Healing Anointing: Understanding God's Gift of Healing

Healing Anointing: Understanding God's Gift of Healing

Introduction

'Healing anointing' is an anointing—Spirit‑given power—that mends, cures, and makes whole so that we return to the original state of health. It is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's power operating through believers to bring restoration to the sick, the brokenhearted, and the wounded. The apostle Paul writes: "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a 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, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines" (1 Corinthians 12:7–11).

Healing is not a human achievement but a divine gift. It flows from the heart of God, who desires to restore His people to wholeness. The anointing for healing is the Holy Spirit's empowerment to bring supernatural healing to the sick, the suffering, and the afflicted. This article explores what the Bible teaches about healing anointing, who heals, what areas of our lives need healing, what the gifts of healing are, what causes healing, and how we should respond when we are healed.

Who Heals?

The Lord Jesus Christ is the healer. Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself as the One who heals His people. In Exodus, God declares: "If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you" (Exodus 15:26). This is one of the names of God—Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals. He is the source of all healing, both physical and spiritual.

The psalmist echoes this truth: "Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases" (Psalm 103:2–3). Healing is listed alongside forgiveness as one of God's great benefits to His people. He is the One who forgives and the One who heals. Both are expressions of His grace and mercy.

The healing ministry of Jesus demonstrates the Father's heart. Every healing Jesus performed was an act of compassion and a revelation of God's kingdom. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, made the lame walk, cleansed the lepers, and raised the dead. His healings were signs that the kingdom of God had come and that He was the promised Messiah. Today, Jesus continues to heal through the power of the Holy Spirit working in His church.

What Areas in Our Lives Do We Need Healing?

Healing is not limited to physical sickness. The Bible reveals that we need healing in several areas of our lives.

When we have sin. Sin is a spiritual sickness that separates us from God and from one another. It damages our relationship with God and brings consequences into our lives. The Lord promises: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). David prayed: "Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you" (Psalm 41:4). Spiritual healing comes through confession, repentance, and receiving God's forgiveness.

When we have sickness and disease. Jesus commanded His disciples: "As you go, proclaim this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give" (Matthew 10:7–8). Luke records: "The power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick" (Luke 5:17). Physical healing is part of the Gospel and is available to believers today.

When we have been brokenhearted and wounded. The psalmist declares: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3). God cares for our emotional and psychological wounds. He heals the heart that has been broken by grief, betrayal, loss, and rejection. His healing brings comfort, peace, and restoration.

When we have been backsliding. Jeremiah records God's invitation: "Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding" (Jeremiah 3:22). Backsliding is a turning away from God. It is a spiritual condition that requires healing. God calls us to return to Him, and He promises to heal us and restore our relationship with Him.

What Are the Gifts of Healing?

The gifts of healing are supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit for the healing of diseases and infirmities without natural means of any sort. They are the miraculous manifestation of the Spirit for the banishment of all human ills, whether acute or chronic. Paul writes: "And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:27–31).

There are many gifts of healing, not one, as is generally supposed. A believer possessing one or more of them will be used of God in certain cases of sickness but not necessarily in others. Some have great success in cases of blindness; some in deafness; some in cancers; some in internal disorders. The gifts may operate through touch or a word. In exceptional cases, healing may result without touch or word but by the very presence of one possessing the gift.

The gifts of healing are not given for personal glory but for the common good. They are to build up the church and to demonstrate the power and love of God. They are a sign of the kingdom and a foretaste of the complete healing that awaits us in the new creation. We are to eagerly desire the gifts, but we are also to pursue love, which is the most excellent way.

What Causes Healing?

Healing comes through various means, all of which are rooted in the power and grace of God.

Faith. Faith is the channel through which healing flows. There are different expressions of faith:

Substitution faith is when the sick person is too feeble to believe for themselves, and others believe on their behalf. When Jesus healed the paralytic, Mark records: "When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, 'Son, your sins are forgiven'... 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home'" (Mark 2:5, 11). The faith of the friends who brought the paralytic to Jesus was instrumental in his healing.

The faith of the sufferer alone is when the sick person has personal faith to be healed. The woman with the issue of blood said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed" (Matthew 9:21). Jesus said to her, "Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you" (verse 22). In Lystra, Paul saw that a crippled man "had faith to be healed" and called out to him, "Stand up on your feet!" (Acts 14:9–10).

The faith of the minister alone operates in special circumstances such as coma or unconsciousness or even death. When Jairus's daughter died, Jesus went to her and raised her to life (Matthew 9:18–25). The faith of the minister, operating in the power of the Spirit, brought about the miracle.

Combined faith of sufferer and minister is when both the sick person and the minister believe together for healing. When two blind men came to Jesus, He asked them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They replied, "Yes, Lord." Then He touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith let it be done to you" (Matthew 9:27–30).

Prayer and confessing of sin to one another. James instructs: "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:14–16).

The wounds (stripes) of Jesus. Isaiah prophesied: "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Peter echoes this: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24). Our healing is rooted in the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Through His suffering and death, He purchased our salvation and our healing.

The name of Jesus Christ. When Peter healed the lame man at the temple gate, he declared: "It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed" (Acts 4:10). The name of Jesus has authority over sickness and disease. There is power in His name to heal and to save.

What Must We Do When We Are Healed?

Give praise to God. When the ten lepers were healed, only one returned to give thanks. Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:17–18). Gratitude is the proper response to healing. We are to praise God for His goodness and mercy and to acknowledge that every good gift comes from Him.

Testify. Revelation declares: "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11). Testimony is a powerful weapon against the enemy. When we share what God has done for us, we encourage others and bring glory to God. Our testimony builds faith in others and declares the goodness of God.

Prayer Focus

When we seek healing, we should pray in the following ways:

Pray and ask God to forgive our sins. Sin can hinder our relationship with God and block the flow of His healing power. Confession and repentance open the door for healing.

Pray for healing of our sickness, brokenheartedness, and woundedness. Bring all your physical, emotional, and psychological needs to the Lord. He cares for you and desires to heal you.

Pray for healing of our backsliding. If you have wandered away from God, return to Him. He is faithful to forgive and restore.

The Clear Conclusion

Healing anointing is the Spirit‑given power that brings supernatural restoration to the sick, the brokenhearted, and the wounded. Jesus Christ is the healer, and He heals through the power of the Holy Spirit. Healing is available for sin, sickness, brokenheartedness, and backsliding. The gifts of healing are distributed by the Spirit for the common good, and they operate through faith, prayer, and the name of Jesus.

When we are healed, we are to give praise to God and testify of His goodness. Our healing is a testimony of His love and power, and it points others to the ultimate healing that awaits us in the new creation.

The foundation of all healing is the cross of Christ. By His wounds, we are healed. His sacrifice purchased our forgiveness, our salvation, and our healing. As we trust in Him and His finished work, we can experience His healing power in our lives. And we can look forward to the day when there will be no more sickness, no more pain, and no more death—when we will be fully and eternally healed in the presence of our Lord.

This article is based on a careful examination of Scripture, including 1 Corinthians 12:7–11, Exodus 15:26, Psalm 103:2–3, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 41:4, Matthew 10:7–8, Luke 5:17, Psalm 147:3, Jeremiah 3:22, James 5:14–16, Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24, Acts 4:8–10, Luke 17:11–19, and Revelation 12:11. For further study, consider reading the full accounts of Jesus' healing ministry and the teachings on spiritual gifts in the New Testament.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is healing anointing?

A: Healing anointing is the Spirit‑given power that brings supernatural healing and restoration. It is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's power operating through believers to heal the sick, the brokenhearted, and the wounded.

Q: Who heals?

A: The Lord Jesus Christ heals. He is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals. Healing comes through His power and His name. The Holy Spirit works through believers to bring healing to those in need.

Q: What areas of our lives need healing?

A: We need healing for sin, sickness and disease, brokenheartedness and wounds, and backsliding. Healing is holistic, addressing our spiritual, physical, emotional, and relational needs.

Q: What are the gifts of healing?

A: The gifts of healing are supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit for the healing of diseases and infirmities without natural means. There are many gifts of healing, operating in different ways and for different conditions. They are given for the common good and to build up the church.

Q: How does healing come?

A: Healing comes through faith, prayer and confession of sin, the wounds of Jesus, and the name of Jesus Christ. Faith can be that of the sufferer, the minister, or others acting on their behalf. Prayer offered in faith is powerful and effective.

Q: What should I do when I am healed?

A: When you are healed, give praise to God and testify of His goodness. Share your testimony to encourage others and to bring glory to God. Remember to thank Him for His healing power.

Q: Can anyone receive healing?

A: Healing is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. However, it is not always God's will to heal in every situation, and we may not always understand His purposes. We are called to trust in His sovereignty and to continue to seek Him in prayer. Ultimately, complete and eternal healing awaits us in the new creation.