Does God want ALL christians healed today under the New Covenant?

 

Today the scripture 1 Cor 11:30 …‘many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep’  has led the majority of Christians to doubt that it is God’s will for ALL His children to be healed.

 

(According to some this will only happen when we are resurrected at the return of Christ)

 

1 Cor 15:51-53

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed —  52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality ………)

 

The questions that need to be answered are :-

 

1. Is it God’s will to heal all today?
2. If this is so…then why are so many of God’s children not healed today?

 

 

1) Is it Gods will?

 

The will of God must be determined in two ways…..

 

What does God say His will is in His Word? (Old Testament and New Testament) ....and then

What did God SAY to us through Jesus?...what did He do?...and what did the early church do?

 

First    looking at the Old Testament

 

The Word of God

 

Ps 103:1-3

Bless the LORD, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:

3 Who forgives all your iniquities, (are all your sins forgiven?...most believers do not doubt this)

Who heals all your diseases,  (well so are ALL your diseases!...why then doubt the second benefit?)

 

Ex 23:25

25 "So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. (for those who worshipped God)

 

Serve me and I will take away ALL sickness among you!

  

The Nature of God

 

Ex 33:18-19

18 And he said, "Please, show me Your glory."

19 Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."        

(what part of the goodness, mercy and compassion of God…ie His Glory… would want us to stay sick?)

  

The Name of God

 

Ex 15:26

26 and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you."    (Jehovah Ropheka)

 

The old testament was one of conditions…ie earn/deserve. This is to be contrasted to the new testament GRACE…ie undeserved mercy and favor. But the promise was still clear...'serve me and I will heal you'

 

The Works of God

 

Ps 105:37

37 He also brought them out with silver and gold,

And there was none feeble among His tribes.

(3 million Israelite slaves who were abused ...and none were sick! Were they all without sin...and did they all obey?…or was it Gods mercy?)

 

Ps 107:20

20 He sent His word and healed them,

And delivered them from their destructions.

A great KEY...God's healing is IN HIS WORD....His promises that we can stand on in faith

 

 

Second looking at the New Testament

 

The new testament is based on better promises (Heb 8:6)

Our salvation (Gk soterion) includes salvation from sin and sickness and poverty

 

The plan of God

 

Isa 53:4-6

4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us ALL.

 

Man could not earn his righteousness…or healing…THEREFORE JESUS DID IT FOR US

 

THE REASON JESUS SUFFERED THE STRIPES was that we might be healed…..don’t let that part of His pain be wasted by disbelief!

  

The Word of God….the differences in the New Testament

 

John 3:16-17

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

(remembering that our salvation includes healing…Is 53).

This shows that healing is available to all who believe…(vs O/T those who obey)….and it’s source is in believing in Gods love

 

Matt 6:9-10

Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name. 

10 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

 

(Is there sickness in heaven?……then surely it is not Gods will for it to be here on earth? Our role is to seek to bring God's rule to earth...and to have victory over the oppression of the devil)

 

Acts 10:37-38

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.

Did Jesus ever say to anyone......'I am sorry it is not your time to be healed'.....or....'This sickness is the will of God'....or ...'This sickness is one I cannot heal'?

 

1 Peter 2:24

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.

Forgiveness from sin is so often related to the additional promised provision of PHYSICAL healing

 

 

The Nature…unchanged…as expressed in Jesus

 

Heb 13:8

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 

God is also the unchanging one (YHWH ..the Being One…the I AM…..the Alpha and Omega)

 

The Name of God  – Jesus (Gk Jehovah is salvation)

 

Matt 1:21

21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He (GOD) will save His people from their sins."   

 

(and this covers healing too which in the Old Covenant was a consequence of sin ….Is 53)

 

The Works of God

 

What was God saying to us through Jesus ministry 

 

Heb 1:1-2

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son,

 

(Jesus is perfect theology… Did he ever say  ‘No’…or ‘Wait’…or ‘not enough faith’…or ‘not God’s will’…or’ God cannot’ …to anyone who came to him for healing?)

 

GOD WAS CLEARLY SAYING THROUGH JESUS …“I WANT TO HEAL ALL!” ....who come to me

 

Matt 4:23

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

 

Matt 8:16-17

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, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

"He Himself took our infirmities

And bore our sicknesses."  

 

This confirms that Isaiah was referring to physical HEALING as part of the atonement

 

Matt 12:15-16

But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.

 

Luke 4:40

When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.    NKJV

 

Luke 6:17-19

And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

 

Matt 8:2-3

2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."

3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

 

God is willing for all who come to Him to be healed

 

Mark 9:18-24

So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."

19 He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me."  20 Then they brought him to Him (to Jesus). …………. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"

 

(When you come for healing…it is JESUS you come to…not to a minister)

(Jesus can heal any disease…man cannot)

 

Luke 13:15-16

15 The Lord then answered him and said,  "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?  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?"

 

It is not that anyone 'ought to be sick'....they all OUGHT to be healed....especially GOD's children!

 

Jesus teaching to the disciples

 

Matt 10:1-2

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.  (NO limits to what God wants to heal)

 

Matt 10:7-8 (the 12 disciples)

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.

(Jesus shows that sickness is linked to the dominion that had been exercised by ‘the kingdom of darkness’…but there is now a new kingdom, the kingdom of light in which sickness does not belong)

 

Luke 10:1-9

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. ………  9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.

Jesus did not send them out to investigate what sin had caused this...and then to get them to repent....or if there was a curse....BUT just to HEAL them

Those who claim that only the 12 APOSTLES had the gift of healing, please note that the 72 were ordinary DISCIPLES!

 

John 14:12-14

"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.  13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

Note this passges addresses HE WHO BELIEVES...not only the apostles! 

Note that JESUS is the one who HEALS...when WE ASK IN PRAYER

(The works of Jesus most certainly included HEALING....If we believe then it is a promise that God will do miracles and heal people through us)

 

Mark 16:15-18

"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." 

Note the people who are addresses here are THOSE WHO BELIEVE the gospel which the apostles preached!...not just APOSTLES!

(Note …not might…WILL) (If we are not seeing healing….is it not because we do not believe these promises? ... or perhaps we are NOT hearing the full or true ‘gospel’?)

 

Mark 11:24

 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them…..(you were healed!)

Whatever most certainly includes healing from any and every sickness! ...as Jesus showed

  

John 16:23-24

23 "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  24 Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. 

Whatever most certainly includes healing from any and every sickness!

 

Disciples understanding of this command as demonstrated by their ‘works’

 

Acts 5:15-16 (Peter)

15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

 

Acts 28:8-9 (Paul)

9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.

Most who were healed here would have been SINFUL UNBELIEVERS...surely God's children should also be healed then?

 

James 5:13-15

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.

Note  ANYONE...not just holy people...or those 'ordained to be healed at this time!

Note THE ELDERS...not the APOSTLES....if we still have elders today then we have people charged with this ministry

Note THE prayer of FAITH..."Father we know that Jesus showed us that it IS your will that this sickness be healed and that he bore the stipes in payment for this...so we say.. 'In Jesus name be HEALED' ..."

Note The scripture does not say 'might save the sick'.....but WILL

 

 

 Third looking at what God is doing today

 

 

Has God said anywhere that He has changed His mind about healing being for all who come to him …..that it is NO LONGER VALID for today? Those who say that this is taught in 1 Cor 13 are conducting hermeneutical speculation only.

There are no recognised bible hermenutices which allow us to use a single non-specific generalisation to overide numerous specific and clear teachings on a matter

 

Or do we have a ‘latter day’ revelation?

 

Not in my bible….that I have seen …or that anyone has proven to me

 

Is God still saving ALL ‘who come to Him’ in faith today?…  Well then why not should healing not be available to ALL who ask?

 

‘He who comes to me I will in no wise cast out’

Whoever wills let him drink (Rev 22)

 

 

Healing and salvation are both part of our redemption by Jesus through the cross

Gal 3:13-14

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.    NKJV
 

Brethren please read Deut 29:15-67 ....the curse of the LAW included EVERY TYPE OF SICKNESS know to mankind

Coming to Jesus in faith is the key for both

  

Do you know anyone who has been healed today?

 

I have been…..and so have people I have prayed for….our local church has numerous testimonies each week including mighty miracles….and if you look for it,

 

All over the world God is still healing miraculously today!

 

 

SO WHY IS IT THAT NOT EVERYONE IS HEALED TODAY?

 

Instead of copping out of the search for healing for all....by blaming God for changing His mind (which HE says he will not do) ...let us look into every other option.....and we will soon find it is not GOD who has changed.....but that mankind has allowed DOUBT to creep in.

 

What is taught today about the Gospel…..for it is the power of God unto salvation

 

Acts 14:2-3

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.

Is the message of God's healing being BOLDY proclaimed? 

It is ONLY the message of God’s grace which is confirmed with signs and wonders

The message of legalism (ie earn/deserve) is not the ‘Gospel’….ie GOOD NEWS and legalism is not confirmed in the N/T with signs and wonders

  

 

What is taught today about the cross….for it is God’s complete answer to salvation

 

On the cross Jesus who had no sin…and deserved no punishment was killed. We who have sinned and deserve punishment are rewarded BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH with salvation

 

2 Cor 5:20-21

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 

We do not deserve to be healed…but Jesus did not deserve to be punished and suffer

   

What is taught today about ‘the Lords Supper’… ‘for this reason many are sick’

 

1 Cor 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said,  "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." 

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.

 

See Christ’s body broken for us…and partake……and his blood shed….see yourself  fully forgiven….and PROCLAIM

“For this reason I am saved …and healed!”

 

1 Cor 11:29-30

…..not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

 

In celebrating ‘the Lords Supper’ we are called to discern the Lord’s body…..see in the spirit what happened for us at the cross…and see yourself in the spirit as a partaker and beneficiary of His victory ….and see others also as partaker of that same body also!

 

Those who teach that it is because we have sin in our lives that we eat and drink damnation to ourselves fail to understand the atonement. We are NOT forgiven because we have stopped sinning…..we are forgiven because of Jesus work on the cross for us.

Neither are we healed because we are holy and without sin....but because we believe HE paid the price for our healing!

  

What is being taught about ‘faith’

 

We have all been given ‘a measure of faith’

 

Rom 12:3

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith

  

Faith is coming to God in trust  ...  this is available for ALL who want to come to Jesus to be saved.

 

Heb 11:6

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him,

for he who comes to God (first step.... move from doing nothing)

must believe that He is, (do you believe God is real?...My God is more real than my next breath)

and that He is a rewarder (He is not a punisher…or the source of sickness)

of those who diligently seek Him. (do not give up…pursue God…and the healing that He has for you)

 

Heb 11:1

Now faith is the substance (on what basis do you have hope to receive from God?....it is HIS WORD and HIS integrity)

of things hoped for, (the healing you want and confidently expect ...or have you given up?)

the evidence (have you seen God at work…do you know He is real…have you experienced His touch?)

of things not seen. (that which is promised …but not yet received... your wholeness)

 

Faith is coming to God with a word from Him...which you KNOW He will honor

 

Heb 11:11

11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

 

Rom 10:17

 17 So then faith comes by hearing,

 …………..and hearing by the word of God.

(spend time reading and meditating on scriptures…ask God for a word)

 

Take God’s word….a promise for your need...hide it in your heart….meditate on it….and claim it as your promise.

 

Isa 55:11

11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

 

Jer 1:12

12 Then said Jehovah unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to perform it.

 

Ps 138:2

2 I will worship toward Your holy temple,

And praise Your name

For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

For You have magnified Your word above all Your name .

 

Faith is simply trusting God that He meant what He promised...and is WELL able to perform it!

John 10:35
  ...  the Scripture cannot be broken      NKJV
 

 

What is being taught about ‘sins’

 

Some people feel unworthy….and allow self condemnation…and the lingering guilty about past sin

 

Luke 5:18-26

And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.   18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.

20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."

21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?  23 Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'?  24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" — He said to the man who was paralyzed , "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." 

25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

 

Jesus wants us to know categorically that when we get the fact that as surely as our sins are forgiven WE CAN HAVE OUR HEALING IN HIM TOO

 

2 Cor 5:21

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 

God sees us with the righteousness of Jesus…….He sees us as being ‘in Christ’….and never again will he see our sin

 

If however sin or guilt is bothering you…..confess it to God….and let it go

 

1 John 1:9-10

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

What about unforgiveness in our hearts

 

If you feel you have unforgiveness…..let it go….look at God’s great mercy to you….and ask Him to help you let go.

 

Matt 6:15

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

 

Don’t go on a journey of ‘introspection’……God will let you know if you have a problem

 

Did Jesus EVER tell a person they had sin or unforgiveness in their lives …and that He could not heal them till it was addressed? NEVER

 

Surely MANY of the individuals who made up the crowds He healed would have been sinners too?

 

 

What is being taught about the Law…and the curse of the Law

 

Believing we are under the Law makes God’s people vulnerable to the curses which the Law says WILL happen for disobedience.

 

Gal 3:10

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them."        NKJV

 

The price for failure was horrific

 

Deut 28:15

"But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:     NKJV

 

Deut 28:20-23

20 "The LORD will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me. 21 The LORD will make the plague cling to you until He has consumed you from the land which you are going to possess. 22 The LORD will strike you with consumption, with fever, with inflammation, with severe burning fever, with the sword, with scorching, and with mildew; they shall pursue you until you perish.      NKJV

 

Deut 28:27-28

27 The LORD will strike you with the boils of Egypt, with tumors, with the scab, and with the itch, from which you cannot be healed. 28 The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of heart.    NKJV

 

Deut 28:58-61

58 "If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, 59 then the LORD will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues — great and prolonged plagues — and serious and prolonged sicknesses. 60 Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the LORD bring upon you until you are destroyed.     NKJV

 

We CANNOT obey ALL the words of the Law...all 613 Laws…Peter in Acts 15 describes the Law as ‘a burden which we ourselves cannot bear’….BUT

 

Gal 3:13

13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),     NKJV

 

Rom 6:14

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace .      NKJV

 

Sickness and disease has NO right to be on us!

 

1 Peter 2:24

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 .     NKJV

 

KNOWING the TRUTH WILL set you free!

 

 

What is being taught about the nature of God….ie angry…judging

 

ie all God’s wrath has been poured out on Jesus for us…..God does not give sickness to teach us (that is the job of the Holy Spirit)

 

Isa 54:9-10 (New Covenant ie after the cross of Isa 53)

 9 "For this is like the waters of Noah to Me;

For as I have sworn

That the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth,

That I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.

10 For the mountains shall depart

And the hills be removed,

But My kindness shall not depart from you,

Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,"

Says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

 

1 Thess 5:8-9

 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

Rom 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,   NKJV

Our sickness is NOT God inflicting punishment on us to teach us something. It is Satan having found a way to attack us!

 

1 Peter 5:8-9

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith,   NKJV

 

James 4:7
 Resist the devil and he will flee from you.    NKJV

We are to RESIST the devil...and his works in our life ...not to submit to them and blame God.
 

 

What is being taught about the source of sickness

 

ie all God’s wrath has been poured out on Jesus for us…..God does not give sickness to teach us (that is the job of the Holy Spirit)

 

Acts 10:38

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……ie sickness is not from God

God healed ...the devil's oppression caused sickness

 

Luke 13:16

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?"

 

John 10:10

 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 

 

What part of ‘having abundant life’ ties up with being sick?

 

 

What are we ‘doing’ that is wrong?

 

Wrong motives…

 

Gal 5:6

6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Many times religious requirements blind us to the simple truth of what really matters

 

Matt 14:14

14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

The motivation is not to build our personal empires....but to extend HIS kingdom

 

John 14:12-14

"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.  13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

 

Healing is not so that we can have a 'ministry'...it is so that GOD can show HIS love to the world through us 

 

What is in our lives that prevents God flowing through us to heal people

 

Are we not holy enough?

 

We only receive blessings because Jesus was holy enough for God….we all only deserve death!

 

Eph 2:8-10

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

(this applies to healing as part of salvation too!)

 

Acts 3:12

12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

To pray for others to be healed we need to realise that the ONLY holiness which matters is that which Christ has given us

 

Eph 1:4

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him  (NIV ‘holy in His sight’) in love:

 

Gal 3:5

5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law (ie our own righteousness), or by the hearing of faith?

 

Faith ALONE is the way we are made holy....NOT by our obedience to the Law or works! This is the only way to receive healings too.

 

What are we hearing about needing a ‘special anointing’ before we can pray

 

1 John 2:20

20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

 

1 John 2:27

7 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you,

 

2 Cor 1:21-22

21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

 

All Christians who are born again and filled with the Spirit are anointed….we need to learn to let the Spirit flow through us...by exercise!

 

 

What ‘religious’ justifications we wrongly hold as reasons to be sick

 

Matt 12:10-13

10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" — that they might accuse Him.

 

11 Then He said to them, "What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?  12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."  13 Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other.

 

There are no justifiable religious reasons to not be healed NOW …..it is GOOD to heal

 

Jesus in the above passage, is not saying you have to WAIT for healing until a suitable or appropriate religious time. Now is the time for you to receive!

 

 

What about the lack of faith in the Church generally?

 

The majority of the church does not have faith that God WILL heal people.

Most do believe God can heal….if and when He wants to. (so it is His fault nothing happens ...and not our lack of faith)

 

So what is the answer…..put Gods clear teaching out there….

AND BECOME FULLY PERSUADED OURSELVES!

 

Come on the journey to get to walk in the fullness of what God clearly promises

 

 

 

What do I believe God has for us and wants from us

 

It is my opinion from the scriptures that the church today should have the same faith in God for healing as we have for salvation.

 

….or maybe this is the main reason for the lack of results?

 

(that we don’t fully believe we are really saved!)

 

Based on God’s word I can only conclude that

 

When we have a revelation of Gods love for us (Eph 1:17->)

When we see the completeness of the work of the cross

When we see that we have the required simple faith

When we see that we are all ‘anointed’ to pray

When we walk with God and get to KNOW Him ...our faith will grow to where it should be

 

…Then the church today will see the healings that Jesus and the early church saw….and greater!

 

That which God’s word promises for us all!

 

 

 

Addressing the problems…(‘what about this scripture…and that’)

 

 

Those Jesus didn’t and couldn’t heal

 

Scripture must be used to interpret scripture

 

If all things are possible to those who believe…and all things are possible to God

 

Mark 6:1-6

Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" So they were offended at Him.

4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."  5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.  6 And He marveled because of their unbelief.

 

(Now ask why Jesus ‘could’ do no mighty works there…simply because the people who were sick would not COME to him as they did not believe that was the Son of God) (ie ALL things are possible to him who believes….and Jesus most certainly did ...and the Father was not limited)

(If you believe that Jesus was only a good man…you will not have faith to receive healing. Our risen Lord is the Alpha and the Omega, the Almighty (Rev 1:8)…we need to come to HIM as the LORD)

(If you don’t ‘come to Him’…you will not find your healing)

 

Now why do you suppose the others who were sick at the Pool of Bethesda did not get healed? SImply ... they knew who he was but did not call out to Him.

 

And other people who he passed who were sick ?……Could it be because they did not call out…and press through…or persist when others said don’t…or even climb a tree?… …DO SOMETHING!

 

COME AND ASK FOR PRAYER TO BE HEALED

 

James 5:13-15

 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.

 

The bible is a brutally honest book…it reveals failures and sins of people. If there were others who God would not heal for some reason

 

HE WOULD HAVE TOLD US WHY!

 

Timothy’s sickness

 

1 Tim 5:23

23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.

(This is Paul giving advice as to the cause of Timothy’s sickness…ie if your stomach re-acts to greasy food, have some lemon juice or don’t eat too much of it)

BUT let us be clear ...this is NOT a scriptural passage which seeks to teach that sometimes we will not be healed. It merely acknowledges that at times we will get sick....and sometimes there is a simple physical cause for it.

 

If you use this scripture to DENY God's very clear promises then I politely suggest that you are NOT a believer....in God ...or His word and His recorded works.

 

Trophimas sick at Miletus

 

2 Tim 4:20

20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.    NKJV

 

This text does not in anyway imply that Trophimus did not recover!…Paul would have prayed for him but was saying he was not yet recovered. Healing is not always instantaneous in the scriptures....but recovery is promised. Naaman the Syrian was healed when he went and washed...as was the blind man. 

This text is NOT teaching that Christians are not all able to be healed. This is merely an incidental comment about what Trophimus had experienced. Yes at times we will all experience sickness, but the question is "What will you do about it?"

 

Paul’s thorn in the flesh

 

2 Cor 12:7-9

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me(Note not of God), lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

The context is that of Paul’s weakness…NOT his sickness… that which Paul boasts about….ie the tribulation and persecution and difficulties he endured…and doing things in HIS power and not our own! (perhaps it was a stutter…or a squeaky voice…or simply that he was not a great orator?)

 

“therefore I will boast about…..” (verse 5 and 9)

 

If you are using this scripture as an excuse for not being healed, has God told you 3 times that your 'infirmity' is to keep you humble?…

and is the proof manifested in the power of Christ flowing mightily through you...so that this is necessary?

 

God is so passionate for us all to be healed that he has made so many ways that we cannot ‘miss out’ :-

 

Gifts of healings

Laying on of hands

Anointing with oil

Faith in the Name of Jesus

Faith in God’s word and His promises

Faith in the price paid by Jesus – through the Lords Supper

Words of knowledge together with a healing anointing 

Prayer cloths

 

One of the greatest promises on which I live is the following scripture

 

Rom 8:11
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.    NKJV

If you are a believer...filled with His Spirit...you have a promise of LIFE....you will LIVE and not die!

Brethren GOD is the source of LIFE to your MORTAL bodies....not sickness and death,