"Healing Virtue":

[Aquila]

I've heard many pastors pray for the sick and as they do they say something along the lines of...

"I pray that healing virtue flows into the lives of those seeking healing today..."

What does the phrase "healing virtue" mean?

[Tithesmeister]

Well it’s virtue, you know. . .

The kind that heals.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Tithesmeister

Well it’s virtue, you know. . .

The kind that heals.

I did a word study. The word "virtue" is used when the woman touched the hem of Christ's garment. When she did this, Jesus stopped and asked, "Who touched me?", because He felt "virtue" depart from His being. That word in the Greek is "dumamis". One definition of this word is, "inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature".

And so, all I can come up with is that the phrase "healing virtue" means "healing power".

Thoughts?

[n david]

Yes, it comes from the story about the miracle of the woman who touched Jesus' garment.

[berkeley]

As in “ye shall receive dunamis...”

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by berkeley

As in “ye shall receive dunamis...”

Amen! "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost comes upon you."

These questions might seem silly to some of you guys. But here goes...

What is this "power" as it relates to the Holy Spirit? Clearly it originates from the Holy Spirit, and so it is an aspect of the Holy Spirit itself. At least, that's what I gather. But how is this power accessed, employed, used, released, unleashed, wielded, or activated to effect the world we live in? For example, with healing the sick or praying to bring change the world around us, or to produce miracles.

We clearly have the power on account of having receive the Holy Spirit. But how do we access this power and use it?

[1ofthechosen]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Amen! "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost comes upon you."

These questions might seem silly to some of you guys. But here goes...

What is this "power" as it relates to the Holy Spirit? Clearly it originates from the Holy Spirit, and so it is an aspect of the Holy Spirit itself. At least, that's what I gather. But how is this power accessed, employed, used, released, unleashed, wielded, or activated to effect the world we live in? For example, with healing the sick or praying to bring change the world around us, or to produce miracles.

We clearly have the power on account of having receive the Holy Spirit. But how do we access this power and use it?

Just like James 5:14-16 says, "through the prayer of faith." It's not our power anyway, it's God's, all we can do is have faith in Him for it.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by 1ofthechosen

Just like James 5:14-16 says, "through the prayer of faith." It's not our power anyway, it's God's, all we can do is have faith in Him for it.

Ah, awesome. Through faith.

It definitely isn't our power, as in any power that comes from our own being or nature. It is clearly power that comes from the very being and nature of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

But, how much control over this power do we have by faith? Is it delegated? Is it for us to use when we determine spiritually that it is necessary? I've always pondered how Peter never prayed for the lame man at the gate of the temple. He didn't pray that God heal the man. He didn't plead for God to heal the man. He just spoke healing into the man's life. In doing so, Peter actually said something very interesting. Here's the story...

Acts 3:1-8 King James Version (KJV)
1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

Here Peter declares that he has the power to heal. He states, "but such as I have give I thee..." This power was unleashed through a spoken declaration made in the name of Jesus, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." This is a declarative style of prayer. And this prayer unleashed the power to heal, "healing virtue", into this lame man's life.

Could this power be the delegated power that Christ gave the twelve when He walked with them?

Matthew 10:1 King James Version (KJV)
1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Jesus appears to have delegated both authority and power to the twelve. And it also appears to be delegated and imparted to every true believer:

Mark 16:17-18 King James Version (KJV)
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Are we, the Apostolics, neglecting the delegated spiritual power and authority imparted to us? Are we afraid of using it because we don't want to misuse it? Are we doubtful because we've seen some pretenders? Is it that we know academically (with head knowledge) that we have this power, but we do not understand it personally?

What if we keep wondering, "Why doesn't God heal these people?", and God is asking, "I gave you the power. Why aren't you healing these people?"
We are wondering, "Why is God not unleashing miracles?" And God is asking, "I gave you the power. Why aren't you unleashing miracles?"

Thoughts?

[Aquila]

C'mon, I know some of you have to have some thoughts on this.