1 Corinthians 12:9, “…to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit.”
The next spiritual gift that Paul mentions are the “gifts of healing.” The gifts of healing are, “a supernatural manifestation of God’s healing power.” This gift comes in many forms because it responds to the many ways a person can be sick. The gifts of healing are pluralistic and are able to meet any and every need, Luke 4:18. This gift can even be used to cast out an evil spirit that brings sickness or it can be given to heal emotions that have been hurt because of past traumatic events like depression and anxiety.
The entire New Testament, especially the Gospels and the book of Acts, are overflowing with examples of the gifts of healing. Both Jesus and the disciples were recorded as healing the blind, cleansing the lepers, making the lame walk, and even raising the dead. At the same time Jesus said that these gifts of healing would follow all His disciples. He said in Mark 16:17-18, “And these signs will accompany those who believe… they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Therefore, anyone who believes and prays like Jesus taught can see the same kind of healings found in the Bible, John 14:12.
Modern day examples of the gifts of healings would be the many times Christians have prayed for others to be healed from sickness, depression, anxiety, deaf and blindness and God answered with total healing. Sometimes people are not healed, but this should never stop our faithfulness to pray for the sick. God didn’t say to only pray when we “feel like it” or “understand everything.” Instead He commanded that whenever we encounter a sick person we should pray for healing. And when the gifts of healing are present people will recover!
Reflection
Action
- Do you believe the Holy Spirit can give the gifts of healing to anyone?
- Ask God to give you the gifts of healing to pray for the sick and see them recover.
- Next time you see a sick person, pray for their healing!
