The Difference Between Authority (to heal) and the Gifts of Healing.

[ChrisHill]

I haven't seen a specific healing in scripture that was defined as one or the other. When it comes to healing in general, there are some verses to look at as to their purpose and the authority they invoke:

[Jhn 10:25 NKJV] Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me.

What works was Jesus speaking of here?

[Act 2:22 NKJV] "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know--

So miracles, wonders and signs are a testament from God that the one who does them is true. The inverse of this means, if you or I have the potential to misrepresent God in any way to the person we heal, He cannot work that healing through us. Why is it that Jesus could...

[Mat 12:15 NKJV] But when Jesus knew [it], He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.

He healed them all. In fact, it says that basically anywhere he went, he healed them all. There is only one exception to this.

Jesus could heal them all because he would never misrepresent God - he is the Image of God. Thus, his works were a tesament (proof) from God of who he is. Today, no man has the authority to heal as Jesus did (Peter and Paul were the closest, however, toward the end of their ministries they did so less and less. The evidence would suggest that this was not because their work was finished, rather, because they began to misrepresent God in some ways.)

[Gal 2:11 NKJV] Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed;
[Gal 2:12 NKJV] for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
[Gal 2:13 NKJV] And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

Before Paul began his ministry (healing and power), he studied for many years. God cannot allow someone to heal a person if they will misrepresent him.

This would also indicate that today, we are in rough shape when it comes to misrepresenting God. Hopefully, we can get back on track. Looking at was Jesus was able to do, someone who does works in his name should be able to heal all the sick. This topic is very large, and proves itself throughout scripture. If you have any questions or would like to discuss it, I'm happy to.

 

[Kevin10676]

I am a follower of Christ and walk in my identity in Christ and lay hands on the sick and they get healed instantly. I am also curious about the difference as I am not sure there is outside of bringing edification to the church body as I lay hand on both believers and non Christians and both get healed physically, mentally, spiritually and so on.

Kevin

 

[Willie-T]

A friend from Canada, Gary Best, wrote this.

When I was younger, I was quite taken with a cartoon advertisement that used to appear regularly in various magazines. The purpose was to highlight how the Charles Atlas exercise program could change your life. Each cartoon strip followed the same script. It always began with a skinny young man (that I always identified with) that miraculously had the most beautiful girlfriend. Often he would make the same grievous mistake: He would take her to the beach. (“No, don’t do it!” I would caution – he never listened.) Invariably, they would be confronted by a buff, powerful man (on steroids?), who would kick sand in the young man’s face and humiliate him in front of his girlfriend. Discouraged, he would walk away, only to discover the magazine ad. Immediately he would send away for this extraordinary secret program and, within minutes of receiving it and putting it into practice, he would be transformed into the ultimate specimen of macho manhood. With new confidence, he would head for the beach and impress the girl by asserting his newfound power. (“She’s bad news,” I warned, but he still never listened.)

This is a classic example of power over power. Often we approach our kingdom commission just that way, looking for the magic program that will transform us into “men and women of power”, who will be able to overcome our evil opponents single-handedly. How could this story be changed to illustrate the true nature of our commission, that of ambassadorial authority?

I suppose the story might play out much the same way until the young man wanders despondently away from the beach. This time, however, he doesn’t encounter a magazine advertisement; he runs into an old friend – Arnold Schwarenegger. As he pours out his heart to Arnie, his friend says, “Let’s go back and right this wrong!” Excitedly, our young friend returns, finds the beach bully, and puffing up his chest, announces, “You’re outta here!” With a frightening stare, the man forgets all about the beautiful girl and literally races for safety. Who is he staring at? At first it might appear that he is looking at our new hero. In reality, he is looking just past him to the one riding shotgun off his right shoulder – Arnold!. “Hasta la vista, baby!” he says. This is authority over power. Our man hasn’t gained a pound or grown an inch. He has, however, gained authorization from a superior power that has agreed to “back his act”.

This kind of support can be intoxicating. I can imagine our young man becoming so zealous that he decides to rid the beach of every undesirable. This could work well… until Arnold breaks for lunch or decides that the mission has now exceeded what he originally “authorized”. So it is with our kingdom mission. Our success is commensurate to the authority that backs us and that backing is totally dependent on our obedience. When we are simply walking out what we have been commissioned to do, we can expect God’s full support

 

[coby]

This is a question that I haven't been able to find a sufficient answer to. What is the practical difference between operating out of authority to heal the sick (as the disciples did) and operating through the gifts of healing given by the Holy Spirit? Is there an operational difference?

The only answer that I got that I found, in part, sufficient was a matter of ministry. Someone may be called/chosen to a ministry of healing (think Kathryn Kuhlman), where as other believers are called to something else (like prophecy/prophetic). So, the difference between the authority every believer has (to address sickness), and the gifts of healing is matter of ministry, what the calling on their life is.

This still, however, doesn't answer the operational difference between the two.

I don't think there is a difference. The gifts don't work if you don't use your authority.
That there are also these gifts (people) to the Body has nothing to do with that. It has to work together.

 

[Grace777x70]

I think the same way. To me it all boils down to be open and willing to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I'm convinced that the more we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus - the more we will manifest His authority coming from us to effect changes to people.

I think we will operate in His authority more when we grow in Him and in who we are in Christ as part of His body.

I don't think there is a difference. The gifts don't work if you don't use your authority.
That there are also these gifts (people) to the Body has nothing to do with that. It has to work together.

 

[ladylynn]

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[TD="width: 100%, align: left"]Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
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[TD="colspan: 3, align: left"] You are probably a responsible person who is concerned about providing well for your family—making sure that there is food on the table, money for the children’s needs, comfort and education, and so on.

What does God have to say to us about these legitimate concerns? According to Matthew 6:31, He tells us, “Do not worry.” Now, He is not saying that we don’t need all these things because in the same portion of scripture He says, “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:32)

So God cares about us having these things. He wants us to have all these things. In fact, He wants all these things added to us. And He tells us that the way these things are added to us is by us seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Therefore, our number one priority every day is to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. It is not to seek to add these things to ourselves.

But what is righteousness? Righteousness is not right behavior. It is right standing with the Father. It is the clearance of all your guilt, which makes you able to stand before God. It is not something you get through right behavior. It is a gift from God. Paul calls it “the gift of righteousness”. (Romans 5:17) And to “seek” this gift is to be conscious of the fact that you have it, to confess that you are righteous in Christ.

So this righteousness we are told to seek is not right behavior, but right standing before God, which comes to us as a gift when we receive salvation. At the cross, Jesus didn’t just remove our sins, He also gave us His righteousness so that today, we can come boldly before the throne of God and receive freely everything that He died to give us!

Today, if you want to provide your family with the good things in life, be assured that your heavenly Father knows that you need these things. Just seek His righteousness, not your own righteousness, and “all these things shall be added to you”!

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Destined to Reign devotional.