Healing

[B-A-C]

Healing

In the last part of the great commission. ( Mark 16:15-18; )
It says "these signs will accompany those who have believed in My name..."
"they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Of course Jesus and the disciples are recorded as healing people over 50 times in the
New Testament, but what about us? What about Christians of today?
Don't get me wrong, this power doesn't come from us, it comes from God.
But it seems that God channels this more through some people than others.

Acts 4:30; while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”

Acts 5:14; And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number,
Acts 5:15; to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them.
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.

It seems that even the shadow cast by Peter could heal people.

Acts 8:6; The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing.
Acts 8:7; For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.

So why don't some churches and Christians experience this? Acts 28 is quoting Isa 6:10; here.

Acts 28:25; ...“The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers,
Acts 28:26; saying,

‘Go to this people and say,
“You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
And you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
Acts 28:27; For the heart of this people has become dull,
And with their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes;
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart and return,
And I would heal them.”’

It is possible that some Christians are this way? They can't hear, they can't see,
and they don't "understand with their hearts". Is this why some aren't healed?

I mentioned earlier about God channeling this through some people more than others...

1 Cor 12:8; For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;
1 Cor 12:9; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

It seems that this could be a gift of the Spirit that isn't given to all believers.

1 Cor 12:30; All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?

But I would expect that any large congregation would at least have one of more of these people. And yet, I know many Christians who say they have never seens a miraculous or divine healing... ever. Why is this?

I've seen people get up out of wheelchairs and walk... people I have known for years.
I seen people healed of cancer, people that I have seen the hospital reports on.

I know some churches do not believe in something called "cessation" and they don't
believe that people have the gifts of the Spirit anymore... but even so...
Has God lost His power? Can He no longer heal people? I was told by some people
in these churches that God has "some" power (????? How do you determine how much God can do??) For example he can heal a cold or the flu, but He doesn't heal cancer or any
major injuries or disabilities anymore. Hmmmm, really?

In Matt 13:58; It says Jesus Jesus did not do many miracles in His hometown of
Nazareth... "because of their unbelief".

Perhaps some of these churches don't experience healing and miracles, simply because they don't believe God can't do this anymore?

Heb 12:12; Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,
Heb 12:13; and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

Some take this passage to mean we need to walk "in the straight and narrow path"
so that we can be healed.

James 5:16; says we should confess our sins to one another.. "so.. that you may be healed".

This is similar to what David says in Psalms 32:3; When I kept silent about my sin,
you did not heal me and my body wasted away....

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I can't help but wonder... would the world be different today if more people were healed? Do we simply let medicine and science take all the credit for any healing?
(I'm not saying we shouldn't use medicine and science, but is that where our faith is?)

If the world saw more miraculous healings... how could they deny the power of God?

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1 Pet 2:24; is quoting Isa 53:5; here. 24: and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

Was Jesus whipped for no reason? Is there really no power in this? If there is... why don't some believe it?
We say we believe in Jesus... we say we believe in His name... but we don't believe He has the power to heal
today?

2 Tim 3:1; But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 Tim 3:2; For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
2 Tim 3:3; unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [a]haters of good,
2 Tim 3:4; treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
2 Tim 3:5; holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

It seems there will be those who "have a form of godliness" - they at least claim to believe in God.
But yet... they "deny" it's power. What kind of god has no power?

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I am Pentecostal, but I have noticed some Pentecostal churches specialize in speaking in tongues.
There is nothing wrong with speaking in tongues... but is that the only gift? Do you see the other gifts
in your church? Prophesy? Healing? If not, I would question why.

One last thought comes to mind here. About why some Christians aren't healed...

In 1 Cor 11; we see the often used passage about the Lord's supper (also called communion).
But some churches leave out these verses...

1 Cor 11:28; But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Cor 11:29; For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.
1 Cor 11:30; For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.
1 Cor 11:31; But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.

Could it be... that some Christians are trying to take communion when their hearts aren't right with God?
Some Christians have "hidden" or unconfessed sins that they don't want to take to the cross.
Could this be why some are not healed?

There is a lot more to say about this... but this is long enough for now.

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings,

when healings did happen in the Scriptures, was there any order to them or were they random events?

And what about today... those who have either seen healings, been healed or been part of the 'event' of healing taking place..... are there any patterns of when these healings happen?

You have raised some good points here @B-A-C and they are the sort of things that most professing Christians I know have pondered and talked about.

Perhaps we ought to pursue this a bit further? If it is such a common topic it may be that it is something that there is an answer for; a way to place it all together and find out what is God's plan?


Bless you ....><>

 

[Brad Huber]

I believe that God gave more believers this gift in the first few centuries of the church. In the beginning of the church, there was much persecution, and without the inspiration that accompanied healing and miracles like changing a few loaves of bread and a few fish into enough to feed thousands, it could well have died out. The physical miracles are always the ones people love, because thats where most people live... in the physical, both mentally and often even spiritually. The wonder of these common miracles being done by christians who not long ago, were everyday Joe's attracted people to the faith and the martyrs combined with that only made it seem more real. Then like all things that start good, religion sets itself up amidst the faith, and things change, often not for the better. Yet christianity got big enough and enough true believers involved that it became too big to die. Today its still big, but not as prominent as it once was, there has been too many who claiming faith has made us all look like charlatans and con artists. So because of all these attributes, the need for this gift of healing, although still in effect, is not as great as need as before. Jesus himself spoke how many people only showed up to see Him and hear Him to see a miracle, and not because of faith or wisdom or being spiritually being a reason.

 

[KingJ]

I can't help but wonder... would the world be different today if more people were healed? Do we simply let medicine and science take all the credit for any healing? (I'm not saying we shouldn't use medicine and science, but is that where our faith is?)

If the world saw more miraculous healings... how could they deny the power of God?

The world just needs to look at their thumb, to not deny the power of God. Those chasing after miracles are chasing after something else. Yes, it is evidence of God's power. But today, it shows something else is evident in the person. I can't stop thinking of Matt 7:22 type Christians / people.

God had to do these miracles with Jesus in order to establish Him as a man apart from other men. Even His immediate disciples. There is a reason He chose the twelve He did. It is for me on par with Him choosing the two witnesses for the tribulation. They will also do great wonders Rev 11:5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. Something on par with Jesus walking on water.

Now there is a difference between the miracles Jesus did, those the disciples did and then also those we will do (our shadow heals nobody). The disciples after Jesus did not walk on water. They did not feed five thousand. They did not spit fireballs from their mouths. The miracles they had in common with Jesus, were healing the sick and raising the dead. These types of miracles are miracles that can be debunked. Science has proven that placebo effects, outright illusions and assumed deaths are possibilities.

I do not doubt that God heals. I just find the miracles that He does through us to be very interesting. At large they are not displays of His power. They are necessary and at times something special for a believer. Like for example all the testimonies of car's riding without gas. It is as though God does not want to convince any unbeliever of His power through miracles. He just does not care or want us to have that as a focus. Matt 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.

I don't believe anyone can be a true cessationist, but we can grasp God's need for miracles and then grasp that certain miracles are just no longer needed. God is not boastful. God does not jump to the requests of unbelievers. God will not bend to tests by ''His people'' either Luke 4:12 Jesus answered, "It is said: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test'. We cannot ignore the fact that the devil tested Jesus. Now we are ok with ''''testing / tempting''' God? I think not. We need to rebuke those among us who push this. God is not a clown on display who jumps when we say jump.

1 Pet 2:24; is quoting Isa 53:5; here. 24: and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

Was Jesus whipped for no reason? Is there really no power in this? If there is... why don't some believe it?
We say we believe in Jesus... we say we believe in His name... but we don't believe He has the power to heal
today?

I just cannot believe that anyone ever thought to associate this verse with bodily healing. I am not attacking you personally, I know it is a common message preached from the pulpit.

The context is so much more then just ...bodily healing. It speaks of us passing from death to life in Jesus.

1 Pet 2: 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed''. 25 For “you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Having said all this. I do believe we are busy entering another special occasion in mankinds' history. The last days. As such, I do believe we will be seeing miracles never done before. We will be used in ways nobody has been used before. The truth we need to grasp however is that God chooses and uses us. We do not push the issue. We remain faithful and committed to His calling. To preaching and going where He needs and wants us. Our focus is to be on doing His will. There is truth to us being used for something we desire. As it is clearly stated in scripture on gifts of the Spirit. But my point is simply that we don't pursue something like walking on water or raising the dead for subscribers to our youtube channel.

Let's focus on being James 1:27 Christians verse Matt 7:22 Christians and just let God know our desires. We are then the perfect candidate for any mind blowing miracle He chooses to perform.

 

[B-A-C]

I just cannot believe that anyone ever thought to associate this verse with bodily healing. I am not attacking you personally, I know it is a common message preached from the pulpit.

It is more than "taught" from the pulpit. It is a major Christian doctrine of almost all mainstream Christian churches. There was actually an entire class devoted to just this passage in two of the Bible colleges I attended. It is no mistake. That is EXACTLY what this verse means.

It is exactly what the verse in Isaiah 53 means as well. I seriously worry about your theology sometimes.

Surely our [e]griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.


1 Pet 2:23; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
1 Pet 2:24; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
1 Pet 2:25; For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Jesus took the price for OUR sins (not His) ... He died for them. He paid the price for our bodies to be healed. Our dead sinful fleshly bodies that had no right to be healed.

Our Spiritual bodies don't need to be healed. There will be no sickness or pain there. Jesus didn't just make everything right "once we are there". He makes it right
(for the born again believers) who are "on the way there" and still have to live in this earthly tent. How many people did Jesus heal while He was on the earth?
He promised us the power to heal other people after He left. Do sick hurting people no longer need to be healed just because Jesus isn't on the earth?

Isa 53: 10; But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief;

People think there was no cost to our sins? No price to be paid for them?
Just because we didn't have to pay the price, doesn't mean the price wasn't paid.

That is true Grace.

 

[KingJ]

It is more than "taught" from the pulpit. It is a major Christian doctrine of almost all mainstream Christian churches. There was actually an entire class devoted to just this passage in two of the Bible colleges I attended. It is no mistake. That is EXACTLY what this verse means.

It is exactly what the verse in Isaiah 53 means as well. I seriously worry about your theology sometimes.

Surely our [e]griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.
6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

I worry about anyone who is spoon fed theology instead of reading and thinking for themselves.

This is just one more example of a passage that has absolutely nothing to do with bodily healing. Afflicted is not bodily sickness. It is talking of our state in sin. In death outside of God's presence. We are healed from sin. From spiritual suffering in death. You are suggesting He was crushed / whipped repeatedly....so our toe could feel better? Seriously?

The verses applicable to bodily healing are:
Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
Rom 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things.
Deut 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Phil 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
Matt 16:25-34 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Isa 53: 10; But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief;

People think there was no cost to our sins? No price to be paid for them?
Just because we didn't have to pay the price, doesn't mean the price wasn't paid. That is true Grace.

Crushing Jesus pleased God, because He loves us and wanted sons and daughters in His house for eternity. Not because He wanted our earache to go. God looking after us is a given when we grasp what He has done for us.

When you position scripture as you do to speak specifically to bodily healing you are pushing an agenda. Making a minor issue a major issue. Confusing and guilt tripping Christians. Healing is not a promise we can hold God to. We are in a relationship with God. We are not a Jew. We know God tests us. We must be content and serve Him despite what we are going through. We should ''know'' He can heal us. So if He is not, we should 'know' He has His reasons.

 

[Wired 4 Fishen]

His Word is His Will.
You can also say the New Testament is The Last Will and Testament of Jesus Christ.

One does error when they say - well it must not have been God's Will for them to be healed - When in Fact God said it was in His Word.

Most things don't happen instantly and far to many believers would rather entertain themselves then to lock them selves away and stay buried in God's Word until they see the desired result manifested in the natural.

Example.
2 believers were given the news that the cancer is too far and there is nothing more they can do. Your just going to suffer and die shortly.

1 believer prayed that God would heal them and then spent their remaining days watching tv and feeling sad for them selves.
THEY DIED

Now the other believer said I don't have time to even watch the news and spent all their time in God's Word and Prayer and Listening to healing messages.
Stayed in Faith and would not think or speak anything other then God's Word after all.....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


They Received their Healing and Lived

Truth is - It was God's Will to Heal them both!!

Blessings