The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
142<br />
Purpose: Restoration & Health<br />
THE GIFTS OF HEALINGS (I Cor. 12:9,28)<br />
Description: <strong>The</strong> capacity to heal <strong>the</strong> sick, by <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> God, in response to <strong>Holy</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong>given<br />
faith. <strong>The</strong> gifts <strong>of</strong> healings and miracles are closely related to <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong><br />
faith. <strong>The</strong>y could be considered special or different ways <strong>of</strong> expressing <strong>the</strong> gift<br />
<strong>of</strong> faith. A special exercise <strong>of</strong> faith is an essential element in <strong>the</strong> functioning <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> gifts <strong>of</strong> healings and miracles.<br />
“<strong>Gifts</strong> <strong>of</strong> healings” (plural) may refer to spiritual and emotional healing as well as physical<br />
healing. <strong>The</strong>re is strong scriptural evidence for this. <strong>Spirit</strong>ual healing is indicated in Mat<strong>the</strong>w<br />
13:15 and possibly I Peter 2:24. Emotional healing is indicated in Luke 4:18. It has been<br />
estimated that 75% <strong>of</strong> our hospital beds are occupied by those who have emotional problems. One<br />
out <strong>of</strong> every ten babies today, it is estimated, will be confined to a hospital with some form <strong>of</strong><br />
mental illness at some time during his lifetime.<br />
<strong>The</strong> phrase, “gifts <strong>of</strong> healings” may also refer to different healings for different diseases. <strong>The</strong><br />
plural may indicate that a Christian might have a gift for healing certain diseases or ailments but<br />
not all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m.<br />
God’s intention and will for His people is that <strong>the</strong>y are to be healthy. <strong>The</strong> Hebrew word<br />
“shalom” captures God’s wholistic view <strong>of</strong> man. “Shalom” (‘peace”) coexists with health in a<br />
natural way. <strong>The</strong> psalmist put it, “May <strong>the</strong> Lord give strength to His people! May <strong>the</strong> Lord bless<br />
His people with peace!” Biblical peace is more than <strong>the</strong> absence <strong>of</strong> conflict; it includes inner<br />
tranquility, health, wholeness, integration.<br />
God promised His people shortly after <strong>the</strong> exodus from Egypt:<br />
“I am <strong>the</strong> Lord, your healer” (Ex. 15:26).<br />
Salvation and health are closely related. David testifies that it is <strong>the</strong> Lord “who forgives all<br />
your iniquity, who heals all your diseases” (Ps. 103:3). Jeremiah prays, “Heal me, O Lord, and I<br />
will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for You are <strong>the</strong> one I praise” (Jer. 17:14).<br />
<strong>The</strong> laws given to Moses emphasized preventive medicine. <strong>The</strong> spiritual and physical wellbeing<br />
<strong>of</strong> people was so closely related that it was <strong>the</strong> priest who was <strong>the</strong> presiding health <strong>of</strong>ficer.<br />
This was also true in Jesus’ day. This is why He so <strong>of</strong>ten tells people to go and show <strong>the</strong>mselves<br />
to <strong>the</strong> priest after <strong>the</strong>y have been healed. He was to verify <strong>the</strong>ir healing. It is God’s will for His<br />
people to be whole—healthy as well as holy.