The HolySpirit manifests χαρισματα ιαματων ("gifts of healings") for the profit of all. This is an important ministry for God's people as they bring Christ to a world dead in sin. One of Jesus' primary commissions to His disciples was for them to heal the sick. He gave them the authority to do this in His Name before His death and resurrection (Luke 9:2), and then permanently gave them the power or ability to do it after His ascension when the HolySpirit was poured out by the Father through Him (Luke 24:46-49)(Acts 1:8).
Healing was also to be a sign of those who believed in Him (Mark 16:16-18), separating them from those who either claimed to know Him but did not, or those who professed no faith at all in Him (Matthew 7:21-22). Healing would be a seal upon Christ's disciples, that they were standing in His place upon the earth in the power of His Spirit.
"Gifts" is from the Greek word (χαρισματα) where we get our English words "charism" and "charismatic." It comes from the Greek root χαρις, meaning "grace." Thus, this kind of gift is something that is inherently freely given. It is not owed to the person, but is favor shown without any merit on the receiver's part. "Healings" (ιαματων) comes from the simple Greek root meaning to heal, cure or make whole.
Examples of this type of "healing"
This Greek form is used of many things in the Gospel accounts, both in noun and verb forms:
The centurion's request for Jesus to speak a word and his servant would be healed, which happened (Matthew 8:8-13).
The Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon-possessed, who begged Jesus for a "crumb" of the bread due to the children, which was the "healing" of her daughter (Matthew 15:21-28).
A woman with a flowing of blood who believed if she only touched Jesus, she would be "saved" (the word used for saving from sin), who was "healed" (this study's word) of her affliction (Mark 5:24-29).
A boy possessed by an unclean spirit which convulsed him violently and threw him upon the ground, was "healed" by Jesus after He rebuked the spirit (Luke 9:42).
A man with dropsy was taken by Jesus and "healed" (Luke 14:1-4).
One with leprosy was cleansed by Jesus by simply going to the priest to show himself, and came back to Jesus right away as he saw he was "healed" (Luke 17:11-15).
Peter cut off the ear of a man who was attempting to apprehend Jesus after His betrayal by Judas; in response, Jesus "healed" that man (Luke 22:49-51).
A man who had been so weak that for 38 years he had been lying on a bed not able to walk, was "healed" by Jesus without knowing Who He was at first (John 5:5-13).
The Needs of All
All of these instances (and there are many more) show the varying ability of these "gifts of healings." They encompass the wide range of needs that the people of this world have.
As Jesus spoke to the Canaanite woman, this (healing) is the children's bread, and they should be eating first. Therefore, this manifestation is primarily for the healing of those within the Assembly, those who have been born again and have entered God's Kingdom.
However, after they have eaten, Jesus recognizes that the "puppies" surrounding the table should also eat. In this metaphor, Christ declares that there is a portion of healing for those who are without the Kingdom, who have not entered the Assembly through a new birth by God's Word, ChristJesus. They too are able to eat of this bread that is healing, according to their faith.
In many instances in the Gospels, those yet to repent would begin to listen to and follow Jesus because of the gifts of healings that He possessed and gave. The Lord at many times asked the people to believe Him at least for His works' sake, showing that such healings were a sign of His being sent by the Father (John 10:38), just as they are for us who believe in Him.
Vessels of Healings
Like the other manifestations of the Spirit, this one is to be sought after as a spiritual thing (1 Corinthians 14:1). We who have been transferred from darkness to light by trusting in God's Son, and who have been then baptized into the HolySpirit by asking the Father, are candidates to be used by that same Spirit in these gifts of healings. Just as Jesus ministered them in various ways, so we can expect the Spirit to do through us.
In the letters of the apostles, this same word form is used at least three times:
First, of guarding our feet by making straight paths so that our lameness may not be made worse but rather "healed" (Hebrews 12:13). This image is profound in that it shows that we are to make, literally, straight wheel tracks, for our feet. Picture a carriage or train going down a road; if the worn path were to become crooked at one spot, the vehicle would be set out of place and overturn. He then says "so that which is lame may not be dislocated." The context was being disciplined by God. As we are set back upon the path, we continue to recover from the sins that put us off the path. In that way we remain lame for a time, prone to injury again. As we make paths straight, we are able to be "healed." As our path guides us forward, we have time to recover and be fully cured from our past injuries. We see how then "healing" can be a matter of spiritual growth from past sins, not just curing of bodily ailments or deliverance from evil spirits.
Second, of confessing our faults to one another, and praying for each other that we might be "healed" (James 5:16). The context is both of one who is weak or suffering, even if it is a matter of sin. Our praying for each other brings "healing," just as Elijah's praying stayed and brought the necessary rain for the land; through this ministry we are able to bring back those who have wandered from the truth (James 5:13-20).
Third, of a complete salvation of spirit and body. As Isaiah prophesied of the Servant of Yahweh, He would bear the sins of many and "by His wound we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). The apostle Peter sees this prophecy brought to fulfillment in Christ, Who upon the Cross bore our sins in His own Body, and "by His wound you all were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). This same word for "healed" is used there, showing that it is all-encompassing as we see in Christ's ministry, for spirit, soul and body.
As seen above, as part of the healing that came, Jesus also: held people, spoke a word from a great distance, let Himself be touched by one believing, actively touched those in need, spoke directly to the one in need, and even gave specific commands for those in need to act out in faith. Through these various ways, the Spirit ministered through Christ, and all were healed. So too we must listen to the Spirit, as we seek Him for this manifestation when necessary, and do as He says. The method of these gifts will vary, but the result will always be the same: healings!
As you read this site, you will hopefully come to know Yahweh more fully.
But all of this continuing knowledge is useless unless and until you come into union with Him. I use the word union because it is truly a marriage. It is that deep connection we all seek, for which we most often look in other people. However, the truth is that our hearts will only be fulfilled when we enter that union in fullness with the One Who made us.
This is the grace of God, that He has not stayed distant for us only to worship as Creator. But He has come unto us, even become one of us—in His Son, ChristJesus—in order to share an intimate union with us. He desires such closeness that it truly will envelope our entire life, transforming us into something new and wonderful.
You may have already entered this union with Him and only seek to know Him better through reading here. But if you have not, as you do read, let this Gospel sink into your heart as you read it now.
God loves you, and has cast your sins into the sea. He has sent His only Son as the Savior of the world—that includes you.
That Son, JesusChrist, was born as a man through a virgin who had given her life to Yahweh; He lived without sin, reflected the glory of His Father, God, in all His words and deeds, and was persecuted even unto death because of it.
His death upon a cross was the powerful explosion that separated you from your life of death. It remains for you, now, to enter into that death with Him. As you die to the one you are now, a person separated from God from your many sins, you will be born anew, with a nature predisposed to live rightly. This gift is free to you, with nothing you can do to earn it. It is the mercy of God to offer it to you, as He loves you so much! All you must do is receive it by trusting Him to have delivered you. Simply place your life in His hands and embrace the freedom that came through that death on the cross.
The Gospel is that Jesus did not remain dead, but rose again on the third day after His crucifixion! Death could not hold Him, as He was without sin. And so death will not be able to hold you, as you identify with Him fully through your trust in Him. Let go of yourself and confess Him as Lord of your life. The power of His death and resurrection will work in you all that your Creator has destined for you. You will truly enter a new life and experience that intimate union you have been seeking all of your life.
So ponder these words as you read here of this great God—Yahweh—and all that He has revealed to His creation. Let His Spirit testify to your heart that these words are true, that God is Love, and that He sent His Son so that you might receive the life that is unbound by time and space. As you feel that witness in your heart, simply believe and receive what He is offering to you, even now, and begin your new life as a child of God.
Please write to me and let me know when you take this step, as I will be your brother in Christ—we will be one in Him!
Email the Author
I welcome your questions, testimonies, suggestions and fellowship. Please contact me by using the form below.
If you are using this form on the same page as material I've written, the form will automatically let me know what material this is.
I am using this form rather than posting my email address because of spammers who harvest addresses from websites.
Scripture Quotes: World English Bible Translation.
Site designed and written by J. Solomon Kostelnik. Please do not distribute without credit.
Thank you to the free open-source projects PHP/MySQL.
02 min(s)