Gifts of Faith and Healing

1 Corinthians 12:1-9
Now, dear brothers and sisters, [ a ]  regarding your question about the special abilities the
Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this.  2  You know that when you were
still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.  3  So I
want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one
can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.
4  There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them
all.  5  There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.  6  God works in
different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.
7  A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.  8  To one person the
Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice [b] ; to another the same Spirit gives a message
of special knowledge. [c]   9  The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone
else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.
In 1 Corinthians 12, the Apostle Paul begins to unfold the beauty and power of the gifts
of the Spirit. Among them, he names something distinct—“The same Spirit gives great
faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.” Now this
is important, because Paul is not talking about saving faith. Saving faith is given to
every believer. We are all saved by grace through faith. But this—this is something
different. This is the gift of faith—a supernatural impartation of confidence in God
for a specific moment, a specific need, or a specific impossibility.
It is faith that goes beyond believing—it is faith that knows. The gift of faith is not
something you work up—it is something the Spirit gives.
The Story of Rolland and Heidi Baker
When the gift of faith is operating:
 Fear loses its grip It strengthens others
 Doubt is silenced It builds up the Body of Christ
 And your spirit stands firm It inspires courage to those who are
discouraged
It is not based on what you see—it is rooted in who God is.
The Gift of Faith operates in impossible situations and shows up when human
ability runs out.
Faith and Healing Come from the Same Source

Paul repeats a phrase throughout the passage: “by the same Spirit.”
 Faith is given by the Spirit
 Healing is given by the Spirit
This means neither gift is human ability. You cannot manufacture either one. They are
both supernatural operations of the Holy Spirit. The connection begins here: Faith
and healing both originate in God, not in us.
Text: 2 Kings 5:1–14
So while Naaman looked powerful on the outside, he had a deep need on the
inside—something no position, wealth, or influence could fix. Leprosy is: Medically: a
treatable infectious disease (Hansen’s disease) Biblically: a broader category of
conditions with deep social and spiritual consequences
And in both cases, it highlights a central truth:
Human beings need restoration that goes deeper than the surface—and God is
able to bring it.
Naaman was a great man—but he was also a broken man. This condition of leprosy
caused great consternation, and it overshadowed everything else.
1. Healing Often Begins with an Unexpected Voice
2. Healing Requires Letting Go of Our Expectations
3. Healing Demands Humility and Obedience
4. Healing Is Both Physical and Spiritual
Naaman’s story reminds us:
 Healing may come through unexpected people
 Healing may not look like we imagined
 Healing requires humility and obedience
 Healing ultimately leads us to know God more deeply
The question is not whether God can heal—the question is:
Are we willing to trust His way? Maybe today, God is asking you to take a step that feels
small… simple… even uncomfortable. Go ahead—step into the Jordan!