The Healing Ministry of the Believer

It is important for us as believers to realize that healing was provided for us on the very same basis as forgiveness of sins and salvation. Healing is in the atonement. Divine healing was promised to us by prophecy in the very same verse that declares our salvation.

Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

You can see clearly in this passage, the twofold aspect of our redemption—our healing was provided by Jesus beating at the whipping post and our freedom and forgiveness from sin was provided by His death on the cross.

The prophetic fulfillment of this promise was foreshadowed by Jesus’ earthly ministry:

Mat 8:16  When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

Mat 8:17  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

We as believers can minister healing to others with the same confidence we present the message of salvation. We do not have to pray for some special anointing, as we already have the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Nor do we need a special leading or “word” from God. While some do ,in fact have a “Gift” of healing, we as believers  simply need to recognize and acknowledge that healing is part of our purpose and calling.

Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mar 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

We have a commission to minister the Gospel to the world and the whole Gospel message includes the reality of Divine Healing. The Apostle Paul made this clear in his letter to the Romans.

Rom_15:19  Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

The Gospel presented without signs and wonders, is NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to adjust our thinking and realize that this ministry is our responsibility, and is not to be limited to some sort of “professional clergy.” Our pastors are given to us for the purpose of traing and equipping US to do the work of the ministry.

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Not only do these verses make it clear that we as believers are the ones responsible for the ministry of signs and wonders; they also emphasize that the five-fold ministry will endure until the coming of Christ at which time we will be perfected.

We see the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Peter’s letter to the Church:

1Pe_2:24  Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

We can go forth in confidence bringing the full Gospel message of salvation, healing and deliverance. This is not only our privilege, it is our responsibility. We are accountable to God for what we do with our Great Commission. We can no longer sit by and leave this to others. It is time for saints to rise up and take our place in the world with the message and ministry of reconciliation.

2Co_5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;