It is because Dennis couldn’t find anyone or minister near him who could properly show him how to scripturally, simply, and effectively minister divine healing to the sick.  He tried several times to minister divine healing to people when he goes out to visit older folks in elderly care and sick homes, and several times he was frustrated with the minimal results he was able to produce.

Then Dennis cried to the Holy Spirit, who “…works all these things [divine healing ability], distributing to each person individually as He wills” (1Cor 12:11), for power to heal. Can you guess His response? He gave Dennis the following scripture as an answer to his appeal for healing power; “…for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now, …you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Act 1:5 & 8).

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You know, he was glad. Dennis was really excited that finally, he has this “special” anointing coming to him for the work of the ministry. So he waited many days for this power to show up. And he waited. And after about three years of waiting (while continuing with other ministry works), suddenly, Dennis realized his ignorance, again. Acts 1:5 & 8 happened over 2000 years ago. Instead of reading it as something that already happened through his spiritual baptism, he read it in an expectant future tense, like an old testament believer. So, Dennis waited for power to come and for a sign, before moving or reaching out to sick folk to demonstrate the ability to heal. It never came because it was in him, already.

Dennis did not realize the grave effect that old covenant language and perspective have on us. It clogs our souls. For example, some praise songs we sing place a stranglehold on our ability to receive and minister healing as sons of God, wholeheartedly. Songs with such lyrics are subtle cloggers: “When the Spirit of the Lord moves in [or comes upon] my heart, I will dance like David danced.” It is based on the old covenant: “And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them” (1Sam 10:6). “Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod” (2Sam 6:14). To keep the soul renewed and free-flowing, a much better portrayal of kingdom reality for a new covenant believer is: “Since the Spirit of the Lord is within my heart, I [will] heal like Jesus healed.” Or pray like Jesus prayed, or preached like Jesus preached, etc..

The religious mindset, old testament posture, and historical junk we promote in the church had a stronghold on Dennis' perception. As a true believer, you do not have to wait for the Holy Spirit to show you a sign, move, or come upon you, occasionally, to demonstrate His power and do good. He is already in you “according to the [full] measure of the gift [or gratuity] of Christ” (Eph 4:7). And He is with you always (Joh 14:16-18). He never leaves like false teachers say: “the anointing has left.”  Dennis was looking forward to having power come on him, rather than accept that power is already in him because he is already anointed, and (that power is manifested) with him because he does the work obediently (Joh 14:21). “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed...” (Luk 4:18). The Spirit of Truth, …for He dwells [lives] with you [constantly] and will be [is already] in you [as a believer]” (Joh 14:17). “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!” [Gal 4:6].