Objection: Only Some Receive GIFTS OF HEALING; This Proves That Healing Is a Gift Bestowed as God Wills

This objection is based on a misunderstanding of 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 and 1 Corinthians 12:28-30.  The objector reasons that gifts of healing are healings that are bestowed on individuals as gifts.  That is not true, as is clear from the context.  These passages talk about spiritual gifts that are used for the benefit of others in the body, not for one’s own benefit.  In other words, gifts of healings are graces to be used in ministering healing to others.  They have nothing to do with receiving a healing for yourself.  The healings may be gifts to the people who receive them, but they are not gifts to the person operating in the gifts of healings.

Consider especially 1 Corinthians 12:28-30.  God has set in the church apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, governments, and diversities of tongues.  These all speak of people flowing in ministry gifts and not of things you receive from God during a service.  Just as God has anointed some to be teachers, God has anointed some to flow in miracles and gifts of healings.

Now consider 1 Corinthians 12:8-11, especially the part about “to another the gifts of healing [literally healings].”  If the gifts of healings were healings that take place during a service, they would be given to others (plural), not another (singular).  This passage speaks of a person being used to minister healings (in the plural) to others in the service.

1 Corinthians 14:12 tells us that the gifts are for the edifying of the church.  They are to bless others.  They are NOT blessings that you receive for yourself.  “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”

Some people are spontaneously healed in services.  I have seen people all over the room healed without the laying on of hands.  However, “gifts of healings” would not refer to the healings themselves that are received in such a way, although you could say that the minister flowed in them.