HEALING FOR THE SICK TODAY
Introduction
"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8)
Just as God provided healing in the times of the Old Testament (covenant), He provided healing in the time of the New Testament (covenant) through Jesus. And now that Jesus is not with us physically and sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, He still provides healing through His church body of believers, to whom He gave His authority and power to heal through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said we were to go and "heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils (demons). "Freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8).
Sickness and diseases have been around since the fall of Adam and Eve. Because of their sin (disobedience) to God (read Genesis 2:16-17 and 3:1-19) and through temptation through Satan (the serpent), which is also our enemy today, spiritual separation from God, sickness, diseases and death entered into the world.
God said that all things pertaining to life and Godliness are given to us through the knowledge of Him (God's Word). Beloved, what a profound statement that is, and what a book He has given to us. The ONLY book God ever wrote! ...the "Holy Bible" Most everyone in the United States owns at least one or more, but very few non-believers ever read it, believe it, or live by it's precepts & principles.
The problems we face in life, sickness, deliverance, emotional, mental or financial chaos, etc.... are a way of life for man at one time or another. The answer has always been God. God didn't create us and go off somewhere totally leaving us with NO help in a fallen world. It is HUMANS who have drifted far from God and the teachings of His Word. God has NOT changed! In fact in the book of Hebrews 13:8 it says that "Jesus Christ, the same Yesterday, Today and Forever". God also said....."My people (believers in Christ) are destroyed for the lack of knowledge". But Jesus said, "I come that they-(Born-again believers)..might have life and that they might have it more abundantly".
Living a life of holiness and trusting in God's ways allows God to give us His best. On the other hand, God has said that Satan/demons comes to steal, kill and destroy. Satan has a mission to rob you of all God wants you to have and to rob the glory that is due God.
Satan/demons, sin/disobedience, sickness/disease are real in the world today. God has placed a hedge of protection around His people/believers (Job 1:10).
Do we dare to step out from under that hedge to be devoured by our enemies and the world's system? Or do we let God's way be our way, and have the abundant life that was promised to all who trust in the Father through His Son? "THY WILL"....."NOT MY WILL"
To Jesus, the gift of healing was not merely a catchy way to draw large crowds. Nor was it a gift He gave freely without the sharing of His divine message and teachings. Healing was a vital part of His ministry.
He always shared with the crowds the message of the Kingdom of God. "The time is fulfilled, and the King of God is at hand: Repent ye, and believe the gospel". John the Baptist preached the same news. The Kingdom of God had come to earth through Christ. John pleaded with the people to repent to that they could become a part of the Kingdom of God.
Entering the Kingdom of God means battling the Kingdom of Satan and his demons. Jesus taught:
An important part of battling the kingdom of Satan is forgiveness and victory over sin. John wrote, "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil" (I John 3:8). Sin, disease and death came into the world through Satan with the Fall. They are the tools used by Satan to oppress God's people. The devil hates what God loves, and he purposes to keep us in bondage.
When Jesus came to earth, Satan already had the world bound by sin, disease and death. Jesus came to set the captives free.
Jesus taught of this freedom when He spoke at the temple from Isaiah:
There are many reason why Jesus chose to heal. He was showing His power over Satan so that people would hear His message, repent and be saved. Also, because he had love and compassion for people who were held in that bondage. Jesus' main desire was that everyone should become children of God.
Jesus divided His disciples into six two-man teams. Their ministry was to follow the Master's example to preach, teach, heal and deliver. Jesus' commands are found in the following verses:
It should be noted in particular that Jesus told the twelve to include deliverance:
When they returned, they quickly reported to Jesus, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name" (Luke 10:17). But Jesus knew that His coming to earth had advanced the Kingdom of God, and told them, "In this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in Heaven" (Luke 10:20).
He had told them, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from Heaven" (Luke 10:18). He was speaking of Satan's fall from Heaven, and his defeat at Christ's return, and to the final victory at the spreading of the Gospel.
Jesus said in Luke 10:19, "Behold I give unto you power to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you". He was not referring to literal snakes and scorpions, but to the demonic powers of Satan and his kingdom.
In the Great Commission, Jesus told His disciples to teach all nations "to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20). As He sent them then, so He sends us today.
Jesus commanded the twelve to even raise the dead -- does He ask less of us today? No! These miracles were rare in Biblical times, and they are rare today -- but they DO happen. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it; if ye love me, keep My commandments" (John 14:12-15).
Did Christ and the apostles heal everyone they prayed for completely and instantly? No. Nor can any Christian today just go pray and empty out entire hospitals. But Christ's message and His love and compassion have not changed ("Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever", Hebrews 13:8). Just as Jesus had compassion for the suffering and healing of others, we must do likewise.
I wish I could tell you that every sick person I have ever prayed for was totally healed. I can't.
Every sick person who ever came into contact with Jesus was not healed. Read the account of Jesus at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:3,5-6). He only healed one person there. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do; for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth Him all things that Himself doeth; and He will show Him greater works than these that ye may marvel" (John 5:19-20). (NOTE: In this scripture, it mentions that Jesus only healed this one man, but it must be remembered that...at a certain time, an angel did come down and trouble the water, and the first one who stepped into the pool WAS healed. Showing that God WAS merciful and it WAS God's will to heal!
Not all of Jesus healings were brought about instantly:
2. The lepers in Luke 17:11-19 were not healed until after they had left Jesus presence
3. The man in John 9:6-7 was blind when he left Jesus. He was not healed until after he obeyed and washed his eyes
We should always pray, as Jesus did, for the Holy Spirit to be present with us when we ask for healing. For it is His ministry, not mans! Listen to His leading! God does NOT want His people sick, and ladden with diseases. He came to distroy the WORKS of the devil, SIN-SICKNESS-DISEASES are Satan's works.
Many people believe that physical healing was not provided at the Cross, but only spiritual healing. But in Isaiah 53:4-5, it tells us "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed".
The Old Testament prophecy did not mean that He took on only our spiritual problems. Matthew saw it fulfilled in the healing of physical illnesses. Jesus died to deliver us from sin and all its consequences, including SICKNESS and DISEASE, spiritually & bodily. He provided holiness for us in this life and resurrection and glory in the life to come.
Although He continues to heal many today, some are healed completely when they reach Heaven, where there is no sickness, disease, sorrow or pain. But if we will do ALL that God's word requires from us and the answer wer're looking for doesn't manifest itself, then it's safe to say that God has a far greater reason and plan for your life or situation than you can see or understand at the present time.
There's an age-old question that many Christians still ask today. "Why do certain people suffer and others don't" or "why are some people healed and others aren't". Although we don't know the answers to these questions, we can learn a lot from the example in the book of Job.
The first thing that we know for sure is that Job was a just and upright man in God's eyes, and all that happened to Job was not a result of a lack of faith or because of sin. But God allowed Satan to smite Job with all his many afflictions so that He could demonstrate and prove to Satan Job's faithfulness to God. Satan thought that through all he was allowed to do to Job, that Job would curse God and turn his back on Him.
One of the lessons that God was showing Job was first of His Sovereignty -- God's right to do as He choses. And to show that Job that he did not have a right to question His ways (Job 38:2-7 and Job 42:5-6).
God was also teaching Job about forgiveness and prayer. When his friends said that Job should curse God for what He was doing, Job grew bitter against these people, and God was telling him that he needed to end this bitterness (Job 42:7).
When a child is sick, the mother may attend to her child with medicine or to call a doctor. She gives little thought to doing it. A Christian mother will also pray for her child's healing, but she may add to her prayers "If it be Thy will".
Some people believe that sickness is a cross we are to bear. They quote Jesus' words "for their proof", when He said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). But Christ took up the suffering of the cross voluntarily for our sake and means for us also to suffer voluntarily for His sake, which may mean a difficult mission field or being persecuted by unbelievers for the Gospel's sake or endure various other hardships. The cross that Jesus commanded us to bear is not having a cold or cancer. And we should all agree that if sickness is God's will, then we constantly (as human beings) go against His will by praying an unqualified prayer for healing or when we go to the doctor and take medication. God is always on our side when it comes to healing, just as He is always on the side of righteousness and faith.
But there are mysteries about God's plan and we know He allows and uses things of which He does not approve and His plan for human history includes sin, unbelief, sickness and even death. Sometimes God actually uses sickness to displine one of His children who is rebellion against Him. So instead of praying "if it be Thy will", we should pray "according to Your will". Healing is His will, it's just that His timing is not always immediate, because He maybe working something greater within us.
After all that the Lord had taught and accomplished with Job, not only did God heal Job but He prospered him and restored to him double everything he had lost (Job 42:10).
I believe that many are not healed by our prayers not because of LACK of faith or because they don't believe, but because it's not yet God's time. Sometimes God is trying to get our attention about some sin in our lives we refuse to turn over to Him. Direct-or-Indirect disobedience can and will hinder answers to prayer! Daily soul searching and repentance will help avoid those hinderences...We are told to "WALK IN THE LIGHT as HE IS IN THE LIGHT". It was not given as an opinion, but rather as a COMMANDMENT! We need to STOP giving excusses for our SINS & DISOBEDENCE!!
In all cases of healing, deliverance and other miracles, whether it is the faith of the one praying (friends, family, community of believers) or the faith of the one being prayed for, faith is the requirement that was honored in bringing about the healing from God.
Before we look at the healings that were done by faith in Jesus' day, we need to understand what real faith is. Where does it come from? How do we get more or increase the faith we already have? And what does faith accomplish?
1. "FAITH is the SUBSTANCE of THINGS HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1-3). Faith is not positive thinking for wishing things to happen. It is a spiritual, ivisible source in God.
2-A. "FAITH COMETH by HEARING, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). Faith comes from God to us through His Word. As we learn and meditate on His Word, the Word establishes itself in our spirits. We learn more and trust God at His Word. As we daily exercise our faith, it will grow.
2-B. "Jesus answering, saith unto them (us), HAVE FAITH IN GOD" (Mark 11:22-26). Having faith in God to trust and believe what He has said, promised, or commands us to do, and to STAND FAST, NOT DOUBTING, the invisible -- regardless of what the visible circumstances may be.
3. "But WITHOUT FAITH it is "IMPOSSIBLE" to please Him (God), for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). So we see that faith accomplishes and pleases God, and He rewards those who hear His Word, believe it with all their heart, and trust Him at His Word, and ACT on it! Real "GENUINE" faith pleases God and He moves on our behalf for His peole.
Now let's look at the scriptures regarding faith in action!
"And Jesus said unto them, ... verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of MUSTARD SEED, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to younder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting" (Matthew 17:20-21). A mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds, but once planted, watered and nurtured, grows to be strong and firmly rooted plant....so is God's word planted in the heart of men/women. It starts as a seed and with the RIGHT CARE, will grow and bring about God's supernatual change in your spirit-soul and body!
"Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If YE have FAITH, and DOUBT NOT, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, WHATSOEVER YE shall ASK in prayer, BELIEVING, ye SHALL receive" (Matthew 21:21-22).
"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23).
"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall BELIEVE that those THINGS which he SAITH it SHALL come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, BELIEVE that ye RECIEVE them, and ye SHALL have them." (Mark 11:23-24).
"And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you" (Luke 17:6).
"But when he(Peter)saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of LITTLE FAITH, wherefore didst thou DOUBT" (Matthew 14:30-31).
"But Jesus turned him about, and when He saw her, He said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy FAITH hath made thee whole" (Matthew 9:22).
"And He said unto her, "Daughter, thy FAITH has made thee whole; go in peace and be whole of thy plague" (Mark 5:34).
"And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way" (Mark 10:52).
"The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked" (Acts 14:9-10).
"Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, GREAT is thy FAITH: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour" (Matthew 15:28).
"And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and AS THOU HAST BELIEVETH, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour" (Matthew 8:13)
"When Jesus saw their FAITH, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee .... I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house" (Mark 2:5,11).
Jesus taught that it was not only the amount of their faith that brought healing, but it was their FAITH in a big God and trusting in His Word -- believing that He would take care of their most intimate needs. God did not send Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sins ONLY -- He is concerned with EVERY area of our lives.
Prayer often includes gestures -- kneeling, hands raised to the lord in worship, etc. These are sometimes called "action prayers", in which a physical action either goes with the words or stand alone. Action prayers occur most often in healing. Let's look at a few examples:
Anointing with oil
It was common for the discples (Mark 6:13) to anoint with oil, and was required by James for healing services (James 5:14). Anointing with oil is a prayer that the person will be anointed with the healing power of the Holy Spirit, as oil is a frequent symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Bible.
Touch and Spittle
Jesus often used a combination of touch and spittle when prayng for the sick. (the deaf & dumb beggar in Mark 7:33 and the blind man in John 9:6).
Touch
Jesus used this action prayer when He blessed the children in Mark 10:16, and in the following instances where faith was joined with action:
Matthew 9:29-30 -- Matthew 20:34 -- Mark 5:41-42
Mark 9:27 -- Mark 16:17-18 -- Luke 4:20
Luke 7:14-15 -- Luke 13:13 -- Acts 3:7
Acts 9:17-18 -- Acts 9:41 -- Acts 20:10
Acts 28:8 -- Matthew 14:35-36 -- Mark 3:10
Mark 5:22-23 -- Mark 5:27-28 -- Mark 6:56
Mark 7:32 -- Mark 8:22 -- Luke 6:19
Many times Jesus and the disciples commanded others to action.
Stand on your feet (Acts 14:10)
Come out! (John 11:43)
Walk (Acts 3:6)
Stretch out your hand (Matthew 12:13; Mark 3:5)
Be clean! (Matthew 8:3; Mark 1:41)
Go (Mark 10:52)
Two other instances are related to action prayers:
1. Peter's shadow brought healing to those on whom it fell (Acts 5:15)
2. Handkerchiefs that Paul had touched were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured (Acts 19:12).
By praying action prayers, we provide the Lord with the means by which He may bring about the desired healing or deliverance.
Some healings are brought about through prayer. Some healings are brought about through the gifts of the Spirit. And many sicknesses and diseases are healed through deliverance. Whatever type of healing you are in need of (physical, emotional, mental, spiritual), we pray that the Lord will grant your request and bring total wholeness into your life FOR HIS GLORY!