There is a NAME above every other name, that NAME is JESUS. He said there would be those of His followers who would...HEAL the SICK. Mark 16:17-18. If that was all we could do in His Name I guess that would keep us busy. Can you imagine, your are at the petrol station topping up you car, a young guy walks past limping, you say 'Excuse me, why are you limping?' he says that he was born with one leg shorter than the other. You say, "Be healed in the Name of Jesus.", he falls over. Well, I guess he was so used to compensating for the short leg that once healed he had to learn to readjust to having both legs the same length. You drive off and arrive at the supermarket. Walking down the isle headed, 'Medicines', an elderly lady in a wheelchair nearly runs you over, having regained your balance you ask why she is in a wheelchair, she reply's that she can hardly walk because of arthritis, you say "Be healed in the Name of Jesus." immediately she stands up and begins walking at a quick pace up and down the isle. I guess most of us don't have these amazing experiences. You've got your groceries, and as you park the car outside your house a young woman walks past, you see that her face has been cruelly distorted by being burnt, you say, "Excuse me, what happened to you face?" She says that someone threw hot oil at her. You say, "Be healed is Jesus Name." and immediately her face is healed and and beautifully restored. Hallelujah!
Well, you've had quite an exciting day...looking forward to tomorrow? For most of us getting people healed day by day as we pray for them in the Name of JESUS is not our experience, it would be great if it was. JESUS said to His close disciples, who became known as His apostles, that they would lay hands on the sick and heal them in His Name. Jesus also said that miraculous signs would follow those who believe. Mark 16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe. In my Name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues,...they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Maybe you, like many of us who are disciples of Jesus, read these scriptures and wonder why you pray for the sick and they don't get healed. Don't be discouraged, Jesus gave gifts of healing to his first Apostles, maybe you are a disciple but not an apostle. We are all encouraged to pray for the sick, then leave the matter in God our Father's hands. Some of us are given gifts of healings. 1 Corinthians 12:4 ff..."There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given...to another the gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles... But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." So, there are some of Jesus' disciples given the gifts of healing who are not apostles. The gift to not only heal physical sickness, but mental sickness, broken bones, etc. When you pray to receive a 'gift of the Spirit' which one you receive is determined by the will of Almighty God. All are manifestation of the Lord by His Spirit.
How do you know you have the 'gifts of healings'? I believe you will be encouraged by the Spirit to pray for the sick in Jesus' Name and the evidence will be a consistency of healings rather than just an occasional one here or there. There are those of us who, praying for someone sick, do occasionally see real healing, but wouldn't say we have gifts of healings. Nevertheless, we still rejoice over the ones who are healed.
During the time of Jesus Messiah's earthly ministry His power to 'heal the sick' proved to be a very effective way of attracting many people to hear His message and become disciples. After His death and resurrection the apostles and disciples found the ministry of healing continued to draw crowds to hear the gospel message and many thousands came to faith. Today we find the same is true as men and women entrusted with the 'gifts of healings' draw many to hear the gospel and come to faith in the Messiah Jesus.
The ministry of signs, wonders and miracles and the gifts of healing have not gone away, Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. To a great extent what we, the Church, has lost is faith for the miraculous, and a sense of expectation. Over many years, as a preacher and teacher of the Word, there have been times I have been very conscious of the need to have greater faith and an expectation for the manifest evidence of the power of the Name of JESUS.
Eric Graham.