At a recent workshop one of the delegates asked me an interesting question: “Can I pray for healing for others even if I am suffering from the same problem myself?” The reasoning being that, if I am not healed in an area myself, how can I expect others to be healed through me. In many ways this conclusion makes sense, but only from a human way of thinking.

Creating an imaginary bar that we must leap over before we can be used by God is a popular but unbiblical construct. On the contrary, a spiritually mature paradigm isn’t swayed by “my personal circumstances” quite so easily. I don’t say this lightly or to judge anyone: I readily admit that I have much to learn in this area. But the principle is sound. Our salvation (and by definition, our divine provision, healing and deliverance) are from Christ alone who is the sole mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). When we pray for healing for others it’s not our own health (or any other personal qualification for that matter) that we are putting our faith in, but the work of Christ to save, heal and restore.

‘Divine provision, healing and deliverance’ are explained in
‘The Threefold Miracle Mandate’ – a book by Rob Cresswell

I’ll let you into a secret (though not a very well kept one). When we ask the attendees to our workshops to indicate if they need healing you can guarantee nearly everyone will wave a hand. Then we ask the ministry team to stand up and get busy… and you guessed it, it’s the same people. Healing miracles follow in abundance.

The person who concludes that they can’t be used to pray for healing for others because they are sick themselves would, (by the same logic), also be tempted to stop giving because they were financially lacking. This is unspiritual thinking because it denies the power of God and looks to external circumstances that will ultimately close us down both in areas of provision and healing. In fact, on the contrary, the act of praying for others or giving out of lack can actually bring a release of health or provision into our own lives.

The spiritual reality is that we don’t give because we have plenty and we don’t pray for the sick because we are well… we do so because of the Word (Jesus) who is the way, the life and the truth to us (John 14). This is how we can expect the heavenly realities to flow and break us out of the natural and into the supernatural power of God.

Healing DVD Teaching Set:
Eight 20 minute episodes presented by Rob & Aliss Cresswell

Healing for ourselves and healing for others

We recently did a Spirit Lifestyle workshop (training in supernatural living) and roadshow (offering spiritual help to the public). A couple of days before the events Aliss started fighting off a cold virus – a very common experience for many at this time of the year. I was minded as we approached the event of an old joke; I pictured a sign hanging on the venue door: “Healing event cancelled due to sickness!” There is a human way of thinking that can begin to rear its ugly head at times like this – and it says, “You won’t look good, people will think you lack credibility… you’re just a phony”, but that is altogether the enemy’s work (Revelation 12:10).

Aliss is a contender and it will be no surprise to you that she gave the cold symptoms their marching orders and the event was a great success. Nobody at the workshop would have known. Many Christian leaders if put on the spot like this may be tempted to pretend that they are well and make a show of being okay in public, but there’s a big difference between pretending and contending. From the outside these two activities can look extremely similar – both can cause me to behave as if I don’t have a problem when I’m with others. But if I’m pretending to be well, I’m focusing on me and my image but when I’m contending to be well I focus on Jesus and His promises. One acts out of fear of man and the other acts out of faith. Pretending doesn’t continue when the show is over (it inevitably shows its true colours), but contending sees the battle through with or without the audience.

Keep trusting in all God’s promises when healing others (Psalm 103)

We may not all feel like we have the faith of others but even so, God in His wisdom will often surprise us even in our doubts and weaknesses because He is so incredibly good. And all He requires of us is the smallest step towards trusting in His goodness and power. We’ve seen this so many times as people say, “I’m off healing since ‘so and so’ didn’t get healed” and then they are used by God to pray healing for others and do an amazing healing miracle. What did they do? They simply got up despite their doubts and fears and tried again! So, getting back to our question: Can I lay hands on the sick and see them healed even though I have the very same thing myself? YES. OF COURSE YOU CAN! (And while you’re at it have some healing for yourself!).

“Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

Psalm 103:1-5