We Need Supernatural Gifts Today

 Why do we still need the supernatural spiritual gifts that appear in the New Testament?

God still wants to heal supernaturally today.

Why did Jesus heal? The suffering of the sick aroused such compassion in Jesus that his stomach turned. He never changed. God is love. He has never changed.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Heb 13:8 NRSV

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Jn 14:12 NRSV

We need to release the healing gifts of the Holy Spirit because Jesus commanded it, because he loves sick people.

We need the gift of grace to discern spirits. (1 Cor 12:9)

So many Christians try to discern spirits, but only on the basis of Bible knowledge. But how can we help a mentally ill person if we don't know what the cause of the illness may be? Natural or demonic?

• Is the sick person demonised, or do demons play a lesser role?

• Should we pray for miraculous healing or cast out demons?

• Does this person need counselling or psychiatry or simply deliverance?

Bible knowledge or psychology often cannot provide answers. We need revelation from the Holy Spirit.

Once I wanted to help a person who had taken a lethal overdose. I prayed for hours in unknown languages from the Holy Spirit. God intervened and the person recovered without harm.

Why was praying in tongues necessary and effective? I desperately needed a miracle from God, but my faith was not enough to get the miracle I needed, but the gift of praying in tongues added God’s supernatural power to my limited faith.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Rom 8:26–27 NRSV

Paul did not want to speak in tongues in the church service, but rather prophesy so that the congregation would understand, but in his private prayer time it was quite different.

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; 1 Cor 14:18 NRSV

Guidance of the Holy Spirit

 How can you perceive the thoughts of God?

I once drove a young man to church every Sunday. The teenager was immature, unstable and unpredictable. It took all the patience I could muster to help him.

One fine Sunday morning, I was driving him to church when he suddenly lashed out without warning and hit the dashboard hard with his fist. Without even a second's hesitation, I ordered the devil to leave.

Was the young man offended? Not at all. Peace and quiet immediately prevailed.

I have never reacted in this way in similar situations. This was not my usual approach and had no time to consider the situation.

This was the spiritual gift of discernment of spirits. God moved my spirit immediately. My thoughts were not involved. I only analysed the situation afterwards.

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 1 Cor 12:8–10 NASB95

Many people zealously try to detect false prophecies or fake tongues, but we must also be even more eager to know when gifts are genuine.

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 1 Cor 14:1 NASB95

The discernment of spirits often works quite differently.

I was in a house group. A very religious man pretended to worship God with over dramatic gestures. He looked really ridiculous and I was irritated. I told the religious spirit to stop his comedy, but only in my head, without saying a word out loud.

The theatrical performance stopped immediately. The man looked confused and scratched his head.

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Lk 10:19 NASB95

Of course discernment of spirits also involves perceiving the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit. This is even more important than perceiving demonic activity.

It is so important to know which people to trust and when to distrust people.

There are apparently highly gifted preachers who will lead you astray. On the other hand, God can connect you to people who will be open to the gospel or who will help you on your way. 

When Samuel had to choose a king to replace Saul, God showed him that the young boy David was the chosen one.

Choosing a church to join involves spiritual discernment, how to let God show you where to go and who to trust. 

The Bible is our map book but the Holy Spirit is our guide. We need truth but also God’s direct personal guidance.