Do you realize that when Jesus told His disciples to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons they hadn’t been baptized in the Holy Spirit yet? Jesus taught His followers to perform signs, wonders, and miracles before they even knew about Holy Spirit. He told them to do this based on their faith in His authority as the Son of God, not on a spiritual gift or “anointing.”

Everything Jesus demonstrated was based on His identity as a Son, and this is what He taught His followers. They were also sons. And based on that, they could do what He did.

This revelation should cause us to rethink our approach to healing and deliverance. Sometimes people with a Charismatic mindset lump everything into a spiritual gift or “anointing,” and forget the simple power of faith in Christ to defeat the enemy.

The majority of Jesus’s instructions to His followers was to destroy the works of the devil (Luke 10:19). He repeatedly reminded them of the authority they had because of their identity with Him. There was no mention of needing a gift of healing or a gift of deliverance to set the captives free.

The Key Is Identity

What the disciples received on the Day of Pentecost was an increased capacity and exponential power to override the natural order. They no longer just “practiced” healing and deliverance by following Jesus’s example; they became conduits of another realm. They were now filled with a boldness and power that was not of man. Not only could they “do” the works of Jesus, they had access to a realm of wisdom and understanding to actually think like Jesus (1 Corinthians 2:10-16). They now had the ability to perceive and discern the realms of darkness and light and judge accordingly.

The main takeaway here is that it is our identity in Christ and knowing who we are as sons and daughters that gives us the authority to overcome the power of the enemy. Even as the baptism of the Spirit empowers us with increased boldness and capacity for the miraculous, we don’t need a spiritual gift or special anointing to destroy the works of darkness. We don’t even need to “feel anointed” to pray for deliverance.

What Christ gave us in our starter kit as believers was an authority to overcome our enemies out of sheer faith. It is our belief in Him that determines miracles and freedom from bondage — not our gifts. Selah.

Wanda Alger has been in ministry for over 35 years as a worship leader, teacher, author, deliverance counselor, and speaker. She is an ordained and commissioned fivefold leader, and passionate about interpreting life from Heaven’s perspective. Wanda is answering a call to speak to the body of Christ about the mountain of government, godly leadership, and Kingdom authority. Since an unexpected angelic encounter in 2002, Wanda ministers through a spirit of wisdom and revelation that empowers believers to know their authority, embrace their calling, and demonstrate heavenly realities on the earth (Ephesians 1:17). A former writer with Intercessors for America, Wanda has also contributed to numerous national publications such as The Elijah List, Charisma Magazine, Spirit Fuel, and The Christian Post. In addition to her blogs and website, Wanda hosts a YouTube and Rumble channel, where she posts weekly prophetic insights and teachings. You can also find her on numerous social media platforms including Telegram, Facebook, and Truth Social; her books and other resources are available at wandaalger.me.