Healing - According to Scripture

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, 

the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. 

Luke 10:9

A difficult truth for some people to realize is that God is sovereign and everything that happens or occurs, God either willed or allowed.  The thing to remember is that although Satan is the prince of this world, God is the king and it is He who is reigns over all!  Sometimes God permits sickness to come on a believer, but always remember that Satan is the source. The example of Job illustrates this.

And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?  Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.  But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.  And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.  Job 1:8-12

God does not will sickness on a believer. He has knowledge of the attack by Satan and He uses all things (even bad) to work together for the good. This is why that, even during sickness, we can be drawn closer to the Lord. God always seeks to bring good out of evil. He used the effects of sin to remedy it by the death of Jesus. God is not the source of sickness in a believer's life, but God takes something Satan intends for evil and works in us to accomplish spiritual victories as we undergo the attack.  Job is not the only illustration of this truth.  Lazarus was allowed to die so the glory of God through Jesus Christ could be revealed.

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.  John 11:4

Apostle Paul first preached in Galatia because of a schedule change due to illness 

Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.  And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.  Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.   Galatians 4:13-15 

Trophimus' sickness kept him from going to Rome with Apostle Paul and suffering a similar fate 

Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.  2 Timothy 4:20 

Sickness was used to prevent sin in Genesis 12 and 20. Although these examples illustrate how God uses it, remember that   . . . 

 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.  Lamentations 3:33

Sickness alone does not produce saints who glorify God. It can produce bitter, complaining, unbelieving people.  But the word of God; the truth, is what sanctifies and causes man to glorify God.

 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

While it is true that we often get into the Word more during a sickness, it is not necessary to have sickness in order to grow spiritually.

It is helpful to remember this: 

The will of God for believers is Christ-likeness in character. 

Everything else, including sickness and health, 

derives its significance in relation to this divine goal 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.   (Romans 8:28-29)

In all cases, sickness resulted from sin and the inherent judgment of God that came from sin. But even this can be used by God for good, for as healing and deliverance is ministered, salvation can result. God has given many promises in His Word regarding healing and deliverance. Why would God give these in His Word if it is His will for you to be sick? If a believer says, "I do not know if it is God's will to heal me," ask that person, "Is it God's will to keep His promises?"

If you ever wondered whether or not God wants to heal, you have only to look at our Lord's actions.

When you pray for healing, pray "Thy will be done" or "according to Thy will." You should not say, “If it be Thy will” when you are praying for healing and deliverance. Healing is part of the atonement just like salvation.

If implies doubt that God wants to make you whole. "According to Thy will" projects confident faith, while yet leaving the method, extent, and timing to Him. Even in cases of sickness unto death, pray "according to Thy will" not "if it is Thy will" to heal. "According to thy will" leaves the time and conditions to God. For a believer, He may choose the ultimate healing through death that rids you from the presence of sickness for all eternity.

Jesus taught us to pray 

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."   Matthew 6:10

There is no sickness and disease in Heaven, so we can pray confidently against it on earth knowing it is not His will. Jesus never prayed "heal if it is Your will, God." The only time He prayed "If it be Thy will" was in relationship to His own submission to the plan of God for His life--not healing. 

And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.  Matthew 26:39

"If it be Your will" destroys faith. When it was used by an outcast leper who did not know Christ's will in healing, Jesus corrected his uncertainty by assuring him, "I will." 

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.   Matthew 8:2-3

Never turn God's facts into hopes or questions. Act on them as realities and you will find them powerful.

Just because someone is not healed immediately or because he dies from a "sickness unto death" does not mean it was not God's will to heal Him. We view things in terms of time, while God views them in terms of eternity. We must remember that there are delayed healings. Some are:

Delayed in mortal time:

*          Sarah's barrenness was not healed immediately.

*         Job was not healed immediately.

*          John the Baptist's father was not healed of his dumbness until a set time.

*          Jesus prayed twice for one blind man who received only partial healing the first time.

Delayed in eternity: 

Death is just an event within the realm of eternity in the life of a believer. Even a "sickness unto death" is swallowed up in victory because death to a believer is the ultimate healing. As you enter the presence of the Lord you are made whole and no longer suffer from sin or sickness. In speaking of death, Paul says you are prepared for this purpose: 

Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 2 Corinthians 5:6-9

Myths regarding healing:

→      "This is an affliction of the righteous"  

Some people claim: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous. This is an affliction you must bear because you are righteous."

The meaning of the word "afflictions" -- 

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.  Psalms 34:19, 

-- from where this tradition developed, does not refer to sickness. It refers to trials, hardships, persecutions, or temptations. Even if it did refer to sickness, the remainder of the verse indicates that the Lord wants to deliver you.

In James 5:13-16 

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

a difference is noted between afflictions and sickness. 

If you are afflicted with trials, persecutions, and temptations, you are to pray for yourself:

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  James 5:13 

Although you can ask others to pray with you, they are not called to pray all your troubles away.

The Scripture instructs you to pray when you are afflicted because you need to learn how to be an overcomer by praying yourself through trials and temptations. In case of sickness, however, the elders are to be called to pray.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  James 5:14 

The sick are to be saved (from their physical sickness), raised up (return of strength), and forgiven of sin (spiritual healing).

→      "Divine healing is rare"  

Some object to divine healing claiming healing is rare. They ask, "Why get people's hope up only to disappoint them?"

Divine healing is not rare. The pages of the New Testament are filled with accounts of healings and deliverances. The record of church history also has many medically documented divine healings.

→      "Your sickness is your cross"  

"Your sickness is your cross. You must learn to live with it." Have you ever heard this claim?  The claim that sickness is your "cross" is easily dealt with. "The cross" is not problems, sicknesses, and afflictions that come upon you through no choice of your own. Jesus made it clear that "taking up the cross" is a voluntary act, not something you accept because you have no choice. Jesus did not treat sickness and death as a cross sent from God. He treated them as an enemy. If you believe sickness is your cross, then why do you seek medical help to get rid of it?

Let’s rejoice because everything you need including healing is found in the Potter’s house!

(Biblical Studies)



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