Reading the 12th chapter of 1st Corinthians, you will find that there are three ‘power’ gifts that may all be used in healing – the gift of healings, the gift of faith and the gift of miraculous powers. Would that these were taught and sought across the land! One thing to remember is that ministers can’t turn the gift on and off as they like – they are given as the Holy Spirit wills.
1 Corinthians 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. …. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
You may have a consistent anointing of one or more of these gifts, but you cannot ‘turn it on’ at will, sometimes the anointing will not come as you prepare to minister to a seeker.
What do you do then? Well, you seek healing for the supplicant using another approach, such as prayer, laying of hands or agreement. God will still honor faith and we are never stuck in any situation because the anointing for the gifts is not present.
Those who walk in the gifts also don’t need me or anyone else to tell them that certain lifestyles will increase the anointing and certain lifestyles will do the opposite. Hungering after God, praying and fasting, and praying in the Holy Spirit help us to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit while the opposite produces the opposite result.
Next, note that gifts of the Holy Spirit often operate together to produce healing. A word of knowledge may be followed by effective, targeted prayer. Discerning of a spirit may precede casting it out and the gift of faith in for healing. Thus it should be clear that there is no “formula” for healing. It is really a partnership between you and the Holy Spirit, with the Word as a foundation. We also need wisdom and sensitivity to the people we are praying for, people for whom Christ died. We must always remember this and act in love in the course of healing ministry.
