How to bring healing to those you love

"God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them" (Acts 19:11,12).

This is the desire that drives me. I face overwhelming needs every day; my fervent prayer has become that somehow enough of God will flow through me to change those lives forever. I am constantly seeking, thinking, and praying about how to bring the power and presence of God to the hurting people around me.

There are so many theories and schools of thought regarding healing. Some focus on faith, some on the Word; some prescribe specific prayers, others an exact methodology. A person could spend years trying to figure out the "perfect" way to pray.

There may not be a perfect answer, as much as we want one. But I did notice something new as I read this chapter in Acts today. Immediately after the verses about God healing through Paul, we are given the story of the seven sons of Sceva (vv. 13-16).

I don't know anything about these sons other than what is written in Acts, but I can imagine. These men, described as sons of a Jewish high priest, were also focused on healing others. Perhaps, like us, they simply heard of a new "method" that worked and in their desperation, tried it.

"Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed" (v. 13).

But it didn't work for them; in fact, it ended quite badly. The question is, why?

The demon himself actually gives the answer. "'Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?'" (v. 15).

How did the demon know about Paul? I believe it had to be because of his identification with Jesus. God was able to extend extraordinary authority to heal and deliver through Paul because he wouldn't depend on his own name and authority to do it (1 Cor. 3:7-11).

The seven sons of Sceva revealed their failure to be identified with Christ with their own words: "In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches..." (vv. 13b, emphasis added).

Wanting to help others is good; but if we become too focused on our methods and results, we will fail. Paul came to the Corinthian church with one focus: For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power (1 Cor. 2:2-4).

It's not enough to read books about healing or try out the latest prayer method we've learned. Like Paul, we must become intimately, experientially known by God and identified with Him. Once we've lost the need to rely on our own identity, God will be free to release His through us. And the healing we long to see will flow with it.