1 Corinthians 12:7-10 “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: (8) for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”
I mentioned earlier that ministry gifts require certain spiritual gifts to operate through their ministries. And so in this section we will examine what the New Testament teaches on this subject as it pertains to the office of the apostle. We have already looked at the above quoted passage of scripture which lists the nine gifts of the Spirit. And so by looking at biblical examples of an apostle, we will be able to determine which of the nine gifts form part of that ministry. The first example we will look at is the apostle Paul.
Acts 27:9-11 “Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, (10) saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives." (11) Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.”
Very often spiritual gifts are manifested simultaneously, and in the above quoted passage of scripture we have an example of that happening. In this passage we see the apostle Paul operating in a combination of two gifts of the Spirit, i.e. the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom. The context of this passage is that Paul was being taken to Rome as a prisoner to appear before Caesar. The Roman soldiers that were responsible for delivering Paul to Rome had placed everyone on a ship that was sailing to Rome. As they journeyed they stopped off at a certain port and it was at that point that the Lord gave Paul both a word of knowledge and a word of wisdom. The word of knowledge that Paul received was that a storm was approaching, and the word of wisdom that Paul received was not to continue sailing or they would lose both their ship and their lives. The sailors disagreed with Paul’s counsel however, and following their advice the Roman soldiers decided to stay on board as the ship put out to sea. Not long after putting out to sea however they ran into the storm, resulting in the loss of their ship and nearly the loss of their lives, had Paul not interceded for them.
Acts 20:7-12 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. (8) There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. (9) And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. (10) But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, "Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him." (11) Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. (12) And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted.”
In the next passage of scripture quoted above, we see the apostle Paul operating in the spiritual gift called the working of miracles. This is an account of Paul raising a young man from the dead, which is a demonstration of the gift of the working of miracles operating through his ministry.
Michael E.B. Maher
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