Unique manifestations of the Holy Spirit (1)

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Unique manifestations of the Holy Spirit (1) 

Wednesday 22nd October 

Text: Acts 19: 11-13

Key verse: Acts 19:11 “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul.”

There were several unique manifestations of the Holy Spirit recorded in the scriptures. The apostles did not teach on any of these unique miracles in order to stir faith in the believers for them. None attempted to pray over little quantity of food, to multiply it for multitudes in a gospel meeting, as Jesus did. No disciple attempted to command water to turn to wine, as Jesus did. God can cause any of them to occur again in the ministry of any servant of His in His discretion and sovereign decision. These special manifestations of the Holy Spirit were also seen in the Acts of the Apostles. Such include the following, A: The shadow of Peter healed the sick. B: The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip after having baptized the Ethiopian eunuch and he was found in Azotus. C: Handkerchiefs and aprons were taken from the body of Apostle Paul to the sick and oppressed and they were healed. 

These were uncommon manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the early church which were not taught as doctrines to the body of believers. Only the shadow of Peter healed the sick. None of the apostles prayed that his shadow should do so. Ministers are nowhere exhorted to faith and prayer for their shadow to heal the sick. In fact, the shadow of Peter healed the sick within a given time only, after which his shadow ceased healing the sick. Men usually prefer to walk by the sight and not by faith. Had the shadow of Peter continued to heal the sick, they would have shifted their focus from God’s word to Peter’s shadow. This would have made them to miss the salvation of their souls. The wise God did not let that manifestation continue. 

Handkerchiefs and aprons from the body of apostle Paul alone healed the sick and cast out devils and not the other apostles, including Barnabas. Paul did not exhort ministers to develop faith for this special miracle in their ministry. This special miracle was not duplicated in the ministry of Timothy, Titus or any of Paul’s close associates. It manifested at a time in Paul’s ministry and did not continue for the rest of his life and ministry because human beings are more interested in deliverance from sickness and other problems than from sin and eternal judgment of God.

Thought for the day: The apostles did not teach unique miracles to stir faith in them. 

Song for the day: Power from above

Bible reading for the day: Luke 3-4 

#Horemow.