Daniel’s Miracle

Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. (Daniel 6:19-23)

You probably heard the story of Daniel and the lion’s den when you were a child. But Daniel’s story was not the cute kid’s story many imagine. The people against Daniel wanted him to be slaughtered maliciously and painfully by hungry lions. Scripture makes it clear to us that the lions were hungry to illustrate the impossible situation into which Daniel was thrown. Everyone knows hungry lions do not wait or pause when the prey is within reach - they pounce. The story of Daniel in the lion's den is a testament to the faithfulness and miraculous power of God for those who fear and love Him.

As King Darius anxiously waited to hear the fate of Daniel, he arose early in the morning and hurried to the den of lions. With a voice of fear and trembling, the king called out to Daniel, wanting to see if the God Daniel served could deliver him from the ferocious beasts. Daniel's response was one of unwavering faith and confidence in the power of his God. Daniel declared to the king that his God had sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions, preventing them from harming him. The lions weren’t suddenly docile; the lions were forcibly held back from doing what they wanted to do.

Practical Application

Daniel's experience in the lion's den teaches us a lot about faith and the power of God to intervene supernaturally in the lives of His people. No matter what you face, no matter how much the odds are stacked up against you, with God on your side, you win.

Hebrews 11:33; Psalm 91:11

The Power Gifts

To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles. (1 Corinthians 12:9-10a)

I Corinthians 12:9-12 outlines nine gifts of the Spirit, which are divided into three groups: utterance gifts, revelation gifts, and power gifts. These gifts allow a faith-filled believer to accomplish extraordinary things that show the power of God.

The power gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians12:9-10a include the working of miracles, gifts of healings, and the gift of faith. These gifts bring about supernatural interventions in the physical realm. Each of these gifts defies natural laws and shows how God’s mighty power can manifest through a Spirit-filled believer.

The gifts of healings are used to bring about physical, emotional, and spiritual healing to anyone who is suffering. The gifts of healings manifest in various ways, sometimes with a word of knowledge or a prophecy.

The gift of faith, or special faith, enables believers to exercise unwavering confidence in God's promises and supernatural provision in the face of impossible looking circumstances or situations. This gift goes beyond ordinary faith and allows individuals to believe for the impossible, trusting in God's ability to perform miracles and fulfill His promises no matter what the situation looks like. When special faith is operating, it’s impossible to doubt!

Working of miracles defies natural laws. For example, I’ve read reports of missionaries who had many more mouths to feed than they had food, but they prayed, and God answered by multiplying their rations, just as Jesus did with the five loaves and two fishes. They experienced a gift of the Spirit we call the working of miracles.

Practical Application

As believers, let us earnestly desire the gifts of the Spirit and seek to operate in them. When presented with opportunities to exercise the power gifts, step out in faith, trusting in God's ability to work through you to perform miracles, healings, and acts of faith. God wants to use you, but you must be willing.

1 Corinthians 12:27; 1 Corinthians 10:17

Revelation Gifts

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:7-8)

Revelation is a word that is often misused in modern church circles. It’s not a feeling or an understanding. Revelation is when God reveals something to us that cannot be known in the natural. The revelation gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:7-8 include the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge, both of which are given by the Spirit to reveal hidden truths and give God’s divine guidance.

The word of knowledge is a supernatural revelation from God about information about past or present events that someone could not have known by any natural way. It is insight into specific details or situations that God wants to reveal to the person receiving a word of knowledge. Notice it’s called a word of knowledge; it’s not complete knowledge.

The word of wisdom is also divine insight, but instead of being about the past or present, it reveals insight into the future. Giving or receiving a word of wisdom can help people discern God's will and make wise decisions that align with His divine wisdom and guidance.

Different from the previous two, the gift of discerning of spirits enables believers to perceive and distinguish between different spiritual influences and manifestations. This gift allows individuals to see into the spiritual realm and recognize the presence of angels, demons, and sometimes even Jesus.

God gives us revelation gifts because He wants us to see into the truth of matters. A word of wisdom or a word of knowledge should always find confirmation in your spirit. Be attentive to the inner witness of the Holy Spirit, whether you are on the giving or the receiving end of one of these revelation gifts.

Practical Application

Seek the revelation gifts by listening to and paying attention to the Holy Spirit’s leading. As you follow and obey, it will be easier to discern what He is saying and how He is leading. Practice sitting quietly while actively listening to Him.

1 Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 4:7