Concerning the power, Acts 10:38 indicates that the terms, "the anointing," "the Holy Ghost," and "power" are virtually synonymous. This means that we are able to use them interchangeably when discussing the subject of the healing anointing and the power of God.
A good analogy for understanding the anointing was made by Rev. John G. Lake when he said, "Electricity is God's power in the natural realm; Holy Ghost power is God's power in the spirit realm." You see, just as electricity is in existence in the natural world, the power of God is in existence in the spirit world.
Just as man had to learn how to "plug in" to electricity and make it work for him, we must learn how to "plug in" to the heavenly electricity—the healing power of God—for it to be manifested in our life.
In the spiritual realm, the thing that turns on the heavenly power could be called the switch of faith! We've got to learn how to mix faith with the power!
You see, Jesus had said to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). He'd also said in Acts 1:8 that "...after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you...ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Yet the believers hadn't witnessed to anyone anywhere except in Jerusalem.
So there in Jerusalem, the believers had all things in common, but some of them felt as if they were being neglected in the daily ministrations. So the disciples looked for men to "appoint over this business" (Acts 6:3). The men they were looking for had to meet three requirements. They had to: 1) have an honest report; 2) be full of the Holy Ghost; and 3) be full of wisdom.
Acts 6:5 goes on to list the seven men who were chosen to oversee the daily ministrations. Now all seven of these men were full of the Holy Ghost. That was one of the qualifications. But it says about Stephen that he was full of faith and the Holy Ghost or power. And there were certain miracles and signs that followed Stephen's mix of faith and power. "And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people" (Acts 6:8).
All seven men listed in Acts 6:5 were full of the Holy Ghost. That means that all seven of these men were full of power. But apparently, there was only one of them who did any miracles and signs among the people, and that was Stephen.
It Always Takes Faith
Every one of them had the power to do the miracles and signs. Why didn't they do them then? Because it takes faith to give action to the power!
Stephen wasn't even one of the Twelve. He wasn't a preacher or an apostle or an evangelist. In fact, he lived and died a deacon.
Stephen didn't do great wonders and miracles just by being full of power. No, he was full of faith and power. And so we know that power by itself won't get the job done. You have to mix faith with the power to get the power to work.
Did you notice that the same thing is true in the case of an individual's healing? For example, in the case of the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus knew immediately that power had gone out of Him. But He didn't say, "Daughter, My power hath made thee whole." No, He said, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole" (Mark 5:34). It was her faith mixed with the power that healed her.
Then in Luke chapter 6, it says the multitude came to hear Jesus and to be healed of their diseases. It said they sought to touch Jesus, for there went virtue or power out of Him and healed them all. But notice they came to hear and to be healed. They heard first, and faith came. Then they sought to touch Him.
People need to understand the healing anointing. They need to know that it exists, but just as importantly, they need to know how to get that anointing to work and produce results in their lives. They need to believe or have faith in the healing power of God.
The Bible says in Hebrews 4:2, "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them (talking about Israel): but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."
One way to receive the healing power, of course, is through the laying on of hands. Or you could receive it from a cloth or a handkerchief that has absorbed the anointing. On the other hand, receiving healing that way is only one way to receive. You can receive healing by acting in simple faith on the Word of God as I did to receive my healing.
The Holy Ghost is ever-present with all the power He has! You can mix your faith with the power that is present, whether the power is in manifestation or not, and receive your healing by faith. When we understand some things about the anointing, we can appropriate it for ourselves and reap the benefit of this power in our own lives.
The healing anointing is a tangible substance. And the Word of God reveals to us the rules and laws that govern its operation. The Lord Jesus Christ revealed and applied the laws of the Spirit, which demonstrated the fact that the healing power of God is a tangible substance, a heavenly materiality.
Now you'll not receive any of this power from Heaven if you don't believe there's any there. If you don't believe it exists, you'll never get it applied to your circumstances so that it will do you any good. The healing power of God will not benefit you until you believe in it, lay hold of it intelligently by faith, and simply receive it.
But, thank God, through your faith in the holy written Word and in the mighty power of God, you can receive divine healing! By believing what God's Word says about the healing anointing, you can enjoy all the blessings and benefits of this power from Heaven that is available to us today.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Rev. Hagin served in Christian ministry for nearly 70 years and was known as the "father of the modern faith movement." His teachings and books are filled with vivid stories that show God's power and truth working in his life and the lives of others.
