"The Gifts of the Spirit" Kathryn Kuhlman 42 Questions Part 10

Today, again, we're continuing to answer questions. Oh, dear me. Really, I feel that in answering these questions, I have preached sermon after sermon. We've had an awful lot of theology wrapped up in the answering of these questions. and I pray that they would have been a real inspiration to you. You will have learned much. Maybe in more than one instance, your theology had to change a little bit. But I repeat, if the question has been answered according to the Word of God, then accept it. If you can prove to me that God's Word give something different, contrary to what I have brought to you. I'm wrong. The Bible is always right. Remember that. The 37th question. Why do so few people have the gift of healing? May I take the liberty, of reading what Paul says in 1 Corinthians, the 12th chapter, regarding the gifts of the Spirit. Let us not just take one gift, the gift of healing. Let's get the overall picture of what he is saying regarding the gifts of the Spirit. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, and when he says brethren, we know immediately that he's talking to the Christian, to those who are spiritual. I would not have you ignorant. The fourth verse. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of administrations. but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom. To another, the word of knowledge by the same spirit. To another, faith by the same spirit. To another, the gifts of healing by the same spirit. To another, the working of miracles. To another, prophecy. To another, discerning of spirits. To another, diverse kinds of tongues. To another, the interpretation of tongues. All these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. The importance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is to the essential functioning of the Church of... Jesus Christ cannot be overestimated. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are absolutely vitally important. They are essential to the functioning of the church. Without them, the church lacks the spiritual equipment that's outlined in the first epistle to the Corinthians, this twelfth chapter that I've just read, which is so necessary for an aggressive conflict with the powers of darkness. She is also deprived of that edifying enrichment derived from the manifestation of the Holy Spirit's presence and power in her midst. The Bible is full of God's supernatural dealings with his people. The experience of regeneration, whereby we become new creatures in Christ, is supernatural. Christians also readily admit that the devil is supernatural in his person, in his power, in activities. And yet, the same Christians are inclined to shrink. from the thought of a supernatural baptism in the Holy Spirit with supernatural signs attending it and the ensuing supernatural gifts. I don't know why it is that the average minister is so afraid of the supernatural power of God. Supernatural manifestations. Supernatural gifts. when the early church was founded on the supernatural. And we need to get back again to the supernatural. And wherever we find the presence of the Holy Spirit, we'll always find the supernatural. The Lord Jesus said, He that believeth on me, the work... that I do shall he do also. And he also promised, Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. But if we ignore the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we despise the heritage which is granted to us in Christ. And we forget what the Apostle Paul exhorted in 1 Corinthians, the 12th chapter, and that first verse. Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Should any advance the argument? that the gifts were bestowed merely to assure in the present dispensation, and that they were not for today. Let us quote the Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost, who said, The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Looking down through the telescope of time, he saw the day, the hour in which we are living. And that's the reason the promise of the Holy Spirit, the promise of the supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit was not limited to the early church. The promise is unto you, those to whom he was speaking. and to your children, the next generation, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And when we speak of the Holy Spirit, when we speak of the power of the Holy Spirit, when we speak of the gifts of the Spirit, the supernatural, Remember, it's the heritage of the church today. It's the heritage of every Christian to enjoy the supernaturals. If a person is called to be a son of God through faith in Jesus Christ, that person is also, in consequence, a prospect. recipient of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Is that simple? It's just like that. And what does the Scripture say? Quote, There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. The apostle is pointing out that although the gifts are so different one from the other, their origin or their source is the same. The gifts of the Spirit are various manifestations of the same Spirit. The Holy Spirit manifests Himself in different and distinctive ways. The gifts function differently in each individual. Take, for example, the working of miracles. In Elijah, it was associated with the mantle he wore. In Moses, with the rod which had been changed into a serpent. In Samson, the miraculous power was inseparable from his physique, so that he became supernaturally strong Spirit was upon him. However, in each instance, it was the manifestation of the same gift, although the operations were so different. Oh, this is glorious. Why don't you see something? The selfsame spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. Here we have the prerogative of the spirit to give what gifts he sees most suitable for the individual. And it is for us to covet earnestly the... best gifts of the Holy Spirit. And it is the prerogative of the Spirit to bestow these gifts as He will. Now, at the end of 1 Corinthians 12, we read that we are to covet earnestly the best gifts, but the Apostle would show us a more excellent way. And what is the more excellent way? It is to seek the love of God first and to desire the gifts of the Spirit in order that we may serve God better. The answer is actually given in the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians. Follow after charity or love. and desire spiritual gifts. If we put spiritual gifts before the love of God, we shall make a very serious mistake. For the first and the most important thing is love. For me to live is Christ, and Christ is love. Those who love God will normally desire spiritual gifts, since they are manifestations of His Spirit, given for His glory and for the enrichment of His church. Now I want you to see something. The question is, why do so few people have the gift of healing? But may I also ask a question? Why limit it to just the gift of healing? For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom. Why are there so few who have been given the word of wisdom? To another, the word of knowledge. Why are there so few to whom has been given the gift of knowledge? To another, faith by the same Spirit. Then comes the gift of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, the discerning of spirits, tongues, the interpretation of tongues. And I would go so far as to say that that which Paul has given in number has really been limited. Four more gifts than those that Paul named here. Don't limit the Holy Spirit to whatever you do. Don't limit him to just nine gifts. There are more, and I believe this with all of my heart. I've come to the conclusion. That he who is perfect wisdom and perfect knowledge, who knows an individual better than that individual knows himself, knows to whom he can trust. He does not give his gifts promiscuously. Sort of like the man who looked up and said, Why doesn't God bless me with riches? You want to know something? The same man who looked up and asked that question had not and was not being obedient. to God with that which he had. He wasn't even paying his tithe, that part which was rightfully God's. And I'm sure that if he was not obedient with that with which he had and had been given to him, God couldn't feel as though he could trust him with anything more. You understand? Why, bless you. If God were to give certain people a gift, they would misuse that gift within the first 24 hours. God knows exactly what he's doing. Yeah? And that is the reason, you see, I would not say to you that I had been given a certain gift. No one has ever heard Catherine Cooman ever say that she possessed A certain gift. Do you want to know why? If he has so chosen to give me something special, along with that gift, there's also a great responsibility. A tremendous responsibility. An awesome responsibility. It becomes almost overwhelming. And one must be very careful. What one does with that which has been given him of the spirit. That's the reason I try to be so careful. And sometimes I think you become weary of hearing me say Catherine Cooman has nothing to do with it. Catherine Cooman has never healed anyone. I know the truth of that statement better than anyone else. Because I know it's the supernatural power of God. My responsibility is to be very careful to give God the praise. To give God the honor. To give God all the glory. I must guard that which he has given me very carefully. And one day, when I stand in his glorious presence, I'm going to have to give an account of that with which he has entrusted me with. Look up just now. Perhaps through blinding tears. Remember that you're his child. And these things that I've been talking about are a part of your inheritance. You want to be filled with holy spirit? You'll feel. that which you will yield unto him. Do you want to be given a gift of the Spirit? Search your own heart and first of all see whether you're being faithful and true to him with that which he has entrusted to you now. And I repeat, the importance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the essential functioning of the Church of Jesus Christ cannot be overestimated.