The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity

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Christian virtues like longsuffering, patience, endurance if instant wholeness were
available for all the Christian sick! What a wrong impression it would give of salvation
if physical wholeness were perfectly realized on earth while spiritual wholeness were
partly reserved for heaven! What a very curious thing it would be if God were to
decree death for all His children while not allowing illness for any of them!”15
God is sovereign. Therefore He cannot be programmed. We cannot demand that He operate
the same way in every case. God’s ultimate purpose in this universe and in our lives in the final
analysis determines how He chooses to work in any given situation.
In addition to a theology of healing we must have a parallel theology of suffering. This is
crucial for there to be balance. The purpose of a theology of suffering is not to find a place to hide
when healing does not occur, but a way of understanding another avenue that God is using to
work out His plan and purpose in the lives of His children. After all, Paul warned us:
“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also
to suffer for Him . . . . .” (Phil. 1:29).
Jesus Christ not only healed and delivered His people victoriously; He also suffered for them
vicariously. As followers our lives ought to be a reflection of His: suffering and healing.
The purpose of healing is not merely to meet a human need. It is ultimately to bring glory to
God. When healing comes, it is not simply because someone has a need. The ultimate purpose of
healing is to bring the person into a closer relationship to God and man. Healing is not an end in
itself, but a means to an end--to be a better person and to do good in the world in which we live.
Examples
Mt. 4:23,24; 8:1-3, 5-13, 14-16, 28-32; 9:1-7, 18-25, 27-30; 12:9,10, 13; 15:21-28; 17:18;
19:2; 21:14; Mk. 1:30-34; Mk. 10:46-52; Lk. 7:21-22; 13:10-13; 17:12-19; 20:50-51; Jn. 5:1-8.
Mk. 3:14-15 Twelve Apostles
Acts 5:12-16 Apostles
Acts 3:6-8; 9:32-34 Peter
Acts 8:5-7 Philip
Acts 14:8-10; 28:7-9 Paul