UNDERSTANDING GOD'S HEALING

In the Gospel of Matthew some Jewish leaders tried to trap Jesus with a question. A woman married seven times but each husband died. Whose wife will she be in the next life?

Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.” Mt 22:29-30

So often we also limit the meaning and the power of the Bible by sticking to traditional mindsets.

The Bible says God heals all our illnesses and disabilities but we experience some healings, many incomplete healings and many conditions which are not healed. So we believe according to our experience instead of believing the promise of God. Much of our theology is based on disappointment and human reasoning rather than on the Word of God which we profess to believe.

John G Lake was a missionary in Africa. In his ministry there were countless healing miracles. Then he returned to North America and set up a healing ministry in Spokane, Washington. In 5 years, over 100,000 documented healings took place. Was everybody healed? Probably not but the percentage of miracle healings was much higher than we normally see or expect.

When Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt, everyone was healed.

He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes. Ps 105:37 (NKJV)

When Jesus ministered miracle healing in Israel, His failure rate was zero.

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses." Mt 8:16-17

No one in our time has enjoyed 100% success but the stream of healings and miracles seen in some ministries should encourage us to take the Bible promises of healing at face value.

Does that mean we should advise seriously ill people to take off their glasses or stop taking medication? Of course not. This kind of fanaticism has caused much harm and offended many. God is not against medicine. He made natural healing available through giving knowledge wisdom to doctors and by creating the raw materials of medicine.

There is another problem with some healing ministries. Sick people are told it is their duty to believe and be healed. People feel guilty or rejected if they do not receive healing. We love people as they are, whether strong or weak in faith.

If you make a person feel he must prove his value by believing and being healed, you are not truly representing the unconditional love of God.

When the disciples of Jesus could not drive out a demon, Jesus criticised the disciples, not the sick boy or his father. (Matthew 17:14-21)

Some people distinguish between miracles and supernatural healing. Miracles happen very quickly but healing can take time.

Before the time of antibiotics, a pastor in England had tuberculosis. When he prayed in faith, God answered with an instruction, to spend two hours a day in prayer. When he obeyed God he recovered completely.

In His healing ministry Jesus often gave an instruction to a sick person. When the person obeyed Jesus, he was supernaturally healed. I believe if we listened to the Holy Spirit more and were open to hear and obey specific instructions from God here and now, we would experience more healings, here and now, or “HEAR” and now.

... "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God ... I will put none of the diseases on you ... For I am the LORD who heals you." Ex 15:26

Read His word; speak His word; listen to His Voice.

There is another hindrance to healing. Many sick Christians stay in churches where healing is rare. If you need healing, go to where healings are happening. In the Gospels, people did not usually get healed by waiting for Jesus to visit their synagogue.

Faith is contagious and so is unbelief. Go to where faith is strong.

If you have a sick friend, pray for him and if necessary take him to a good healing ministry.