Our Divine Commission

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, he who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 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.” —Mark 16:15-18

It's significant that in this passage of Scripture Jesus didn’t say, “When you run across sick people, fast and pray to see if they are part of the chosen few God wants to heal.” Nor did He say, “Lay hands on the sick, and if it’s My will, they will recover.” Jesus said, “Go find the sick and preach the Gospel to them; then lay hands on them and they will recover.” This is one of the signs He said would follow all believers.

We should be interested in learning how to operate in faith so we can take hold of our own healing. However, if we’re going to be assets to the kingdom of God, we should be even more interested in learning how to minister healing to sick people ourselves. That’s what God has been trying to get across to us for years.

Another thing I want to point out about this Scripture is that it doesn’t say, “And these signs shall follow apostles and prophets.” No, it states, “These signs shall follow them that believe.” You see, we all have a divine commission to preach the Gospel, and the supernatural signs Jesus listed in these verses will follow us as we preach the Gospel to others.

So tell people the good news that it’s God’s will to heal them. Then lay hands on them, and watch God’s promise of healing come to pass in their lives!

CONFESSION:

I tell others the good news that Jesus died and was raised from the dead to deliver them from sin and sickness. I also help others receive healing; I lay hands on the sick and they recover!

From: A Devotional for Divine Health Prescription for a Miracle, Mark Brazee, 1999