The Purpose of Divine Healing is to Glorify Jesus. In the Book of Acts, we find three important truths we need to grasp: Jesus is still the Healer, Healing comes from Jesus alone, and the purpose of divine healing is always to glorify Him.

As a pastor, I was called to meet a couple at a hospital. Their daughter had suffered a seizure and was not breathing. When I reached the hospital, neither the parents nor the doctor were with the child. A nurse was unplugging the flat-lined machines.

The Holy Spirit prompted me to do something I’d never done before — pray over the girl’s lifeless body. I asked the nurse if I could pray for a minute, to which she replied, “You know she’s dead,” but allowed me to go ahead.

I asked God to restore the little girl. Then I went to next room and found the parents witnessing to the doctor. About a minute later, we heard a scream, then the little girl crying for her mommy. It’s never happened to me before or since. But Jesus is still healer.

To prove He could forgive sin: How do you prove such an intangible thing? First, Jesus lived in a culture where the assumption was that sickness was a result of sin. Second, based on the same assumption, healing comes with forgiveness of sin. To prove that He had the power to forgive sins, Jesus said to the man who was lowered down through roof on a mat, “Friend, your sins are forgiven…take your mat and go home” (Luke 5:20).

To prove He was God: Jesus healed to prove He was the Messiah. Only One has authority to forgive sin—God alone—a charge the Pharisees made when Jesus healed sickness and at the same time forgave sins. He was claiming authority to be God.

To show His compassion: Jesus healed because he cared. There is no record of Jesus turning anyone away who asked for his help.

To show that He is the Lord of all of life: Jesus is the Lord of compassion—not just Lord of our souls but of our bodies as well.

To show that salvation starts now: Jesus’ wonderful, compassionate willingness to reach out and touch our physical needs demonstrates that it’s not just future tense but present tense. Salvation starts now. He heals in this life, in this moment, in anticipation of something much more complete as eternity rolls on.

The Apostles Continued His Work: Nothing in the New Testament says or even implies that the healing ministry would stop at end of the New Testament. In fact, it says the opposite. Healing ministry will continue in age of the Church through His Body, the Church. The apostles continued his work.

Jesus Is Still The Healer! Jesus is still the healer today. Why don’t we see it as the disciples in the Early Church did? They were full of the Holy Spirit. We leak. They were fully obedient. Too often, we are not. They fully expected to see Him work. We are often surprised that He does.

Rev. Célestin Koffi was National President of the Alliance Church of Côte d’Ivoire (2003-2011) before being elected as Regional Coordinator of the Alliance World Fellowship in 2012.Rev. Koffi (56) became a born again Christian in 1968. He did his pastoral and theological studies at the Bible Institute of Yamoussoukro (Côte d’Ivoire), Canadian Theological Seminary of Regina (Canada), Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary of Philadelphia (USA) and Aggai Institute Maui (Mid Pacific, USA).He entered full time ministry in 1978 with Campus for Christ International of Côte d’Ivoire (1978-80). In 1984, he became Senior Pastor of the Alliance Church Bouaké-Air France (84-87). He taught at the Alliance Bible Institute of Yakro (1990-99), and since 2010, at the Alliance Theological Seminary (FATEAC) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.Rev. Célestin Koffi served the Lord in different leadership positions, as Executive Secretary of the Alliance Church of Côte d’Ivoire (1984-93), Director of the Alliance Bible Institute Yakro (1990-99), President of the Consulting Committee of Campus for Christ Côte d’Ivoire (since 1996), National Coordinator of Global Day of Prayer, and since 2012, as Regional Coordinator of Alliance World Fellowship (AWF), as well as Regional Director of College of Prayer West Africa.Koffi Célestin was married to Geneviève in 1977. They have three children and three grand children.

Sometimes God allows the enemy to make us sick. Sickness definitely is related to the curse, the fall, and the work of Satan. There is no better example than Job. In the testing, our faithfulness can be perfect. God allows sickness or disabilities to teach us lessons that would not be learned any other.

Healing also can be God’s way of taking us home, the moment of eschatological healing that ultimately comes when we are made perfect. No more glasses, no more insulin pumps. I won’t walk with a limp.

Rev. Célestin Koffi was National President of the Alliance Church of Côte d’Ivoire (2003-2011) before being elected as Regional Coordinator of the Alliance World Fellowship in 2012.Rev. Koffi (56) became a born again Christian in 1968. He did his pastoral and theological studies at the Bible Institute of Yamoussoukro (Côte d’Ivoire), Canadian Theological Seminary of Regina (Canada), Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary of Philadelphia (USA) and Aggai Institute Maui (Mid Pacific, USA).He entered full time ministry in 1978 with Campus for Christ International of Côte d’Ivoire (1978-80). In 1984, he became Senior Pastor of the Alliance Church Bouaké-Air France (84-87). He taught at the Alliance Bible Institute of Yakro (1990-99), and since 2010, at the Alliance Theological Seminary (FATEAC) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.Rev. Célestin Koffi served the Lord in different leadership positions, as Executive Secretary of the Alliance Church of Côte d’Ivoire (1984-93), Director of the Alliance Bible Institute Yakro (1990-99), President of the Consulting Committee of Campus for Christ Côte d’Ivoire (since 1996), National Coordinator of Global Day of Prayer, and since 2012, as Regional Coordinator of Alliance World Fellowship (AWF), as well as Regional Director of College of Prayer West Africa.Koffi Célestin was married to Geneviève in 1977. They have three children and three grand children.

Rev. Célestin Koffi was National President of the Alliance Church of Côte d’Ivoire (2003-2011) before being elected as Regional Coordinator of the Alliance World Fellowship in 2012.Rev. Koffi (56) became a born again Christian in 1968. He did his pastoral and theological studies at the Bible Institute of Yamoussoukro (Côte d’Ivoire), Canadian Theological Seminary of Regina (Canada), Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary of Philadelphia (USA) and Aggai Institute Maui (Mid Pacific, USA).He entered full time ministry in 1978 with Campus for Christ International of Côte d’Ivoire (1978-80). In 1984, he became Senior Pastor of the Alliance Church Bouaké-Air France (84-87). He taught at the Alliance Bible Institute of Yakro (1990-99), and since 2010, at the Alliance Theological Seminary (FATEAC) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.Rev. Célestin Koffi served the Lord in different leadership positions, as Executive Secretary of the Alliance Church of Côte d’Ivoire (1984-93), Director of the Alliance Bible Institute Yakro (1990-99), President of the Consulting Committee of Campus for Christ Côte d’Ivoire (since 1996), National Coordinator of Global Day of Prayer, and since 2012, as Regional Coordinator of Alliance World Fellowship (AWF), as well as Regional Director of College of Prayer West Africa.Koffi Célestin was married to Geneviève in 1977. They have three children and three grand children.