by George Runyan | May 28, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Mark 16:18 – . . . they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover
In the early church, the gifts of healing were displayed many years after the resurrection of Christ. Paul had power to heal through special miracles. “God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits went out” (Acts 19:11-12). It is recorded that Paul prayed for Publius’ father and then “laid his hands on him and healed him” (Acts 28:8).
Twenty-six years after the resurrection of Jesus, ordinary believers were still operating in the gifts of healing. Paul speaks of healing gifts in the plural in I Corinthians 12:9. In Galatians, Paul asked a question concerning the Spirit and miracles. “So then, does he who provides you with the Spirit, and work miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law or by hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:5)? James, many years after the earthly ministry of Jesus, gave direction for the Elders to pray for the sick, with a promise of healing and forgiveness (James 5:l4-16).
The Scriptures are filled with many divers operations of the gift of healing. I have listed a number of references which speak about this wonderful gift. Take time to study the Scriptures for yourself. Ask the Father to reveal His will to you concerning healing. Trust Him in faith that the Holy Spirit would give gifts of healing to you. Ask Him to use you to bring healing to those in need. Father, supply my life with Your gifts of healing as You would direct. There are many in need of God’s healing power. There is a great need for God’s people to allow the Holy Spirit to minister His gifts through their life.
Here are a few examples of the diversity of the healing gifts:Touch of a hand – Matthew 9:21; Sending the Word – Psalm 107:20; Peter’s shadow – Acts 5:15; Aprons and garments – Acts 19:12; Anointing with oil. – James 5:14; Laying on of hands – Mark 16:18; Prayer in Jesus’ Name – Acts 3:6; The Word of Knowledge – Acts 9:11.18 and 14:8.10; Through the means of special directions to the sick one: Mark 7:31-37 – Fingers in his ears and touching the tongue; Mark 8:22-26 – Saliva placed on the blind man’s eyes; Acts 20:9-10 – Paul embracing a dead man who revived; Action taken by the sick one to show faith. In John 5:1-9 is the example of the man at the pool of Bethesda picking up his bed and walking. Another time in Matthew 9:1-7, Jesus told the man to “pick up his bed and go home.” And he got up and went home. It was in Jesus’ healing ministry that, “the crowds were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men” (Matthew 9:8).
God has always been the healer of His people. He heals today as well. Won’t you receive His healing grace in your life and allow Him to use you to bring His healing power to others? Remember what Jesus said about those who believe on Him, “They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:18).
by George Runyan | May 27, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Exodus 15:26 – If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.
Jehovah God established His Healing Covenant with His Covenant people after turning the bitter waters sweet. He said, “For I, the Lord, am your healer.” Throughout the Old and New Testament, healing was part of the covenant which the Lord provided for His people. In the New Testament, we see healing extended to unbelievers as a gift to draw them to God’s mercy and grace.
Many Scriptures speak to this tremendous truth of God’s grace of healing. Consider some of those healed in the Old Testament. Abimelech was healed when Abraham prayed (Genesis 20). God healed Israel while in the wilderness (Psalm 107:20). Naaman was healed when he followed Elisha’s instructions (2 Kings 5). Jeroboam, Hezekiah, and David experienced God’s healing power (Psalm 103:1-5).
In the Gospel of Luke, we find twenty-four cases of healing recorded. We read of Jesus healing the sick and sending His disciples to do the same (Luke 10:8-9). In verse 9, Jesus directly connects healing to the message of the kingdom of God. He healed some and the result was apparent later (Luke 17:14). He healed others and they recovered instantly (Matthew 8:13). He healed all manner of sickness and disease: lunacy, palsy, epilepsy, fever, paralysis, blindness, lameness, deafness, withered limbs and, He raised the dead as with Lazarus (John 11:38-44). He healed those that were far away (John 4:46-54). He healed chronic cases, such as the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years (Luke 8:43); the man lame for 38 years (Luke 5:5-9) and, the woman bent over for 18 years (Luke13:18).
God still heals today. He uses willing people who will just simply believe God’s Word and obey as the Holy Spirit prompts them to pray for those in need. Today, rooms of healing are being raised up all over the world. God’s people come together in a building or house to take time to pray for the sick. Not only are many healed, but many are coming to know Christ as a result of God’s divine touch.
Ask the Father in Jesus’ name for the “gifts of healing” to operate in your life. There are so many people that need to be healed. There are many that need to be touched by the power of God. It has been said that “healing is the dinner bell to salvation.”
by George Runyan | May 26, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 12:9 To another is given gifts of healing.
Healing is the only gift spoken of in the plural. The term “gifts” is used because there are many manifestations of the Spirit regarding healing. It is undoubtedly a gift that contains gifts. “There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit” (I Corinthians 12:5). There are differences of manifestations and operations of the gifts of God. Separate from the working of miracles is the miracle of healing. My definition of the “gifts of healing” is “the supernatural healing of diseases and infirmities without the aid ofnatural means.”
Healing is a command of Jesus to His disciples. “As you go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7-8). Jesus Bore Our Sins and Sickness according to Isaiah 53:3-5. Matthew 8:16-17 and 1 Peter 2:24 both reveal this to be the correct interpretation of the Isaiah passages. Jesus associated sin and sickness in Mark 2:1-12 when He told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). It has been said that 90% of Jesus’ ministry was involved in the healing of the sick.
There are so many more Scriptures which give evidence of God’s desire and will to heal. He has made us participants in this great part of His Son’s ministry by providing these “gifts of healing.” The gifts are distributed in His body by the Holy Spirit. What an important topic and ministry from our Lord. He wants to anoint His sons and daughters with an increased expectation and release of His presence through His gifts. We will take a couple more days in our devotions to consider further Scriptures instructing us about the subject of healing.
I have had the privilege of praying for multitudes of people around the world to receive healing. It has been one of my greatest delights to have watched the Holy Spirit release His gifts with mighty power over all kinds of sickness and disease. I praise His Holy Name for what He has accomplished in the lives of so many through this wonderful gift!
Ask the Holy Spirit for deepening insights in the Scriptures relating to healing. Ask Him to prepare your heart and to give you divine appointments for ministering to those who He would touch with His healing power.
by George Runyan | May 25, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 12:9 – To another is given gifts of healing
One of the most powerful verses of Scripture states, “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). Our Lord sets the standard for ministry. Jesus takes of His anointing and gives a portion to each believer.
One of the gifts of power is “healing.” Of the gifts of power, healing is the most widely distributed. The gifts of healing are for the supernatural healing of disease and infirmities without natural means of any sort. I must emphasize the entirely supernatural character of the “gifts of healing.” These gifts of healing must not be confused or mixed with medical science in any fashion. Healing through these gifts is brought about by the power of God in the name of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit who resides in believers. Please notice, Paul’s plural use of the word “gifts” as it relates to healing. One possible reason is there are so many different kinds of sickness and diseases which afflict the human race. Not all sickness is physical. Consider other needs such as emotional suffering, a wounded heart, sexual brokenness, and deliverance from all kinds of demonic inflicted bondage
The Lord still has compassion on the sick today; He still delivers from the power of the enemy. He is still healing people in the old fashioned way revealed in His Word. His way is a safe way, a painless way, and is free. It is a holy way because it is His Way. It is helpful to understand the working and purpose of these gifts of healing by considering their operation as revealed in the Scriptures. If you remove from Scripture all the references to healing, you would not have much of the Bible left.
Consider three reasons helpful in seeking God for the gifts of healing to be operating in and through our life in Christ. I suggest looking these Scriptures up and asking the Holy Spirit to give you a greater understanding of God’s will to heal.
Healing is used of the Spirit to help convince men of the Son-ship of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 10:36-38). Healing authorizes the Gospel message as preached by God’s servants (Act 4:29-30; 5:12; 8:6-17). Healing establishes the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 3:15-16).
Father, fill me today with the compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ for those that need Your healing power. Release gifts of healing through me to minister Your love to those needing to be touched by Your Holy Spirit.
by George Runyan | May 24, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 12:9 – To another is given faith by the same Spirit.
Let us remember that through faith we are saved (Ephesians 2:8). We call this “saving faith.” The first work of the Spirit in our life is to lead us to faith in Christ. Faith that believes the Word of God which declares what the Lord has done for us through His death on the cross. This is faith that began to work in us before salvation actually takes place. Paul calls it “The faith of the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20).
Faith is named in the fruit of the Spirit as seen in Galatians 5:22. This kind of faith can only be developed by the Spirit as we learn to walk in the Spirit. Fruit can only be grown, not made. This fruit of faith speaks of God creating us to be a faithful people. We begin in faith that saves us. Then we learn to walk in faith, learning to trust the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. At times, we may experience the gift of faith which the Holy Spirit gives at His will for special times of need.
The gift of faithis distinct from saving faith and the fruit of faith. The gift of faith is in the family of the power gifts. When one operates in this gift, they believe God in such a way that God honors their word as His own. He miraculously brings to pass those things spoken in faith. It is a supernatural endowment by the Spirit whereby what is uttered or desired by a person shall eventually come to pass. This faith utterance covers blessing, cursing, destruction, and is different from the gift of the working of miracles and the gifts of healing in that often its operation is not immediately or even generally observed.
The operation of Miracles is more of an act, as when the Red Sea was rolled back by Moses, while the operation of the gift of faith is more of a process. The Gift of Faith begins with a sudden surge or boost of faith given by the Holy Spirit, when needed, as seen in Joshua 10:12-13, Acts 9:40, and Acts 13:11. Peter is a great example of this operation of faith. He entreated the Lord to bid him to come as the Lord was walking on the water and approaching the disciples. The other disciples in the boat thought Peter had lost it for sure, but when he came back in the boat with Jesus, Peter was their hero of “faith.” You just have to know, each one of them wished they had done what Peter did!
Holy Spirit, there are times when only the “gift of faith” can bring us through to Your intended purpose. Make me a willing vessel to allow You to give me that gift to help me do Your will when my natural ability fails me.
