We’ve been looking at the ways healing is made available to us by the Lord. In yesterday’s post, we mentioned that 1) God heals by His Word, 2) God heals by the Holy Spirit, and 3) Healing comes by faith. Today we continue with our discussion on avenues for healing.

Healing comes through the faith of others.

God has given us other believers to come alongside us and believe for our health and healing. And sometimes, God will use believers to release their faith for the healing of someone who is not saved or is not strong in faith for healing. Here are some examples.

• Matthew 8:5-13 The centurion used his faith to obtain healing for his servant.

• Mark 5:21-24, 41-43 Jairus sought healing for his daughter.

• Luke 5:18-26 The man who was lowered through the roof on a mat had friends who used their faith to get him where he could be healed.

We don’t have to go it alone. God has given us the body of Christ and gifted ministers to help us receive.

Healing comes through the anointing.

The word anointing means to smear or rub on. The anointing is the life-filled power of the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit lives in us, the anointing is inside us, available to be used. We see a specific anointing, or empowerment, called the healing anointing, in action throughout the New Testament.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19 (KJV)

When the woman with the issue of blood touched Jesus’ clothing, she put a demand on the anointing. In other words, her faith accessed, or drew out, the anointing that was in Jesus. As a result, she was healed and made whole.

God heals through the laying on of hands.

These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” Mark 16:17-18 (New Living Translation, NLT)

Jesus made this statement about all believers- not just preachers. Believers can lay hands on people for them to be healed. As we reach out to God and to one another, Jesus reaches out through us, causing healing to flow and manifest. It is a blessing and honor that the Great Physician Himself would give us a role in transmitting His healing power to those who need it.

God heals through prayer and anointing with oil.

Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. James 5:14-15 (KJV)

We can go to a church leader, such as a pastor or elder, and we can request that they anoint us with oil and pray for our healing. The anointing oil is a point of contact; something tangible we use to represent something intangible. Oil often represents the Holy Spirit, and the application of oil shows we are releasing the Holy Spirit to bring healing. The prayer of faith will bring healing and the Lord will raise us up. God doesn’t want sin to hinder us from receiving our healing, so He ensures us that He will forgive us if we have sinned.

Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Psalms 103:3 (NKJV)

The same God that forgives also heals.

God heals by someone specifically called and anointed by God for healing ministry.

There have been (and still are) men and women of God known specifically for their healing ministries. The gifts of healings and working of miracles flow in their services. Many people have received healing by attending their meetings. Jesus walked in the healing anointing, and He has anointed people for healing ministry.

So that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.  The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Acts 5:15-16 (English Standard Version, ESV)

God will heal in church.

If a church is seeking God and worshipping Him, He will manifest miracles and healing during the service, even without anyone praying or laying hands on anyone. Some people will not go to church because they are sick, but that is the time when we really need to go. I have personally received healings when I went to the house of God.

Tomorrow, we will conclude this series about healing. I pray this is helping you and building faith in your heart to be healed.