Go, heal the sick!

“And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction… Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.” Matt 10:1,8

The bedrock of healing lies in embracing the truth of God’s Word. Faith springs forth from the hearing of His Word, and it’s vital to understand that healing isn’t merely a thing of the past but is accessible today for every believer. Acting on faith involves laying hands on the sick, as instructed in the Bible. This act, though simple, holds profound power, rooted in Jesus’ promise that believers who lay hands on the sick will see them recover. Even if healing doesn’t manifest immediately, persistent prayer is encouraged. Praying repeatedly for the sick demonstrates unwavering faith, echoing Jesus’ example of persistent prayer for healing. Keeping prayers concise and clear is emphasised, as lengthy prayers can sometimes impede the process. Instead of fixating on the possibility of no immediate healing, the teaching encourages focusing on the expectation that healing will indeed occur, fostering unwavering faith and perseverance. Regardless of the outcome, the ultimate aim is to share the gospel. Whether or not healing is visibly evident, the opportunity to introduce people to Jesus remains a powerful aspect of the process. Encouragement is offered to deter discouragement, even if immediate healing doesn’t transpire. Every prayer offered in faith carries significance, regardless of the immediate outcome, underscoring the potency of prayer and the potential for future healing.

When it comes to healing, it’s crucial to recognise that it’s not just about praying for the sick or relying on the faith of others. Healing is rooted in the finished work of Jesus Christ, as exemplified by Isaiah 53:5, where it’s stated that by His wounds, we are healed.

Belief in the atoning work of Jesus is foundational. It’s not merely about reciting prayers, but about truly believing in the power of Jesus’ sacrifice for our healing. Persistence in prayer and a deep revelation of the truth of healing through Christ’s sacrifice are essential. The story of Reverend Baldwin illustrates how a deep revelation of being already healed can lead to miraculous manifestations of healing.

Healing ministry requires an understanding of the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Boldness is crucial in ministering to the sick, as seen in Acts 4:29–33, where believers prayed for boldness to speak God’s word and perform signs and wonders.

The name of Jesus carries immense authority and power. Understanding the authority and power behind the name of Jesus is essential to effective healing ministry.

Speaking God’s word with faith and confidence, knowing that His word is powerful and effective, is key to seeing manifestations of healing.

Healing ministry involves believing in the supernatural power of God to work through various means, including the laying on of hands, prayer cloths, shadows, and even spoken words.

Effective healing ministry requires a deep understanding of and faith in the finished work of Christ, reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit, boldness in speaking God’s word, and trust in the supernatural abilities of God to manifest healing.

Have you ever wanted to learn to heal the sick but didn’t quite know where to start? Understand that everything you need—all the power you need to get people healed—is already in you, in the Holy Spirit. You don’t need to try and get God to give you more power or find a gift for healing. When God fills you with the Holy Spirit, especially when you get baptised in the Holy Spirit, all the power and resources of heaven are deposited in you so that you can work the works of Jesus. You’re not lacking anything; everything you need is given to you by Jesus. He gives you the resources of heaven to begin to work with. So, don’t act like you’re lacking; don’t act like you don’t have enough understanding. You have everything you need to start already in you, in Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit.

We’re not asking God to heal on somebody’s behalf. God is actually asking us to use the power of the Holy Spirit in us to minister healing. So, I’m not trying to get God to come down from heaven and begin to work for people; He’s in me, and He’s saying, “Use what I’ve given you to begin to heal the sick.” You’re not asking God to do something; He’s asking you to walk in the power that He’s already given you.

Command the sickness to leave. Be authoritative; you need to almost treat it like you’re talking to an entity or something that’s alive. You need to command it in the authority of the name of Jesus to leave that person, to get out, and to never come back. Be specific; tell that sickness what you want it to do. If it’s back pain, say, “Back pain, go in Jesus’ name.” If it’s cancer, say, “Cancer, dissolve, shrivel up, and leave this body now in Jesus’ name.” And a lot of times, I like to end off that command by saying, “In the name of Jesus, be healed from head to toe,” and that just addresses anything that’s out of place or an issue in the body. But command the sickness to go.

Work the miracle. Now, what do I mean by this? I see a lot of times healing ministers tell the people to check out the pain, see if it’s changed, see if something’s happening, and what they’re doing is checking to see if a miracle has occurred. When I say work is the miracle, I don’t necessarily mean that. What I mean is, as you’re working on it, as you’re getting that person to check it, the miracle is happening in that moment. Like with Peter and John, as they’re heading to the temple, they’re going to pray, and they see the lame beggar. That lame beggar, when they prayed for him, God healed him not when they told him to be healed in Jesus’ name, but when they grabbed him by the hand and said, “In the name of Jesus, rise up and walk,” and they pulled him up, and it was in that process of pulling up the lame beggar that the healing took place. His legs, his bones, and his ankles became strong, and he got healed, and all paralysis left his body. So, don’t just get them to check it out; work the miracle. Get them to move, get them going, get them checking, seeing how it feels, and if there’s something that’s a problem, get them walking, getting them moving, getting them doing something. But work the miracle in their body.

Just keep going forward. A lot of the time, as we’re learning to grow in healing and learning to pray for people and get them healed, we may have seasons where we’re not seeing as much as we should. But don’t back off from this; don’t stop praying for people. Keep going, because as you pray for people, faith is being built in your heart, faith is rising up in your heart, you’re learning and growing in something, and God’s power is developing in you and more easily being released through you. So, don’t stop. If you’re like, “Man, I’ve tried praying for a few people, and nothing’s happening,” no, keep moving. I started praying for people; there were a few months where I wasn’t seeing any miracles, and then all of a sudden, something broke in the spirit, and I began to see miracles. Faith developed in me and grew in me as I kept praying, and all of a sudden, something changed.

Kay Alli