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This teaching is primarily for those who wish to minister healing to
the sick. It can be equally valid for those who are seeking to be healed. Two
other teachings would be valuable: Life and Flow of Holy Spirit and Enemy at
the Gate. Here we are going to discuss if it is God's will to heal, who has
power and authority to heal, why we heal the sick and how Jesus and the
disciples healed the sick. Knowing each of these is essential to minister
healing to the sick.
IS IT GOD'S WILL TO HEAL?
This is the first issue to be cleared up. If we are not sure of God's
will, it is impossible to pray with faith. Without faith, we won't be heard. 1
Jn. 5.14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask
anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears
us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
Confidence is exactly what we want and need when it comes time to minister
healing.
Genesis 3:16-19 To the woman He said: I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children... Then to Adam He said, Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it...Till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return. This is where sickness originates, not from God, but from sin.
Exodus 15:24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall
we drink? 25 And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree, which
when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for
them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26 And said, If you
will diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God, and will do that
which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all
his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought
upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that heals you. One of God's names involves healing Jehovah
Rapha.
Exodus 23:25 And you shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless
your bread, and your water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of
you. 26 There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in your land: the
number of your days I will fulfill. Deuteronomy 7:14 You shall be blessed above
all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your
cattle. 15 And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will put none
of the evil diseases of Egypt, which you know, upon you; but will lay them upon
all them that hate you. 28 (whole chapter), Galatians 3:13-14 Sickness is
part of the curse, in fact is for those who hate us. Jesus took all curses upon
His body while on the cross. Healing is part of the blessings, which are ours
in Jesus.
Numbers 21:5 And the people spoke against God, and against Moses,
Wherefore have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For
there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loathes this light
bread. 6 And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the
people; and much people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses,
and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against you;
pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed
for the people. 8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make you a fiery serpent, and
set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten,
when he looks upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put
it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when
he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. This is a picture of Jesus and He
referenced this scripture in talking about Himself.
2 Kings 5:3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were
with the prophet that is in Samaria~ For he would recover him of his leprosy. 8
And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had
rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore have you rent
your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet
in Israel. 9. So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at
the door of the house of Elisha. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him,
saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to
you, and you shall be clean. 11 But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said,
Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the
name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the
leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the
waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went
away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near, and spoke unto him, and said, My
father, if the prophet had bid you do some great thing, would you not have done
it? How much rather then, when he said to you, Wash, and be clean? 14 Then went
he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of
the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child,
and he was clean. God chooses unique ways to heal us and the key is
obediance~
Job 2.3 Then the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered My servant
Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one
who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity,
although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 So Satan
answered the Lord and said, Skin for skin Yes, all that a man has he will give
for his life. 5 But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his
flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face 6 And the Lord said to Satan,
Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life. 7 So Satan went out from the
presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his
foot to the crown of his head. 42:10 And the Lord restored Jobs losses when he
prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had
before. Job's sickness came from the Devil, his healing, from God.
Ps. 30.2 O LORD my God, I cried unto you, and you have healed me. Ps.
34:19-20 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him
out of them all. He guards all his bones; ot one of them is broken. Ps. 41.3
The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: you will make all his
bed in his sickness. 4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I
have sinned against you. 42.11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are
you disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the
health of my countenance, and my God. Psalms 67:1. God be merciful unto us, and
bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. 2 That your way may be
known upon earth, your saving health among all nations. Psalms 91:3 Surely he
shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome
pestilence. 5 You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the
arrow that flies by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor
for the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at your
side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come nigh you. 8
Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9.
Because you have made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, your
habitation; 10 there shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come
nigh your dwelling. Ps. 103:3 Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all
your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with
loving-kindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good
things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. He heals ALL of each
of our diseases, whether we realize it or not.
Healing and forgiveness are often listed together in the word. Part of
the meaning of the word salvation IS healing and healing is part of the
salvation covenant. Ps. 105:37 He brought them forth also with silver and
gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. Ps. 107:19 Then
they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saves them out of their
distresses. 20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their
destruction. Healing comes from the word. Ps. 118:17 I shall not die,
but live, and declare the works of the Lord.
Ps. 147:3 He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
Pr. 3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from
evil. 8 It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones. 4:20 My
son, attend to my words; incline your ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not
depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart. 22 For they are
life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 12:18 There is
one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise promotes health. 14:30 A sound heart is
life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones. 16:24 Pleasant words are
like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones. 17:22 A merry
heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones. 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat
its fruit. Some healthy wisdom from Proverbs.
Isaiah 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear
not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he
will come and save you. 5. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the
ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as a hart,
and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out,
and streams in the desert. 53:4. Surely he has borne our grief, and carried our
sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 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. See
Mt. 8:17 for another translation of verse 4. Jesus paid for our healing with
the stripes He took, 2000 years ago. Isaiah 57:18 I have seen his ways, and
will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comfort unto him and to his
mourners.
Jeremiah 8:21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I
am black; astonishment has taken hold on me. 22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is
there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my
people recovered? The first part of verse 22 is a rhetorical because the
second part assumes the answer is yes. 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall
be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for you are my praise. 30:17 For I
will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says the
LORD; because they called you an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man
seeks after. 33:6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure
them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
Malachi 4:2 "But for you who fear My name, the sun of
righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and
skip about like calves from the stall. Jesus' resurrection is depicted as a
means of healing, as a result of our reverence. All of the above
scriptures promising health are under the old covenant. How much more abundant
should our health be under the new~ It is a better covenant~
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of
sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24 And his fame went
throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were
taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with
devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he
healed them.
Matthew 6:10 Is there any sickness in Heaven?? Of course not. We are to pray for His will ON EARTH AS IT IS
IN HEAVEN~ Revelation 21:4 Wipe away all sickness. Rev. 22:2, 3 Healing of the nations. There will be no more curse in heaven.
Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him,
saying, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his
hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be clean. (Jesus never
told anyone no~~~~) And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 6 And
saying, Lord, my servant lies at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus said unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered
and said, Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof: but speak
the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under
authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goes;
and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I
say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (Many want
physical manifestations, things done in just a certain way and then they can be
healed. Great faith have they who will take what God has in God's way.) 13
And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go your way; and as you have believed, so be
it done unto you. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour. 14. And when
Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a
fever. 15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and
ministered unto them. 16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many
that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and
healed all that were sick: 17 That it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare
our sicknesses. See Isaiah 53:4
Matt. 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching
in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom
and curing all kinds of disease and every weakness and infirmity. Jesus
healed EVERY disease.
Matthew 10:1. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he
gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all
manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 7 And as you go, preach, saying,
The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise
the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give. We are to
do what Jesus did.
Mt. 15.22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and
cried out to Him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David~ My daughter
is severely demon-possessed. 23 But He answered her not a word. And His
disciples came and urged Him, saying, Send her away, for she cries out after
us. 24 But He answered and said, I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the
house of Israel. 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, Lord, help me~ 26
But He answered and said, It is not good to take the childrens bread and throw
it to the little dogs. 27 And she said, Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat
the crumbs which fall from their masters table. 28 Then Jesus answered and
said to her, O woman, great is your faith~ Let it be to you as you desire. And
her daughter was healed from that very hour. Healing is the children's
bread. Whose child are you? This woman
overcame great obstacles to believe, religious, cultural, gender, even seeming
rebuke from Jesus and the disciples. She was tenacious in her faith~
Matthew 20:30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when
they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord,
Son of David. 31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their
peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David.
32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will you that I shall
do unto you? 33 They said unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So
Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their
eyes received sight, and they followed him. We need to ask specifically if
we want specific answers~
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed
me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to
set at liberty them that are bruised. Jesus ministry and mission was to heal
the sick.
We are to follow Him, doing what He did and more, teaching what He
taught. Healing was a huge part of that.
Luke 17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten
men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices,
and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said
unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as
they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was
healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on
his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus
answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There
are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he
said unto him, Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole. All were
healed of leprosy, but only one was totally made whole because he returned to
give God glory~
John 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty
and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long
time in that case, he said unto him, Will you be made whole? 7
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no one, when the water is troubled,
to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me. 8
Jesus said unto him, Rise, take up your bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the
man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was
the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the
Sabbath day: it is not lawful for you to carry your bed. 11 He answered them,
He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up your bed, and walk. 14
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, you are
made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you. 15 The man departed,
and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. You must be
willing to be made whole~
John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man who was blind from his
birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who sinned, this man, or
his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither has this man
sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest
in him. 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of
the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And
said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation,
Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. It has been
said that Jesus here actually took the clay and made eyes for this man~
John 7:23 If a man on the Sabbath day receive circumcision, that the
law of Moses should not be broken; are you angry at me, because I have made a
man every whit whole on the Sabbath day?
Acts 3:16 & 4:12 And His name, through faith in His name, has made
this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him
has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Nor is there
salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved. Healing is equivalent to and part of our
salvation.
Acts 5:16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem
were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean
spirits, and they were all being healed. All were healed.
Acts 10:38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and
with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of
the devil; for God was with him. Sickness
= oppression from the Devil. Healing is Jesus' ministry.
1 Corinthians 12:9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another
gifts of healing by the one Spirit,
and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and
to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues,
and to another the interpretation of tongues. Healing and doing miracles are
two of the gifts of the Spirit.
2 Cor. 1:20 ALL promises of God (including promises of health and
healing) in Jesus are yes and amen~
Phil. 3.9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the
name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. Not your typical healing scripture - but His name is above every
name - including that of cancer, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, allergies, whatever~
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus is the same, never changing. Does He still heal the sick?
James 1:16-17 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift
and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. God never changes; He
is the author of all good gifts, of which healing is one. Is sickness a good gift?
James 5:13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone
cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? 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. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the
Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may
be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. We
are commanded to call for the elders to pray for us if we are sick.
1 Peter 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree,
that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you
were healed. Peter reaffirms Isaiah's prophesy of the multifaceted work of
Christ on the cross.
3 John 2 John prayed that his brother would be in health. Do you think he would pray contrary to the
will of God?
So what about the people I've ministered to or prayed for that did not
get healed or even died? How can I, in good conscience do that again? Well,
have you ever ministered to or prayed for salvation and someone did not receive
and perhaps died without knowing Jesus? Do we ever stop sharing? Of course not~
We continue because it is promised and commanded, just like healing. Besides,
if the person was a Christian, they were perfectly healed when they went to
glory and not just temporarily healed here.
SOME EXAMPLES OF HEALING
Gen. 20.17 So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his
wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children; 18 for the Lord had
closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah, Abrahams
wife. Remember, we are the seed of Abraham because of Christ - Gal. 3.29.
Num. 12.13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, Please heal her, O
God, I pray!14 Then the Lord said to Moses, If her father had but spit in her
face, would she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven
days, and afterward she may be received again.
1 Sam/ 6.1 Now the ark of the Lord was in the country of the
Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the
diviners, saying, What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us how we
should send it to its place. 3 So they said, If you send away the ark of the
God of Israel, do not send it empty; but by all means return it to Him with a
trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His
hand is not removed from you. Praise God, Jesus was our sacrifice for sin
and healing.
1 Kings 13.4 So it came to pass when King Jeroboam heard the saying of
the man of God, who cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he stretched
out his hand from the altar, saying, Arrest him! Then his hand, which he
stretched out toward him, withered, so that he could not pull it back to
himself. 5 The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the
altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the
Lord. 6 Then the king answered and said to the man of God, Please entreat the
favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to
me. So the man of God entreated the Lord, and the kings hand was restored to
him, and became as before.
2 Kings 5.8 So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king
of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Why have you
torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a
prophet in Israel. 9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he
stood at the door of Elishas house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him,
saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be
restored to you, and you shall be clean. 11 But Naaman became furious, and
went away and said, Indeed, I said to myself, He will surely come out to me,
and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the
place, and heal the leprosy. 12 Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers
of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and
be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near
and spoke to him, and said, My father, if the prophet had told you to do
something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says
to you, Wash, and be clean? 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the
Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored
like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 And he returned to the
man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said,
Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel;
now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.
Ps. 6.2-3 O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me. O
Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I
should not go down to the pit.
WHO HAS THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO HEAL?
Jesus had it, of course, but what about us? We can't be like HIM, can we?
First of all, JESUS says we can be like Him, doing the things He did~
John 14:12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that
I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to
My Father. Eph. 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 1 Jn. 4:17b
because as He is, so are we in this world.
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but
he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those
who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new
tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it
will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will
recover. 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into
heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and
preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through
the accompanying signs. Amen. Matt. 10:1, 8, 13 And when He had called His
twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them
out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Heal the sick,
cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received,
freely give. If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it
is not worthy, let your peace return to you.
Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and
sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself
was about to go. 5 But whatever house you enter, first say, Peace to this
house. 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it
will return to you. 9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, The kingdom of
God has come near to you.
Paul healed the sick and did creative miracles as well, but we can't
be like him can we? 1 Cor. 11.1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
Phil. 3.17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk,
as you have us for a pattern. 4.9 The things which you learned and received and
heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. 1 Thes.
1.6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in
much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit. In fact, Paul COMMANDS us
to follow him, doing what he did~
Jesus, while on earth, was fully human (apart from having a sin
nature, of course), fully depending on the Father for everything. Philippians 2:5-9 Have this attitude in
yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form
of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied
Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of
men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming
obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Hebrews 2:9-18 But we do
see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus,
because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the
grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for
whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to
glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. For both He
who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which
reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I WILL PROCLAIM
YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR
PRAISE." And again, "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again,
"BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME." Therefore, since
the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the
same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of
death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were
subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to
angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be
made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and
faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the
sins of the people. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has
suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. 1 Tim. 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ
Jesus. John 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do
nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the
Son also does in like manner. 30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I
judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the
will of the Father who sent Me. 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, When you lift up the Son of Man, then you
will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father
taught Me, I speak these things 12:49 For I have not spoken on My own; but the
Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should
speak. 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own; but the Father who
dwells in Me does the works. 17: 7
Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For
I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received
them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed
that You sent Me.
Jesus said that we are greater than all those before and including
John the Baptist (Matt. 11:11) able to do more than any. Imagine that~
Romans 8:11 is a key verse. Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who
raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the
dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in
you. Since we have the same Spirit within us that resurrected Jesus and that
created the world (Gen. 1:2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was
over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface
of the waters. Gen 2:7 Then
the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils
the breath of life; and man became a living being.)~ 2 Cor. 4:7 But we have
this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power
will be of God and not from ourselves; We tend to focus on the earthen vessel
and not on the power within. IN ORDER TO
HEAL THE SICK, WE MUST MEDITATE AND CONSENTRATE ON THE INCREDIBLE POWER THAT IS
WITHIN US, and NOT on the earthen vessel.
That is the ONLY way we will have the faith to move out and lay hands on
the sick and see them recover.
This power is NOT DEPENDENT UPON FEELINGS. It IS dependent upon the fact that the Word says
we have it. 1 John 2:20 But you have an
anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 27 As for you, the anointing
which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to
teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and
is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. Mark 16:16-18 "He
who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has
disbelieved shall be condemned. "These signs will accompany those who have
believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new
tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it
will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will
recover." Acts 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." John 14:12"Truly,
truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do
also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Eph.
3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask
or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in
the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Luke
10:19. We must realize that there is
incredible power in our hands and in our words, just like Jesus'. The word for power in Greek is the root word
for dynamite. We must believe that we
have something within us with much more power than dynamite. In Mark 16:17 and John 14:12 the only
prerequisite to do miracles is BELIEVE~~ This is not about wishing and hoping
it is true. It is about understanding that the word says it, period. That makes
it so. I stake my very life on what the word says is a fact and live
accordingly.
In Mark 16:15-20 we receive another concept concerning healing. HEALING IS NOT DONE IN OUR AUTHORITY, BUT IN
THE AUTHORITY AND NAME OF JESUS. Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into
all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 "He who has
believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall
be condemned. 17 "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in
My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink
any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and
they will recover." 19 So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He
was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they
went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and
confirmed the word by the signs that followed.
Touch has to do with power, words with authority. Most healings are done
with both, faith in action third.
Psalm 8:4-8 What is man that You take thought of him, and the son of
man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You
crown him with glory and majest. You make him to rule over the works of Your
hands; You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the
beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever
passes through the paths of the seas. Hebrews 2:6-8 But one has testified
somewhere, saying, "WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN,
THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? "YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE
LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE
APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN
SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in subjecting all things to him, He left
nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things
subjected to him. We are made a little lower than Elohim (margin, literal) over
all the works. When we, like Jesus,
command healing, cast out demons, etc., we have the authority to do so, because
we were created to.
Ephesians 1:19-23 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power
toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength
of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead
and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and
authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in
this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under
His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His
body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. We have no problem believing
that Jesus is FAR ABOVE all rule and authority.
It's Eph. 2:5-7 that we don't believe.
Eph. 2:5-7 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive
together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with
Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He
might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ
Jesus. WE ARE IN THE SAME POSITION OF AUTHORITY AS JESUS~~ Luke 10:19 To the 70
He said, "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and
scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Romans
16:20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our
Lord Jesus be with you. 1 Jn. 4.4 You are from God, little children, and have
overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
Pr. 18.21 Death and life are in the
power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
WHY DO WE HEAL THE SICK?
Other than being God's will to heal the sick and following in Jesus'
& Paul's examples, are there any other reasons we should heal the sick?
It is commanded. Matt. 10:1 And when He had called His twelve
disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out,
and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 7 And as you go,
preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the
lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
Luke 10:9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, The kingdom of God has come
near to you.
We have the promise that we can. Mark 16:17And these signs
will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will
speak with new tongues; 18they will take up serpents; and if they drink
anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the
sick, and they will recover. John 14:12 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes
in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he
will do, because I go to My Father.
God is glorified. Mt. 9.8 Now when the multitudes saw it, they
marveled£ and glorified God, who had given such power to men. Mt. 15:31 So the
multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the
lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel. Lk.
7.16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, A great prophet
has risen up among us; and, God has visited His people. Lk. 17.15 And one of
them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified
God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a
Samaritan. Lk. 18.43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him,
glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
The word of God is confirmed. Mark 16:20 And they went out
and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word
through the accompanying signs. Amen. Acts 14.3 Therefore they stayed there a
long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of
His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. Heb. 2.4 God
also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and
gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will.
It gives joy to many. Acts 8.6 And the multitudes
with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the
miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came
out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were
healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.
Many are saved. Acts 5.12 And through the hands of the
apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all
with one accord in Solomons Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them,
but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added
to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. 9.34 And Peter said to him,
Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed. Then he arose
immediately. 35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the
Lord.
It destroys the works of the devil. Luke 13:13And He laid His
hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 16 So
ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, think
of it. for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath? Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all
who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 1 John 3:8b For this
purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
HOW DID JESUS AND THE APOSTLES HEAL THE SICK?
How did Jesus heal the sick, that is what actions did He do? How about the disciples in Acts? As we read, let's keep our minds open to
learn how WE can do it. The answers may surprise you~
|
Miracle |
Verse |
How it was done |
|
Leper cleansed Paralysis Peter's Mother-in-law Many sick Paralytic Hemorrhaging woman Raising ruler's daughter Two blind men
Mute man Withered hand Woman's daughter Epileptic boy Blind Bartimeus Two more blind men Deaf mute Blind man Raising widow's son Bent, infirm woman
Ten lepers Servants ear Nobleman's son, fever Infirm man at Bethesda Man born blind Raising Lazarus |
Mk. 1:40 Mt. 8:5 Mt. 8:14, Lk. 4:38 Mt. 8:16,Lk. 4:40 Mt. 9:2 Mk. 5:27-29 Mk. 5:41 Mt. 9:27 Mt. 9:32 Mt. 12:13 Mt. 15:28 Mk. 9:14-29 Lk. 18:42 Mt. 20:32-34 Mk. 7:31 Mk. 8:22 Lk. 7:11 Lk. 13:11 Lk. 17:11 Lk. 22:51 Jn. 4:46 Jn. 5:1 Jn. 9:1 Jn. 11:43 |
Touched and spoke Faith in action Touched and spoke Touched and spoke Spoke Was touched Touched and spoke Touched and spoke Spoke Faith in action Spoke Spoke Spoke Spoke Spoke Unusual, spoke, touched Touched and spoke Spoke and touched Faith in action + Thanksgiving Touched Faith in action Faith in action Unusual, faith in action Spoke |
Now, let's look at how the apostles healed the sick.
|
Miracle |
Verse |
How it was done |
|
Healed many sick, cast out many demons Lame man walks Saul sees Paralytic walks Dead raised Cripple walks Unusual miracles Dead raised Dysentery healed |
Mark 6.13 Acts 3:6-7 Acts 9:17-18 Acts 9:33-34 Acts 9:40 Acts 14:8-10 Acts 19:11-12 Acts 20:9-12 Acts 28:8 |
Anointed with oil Spoke and touched Spoke Spoke Prayed then spoke Spiritual gift and spoke Handkerchiefs Touched Prayed and touched |
In the promise section there is one command to pray for the sick and
anointing with oil. We have a couple of examples of the disciples praying and
one of them anointing with oil. The vast majority of scripture talks about
touching, speaking or unusual means to heal the sick. I and many others I know
have had much more success by following the examples of Jesus and the
disciples. The key is to be tuned into Holy Spirit and be obedient. At times
there is sin connected to the sickness (e.g. bitterness is often connected with
arthritis) or Holy Spirit will give a word of wisdom (take a little wine for
your stomach).
Gifts of the Spirit are often used in healing the sick. Words of
wisdom, knowledge, prophecy and discerning of spirits can aid the minister in
knowing who is sick, when God wants to minister healing, what diseases are being
healed, etc. The gift of faith can benefit both the minister and/or the one
being healed. Obviously, the gifts of healing and miracles can be involved.
Notice that no one 'has' these gifts, they are manifestations of the Holy
Spirit coming on who He wishes. They can be appropriated, asked for, and used
like a tool. They are available to any believer.
I would highly recommend How to Heal the Sick by Charles and Frances
Hunter. They also have a video series by that name which is wonderful training
in this area.