Part 1
Have you ever known something was going to happen before it actually happened?
Have you ever been thinking about someone you haven’t heard from in years, only to be contacted by that person a short time later?
Have you ever had a hunch about someone or something, only to find out later that your gut instinct was right?
Is this a supernatural gift? If it is a gift, where did it come from? Is this a gift from God or the devil? Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Many, many people have had these experiences.
In John chapter 9, Jesus had just healed a man who had been born blind. The religious leaders then faced a crisis. This supernatural power had been demonstrated in their midst, but they didn’t understand how, and they didn’t know the source of this power. Was the man who demonstrated this supernatural power good or evil? Was his power from God or the devil?
The man answered, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. But I do know this: I was blind, and now I can see.”
They asked, “What did he do to you? How did he heal your eyes?”
He answered, “I have already told you that. But you would not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to be his followers too?”
At this they shouted insults at him and said, “You are his follower, not us! We are followers of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses. But we don’t even know where this man comes from!”—John 9:25-29 (ERV)
Where do gifts come from?
Where do spiritual gifts come from? They must come from a supernatural source. Can spiritual gifts come from the devil? Can Satan bestow spiritual gifts to people?
We know that the devil can influence people, and even enter into people, as he entered into Judas Iscariot before he betrayed Jesus (Luke 22:3). But can Satan impart spiritual gifts to people?
Jesus assures us in John 10:10 that the thief only comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. He comes to take; never to give. He never comes to bestow spiritual gifts.
Even if he had the motivation, how can Satan impart something that he doesn’t have himself? Satan is not a healer, so how could he impart healing gifts to others? Satan is not all-knowing, so how could he impart revelatory gifts of prophecy to others?
Satan cannot give to others what he does not have himself.
Is Satan a creator? No.
Satan is not a creator. He has never created anything. He can take something that has already been created, and he can corrupt it. He can distort it. He can twist it to be used for evil purposes, but he cannot create anything.
God is the only creator. He is the creator of all things.
Speaking of Jesus as the Word of God, the Bible tells us that, “Through him all things were made, and apart from him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3 ISV).
Since Satan cannot create anything, he cannot create supernaturally gifted people. He cannot create gifts and bestow them on people.
Everything Satan has was given to Him by God. He is a created being, just like we are. He is not a creator.
Furthermore, we are told in the Bible that ALL good gifts come from God alone.
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens]”—James 1:17 (AMP)
If you have a spiritual gift, it was given to you by God.
Your first experiences with your gift may have seemed very strange. These experiences may have even scared you or made you anxious. You may have felt misunderstood by friends and family members.
You may not have understood what was happening … or how … or why.
Though it may have seemed strange, this is normal when you have a spiritual gift. The more powerful your gift, the more intense your experiences and feelings will likely be.
The most spiritually gifted people throughout history have struggled with these same feelings and experiences. Many of them—maybe all of them—were told that their gifts were from the devil. People said the same things about Jesus.
“Many of them said, ‘He has a demon and has lost his mind. Why listen to him?’ Others said, ‘These aren’t the words of someone who has a demon. Can a demon heal the eyes of people who are blind?’”—John 10:20-21 (CEB)
“One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed, but some of them said, ‘No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.’ Others, trying to test Jesus, demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.
He knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart. You say I am empowered by Satan. But if Satan is divided and fighting against himself, how can his kingdom survive? And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.”—Luke 11:14-20 (NLT)
“The Jews answered Him, ‘Are we not right when we say You are a Samaritan and [that You] have a demon [and are under its power]?’ Jesus answered, ‘I do not have a demon. On the contrary, I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.’”—John 8:48-49 (AMP)
Jesus pointed out that people said the same thing about John the Baptist, just because he was different.
“That is how it has been with John the Baptist. When he came to you, he didn’t eat bread or drink wine. And you say, ‘He has a demon.’”—Luke 7:33 (NIRV)
Some of the most spiritually gifted people who ever lived struggled through times of confusion and anxiety before they really learned to understand, embrace, and operate skillfully in their gifts.
We can learn a lot from their experiences and their struggles to deal with “being different.”
Next: Should We Seek Spiritual Gifts?
