Gifts of Healing

Definition:

The supernatural ability to cure illness and restore health to individuals apart from the use of medicine or any other natural means. Includes restoration from physical, emotional and spiritual sickness.

Biblical References:

• 1 Corinthians 12:9,28
• Matthew 8:16-17,28-33
• Luke 5:17-20
• Luke 7:1-10
• Luke 8:42-48

Gift Characteristics:

Can be an ongoing anointing in some people... In most believers, gifts of healing are temporary manifestations of the Holy Spirit that can occur at any time in their ministry. But some people are given an ongoing anointing to heal others. This can especially happen in ministries involving evangelists or apostles. However, these gifts still remain under the control of the Holy Spirit.

More than one gift... In describing the other spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12: 8-10, Paul uses the Greek word charisma (singular). But when mentioning healing, he changes over to the word charismas (plural). The actual translation in this passage is gifts of healing, not gift of healing. This indicates that people may receive different kinds of healing gifts. That is, some people may be given the ability to heal certain types of physical diseases (Mark 1:41), while others receive the power to heal emotional illness (Luke 4:18), and still other people are given the gift to heal spiritual sickness (Matt. 13:15).

Is not under the control of the person exhibiting the gift... People who have been given gifts of healing do not have the personal ability to heal someone else. This gift, as with all of the other spiritual gifts, does not resides in them but in the Holy Spirit that resides in them. He remains in control of these gifts and manifests them when and where He chooses (1 Corinthians 12: 11). Paul displayed great gifts of healing in his own ministry, but struggled himself with sickness, as did some of his closest friends (Philippians 2:30; 22 Timothy 4:20; Corinthians 12:7-9).

Will usually produce immediate results... Most healings recorded in the New Testament were immediate and complete. There are several instances in Scripture where people are healed more gradually (Luke 17:14). However, in most cases supernatural healing was instantaneous. When gifts of healing are fully manifested by the Holy Spirit, results will usually be immediate.

Does not necessarily require faith by the one being healed... The gifts of healing are not always dependent upon how much faith people exhibit towards God (Luke 4:38-39; Acts 3:3-8). In many instances where this gift is demonstrated in the Bible, those being healed are non-believers and possess very little, if any faith in the Lord. It is only after they are healed that their faith in Christ is revealed.

Is closely associated with evangelism... In eight instances of healing recorded in the Book of Acts, seven are related to the preaching of the gospel. The only time recorded of a believer being healed is when Paul's eye sight is restored after his conversion experience (Acts 9:18). That does not indicate that gifts of healing are only for unsaved people. But the predominant use of these gifts in the early Church were to confirm to unsaved people that the message they were hearing about Jesus Christ was true.

Does not diminish the need for natural medicine... The gifts of healing are supernatural manifestations of God's power that confirm His words and demonstrate His glory in a specific situation. Their purpose is not to maintain the general health of the believer. All people, including Christians, grow old, decline in health, and eventually die. Therefore, natural medicine remains a great benefit for everyone wanting to maintain their quality of life.