Good morning.
We continue with the series on the gifts of the Holy Spirit as per 1 Corinthians 12:7-10.
In our churches we give the occasional opportunity for healing. We lay our hands on the people and pray for them. Some anoint the sick with oil before praying for them. These are Biblical, for Jesus said that we will lay our hand on the sick and they will be healed (Mark 16:18), and when He sent out the twelve to go preach the gospel we read in Mark 16:13: “And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”
When we, however, read the book of Acts we see things like: “And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them,” (Acts 5:14, 15). We also read about the apostles meeting a lame man in the temple courts who asked them money and “Peter said, ‘I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!’” (Acts 3:6)
There are many such healings and miracles recorded the book of Acts and that was how the Lord was glorified by His people’s good works (Matthew 5:16). The apostles went about just like Jesus did, preaching the gospel wherever they came and healing at every opportunity. They didn’t wait for Sunday to come so they could invite the people to the front for healing, but did it in their walk of life.
Ephesians 4:11, 12: “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” Jesus trained the disciples, who trained their disciples, who trained their disciples... The intention of Jesus was that His works should have been repeated until the end of the age. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father,” (John 14:12).
The Holy Spirit has these gifts of healing ready, eager to pass it to whoever needs to use it. All He needs is a team of equipped disciples who would go out into the marketplace during the week and apply His gifts of healing to those He intends to heal. We have seen in Jesus’ ministry, as well as in those of the apostles, that the method of healing differed in many ways. Everything the Holy Spirit does is to the glory of the Lord Jesus (John 16:13, 14). He knows ever individual’s situation and circumstances and will therefore guide His able and willing servants in the most appropriate way of exercising their gift of healing. You may stand at the till in a shop hearing of the illness of the person serving you and the Holy Spirit may lead you to simply say “The Lord God heals you.” No need for an elaborate, embarrassing prayer. In another situation the Holy Spirit may give you a word of knowledge of why a person is sick and you may tell them that once they’ve made right with the Lord, they’ll receive their healing. If we do things according to the will of the Lord and under His guidance, that’s how it will be (1 John 5:14, 15).
And when Sunday comes, the leaders will give the obedient ones opportunity to witness to God’s goodness and we’ll have reason to celebrate!
Lord, help me to obey you.
If you benefited from this, why don’t you link it to your Facebook or Twitter to make it available to your friends? You can also use the e-mail link to pass it on. Please also pray for the spreading of it to those who need it. Please feel free to ask questions or discuss thoughts.
No comments:
Post a Comment