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Scripture clearly teaches that supernatural authority and power over demons and diseases are separate and distinct from what is popularly known as “the gift of healing”.
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, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. …6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.
Luke 10:9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Therefore authority and power over demons and diseases are to be used primarily when proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God. A close study of the ministry of the early disciples in Acts following Pentecost reveals that when the miraculous works which the Lord used them to perform resulted in people accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, they used authority and/or power to perform the works—and NOT the gift of healing or the gift of miracles.
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By contrast, the “gift of healing”—as well as the other eight gifts of the Holy Spirit—are to be used primarily to build up the body of Christ, that is, for ministering to born-again believers.
1 Corinthians 12:4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
Therefore the gifts are to be manifested for the common good of the body of Christ—to build up the Church.
1 Corinthians 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
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Moreover, every disciple is given a measure of the Lord’s supernatural authority and power to heal the sick and cast out demons.
John 14:12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing…
A study of the miraculous works Jesus performed in the gospels reveals that He healed the sick and cast out demons primarily through the use of authority and power. When he sent out the 72 disciples in Luke 10:9, He gave them a measure of this authority and power over demons and diseases.
Luke 10:9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Luke 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
By contrast, not every believer has gifts of healing.
1 Corinthians 12:30 Do all have gifts of healing?
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Therefore it is abundantly clear that authority and power are separate and distinct from—and not to be confused with—what is popularly known as “the gift of healing”.
What is taught in The Elijah Challenge is authority and power over demons and diseases to be used when proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God to those who never heard—especially to hardened and resistant people groups in the Third World.
Below are 2,500 testimonies of the miraculous from India taking place when trained nameless workers ministered to the sick and demon-possessed with supernatural authority and power in the name of our wondrous Messiah Jesus. This is taking place primarily in a Fundamentalist Hindu state of India where water baptism is ILLEGAL.
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