A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege to do a lesson for the Young Adults at my church on something I have a passion for – Divine Healing. It was somewhat of an introduction to healing and I’ve decided to turn it into blog post
I googled “Divine Healing” and here are two definitions I found.
From dictionary.reference.com “Divine Healing” is healing through divine intervention as in response to prayer or because of FAITH.
From merriam-webster.com “Divine Healing” is healing attributed to the direct agency of God usually in response to FAITH.
Do you see a common denominator in both definitions? More on that later.
1. JESUS DOES GOD’S WILL
HEBREWS 13:8: JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER.
That means that what Jesus did while He was on this earth can still be done today and every day to come. JESUS NEVER CHANGES!
So how do we know Jesus does God’s will? Well…
HEBREWS 1:3: THE SON RADIATES GOD’S OWN GLORY AND EXPRESSES THE VERY CHARACTER OF GOD, AND HE SUSTAINS EVERYTHING BY THE MIGHTY POWER OF HIS COMMAND.
The NIV translation says “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being…”
The Google definition of “EXACT” is not approximated in any way; precise.
So if Jesus is the exact representation of the Father, that means Jesus does EXACTLY what God wants ALL the time, not sometimes.
JOHN 14:10-11: “DON’T YOU BELIEVE THAT I AM IN THE FATHER AND THE FATHER IS IN ME? THE WORDS I SPEAK ARE NOT MY OWN, BUT MY FATHER WHO LIVES IN ME DOES HIS WORK THROUGH ME. JUST BELIEVE THAT I AM IN THE FATHER AND THE FATHER IS IN ME. OR AT LEAST BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU HAVE SEEN ME DO.”
It sounds like Jesus is saying, God lives in me and I do what He wants me to do; I’m a vessel for God to use. But if you don’t want to believe that, at least believe because of what you see me do, because it’s physical evidence. Well, what do we see Jesus do?
That brings me to my next point.
2. JESUS HEALED ALL (THAT CAME TO HIM WHILE HE WAS ON THIS EARTH)
I would love to post every verse in the Bible that talks about healing for you but there are so many that this blog would probably end up recorded as the longest blog ever! So I thought to myself that I’ll just post Scriptures that speak about Jesus healing people in the book of Matthew only and it turns out there’s 20 of them, which I could easily write a whole blog on each and go off on different strands under this broad topic (maybe one day I will). But I don’t want to make this unbearably long, so I’m just going to post those I feel led to share to drill this one point home.
MATTHEW 4:23-24: JESUS TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE REGION OF GALILEE, TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND ANNOUNCING THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE KINGDOM. AND HE HEALED EVERY KIND OF DISEASE AND ILLNESS. NEWS ABOUT HIM SPREAD AS FAR AS SYRIA, AND PEOPLE SOON BEGAN BRINGING TO HIM ALL WHO WERE SICK. AND WHATEVER THEIR SICKNESS OR DISEASE, OR IF THEY WERE DEMON POSSESSED OR EPILEPTIC OR PARALYZED – HE HEALED THEM ALL.
MATTHEW 9:35: JESUS TRAVELED THROUGH ALL THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF THAT AREA, TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND ANNOUNCING THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE KINGDOM. AND HE HEALED EVERY KIND OF DISEASE AND ILLNESS.
MATHEW 15:30: A VAST CROWD BROUGHT TO HIM PEOPLE WHO WERE LAME, BLIND, CRIPPLED, THOSE WHO COULDN’T SPEAK, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY LAID THEM BEFORE JESUS, AND HE HEALED THEM ALL.
Jesus traveled a lot and as He did, you can see in the Scripture that anyone that was sick that was brought to Him, He HEALED. It didn’t matter what kind of sickness! He didn’t say, those with colds and headaches, I can heal you; but if you’re paralyzed, I’m sorry, I can’t, that’s too difficult. NO! He HEALED ALL!
MATTHEW 8:1-3: LARGE CROWDS FOLLOWED JESUS AS HE CAME DOWN THE MOUNTAINSIDE. SUDDENLY, A MAN WITH LEPROSY APPROACHED HIM AND KNELT BEFORE HIM. “LORD,” THE MAN SAID, “IF YOU ARE WILLING, YOU CAN HEAL ME AND MAKE ME CLEAN.” JESUS REACHED OUT AND TOUCHED HIM. “I AM WILLING,” HE SAID. “BE HEALED!” AND INSTANTLY THE LEPROSY DISAPPEARED.
This man knew that Jesus could heal him, but wasn’t sure if He was willing or wanted to. Before Jesus healed the man, He clarified that He is WILLING so there was no doubt in that man’s mind that Jesus would, and then HEALED him. If Jesus is the same yesterday and today… if He was willing then, doesn’t that mean He’s willing now?
God shows no favoritism (Acts 10:34). He doesn’t pick some to heal and some to not heal. He is a GOOD GOD!
MATTHEW 9:20-22: JUST THEN A WOMAN WHO HAD SUFFERED FOR TWELVE YEARS WITH CONSTANT BLEEDING CAME UP BEHIND HIM. SHE TOUCHED THE FRINGE OF HIS ROBE, FOR SHE THOUGHT, “IF I CAN JUST TOUCH HIS ROBE, I WILL BE HEALED.” JESUS TURNED AROUND, AND WHEN HE SAW HER HE SAID, “DAUGHTER, BE ENCOURAGED! YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL.” AND THE WOMAN WAS HEALED AT THAT MOMENT.
MATTHEW 14:35-36: WHEN THE PEOPLE RECOGNIZED JESUS, THE NEWS OF HIS ARRIVAL SPREAD QUICKLY THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE AREA, AND SOON PEOPLE WERE BRINGING ALL THEIR SICK TO BE HEALED. THEY BEGGED HIM TO LET THE SICK TOUCH AT LEAST THE FRINGE OF HIS ROBE, AND ALL WHO TOUCHED HIM WERE HEALED.
It’s important to note, they thought it first. These people believed that when they would touch Jesus they would be healed and it happened. They believed it, touched Him and it was done. Jesus didn’t tell them that He healed them because He wanted to and they were special cases. ALL who touched Him were HEALED.
MATTHEW 8:5-8, 13: WHEN JESUS RETURNED TO CAPERNAUM, A ROMAN OFFICER CAME AND PLEADED WITH HIM, “LORD, MY YOUNG SERVANT LIES IN BED, PARALYZED AND IN TERRIBLE PAIN.” JESUS SAID, “I WILL COME AND HEAL HIM.” BUT THE OFFICER SAID, “LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY TO HAVE YOU COME INTO MY HOME. JUST SAY THE WORD FROM WHERE YOU ARE, AND MY SERVANT WILL BE HEALED.” THEN JESUS SAID TO THE ROMAN OFFICER, “GO BACK HOME. BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED, IT HAS HAPPENED.” AND THE YOUNG SERVANT WAS HEALED THAT SAME HOUR.
MATTHEW 15:28: “DEAR WOMAN,” JESUS SAID TO HER, “YOUR FAITH IS GREAT. YOUR REQUEST IS GRANTED.” AND HER DAUGHTER WAS INSTANTLY HEALED.
Seems to me that belief and FAITH play a big part in whether the healing will happen. Jesus told them their FAITH was the reason the healing took place. These two Scriptures are examples of people who didn’t touch Jesus and He didn’t touch them, yet STILL the healing took place because they had FAITH and believed it.
MATTHEW 9:27-29: AFTER JESUS LEFT THE GIRL’S HOME, TWO BLIND MEN FOLLOWED ALONG BEHIND HIM, SHOUTING, “SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON US!” THEY WENT RIGHT INTO THE HOUSE WHERE HE WAS STAYING, AND JESUS ASKED THEM, “DO YOU BELIEVE I CAN MAKE YOU SEE?” “YES, LORD,” THEY TOLD HIM, “WE DO.” THEN HE TOUCHED THEIR EYES AND SAID, “BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITH, IT WILL HAPPEN.” THEN THEIR EYES WERE OPENED, AND THEY COULD SEE!
Jesus asked them if they believed. They said yes. So because of their FAITH, they were HEALED. If Jesus asked you if you believe, what would your answer to Him be?
MATTHEW 20:30-34: TWO BLIND MEN WERE SITTING BESIDE THE ROAD. WHEN THEY HEARD THAT JESUS WAS COMING THAT WAY, THEY BEGAN SHOUTING, “LORD, SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON US!” “BE QUIET!” THE CROWD YELLED AT THEM. BUT THEY ONLY SHOUTED LOUDER, “LORD, SON OF DAVID, HAVE MERCY ON US!” WHEN JESUS HEARD THEM, HE STOPPED AND CALLED, “WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU?” “LORD,” THEY SAID, “WE WANT TO SEE!” JESUS FELT SORRY FOR THEM AND TOUCHED THEIR EYES. INSTANTLY THEY COULD SEE! THEN THEY FOLLOWED HIM.
They were persistent, they didn’t give up. Jesus asked them what they wanted from Him. They told Him and it was done for them. If Jesus were to ask you that question “what do you want me to do for you?” how would you answer?
When you know something is His Will, you can ask Him for it, believe it and receive it.
So if Jesus is the exact representation of God, that means He did everything God wanted Him to do. That means Jesus was the Will of God when He was on this earth. If Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, that means it is still God’s Will to HEAL ALL. It is NEVER God’s will for anyone to be sick. NEVER do you see Jesus make anyone sick. NEVER do you see Jesus tell someone, I’m sorry, I want you to be sick for a while, or your whole life, because that way you’ll learn a lesson; that way, when others are sick like you, you can comfort them. NO! Jesus HEALED ALL. Sickness and disease come from the devil. Period.
3. JESUS TOLD US TO HEAL ALL
MATTHEW 10:1: JESUS CALLED HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES TOGETHER AND GAVE THEM AUTHORITY TO CAST OUT EVIL SPIRITS AND TO HEAL EVERY KIND OF DISEASE AND ILLNESS.
A disciple is a follower of Christ. When we decided to become Christians, we became disciples. So the same commands Jesus gave them then are for us today.
MARK 16:15-20: AND THEN HE (JESUS) TOLD THEM, “GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOOD NEWS TO EVERYONE. ANYONE WHO BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED. BUT ANYONE WHO REFUSES TO BELIEVE WILL BE CONDEMNED. THESE MIRACULOUS SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: THEY WILL CAST OUT DEMONS IN MY NAME, AND THEY WILL SPEAK IN NEW LANGUAGES. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE SNAKES WITH SAFETY, AND IF THEY DRINK ANYTHING POISONOUS, IT WON’T HURT THEM. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PLACE THEIR HANDS ON THE SICK, AND THEY WILL BE HEALED.” WHEN THE LORD JESUS HAD FINISHED TALKING WITH THEM, HE WAS TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN AND SAT DOWN IN THE PLACE OF HONOR AT GOD’S RIGHT HAND. AND THE DISCIPLES WENT EVERYWHERE AND PREACHED, AND THE LORD WORKED THROUGH THEM, CONFIRMING WHAT THEY SAID BY MANY MIRACULOUS SIGNS.
If we are willing to let God use us in this way, He will. He needs people to be His hands and feet on this earth.
Next are a couple of Scriptures that show us that not only did Jesus heal people but that the disciples HEALED others in the name of Jesus, which proves to us that it wasn’t the person of Jesus that did the healing and when He was no longer on the earth, healing stopped. There is POWER in the name of JESUS!
ACTS 3:5-8: THE LAME MAN LOOKED AT THEM EAGERLY, EXPECTING SOME MONEY. BUT PETER SAID, “I DON’T HAVE ANY SILVER OR GOLD FOR YOU. BUT I’LL GIVE YOU WHAT I HAVE. IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST THE NAZARENE, GET UP AND WALK!” THEN PETER TOOK THE LAME MAN BY THE RIGHT HAND AND HELPED HIM UP. AND AS HE DID, THE MAN’S FEET AND ANKLES WERE INSTANTLY HEALED AND STRENGTHENED. HE JUMPED UP, STOOD ON HIS FEET, AND BEGAN TO WALK! THEN, WALKING, LEAPING, AND PRAISING GOD, HE WENT INTO THE TEMPLE WITH THEM.
When disciples do what Jesus tells them to do, we see signs and wonders and it helps spread the gospel because it’s proof that our God is alive and does what He says He will do because later in the Temple, Peter said…
ACTS 3:16: “THROUGH FAITH IN THE NAME OF JESUS, THIS MAN WAS ALL – AND YOU KNOW HOW CRIPPLED HE WAS BEFORE. FAITH IN JESUS’ NAME HAS HEALED HIM BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES.”
Peter was a willing vessel to be used by God. He preached the gospel wherever he went and healings took place. When healings take place, FAITH in others arises and the testimonies often lead others to Christ as well. It proves our God is real.
ACTS 14:8-10: WHILE THEY WERE AT LYSTRA, PAUL AND BARNABAS CAME UPON A MAN WITH CRIPPLED FEET. HE HAD BEEN THAT WAY FROM BIRTH, SO HE HAD NEVER WALKED. HE WAS SITTING AND LISTENING AS PAUL PREACHED. LOOKING STRAIGHT AT HIM, PAUL REALIZED HE HAD FAITH TO BE HEALED. SO PAUL CALLED TO HIM IN A LOUD VOICE, “STAND UP!” AND THE MAN JUMPED TO HIS FEET AND STARTED WALKING.
We, as disciples of Jesus Christ, have this same authority! It’s time we start using the authority we’ve been given.
JOHN 14:12-14: “I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME WILL DO THE SAME WORKS I HAVE DONE, AND EVEN GREATER WORKS, BECAUSE I AM GOING TO BE WITH THE FATHER. YOU CAN ASK FOR ANYTHING IN MY NAME, AND I WILL DO IT, SO THAT THE SON CAN BRING GLORY TO THE FATHER. YES, ASK ME FOR ANYTHING IN MY NAME, AND I WILL DO IT!”
If Jesus HEALED ALL kinds of diseases and even raised the dead and He told us we will do the same works He did and even greater, I don’t know about you, but I know I want to! He says to ask is His name and He will do it! Sounds so simple, doesn’t it?
4. FAITH IS NEEDED FOR HEALING TO TAKE PLACE (SAME AS FORGIVENESS OF SINS)
How do you know that when you accept Jesus Christ into your life and confess Him as your Lord and Savior, that He forgives all your sins? It’s through FAITH!
ROMANS 1:17: THIS GOOD NEWS TELLS US HOW GOD MAKES US RIGHT IN HIS SIGHT. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED FROM START TO FINISH BY FAITH. AS THE SCRIPTURES SAY, “IT IS THROUGH FAITH THAT A RIGHTEOUS PERSON HAS LIFE.”
ROMANS 3:22: WE ARE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD BY PLACING OUR FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST. AND THIS IS TRUE FOR EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES, NO MATTER WHO WE ARE.
Just like you need FAITH in order to be saved, you need FAITH in order to be HEALED.
MATTHEW 17:19-20: AFTERWARD THE DISCIPLES ASKED JESUS PRIVATELY, “WHY COULDN’T WE CAST OUT THAT DEMON?” “YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH FAITH,” JESUS TOLD THEM.
Ok, so how do we get more FAITH? How do we make sure we have FAITH to believe what God’s Word says? Well, guess what, it tells us in His Word…
ROMANS 10:17: SO FAITH COMES FROM HEARING, THAT IS, HEARING THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT CHRIST.
FAITH comes by reading God’s Word daily. It comes by listening to anointed ministers and preachers on a regular basis, not just Sunday morning, which is so easy with today’s technology. It comes from reading books written by men and women of God that have been used by God to do these things – Lester Sumrall, Smith Wigglesworth, T.L. Osborn, etc. It comes by listening to anointed worship music that is based on Scripture.
WHAT IS FAITH?
HEBREWS 11:1: FAITH IS THE CONFIDENCE THAT WHAT WE HOPE FOR WILL ACTUALLY HAPPEN; IT GIVES US ASSURANCE ABOUT THINGS WE CANNOT SEE.
So is FAITH believing after you see results… NO! FAITH is needed first; believe that what you hope for will happen.
A lot of people say, well, if it happens, if I’m healed, then I’ll believe it but that’s not faith. FAITH is the opposite of that. FAITH believes God’s Word, knowing it’s the truth. Faith is NOT denying the facts, but it’s NOT living by what you see and feel. It’s speaking the Word over your life. It’s saying, “The devil is trying to make me sick, but he will not succeed. My God tells me that by Jesus’ stripes I am HEALED. I receive the healing that Jesus purchased for me, in Jesus name, Amen.”
5. GOD CAN AND HE WILL
Believe it or not, there is sooo much more I can say but I’m going to wrap up now. It would take weeks for me to share with you all I’ve learned from studying and reading on this topic. But what I hope I’ve managed to do today is bring to light some of God’s Word on the topic of Divine Healing and to help build up your FAITH to believe in it.
And if there’s one thing you take away from everything I’ve written I hope it’s this…
WHEN IT COMES TO HEALING:
GOD CAN AND HE WILL!
GOD CAN AND HE WILL!
GOD CAN AND HE WILL!
DON’T DOUBT IT… ONLY BELIEVE IT…
GOD CAN AND HE WILL!
MATTHEW 8:3: “I AM WILLING,” HE SAID. “BE HEALED!”
If you want to know more on this topic I’d recommend you read the Bible (especially Matthew, Mark ,Luke, John and Acts) but also pick up a copy of T.L. Osborn’s book “Healing The Sick” – it’s an amazing book, filled with Scripture and easy to read and understand.
