Gifts Of Healing

Gifts of Healings

Faith will bring healing.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 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; To another faith by the same Spirit; TO ANOTHER THE GIFTS OF HEALING BY THE SAME SPIRIT; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

The gifts of healings are manifested for the supernatural healing of sickness and disease without any natural source or means.

Healings were, of course, in prominence, in Jesus’ ministry as He walked on the earth. Jesus had a healing ministry, and He also gave authority to His disciples to heal the sick.

Matthew 10:5-8 5: These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7: And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8: Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Healing the sick is also included in the Great Commission.

Mark 16:15-18 15: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18: They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Gifts of Healings: Not Medical Science

The gifts of healings have nothing to do with medical science or human learning. These gifts (plural) are different from normal praying for the sick, or visiting a doctor. These are supernatural events with supernatural outcomes. They may include more than prayer. As it was with the Apostle Paul, these gifts can manifest in the use of objects to heal. Even the presence of people with these gifts, without saying or doing anything, can bring healing. An example of this is Peter’s shadow.

Acts 5:15-16 15: Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16: There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Gifts of Healings Prominent in The Old Testament

2 Kings 4:8-37 8: And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. 9: And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. 10: Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither. 11: And it fell on a day, that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber, and lay there. 12: And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite. And when he had called her, she stood before him. 13: And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host? And she answered, I dwell among mine own people. 14: And he said, What then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old. 15: And he said, Call her. And when he had called her, she stood in the door. 16: And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid. 17: And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life. 18: And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers. 19: And he said unto his father, My head, my head. And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother. 20: And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21: And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. 22: And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. 23: And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. 24: Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee. 25: So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite: 26: Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well. 27: And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me. 28: Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord? did I not say, Do not deceive me?:29: Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again: and lay my staff upon the face of the child. 30: And the mother of the child said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And he arose, and followed her.31: And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing. Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked. 32: And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. 33: He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD. 34: And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. 35: Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36: And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son. 37: Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

Gifts of Healings Prominent in The New Testament

It will help us to understand the operation and the purpose of these gifts of healings by lookingat some of their uses in the Scriptures. The gifts of healings are more prominent in the New Testament than in the Old Testament.

In the New Testament, there aren’t many records of the gift of the working of miracles in operation. There were a few instances in the ministry of Jesus and less in the Acts of the Apostles. But in the New Testament, there are many examples of the gifts of healings in operation.

Jesus Ministered as a Man Anointed by the Holy Spirit

Jesus Himself ministered not as the Son of God but as a man anointed by the Holy Ghost. Jesus was just as much the Son of God when He was twenty-five as He was the Son of God when He was thirty years old. Yet at twenty-five years old, He had not healed a single person; not one miracle of healing had been wrought under His ministry prior to His receiving the anointing of the Holy Spirit at the age of thirty. It was only after the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove that the gifts of the Spirit began to be manifest in His ministry.

In fact, Jesus ever did claim to do healings Himself or on His own. He said, “My Father in Me, He does the works.” How did He do them? Through the power of the Holy Spirit.

John 14:10: Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Luke 4:18-19 18: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19: To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Then Peter, preaching to Cornelius and his household, said God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.

Acts 10:38: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Although Jesus had always been the Son of God, He never healed anyone until after He was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power. This proves that Jesus didn’t heal the sick by some power that was inherent in Him as the Son of God, He healed the sick just as anyone else called of God would minister to the sick today — by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, by the manifestation of these gifts of healings, and by the preaching of the Word of God.

Luke 13:10-17 10: And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11: And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. 12: And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. 13: And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14: And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. 15: The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? 16: And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? 17: And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

The Gifts of Healings

First Corinthians chapter 12. In verses 9, 28, and 30 the gifts of healings are mentioned.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:9,28,30 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the GIFTS OF HEALING by the same Spirit 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then GIFTS OF HEALINGS, helps, governments, diversities of tongues 30 Have all the GIFTS OF HEALING? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

Notice in verse 28, both the words “gifts” and “healings” are plural, and this is the way it should be listed in every one of the verses where this gift is mentioned.

In the Greek verse 28 is “… gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” And according to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, the word “healings” is plural in the Greek in verses 9, 28, and 30.

Notice that this is the only one of the spiritual gifts listed in First Corinthians 12 that is in the plural — gifts of healings. All the other gifts of the Spirit are singular, except tongues, which will be covered in a later lesson.

Why are they “gifts of healings” and not the “gifts of healing”? This is because only Jesus had the full gifts, and we only have a measure, or portion.

Matthew 4:23-24 23: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.24: And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Matthew 35: And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

In the ministry of Jesus, every manner of sickness and every manner of disease was healed. That’s because Jesus had the Spirit without measure and all the gifts of healings were in manifestation in His life and ministry.

Gifts of Healings vs. Receiving by Faith

There is a difference between receiving healing through the manifestation of gifts of healings and just simply receiving healing by our own faith in God’s Word.

Ministering by the Gifts of Healings

Look again at First Corinthians 12:28: “And God hath set some in the church”
Paul was not talking here about spiritual gifts, or the gifts of the Spirit when he said, “And God hath set SOME in the Church” He was talking about men and women who were equipped with spiritual gifts and ministries.

The “some” that were set in the church includes “. . . first apostles . . .” (1 Cor. 12:28). “Apostles” isn’t an individual gift that someone might receive; it is a ministry gift to the Church. “Some” also includes “. . . secondarily prophets . . .” (1 Cor. 12:28). That is a ministry, not to bless an individual, but it is a ministry that is given to bless the whole Church, the Body of Christ.

First Corinthians 12:28 says, “. . . thirdly teachers” The teaching gift is not something that is given to bless the one who ministers in that anointing. It is a gift that is given to enable a person to bless others. It is a ministry gift to the Body of Christ.

Paul went on in this passage to talk about the working of miracles: “. . . after that miracles . . .”(1 Cor. 12:28). He was saying that there are some people in the ministry who are equipped with the working of miracles in their ministry. That verse continues: “… then gifts of healings . ..”(1 Cor. 12:28).

Then Paul asks the question, “Are all apostles? . . .” (1 Cor. 12:29). In other words, Paul was saying, “Does everyone have the ministry of an apostle?” The answer is no. “. . . are all prophets? …” [No.]”. . . are all teachers? . . .”The answer is no.

Not everyone has the ministry of a teacher to the Body of Christ. Certainly, we could all teach to the extent of our knowledge, but that’s not the ministry gift of the teacher. There are those As we’ve seen, in First Corinthians 12:29, Paul asks, “Are all apostles? …” Of course not. “. . . are all teachers? . . .” The answer is no. Everyone doesn’t have a teaching ministry. Then Paul asks, “. . . are all workers of miracles?” Well, it is quite obvious that all are not workers of miracles. Then in verse 30 it says, “Have all the gifts of healing? . . .” No, all people do not have the gifts of healings. So First Corinthians 12:28 isn’t referring to a healing that is given to a person to bless him; it is a ministry of healing given to bless others. Any healing from God is a gift, of course. In fact, anything we receive from God would be a gift. But these gifts of the Spirit are supernatural manifestations of the Spirit, and gifts of healings are one such operation manifested to someone through another.

Gifts of healings are one way of receiving healing. People can be healed directly by believing God for themselves. But when it comes to the gifts of healings, there is a special manifestation of the Spirit through one person to another person who is in need. However, if there is no gift of the Spirit in manifestation, people can always be healed and set free based on the Word of God.

Here is how you should operate in the anointing with the gifts of healings.
1. Prepare yourself spiritually.
 Spend time in prayer, specifically aimed at healing.
 Learn the healing Scriptures. Then, at any time, you can use the Word of God to pray for someone’s healing.
 Stay in close relationship with the Holy Spirit. You will be prepared when He directs you to pray.
2. Be motivated by love and compassion. Jesus was moved with compassion when He healed people.
Get compassion in your heart before you pray.

1 Corinthians 13:1-2 1: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.:2: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3. Here are Practical Steps to a Successful Healing Ministry.
a. Find out the reason someone needs healing.
b. Ask if he or she believes it is God’s will that they be healthy.
c. Ask if the person is a believer. (Salvation is more important than healing.)
d. Ask if he or she believes that Jesus can heal them.
e. Listen to the Holy Spirit for a word of knowledge or word of wisdom about the situation before you pray.
f. Is there unforgiveness or bitterness toward someone?
g. After praying, when the healing is manifested, direct the glory and praise to the Lord. If it has not yet manifested itself, do the same. Give God glory and praise.
h. If the healing is not immediately manifested, encourage the person to stand on the Word of God and resist the devil.