God without limits. . . .

 

Yesterday I read about the power of God in that He can do anything, yet that power corresponds with His purposes. For example, He could have made us to have three heads, but this did not fit with His wisdom or His will. For this reason, I take caution when someone says God will or will not do something, or that things just happen without Him being involved.

There are some who put the actions of God into time categories called dispensations. What happens in each time period is often restricted to that era only. For instance, the miracles done by the apostles don’t happen now that all of them are dead. In other words, these gifts were restricted to only a certain group. The reasoning varies. One writer says:

In Acts 8:5–18 we read of the apostles coming to Samaria to communicate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the believers there. Philip, though he possessed those gifts, could not communicate them, because Philip was not an apostle. If the gifts could only be communicated by an apostle, they must have ceased when the last of the apostles died. There is no need for such gifts today.

This assumes that ‘those gifts’ meaning miracles, healing, and speaking in tongues, were only done by the apostles, and because they are not emphasized in later NT books, they must have stopped happening. It also assumes they are not needed today, yet fail to explain why they still happen.

I’ve heard said that any instance of such things is fake or from human or demonic sources. Since the enemy “disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14) as do false teachers, this can happen. Cults also do their best to seem like genuine believers, so imitation is not a shock.

However, what about genuine healings? What about those who have visions of Jesus and are saved without a preacher? What about those who speak in tongues and seem to follow all the NT rules for it? We see the fakes with often bizarre behavior and tend to lump them together, but is that reason to say there is no need for these gifts? One writer says:

We have the complete inspired revelation of God in Holy Scripture (2 Peter 1:9–21). Since there are no forthcoming revelations from God, there is no need for miraculous signs to confirm such revelations. The Word of God is complete, final and sufficient.

I agree, but is it possible that these and other gifts of the Holy Spirit are still given but for a different reason? Instead of using them to confirm the Word of God (or to confirm personal theories) perhaps God heals people because they ask Him to heal them? Because He loves to bless them? To the sick He says:

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (James 5:16)

Perhaps God still does miracles so that He will be glorified? When Jesus was asked who sinned to cause a man to be born blind, He replied, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” (John 9:3) Who are we to limit what God will do to bring glory to Himself? Medical explanations for healings still wind up being “We don’t know” and “Only God could do this.”

As for tongues, I know people who have deeply struggled with problems that put them in that “I don’t know how to pray” mode that the Bible says can happen. “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26–27) These people testify that they wound up praying in tongues, not forced or even sought, yet this was a comfort that God was praying for them.

That God can do whatever He wants to do is a comfort to me. I cannot limit Him. He could create another world if He wanted to, or even grant me the ability to understand what and why He does anything. He can speak through a donkey, make the sun move backwards, and rule the universe. Who am I to say He no longer heals, does miracles, or any other marvel?

PRAY: Jesus, there are false teachers on both sides of this issue. Enable me to trust You and keep reading Your Word, asking for what I need to know and do that You are glorified. Grant me also discernment so I will not make assumptions or put any limits on Your power or Your choices.

God’s gift of love includes other gifts . . .

Study of spiritual gifts has revealed three types. One is that God gives gifted people to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11).

Another is motivational gifts, or a built-in way of thinking. Each of us can have and use these motivations, but some will be more dominant than others. That is, a teacher will love gathering information and passing it on. This motivation is not confined to teaching; think a librarian or research assistant. These gifts are part of who we are and how we think.

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6–8)

I’ve seen how these gifts show up in Spirit-filled Christians, yet they also can be seen in a negative way when a Christian is walking in the flesh. For instance, instead of encouraging growth and a forward look, a fleshy Christian comes across as a used-car sales person or a manipulator. A leader can be bossy instead of a visionary person who can delegate.

A third description focuses on gifts given to deal with the needs before us in a godly way.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 12:27–31)

The last line reveals that to use these gifts requires more and points to the love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, yet this is true for all three categories. Without the love of God, our actions are selfish and sinful and do more harm than good. Today’s devotional says that abusing gifts means seeking prominence for ourselves rather than ministering to one another. They can function properly only in a spiritual person who displays not only the gift but the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22–24)

The love chapter repeats this in these words:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1–3)

In other words, love must be the motive and driving force behind everything we do. This is not the mushy love of films nor the love of chocolate nor even the love of family. It is the sacrificial love of John 3:16, a love that gives, is costly. What a shame that even the people of God can use some of love’s characteristics to manipulate and use people for personal gain. This reminds me of the woman who said, “I love to help people because it makes me feel so good.”

If love feels good, why then did Jesus sweat blood and pray, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done”? (Luke 22:42) This act of love shows me that using the gifts He gave me to obey the motivations He gives me will not always be comfortable or without cost.

PRAY: Lord, there are days when I want to pull away from praying, calling people, serving needs, and even writing these words for the world to see. Apart from loving obedience, what is the point? I gain nothing except an occasional glimpse of what You do with these sacrifices. Forgive me for selfishly wanting some glory. It all belongs to You for You alone are worthy. Enable me to remember always why loving You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength is costly; it cost You Your life to love me.

PONDER: Thinking of how God loves me, and how His love changes lives, consider ways I can show His love to others whose lives are in dire need of a glimpse into the heart of God.