As a witness of the resurrection and saving power of Jesus Christ, I groan in my spirit whenever I see anyone who professes to be a child of God, like myself, suffering under the burden of sickness. I have zero tolerance for sickness in the lives of my children in the faith and all fellow believers. This is why we frequently organise meetings where we stir up faith in the hearts of believers to receive their healings. We do this for one singular reason expressed in Psalm 155:2: we don’t want unbelievers to doubt what we say about our God. Divine healing is proof that He reigns in the affairs of men. Those who don’t believe in our God will believe when He moves to heal diseases and sicknesses perceived to be incurable, like He did for the lame man at the temple’s gate (Act 3:1-4:4). God healed him, and that singular miracle created a platform for Peter to preach God’s word, bringing five thousand souls to the Lord. Pastors and preachers of God’s word must desire healing, not only for themselves but also for their ailing congregants, so that God’s word in their mouth will be established. This is why Jeremiah, a prophet of God, cried unto God for His healing in Jeremiah 17:13-16.

Another reason why you and I must live in perfect health is found in Isaiah 53:5, which says:
“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.”
Our healing confirms that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and Saviour of the whole world. Healing is part of the package delivered to us through His work of atonement. When we minister healing to the world in the Name of Jesus, we establish that the word of God we preach is the eternal truth that should be embraced. When people of other faiths are afflicted with seemingly incurable diseases and we tell them of the healing virtue in the Blood of atonement, the healing they receive after believing our message stands their faith in Christ on the firm foundation of God’s power. Such people will treasure their salvation and hold on to their faith to the very end. This is why Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 2:4-5:
“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
Let us begin to desire and ask God for the gifts of healing more than ever before, because when we manifest these gifts, our assignment of evangelising to the world will be much easier. Do you desire the gifts of healing? Ask God for it today.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.