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Beware: Wrong motives for getting in healing lines

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Do not play with holy things. People in both Testaments died because they did not show the proper reverence for the holy things of God. A healing line puts a sacred ordinance of the Lord into practice, and should never be taken lightly.

If you get into a healing line with the wrong motive, you not only risk judgment to yourself, but you will also interrupt the flow of the anointing for the people who are there to get healed. You may rob them of a blessing for which they may have traveled some distance. The anointing will not be as strong when you grieve the Holy Spirit with your actions.

The only reason that you should ever get into a healing line is so that you can be healed of a genuine physical or mental illness. The person conducting the service will usually make this clear. Make sure that you are definitely going to stand in faith for your healing no matter what. If you aren't that serious about it, stay in your seat! The one exception would be if your condition is definitely called out.


Do not attempt to find some insignificant condition (such as a hangnail or a pimple) simply to justify getting into the healing line for any of the reasons listed below. Yes, God is able and willing to heal those things, but you know in your heart what your real motive is. The anointing in a healing line is there to minister to the sick. If you are in line for any other reason, you are out of line!


NEVER get into a healing line for any of the following reasons:

Wanting more anointing for your own ministry

I once heard that a minister who (supposedly) knew a lot about the anointing advised people, "If you can find any excuse to get in a healing line when an anointed man of God is laying hands on people, get in it! Get around that anointing! Lie on the floor in it as long as the ushers will let you! You will get a deposit of it yourself for your own ministry!"


The stupidity of that advice is second only to its peril.

The anointing for ministry is not transmitted by accident. Ministers are separated to their calling by a deliberate laying on of hands by church leadership (Acts 6:5-6). Impartations are transmitted through a deliberate laying on of hands (1 Tim 4:14), not through healing lines. Ultimately, what matters is that you have a definite call on your life from God himself. Men only acknowledge and confirm publicly what God has already put on the inside of you. You cannot "get" a call to the ministry through the laying on of hands. Preparing for the ministry is a long process, and the anointing will only rest permanently on those whom God has tested and found faithful over time. You are definitely not going to launch your ministry by receiving the anointing in the middle of a healing line without the knowledge of the minister.


The Holy Spirit can and does direct services where the anointing is transmitted by the laying on of hands and where it is perfectly proper to lie on the floor for an hour soaking it up. Wait for that kind of service and get in that line if that's what you're after. By respecting the healing anointing and staying seated, you are taking a positive step in God by showing him that you will not play games with the anointing.


Calling attention to yourself

I saw a man get up in a healing line once whose main motive seemed to be to have an experience like that of an evangelist in the early 1900's -- being "frozen" in position for three days. This became obvious from his comments to the preacher. After talking with him personally later, it became obvious that he thought much more highly of himself than he ought to and was hoping for a short cut to publicity in the ministry. See the comments on the first wrong motive for more on ministry "short cuts."


Nothing is wrong with calling attention to a wonderful healing the Lord has done in your body. Everything is wrong with wanting to receive or experience something so that people's eyes will be on you instead of the Lord. Watch your motive and make sure that you are prepared to give God all the glory for what happens. Be content to let him get that glory, rather than you getting glory for how well you glorify the Lord!


Hoping for a personal "word"

Some preachers give personal words of prophecy frequently, and some of the sick people in the line may be receiving personal prophecies. You may think, "I really came here needing a word from God, so I should get in this line while that anointing is flowing!"

Don't waste your time. God knows where you're sitting, and if he wants to say something to you through prophecy, whether you're called out individually or not, he will do so. You will only grieve the Spirit by getting in the line attempting to "pull" on a prophetic gift when the flow to the people is primarily for healing.



Seeking a thrill or experience

Some people get in a healing line hoping that they will have some deep experience, such as having a vision of Jesus or getting "drunk in the Holy Spirit" for hours, or who knows what else. Healing lines are for healing. God grants visions solely as he wills and you cannot (and definitely should not!) "believe" for them. (The devil will be happy to oblige you.) If there is a line for people who want to get drunk in the Spirit, and that's what you want, fine, but don't get in the healing line unless you want healing.

Just because you see people fall dramatically, get totally "out in the Spirit," or shake on the floor for thirty minutes does not mean that you should get in the line to get a similar experience, however appealing such an experience may seem to you. Respect the things of God and seek him, not unusual experiences. The people on the floor most likely were not seeking any experience when they came up.



Wanting to feel the anointing or God's love

What on-fire Christian doesn't like to feel the anointing or the love of God? Of course you do, but don't get in a healing line for these reasons. We could all use a good "dip" in the anointing, but wait for a service that is geared for that.


Looking for "healing" for your finances or your marriage

Don't tell the minister you need a healing in your finances or a healing in your marriage. Study the ministry of Jesus and the apostles. Healing lines are for the sick, not those who need "healing" of other varieties. God will "heal" (if you want to call it that) these areas, but the healing line is not the time or place. If you go up with this type of request, you will distract the minister and interrupt the flow of the anointing. If you want healing for your finances, tithe, give in offerings and believe what God says about money matters. If you want healing for your marriage, book some counseling time with your pastor. (If you don't have a pastor, we've found the first problem already.)



Looking for an "inner healing"

Study the Biblical accounts of healing crusades, and you will not find one case of someone going to Jesus for an "inner healing." God can meet all your emotional needs, but not through laying on of hands in a healing line. For further discussion about so-called inner healing, see the question, What is "inner healing," and do I need it?.


Getting experience for your future healing ministry

Forget the idea of getting in line to make observations and get valuable experience being around the healing anointing, seeing how it works from up close, and so on. If you're up there just to be in on the party, you obviously haven't learned much about the healing anointing yet. Get some respect for it if you ever want to be used in it yourself.

In most cases, you can find a way to observe what's going on without being in the line yourself. Don't get in the line even if you can't get close enough to observe. Even in a distant seat, you should still start noticing when the healing anointing comes in the room in many cases. You can get some valuable training in your spirit right there in the back of the room. Better yet, if you want to observe closely, get there early and sit as close as you can (without sitting in a reserved seat). In a major meeting, just avoiding getting in strife with other believers trying to save the good seats long before the service starts will be a valuable character-building experience that will also help your ministry!


If you are going to get involved in healing ministry, you will probably spend some amount of time in a helping role for those who are already involved in it. This will give you a lot of insight and "hands-on" experience, even if it isn't your hands being laid on anyone -- yet. Some things are difficult to teach, and you probably won't learn them any other way. As they say, some things are better caught than taught.


Trying to prove that it won't work

Yes, you can prove that healing lines won't work for you. Simply get in line with the idea of proving it! God will not force anything on you. But if you're only going up to show someone else that you won't really get healed, you should stay in your seat. Don't waste your time or the minister's time. It is dangerous to play games with God, his anointing, and his servants.



Any reason other than receiving a healing in your body!

Don't get in line because all your friends are getting in the line and you want to be with them.
Don't get in line because you'd like to be noticed by someone (an usher, singer, maybe the preacher himself) with whom you would like to have a romantic relationship.
Don't get in line because you're tired and you want to lie on the floor a while.
Healing lines are only for healing. I think you get the message by now!

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