Divine Healing; Is it Possible?

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.  

Isaiah 53:5

Traditions of men are beliefs, rules, and principles derived from man which hinder the work of God's Word. Jesus told the religious leaders of His time:

But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.  (Matthew 15:6)

If faith comes by hearing God's Word, then it can leave by hearing and accepting traditions of men that destroy faith.

It's amazing that we believe in God for a myriad of things such as cars, money, children, jobs, a home, etc. and yet, when it comes to our health, we don't believe that God is able or worse yet that He is willing to heal us. 

Let’s review some common traditions of men concerning healing. A Biblical response to each tradition is given since the best remedy against error is not silence, but proclamation of the truth of God's Word. When we remove traditions and objections concerning healing we remove barriers blocking divine healing from occurring.

The Psalmist David indicated that although he previously declared his own ways he now desired to learn the ways of God:

My soul cleaveth unto the dust; quicken thou me according to thy Word. I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me; teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts; so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. My soul melteth for heaviness; strengthen thou me according unto thy Word. (Psalms 119:25-28)

David replaced traditions with the Word of God, and in so doing, his soul was quickened (healed and renewed).

Here are some common traditions of men concerning healing:

"Healing and miracles are not for today"  

Some people claim healing was only for Biblical times or for the future when Jesus returns.

God says: 

. . . If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. (Exodus 15:26)

"I am" is present tense. How can we change it to "I was" in the past or "I will be" in the future? The Bible teaches that God does not change:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)

For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.(Malachi 3:6)

God has not changed since the beginning of time:  

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)

If the day of divine healing and miracles is past, then so is the day of salvation, for there is no greater miracle than salvation. If healing is for the future when Jesus returns to earth, then the ministry of teachers, pastors, and other leaders must be for that future time also because the gift of healing is a spiritual gift as are these ministries.

The most convincing argument against divine healing claims that miracles are not for today is the documented record of experience. There are seven "dispensations" or "ages" in which God has dealt with man in special ways. These are:

Ø     The age of innocence:                         Genesis 1:28

Ø     The age of conscience:                        Genesis 3:23

Ø     The age of human government:           Genesis 8:20

Ø     The age of promise:                             Genesis 12:1

Ø     The age of law:                                      Exodus 19:8

Ø     The age of grace:                                  John 1:17

Ø     The Kingdom age:                                Ephesians 1:10

The coming of Jesus introduced the final Kingdom age. At the beginning of this age, Jesus performed miracles and healings:  

Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the Gospel is preached. (Luke 7:22)

The book of Acts records miracles and healings in the early Church [body of Christ] as the Kingdom age continued. The documented record of modern Church history also confirms many healings and miracles.

"Why aren't all the dead raised?"  

Some people ask, "If healing and miracles are for today, why don't believers go around raising all those who have taken sick and died?"

Raising the dead was not part of the Great Commission given to the Church. It was commanded to the disciples when they were first sent on a preaching tour to announce the Kingdom. Raising the dead was the "first fruits" of the resurrection of Jesus which was to come.

There is a difference between special miracles and covenant miracles. Special miracles were performed as a sign in special circumstances, such as turning water to wine, walking on the sea, multiplying the loaves and fishes, and opening the Red Sea.

Healing is a covenant miracle of the Old Testament, not a special miracle. God still raises the dead, but this is determined by His sovereignty and is not a general part of our commission to heal.

"Why do Christians die?"  

While we are on the subject of death, some skeptics claim that if divine healing always worked, no Christian would ever die.

No such claim is made by Scriptures. The Bible only provides divine health within the normal life span. Although the atonement of Christ purchased our eternal redemption from death, these mortal bodies will eventually die unless Jesus returns first and the rapture occurs. The same Bible which teaches healing also sets a limit on the length of man's life: 

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. (Psalms 90:10)

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

"Modern medicine makes divine healing unnecessary"  

Tradition says: "There was no competent medical help in the time of Jesus. Now that help is available, we are expected to use it instead of praying to God for healing."

As early as 400 B.C. there was a medical healing science. A man named Hippocrates (460-370 B.C.), the father of medicine, developed the science of medicine to a relatively high state. Some of his technique is still used today. Greece, Egypt, and Rome had many competent practitioners in the time of Jesus.  Even the Phoenician woman with the issue of blood had consulted with physicians. 

Divine healing has nothing to do with the competence or incompetence of medical science. It is a blessing provided in the atonement. Every good gift comes from God, so it is acceptable to use legitimate medical resources. Remember, however, that medicine is not a substitute for the covenant promise of healing.

Despite the advances of medicine there are still many incurable illnesses so divine healing is still needed. Also many people are beyond the reach of medical help.

"Divine healing is taught by false cults"  

Tradition says: "Divine healing is only taught by false cults".

There were many religious leaders of well known denominations such as the Methodist, Lutheran, and Moravian churches, who taught divine healing. Those who teach it today, along with the saving power of the blood of Jesus and the deity of Christ, are no more unorthodox than these leaders.

Some false cults do teach healing, but not true Biblical healing. It is "psychic" or "mind over matter" healing from a source other than God through Jesus Christ. Satan is a deceiver and imitator. We do not eliminate divine healing just because he deceives and heals through evil powers.

Satan has deceived many into believing that by washing in a particular river one will be cleansed of sin. According to biblical scripture there is only one way to be cleansed of our sin and that is through Christ Jesus.  But, do we stop preaching salvation just because Satan has imitated it? Do you stop believing in the medical profession just because there are a few doctors who are frauds? The fact that Satan bothers to imitate divine healing is another indication there is a true healing.

"The body is emphasized more than the soul"  

Tradition claims: "Divine healing puts more emphasis on the body than the soul."

Some believers in healing ministries have fallen into this emphasis, but this is not the Biblical pattern of healing. Biblical healing deals with the whole man, body, soul and spirit.

Healing is not a Gospel in and of itself, it is only one aspect of the Gospel of Christ. It should never be preached apart from the message of salvation of the souls of sinful men and women. The Church's concentration on the spirit and medicine's preoccupation with the body have both missed the 'whole person' concept presented in the Bible.

"You are sick because of your sin"   

One claim often heard is that "You are sick because you sinned or have sin in your life."

You will recall that while all sickness is in the world because of sin, a person is not necessarily sick because of personal sin.  We can all look to the account of Job, the man blind from birth and Lazarus for verification of this fact.

"It is God's will for you to be sick"  

"It is God's will for you to be sick. It is for His glory." Have you ever heard this claim?

Many do not question whether or not God is able to heal, but whether He is willing. The Bible indicates we are unwise if we do not understand God's will:  

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:17)

Knowing God's will concerning sickness provides fertile ground on which faith can grow. The prayer of faith is the only prayer that is effective in obtaining healing for the sick. It cannot be prayed as long as you are wondering if it is God's will to heal.

If you really believe it is God's will for you to be sick, then it is wrong to ask someone to pray for your healing. If sickness of a believer is of God, then doctors are of the devil because they are trying to get rid of sickness. Hospitals are in error because they are seeking to get rid of disease in rebellion against God's will. Every nurse is defying God with each effort to relieve suffering.

Those who believe sickness is God's will should not accept medical treatment to get rid of it. They should not let a doctor operate and remove God's will from their body. If you really believe sickness is God's will for you as a believer, you should stop taking medicine and seeing doctors because you are fighting against the will of God.

But since we know that the source of sickness is Satan, then legitimate doctors, medicines, hospitals, and medical science must be an extension of the goodness of God. Since sickness is of Satan, every legitimate manner of relieving suffering is of God. (By legitimate we mean those methods that do not involve Satanic methods or violate God's Word.)

It is true that your body is bought with a price and you are to glorify God in it, whether you are sick or well. But in the Biblical record, God was glorified when people were healed. If sickness glorifies God, then Christ robbed God of glory by healing the sick. If sickness glorifies God, we should all pray to be sick.

Know this:  God is not glorified by sickness in the body anymore than by the sickness of sin in the spirit.  Rather he is glorified when through faith in Him the body and the soul is restored to wellness.

(Biblical Studies)

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