The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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