THIS IS PART OF AN ONGOING SERIES ON THE GIFT OF PROPHECY. Click here for the rest of the series.
“...the more of spiritual gifts they enjoy, the more insatiable is the heavenly desire they are filled with; the more they are sensible of the spiritual progress in themselves, the more hungry and thirsty are they after the increase of grace; and the richer they spiritually are, by so much the more do they seem to themselves to be in want, and are carried out with a spiritual desire after the heavenly Bridegroom...”
When we look at how Jesus modeled the movement of the Holy Spirit we find some striking contrasts with our present paradigm. Jesus never once concerned himself with what particular gift he was operating. He simply went about the business of healing, setting free, and prophesying. No one miraculous encounter with Jesus saw less than three manifestations of the Spirit.
Take for instance the woman with the issue of blood:
Mark 5:25-34 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Let’s track what happened in regards to the gifts of the Spirit in this passage:
Healing – Immediately the fountain of blood dried up…
Faith – If I may touch His clothes…
Discerning of spirits – Jesus immediately knowing…
Word of knowledge – Daughter…
Word of wisdom – Your faith has made you well…
Prophecy – Go in peace and be healed…
We can find at least six “manifestations” on display.
Consider the passage of the paralytic and his mat:
Matthew 9:1-7 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. And, behold, they brought to him a man sick, a paralytic, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the paralytic; “Son, be of good cheer; your sins be forgiven you.” And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, “This man blasphemes.” And Jesus knowing (eido) their thoughts said, “Why think you evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins be forgiven you;’ or to say, ‘Arise, and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins,” (then said he to the paralytic) “Arise, take up your bed, and go unto your house.” And he arose, and departed to his house.
Faith – Jesus seeing their faith…
Word of knowledge – Be of good cheer…
Discerning of spirits/word of knowledge – Jesus knew their thoughts…
Healing – Arise, take up your bed…
Prophecy – Go unto your house…
Five “manifestations” are clearly seen.
Another example:
Mark 5:22-24, 35-43 And, behold, there came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, and besought him greatly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death: I pray you, come and lay your hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.” And Jesus went with him; and many people followed him, and thronged him…While he yet spoke, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain who said, “Your daughter is dead: why trouble you the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he said unto the ruler of the synagogue, “Be not afraid, only believe.” And he permitted no man to follow him, except Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he came in, he said unto them, “Why make you this commotion, and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeps.” And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he took the father and the mother of the child, and them that were with him, and entered in where the child was lying. And he took the child by the hand, and said unto her, “Talitha cumi (Syriac or Aramaic);” which is, being interpreted, “Little girl, I say unto you, arise.” And immediately the girl arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them sternly that no man should know it; and told them that something should be given her to eat.
Diving into the various ways the gifts of the Spirit are seen:
Faith – Be not afraid…
Prophecy – Only believe…
Discerning of spirits – The child is not dead…
Word of wisdom – He put them all out…
Tongues (potentially) – Talitha cumi…
Miracles – The girl arose…
Six “manifestations” on display.
Jesus never spoke of the particular gifts he carried or an individual gift the disciples were given. In fact, he was far more concerned about teaching them the nature of the Father rather than how to flow and function in any kind of giftedness. What we see is a man who walked in radical submission to the Father. And as such, his Father was made known through him.
The question is not “what gift do I have?” But rather “In what way am I revealing the heart of the Father?” Jesus did not see himself as a man who was gifted, but rather as a man who was revealing the heart of the Father.
John 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
As such, his mission (in regards to the gifts of the Spirit) was not to reveal the gifts, but to work to reveal the Father. And this is the needed shift in our paradigm for spiritual gifts: from a gift based paradigm to a presence-based paradigm.
To be continued…