Today we think of the healing ministry as just for ministers or evangelists that have the gift of healing. But let’s look at what the New Testament actually says:

1.It’s for all those who believe

‘He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation….. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons…..they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.“’ (Mk 16:15-18)

Jesus says that ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE will pray for people and see healing. Why? Because it’s part of the Gospel. It’s the evidence that the Gospel is true and brings healing and wholeness.

Some say that Mk 16:9-20 is a later addition and not part of Mark’s Gospel. It certainly could be a later addition but that doesn’t mean it’s not Scripture. Dt 34:5-12 is not written by Moses. It’s a later addition because its about his death, but no-one disputes that this is not part of Scripture.

But the argument that the healing ministry is for all believers doesn’t depend on Mk 16:15-18.

2.Healing is part of Salvation

‘”What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.’ (Mk 10:51-52)

Jesus heals the blind man Bartimaeus. He declares that his faith has healed him. This verb in the Greek for “healed” has two meanings: healing or saved. Here the translator has chosen “healed” because of the context, but some translations choose “your faith has saved you” because Bartimaeus begins to follow Jesus. Both translations are true. This shows that healing is an intrinsic part of salvation. So to preach salvation includes healing of the whole person too. The door is open for all who believe in Jesus to receive and to preach healing.

Today churches separate the ministry of evangelism and healing. But Jesus puts the two together.

J.John, the famous Greek evangelist, recounts that when he preached the Gospel in India to the masses, many people got healed too without him preaching about healing and asking people to come forward. Why? Because the healing ministry goes along with the preaching of the Gospel. So the healing ministry is for all whose who preach the Gospel.

Here’s a book that will help you to preach the Gospel with power:

GRACE OUTPOURINGS: 21 DAYS REVIVAL DEVOTIONAL which has lots of stories taken from recent revivals and relevant daily verses for a great devotional experience.

3.It’s our identity as believers

“After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go…. “Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you…. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”’ (Lk10:1,9,19)

Jesus sent out the 72 to preach the Gospel and heal the sick. So this is yet another passage that demonstrates that the healing ministry is for all, not just the 12 Apostles.

4.What about the specialist healing ministry in the Bible?

“To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit…” (1 Cor 12:8-9)

Obviously there are believers who have a gift of healing and grow and develop this gift. They then become specialists in this area. However, that doesn’t mean that other believers can’t pray for healing too and see Jesus heal. In fact, those with a specialist healing ministry are there also to train believers in the church how to pray for healing.

I saw Bill Johnson from Bethel Church, USA,  preach in England once, at a big event. He preached from a text of the Bible with great understanding, and then ministered healing. But he didn’t pray for a single person. He organised the believers in the crowd to pray for those who raised their hands near them because they needed healing.  After people praying, Bill asked for people to test if they were healed, if this was possible. After testing,

5.Healing is for the nations

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”

God has an enormous vision for the preaching of the Gospel. It is to bring healing and blessing not only to individuals but to whole nations. How can whole nations be healed if only those with the gift of healing can bring healing, in a world that has 8 billion people? So the healing ministry is to be taken to the nations.

Go and heal individuals and nations

So as believers, we don’t need to wait to receive the ministry of healing. You already have. It’s your identity as sons and daughters of the King, who is the God who heals. So go out and preach the Gospel of repentance and faith in Christ but also that Christ heals today.

Here’s a book that will help you to preach the Gospel with power:

GRACE OUTPOURINGS: 21 DAYS REVIVAL DEVOTIONAL which has lots of stories taken from recent revivals and relevant daily verses for a great devotional experience.