As we continue studying the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, the primary goal is to equip us for service. The Holy Spirit desires to work through each of us to bless others and help us step into our unique giftings. To review, spiritual manifestations can be grouped into different categories: Revelation gifts (Word of wisdom, Word of knowledge, discerning of spirits) and Inspirational/Utterance gifts (prophecy, diverse tongues, interpretation of tongues), as well as Power Gifts.

The power gifts do supernatural things and make supernatural events happen. They consist of three distinct manifestations: The Gift of Special Faith, the Working of Miracles, and the Gifts of Healings.

The Gift of Special Faith

As covered previously, special faith is a supernaturally inspired faith. It is not the general faith that every believer develops by studying Scripture or hearing the Word of God. Instead, special faith is given by the Holy Spirit for a specific moment. Special faith is primarily the faith to receive a miracle (e.g., Daniel in the lions’ den, or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace). You cannot copy or imitate this gift. It operates only as the Spirit wills, not by emotional zeal or forced effort.

The Working of Miracles

Where special faith receives a miracle, the working of miracles performs or acts out a miracle through a believer. A miracle is an extraordinary, inexplicable event that defies natural and scientific laws. It cannot be explained by human reasoning, logic, or science, and is directly attributed to divine intervention. An example of this supernatural interruption of nature is found in 2 Kings 20:7–11, where God caused the shadow on the sundial to move ten steps backward at the prayer of the prophet Isaiah. Another example is 2 Kings 6:4–7, where Elisha threw a wooden stick into the water, and a heavy iron axe head floated to the top. In the New Testament, Jesus performed a working of miracles when He fed thousands using only five barley loaves and two small fish (John 6:9).

While the Gift of Special Faith employs faith that passively receives a miracle, the Working of Miracles employs faith that actively works a miracle through someone.

The Gifts of Healings

The gifts of healings refer to the direct, supernatural restoration of a diseased or sick body without medical or scientific intervention. It completely defies standard medical science and leaves no side effects. Notice that Scripture refers to this manifestation in the plural: gifts of healings. No single person (except Jesus) possesses the fullness of this gift to heal every type of sickness. One individual may be frequently used by the Spirit to heal paralysis, while another might be gifted in another area. For example, in Acts 8:5–7, Philip’s ministry saw many paralyzed and lame people healed, showing a focused area of manifestation.

Natural Healing vs. Divine Healings

• Medical Science: Medical science aids nature so the body can heal itself. It operates within natural laws, has limitations, and can cause side effects. While God can and does work through doctors and medical treatments, this natural process is distinct from the supernatural gift of healings.
• Receiving healing by personal faith: Believers can receive healing through their own faith in God’s Word. However, operating in the gift of healings means the Holy Spirit is using you to minister healing to someone else.

Healing vs. Creative Miracles

A vital takeaway in ministering to others is discerning the difference between a need for healing and a need for a creative miracle. Gifts of Healings apply to a diseased or sick body, restoring something that was once healthy to wellness. Working of Miracles (Creative Miracles): Required when something is naturally missing or absent from birth. For instance, in Acts 3:1–8, the man at the Beautiful Gate was lame from his mother’s womb. Because he was born without the natural capacity to walk, he did not just need a disease cured; he needed a creative miracle. Peter spoke under special faith and then physically pulled the man up, a manifestation of the working of miracles, and the man’s feet and ankles instantly received strength.

The Holy Spirit distributes these power gifts as He wills so that the Church can be a vessel of blessing to the world. As we grow in understanding how these gifts operate, we learn to yield to the Holy Spirit’s prompting rather than acting out of human effort or imitation. Let us covet these spiritual gifts and ask God to work through us to demonstrate His power and love.