“Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6)
We can’t take another further than we’ve gone. We can’t teach another what we haven’t learned. We can only give to others what we have. What do those around us need? More than anything else, they need Jesus. They need His entrance into their lives. They need His fullness. We can give them as much of Him as we have. “But such as I have give I thee.”
Where the apostles went they brought the fullness of Christ. Paul could say, “And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” (Rom. 15:29) The full gospel must include the supernatural. When Paul came into a region, the word he preached was always confirmed with signs following. “Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” (Rom. 15:19)
But the full gospel includes more than casting out devils and healing the sick. Paul knew the power of Christ in his weakness, when he was being buffeted by a messenger of Satan. He gave to his son in the faith, Timothy, an example of power to endure suffering and affliction. “… But be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God” (2 Tim. 1:8)
We receive from God what we believe He wants to give us, and we close ourselves off from what we believe is not of Him. We have not because we ask not. Some don’t believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and so they can’t give to others what they don’t have. Others don’t accept that it is ever God’s will for them to suffer, and so they always look to rebuke and escape from all pain. But Paul had a different understanding of what was given to the believer. “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” (Philippians 1:29,30)
There are many around us who need their bodies healed; but there are many more who need the strength to endure pain. They are overcome by evil. In their weakness they find ungodly means of escape from their suffering. The full gospel is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe. God offers us in the gospel of His Son all we need for life and godliness. Receive all He would give you. And such as you have, give to others.