CONCERNING SPIRITUALS
Part 2
W. J. Franklin
(“Discerning of spirits”&“The Gifts of healing”)(III) Discerning of spirits
Discerning of spirits gives supernatural insight into the secret realm of spirits. It supernaturally conveys information that could not be had apart from this gift. By its operation, we may know the true source and nature of any supernatural manifestation whether Divine or satanic. Note: It is not discernment, but discerning of spirits.
There are three kinds of spirits: the Divine, the satanic, and the human. This gift is given to distinguish the Divine from the satanic.
The use of the gift today is the same as it was in the Scriptures:
(1) To help in delivering the afflicted, the oppressed, and the tormented. More infirmities, cruelties, and suicides are attributable to evil spirits today than doctors conceive. Minds are still wrecked and driven by cruel, tormenting spirits. Mark 5:1-15, Luke 9:38-43, Acts 5:16. Matt. 12:22. Luke 13:11-16. Obviously not all impediments are the work of evil spirits. Matt. 4:24.
(2) To discover a servant of the devil. (Acts 13:6-10) This was a case of simple discovery, not deliverance.
(3) To aid in checking the plans of the adversary. Acts 16:16 After many days, Paul discerned the evil spirit and cast it out. Thus, a wicked master was deprived of his gains and a woman was delivered.
(4) To expose error. I Tim. 4:1 & 2, II Peter 2:1, I John 4:1.
Let us earnestly seek this gift that we may recognize when we come against spirits of the enemy.
(IV) The Gifts of Healing
We now come to the second group of Spiritual gifts. These are the three Gifts of power, of which healing is the most widely distributed.
The gifts of healing are for the supernatural healing of diseases and infirmities without natural means of any sort. We must emphasize the entirely supernatural character of the Gift, and must not confuse or mix it with medical science in any fashion. Healings through these Gifts are wrought by the power of Christ through the Spirit by believers.
The Lord still has compassion on the sick; He still has a way of deliverance from the power of the enemy. It is still the way revealed in His Word. It is a safe way, a painless way, a free way, and a Holy way, because it is His way.
It will help us to understand the workings and purpose of these Gifts of Healing if we consider their uses in the Scriptures:
(1) To prove the Sonship of Jesus or to convince man, (John 10:36)
(2) To authorize the Gospel message as preached by God’s servants. (Acts 4:29-30) (Acts 5:12) Acts 8:6-17)
(3) To establish the Resurrection of Jesus. (Acts 3:15-16)
(4) To draw people within the sound of the Gospel (John 6:2)
(5) To turn people to God. (Acts 9:32-35)
(6) To bring glory to God. (Mark 2:12) (Luke 13:17)
(7) To deliver the sick and to destroy the works of the devil in the human body. (Acts 10:38)
We must emphasize the plural title of the Gifts of Healing. They are many, not one. Some will be used in certain cases of sickness but not necessarily in others.
The Gifts may operate by a touch or a word (Psa. 107:20) or by the very presence of the one possessed of them. (Acts 5:15); or from garments which have been in contact with those possessed of the Gifts. (Acts 19:12)
We must understand that these Gifts do not work at the will of the possessor. Not every sick man can be healed at will by the Gifts: note in John 5 that only one was healed. It is not possible to state dogmatically why among those who are prayed for today, some are healed and some are not, Take note of II Kings 5:27, II Chronicles 16:12, and Matt. 13:58.
Continued next issue
