Training Believers to Do the Healing Ministry

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to the Father.” (John 14:12)

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. … And these signs will follow those who believe: In my name … they will land hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:15,18)

“And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The Kingdom of God has come near to you'” (Luke 10:9)

“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:20)

If evangelism is done the way Jesus commanded, the results will be a lot better. If, in the verses above, Jesus Christ was lying, we should follow another religion – one where the Teacher tells the truth. But if the verses above are the truth of God from the lips of the Master, why do we hesitate to implement them?

Recent History

In the last 100 years, God has raised up men and some women who have perceived clearly that Jesus meant what He said, and began to act in faith. Men like John G. Lake, Smith Wigglesworth and T.L. Osborn have demonstrated the truth of these words. In recent times men like Carlos Annacondia have gone on to demonstrate the same things.
The results have often been quite spectacular.

None of these men taught the popular view that only a few specially gifted ones could possibly move in the realms of divine healing as they did. On the contrary, their teaching encouraged believers to lay hold of their divine privileges and move out in the name of Jesus. Yet of all the multitudes who heard these men and others like them, relatively few have gone on to do the works of Jesus in divine healing and the casting out of demons – though some have. The reason is that it takes more than an exhortation, or an example from the pulpit, to equip people in this work. To the extent that ministers have taken the time to implement training for others, and actually do it with them, to the same extent the impact of the ministry has multiplied.

Traditional Pentecostal/Charismatic Views

There are still plenty of Pentecostal leaders who are not exercising an effective ministry in the area of divine healing. They simply don't get many biblical results. People stay sick all too often. These leaders should learn how to minister. They are not qualified to teach others about it. Neither are they authorized by the Lord to discourage others who are beginning to take steps of faith in this area.

Some churches delight in strange manifestations as a proof of God's presence. In some places, there are more people falling over than getting healed. But where did God say, “These signs will follow those who believe: they shall fall over under the anointing”?

The present state of affairs is sad enough for those who fail to receive healing. But what is even more tragic is that future generations of believers are discouraged by the failure of their leaders to do evangelism the way Jesus commanded. The whole thing is perpetuating itself in too many places. It will take changed methods and changed attitudes to get different results. This article seeks to address some possibilities.

My Limited Experience

I have had experience in training both Romanian and Indian nationals to do the work of healing ministry, and the results so far have been encouraging. People testify to being healed of paralysis and other things, even through the ministry of young Bible college students or others who acted as my translators. I don't have the money to reach the whole world with my preaching ministry and no one is likely to give it to me either. But the body of Christ can reach the world with the power of God. I realized that just doing the healing ministry myself was not going to get the job done. Having studied the Word of God for myself, I see that what “should be” and “what is” are two different things, with regards to the way we are doing evangelism. Yes, I have gone in Jesus' name and seen all kinds of miracles happen – like deaf mutes healed, tumors vanish and so on. Reports come back of the totally blind seeing. This has resulted in conversions and church growth, including new churches being started. People in Pentecostal and charismatic churches often give lip service to the idea of these things being normal, but actually, something else is usually the priority – something like a building fund, or a choir practice, or a Christian rock concert. The gifts of the Spirit, and a commitment to the supernatural power of God is not an actual priority to many leaders. If it was, they would not only be demonstrating it themselves, but actually training others to do it. It takes time, lots of time in prayer and in going out on the field; it requires commitment and personal vulnerability, so it is easy to put aside for another day.

It is sad, but true, that many times, especially at the beginning, when I have gone in Jesus' name and signs have followed, it has been in spite of the convictions of Pentecostal church leaders. If they had their way I would not have gone. I will not speak of pastors holding a cessationist theology, but rather of those who profess to be led by the Holy Spirit and also to be going after the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Local church leaders have a tendency to disregard, if not to actively squash, this kind of ministry. I know well how this works. In order to minister divine healing, most of us must look for opportunities outside the church. Local churches in general are not training people to do this work. There have been more lost opportunities because of this one factor than it will ever be possible to calculate. This is also true even in many churches where the senior pastor is personally effective in healing ministry. We are called to equip people to do the work of the ministry, following the example of the Lord.

In my case, so that I can obey the commands of Jesus, I go to foreign countries to preach the gospel. And this I will continue to do unless God commands me to stay in my home country of Australia. In these places, because I am a guest speaker, people are happy to receive my ministry either in preaching or in house to house visitation, and results follow – both in divine healing and the salvation of souls. Yet what I see in many cases in these places, is a strongly entrenched view that their local believers should not be encouraged or expected to do this kind of ministry themselves. These local believers face the same thing I face at home. Pastors who themselves are not being used in this area cannot imagine that it is right for their new believers to do it. They seem to think it is the domain of a few famous big name healing evangelists.

In questioning people, I have found the following objections and obstacles to the practice of divine healing by the average believer or even the average church worker or pastor:

Not everyone is gifted to do this ministry – not all have the gift of healing

Very few who do this ministry effectively ascribe their success to the gift of healing. It has more to do with faith, boldness and a lot of time spent in the presence of God. While it is true that not everyone is called to major on the healing ministry, everyone can be used in this area, if they meet the conditions.

God has provided many ways for divine healing to be ministered. The “gifts of healing” are only one of those ways. These gifts are for the person receiving the healing anyway. None of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 are at the initiative of one who “has that gift”. Like Jesus, we are called to operate in dependence on the Holy Spirit. It is a misconception to think that some people have the gift of healing, in the sense that they can decide to go to sick people anywhere, anytime and heal them. These gifts operate by a special leading of the Lord (1 Corinthians 12:11). The operation of the gifts of healing is just one of the ways that the Lord can bring healing. God hates disease so much he provided quite a number of other ways for healing to be administered. One is the anointing with oil by the elders of the church. Another is by simply speaking the Word of God. Another is laying spirit-empowered hands on sick people, for their recovery. (Mark 16:18).

Every believer has the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit has all the gifts. They can be used as He leads. A special leading of God may result in a person effectively ministering healing to someone who does not have strong faith to receive. God is sovereign and can do that. But we need not wait for these special leadings before we act on the Word of God.

Some have a special ministry of healing. But this does not preclude the average believer or Christian worker from stepping out in real faith to do the works of Jesus, any more than the presence of e

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