By OLUMOFIN Kehinde Benjamin

In all our lectures we have emphasized that spiritual gifts are for the edification of (to benefit, to improve) the Body of Christ and to glorify God in the Church, beginning from the church at home (family devotion). This is also true for the spiritual gifts of healing.

“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:7-8,12).

God is interested in the total man, Jesus died for the complete redemption, total salvation and all round deliverance of Man (body, soul and spirit). Jesus Christ did not just pay ultimately for salvation of man from eternal punishment in the lake of fire, He also paid for his rest and deliverance from all forms of demonic operations and oppressions on earth too.

Man is divided into 3 distinct parts;

a. Body – comprises his biological being, his body organs and systems. It is with his body he relates with his physical environment (things he can see) and other humans. All sicknesses, Pains and diseases affecting his physical organs and or systems resides at this level…the body.

b. Soul (the seat of his consciousness, mental and emotional being). The soul is the link that bridged the body (physical) and his spirit (spiritual) . The Man’s intellect, mind, power of will and desire are all seated here. You know you are you because you have a soul. All emotional sicknesses, including depressions, demonic possessions,  sickly desires and most mental disorders takes place at the soul. Whatever happened at the level of the soul, will affect the stability and composure of the human body and wellness. A sick soul is a sick mind, a sick mind will relate very poorly, if at all, with the man’s spirit, thereby cutting him off the life and the consciousness of God and spiritual reality around him. A sick soul (emotion, mind and will) is an easy target for demonic possession. No form of demonic activity that affect man, goes beyond this level. A demon possessed person cannot relate with God, unless he is first delivered from the spirits oppressing him. All sickness at the level of the soul are mostly demon related. Jesus paid the price of deliverance at this level too. We will still emphasize this as we go on

c. Spirit – his spiritual person and the place he relates with God. The spirit is the seat of his spiritual awareness. The Salvation Jesus paid for at Calvary begins to work at this level of his spirit, to his soul and to his body.

That is why of all the spiritual gifts listed in the Bible, the only one that comes in plural term is the spiritual GIFTS of healing.

1 Corinthians  12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;  

1 Corinthians  12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.  

1 Corinthians  12:30  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

You will notice in all the scriptures above, the gifts of healing is  always in plural, gifts. This is because man’s health and healing need is not limited to his body. Humans fall sick at all levels of his being, body, soul and spirit. And believers are given spiritual gifts of healing differently at all these level of the human personality. Some are given the gift of healing on sicknesses and diseases affecting the body, its organs and general biological wellbeing. While some are blessed with gifts of love, words of encouragement and power to heal and deliver from emotional and demon possessions hampering the soul from achieving its full potential.

Just like other spiritual gifts, gifts of healing goes hand in hand with the preaching of the gospel, either at the family devotion or in the public space.

All believers are called to the ministry of healing for the spirit that is lost from God and reconcile such back to God through the preaching of the Kingdom of God.

2 Corinthians  5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation

Any healing ministry of gifts or whatever spiritual gifts devoid of gospel preaching will soon slide into magic, human craftiness and demonic possession. It must also be noted that gifts of healing differs from person to persons and from ministry to ministry, and many can be blessed with more than one gifts of healing, as those concerned, desire more of God in them. Healing is an added benefit for believing in Jesus Christ and the preaching of the gospel, and it should not be one without another. You cannot hate to listen to the gospel in Jesus Name and love to be healed by the power of the gospel preached in Jesus Name. This is one reason most healings on crusade grounds don’t last, easily reversed and some even slide into greater demonic possessions than they were before they came. Healing that has no root in the Word of the gospel, cannot be sustained by the power of the gospel

Please note the last statement..
“Healing that has no root in the Word of the gospel, cannot be sustained by the power of the gospel”.

Matthed  4:23  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.  

Matthew  9:35  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  

Luke  9:6  And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.  

Luke  9:11  And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

Its is always the preaching of the gospel and then healing of the people…..healing ministry without teaching and preaching the Gospel…..will slide into magic and works of darkness it is a matter of time.

God can’t heal without His Word, the Gospel is God’s power to heal.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Salvation (in the spirit) and deliverance from sin and healing (deliverance from sicknesses and diseases at all level (body, soul and spirit) are all included in the salvation message. Both are together in the one complete package promised and giving at Salvation. The psalmist confirmed this when he says, blessed the Lord oh my soul….

“Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” (Psalms 103:1, 3-5).

And Jesus did exactly that to set us an example…Acts  10:38  “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” He offered salvation for their spirits, He healed the bodies of those he preached to and also healed their demons possessed souls and bodies.

Can God heal without the spiritual gifts of healing in demonstrations?

Yes. Healing is children’s bread,  it is a salvation right of all believers in Christ Jesus. That is why any believer in faith can pray and get healed. And any believer can as well pray for anyone in faith for health and healing and God will answer. But beyond individual desire for health and healing, God has given the Church, either at home or in public gathering of believers gifts of healing to bless His Church and His people with health and wellness. So the one given the gifts of healing is not for him/herself, it is for the benefit of the Church, including the church in his/her family, as it is the standard with all spiritual gifts. They are mostly not for personal use.

FORMS AND OPERATION OF GIFTS OF HEALING

Gifts of healing can manifest in knowledge of medicine (there are medical workers whose abilities are not just by medical training but by calling and special healings can take place through them as they minister to their patients and witness Christ simply by doing their work in manner unique to them. Spiritual gifts of healing can also manifest in special understanding and knowledge of leaves, fruit and food as instrument of healing, not just by knowledge of sciences and nutrition but by spiritual supernatural understandings.

Isaiah  38:21  For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.

Revelation  22:2  In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

This means as a medical worker, your hands can become a healing tool through the gifts of healing as you practice your medical training.

Special knowledge of leaves, fruits and food through revelations and inspirations can also be a form of gifts of healing.

Gifts of healing by knowledge can also include the use of other earthly elements like oil, handkerchief, clothes, aprons etc.

Mark  6:13  And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

Acts  19:12  So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Some are given spiritual gifts in words and power. They speak by faith and healing happens wherever they minister. Such words include words of encouragement, words of rebuke of evil spirit behind some ailments, and can also include show of brotherly kindness and love as a way to heal deep seated emotional wounds and bruises.

However, those gifted in these manner listed are in need of great caution, many have been exposed to working of devils thinking God is the one speaking to them.

This is because it is easy to begin to under play the importance of the Word and focus more on the gifts and thereby shifting focus from the Source of the healing, giving room for demons to operate in such a place or life.

Once the Word of God is downplayed, gradually the Spirit of Grace will leave. All spiritual gifts can be corrupted, so believers must be careful and daily submit to God and His Word.

“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections…” (Romans 1:21-26).

This is the problem with many so called gifts of healing…it can manifest in many ways, and so are the possibilities of sliding into error.

Any healing that does not conform to the Spirit of the Gospel is not from Him.

CAN SOMEONE WITH THE GIFTS OF HEALING HEAL HIMSELF?

The carrier of the gifts of healing can be healed by faith as they too trust God. However, the gifts of healing is to benefit the Body of Christ, that the glory might be His alone. God expect all His children to have faith in Him, and to trust Him in all things and for all things, irrespective of spiritual gifts.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Healing can be instantaneous and immediate, after prayers are offered and can also be gradual. Healing can be denied by the power of darkness, if opportuned.

How do I know if I have the spiritual gifts of healing?

The gifts of healing cannot be hidden. Though not everybody have it, but every believer can have faith to be healed and pray for others to be healed.

However, there are some that are given this ministry so as to help bear the emotional and phycological needs of others and by faith minister healing to them. If the gifts are in you, you will see signs that will help increase your faith and so be a blessing to many in the Church, even to the level of your family devotion.

1 Corinthians  12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

1 Corinthians  12:9  To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit

And where no physical manifestation is yet, we are encouraged to desire spiritual gifts, as we deemed them best for our individual purpose and calling in Christ.

“But covet earnestly the best gifts…” (1 Corinthians 12:31).

If your fellowship in word and prayer is right with God, spiritual gifts are bound to manifest, including but not limited to spiritual gifts of healing. Shalom.

We can all be healed by faith, and as many as desire more, the gifts of healing to help others in their hour of needs can also be yours.

Healing can be on the body level, or the soul level and or the spirit level. God can heal any sickness, no matter the level.

Are you in need of healing right now? You have it.

You are healed in Jesus Name. AMEN!