GIFTS

 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of’ lights … James 1:17.

When we realize we have been a sinner, that we have transgressed our Maker’s law (1 John 3:4), and that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), we might decide we would rather have life, and more abundantly (John 10:7-10). We might become very sorry for what we have been. We might decide to make a turn around in our life and ask Yahweh to forgive us. He wishes none would perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

If we then repent and earnestly ask Yahweh to forgive us, thanking Him for the provision He has made through His Son, Yahshua the Messiah, for our sins to be blotted out, and begin to obey Him, we can receive of His set apart Spirit, which He gives to them that obey Him (Acts 5:32). We then want to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh (Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4). We ought to that is. We should not want to live by just part of the words, because Yahshua said, “It has been written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word that comes from the mouth of Yahweh.’ ” We should be hot for ALL Scripture Yahweh-breathed, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). If one doubts some of the “new testament” writings as inspired Scripture, let him consider that Peter indicated that Paul’s writings were Scripture with the rest of them; and that the rest of them including the “old testament” are inspired (2 Peter 3:15-16; 2 Peter 1:21).

Repent and be immersed in the Name of Yahshua the Messiah for the remission of sins (note it is two things to do), and you shall receive the GIFT of the set apart Spirit (Acts 2:38). See also Acts 8:14-20 showing that the receiving of the set apart Spirit is a GIFT of Yahweh. The Greek word for GIFT here means FREE GIFT, PRESENT. The same word is also used at John 4:10 where Yahshua mentioned the GIFT of Yah, and that He would have given living water. Yahshua’s atoning offering for our sins to be forgiven is also the same type GIFT. “… the GIFT by favour by one man, Yahshua the Messiah, has abounded unto many ” (Romans 5:15). Thanks to Yah for His unspeakable GIFT (2 Corinthians 9:15, same word). We see these gifts as important for our everlasting salvation. Having Yahweh’s Spirit enables us to obey Him. We cannot fully obey Him without the gift of His Spirit; and without it we are none of the Messiah’s (Romans 8:4-10). It is the obedient who will be saved (1 Peter 4:18). And we could not be saved without the gift by Yahshua, giving His life that our sins may be atoned for.

Let us now consider a different Greek word translated GIFT which means FAVOUR, SPIRITUAL ENDOWMENT, MIRACULOUS FACULTY. These gifts are not specifically pertaining to our everlasting salvation, but rather for a better salvation of this present life. (Note however that a man is justified by FAITH, which is one of these gifts, Romans 3:28, 5:1, & Galatians 2:16. And “by favour are you saved through FAITH…,” Ephesians 2:8. We need to believe, have FAITH, that provision for our justification, sins being blotted out for salvation, is by the death of Yahshua the Messiah for us. Also consider Yah’s people destroyed (cut off) for lack of KNOWLEDGE, another of the gifts, (Hosea 4:6).

Every man has his proper GIFT of Yah, one after this manner, and another after that (1 Corinthians 7:7). Neglect not the GIFT that is in you… (1 Timothy 4:14).

At the 1995 Festival of Tabernacles we attended, more than one speaker emphasized the fact that gifts of the Spirit are upon the body of the Messiah, and that they ought to be put to use for the benefit of the assembly of Yahweh.

Read chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians. We find that Yahweh by His Spirit gives certain gifts to His assembly, the body of the Messiah. The reading is “are” and “is” — not “was” and “were”. Mentioned are wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing (curing), miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues. Yahweh has also set apostles, prophets, teachers, helps, governments. And in Romans 12 we also find ministry, exhorting, giving, ruling, and showing mercy. We find all members do not have all the gifts, but Yahweh gives severally as He will — to one this, and to another that. We are to eagerly desire the greater gifts. To each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (verse 7, NIV).

When we come together in convocations as Yahweh directs, or any time, or by phone or letter, or tape, computer, etc., we ought to be willingly ready to help others with the gift or gifts with which we have been endowed. And we all should be willingly ready to partake of what other members have for us — not forgetting that those members of the body which are thought to be weaker, are necessary — or as the NIV has it, are indispensable (verse 22). We need to keep remembering to consider other members better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). I have been somewhat endowed with wisdom, knowledge, faith, discerning of spirits, healing (cures), and teaching. Which gifts do you have?

We find that FAITH (verse 9) is a very important gift to be seeking. Even the apostles (disciples) who had been given power by Yahshua, needed FAITH to bring about the miracles of healing and casting out of demons (Matthew 10:1) They couldn’t cast out a demon once because of unbelief, which is lack of faith (Matthew 17:19, 20). And Peter indicated that it was Yahshua’s Name, through FAITH (believing) in His Name that made the lame man strong (Acts 3:16). Peter had FAITH, doubted not, knew the lame man would walk (verse 6).

Whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). Having the gift of knowledge is one thing; but having the gift of wisdom is knowing how to best use what we have. If we ask in FAITH, we can have wisdom; but if we doubt, we needn’t think we shall receive anything from Yahweh (James 1:5-8). “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask Yah who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he wil1 receive anything from Yahweh. He is a double minded man, unstable in all he does.”

On the other hand, note that Yahshua said, “All things whatsoever you shall ask in prayer BELIEVING you shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22). He was talking to His disciples — ones following Him. It is the righteous that receive what they ask in prayer. “Whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22 also Psalm 34:15, Proverbs 15:29 and 28:9, 1 Peter 3:12, James 5:16). But remember, we must believe — have FAITH.

Elders should be eagerly desiring the FAITH gift. We note in James 5:14-16 that the sick should call for the elders of the Assembly and they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of Yahshua. And the prayer of FAITH shall (will) save the sick. I also feel the one prayed for (the sick one) should have faith. Notice that the woman with the flow of blood that the physicians did not help, knew (had faith) that if she but touched Yahshua’s garment she would be healed. Yahshua didn’t know of this till He felt power go out of him (Mark 5:25-34). So apparently it was just the woman that had the faith in this case. She was healed because of her FAITH; but the power from Yahshua did it.

Now as to calling for the elders, and the prayer of faith saving the sick, I would like to relate of a time at a Feast of Tabernacles that a brother with a hernia asked for the elders to pray saying, “I know Yahweh can heal me.” I said, “Yahweh WILL heal you.” We prayed, and he later said that the healing was almost immediate. I know he had a hernia for because of his affliction, some of us had gone to his place to cut some wood for him. And at the 1995 Feast of Tabernacles a brother called for the elders to pray for the healing of a spur. He announced at or about the next meeting, that he was healed. These miraculous healings are not because of any power the elders have — unless it be the power of FAITH. Always remember that it is Yahweh that does the healing (Exodus 15:26). I once even heard the then president of the American Medical Association indicate that it wasn’t them that healed, but that it was the Almighty One.

Now to consider “gifts of healing,” note that in 1 Corinthians 12, three verses (9, 28, 30) refer to gifts of healing, or gifts of healings. Note that they are gifts (plural); and they are given to an individual one. Verse 8 starts, “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom…” Verse 9 says, “… to another the gifts of healing…” We see by the context of the whole chapter that Yahweh by His Spirit gives the gifts to individuals severally as He will. An individual person can have one or all of the gifts. The point I make now is that individual ones have gifts, more than one gift of healing. Checking in Strong’s Concordance for the meaning of the word “healing”, we find that it means “a cure”. Therefore individuals, some of them in the assembly, are endowed with gifts of a cure, or have the cure, or cures, when necessary. A cure brings about a healing.

Let’s read an example of this in 2 Kings 20:1-7. King Hezekiah was sick and near death. He was told by Yahweh through Isaiah that he was going to die. Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh, weeping bitterly. Isaiah was leaving; but Yahweh told him to go back and tell Hezekiah He had heard his prayer and seen his tears, and He would heal him, and add fifteen years to his days. Isaiah said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered. The healing really came about because of Hezekiah’s prayer; but the cure was the figs, and Isaiah had it. Asa, another king (2 Chronicles 16:12-13) was diseased severely. He sought the physicians; but not Yahweh. He died. What would have been the cure in his case? We do not know; because he did not seek Yahweh. Which would you rather do?

So knowing that these verses in 1 Corinthians 12 mean “gifts of a cure”, we can respect those that Yahweh has set in the assembly who have these gifts, and enjoy the benefits as Yahweh provides them when needed (1 Corinthians 12:28). These saints very much want to share what they have. Maybe we’ll then go less or not at all to the doctors of Egypt, gladly listening to the saints’ messages of healing and how we ought to be eating etc. too, knowing that it is Yahweh that gives them these gifts to not only benefit themselves, but the whole assembly.

Ones having these gifts likely know of numerous cures for numerous ailments. That is why the Word says gifts, plural. If it meant one gift of miraculous healing, it would read gift, singular. There were, and are, of course, miraculous healings as previously mentioned; but Scripture does not say they are the result of someone having the gift (singular) of healing. Healings brought about by means of a cure are really a miracle too.

With the disciples, a power from Yahshua and FAITH was involved, and maybe sometimes a cure too (see Luke 9:6, Rotherham). Today it is FAITH, and a CURE may be involved. Yahweh still heals almost instantly sometimes; but probably more often a cure is shown after prayer. Prayer of faith and cures can go hand in hand; and Yahweh does the healing.

In my own personal family life there have been instances of Yahweh healing after prayer, and a cure or cures involved. Once our son was very, very sick abed. I called for elders — not physicians. One elder brought along a book telling some things to do. I gave the boy cures – steam, hot fomentations, garlic, lemon juice. He was well in 3 days; and a cough he had had for months also disappeared. Before calling for the elders, I didn’t know what to do. Another time my back “went out” while driving to work. Yah got me home, and my wife drove me to a chiropractor I was better for a while; but the back got bad again. I decided to do as Yahshua said about praying believing. I prayed that I wouldn’t have to go to the chiropractor any more for my back; and repeated, “He will heal me. He will heal me.” By a miracle He did. I had no pain for about 2 weeks. But then it began to come back. Why? I didn’t know. Talking to an Adventist friend about my cousin’s wife’s bad back, he said, “She needs carrot juice.” I had the sense to realize the message was for me, and began to drink it. Probably knowing nothing about gifts of cures at the time, I thought likely my pain had come back so I would get myself and family on a better diet. I didn’t realize the raw carrot juice was the Scriptural gift of a cure the Adventist had for me; and he didn’t know it was for me either. I also decided on my own (right or wrong) to eat almost all raw food for about 3 years. To this day, many years later, I have never had to go back to the chiropractor for my back. I’ve drunk many gallons of carrot juice. I also had been told I had a heart leakage. I’m not told this now.

I have given some examples of GIFTS in action. HalleluYah! Praise Yahweh for the gifts He gives us. Let us be glad for them, use them, and benefit by them.

Elder George Kinney