Amanda BethSharing the Truths Behind the TRUTH

Apr 24th Pray For The Gift Of Healing

This is the second message in my series on healing. If you didn’t read the first message, follow this link to yesterday’s post “Is It God’s Will To Heal You?”

Pray For the Gift of Healing

 

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,and to still another the interpretation of tongues.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

… And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 28-31

Do you desire and pray for the gift of healing?

After Paul exhorted the Corinthians to eagerly desire the greater gifts, He explained, “And now I will show you the most excellent way. I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing” (1 Cor. 12:32, 13:1).

Love should be our basis for desiring spiritual gifts. We should eagerly desire the greater gifts in order to lead others to salvation. The signs and wonders displayed through us are a testimony of God’s salvation.

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Hebrews 2:1-4

We should earnestly desire the Holy Spirit to display His power through us, not to make us look good, but to bring glory to Jesus by doing what He did when He walked this earth.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it” (Mark 16:17-18).

After praying for God to baptize (see immerse blog) me with His Holy Spirit, I prayed for His power and spiritual gifts to flow through me. Shortly after, I had an opportunity to bring glory to Jesus when my aunt went into the hospital. After being admitted, her health and mind began to quickly deteriorate. The doctors didn’t seem to offer much hope. But my mother and I didn’t give up hope.

We laid hands on my aunt and read scriptures of healing daily, praying for God to administer His healing through us. My aunt slowly began to regain her mind and improve enough to be released from the hospital.

My mother and I knew without a doubt it was a miracle from God. However, my aunt didn’t see it and give God the glory. Instead she blamed the hospital for causing her illness, despite the fact that she lived an unhealthy lifestyle. I believe she would have received complete healing had she fully opened her heart to receive it.

So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Luke 17:17-19

My husband became very sick one day that he couldn’t move to get out of bed. I went upstairs to our bedroom, laid hands on him in Jesus’ name, and returned downstairs. A few seconds later I heard a loud thump. Startled, I turned around to see my husband jump down the stairs smiling ear to ear. He was healed instantly.

…Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus…. … By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Acts 3:12-13, 16

My two-year-old nephew had problems going to the bathroom since he was born. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law tried every natural and medical remedy they could, but nothing worked. The day before an appointment with their doctor to decide if he needed surgery, I laid hands on my nephew while praying with my sister-in-law for his healing in Jesus. The next day, just as the doctor was going to make the decision for surgery, my nephew had a massive blowout in his diaper on the doctor’s table. He didn’t need surgery. We praised God as Jesus was glorified through His healing.

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever.

1 Peter 4:10-11, NKJV

I encourage you to ask God to administer His healing power in and through you. Ask God for His gift of healing, as well as other spiritual gifts, so you can lead others to salvation, and Jesus can be glorified through you!

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Luke 24:49, NLT

 

Heavenly Father,

We praise You for giving us Your Holy Spirit. Completely immerse us with Your Spirit. Fill us with power from Heaven to do Your will and bring glory to Jesus. Use us to bring hope to others. Display Your healing power and perform miracles through us as a testimony to Your salvation.  

In Jesus’ name, Amen!!

*Come back tomorrow as Dr. Dorothy Hooks shares her miraculous story of God’s healing power in her life.

* Follow this link to read all the messages in this healing series.

 *All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.