5 wrong beliefs can stop you from praying for the sick. Bible tells us that every believer has power authority to heal the sick. In the New Testament the believers went around to many places, preached the gospel and also healed the sick and did many miracles. This power and authority of believers to heal the sick is available in present time also.

But some Christians, or the church organisations believe healing is not for present time. They believe some unbiblical understandings and do not pray for healing and discourage others to pray for healing. Let us discuss the reasons for these.

Five reasons:

1. They believe that they need special gift of healing mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12. As they don’t have the gift, they cannot pray for the sick.

2. Only apostles were given power to heal the sick. so, we cannot heal the sick. 

3. They are afraid that if they pray for someone and they don’t get healed, they will look foolish – so better they do not pray.

4. They never experienced healing in their life – so they do not do not pray for the sick. They chose to make Doctrine out of their experiences instead of looking what word of God’s says.

5. They are not taught how to pray for healing the sick. So they are not comfortable to pray for the sick. 

Quick explanation-

1. They believe they don’t have a Healing ‘’gift’’ this is a false understanding.

2. Only “Apostles” were given the power to heal the sick or cast out demons- false understanding , not from new testament.

3. They are afraid that if they pray for someone and they don’t get healed, they will look foolish – which is Pride.

4. They never experienced healing in their life – so they chose to make Doctrine out of their experiences instead of looking what word of God’s says

5. They are not taught how to pray for healing the sick.They should be taught.

Argument in details:

1. They believe they don’t have a Healing ‘’gift’’.

Gift of healing is mentioned in

1 Corinthians 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to other gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 

So, they believe believer not having gift of healing cannot pray for healing the sick.

There is something called gift of healing, but scripture also says all believer of Jesus Christ can heal the sick.

Matthew 10:1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

Luke 9:1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,

Jesus sent his disciples to preach the gospel also he gave them power and authority to heal the sick. Every disciple of Jesus has got the same power and authority to heal. 

Matthew 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 

So Jesus Christ was not happy when the disciples could not heal the sick. He wanted them to have faith to heal the sick.

 After the Pentecost, In the book of Acts we found disciples were healing the sick and casting out demons.

Let’s see what Peter did..

Acts 5:16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

In fact Jesus said one of the mark of discipleship is ——-ability to heal the sick

Mark 16:18  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So this understanding that you need special “gift of healing’’ to pray for the sick – is a false understanding.

2. Another false argument: Sometime people also argue that it was the 12 apostles only who did miracle. Others cannot do these.

• In the New Testament there are people who were not in apostolic ministry but they did miracles –

Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”

These believers were not having apostolic ministry they healed the sick.

• We can see some unknown disciples were healing the sick and casting out demons in – mark 9:38-40. Jesus christ said do not stop them.

• The early church selected seven men to administer the food bank of the Jerusalem fellowship (Acts 6:1-6). One of these men was Stephen:

Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.

• Philip performed miracles and healed many.

Acts 8:5-7 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

• Ananias was an ordinary disciple. The lord directed him to go to saul ( who became Paul ) to pray for his sight and to baptize him. Ananias prayed for saul, and he received his sight. Acts 9:11-12
• Paul the apostle was telling the Corinthian church to use all spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 1:7
• There was miracle work in Galatians church- Galatians 3:5

The miracle was not the sign of apostle but every believer of Jesus Christ can operate in miracle. These miracles are out word manifestation of Holy spirit in them.

Argument

3. They are afraid that if they pray for someone and they don’t get healed, they will look foolish – which is Pride.

What we should do when someone is not healed?

First of all we need to understand it is God who does the healing not us. God told us to pray for the sick and in obedience we need to pray for the sick, to heal them. There are instances when people may not be healed.

1. Sometime I keep praying until they get healed. Once I prayed for a paralytic for one and half hour for her healing. She got completely healed. In another case we prayed for a paralytic for 5 minutes and he got completely healed. I will continue praying if I feel like praying and if the person allows.
2. Sometime healing starts but it takes time for complete healing.
3. Ask God for further guidance. God may give you a word of knowledge so you need to act accordingly.
4. Do not be discouraged if the person is not getting healed.

Finally if you prayed for a sick person that means you obeyed God’s command. If the person does not get healed that does not make you fool.

Argument

4. They never experienced healing in their life – so they chose to make Doctrine out of their experiences instead of looking what word of God’s says

Check the word of God and your understanding. Do not make doctrine out of your experience but seek the truth from God’s word.

Argument

5. They are not taught how to pray for healing the sick. So they are not comfortable to pray for the sick. 

They should be taught how to pray for the sick. When the disciples of Jesus were there with Him they were watching Jesus Christ very closely. They learned how to share gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons. After that Jesus Christ sent them they were able to do it independently.

 

Luke 10:17Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name.”

They leant and now they started doing it. It is the responsibility of every disciple of Jesus Christ to teach other disciple. We in our ministry teach the disciples how they can heal the sick practically.