We need the power of the Holy Spirit to see miracles! There are nine gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12: – three vocal gifts, speaking with tongues, the interpretation of tongues, and prophecy – three intellectual gifts, the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom, and the discerning of spirits – three practical gifts, the gifts of healing, the working of miracles and the gift of faith. The gift of faith is NOT an intellectual gift! If you see faith as only an intellectual gift, you will never see its power. It is a practical gift; it’s the one I ask for – more than any other gift!
Jesus HEALED the sick
Jesus never once in the four Gospels told His disciples to pray for the sick. He said, ‘HEAL the sick!’ (Luke 9&10). He was speaking with authority; this isn’t a game you play. He said you’ve got authority to preach the Gospel and HEAL the sick – both are the command of Christ! Yes, in James 5:14 it says ‘the prayer of faith will save the sick’ – but this is in the church. There is a big difference between the call of the evangelist and ministry within the church. ‘Preach the Gospel, HEAL the sick!’ – as an evangelist, I HAVE to do it! It’s a command. I CAN’T stop preaching the Gospel – I CAN’T stop healing miracles following. And God will even heal the unbelievers – whether they repent or not!
Why the Gift of Faith is a Practical Gift
A common misconception is treating faith strictly as an intellectual gift or mental assent. The gift of faith is fundamentally a practical gift. Viewing faith through a purely intellectual lens strips it of its supernatural power. To see miracles manifest, faith must be requested and deployed as a practical tool of spiritual authority.
The Command of Christ: "Heal the Sick"
In the four Gospels, Jesus never once instructed His disciples to merely pray for the sick. Instead, He issued a direct command of authority: "Heal the sick!" (as seen in Luke 9 and Luke 10).
The Mandate: Believers are given divine authority to both preach the Gospel and heal the sick. Both actions are non-negotiable commands from Christ.
The Evangelist vs. The Local Church: A distinct line must be drawn between ministry inside the church and the call of the evangelist. While James 5:14 instructs elders to offer the "prayer of faith" for sick believers within the local church body, the evangelistic mandate is outward-facing.
Miracles as a Sign: For an evangelist, preaching the Gospel and witnessing healing miracles are inextricably linked. God frequently heals unbelievers – regardless of whether they have repented yet – as a powerful sign of His goodness that draws them to repentance.
Key Takeaways
What are the 3 categories of spiritual gifts? Vocal (tongues, interpretation, prophecy), Intellectual (knowledge, wisdom, discerning of spirits), and Practical (faith, healing, miracles).
Did Jesus command us to heal the sick? Yes. In Luke 9 and 10, Jesus explicitly commanded His disciples to heal the sick using His authority, rather than just praying for them.
Does God heal unbelievers? Yes, healing miracles often flow to unbelievers as a sign of God's grace and evangelistic power.