The Promise of Healing

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:20-23

As we approach the subject of healing and deliverance, we should do so with a proper attitude. Always remember that seeking and ministering physical healing is secondary to spiritual reconciliation through Jesus Christ which is the greatest miracle of healing. It is helpful to understand some of the attitudes regarding healing ministry in this area.

Do not enter this realm of ministry seeking formulas and methods to receive or minister healing. The Bible gives no specific formulas, although various principles are revealed.  Instead of seeking formulas, understand that the Healer is within you. Seek to increase your knowledge of and intimate relationship with God.

In regards to healing and deliverance, there are current attitudes you will face from believers who have . . .

¨     Ignored it:    When the high number of verses devoted to the subject of healings in the New Testament is compared with the low number of pages written on the same topics in modern theology, there is seemingly a trend to ignore the subject in many modern religious circles.

Some ignore healing because of biblical warnings against false miracles. They regard this as a warning about all miracles 

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise , and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.  But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.  Mark 13:22-23   

Some believe healing in theory, but ignore it in practice. Others ignore it because they cannot answer all the questions associated with sickness and suffering. Some ignore healing because of fear of failure. We seem to have a double standard. We pray confidently for finances, wisdom, and guidance but we are fearful to pray for healing. Others do not realize how rationalism and materialism have affected them. Many must "see to believe" and are consumed with the natural, materialistic world.

¨     Denied it:  Some people deny healing and deliverance are for today because they have no theology, model, practice, or experience with it.

The New Testament Gospels contain 26 accounts of physical healing. The book of Acts contains five. Physical healing is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 and 28-30.  Specific instructions on how to pray for the sick are given in the book of James. 

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. James 5:13-16

There is nothing in the Epistles that modifies the Gospel's teaching on healing. Praying for the sick was taken for granted at the time the Epistles were written, and there is no hint that divine healing was controversial in the early church.

¨     Complicated it:  Many people have complicated healing and deliverance with traditions of man contrary to the Word of God.  Others have complicated it with experience. They may have prayed for healing and did not receive it. But you must base your beliefs on the Word of God, not on experience (except where experience supports the Word). 

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.   Mark 9:23-24

Bad role models of healing have also complicated this issue. People have seen personality cults, healing for money, deception, and undue focus on physical healing instead of wholeness. 

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  3 John 1-2

Healing and deliverance have also been complicated by imbalance. Any truth, no matter how valid, emphasized to the exclusion of other truths is practical error.

¨     Delayed it:  Some people delay ministering healing and deliverance because they do not have the answers to everything. They do not understand why some are healed and others are not.  It is not necessary to understand everything about healing in order to minister or receive it any more than you understood everything about salvation when you were saved and began to witness to others.

Some answers come as you minister and experience God's healing power. Other questions will never be answered. If you knew the "why" and "how" about everything, then you would not need God. The Bible says "we know in part." Healing concerns sickness and suffering. Many are being destroyed physically and spiritually because they do not know what God's Word teaches regarding healing. 

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  Hosea 4:6

There will always be mysteries because the mystery of iniquity is at work.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.  2 Thessalonians 2:7

Current attitudes towards healing and deliverance illustrate why we need proper teaching on this subject.  Healing (wholeness) is part of the Gospel of the Kingdom which we are commissioned to spread. 

Jesus called us to preach, teach, heal, and deliver. Healing and deliverance should not be left out, but neither should they be emphasized to the exclusion of teaching and preaching the Gospel. The Bible reveals that our churches are to be healing centers.

Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.  And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.   Luke 14:16-24 

We are to see people healed rather than turned away.  

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  Hebrews 12:13

As believers, it is sin if we do not share the good news of healing and deliverance with a lost and dying world. The Bible says:  

 . . . to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.     James 4:17

Applying this verse to healing means that to know we are commissioned to minister healing--and yet not do it--is sin. God gives some stern warnings to leaders who do not minister healing: 

. . . Woe be to the shepherds

. . . The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them . . . 

I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick. . .    Ezekiel 34:2,4,16

As you read this, you must disregard past experiences and the traditions you have been taught. You must be teachable. One of the marks of wisdom from above is that it is open to reason.

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure , then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:17 

You are in danger spiritually when you stop being teachable. 

Remember that the sin of presumption is putting God in your little "mold." Job's friends sinned in this way. 

Universal application of individual experience is wrong.

Act as if you have never heard the traditional teachings of man or your denomination on it. Accept what God's Word says:  If it says you are healed, believe it. If it says to lay hands on the sick, do it.

The Holy Spirit is resident within. Healing is not something you seek from the outside, but you learn to release it from the inside. Seeking only to understand principles that release that power within.

If you truly follow the example of the healing ministry of Jesus you will:

®     Be a servant instead of a Lord:

And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.  Mark 10:44

®     Grow weary, not rich: 

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.  Mark 6:31; 

Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.  John 4:6;

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.   Acts 3:6

®     Encounter unbelief of others: 

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.  Matthew 13:58

 ®     Experience persecution from religious leaders (some of them are like the Pharisees-- more concerned with law and tradition than life):            

And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.  And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.  But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.  Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?  Luke 6:6-9

®     Experience persecution from those closest to you: 

But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.  Mark 6:4 

®     Avoid publicity instead of seeking it: 

And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.  Mark 8:26; 

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.  Matthew 8:4

®     Reject any personal gain or material benefits from God's power: 

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.   Acts 8:18-24

®     Reject personal glory: 

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:  Acts 14:8- [15] 18

Biblical Studies

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06/26/20