Questions about miraculous gifts
Question:
First off I would like to say that you have great knowledge of the Word of God. I'm on your web site constantly reading and taking notes and going back to the book to read. I have a few questions if you don't mind breaking them down for me. What is the requirement to be a prophet? I know that prophets have ceased, but where else in the Bible other than I Corinthians 13: 8-10 is it explained? When did the healing of hands stop? Explain the three heavens? And my final question, A friend of mine is apart of a church that has a female pastor, which I know is not right, but other than that she says a prophet told her she has the gift of deverment or however you spell it, I know I'm saying the word wrong. I haven't seen this gift in the Bible. I am wondering what is this gift she is talking about. I can't remember word for word what this "deverment" is for but apparently she able to see people for what they really are or read people. Can you tell me what this is if it exists?
Thank you very much.
Answer:
Prophets:
There was no requirement for a person to be a prophet. People prophesied because God chose to have them speak on His behalf. There were times when God chose wicked men to prophesy, whether they wanted to do so or not. Saul was not a good man in the latter part of his life. "Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is at Sechu. So he asked, and said, "Where are Samuel and David?" And someone said, "Indeed they are at Naioth in Ramah." So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, 'Is Saul also among the prophets?'" (I Samuel 19:22-24).
See the sermon outline, "Prophets" for more details, including additional verses about the ending of prophecy.
Miraculous Gifts:
The miraculous gifts, such as healings, stopped when prophecy stopped. Miracles were not done simply to be doing. They were gifts that helped confirm that those delivering the words of God were from God. "God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will" (Hebrews 2:4). The gifts were no longer needed once the word was delivered and confirmed, "But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (I Corinthians 13:10-11).
See the sermon outline, "Miraculous Gifts" and the articles "Facts about Faith Healing" and "The Age of Miracles" for more details.
The Three Heavens:
In the Bible, the word "heaven" is used in three different senses. There is the heaven where the birds fly; that is our atmosphere (Jeremiah 4:25). There is the heaven where the sun, moon, and stars reside; that is, outer space (Isaiah 13:10). And there is the heaven where God dwells which is a spiritual realm (Hebrews 9:24). The last does not reside in the physical universe. This is the third heaven mentioned in I Corinthians 12:2. The third heaven is a spiritual realm.
Discernment:
The woman is claiming to have the gift of discernment. Like other miraculous gifts, it ended with the completion of the New Testament. The sermon outline "The Anointing of the Spirit" covers this topic.
