'Those troubled by evil spirits were cured and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.'* ( Luke 6:18-19) The power to heal was flowing through the body of Jesus, such that those who touched him or those whom he touched were healed instantly ! Anyone, by faith, could *tap into* (freely avail whenever needed) the power that was flowing through him, just as the woman with the issue of blood did, for Jesus himself said, *"Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."* ( 8:46) However, what is more amazing is the fact that power flowed through Peter, even without him having to touch! *'As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered ... bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.'* ( Acts 5:15-16). And power flowed through Paul, even without him having to go! *'God did extraordinary miracles through Paul so that even aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick and their illness were cured and evil spirits left them.'* ( 19:11-12) They were able to do greater things because Christ himself said, *"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."* ( John 14:12) Hallelujah!
It was the *'power to heal'* that flowed through Jesus and not the *'impartation of the Spirit'* that was promised. *"Whoever believes in me, as the Scriptures has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Upto that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus was not glorified.'* (John 7:38-39) The *'impartation of the Spirit'* happened through the Apostles, following the day of Pentecost. The gifts of healing together with the impartation of the Spirit is a dynamic combination! Earlier, when Jesus had sent them to preach the gospel, they saw the power to heal, flow independent of them, now with the *'ability to impart the Spirit',* they saw the power to heal, flow through them ! This distinction between the *'power to heal'* and *'impartation of the Spirit'* is so obvious in Scriptures! For instance, *'Philip went to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks evil spirits came out of many and many paralytics and cripples were healed ... but the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them.'* ( Acts 8:5-7) The *'manifestation of the Spirit'* happened as Philip ministered because he was given the *'gifts of healing'* and *'miraculous powers'* ( 1 Corinthians 12:7-11) but he could not *'give the Spirit by the laying on of hands'.* That was exclusively the ministry of the Apostles, which Philip, the evangelist, couldn't do ! *'Then Peter and John placed their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.'* It was so distinct from the other, that *'when Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the Apostles' hands, he ... said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Peter answered: "... You have NO PART OR SHARE IN THIS MINISTRY because your HEART IS NOT RIGHT BEFORE GOD ... For I see that you are FULL OF BITTERNESS AND CAPTIVE TO SIN."'* (8:17-23). If there is unforgiveness in our hearts or sexual immorality and impurity in our lives, then the power of God cannot flow through us. *'See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up ... See that no one is sexually immoral ...'* ( Hebrews 12:15-16) The Spirit flows through those who have perfectly aligned their whole being; their spirit, soul and body with the source. What seems to be out of alignment is often our soul, the seat of our mind, will and emotions, which is the battlefield! The struggle in our minds is to believe and to constantly *'set our minds on things above and not on earthly things'* ( Colossians 3:2). If we *'renew our minds'* ( Romans 12:2) with the word of God and *'do not doubt in our hearts but believe'* ( Mark 11:23), then we too will certainly experience the power of God which flows in and through us, afterall, it does flow through his body, the Church! Amen.
留言