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XII.      GIFTS OF HEALINGS

The gifts of healings are a divine intervention in restoring a sick person to health. The virtue of healing is channeled through a believer and imparted in the body of the sick person.

In the original text of I Corinthians 12:9,28,30,  we should note that both gifts and healings are in the plural, thus the words "gifts of healings". There are many explanations to this but the most common one is that some believers only have faith for one or two kinds of healing, such as blind eyes, deaf ears, or lengthening short legs. They have a ministry of healing a particular kind of sickness.

Whatever the case may be, we know one thing for sure- that the gifts of healings are real and available to the body of Christ today. Though miracles and healings occurred in the Old Testament, It was not until the coming of our Lord Jesus that this gift came in full life. His ministry was the beginning of the New Testament healings as prophesied in Isaiah 61:1-3. It is through the finished work of Jesus on the cross that we can minister healing to the sick.

There are many ways that healing can be administered to a sick person, but we have to understand that the gifts of healings are a supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit that, like any other gift, has nothing to do with our human abilities or inventions. It is true that the Holy Spirit can use medical science, but in this case we are talking about divine manifestation that is not mingled with human activities. We are talking about a surge of healing power that overrides all complications and malfunctions to do a corrective work that has no human explanation.

A.        Gifts of Healings Manifestation

Gifts of healings, (one of the power gifts) are manifested through someone else to you. These gifts have nothing to do with medicine or human knowledge. They are not home remedies, nor herbal applications, but simply the power of God.

1.         Gifts of healings = make well = soundness of body.

2.         Read Mark 16:18, Acts 9:17, James 5:14, I Corinthians 12:2

B.        Supernatural Healings

These gifts are for the supernatural healings of disease and infirmities of people, without natural means of any source. There is a natural healing, with the natural properties that God has put in our bodies. But there is also the supernatural healing.

C.        The Word of God Works

The word of God works for healing just like it works for salvation.  The principle to receiving healing is not to follow somebody else's example, or to copy what someone else is doing, but to follow the principles of Gods word. The power of God for healing can only be claimed where the will and the word of God is known.

D.        Faith for Healing

Faith for healing is expecting God to do what we know it is His will to do. Faith does not rest on our symptoms or feelings but only on the word of God. You cannot transfer the healing power to whomever you will, (Jesus did not, Mark 6:5-6).

E.        Touching Without Receiving

There were many people that touched Jesus but no power went into them. Mark 5:24-34 speaks of a multitude touching, even thronging Jesus. Yet when a woman with an issue of blood touched Him, He said, "Who touched Me?" Scripture bears out that virtue went out of Him.

1.         Romans 8:2 tells us that the law of the Spirit of life is God's law which resides in Jesus. The law of the spirit of death is the devil's law.

F.         Jesus Healing Ministry

Jesus had a powerful, supernatural healing ministry.

1.         In John 3:8, we are told the purpose that Jesus came for;"the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil (or the law of death in Romans 8:2).

2.         Jesus ministered not as the Son of God, but as a prophet, Isaiah 61:1-3, & Luke 4:18

3.         Jesus was anointed by the Holy Ghost to heal the sick.

4.         Jesus was just as much the Son of God at 29 as He was at 30 years of age, yet in all those 29 years, He never healed one person, Matthew 3:15-17. It was only after He was baptized in the Jordan River by John and after that Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, anointing Him, did His healing ministry begin.

a.         Luke 4:18, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed me..."

b.         John 3:34, "For whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

c.         Acts 10:38, Peter testified that Jesus had an anointed healing ministry.  "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power: Who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him.

G.        Delegated Authority

In Matthew 10:1 & 10:8, and other places in scripture, Jesus gave authority and power to His disciples to heal the sick.

1.         All healing is done by God because it comes directly from Him.

2.         Acts 3:1-8, the lame man was healed when Peter and John gave him something, what was it?

3.         Read for other examples: John 5:1-9, John 9:1-7, Mark 8:22-24,  John 20:21, and John 14:12-14.

H.        How the Gifts of Healings Operates

1.         They may come through the words of knowledge, gift of faith, or gift of miracles.

2.         Sickness is of the devil. Anyone who is actively involved in this ministry is in direct conflict with him. Precautions against the retaliation of the enemy should be taken before ministry, during ministry, and after ministry. One should be aware that Satan may cause certain activities to hinder the ministry. He may cause tiredness, frustration, anger, strife, tension, distractions, confusion, doubt, temptation, discouragement, evil thoughts, impatience, or false feelings, such as lack of anointing or a desire to finish the time of ministry quickly.

3.         During the ministry, one may feel heat coming to one's hands, a surge of power or even heaviness.

4.         During the ministry, special reverence should be given to the Holy Spirit because it is He that is doing the work. Ask Him to pour out of His power and to guide how things should be dome.

5.         Praying in the Spirit frequently during the time of ministry helps. Also, we should remind ourselves who we are in Christ Jesus, His promises for us, and what we are able to do in Him.

6.         Do not be in a habit of hurrying the Holy Spirit. Be gentle to Him and let Him lead the way.

7.         Since faith is a great element in receiving and ministering healing, the atmosphere of faith should be maintained. Stay in the word of God and do not allow any negative attitudes. The sick person should be encouraged to make an act of faith, John 11:22; Mark 5:34; Luke 7:9; 17:19; Mark 6:5-6.

8.         Be specific in your prayers and your actions. When Jesus prayed for the sick people, He always told them something specific, such as "Get up! Pick up your bed and walk", or some other specific action such as "stretch out your hand" or "go and wash in the pool".

9.         Though we cannot ignore our emotions, we should put our confidence not in them, but in the word of God. We should not let our emotions pull down our faith level.

10.       Note that some healings take place instantaneously, while others are gradual. There are also cases where one first has to be healed of his attitudes before receiving physical healing, James 5:14-16.

11.       Healing can be ministered when the elders anoint the sick with oil, James 5:14-15; Mark 6:13.

12.       Healing can be ministered by any believer who has faith by laying on hands a praying for the sick, mark 16:16-18.

13.       Healing can be ministered through the spoken word. The sick person does not need to be present, John 4:52; Luke 7:10.

XIII.     THE WORKING OF MIRACLES

I Corinthians 12:10 "To another the working of miracles"...

A miracle is a divine intervention into the natural laws.  A miracle could be classified as a supernatural intervention in the laws of nature. Spiritually, we would be correct in saying that it is a dynamic force, recognized as the power of God. This power in intervening, reversing, suspending, or undoing what the enemy has done to God's handiwork. By that intervention, He corrects and makes functional His original creation. In the physical realm, a biblical example would be the miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, John 11.

A.        Miracles an Extraordinary Event

The working of miracles is an extraordinary event, manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.

B.        Choosing the Gifts Needed

Can we choose which gifts we need today? Yes.

1.         I Cor. 12:28-31 says to covet, (earnestly desire and zealously cultivate, the best gift. Also read I Cor. 14:1-12,39

C.        Which Gift?

Sometimes people become confused about this statement and miss the fact that under some circumstances even the very best gift of all of them would not be best right then.

1.         For example, the word of wisdom which is a divine revelation of the plan and purpose of God, which we might consider the best gift. However, if I am sick, I don't need that gift's manifestation, no matter how great it is. What I need is the manifestation of the gift of healing. Under the circumstances, the best or the greatest of the gifts would not be best right at that moment.

D.        Receiving the Gift

How can the gifts be received?  By faith & prayer, Matt. 7:7-11

E.        Covet Earnestly

Therefore, when Paul said in I Corinthians 12:31 to covet earnestly the best gifts, he was not writing this letter to an individual person, but to the whole group of believers in the church at Corinth, I Cor. 14:26. Paul was telling the whole group (the church) to desire these gifts, and then the Spirit would divide to every man severally as He wills.

F.         Supernatural Power Working

The working of miracles is a supernatural power working through you that surpasses all natural laws and powers. We see many examples in scriptures of this. Read: Ex. 7:16-20, Exodus 14:21-22.  It took the working of miracles to divide the sea, but it took the gift of faith to hold it back.

1.         In I Kings 17:8-16, the barrel of meal neither wasted nor did the cruse of oil fail at the word of Elijah

2.         In Judges 14:5-6, God worked a miracle through Samson when he killed the lion.

3.         In Judges 15:15-19, Samson used the jawbone of an ass to kill a thousand men.

4.         In Daniel 6:16-24, we see a miracle - God working in behalf of Daniel in the lion's den.

5.         In John 2:1-11, Jesus turned common drinking water into wine just by speaking a word...that is the working of miracles.

G.        Additional Examples

Read as additional examples; John 6:5-14, I Kings 6:18-20, Acts 13:6-12, Mark 4:39

H.        Difference in Faith and Miracles

The difference between the gift of faith and the working of miracles is that the gift of faith receives a miracle and the working of miracles works a miracle.

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I.          The Functions of Miracles

1.         Miracles occur to display God's power and glory, Ps. 145:3-7. God lives in the realm of the supernatural, and in working of miracles He gives evidence of His presence in the midst of His people, John 10:37-38.

2.         Miracles provide for those in need, such as the children of Israel in the wilderness, Ex. 17; Mark 6:13, 30-44. God can supply the needs of His people supernaturally. He is not limited to the laws of nature.

3.         Miracles can be used to bring judgment or discipline to a nation or individuals. Two good examples are the plagues in Egypt and the judgment that was passed upon Ananias and his wife, Sapphira. This enforces the fear of God in people's lives.

4.         God can allow a miracle to happen to protect His servant, such as the case of Daniel in the lion's den. We have other cases in Matt. 8:24-26; Acts 12:4-11.

5.         Signs and wonders help in propagating the gospel of the kingdom. The message is affirmed as the manifestation of God's power is seen. The miracles are part of God's word, Mark 16:15-20.

6.         Miracles build our faith, John 20:30-31.

7.         There are those who believe that the days of miracles are gone, but miracles are happening all overt the world. The sick are getting healed, the devils are being cast out, the lame are walking, the deaf are hearing and the dead are being raised. God is not limited by historical time or space. He is the Almighty One. He can put the lower power in abeyance to correct or implement His will at any given moment. He is not limited by His own laws; after all, He upholds all things by the Word of His power, Heb. 1:3.

The ministry of Jesus is notable for the many miracles He performed. The miracles drew crowds of people who believed and worshipped the Almighty God. His life on earth was like a big explosion of the almightiness of God. It was a dynamic force of the Omnipotent God. Everywhere He went, demons screamed with fear, but, at the same time, thousands of people burs with cries of joy as a result of being set free from the bondage of the enemy.

He commissioned the twelve to go out and make disciples who would be followed with signs and wonders, Mark 17:17. We live in an hour when miracles are desperately needed to display that our God lives. False cults occult and every form of Satanism have to be confronted by God's power in His people.

Christ started His church miraculously, and it will be sustained the same way. There is no way we can face our complex society, saturated as it is with heathenism, without the miracle-working power of God. Read Heb. 2:4; Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49; Matt. 18:18; Luke 10:19; John 14:12.

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