Welcome to Waymaker Church! We are so excited to have you join us today! We exist to Encounter, Live for, and Advance the Kingdom of God!

Last week we looked at the time of testing in the wilderness for Jesus. I shared with you an important truth, that affirmation of identity and testing are prerequisites for being used by God. It is imperative that the Lord reveals the condition of our hearts to us before we have impact or influence on others. We must be refined and purified, and our faith must be tested.

Today, I want to begin to look at the effect of the anointing on the
ministry of Jesus. Remember, that I told you Jesus is our model. He had to live as man in right relationship with the Father, anointed by the Holy Spirit. This message is intended to be a practical teaching that reveals the gifts of the Spirit at work in Jesus.
Jesus reveals a few foundational truths about co-laboring in the book of John.

1. Jesus said in John 5:30 “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.”

2. He also said in John 14:10–11 “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”

The Spirit-filled life positions us to co-labor with God. In ourselves, we are insufficient; when we are connected and empowered, we will have more than enough. John 15:5 ““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Jesus motivation to co-labor is a good baseline for us as well. John 4:34 “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

As we look at the gifts of the Spirit in operation in the life of Jesus, I will also take time to describe the function of each of the gifts.

There are nine gifts of the Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12. They are the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues.

The Word of Wisdom.
This Gift is a revelation of divine counsel. The word of wisdom is a supernatural revelation by the Holy Spirit from God concerning the Divine Purpose and Plan in the mind and will of God. It is a future tense wisdom.

It gives Supernatural insight into some particular need or problem and brings practical application of God’s Word. It is also a

Supernatural declaration of mind and will of God. Concerns things, places, people, individuals, communities, and nations. The word of wisdom pertains to future events. It is the ability to understand what is true or right, especially when making decisions.

This Type of Wisdom is not a result of Meditation or Preparation but comes directly from the Holy Spirit. It is a revealing of His ways that our higher than our ways. Isaiah 55:8–9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Essentially, all of Jesus teaching was the word of wisdom because He is the spirit of wisdom and revelation seen in Proverbs 8:12-21.

An example of Jesus operating in the word of wisdom is seen in Luke 4:31–37.

The Gift of Prophesy.

The definition of Prophecy: Strong’s #G4394 A discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; esp. by for telling future events.

There is a distinction of this gift between the Old and New Testament in general function. In the OT, prophets were the mouthpiece of God. They spoke of things to come, the plans of God, judgement, and provided wisdom.

Paul helps define the function of the gift of prophecy in the NT. 1 Corinthians 14:3 “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.”

We understand from this passage that the main purpose of the gift of prophecy In the New Testament is for edification, exhortation, and consolation. - Edification means “to build up,” exhortation means “to call near,” and consolation means “to cheer up.”

Jesus functions in the gift of prophecy in Mark 9:31.

The Word of Knowledge.
Let’s briefly look at what it is and isn’t. It is not a natural knowledge. This type of knowledge does not stem from prior knowledge of a situation. It is not a knowledge of God acquired by long experience or maturity. It is not the result of expertise and experience in a given area.

It is an operation of the Spirit. It is a miraculous revelation that comes without natural effort. It is a gift dependent on our fellowship with God, not our gained knowledge.

In Luke 9:46–48 we see Jesus operating in the word of knowledge.
“Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.””

An example of the gift of prophesy and the word of knowledge working together is seen in John 4:7-24 - the woman at the well.
Jesus prophetically declares His purpose to give living water, and simultaneously demonstrates through the word of knowledge the real nature of the kingdom of God. I love this example because it shows how these gifts often work in tandem. One gift reveals the intent of God and the other affirms the reality of God’s power to help the person believe.

Another example of the word of knowledge is in Matthew 9:1-8 The paralytic is healed, and Jesus knowing the thoughts of the scribes uses the opportunity to reinforce the reality of His message and God’s power.

The Gift of Faith.
As we look at this gift, I want to distinguish between saving faith, and the gift of faith. Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

The faith that you are saved by is a gift of God, but it is not one of the nine gifts of the Spirit. Saving faith is given to you through hearing the Word Romans 10:17 says, “That Faith Comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

The gift of faith is not saving faith. It is a miraculous faith that meets unusual opportunities. We see this in the story of Lazarus. John 11:38–44.

Emphasis on John 11:41–42 “Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.””

The Gift of Healing.
The gift of healing is the supernatural impartation of God’s healing virtue by the Holy Spirit to the sick or afflicted. It is the manifestation of God’s harmony and wholeness to man’s condition.

The gospels are filled with stories of Jesus healing people.

John 4:46-52 (Nobleman’s son at the point of death healed).

John 5:5-9 (the pool of Bethesda). The lame man 38 years.

Matthew 12:22 “Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.”

Matthew 4:23 “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.”

Acts 10:38 “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

A key principle of healing is seen in John 5:19–20 “Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.”

This is once again the essence of co-laboring with God. We need to be near enough to hear his heart for a situation. Jesus had the anointing on His life, but his actions were dictated by His father.

The Son could do nothing of himself, but what He sees the Father do, that he also did.

A lifestyle of presence and intimacy with God will aid the use of this gift.