Lesson 4 The Spiritual Gifts Measure of the

Lesson 4: The Spiritual Gifts Measure of the Holy Spirit (Part 1)

This Subject Must Be Studied from a Scriptural Standpoint • There is much misunderstanding, wrong information and false teaching today regarding spiritual (miraculous) gifts • The Bible teaches that there were three “measures” (receptions) of the Holy Spirit − The word “measure” comes from its use in John 3: 34 • The passage implies that since Christ possessed the fullness of the Spirit “without measure” that the Spirit must have been given to others “with measure” − Some measures (involving various powers or capabilities) of the Holy Spirit were given to some in New Testament times that were not given to others − Upon some was given the baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 3: 11; John 3: 22 -33; Acts 1: 4 -5) − Upon some was given the spiritual gifts measure of the Holy Spirit − Upon all Christians is given the indwelling measure of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit Empowered N. T. Christians with Miraculous Gifts • It is evident that Christians in the N. T. had the power to perform miracles − There are numerous examples of various types of miraculous deeds • • • People were raised from the dead (Acts 9: 36 -42; 20: 10 -12) People were struck blind (Acts 13: 11) Demons were cast out (Acts 5: 16; 8: 7; 16: 16 -18; 19: 11 -12; Mark 16: 17) The sick were healed (Acts 5: 15 -16; 19: 11 -12; 28: 8 -9; Mark 16: 18) The blind were given sight (Acts 9: 12, 17 -18) The lame or cripple were able to walk for the first time (Acts 3: 1 -11; 8: 7; 14: 8 -10) The paralyzed were healed to be able to walk again (Acts 9: 33 -34; 8: 7) Speaking in “new tongues” (languages) they did not personally know (Mark 16: 17) Taking up “serpents” (Mark 16: 18) or suffering “no harm” from a viper (Acts 28: 3 -5) Drinking “anything deadly” (Mark 16: 18) or “deadly poison” (ESV) “Unusual miracles” were done with “handkerchiefs or aprons” (Acts 19: 10 -11)

The Holy Spirit Empowered N. T. Christians with Miraculous Gifts • It is evident that Christians in the N. T. had the power to perform miracles − There are numerous examples of various types of miraculous deeds − There are lists of the various types of miraculous gifts the early Christians had • • There were gifts that were natural abilities possessed at a supernatural level There were gifts that were spectacular in nature when observed There were gifts that inspired speakers with knowledge There were gifts that involved real languages the speaker did not know − There was absolute certainty when a miracle was done in the New Testament, for the miracles that the early Christians did: • • • Were done publicly (Acts 2: 6 -12, 22; 3: 1 -11, 16; 26: 26) Were affirmed even by enemies (Acts 4: 16, 21) Were instantaneously effective, without a single failure (Acts 3: 6 -7; 9: 18; 13: 11) Made people complete and whole, with no record of relapses (Acts 3: 16; 4: 10) Left no doubt in the minds of the witnesses that a true miracle had been done

The Holy Spirit Empowered N. T. Christians with Miraculous Gifts • It is evident that it was the Holy Spirit who “gifted” early Christians this miraculous power − First Corinthians 12 repeatedly states that the Spirit gives the miraculous gifts (12: 1 -11) − The nature of these gifts is specified—a diverse range of miraculous powers (12: 8 -10) − The origin of these gifts is specified—“by the same Spirit…as He wills” (12: 4 -11) − The design of these gifts is specified—to promote unity in one body (12: 12 -18) − The limitations of these gifts is specified—not all gifts were possessed by all early Christians (12: 29 -30)

The Miraculous Gifts Were Imparted By the Apostles • In the beginning of the church, the apostles were the only ones recorded as having the power to perform miracles (cf. 2: 43; 3: 1 -11; 4: 10, 14, 16, 22, 30; 5: 12, 15 -16) • When the apostles “laid hands” on the seven men in Acts 6: 6, then there were other men who did “miracles” (8: 6), “wonders and signs” (6: 8) • Philip went to Samaria in Acts 8 – “preached Christ” and did miracles (8: 5 -7) • The apostles sent Peter and John (apostles) to Samaria, and “they laid hands on [the new converts to Christ], and they received the Holy Spirit” (8: 17) • It was evident that only “through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given” (8: 18)

The Miraculous Gifts Were Imparted By the Apostles • Notice very closely that Philip was in Samaria and had the power to do great miracles (8: 6 -7), but his power was limited − Philip, while able to perform miracles, could not pass that power on to others • It is obvious from the text that: − The apostles alone had the power to confer the Holy Spirit − It was only through the laying on of the apostles’ hands that the miraculous power of the Spirit was imparted − The miraculous gifts of the Spirit could not be bestowed in any other way • There are other New Testament examples that further emphasize that only the apostles could confer the Holy Spirit upon others: − Acts 19: 6 − Romans 1: 11 − 2 Timothy 1: 6

The Miraculous Gifts Were Imparted By the Apostles • Through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, a miraculous gift of the Spirit was given − There was no other way for a Christian to receive such miraculous powers − While the apostles likely possessed all of the spiritual gifts themselves, early Christians appeared to possess only one gift (based upon 1 Corinthians 13 and Ephesians 4) − If it was only through the laying on of the apostles’ hands that the miraculous power of the Spirit could be given, what does that tell us about the availability and bestowment of miraculous powers today?