What is the Gift of Healing?

The gift of healing is not a physical or mental ability, and neither is it a talent or product of magic. Healing was an active part of Jesus’ ministry while He was on earth. Also, he extended the authority to His disciples to also heal people. While He was sending them to preach the gospel, He told them,

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8 NKJV)

They had the authority to heal people who are sick and even cast out evil spirits that inflicts people with infirmities. In fact, healing was part of the Great Commission as recorded by the Gospel according to Saint Mark. The Bible says,
“…they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:18 NKJV)

More so, we should understand that every believer can demonstrate healing through the authority we received from Christ. In this way, healing happens as a result of Christ’s faithfulness to His Word and calling. However, healing can be manifested by the Holy Spirit as a gift in a believer. The gift of healing is part of the gifts of the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit gives it as He wills.

“To another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)

The gift of healing is a supernatural manifestation of the Spirit of God for the supernatural healing of sickness and disease without any natural source or medium. This gift is designed to give deliverance to people who are sick and destroy the works of the devil in the life and body of people. Sicknesses and diseases are the works of the devil, and Jesus Christ manifested to destroy them.

Jesus Christ demonstrated the gift of healing during His ministry on earth. However, when Jesus was yet to begin His ministry, there was no record of where he healed anyone. But, when the Holy Spirit came upon Him, He became anointed to heal. The Bible says,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18-19 NKJV)

The presence of the Holy Spirit in His life created the possibilities for Him to heal. His ability to heal people was resident in the Holy Spirit, and there was nothing He could without the Spirit. Jesus was able to perform healings because the Holy Spirit was at work in and through Him. Apostle Peter attested to this,

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38 NKJV)

This shows that no one can heal without the power of the Holy Spirit, and that healing is supernatural. Meanwhile, it is important that we note that the gift of healing was mentioned in the plural form.

“To another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)

[bctt tweet=”No one can heal without the power of the Holy Spirit. #giftofhealing #Hispower” username=”AngelaLowe20″]

The question is, why is it gifts of healing and not gift of healing? Although there is no valid scriptural explanation to this, I think it is the expression of the fact that there are different kinds of diseases, and they might require different healing to address them. A gift of healing might not be functional in healing all kinds of diseases.

Another thing to note is that we can be healed by God through various means, which is not necessarily a product of the operation of the gifts of healing. For instance, you could ask for healing by faith, and God will heal you. Although we can call this healing, and since it is not what we work for or deserve, it is a gift. Though it is a gift, it is not by the gifts of healing.

The gifts of the Spirit are not manifested by our will, but by the will of the Spirit. The Spirit gives, operates and manifests them as He wills. Here are some places where the gift of healing was in operation:

The lame man at the Beautiful Gate was healed instantly when Peter and John prayed for him in the name of Jesus (Acts 3:6-7). When Peter saw that people were looking at them as though they were the one who did it by their own power, he quickly pointed them back to Christ (Acts 3:12).

Paul healed the father of Publius who was sick of fever and dysentery. Paul prayed and laid hand on him, and he was healed (Acts 28:7-8). In fact, after people saw what happened, they went to bring people who are sick and diseased, and they were all healed.

[bctt tweet=”The gifts of the Spirit are not manifested by our will, but by the will of the Spirit. #giftofhealing #HisSpirit” username=”AngelaLowe20″]

How to Activate or Develop this Gift

While we understand that not everyone will manifest a gift, as it is the Spirit of God who determines as He wills, we can also prepare and align ourselves to activate and develop this gift. The Bible says,

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” (1 Corinthians 12:11 NKJV)

Earnestly Desire

Apostle Paul, after addressing the gifts, the distribution across the body of Christ and the individual uniqueness of different part of the body, said, “But earnestly desire the best gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31 NKJV). This implies that we can desire the gifts. Desire is the beginning of any significant thing. Desire is a form of hunger, and if we give ourselves to sincere hunger, we can get to receive the gifts.

Ask in Prayer

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22 NKJV)
Prayer gives us a direct communication and access to God. Jesus had told us that we can receive whatever we ask in prayer. Do you desire this gift of healing? Clear your heart and be sure it is not for a selfish purpose. Then ask.

Believing

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22 NKJV)
Now asking in prayer is not enough, you must also believe that you have it already. Praying does not end at asking; you should also ensure you believe after asking.

[bctt tweet=”Asking in prayer is not enough, you must also believe that you have it already. #HolySpirit #healing” username=”AngelaLowe20″]

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Angela Lowe, MS. Ed., LPC
Angela Lowe is a licensed Professional Counselor, trained Biblical Counselor and certified Holistic Health Coach. Her kingdom mandate is to restore God’s counsel to transform lives, marriages, and churches worldwide.