Faith · Prayer · Care
Obtain the Gift
A moment in Scripture. A step in faith.
Healing Cheatsheet Obtain the Gift
Obtain the Gift · Draft lesson
Obtain the Gift of Healing
1 Corinthians 12 lists the gifts of healing among the gifts of the Spirit. The Bible also shows how gifts are received: the Spirit decides, we desire them, we ask, hands are laid on, we stir up what we receive, and we use it in love.
Bible reading
1 Corinthians 12:9, 11, 28, 31; 1 Corinthians 14:1; Luke 11:13; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Corinthians 13:1–2
Paul lists the gifts of healing among the gifts the one Spirit gives. The Spirit gives each gift as He wills, we are told to earnestly desire the best gifts and to ask, gifts come also through prayer and the laying on of hands, they grow as we stir them up, and without love they count for nothing.
Passage summary, not a direct quotation.
Straight from the Bible
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
Plain wordsTo one the Spirit gives faith; to another the gifts of healing — by the same Spirit.
TagalogSa iba'y ibinibigay ng Espiritu ang pananampalataya; sa iba naman ang mga kaloob ng pagpapagaling — sa pamamagitan ng iisang Espiritu.
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Plain wordsBut one and the same Spirit does all this, dividing to each person individually, just as He wills.
TagalogNgunit ang iisang at parehong Espiritu ang gumagawa ng lahat ng ito, na namamahagi sa bawat isa kani-kaniya ayon sa Kanyang kalooban.
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Plain wordsBut earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I will show you a more excellent way.
TagalogNgunit dasigin ninyo nang buong-puso ang mga pinakadakilang kaloob; at ipakikita ko sa inyo ang higit na dakilang daan.
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
Plain wordsPursue love, and desire spiritual gifts — but especially that you may speak for God.
TagalogSundan ang pag-ibig, at hinaan ang mga espirituwal na kaloob — higit sa lahat na makapagsalita kayo para sa Diyos.
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Plain wordsIf you, though you are sinful, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
TagalogKung kayo, na masasama, ay marunong magbigay ng mabubuting kaloob sa inyong mga anak: gaano pa kaya ang inyong Ama sa langit ay magbibigay ng Banal na Espiritu sa mga humihingi sa Kanya?
Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Plain wordsDo not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the church leaders.
TagalogHuwag mong pababayaan ang kaloob na nasa iyo, na ibinigay sa iyo sa pamamagitan ng propesiya, kasama ang pagpapatong ng kamay ng mga matatanda ng iglesya.
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
Plain wordsSo I remind you to stir up the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.
TagalogKaya't ipinaaalala ko sa iyo na gagapayin mo ang kaloob ng Diyos na nasa iyo sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatong ng aking kamay.
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Plain wordsEven if I speak the languages of men and angels but have no love, I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Even if I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and even if I have all faith so that I could move mountains, but have no love, I am nothing.
TagalogKahit magsalita ako sa wika ng mga tao at ng mga anghel, kung wala akong pag-ibig, ako'y naging tansong kumakaway o simbalong kumakalansing. At kahit mayroon akong kaloob ng paghula, at nauunawaan ko ang lahat ng misteryo at kaalaman; at kahit mayroon akong buong pananampalataya, upang maipalipat ko ang mga bundok, kung wala akong pag-ibig, ako ay wala.
Bible words are quoted directly from the King James Version, an old translation that is free to use. The plain-words line and the Tagalog line are written for this app to help you follow the meaning.
Teaching
How the Bible says gifts are received
The Spirit decides. Paul writes that the one and the selfsame Spirit divides to every man severally as He will (1 Corinthians 12:11). A gift is His choice, not something we earn or manufacture. The gifts of healing appear again in verse 28 and verse 30 of the same chapter.
Desire them. Scripture tells us twice to want the gifts: "Covet earnestly the best gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:31) and "desire spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 14:1). Wanting what the Spirit gives is obedience, not greed.
Ask. Jesus said the Father gives the Holy Spirit "to them that ask him" (Luke 11:13). Ask plainly for the gifts of healing, and keep asking.
Laying on of hands. Timothy received a gift through prayer and the laying on of hands (1 Timothy 4:14). Gifts often come when believers pray together and lay hands on one another.
Stir it up. Paul told Timothy to "stir up the gift of God" already in him (2 Timothy 1:6). A gift grows with use. Pray for the sick, and keep praying, even when results are slow.
Use it in love. 1 Corinthians 13 comes right after the gifts list: without love, the gifts count for nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1–2). The gifts of healing flow through love for the person you pray for.
Lesson videos
Activating the Gifts of the Spirit (Mike Connell)
Mike Connell explains the nine gifts of the Spirit and how to make room for them.
Open in YouTubeThe Gifts of Healing: A Gift for Some or a Sign for All? (David K. Bernard)
A short talk on 1 Corinthians 12:9 and Mark 16:18: who can pray for the sick.
Open in YouTube25 Years of Praying for the Sick With Almost NO Results...Until He Did THIS! (Nicholas Bowling)
Nicholas Bowling shares what changed when he prayed for sick people and saw almost no results for years.
Open in YouTubePut it into practice
- 1
Desire the gifts of the Spirit. Tell God you want the gifts of healing, in line with 1 Corinthians 12:31 and 14:1.
- 2
Ask the Father plainly. Jesus said the Father gives the Holy Spirit to them that ask (Luke 11:13).
- 3
Pray with other believers and welcome the laying on of hands, as with Timothy (1 Timothy 4:14).
- 4
Stir up what God has given. Use the gift: pray for the sick, and keep using it so it grows (2 Timothy 1:6).
- 5
Use it in love. Check your heart first — without love, the gifts count for nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1–2).
A simple prayer
Father, Your Word says to earnestly desire the best gifts and to ask. I ask You for the gifts of healing by Your Spirit. Fill me with love, because without love the gifts count for nothing. Use me to bless the sick, in Jesus' name. Amen.