 and 14:8.10; Through the means of special directions to the sick one: Mark 7:31-37 – Fingers in his ears and touching the tongue; Mark 8:22-26 – Saliva placed on the blind man’s eyes; Acts 20:9-10 – Paul embracing a dead man who revived; Action taken by the sick one to show faith. In John 5:1-9 is the example of the man at the pool of Bethesda picking up his bed and walking. Another time in Matthew 9:1-7, Jesus told the man to “pick up his bed and go home.” And he got up and went home. It was in Jesus’ healing ministry that, “the crowds were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men” (Matthew 9:8).

God has always been the healer of His people. He heals today as well. Won’t you receive His healing grace in your life and allow Him to use you to bring His healing power to others? Remember what Jesus said about those who believe on Him, “They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:18).

John 4:18 – You have had five husbands and the one whom you now have is not your husband.

The woman at the well is an excellent example of how powerful this New Testament gift of knowledge can be. As Jesus speaks with the Samaritan woman, He tells her life history with men. As we continue to read on in John 4:19 – 29, we learn how the whole city came to hear Jesus as a result of this one word of knowledge spoken to the women. That word helped to convince a sinner of her need of the Savior; she in turn was used to reach others by pointing them to Christ.

Acts 9:10-11 speaks of how the word of knowledge came through a vision and pointed out to Ananias a man in need. That man happened to be Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle to the Gentiles. Notice how this word came in a vision to Ananias. He responded, “Here I am Lord”.

Peter received a word of knowledge about corruption in the church (Acts 5:3). The result was fatal for a man and his wife because they purposed in their heart to lie to the Holy Spirit. Today, it seems like many get away with lies and deception, but let me assure you, when this gift of knowledge begins to operate in the Lord’s Church at this level, judgment will also follow as it did in the days of the early apostles.

Please do not confuse this gift of knowledge with learning. The word of knowledge is a special supernatural revelation of facts given by the Holy Spirit. The examples are too numerous for all of them to be included. The “foretelling” of events to come is an operation of this blessed gift. To treat this gift as a vocal gift by suggesting that it is about preaching and teaching that came through studies, is to rob it entirely of its supernatural and miraculous character.

Holy Spirit, I am limited in what I know. I invite You to use me as often as it is pleasing to You through the gift of knowledge. Reveal to me what I need to know to encourage a child of God or help one to come to know the Savior. If You will, use me to point out sin that the one in bondage may be set free to experience Your love.

1 Corinthians 1:31 – Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.

Today, I want us to look further into this subject of wisdom. Throughout the Scriptures, wisdom is highlighted as a gift given by God. In Matthew 2:13, we read of a word of wisdom given to Joseph through a dream which instructed Joseph to take Mary and the babe to Egypt. Compare this with Matthew 2:20 when the angel instructed Joseph to return to Israel. In Acts 13:2, the command by the Spirit to separate Barnabas and Saul was a word of wisdom as to the timing of God’s will to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. This word of wisdom had a bearing upon their walk and experience. In Acts 15:5-27, a word of wisdom is given through James as to what commands should be placed on the converted Gentiles. In Acts 26, Paul is defending himself before King Agrippa and Festus. Festus thought Paul to be insane. Paul testifies of the wisdom from the Lord given to him at his conversion which directed his life in the message he carried as the Apostle to the Gentiles.

The above Scriptures are but a few examples of this wonderful gift the Spirit of God has made available to the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 1:31, Paul warns us not to boast in ourselves, but in the Lord. In wisdom, he is quoting from the prophet Jeremiah. “Thus says the Lord, Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises loving-kindness, justice and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things, declares the Lord (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

I believe Jeremiah gives to us the sum total of the subject of wisdom. Paul establishes the need for us to pursue wisdom in our personal and corporate life. Today, receive God’s wonderful grace of wisdom. If you can identify times this grace has been released in your life, rejoice and thank the Lord continuously. Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say rejoice!

Today, ask the Holy Spirit to give you this gift as needed. Open up yourself to receive a deposit of supernatural wisdom from God by asking for the gift of wisdom, especially when you are at the end of your own sufficiency. If you are anything like me, that would be quite often.

1 Corinthians 12:8 – To one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit

Natural wisdom is the ability to apply possessed knowledge and experience. The “word of wisdom” is not natural or human wisdom, but supernatural wisdom from God. This Wisdom cannot be developed because it is already perfect. The word of wisdom is the supernatural revelation by the Spirit for divine plans and purpose concerning things, people, places, and events. The “word of wisdom” should not be confused with deep spiritual insight in God’s Word. The latter comes from study and revelation. The gift of the “word of wisdom” comes directly from the Spirit of God.

In a sense, the word of wisdom is the revelation of the purpose of God concerning things in the now and in the future. This wisdom is given to direct us in our decisions and provide safety from deception. Some Scriptural examples of the use of the word of wisdom will show how indispensable this gift is to a finite people.

In the Old Testament there are many examples of a word of wisdom given to those walking in a relationship with the Lord. The wisdom that comes from above always carried a redemptive purpose. Consider Genesis 6:13-22. God’s knowledge of future peril was communicated in a supernatural way to Noah. Noah was given the wisdom necessary to build the Ark and accomplish God’s will of saving the human race from the soon coming flood. King Solomon provides another example in I Kings 3:16. Solomon received supernatural wisdom to shepherd God’s people. The issue of the two women claiming to be the mother of the same baby is a great example of this wisdom given by God (1 Kings 3:16-22).

Paul tells us, “By His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God.” Today, all wisdom is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul understood more fully than most about wisdom. “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom” (Colossians 1:28). The gospel of Christ is the wisdom of God unto salvation for every individual.

Be bold and ask the Holy Spirit for the wisdom of heaven. Every day, ask for wisdom and expect the Lord to release your portion as needed. The Father, through the Holy Spirit, is waiting for us to ask and receive of the wisdom that comes from above.

Isaiah 28:12— “Here is rest, give rest to the weary and here is repose,” but they would not listen.

The “rest” of God comes through obedience to His will. The Assyrian army was a growing threat to Israel’s safety and peace. What Israel had known under God’s protection was on the verge of disappearing. Once again, Israel, which had known the deliverance of Jehovah’s great power, was about to be taken into bondage and slavery by a people who spoke a different language. This people also had a different world view than that of Israel. Israel confessed faith in Jehovah and His redemptive power, but lived like the heathen nations around them. As we have seen in previous devotions, they mocked the word of the Lord and the Lord’s messenger.

The height of Israel’s rebellion and arrogance came during the times of Jesus. The religious leaders mocked Jesus and rejected the deliverance Jehovah was offering through His Son. As in the past when they killed the prophets, they planned the murder of Jesus, and later the murder of God’s apostles. In Peter’s first sermon, he warned Israel when he testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation” (Acts 2:40-41)!

There are three words that are important to consider as we speak about the rest God has provided for His people. The first word is to reflect. God sends His word and allows circumstances in order to get our attention. Many times obstacles are allowed by God to draw us toward Him. In those times, we need discernment. The second word to consider is the word received. The Lord sends His word and it is important to take a posture of receiving His word. I like the use of the word embrace because it speaks of getting close. It is possible to agree with God’s word in terms of doctrine, but not embrace His word as relevant to my circumstance. Our third word to consider is the word respond. Responding is obedience to God’s word. James expressed it this way, “Prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (James 1:22).

Ask the Father, in Jesus’ name, for the help of the Holy Spirit to discern words spoken to you and the circumstances that surround your life. Ask Him to give to you grace to embrace the word of God and apply it appropriately. Finally, set your heart to obey God’s word and all of its implications to your situation.

Isaiah 28:11-12 – Indeed, He will speak to this people through stammering lips and a foreign tongue, He who said to them, “Here is rest, give rest to the weary and here is repose,” but they would not listen.

Yesterday, we saw how God chose to speak through the Assyrians as their conquering army was poised to swoop in and take Israel captive. God’s people mocked the word of the Prophet and rejected the protection that Jehovah was offering His people.

It is interesting how the Scriptures can have more than one meaning, and prophecies can have a couple of applications. The apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14:20-21, chose to use Isaiah 28:11 to explain the purpose of the “gift of tongues.” Paul says, “Do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20). In Isaiah’s passage, he reveals that Israel was not being mature. They acted like children as they mocked the Prophet. The Corinthians were misusing the “gift of tongues.” They acted immature in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 14:22 Paul teaches, that tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers.

In Isaiah 28:10-12, the stammering lips and a foreign tongue was a “sign” to Israel. When God poured out His Spirit as recorded in Acts 2, once again “tongues” was a sign to Israel. This time, it was evidence the kingdom of God had come with the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, and the accompanying sign of tongues. Paul is reminding the Corinthians “tongues” was God’s means of getting His people’s attention. Isaiah said, “This is the rest whereby I will cause the weary to rest, this is the refreshing, but they would not hear.” The “rest” was found in receiving God’s warning through the sign of pending judgment. In Acts 2, the rest is found in receiving the Spirit who brings the Good News of the kingdom of God through the Apostles’ preaching.

The rest and refreshing for the people of God is found in an open heart poised to receive God’s word by making the needed corrections and moving in the direction of God’s will. The Spirit of God has come with gifts that will refresh God’s children as they receive them. Many resist the Spirit’s gifts because they seem strange or because their hearts are fixed on other things.

Today, let us choose to be mature in our thinking. Open your heart to what God has for you. He may choose to speak to you through His written Word or through another individual. Holy Spirit, lead us to be aware of when You are speaking, though it sounds like a stammering lip, help us to hear and obey.