THE GIFTED - PART FIVE

H E A L I N G

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 ESV

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Let’s bust a myth right here and right now. It’s God’s desire that people are healed.

Romans 8:11 ESV

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

Life to your mortal body means the one you’re living in right now. God’s desire is that we live healed and we live whole. God’s plan for your best life is to be free of sickness, free of pain, free of disease. In your body and in your mind.

Mental illness is illness. Your brain is a part of your body. Maybe the most important part. And if your brain isn’t well, it needs healing. I believe that there is healing available for all kinds of mental illness. Depression. Anxiety. Bipolar disorder. All of these names are subject to the name of Jesus.

Tonight, I want to establish two things. First, that God wants everyone healed. He wants that because of His love for everyone. It’s not worth trying to figure out why people are sick. The devil hates you and wants you to be miserable. He wants to kill you and keep you from accomplishing God’s plan for your life. What’s important to know is that God can and will heal.

John 9:2–3 ESV

2 And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.

You have to settle the healing issue within yourself. God’s desire is for people to be healed.

So let’s talk about the second thing. We can operate in this gift of the Spirit. We can operate in them as the Spirit leads. They have to be developed, though. They have to be nurtured and cultivated. So how do we cultivate this gift so that it’s more than just a thought? How do we pray for the sick?

James 5:14–16 ESV

14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

There is a necessary order here. This isn’t about the elders being more anointed. It’s about the church being the body of Christ that operates as He is in the world. Church eldership in James was important, because they needed the organization that the body provided. They needed the training. You want to get trained to do this stuff? Stay in church. Connect with elders. Be trained.

Mark 16:17–18 ESV

17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Jesus tells us to do it and says it will be a sign that follows us as believers.

I believe we can operate in this in two ways. Out of response or out of knowledge. Either way, be led by the Holy Spirit in doing so.

Don’t speak about something you don’t know. Follow the Spirit. If you don’t hear the Spirit in English, let Him pray through you.

Pray with faith. Faith in God. He’s the one working here. You’re just the vessel. You’re just obedient to what the Lord is telling you. It’s important to know where the faith of the person you’re praying for is. You may have to teach some faith before you start praying. Your faith can’t override their will. What do they want? What do they believe God will do? What do they believe God can do? All of this is important before you just start spraying healing prayers at people. It’s a sign to unbelievers, but if there is resistance outside of a rhema word from the Lord to pray for someone, it may not be the right time. You can then pray for the Lord to open their hearts and for another person to come along when the field is ripe for harvest.

Who wants to practice? Who needs healing? Let’s believe God tonight for the gift of healing to be present and move among us.