Copyright: Healing for Windows 1.01   (c) 1997 Steve Young


Welcome to Healing for Windows!

New Testament Scriptures about healing

Old Testament Scriptures about healing

Related Scriptures

Discussions about healing

Have a personal chat about you and your healing

Questions about divine healing

Objections overruled!

Find Scriptures about YOUR condition

Mistakes that keep your healing away

Read this if you have no idea what's going on or what this is about

How to use Healing for Windows

How to install Healing for Windows

About Healing for Windows

You may use this program solely under the terms of its License Agreement.

Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.  Other trademarks are identified by capitalization.


Old Testament Scriptures about healing

Genesis 20:17-18  God heals Abimelech and his family

Genesis 21:1-2  Childless Sarah given a son

Genesis 25:21  Childless Rebekah given twins

Genesis 30:22-23  Rachel made able to have children

Exodus 12:12-13  Plague to pass over when God sees the blood of the Passover lamb

Exodus 15:25-26  God's declaration: I am the Lord who heals you

Exodus 20:12  Long life promised for honoring parents

Exodus 23:25-26  God will take sickness away, prevent barrenness & miscarriages

Exodus 30:11-16  Atonement prevents plague

Leviticus 14:1-32  Law of atonement for leper's cleansing

Leviticus 15:13-15  Law of atonement for man with a discharge

Numbers 8:19  Atonement prevents plague

Numbers 12:1-15  Miriam struck with leprosy for bad attitude, healed after seven days

Numbers 16:44-50  Atonement stops killer epidemic

Numbers 21:5-9  People healed of fatal serpent bites when they look at symbol of Christ

Deuteronomy 5:16  Long life promised for honoring parents

Deuteronomy 5:33  Walking in God's ways prolongs your life

Deuteronomy 6:2  Walking in God's ways prolongs your life

Deuteronomy 7:12-15  God will take away sickness and prevent barrenness

Deuteronomy 11:8-9  Walking in God's ways prolongs your life

Deuteronomy 11:18-21  Laying up God's words in your heart lengthens your family's lives

Deuteronomy 30:19-20  You choose death or life; God is your longevity

Judges 13:2-3, 24 Samson born to a childless woman

1 Samuel 1  Barren Hannah given a son

1 Samuel 16:14-23  David's anointed music drives evil spirit from Saul

2 Samuel 24:10-25  Plague result of sin; sacrifice ends plague

1 Kings 3:14  Walking in God's ways prolongs your life

1 Kings 8:37-39  Solomon asks God to answer people's prayers for healing

1 Kings 13:4-6  Jeroboam smitten for trying to hurt man of God, then healed

2 Kings 4:12-17  Shunammite made able to bear a child

2 Kings 4:18-37  Shunammite's son raised from the dead

2 Kings 5:1-14  Naaman the Syrian healed of leprosy

2 Kings 6:18-20  Enemies smitten with blindness, then healed

2 Kings 13:20-21  Moabite raised from the dead

2 Kings 20:1-7  Hezekiah healed of fatal illness

1 Chronicles 21:7-27  Plague result of sin; sacrifice ends plague

2 Chronicles 7:28-30  Solomon asks God to answer people's prayers for healing

2 Chronicles 30:18-20  People healed after they keep the Passover

Job 33:19-25  Ransom (atonement) brings healing

Job 42:10  God heals Job of all his ailments

Psalm 21:4  David asked for and got long life

Psalm 30:2-3  Psalmist cries to God, God heals him and saves his life

Psalm 34:11-14  Stop doing and speaking evil and you'll live longer

Psalm 34:17-20  The Lord delivers the righteous from all their afflictions

Psalm 41:1-3  God strengthens the generous man on his sickbed

Psalm 41:4  Prayer for healing of soul

Psalm 61:6  God prolongs life

Psalm 67:1-2  God's saving health should be known around the world

Psalm 90:10  Even backslidden Israelites could live 70-80 years

Psalm 91  Abide in God and he'll keep sickness away from you

Psalm 103:1-5  God heals all your diseases and redeems you from destruction

Psalm 105:37  There were no feeble people when Israel left Egypt

Psalm 106:28-30  Idolatry brought sickness, righteous act got rid of it

Psalm 107:17-20  God sent his word and healed fools who got sick from sinning

Psalm 113:9  God makes the barren woman a mother

Psalm 147:3  God heals the brokenhearted

Proverbs 3:1-2  Remembering and keeping God's law adds long life to you

Proverbs 3:7-8  The fear of the Lord is health to your body

Proverbs 3:16  Wisdom increases your lifespan

Proverbs 4:10  Hear God's words and live a long time

Proverbs 4:20-22  God's words are medicine to your flesh

Proverbs 9:11  The fear of the Lord lengthens your life

Proverbs 10:27  The fear of the Lord lengthens your life

Proverbs 12:18  The tongue of the wise is health

Proverbs 14:30  A sound heart is life; envy rots your bones

Proverbs 16:24  Pleasant words are health to the bones

Proverbs 17:22  A merry heart is like a medicine; a broken spirit makes you sick

Proverbs 18:14  Your spirit will carry you through sickness

Proverbs 18:21  Death and life are in the power of your tongue

Proverbs 19:16  Keep God's commands and live, despise them and die

Proverbs 19:23  The fear of the Lord brings life

Isaiah 19:22  God will smite and heal Egypt

Isaiah 29:18  Deaf will hear, blind will see

Isaiah 33:24  Inhabitants will not say they are sick; they will be forgiven

Isaiah 35:3-6  Blind, deaf, lame, dumb to be healed

Isaiah 38:1-39:1  God heals Hezekiah of a fatal disease

Isaiah 40:29-31  Wait on the Lord and he'll strengthen you

Isaiah 53  Messiah will bear the people's sin, sicknesses and pain, save us from sin and heal us

Isaiah 57:16-19  God smote Israel but will heal it

Isaiah 58:6-11  Obey God's commands rather than doing rituals and get healthy quickly

Isaiah 65:22  God's people will live long like trees

Jeremiah 8:22  Is there no medicine or physician in Gilead?  (Rhetorical question)

Jeremiah 17:14  Heal me, Lord,  and I shall be healed

Jeremiah 30:17  God will restore health to Israel and heal its wounds

Jeremiah 33:6-8  God will heal Jerusalem

Hosea 6:1  God smote us and will heal us

Hosea 11:3-4  Ephraim (figuratively Israel) didn't know God healed them

Malachi 4:2  Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in his wings


New Testament Scriptures about healing

Matthew 4:23-24  Jesus heals all diseases, paralytics, insane, possessed

Matthew 8:2-4  Leper questions Jesus' will to heal, hears and gets healed

Matthew 8:5-13  Centurion believes for his paralyzed servant's healing

Matthew 8:14-15  Peter's mother-in-law healed of a fever

Matthew 8:16-17  All sick and possessed healed, Isaiah 53:4 confirmed

Matthew 8:28-32  Two demon-possessed Gergesenes delivered

Matthew 9:2-8  Paralyzed man lowered through roof and healed, scribes grumble

Matthew 9:18-25  Ruler's daughter raised from the dead, woman with issue of blood healed

Matthew 9:27-30  Two blind men healed by their faith

Matthew 9:32-33  Dumb (speechless) man speaks when delivered from demon

Matthew 9:35  Jesus heals every sickness and disease

Matthew 10:1  Disciples empowered to cast out evil spirits and heal every kind of disease

Matthew 10:7-8  Jesus commands disciples to preach and heal the sick

Matthew 11:4-5  Miracles of healing cited as proof Jesus is the Messiah

Matthew 12:10-13  Man with withered hand healed on the Sabbath

Matthew 12:15  Jesus heals all in multitudes who follow him

Matthew 12:22  Blind, dumb (speechless) and demon-possessed man healed

Matthew 13:15  Be converted and understand and God will heal you

Matthew 13:54-58  Jesus can do no mighty works in his own country because of unbelief

Matthew 14:14  Jesus heals the sick in a great multitude

Matthew 14:35-36  All those diseased brought to Jesus' and healed after touching his clothes

Matthew 15:22-28  Canaanite woman gets deliverance for demonized daughter

Matthew 15:30-31  Great multitudes, maimed, dumb, blind, lame healed

Matthew 17:14-21  Disciples fail to cast demon out of boy, Jesus succeeds

Matthew 19:2  Jesus heals great multitudes who follow him

Matthew 20:30-34  Two blind men healed

Matthew 21:14  Blind and lame healed in the temple

Matthew 27:52-53  Saints resurrected

Mark 1:23-26  Jesus casts out an unclean spirit

Mark 1:30-31  Peter's mother-in-law healed of a fever

Mark 1:32-34  All that were diseased and demon possessed healed and delivered

Mark 1:39  Jesus casts out devils

Mark 1:40-45  Leper questions Jesus' will to heal, finds out, gets healed, blabs it though told not to

Mark 2:2-12  Paralyzed man lowered through roof and healed, religionists get angry

Mark 3:1-5  Man with withered hand healed on the Sabbath

Mark 3:10-12  Many sick and possessed healed and delivered

Mark 3:14-15  The Twelve sent to preach, empowered to heal sicknesses and cast out devils

Mark 5:2-20  Demonized tomb-dweller delivered

Mark 5:22-43  Jairus's daughter raised from dead, woman with issue of blood healed

Mark 6:1-6  Jesus can do no mighty work in his own country

Mark 6:7  The Twelve sent out with power over unclean spirits

Mark 6:12-13  Many healed when the disciples anoint them with oil

Mark 6:54-56  Sick laid in streets, as many as touch Jesus' clothes healed

Mark 7:25-30  Greek woman gets deliverance for demonized daughter

Mark 7:32-37  Deaf man with speech impediment healed

Mark 8:22-25  Blind man partially, then totally, healed

Mark 9:17-29  Disciples fail to deliver demonized boy, Jesus succeeds

Mark 9:38-39  Man who didn't travel with disciples casts out devils in Jesus' name

Mark 10:46-52  Blind Bartimaeus healed

Mark 16:15-18  Believers commanded to preach gospel, healing and other signs to follow

Mark 16:20  Lord confirms gospel with signs

Luke 1:36-37  Barren Elizabeth conceives in old age

Luke 4:18-19  Jesus anointed to heal the brokenhearted, give sight to the blind, liberate the bruised, etc.

Luke 4:27  Reminder that Naaman the Syrian was cleansed of leprosy

Luke 4:33-36  Jesus casts out an unclean spirit

Luke 4:38-39  Peter's mother-in-law healed of a great fever

Luke 4:40-41  Any sick with any disease come and are healed, demon-possessed delivered

Luke 5:12-15  Leper questions Jesus' will, hears, gets healed, many come to hear and be healed

Luke 5:17-26  Paralyzed man let down through ceiling and healed, religionists get angry

Luke 6:6-10  Man with withered hand healed on Sabbath

Luke 6:17-19  Multitudes come to hear and be healed, touch Jesus and get healed

Luke 7:2-10  Centurion's servant healed of fatal disease

Luke 7:12-16  Jesus raises man from the dead at funeral

Luke 7:20-23  Healings cited as proof Jesus is the Messiah

Luke 8:2  Seven devils cast out of Mary Magdalene (past tense)

Luke 8:27-39  Tomb-dwelling demonized man delivered

Luke 8:41-56  Jairus's daughter raised from dead, woman with issue of blood healed

Luke 9:1-2  Twelve sent out to preach with power and authority over sickness and devils

Luke 9:6  Disciples preach and heal everywhere

Luke 9:11  Jesus heals those who need it

Luke 9:38-42  Disciples fail to deliver demonized boy, Jesus succeeds

Luke 9:49-50  Man who didn't travel with disciples casts out devils in Jesus' name

Luke 10:8-9  Disciples commanded to heal the sick

Luke 10:17-20  Spirits subject to disciples in Jesus' name

Luke 11:14  Dumb (speechless) devil cast out, person speaks

Luke 11:20  Jesus says he casts out devils with the finger of God

Luke 13:11-16  Woman crippled for 18 years instantly healed

Luke 14:1-6  Man with dropsy healed on the Sabbath

Luke 17:12-19  Ten lepers healed, only one thanks Jesus

Luke 18:35-43  Blind man believes and receives his sight

Luke 22:50-51  Jesus heals servant's ear that Peter chopped off

John 3:14  Jesus compares himself to Moses' serpent on a pole (which brought healing)

John 4:46-53  Nobleman's son raised from deathbed

John 5:2-19  Man crippled for 38 years healed at Pool of Bethesda

John 6:2  Multitude follows Jesus because of his healing miracles

John 9:1-7  Man born blind healed

John 10:10  Jesus gives life abundantly, devil steals, kills and destroys

John 11:1-44  Lazarus raised from the dead

John 12:39-41  See with your eyes + understand with your heart = Get healed

Acts 1:8  Power promised when Holy Spirit comes upon disciples

Acts 3:1-16  Crippled beggar at Beautiful gate gets healed

Acts 4:7-10  Healing of beggar attributed to the risen Christ

Acts 4:22  Beggar's healing called a miracle

Acts 4:29-33  Disciples pray for power, then go out boldly with power

Acts 5:12-16  Apostles do signs, all sick and demonized healed on the street through Peter

Acts 6:8  Stephen does great wonders and miracles

Acts 8:5-8  Philip gets many lame, paralyzed and demonized healed in Samaria

Acts 9:17-18  Ananias prays; Paul recovers his sight

Acts 9:32-35  Man paralyzed eight years healed when Peter ministers to him

Acts 9:36-42  Peter commands Tabitha to rise from the dead

Acts 10:38  Jesus did good, healed those oppressed of the devil

Acts 14:3  Signs and wonders done by the hands of Paul and Barnabas

Acts 14:7-10  Lame man at Lystra hears gospel, gets faith to be healed, gets healed

Acts 14:19-20  Paul stoned, left for dead, disciples pray, Paul gets up

Acts 15:12  Barnabas and Paul declare the miracles that God did through them

Acts 16:16-18  Paul casts out fortune-telling spirit in the name of Jesus Christ

Acts 19:11-12  God does special miracles through Paul, cloth items from his body taken to the sick

Acts 20:9-12  Paul raises Eutychus from the dead

Acts 27:33-34  Paul recommends ending a fast for health reasons

Acts 28:3-6  Paul bitten by poisonous snake, suffers no harm

Acts 28:8-9  Publius and all other sick people healed on island through Paul's ministry

Acts 28:27  See with eyes + Hear with ears + Understand with heart = Get healed

Romans 1:16  The gospel is the power of God to everyone who believes

Romans 4:16-21  Sarah healed of barrenness; Abraham's faith an example

Romans 8:2  Law of spirit and life sets you free from law of sin and death

Romans 8:11  Indwelling Holy Spirit gives life to your mortal body

Romans 15:18-19  Mighty signs and wonders referred to as fully preaching the gospel

1 Corinthians 2:4-5  Paul's preaching not in human wisdom but in Holy Spirit power

1 Corinthians 3:16-17  You (collectively) are the temple of God

1 Corinthians 4:18-19  Kingdom of God is not in word but in power

1 Corinthians 6:13  The Lord is FOR your physical body

1 Corinthians 6:15  Our bodies are members of Christ

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  God bought your body as well as your spirit

1 Corinthians 12:8-11  Gifts of healings, working of miracles to operate in the Church

1 Corinthians 12:28-30  Reference to ministries majoring in miracles and healings

Galatians 3:5-6  God works miracles among you by the hearing of faith

Galatians 3:10-14  Jesus made a curse to redeem us from the curse for breaking the Law

Galatians 4:13  Paul preaches at the first due to infirmity (obviously gets healed later)

Ephesians 5:28-32  The Lord nourishes and cherishes his Body

Ephesians 6:1-3  Honoring parents brings long life

Philippians 2:25-30  Epaphroditus gets sick and nearly dies, God in his mercy heals him

2 Timothy 1:7  You have the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind

1 Thessalonians 1:5  Our gospel came not only in word but in power

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24  Spirit, soul and body all to be preserved

1 Timothy 2:15  Faithful women not to die in childbirth

Hebrews 2:3-4  God bore witness with signs, wonders, miracles, gifts of the Holy Ghost

Hebrews 11:11  Sara conceives through faith

Hebrews 11:35  Dead children raised to life under Old Covenant

Hebrews 12:12-13  Be strengthened and walk on

James 5:14-16  Sick to be healed when anointed with oil and prayed for in faith

1 Peter 2:24  By Jesus' stripes you were healed

1 Peter 3:10-11  Want long life?  Watch your mouth!

3 John 2  Wish that we be in health and prosper as our souls prosper

Revelation 11:9-11  Two prophets raised from the dead

Revelation 21:4  No sorrow, crying, or pain in our eternal home

Revelation 22:2-3  Leaves of trees for healing of nations, no more curse


Related Scriptures

Exodus 4:6-7  Moses's hand made leprous and healed as a sign

Exodus 8:16-17  Lice referred to as a plague

Exodus 9:8-11  Bodily boils referred to as a plague

Exodus 32:35  People made sick for building calf idol

Leviticus 21:16-23  No sick or deformed priest could offer sacrifices

Leviticus 26:14-39  Curse for breaking the law (including sevenfold plagues)

Numbers 11:33-34  Lusting Israelites smitten with great plague

Numbers 14:36-37  Unbelief-mouthing spies killed by plague

Numbers 25:3-13  24,000 killed in plague for Israel's idolatry, plague stopped by atonement

Numbers 31:14-16  Remembering plague resulting from idolatry at Balaam's counsel

Deuteronomy 28:15-68  Curse for breaking the Law (includes every disease there is)

Deuteronomy 29:19-22  Warning for disobedience; sickness called a curse

Joshua 1:7-8  Meditate and act on God's Word and you'll prosper and have good success

Joshua 22:17  Another reference to the plague for idolatry

1 Samuel 5:1-6:5  Horrible plagues come upon Philistines who have the ark of God

1 Samuel 25:37-38  Nabal smitten with sickness and killed for being a jerk to David

2 Samuel 12:13-18  David's child killed for his sin

1 Kings 13:33-14:1  Jeroboam's son smitten with fatal illness as punishment for sin

2 Kings 1:2-4  Azahiah dies when he seeks Baalzebub, not God, about his illness

2 Kings 5:27  Naaman's leprosy comes on Gehazi as judgment for sin

2 Kings 15:5  Azariah (Uzziah) smitten with leprosy; see below for more details

2 Chronicles 16:12  Asa seeks medical help but not God's help for foot trouble

2 Chronicles 21:12-19  Wicked king and family smitten with horrible diseases as judgment for sin

2 Chronicles 26:16-21  Uzziah struck with leprosy, judgment for attempting to do priestly work

Job 2:4-7  Satan strikes Job with sore boils from head to toe

Ecclesiates 7:17  Foolish and wicked die before their time

Psalm 23  I shall not want, will not fear death, goodness and mercy will always follow me

Psalm 34:9-10  Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing

Psalm 78:49-51  Evil angels brought plagues to Egypt

Psalm 84:11  God withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly

Psalm 89:20-23  David's enemies to be plagued

Psalm 103:20 Angels obey God's Word

Psalm 127:2 God gives his beloved sleep

Psalm 145:8-9  God's grace and mercy

Psalm 145:19-20 Desires of the God-fearing granted, righteous preserved, enemies destroyed

Proverbs 3:21-24 Keep wisdom and discretion, sleep sweetly

Ecclesiastes 5:12 Sleep of a laboring man is sweet

Jeremiah 50:13  Plagues on Babylon as judgment

Ezekiel 34:1-4  Israel's shepherds scolded for not healing the sick

Ezekiel 47:1-12  River from God's throne brings healing

Micah 6:12-13  God will make inhabitants sick because of their sin

Zechariah 14:12-15  Awful killer plague on those attacking Jerusalem

Zechariah 14:16-19  Sickness to be punishment for not keeping Feast of Tabernacles

Matthew 7:11  Your Father gives good things to them that ask him

Matthew 7:21-23  Even unbelievers can do miracles and cast out devils in Jesus' name

Matthew 15:11  What comes out of your mouth defiles you

Matthew 18:18-20  Our right to pray "the prayer of agreement"

Matthew 21:18-22  Jesus curses fig tree, says we can do miracles with little faith

Matthew 28:18  All power in heaven and earth given to Jesus

Mark 11:23-24  Speak and pray believing and you will receive

Luke 6:45  A good man brings good out of his heart; an evil man brings out evil

Luke 12:8-9  Confess Jesus and he'll confess you, deny him and you'll be denied

John 8:32  Knowing the truth makes you free

John 12:31  Prince of this world cast out

John 14:12-14  We will do the works Jesus did in his name

John 15:7-8  Ask what ye will and it will be done (under condition stated)

John 15:16  Whatever you ask the Father for in Jesus' name he will give you

John 16:23-27  Whatever you ask the Father for in Jesus' name he will give you

Acts 12:21-23  Herod smitten with fatal disease as judgment for stealing God's glory

Acts 13:6-12  Bar-Jesus smitten with blindness for a season for opposing the gospel

Romans 1:26-27  Homosexuals receive due penalty for their error in their bodies

Romans 8:32  God will freely give us all things along with Jesus

Romans 10:9-10  Believe with your heart and confess with your mouth unto salvation

1 Corinthians 2:12  Spirit shows us the things freely given to us by God

1 Corinthians 11:27-32  Many Christians walking out of love in Corinth get sick and die

1 Corinthians 15:57  God always gives us the victory through Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 4:13  We believe, therefore we speak

2 Corinthians 10:3-5  Weapons of our warfare destroy strongholds and take thoughts captive

Galatians 6:7-9  Sow to flesh or Spirit, reap from the same eventually

Ephesians 1:15-23  Revelation of Christ's dominance prayed for

Ephesians 2:6  We are seated in heavenly places with Christ

Ephesians 3:20  God does more than we ask or think according to the power that works in us

Ephesians 4:27  Don't give the devil an opportunity

Ephesians 5:5-7  Sinning believer can be a partaker of wrath

Ephesians 5:23  Christ is the Savior of the body

Ephesians 6:10-18  The believer's armor

Philippians 2:9-11  Jesus' name above every name, all knees bow at his name

Colossians 1:12-14  We are delivered out of the devil's kingdom into Jesus' kingdom

Colossians 2:10  Jesus is the head of all principality and power

Hebrews 2:14-15  Jesus destroyed the devil's power and delivered those bound by fear

Hebrews 6:12  Inherit the promises through faith and patience

Hebrews 10:35-36  Need patience to receive the promise

Hebrews 11:1  Definition of faith

Hebrews 11:28  Blood kept "he that destroyed the firstborn" away

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus never changes

James 1:5-8  Ask in faith and don't doubt, because the double-minded get nothing

James 1:17  Good gifts are from God, who never changes

James 2:14-26  Faith without works is dead

James 3:2-6  Tame your tongue and you can control your whole body

James 4:7  Submit to God, resist the devil and he'll flee

1 Peter 3:22  Angels, authorities, powers subject to Christ

1 Peter 5:8-9  Resist the devil, steadfast in faith

2 Peter 1:3-4  God has already given us all things pertaining to life and godliness

1 John 3:8  Son of God was manifest to destroy the works of the devil

1 John 4:1-4  You have already overcome antichrist spirits

1 John 5:4  Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world

1 John 5:14-15  Ask according to God's will and he hears you and you have it

Revelation 1:18  Jesus has the keys of death and hell

Revelation 2:22-23  Jesus says he will kill an adultress's children and throw her into a sickbed

Revelation 16:1-2  Grievous sore part of the wrath of God on beast-worshippers

Revelation 16:10-11  Horrible pain of the wrath of God on beast-worshippers

Note:  Other verses not listed here are referenced in discussions throughout this book.


Exodus  4:6-7
Exodus 4:6-7:

And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom.  And he put his hand into his bosom:  and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.

And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again.  And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.

Notes


Notes on Exodus 4:6-7
Notes on Exodus 4:6-7:

This "sickening" and "healing" was a sign and a wonder for people to see in case they questioned Moses's authority.  They would be able to see something impossible happen and know that God had sent Moses.  Please note that God did not leave Moses sick!  The leprosy was a very temporary sign and God healed it instantly.  To leave Moses sick would be a sign that would misrepresent God's character.

Discussed under:

Leprosy


Exodus  8:16-17
Exodus 8:16-17:

And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Lice


Exodus  9:8-11
Exodus 9:8-11:

And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh.

And it shall become small dust in all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains [inflammatory pustules] upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.

And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast.

And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Boils


Exodus 32:35
Exodus 32:35:

And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


Leviticus 21:16-23
Leviticus 21:16-23:

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.

For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach:  a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous,

Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded,

Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken;

No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire:  he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.

He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy.

Only he shall not go in unto the veil, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries:  for I the LORD do sanctify them.

Discussed under:

Your body is God's property

Priests should not be sick, and you're a priest


Leviticus 26:14-39
Leviticus 26:14-39:

But if ye will not harken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;

And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:

I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart:  and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies:  they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.

And if ye will not yet for all this harken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins.

And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass:

And your strength shall be spent in vain:  for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits.

And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not harken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.

I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.

And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me;

Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.

Continued


Leviticus 26:14-39 (cont.)
And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant:  and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

And when I have broken the staff of your bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight:  and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

And if ye will not for all this harken unto me, but walk contrary unto me;

Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.

And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.

And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.

And I will bring the land into desolation:  and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.

And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you:  and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.

Continued


Leviticus 26:14-39 (cont. #2)
As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.

And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of the enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth:  and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.

And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.

And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Are we redeemed from mental as well as physical illnesses?

Objection:  God clearly SENT plagues in the Old Testament.  We cannot say that God never makes people sick, because he obviously did.

Blindness

Blurred Vision

Consumption (Tuberculosis)


Numbers 11:33-34
Numbers 11:33-34:

And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.

And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hat-ta-a-vah [this means "The Graves of Lust"]:  because there they buried the people that lusted.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


Numbers 14:36-37
Numbers 14:36-37:

And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,

Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.

Notes


Notes on Numbers 14:36-37:

We pay too little attention to the power of the tongue.  The men who were smitten by a plague before the Lord died because of something they said!  They did not commit adultery, blaspheme, or murder anyone.  Their sin was twofold:  They chose not to believe God's explicit promise of taking Canaan, and then they spoke unbelief to incite others to unbelieve along with them!  They paid for their unbelief with their lives.  God takes unbelief more seriously than we do!  Unbelief (like gossip or complaining) is socially acceptable nowadays.  But it has never been acceptable to God, before whom everything that does not arise from faith is sin (Romans 14:23).

Thank God, we live in the day of grace, but let's not tempt God through unbelief.  Paul said that these Old Testament accounts were written to warn us so that we do not fall into the same sins.  Just as unbelief kept Israel out of Canaan, it can keep you out of your promised land in this life.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


Numbers 25:3-13
Numbers 25:3-13:

And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor:  and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel.

And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor.

And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand;

And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly.  So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.

And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace:

And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.

Where discussed


Notes on Numbers 25:3-13
Numbers 25:3-13 is discussed under:

Healing and atonement

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


Numbers 31:14-16
Numbers 31:14-16:

And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle.

And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?

Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


Joshua  1:7-8
Joshua 1:7-8:

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee:  turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Notes


Notes on Joshua 1:7-8
Notes on Joshua 1:7-8:

You won't get healed if you only read your Bible when you feel like it.  God's Word will make you prosper and have good success only when you commit to it.  Notice that the Law was not to depart out of Joshua's mouth -- he was to meditate (you could also translate this word as mutter) the Word constantly.

Nowadays people complain as if this were some new idea that "extreme faith" people invented, but it's been in the Bible all along.  You must speak the Word out of your mouth.  It is a lie to say that you just believe it in your heart.  If you really have the same spirit of faith as Bible people did, you will say with them, "I believed, and therefore I spoke."  With your mouth confession is made unto salvation.  If you aren't willing to say it, you don't believe it.  Period.  You might mentally assent to it, but you don't believe it, and it won't work for you.

Some people complain that this is using God's Word as a mantra or a magic formula, but it is not.  Note the reason that Joshua was to meditate on (mutter to himself) the Word constantly -- so that he would do it!  Only when you are a doer of the Word and not just a hearer does God have anything to bless.  Just meditating on the Word will not make you prosperous.  Meditating on and then doing the Word will make you prosper and have good success in the affairs of life.

More notes


Notes on Joshua 1:7-8 (cont.)
How could you prosper in the affairs of life while you rot in your bed with a 105-degree fever?  You couldn't!  Would being stuck in the hospital be your idea of prospering and having good success?  NO!  If you want to stay well and prosper, be sure that you are speaking God's word to yourself and building yourself up in it.  Then you will act on it and prosper.

Discussed under:

What faith isn't

Say what

The missing link


Joshua 22:17
Joshua 22:17:

Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


Deuteronomy 28:15-68
Deuteronomy 28:15-68:

But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not harken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.

Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.

The LORD shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.

The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust:  from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

Continued


Deuteronomy 28:15-68 (cont.)
The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies:  thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them:  and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth, and no man shall fray them away.

The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.

The LORD shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:

And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways:  and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.

Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her:  thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein:  thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.

Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof:  thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee:  thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them.

Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long:  and there shall be no might in thine hand.

The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

Continued


Deuteronomy 28:15-68 (cont. #2)
The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.

The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known;  and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.

And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither the LORD shall lead thee.

Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.

Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.

Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.

Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.

All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.

The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.

He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him:  he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.

Continued


Deuteronomy 28:15-68 (cont. #3)
Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou harkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

And they shall be upon thee for a sign and a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever.

Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;

Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things:  and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:

And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed:  which also shall not leave thee either corn,  wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.

And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land:  and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.

Continued


Deuteronomy 28:15-68 (cont. #4)
And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:

So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat:  because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and it the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter,

And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear:  for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.

If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;

Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance.

Continued


Deuteronomy 28:15-68 (cont. #5)
Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee.

Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.

And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.

And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest:  but the LORD shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life:

In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even [evening]! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning!  for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

Continued


Deuteronomy 28:15-68 (cont. #6)
And the LORD shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again:  and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.

Notes


Notes on Deuteronomy 28:15-68
Notes on Deuteronomy 28:15-68:

Here we have the fullest exposition of the curse of the Law referred to by Paul in Galatians 3:10-14.  This curse was to come on those who did not do all that the Law required.  Jesus Christ redeemed us from everything in this curse.  Because we are the righteousness of God in Christ, God does not hold us responsible for breaking the Law.  Christ himself suffered this curse for us at Calvary to redeem us from having to suffer it.  Notice especially that God declared every sickness and every plague, whether named or not, to be part of this curse.  This alone is proof that God himself calls sickness a curse.  If he does, so should we.  We should never call it a blessing in disguise, because it's a curse and it's not in disguise.

We know Christ has redeemed us from sickness because sickness is part of the punishment for sin, and Isaiah says that God laid OUR punishment upon the Messiah.  Therefore, in bearing OUR punishment, Christ bore OUR sicknesses.  In Isaiah's words, surely he has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains.  This was necessary to bear the full punishment for our sins.

Leviticus 26:14-39 contains additional information about this same curse for disobedience to the Law.  There are various other threats throughout the Old Testament of similar conditions coming upon Israel as punishment for idolatry and apostasy.

Where discussed


Deuteronomy 28:15-68 (cont.)
Deuteronomy 28:15-68 is discussed under:

Who or what causes sickness?

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Healing and prosperity

Why does Exodus 15:25-26 talk about God putting diseases on people?

Breaking generational curses

Objection:  God clearly SENT plagues in the Old Testament.  We cannot say that God never makes people sick, because he obviously did.

Objection:  David said that it was GOOD that he was afflicted; so it can be with us

Blindness	Fever

Blurred Vision	Inflammation

Boils	Itching

Burning	Mental Illnesses

Chronic Illnesses	Sores

Consumption (Tuberculosis)	Tumors

Depression


Deuteronomy 29:19-22
Deuteronomy 29:19-22:

And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:

The LORD will not spare him, but then the anger of the LORD and his jealousy shall smoke against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.

And the LORD shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant that are written in the book of the law:

So that the generation to come of your children that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses which the LORD hath laid upon it;

Notes


Notes on Deuteronomy 29:19-22
Notes on Deuteronomy 29:19-22:

This is another passage that clearly declares plagues and sickness to be a curse!  You cannot avoid the conclusion that God declares sickness to be a curse.  Agree with God and call it a curse yourself.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


1 Samuel  5:1-6:5
1 Samuel 5:1-6:5:

And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon.

And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD.  And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, not any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us:  for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?  And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath.  And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.

And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction:  and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.

Continued


1 Samuel  5:1-6:5 (cont.)
Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron.  And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

So they sent and gathered all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people:  for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.

And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods:  and the cry of the city went up to heaven.

And the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months.

And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, What shall we do to the ark of the LORD?  tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.

And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering:  then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.

Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him?  They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, according to the number of lords of the Philistines:  for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.

Wherefore ye shall make images of your emerods, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel:  peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.

Notes


Notes on 1 Samuel 5:1-6:5
Notes on 1 Samuel 5:1-6:5:

There is a New Testament parallel to this story in 1 Cor 11:27-32.  In this passage, believers who approached communion irreverently ended up weak, sick, and dead.  The Philistines fell sick for a similar reason.  You cannot make light of a holy God or approach him irreverently.  To do so brings judgment down on yourself.  Note, however, that an atonement resulted in the healing of the sick Philistines.  Atonement and healing go together.

Of course, if you have cancer, you should see from this passage that God considers cancer a punishment and a curse, and such a thing has no rightful place in the body of a Christian.  Jesus took your punishment for you so that you would not have to endure it.  Once the Philistines showed respect for the things of God, they were healed of the things brought on by disrespect.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Healing and atonement

Tumors


1 Samuel 25:37-38
1 Samuel 25:37-38:

[Context:  Nabal (his name means Fool)  was "churlish and evil in his doings" (1 Sam 25:3) and "a son of Belial" (1 Sam 25:17).  He did not honor David.]

But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

And it came to pass about then days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


2 Samuel 12:13-18
2 Samuel 12:13-18:

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD.  And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

And Nathan departed unto his house.  And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.

And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth:  but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. ...

Notes


Notes on 2 Samuel 12:13-18
Notes on 2 Samuel 12:13-18:

This passage seems problematic.  It may seem unfair that a child died for the sins of his father.  However, this is consistent with other Scriptures that talk of how your "seed" (children) will be blessed if you serve the Lord but cursed if you don't serve the Lord.  Deuteronomy 28 states both explicitly.  David had turned from God's ways and his child was cursed instead of blessed.  (You are probably aware that David and Bathsheba conceived the child in adultery.)

Perhaps the more troublesome fact is that David is told that God has put away his sin.  If his sin was put away, why did the child die anyway?  How could God even remember the sin at that point?  (I'm sure someone out there other than me asks questions like this!)

The reason is what Paul calls "the law of sin and death."  David had put the law of sin into motion.  Sin leads to death.  Although you are forgiven, you can reap what you sowed for a season.  There are natural consequences to sin in this life.  It is far better not to sin in the first place.  For example, you can become a famous minister, commit adultery, repent, and be completely forgiven by God.  However, you will have trouble for the rest of your life over it and your ministry will never be what it could have been.  This has nothing to do with not being forgiven.  David's life from this point on was full of bad harvests from the bad seed he planted during his adultery and subsequent cover-up.

This is further discussed under:  Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament.


1 Kings 13:33-14:1
1 Kings 13:33-14:1:

After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places:  whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he became one of the priests of the high places.

And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cut it off, and to destroy it from off the face of the earth.

At that time Abijah the son of Jeroboam fell sick.

[This story continues at some length, ending with the death of the boy, which was foretold by a prophet as a judgment for his leading the nation into sin.]

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


2 Kings  1:2-4
2 Kings 1:2-4:

And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick:  and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the God of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?

Now, therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but thou shalt surely die.  And Elijah departed.

[Ahaziah died, just as Elijah said he would.]

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


2 Kings  5:27
2 Kings 5:27:

The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever.

Notes


Notes on 2 Kings 5:27
Notes on 2 Kings 5:27:

This verse has Elisha's words to his deceitful servant Gehazi.  Elisha wanted Naaman to be healed for free, but Gehazi went after Naaman and said that Elisha wanted some provisions for two guests.  Naaman was happy to oblige.  Elisha knew about this incident supernaturally and pronounced this judgment upon Gehazi.  This is yet another example of sickness being a curse and a judgment.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


2 Kings 15:5
2 Kings 15:5:

And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house.  And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.

Notes


Notes on 2 Kings 15:5
Notes on 2 Kings 15:5:

2 Chronicles 26:16-21 explains this incident more fully.  The king's sin was attempting to perform a function that only priests were authorized to perform.  As with the case of Uzzah, God showed that he does not take it lightly when a man intrudes into a ministry office where he does not belong.  The king's pride caused him to take the things of God too lightly, a mistake that cost some of the Corinthians their lives in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 11:27-32).

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Leprosy


2 Chronicles 16:12
2 Chronicles 16:12:

And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great:  yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.

Discussed under:

Is it a sin to go to the doctor or take medicine?

Foot trouble


2 Chronicles 21:12-19
2 Chronicles 21:12-19:

And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,

But hast walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and hast made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to go a whoring, like to the whoredoms of the house of Ahab, and also hast slain thy brethren of thy father's house, which were better than thyself:

Behold, with a great plague will the LORD smite thy people, and thy children, and thy wives, and all thy goods:

And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day.

Moreover the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines, and of the Arabians, that were near the Ethiopians:

And they came up unto Judah, and brake into it, and carried away all the substance that was found in the king's house, and his sons also, and his wives; so that there was never a son left him, save Jehoahaz, the youngest of his sons.

And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with in incurable disease.

And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness:  so he died of sore diseases.  And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.

Notes


Notes on 2 Chronicles 21:12-19
Notes on 2 Chronicles 21:12-19:

After reading this passage, you can't believe that God sends sickness to his devout worshippers as a device to build character or teach lessons!  How could it be clearer?  Sickness is a curse and a judgment.  That is why Jesus had to bear our sicknesses for us, so that we would not have to partake of this judgment for sin the way many did in the Old Testament.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Tumors


2 Chronicles 26:16-21
2 Chronicles 26:16-21:

But when he [Uzziah] was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction:  for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:

And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests and the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense:  go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.

Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense:  and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.

And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.

And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD:  and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land.

Notes


Notes on 2 Chronicles 26:16-21
Notes on 2 Chronicles 26:16-21:

God never authorized King Uzziah to perform priestly functions.  He should have known better than to attempt to do so, since this very sin had disqualified Saul from being king over Israel.  Apparently, he was too proud to care, and his pride caused him to take the holy things of God lightly.  He attempted the priestly function of burning incense, and God was incensed.  This same sin sent many Corinthians to early graves as well (1 Corinthians 11:27-32).  We need to judge ourselves regarding our conduct around the things of God so that judgment does not fall on us.  Even under grace, this sin can disqualify you for healing unless you repent.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Leprosy


Job  2:4-7
Job 2:4-7:

And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.

But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand, but save his life.

So went Satan from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Notes


Notes on Job 2:4-7
Notes on Job 2:4-7:

Satan made Job sick, not God.  There is no way to dispute this.  The only dispute people can have is the claim that "God allowed it," which seems obvious from the context.  Why did God allow it?  And why could he not do the same in the New Testament?

These matters are explained in detail in the answer to the common objection to healing based on Job.  In short, you cannot be another Job because you have direct authority over Satan, who is the author of disease.  Job did not have this under his covenant, and Job was unaware that there was anyone named Satan.  That is why Job blamed everything on God, and that is why God did not charge Job with sin for saying that God had done it.  Later, Job's attitude deteriorated and he did make unfair accusations against God for which he had to repent.  Even Job said that if there had only been a mediator between him and God, he would not have stayed sick.  We do have a Mediator today.  Even one of his foolish friends understood the concept of atonement bringing healing:  "Deliver from going to the pit, for I have found an atonement...His flesh shall be like a child's...."

Job was sick for less than 1% of his life and God completely healed him and blessed him.  We would see many people similarly healed and blessed if preachers would harp on God's healing of Job's Satan-inflicted illnesses as much as they harp on Job's sickness.  You are supposed to see the Lord's mercy in this book according to James 5:11.

More notes


Notes on Job 2:4-7 (cont.)
Also, Job operated in fear unlike anyone else in the Old Testament.  No one else offered constant sacrifices motivated by fear, and Job said that what he greatly feared had come upon him.  Fear gives Satan legal access into your life, even under the New Covenant.

Discussed under:

Objection:  Job was a godly man, yet God let him get sick

Boils

Sores


James 5:11
James 5:11:

Behold, we count them happy which endure.  Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.


Psalm  23
Psalm 23:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:  he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:  for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:  thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:  and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Notes


Notes on Psalm 23
Notes on Psalm 23:

"I shall not want" does not mean "I don't want anything good in my life;" it literally means "I shall not lack."  When the Lord is your shepherd, you should not be in lack of any good thing.  If you're sick, you are lacking -- you're lacking health!  If you must remain sick, Psalm 23 would have to be revised to read, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not lack anything except physical healing.  He maketh me to lie down on my sickbed so that I cannot walk the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Thou preparest an operating table before me in the presence of mine enemies.  My nose runneth over."  Friend, if you are sick, you lack healing.  Since God is your Shepherd, you should not lack healing.

We see that healing for your emotions is included in the package when God is your Shepherd.  He makes you lie down in green pastures, he leads you beside still waters, and he restores your soul.  Is God going to take care of you emotionally but not physically?  Is a hospital a green pasture?

Healing is described as a mercy in the New Testament.  The sick cried out for mercy and received it.  If goodness and mercy are following you daily, how can you be excluded from the mercy of healing for your sick body?  This whole Psalm shows God's provision and care for you.  That is why you can confront the fear of death without giving into it.  The Psalmist does not describe himself dying helplessly without God's intervention.  This Psalm points to victory in every area of your life.

Where discussed


Notes on Psalm 23 (cont.)
Psalm 23 is discussed under:

God's mercy and compassion

Healing is a good thing

Dealing with fear


Psalm  34: 9-10
Psalm 34:9-10:

O fear the LORD, ye his saints:  for there is no want to them that fear him.

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger:  but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Notes


Notes on Psalm 34:9-10
Notes on Psalm 34:9-10:

Can you describe yourself as having no want, of not wanting any good thing, when you are sweating in your bed, taking medicine to partially relieve your symptoms?  No, you would want a good thing -- healing!

Notice that as with other such verses, this is a conditional promise.  If you just live any old way and don't care about God much, he hasn't promised you anything in these verses.  Having no lack is promised only to the man who seeks God.

Discussed under:

Healing is a good thing


Psalm  78:49-51
Psalm 78:49-51:

He cast upon them [Egypt] the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

He made a way for his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;

And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:

Notes


Notes on Psalm 78:49-51
Notes on Psalm 78:49-51:

I included this verse because it offers insight into how "the Lord" smote Egypt.  There are many passages about "the Lord" smiting people, and this passage makes it clear that evil angels did the actual smiting.  Of course, God did permit these evil angels to do and do it, but the point is that God himself did not directly show up and kill people.  Here God smote people only in the sense that he allowed the devil to smite them.

The death of the firstborn is attributed to "he that destroyed the firstborn" in Hebrews 11:28.


Psalm  84:11
Psalm 84:11:

For the LORD God is a sun and shield:  the LORD will give grace and glory:  no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Notes


Notes on Psalm 84:11
Notes on Psalm 84:11:

If this verse means anything, God will not withhold healing from those who walk uprightly.  (If healing is a good thing and God withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly, it logically follows that God does not withhold healing from those who walk uprightly.)

This verse, like similar ones, is conditional upon walking uprightly.  You cannot claim it as a promise unless you walk uprightly.  You don't have to go on a witch-hunt.  Just ask yourself whether you're doing anything that you know is sin!  Then you know if you qualify or not, and if you don't, you can repent so that you do qualify.

This verse says that God gives grace and glory.  How much glory do you have on an IV in a hospital?  Not much!  If God will give you glory, he surely must give you healing.  This is underscored by the fact that God told the Israelites many times that they would be held in derision by neighboring countries when they were plagued for disobedience.  So God considers sickness a source of derision, so he cannot consider it a source of glory.  Neither should you.

Discussed under:

Healing is a good thing


Psalm  89:20-23
Psalm 89:20-23:

I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

With whom my hand shall be established:  mine arm also shall strengthen him.

The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


Psalm 103:20
Psalm 103:20:

Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

Discussed under:

Say what


Psalm 127:2
Psalm 127:2:

It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows:  for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

Notes


Notes on Psalm 127:2
Notes on Psalm 127:2:

Think about this.  If you had no other promise in the Bible that God would remove pain from your body, you would have one right here.  You can't sleep when you're racked with pain, can you?  You have a right to be healed of anything that interferes with your sleep -- not just insomnia!

You have the right to believe God for sleep at night!

Discussed under:

Insomnia


Psalm 145: 8-9
Psalm 145:8-9:

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

The LORD is good to all:  and his tender mercies are over all his works.

Discussed under:

God's mercy and compassion


Psalm 145:19-20
Psalm 145:19-20:

He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him:  he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

The LORD preserveth all them that love him:  but all the wicked will he destroy.

Discussed under:

Healing is a good thing


Proverbs  3:21-24
Proverbs 3:21-24:

My son, let not them depart from thine eyes:  keep sound wisdom and discretion:

So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid:  yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

Discussed under:

Insomnia


Ecclesiastes  5:12
Ecclesiastes 5:12:

The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much:  but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

Discussed under:

Insomnia


Ecclesiastes  7:17
Ecclesiastes 7:17:

Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish:  why shouldest thou die before thy time?

Notes


Notes on Ecclesiastes 7:17
Notes on Ecclesiastes 7:17:

God's time for you to die is after he has satisfied you with long life.  (See Psalm 91.)  This is not necessarily a specific date and time.  The idea is that you should live a long life, and if you are wicked or foolish, you will live a shorter life, thus dying before your time.  As proved elsewhere in this book, you have far more to do with your lifespan that God does!  You can lengthen or shorten your life in many ways.  These are discussed in Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Jeremiah 50:13
Jeremiah 50:13:

Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate:  every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.

Notes


Notes on Jeremiah 50:13
Notes on Jeremiah 50:13:

Do you hiss at something good?  No, you hiss at something bad.  I am not suggesting that you go to the local hospital and hiss at the sick, but God clearly considers sickness disgusting.  If no one would glorify them for their plagues, let's not consider enduring of sickness to be the way to glorify God in the earth.  Surely God does not want you "glorifying" him with something that makes people want to hiss at you.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


Ezekiel 34:1-4
Ezekiel 34:1-4:

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the LORD God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves!  should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed:  but ye feed not the flock.

The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

Notes


Notes on Ezekiel 34:1-4
Notes on Ezekiel 34:1-4:

This shows God's protest that the sick were not being healed in Israel, despite his promises to heal everything and everyone.  He was talking to the priests, not literal shepherds.  God was upset that his work of healing (among other things) was not being done.

You can fall into this same trap if you're not careful.  For example, you could treat this book as a means to stuff yourself with healing knowledge, but never use this knowledge to help anyone else.  God doesn't want you to just feed yourself.  Feeding yourself spiritually is important, but God wants you to minister to the needs of the hurting, including the sick!


Ezekiel 47:1-2
Ezekiel 47:1-12:

Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; and behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward:  for the forefront of the house stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house, at the south side of the altar.

Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and behold, there ran out waters on the right side.

And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the waters were to the ancles.

Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees.  And again he measured a thousand, and brought me through the waters; the waters were to the knees.  Again he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters were to the loins.

Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over:  for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.

And he said unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen this?  Then he brought me, and caused me to return to the brink of the river.

Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river were very many trees on the one side and on the other.

Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea:  which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.

Continued


Ezekiel 47:1-12 (cont.)
And it shall come to pass, that every living thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live:  and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come hither:  for they shall be healed, and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.

And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En-eglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.

But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not healed; they shall be given to salt.

And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed:  it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary:  and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.

Notes


Notes on Ezekiel 47:1-12
Notes on Ezekiel 47:1-12:

You could say a lot more about this passage, but I am going to restrict my comments to the healing part.  The river flowed from the throne of God, and the river brought healing to everything it touched.  This is yet another illustration that healing comes from God.  In this case, healing of human bodies is implied because the trees that drink the water that flows from God's sanctuary produce leaves for medicine.  The water from God definitely does not produce sickness, kill or destroy anything; instead, it heals that which is sick.

At first, you may wonder what on earth Ezekiel is talking about here.  He is definitely talking about a future dispensation rather than our current age, as is clear from the context of the closing chapters of Ezekiel.  He sees a day when a river will flow from God's sanctuary on the earth.  This river has marvelous healing and quickening powers.

You may wonder what this passage is doing in here!  I included it because it gives another proof of the fact that healing comes from God.  The river from his sanctuary did not kill off all the fish and water trees of sickening, whose fruit is inedible and whose leaves give you cancer.  Where the presence of God is, healing is.


Micah  6:12-13
Micah 6:12-13:

For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.

Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


Zechariah 14:12-15
Zechariah 14:12-15:

And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.

And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.

And so shall the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


Zechariah 14:16-19
Zechariah 14:16-19:

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament


Matthew  7:11
Matthew 7:11:

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Notes


Notes on Matthew 7:11
Notes on Matthew 7:11:

If there were no explicit healing promises in the Bible, you could get healed just by believing this statement about God.  God loves his children and longs to bless them with good things, just as you long to bless your children with good things.  Once you see this, you can't possibly believe that God wants you sick, because the Bible calls sickness a curse, not a good thing.  Sickness is bad.  Healing is good.  I know you probably don't need this book to tell you that, but you'd be surprised how many people think sickness can be a good thing because of human traditions.

This verse also explains why God will never heal most people.  They don't ask!  Or if they ask, their prayer is bound in a straitjacket of unbelief.  They don't realize that God already wants to heal them, just as any earthly parent would want to see a sick child be healed.  Since God is a far better parent, he is even more willing to bless you with healing!

Discussed under:

Healing is a good thing

Healing -- a gift from God


Matthew  7:21-23
Matthew 7:21-23:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?  and in thy name have cast out devils?  and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:  depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Discussed under:

What faith is

The power in the name of Jesus

Healing is not a formula

Objection:  Healing and miracles are not for this current dispensation


Matthew 15:11
Matthew 15:11:

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth; this defileth a man.

Discussed under:

Say what


Matthew 18:18-20
Matthew 18:18-20:

Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:  and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 18:18-20
Notes on Matthew 18:18-20:

This verse is a complete answer to the people who think that everything is up to God's sovereignty.  Far from it!  Most of what goes on here is up to us!  When we bind something on earth, only then does God consider it bound in heaven.  When we loose something on the earth, only then does God consider it loosed in heaven.  This is why prayer is so vital!  Many things, if not prayed for, will simply not get done!  It won't be because it wasn't God's will for them to be done; it will be because we didn't want it done enough to agree together and ask God for it.

Don't make this hard!  There are only three rules to praying the prayer of agreement:

1.	Two or more of you must agree on what you want.

2.	Those agreeing must be on the earth.

3.	Those agreeing must explicitly ask God for the result.

Yeah, but what if it isn't God's will?  Watch out!  As proved elsewhere in this book, God will sometimes give you what you agree for even if it's not his will, so find out first!  This passage is another proof that healing is available to all, since you could certainly make healing the subject of this prayer and get it.

More notes


Notes on Matthew 18:18-20 (cont.)
The end of this passage is often quoted at church services with low attendance to console those who bothered to show up with the fact that Jesus is present.  This use of the verse is out of context.  Jesus is saying that he is in the midst of you to do whatever you agree for.  He was not suddenly talking about worship services in the middle of his discourse.

Discussed under:

Different ways to get healed


Matthew 21:18-22
Matthew 21:18-22:

Now in the morning as he [Jesus] returned into the city, he hungered.

And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever.  And presently the fig tree withered away.

And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Discussed under:

Notes on Mark 11:23-24

Speaking to mountains, trees and diseases

Different ways to get healed

Objection:  Faith is simply trust in God, not a force that you use to change things yourself.


Matthew 28:18
Matthew 28:18:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 28:18
Notes on Matthew 28:18:

The word power here could also be translated authority.  Since he immediately followed this with "Go ye therefore," we know that this power (or authority) is available to us as we go out and preach in his name.  Otherwise, the "therefore" would not make sense.  If Jesus were to keep this power to himself, it would not be a reason to go out and evangelize.  Compare this to Mark 16:15-18 and Mark 16:20 and you'll see that the Lord works this power through us as we go out in his name.  Our right to lay hands on the sick and cast out devils in the name of Jesus is proof that Jesus gave his authority to the Church.  This should be no big shock, since the Church is one with its Head.  Something can't belong to your head and not belong to the rest of your body, can it?  "This car belongs to my head but not to my body."  No, your body is one with your head.  It is our oneness with Christ that allows us to go out and use his authority in the earth today.

Discussed under:

How to deal with the devil

Objection:  Laying hands on the sick is not part of the Great Commission


Mark 11:23-24
Mark 11:23-24:

For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Notes


Notes on Mark 11:23-24
Notes on Mark 11:23-24:

Once you discover that healing is yours, this passage of scripture settles the question, "How do I get it?"  There are actually two valid methods here.  One is to speak to your condition and command it to be gone.  The other is to believe that you receive your healing from God when you pray.  These methods are covered in detail in these discussions:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!	     Speaking to mountains, trees and diseases

How NOT to pray for your healing	What faith isn't	Say what

Different ways to get healed	The healing anointing	You have faith

Healing is a good thing	God's promises have conditions

Who you are and what you have	Mistake:  Unforgiveness

How much do you desire healing?	Healing is not a formula

Can I lay hands on myself for my own healing?

Can I believe and receive a healing for someone else?

Objection:  Christ's healings were mostly instantaneous; we cannot claim to be able to do his works when we have so few instantaneous miracles

Objection:  Faith is simply trust in God, not a force that you use to change things yourself.

Objection:  If we really had authority over sickness, we would not need GIFTS OF HEALING

Objection:  We should use our faith for souls rather than selfishly seeking our own healing

Objection:  "Faith healing" is simply mind over matter.  Unbelievers can and do get healed just by having a positive mental attitude, and it has nothing to do with Jesus.

Objection:  Divine healing is practiced by false cults


Luke  6:45
Luke 6:45:

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil:  for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Notes


Notes on Luke 6:45
Notes on Luke 6:45:

If you want your mouth to speak good things, don't try to do it by exercising will power and making New Year's resolutions.  James said that no man can tame the tongue.  The only way you can do it is by storing God's Word in your heart.  When your heart is full of God's Word, your mouth will speak God's Word out of its abundance.  So the secret is not trying harder to say the right things, but storing up an abundance of God's Word in your heart, which will cause what you're saying to change.

Discussed under:

Say what


Luke 12:8-9
Luke 12:8-9:

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

Discussed under:

Say what


Luke 17:5-6
Luke 17:5-6:

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea, and it should obey you.

Notes


Notes on Luke 17:5-6
Notes on Luke 17:5-6:

You can learn an important lesson here:  Faith speaks!  The apostles wanted more faith, but Jesus said that if you had a little faith, you could SPEAK to a tree and it would obey you.  He was showing them how to use faith.  There is little practical use for telling a tree to fly into the ocean, but this example shows that nothing is impossible to the person who has faith and then speaks to physical circumstances.  Note that it only works when you speak.  You can't just "believe it in your heart."  With the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:10).

The idea that you can speak to situations and they have to obey you makes some people very upset, yet Jesus himself said that you can speak to a mountain and speak to a tree!  Jesus did so himself in the case of the fig tree, proving this principle.  This wasn't just something for Jesus to do -- he said that YOU can speak to THINGS in faith and have them obey you!  The obvious applications for healing are that you can (a) speak to the sickness and command it to leave your body and (b) speak to your body and command it to function normally.

Discussed under:

Speaking to mountains, trees and diseases

How to get more faith

Objection:  Faith is simply trust in God, not a force that you use to change things yourself.


John  8:32
John 8:32:

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Notes


Notes on John 8:32
Notes on John 8:32:

The truth only makes you free when you know it.  It was already true that Jesus hung on a cross and paid the full punishment for your sins before you were born again.  However, you were not free until you KNEW that truth.  It is the same with healing or anything else.

Some preachers love to use this as a pay-attention trick:  "The truth shall make you free, Amen!  No, wrong, gotcha!  You have to know the truth before it makes you free."  While this is so, it is very annoying when preachers do this, especially because "The truth shall make you free" is right in this verse, even though its context is that you have to know it.  Actually, it is rather irritating when a preacher deliberately misquotes scripture to "catch" people.

Discussed under:

How to deal with the devil


John 12:31
John 12:31:

Now is the judgment of this world:  now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Discussed under:

How to deal with the devil


John 14:12-14
John 14:12-14:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Notes


Notes on John 14:12-14
Notes on John 14:12-14:

Jesus said we would do the works he did.  He was not talking about helping little old ladies across the street.  Jesus' works were preaching, teaching and healing.  We will do these works also.  There is no sense fighting with God over this.  It is plain and it is in the Bible.

Jesus didn't just say we'd do the works; he told us HOW to do them.  We ask for something to be done in the name of Jesus, and HE does it.  Since Jesus said that if we ask anything in his name, he will do it, we can ask healing in his name and he will do the healing, because healing is a subset of anything.  You don't have to be too smart to figure that out, especially since healing was one of the most notable "works" that Jesus did.

This is why you don't have to feel like you're full of power when you use the name of Jesus to command sickness to leave.  All YOU have to do is command the healing to be done in the name of Jesus and HE backs up his name by doing the healing.  It's so simple!  Don't make this hard.

Where discussed


Notes on John 14:12-14 (cont.)
John 14:12-14 is discussed under:

Jesus the Healer has never changed!	The works he did you can do:  Here's how

Your authority over sickness	Who you are and what you have

Healing and God's glory

Objection:  To say that you received your healing by your faith glorifies you instead of God

Objection:  We cannot expect to heal as Jesus did because we are not the Son of God


John 15: 7-8
John 15:7-8:

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Notes


Notes on John 15:7-8
Notes on John 15:7-8:

This is not a blanket promise.  There are two conditions.  You must abide in Christ, and his words must abide in you.  If you meet these conditions, you can ask what you will and it will be done unto you.  Do you want to be healed?  Then meet these conditions, and you can ask for healing and get it.  This is far from the talk about the sovereign will of God that we hear so much about these days.  God has given us more freedom than most people realize!  YOU can decide what you want to receive from God.  Of course, if his words abide in you, you already know God's will in the matter and you can line up your will with his.  Through study of God's Word, you can know that healing is God's will for you.

Even if there were no healing promises in the Bible, this verse alone would prove that you can ask for healing and get it.  Your Father is glorified when you ask for things and receive them.  He wants you to do this even more than you want to do it!

Discussed under:

Healing is a good thing

Objection:  "Faith healers" call attention to man and thus rob the Lord of due glory


John 15:16
John 15:16:

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain:  that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Notes


Notes on John 15:16
Notes on John 15:16:

Again, if there were no specific promises of healing in the Bible, this would prove that you could ask for it and receive it from your Father.  God delights in answering prayer.  He is not holding back answers!  He considers praying prayers and getting answers to be bearing fruit!

This is different from John 14:12-14, where you demand that something be done in the name of Jesus.  Here you ask your Father for something and receive it from him.  Both are legitimate means of obtaining healing.

Discussed under:

Healing is a good thing

The power in the name of Jesus


John 16:23-27
John 16:23-27:

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing.  Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name:  ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

These things have I spoken to you in proverbs:  but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

At that day ye shall ask in my name:  and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:

For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

Notes


Notes on John 16:23-27
Notes on John 16:23-27:

WHATSOEVER includes healing.  Healing is a subset of whatsoever.  Therefore, you can ask the Father for healing in the name of Jesus and receive it.  Jesus put no limits on this promise, and neither should you.

Note that God wants your joy to be full.  If you are laid up in the hospital or your kid is dying of leukemia, your joy is not going to be full.  When you ask for and receive healing, then you'll have great joy!

The disciples could not pray in the name of Jesus during Jesus' earth ministry.  Jesus indicated that the rules for prayer would change after his ascension.  Men would be able to pray to the Father in the name of Jesus, which no one until this time was able to do.

The Father himself loves you -- he loves you enough to heal you!

Discussed under:

Healing is a good thing

How NOT to pray for your healing

The power in the name of Jesus


Acts 12:21-23
Acts 12:21-23:

And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory:  and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

Worms


Acts 13:6-12
Acts 13:6-12:

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus:

Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

Then Saul (who is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,

And said, O full of all subtilty and mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?

And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.  And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

Signs and wonders

Blindness


Romans  1:26-27
Romans 1:26-27:

For this cause God gave them up to vile affections:  for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

Venereal diseases


Romans  8:32
Romans 8:32:

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Notes


Notes on Romans 8:32
Notes on Romans 8:32:

Let any man who believes that God withholds healing from us "for a reason, for a season" read this verse and get his head straightened out.  God freely gives us all things.  That means that God freely gives us healing, because healing is included in all things.  He does not hold it back; he freely gives it to us.  God is a giver!  He is not a tightwad with his blessings.

Discussed under:

Who you are and what you have

Healing is a good thing

Your heavenly Father and your healing


Romans 10:9-10
Romans 10:9-10:

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Notes


Notes on Romans 10:9-10
Notes on Romans 10:9-10:

Since salvation in the New Testament incorporates forgiveness, healing, and deliverance from evil in this life (see Saved!), it should follow that with your heart you believe and with your mouth confession is made unto healing.  In other words, you must say that you are healed before your body will be healed.  You can't wait until after your body is healed to say so any more than you can wait to feel saved from your sins before you confess that Jesus has saved you from your sins.  Confession is made unto, not just after, salvation!  This point is elaborated upon in the discussions below.

Discussed under:

How to be saved from your sins

Say what

The power of God's spoken word

Objection:  Faith is simply trust in God, not a force that you use to change things yourself


1 Corinthians 10 :5-11
1 Corinthians 10:5-11:

But with many of them [Israelites] God was not well pleased:  for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [examples]:  and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

Mistake:  Wrong treatment of the Body of Christ


1 Corinthians  2:12
1 Corinthians 2:12:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Discussed under:

Who you are and what you have

God's mercy and compassion

Objection:  God is not a vending machine


1 Corinthians 11:27-32
1 Corinthians 11:27-32:

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

If you are sick, does that mean there is sin in your life?

Objection:  God clearly SENT plagues in the Old Testament.  We cannot say that God never makes people sick, because he obviously did.

Objection:  Sickness can be the chastening of the Lord

Objection:  God creates evil (Isaiah 45:7), kills, and wounds (Deut 32:39)

Mistake:  Wrong treatment of the Body of Christ


1 Corinthians 15:57
1 Corinthians 15:57:

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Discussed under:

Who you are and what you have

You win!

Objection:  We are supposed to thank God for everything, which would include sickness (1 Thess 5:18)


2 Corinthians  2:14
2 Corinthians 2:14:

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Discussed under:

Who you are and what you have

You win!

Objection:  We are supposed to thank God for everything, which would include sickness (1 Thess 5:18)

Objection:  God's healing covenant in the Law of Moses was only for the Jews


2 Corinthians  4:13
2 Corinthians 4:13:

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Discussed under:

What faith isn't

Say what

The power of God's spoken Word


2 Corinthians 10:3-5
2 Corinthians 10:3-5:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Discussed under:

Casting out the spirit of stupidity

How to deal with the devil


Galatians 6:7-9
Galatians 6:7-9:

Be not deceived; God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

And let us not be weary in well doing:  for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Notes


Notes on Galatians 6:7-9
Notes on Galatians 6:7-9:

This is a spiritual law that will either work for you or against you.  If you choose to live in the flesh, you will reap corruption, which will certainly interfere with your healing.  On the positive side, if you sow to the Spirit by fellowshipping with God, reading and thinking about his Word and living right, you will reap the benefits of the life of God, including healing.  This is not talking about mere salvation, because Paul says that in due season we shall reap.  He is talking about receiving the benefits of the Spirit in this life.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament


Ephesians 1:15-23
Ephesians 1:15-23:

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know the what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,

Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Discussed under:

God's power toward you

How to deal with the devil

Your authority over sickness


Ephesians 2:6
Ephesians 2:6:

And [God] hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Notes


Notes on Ephesians 2:6
Notes on Ephesians 2:6:

If the Body of Christ would just understand this one concept, there would be a lot less sickness.  As far as God is concerned, you rule and reign with Jesus Christ in this life.  (Paul also said that you would reign in life through Jesus Christ in Romans 5:17.)  You sit with Christ, far above the devil and all of his cohorts.  You have authority over the devil.  You don't have to sit there and let the devil oppress you with sickness.  You can put a stop to it.

Discussed under:

God's power toward you

Paper roadblocks to healing

How to deal with the devil

Who you are and what you have


Ephesians 3:20
Ephesians 3:20:

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Discussed under:

God's power toward you

Who you are and what you have


Ephesians 4:27
Ephesians 4:27:

Neither give place [opportunity] to the devil.

Discussed under:

Casting out the spirit of stupidity

How to deal with the devil


Ephesians 5: 5-7
Ephesians 5:5-7:

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no man deceive you with vain words:  for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament


Ephesians 5:23
Ephesians 5:23:

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church:  and he is the saviour of the body.

Notes


Notes on Ephesians 5:23
Notes on Ephesians 5:23:

This is another proof that God is the Healer of his people not only in the Old Testament but also in the New Testament.  Of course, when Paul says that Christ is the savior of the body, the word body is referring to his Church as opposed to a physical body of an individual.  If the word body were the only issue here, you could dismiss this as a healing scripture.  However, this is a healing scripture because it states that Christ is the savior of the body.  The word savior is derived from the same Greek word translated save, heal, make whole and preserve elsewhere.

In other words, Jesus does more for his Church than simply saving us from sin.  He is the savior of the body, meaning its healer and deliverer as well as its redeemer from sins.  Just as God is The Lord Your Healer on an ongoing basis, Christ is the Healer of his body on an ongoing basis.  He saves us from all of our difficulties.  He is far more than simply the one who redeemed us from hell.  He is our merciful High Priest who ever lives to make intercession for us.  He is our savior, in every sense of the word, in the here and now.


Ephesians 6:10-18
Ephesians 6:10-18:

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Discussed under:

Casting out the spirit of stupidity

How to deal with the devil

What faith is


Philippians 2: 9-11
Philippians 2:9-11:

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Discussed under:

Paper roadblocks to healing

How to deal with the devil

Your authority over sickness

Who you are and what you have

The power in the name of Jesus


Colossians 1:12-14
Colossians 1:12-14:

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Discussed under:

How to deal with the devil

Delivered!

Who you are and what you have

Sickness is the power of the devil

Is all sickness demonic?


Colossians 2:10
Colossians 2:10:

And ye are complete in him [Christ], which is the head of all principality and power:

Notes


Notes on Colossians 2:10
Notes on Colossians 2:10:

This is yet another Scripture proving that God has already done everything for you to provide what you need in this life.  This goes right along with the facts that God has already given to you all things pertaining to life and godliness and that he has already blessed you with all spiritual blessings.  You do not have to try to weasel blessings out of God.  As far as he is concerned, they are already granted.  All you need to do is receive the blessings that God already offers you.

Discussed under:

Who you are and what you have


Colossians 2:15
Colossians 2:15:

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

Notes


Notes on Colossians 2:15
Notes on Colossians 2:15:

Jesus Christ defeated the devil for you.  The devil and his subordinates have been stripped of their power.  (The word spoiled actually does mean stripped!)  That means that the devil does not have any power over you other than the power you give him.  He does not have authority, but you do.  The devil's game is to get you to use your own authority against yourself by speaking the wrong things out of your mouth.  The devil can't make you do that, but if he can trick you into doing it, you will end up ruining your own life with your mouth.

There is no reason to fear Satan.  He has no authority over you.  You are seated with Christ in heavenly places far above him.  He cannot defeat you unless you allow him to.  His only real weapon is deception.  He can't win unless he can trick you into believing, speaking and doing the wrong things.

Discussed under:

Paper roadblocks to healing

How to deal with the devil

Delivered!


Hebrews  2:14-15
Hebrews 2:14-15:

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Notes


Notes on Hebrews 2:14-15
Notes on Hebrews 2:14-15:

Jesus DESTROYED Satan and has delivered you from his bondage.  Stop looking at Satan as an evil counterpart of God and start seeing him for what he really is -- someone who has been stripped and destroyed, a fallen angel over whom you have authority, not vice versa.

Discussed under:

Dealing with fear

Who you are and what you have


Hebrews  6:12
Hebrews 6:12:

That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Discussed under:

All about healing services

What faith is

How NOT to pray for your healing

"They shall recover" -- How long should it take?

Objection:  Heb 11:39 proves that you can have faith and NOT receive the promises

Objection:  We are supposed to glory in tribulations and count them all joy (Romans 5:3, James 1:2-4)

Objection:  Sickness, while unpleasant, is used by God to build character


Hebrews 10:35-36
Hebrews 10:35-36:

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Discussed under:

How NOT to pray for your healing

All about healing services

The healing anointing


Hebrews 11: 1
Hebrews 11:1:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Notes


Notes on Hebrews 11:1
Notes on Hebrews 11:1:

Here is the simplest definition of faith.  Faith is having the title deed to something you can't see.  It means that you have something before you can see it.  If you're born again, you have faith because you have eternal life even though you can't see it.  You believe that you have a place reserved for you in heaven even though you have never seen it.  That proves that you are able to receive something and know that you have it without seeing it first.

Faith for healing works the same way.  You believe you have your healing before you can see your healing.  (If you could see it, you wouldn't need faith; you'd just know it!)  Faith is the evidence, or title deed, to the healing that you have but you can't see yet.

The greats of faith in Hebrews 11 acted on things that they believed but couldn't see.  If you are in faith, you act on something you can't see.  You declare that you have your healing before you have any sense evidence to support your claim.

More notes


Notes on Hebrews 11:1 (cont.)
Some people have taught that the phrase, "Now faith is..." proves that faith only works in the present tense.  It proves no such thing.  Actually, it proves that the person who said it never looked up the word now in a Greek concordance before doing an elaborate teaching on it.  Such carelessness gives opponents of divine healing a legitimate gripe.

There is a Greek word for now that refers to now in a time sense, but this one isn't it!  The Greek word in Hebrews 11:1 (Strong's #1161) has nothing to do with time.  If it means "at this moment," you will have a hard time explaining a lot of other verses that use this same word.  Here are just a few of them, so that you can see what I mean:  "Now Moses in the law commanded us" (John 8:5).  "Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the second tabernacle" (Hebrews 9:6).  "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week" (Mark 16:9).  "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica" (Acts 17:1).  "Now when the congregation was broken up..." (Acts 13:43).  "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together..." (Acts 2:6).  It would be fun to extrapolate this "now" teaching to these verses, but I'll spare you.

The idea that faith only works now is completely true.  But please don't use Hebrews 11:1 to prove it!

Where discussed


Notes on Hebrews 11:1 (cont. #2)
Hebrews 11:1 is discussed under:

What faith is

What faith isn't

You have faith


Hebrews 11:28
Hebrews 11:28:

Through faith he [Moses] kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

Notes


Notes on Hebrews 11:28
Notes on Hebrews 11:28:

"He that destroyed the firstborn" is no doubt one of the "evil angels" mentioned in Psalm 78:49-51.  This phrase does not appear refer to God himself, but rather to an evil spirit whom God permitted to kill Egypt's firstborn.

If the blood of Jesus kept this evil angel away, the blood of Jesus is surely just as effective today at keeping the devil and his evil associates off you and your property.


Hebrews 13:8
Hebrews 13:8:

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Notes


Notes on Hebrews 13:8
Notes on Hebrews 13:8:

Just as Malachi 3:6 and James 1:17 declare that God does not change, this verse proves that Jesus does not change either.  His location has changed, but he himself has not changed.  His will concerning healing has not changed since his days on earth when he "healed all that were oppressed of the devil."  Look at the Scriptures in this book concerning his ministry on the earth and see his will -- healing for all.  Since he has not changed, his will must still be healing for all.  He still heals when his name is used.  He is your merciful and compassionate high priest.  He was moved with compassion and healed the sick then, so he is still moved with compassion and he still wants to heal the sick today!

Discussed under:

God's mercy and compassion

Jesus the Healer has never changed!

God is not only ABLE, but also WILLING, to heal you

You are Christ on the earth

What is "inner healing," and do I need it?

Objection:  Healing and miracles are not for this current dispensation

Objection:  Today doctors have replaced the ancient practice of faith healing

Objection:  Sickness can be proof of God's special favor

Brokenheartedness


James 1: 5-8
James 1:5-8:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Notes


Notes on James 1:5-8
Notes on James 1:5-8:

This passage proves that you cannot pray for healing saying, "If it be thy will..." and get healed.  If you are saying IF, you are in doubt, and you will not receive anything.  Rather than thinking that God in his sovereignty will either say yes or no to your prayer, you must realize that you will receive nothing from the Lord when you pray like that.  If you want something from God, you must ask in faith without wavering.  If you're wondering, "I prayed, but where's my healing?" you are wavering and you will not get healed.  If you really believed that you received when you prayed, as Jesus told us to do, you would never ask, "Where is it?"  You would say, "I know where it is -- I have it even though I don't see it yet!"

Discussed under:

Your body is God's property

Do you really believe in healing?

Objection:  Faith is simply trust in God, not a force that you use to change things yourself

Mistake:  Spiritual Laziness

Mistake:  Double-mindedness


James 1:17
James 1:17:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Discussed under:

Jesus the Healer has never changed!

Healing -- a gift from God

Healing is a good thing

Would you rebuke a Christmas present?

Objection:  Healing and miracles are not for this current dispensation

Objection:  God's healing covenant in the Law of Moses was only for the Jews


James 2:14-26
James 2:14-26:

What doth it profit, brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and hath not works?  can faith save him?

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works:  shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well:  the devils also believe, and tremble.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness:  and he was called the Friend of God.

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Notes


Notes on James 2:14-26
Notes on James 2:14-26:

Faith always involves action based on something you believe but can't see.  If you say you have faith, but your actions don't agree with what you say you believe, you're not in faith, and you don't believe it in the Bible sense.

The main action associated with faith is speaking what you believe.  The spirit of faith says, "I believe, therefore have I spoken."  Dead faith is faith that you never act on and never speak.  It does not produce any results.

If you're not willing to say that you've received your healing, you aren't in faith.  If you're not willing to praise God for the healing that you believe you already have, you aren't in faith.  Real faith acts and speaks in agreement with what it believes.

The last verse of this passage makes a great argument that life begins at conception.


James 3:2-6
James 3:2-6:

For in many things we offend all.  If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things.  Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity:  so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Notes


Notes on James 3:2-6
Notes on James 3:2-6:

If this passage doesn't prove that your tongue can control your body, I don't know what does.  If you can control your tongue, you can control your whole body.  Note that your tongue can also defile your whole body.  Speaking health will result in health, but speaking sickness will result in sickness.  Also, speaking things you ought not to speak can result in sickness even though you are not explicitly "confessing" sickness.  If you use your tongue to gossip, criticize and backbite, your will undermine your health, "setting on fire the course of nature" in your body and defiling it.  This is a good example of why you need to know Scripture in general, not just healing Scriptures, since failure to keep your tongue in line can keep you from getting healed.  This agrees with Proverbs 18:21 that death and life are in the power of your tongue.

Discussed under:

You have authority over your body

Say what


James 4:7
James 4:7:

Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Discussed under:

How to deal with the devil

How NOT to deal with the devil

Casting out the spirit of stupidity


1 Peter 3:22
1 Peter 3:22:

Who [Jesus Christ] is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Discussed under:

How to deal with the devil


1 Peter 5:8-9
1 Peter 5:8-9:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour [gulp down]:

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Notes


Notes on 1 Peter 5:8-9
Notes on 1 Peter 5:8-9:

The devil is looking for whom he may devour, which shows you that the devil can't just go devour someone.  He cannot devour those who resist him steadfastly in faith.  He will try various subtle plots to destroy you, but you can avoid being tricked and devoured by staying in fellowship with God and by knowing his Word.

Discussed under:

How NOT to deal with the devil

Casting out the spirit of stupidity


2 Peter 1:3-4
2 Peter 1:3-4:

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises:  that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Notes


Notes on 2 Peter 1:3-4
Notes on 2 Peter 1:3-4:

Does healing pertain to life and godliness?  I would say so!  If you don't get it, you can have a much shorter life, and certainly a less enjoyable life, and you won't be as equipped to do works of godliness.  If healing were not provided, Peter could not say that God's divine power has given you all things pertaining to life and godliness.

Discussed under:

Healing is already yours

Who is in control of your life?

Objection:  It's up to God -- God will heal me if he wants to


1 John 3:8
1 John 3:8:

He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning.  For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Notes


Notes on 1 John 3:8
Notes on 1 John 3:8:

The Son of God destroyed the works of the devil, not the works of God.  If sickness were a gift from God to teach you something, or even God's discipline for the righteous, Jesus went around everywhere destroying the works of God!  You can be sure he didn't, since Acts 10:38 says that he healed all those who were oppressed by the devil, not oppressed by God!

If the Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil, then any works of the devil, including sickness, that exist today are works that Jesus was manifested to destroy.  Sickness in your body is the work of the devil, and Jesus came, among other reasons, to free you from this work of the devil.

Discussed under:

Sickness is the power of the devil

Objection:  We cannot demand healing from God because God is sovereign

Objection:  We are supposed to thank God for everything, which would include sickness (1 Thess 5:18)

Objection:  Lazarus was sick for the glory of God (John 11:4)


1 John 4:1-4
1 John 4:1-4:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:  because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:  Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:  and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:  because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Discussed under:

How to deal with the devil

How can I know that it's God and not the devil doing the healing?

Objection:  The "word of faith" movement is a cult


1 John 5: 4
1 John 5:4:

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:  and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Discussed under:

How to deal with the devil

You win

Objection:  We are supposed to glory in tribulations and count them all joy (Romans 5:3, James 1:2-4)


1 John 5:14-15
1 John 5:14-15:

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Discussed under:

Pre-approved for healing

Objection:  Before we pray for a healing in faith, we must pray to see if it is God's will in this case


Revelation  1:18
Revelation 1:18:

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Discussed under:

How to deal with the devil


Revelation  2:22-23
Revelation 2:22-23:

[Jesus speaking] Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.  And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

How to deal with the devil

Objection:  David said that it was GOOD that he was afflicted; so it can be with us

Objection:  God creates evil (Isaiah 45:7), kills, and wounds (Deut 32:39)


Revelation 16:1-2
Revelation 16:1-2:

And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

Sores


Revelation 16:10-11
Revelation 16:10-11:

And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain.

And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

Sores


About Healing for Windows

Healing for Windows

Version 1.01

(c) 1997 Steve Young

All Rights Reserved except as noted below.

Healing for Windows is the equivalent of a 1,600-page book, compressed to fit on a 3.5" diskette.  The file size is approximately 1.3 megabytes.  This is its final size even if you copy it to your hard drive.  The text decompresses itself as you run it.  This book contains 131 discussions about healing, answers to 80 specific questions, replies to 155 objections, and much more.  It runs under all versions of Windows.

This program is free.  Anyone, anywhere may use it under the terms of the License Agreement.  Anyone may download it from the Healing for Windows Web Site at http://members.aol.com/healingwin.  You may copy it and give to everyone you know via diskette, e-mail, network, or whatever other means get invented in the future.  You may load it onto any Web Site, FTP site, or other Internet server.  You may not change its contents.  See the License Agreement for the few restrictions that apply.  New versions, if any, will be posted to the Web site cited above.

All Scripture is quoted from the King James Bible, which is in the public domain.  Brackets within verses denote clarifications, literal word translations or my comments.  Example (not in actual program):  "And at even [evening], when the sun did set [which it often does do in the evening], they brought unto him [Jesus] all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils." -- Mark 1:32.

Healing for Windows was written and programmed by Steve Young.  For legal purposes, it was published by his company, Young Computing.

Notes from the author:

I have not used every verse that contains the words healing, health, etc., as some of these verses would not add significantly to the main points presented here.  A good concordance can locate the other verses for you if you want to look them up.

I did not answer every objection that has ever been raised against healing.  Some are just so inane that they don't merit the bytes on your hard drive to answer here.  I think that I've covered the significant ones; the others fall away easily when you see what the Bible says about healing.

I do not expect any kind of offering or donation from any reader of this book.  I did not write this book to get something out of you.  This book is my gift to you.  Please receive it as such.  If this book helps you get healed, I have my reward.

The question and objection answers are all worth reading; there is material covered in them that is not covered in the main discussions.

I have followed the King James convention of leaving most pronouns referring to deity in small letters.  I intend no disrespect.

This book is bold, but I did not write it to offend you or anyone else on purpose.  I can assure you that I harbor no personal malice toward anyone who makes any of the arguments against healing found here.  The names used in my illustrations are fictitious.  I have not embarrassed anyone by mentioning him by name, although you may figure out a name occasionally if you are familiar with the source of a certain objection.

I wrote this book for the man on the street who wants to learn about healing.  Actually, it is for the man on the street who happens to own a Windows-compatible computer and wants to learn about healing.  While I did my best to research my topic and be scholarly in that sense, this book is not a dry, scholarly essay.  It gets in your face on purpose.  I don't like to read passionless prose, so I don't write it.  This is not a theological treatise on healing.  It tells YOU how YOU can get healed.

Feel free to e-mail comments and praise reports to me at healingwin@aol.com.  I can't guarantee personal replies due to the possibly large volume and because I am frequently away on trips.  You can send good old-fashioned paper mail to me at 3 Skyview Lane, Woburn, MA 01801-5261 USA.  Please do NOT send prayer requests for healing.  When you see what God says about healing, you'll realize that you don't need me or anyone else to get healed.  You'll know how to receive healing yourself.  That is the goal of this book.

There is no "correct" order in which you should read Healing for Windows.  Just dive in and click whatever grabs your attention at the moment.  You can read through some of the sections systematically with the "browse" buttons and keys, but it's a lot of fun to just cruise the book, jumping to section to section.

There are no significant differences between this release (1.01) and the original release (1.00) dated May 22, 1997.  A few spelling, grammar, presentation and citation errors have been fixed, and a couple of extremely minor additions were made.  There are no doctrinal differences.

Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down.  That's because it's electronic, so you can't pick it up in the first place!

Return to Welcome Screen


Genesis 20:17-18
Genesis 20:17-18:

So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

Notes


Notes on Genesis 20:17-18
Notes on Genesis 20:17-18:

The context here is that Abimelech's household was cursed because Sarah was there.  She belonged with her husband Abraham.  Out of fear for his life, Abraham had passed Sarah off as his sister.  Abimelech took Sarah into his house without knowing that she was Abraham's wife.

Here we see that God definitely considers barrenness (having no children) to be a curse because of sin.  Those who are righteous in Christ Jesus are saved from sin and any curse that would result from it.


Genesis 21:1-2
Genesis 21:1-2:

And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

Discussed under:

Infertility


Genesis 25:21
Genesis 25:21:

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren:  and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

Discussed under:

Infertility


Genesis 30:22-23
Genesis 30:22-23:

And God remembered Rachel, and God harkened unto her, and opened her womb.

And she conceived and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

Notes


Notes on Genesis 30:22-23
Notes on Genesis 30:22-23:

The context is that Rachel was unable to have children.  This is another example of an infertile woman who prayed and got healed of whatever the problem was.  Note that inability to bear children was considered a reproach.  Since Paul said that those who trust in Jesus, the firm foundation, shall never be ashamed, nothing that is a reproach should continue in their lives.

Discussed under:

Infertility


Exodus 12:12-13
Exodus 12:12-13:

For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment:  I am the LORD.

And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are:  and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Notes


Notes on Exodus 12:12-13
Notes on Exodus 12:12-13:

If the blood of the symbol of Jesus (Paul called Christ our Passover) could keep a killer plague away from people, how much more should the blood of Christ himself deliver us from all plagues?  You should note that the body of the Passover Lamb was to be eaten for physical strength.  Likewise, Christ's body was broken to give our bodies physical strength.

This passage may alarm you because God says that he is going to kill a lot of people.  This must be understood in the permissive sense; God did not personally go and kill people.  A plague was involved, as shown in this verse.  How was the plague propagated supernaturally?  Psalm 78:49-51 tells us that "evil angels" did it.  The best way to understand it is that God allowed Satan's armies to steal, kill and destroy the enemies of his people.  God was responsible in the sense that he decreed that it be done, although people did not die by his hand directly.

Discussed under:

Healing and atonement

Anything else not listed here


Exodus 15:25-26
Exodus 15:25-26:

And he cried to the LORD; and the LORD shewed 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.

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Notes


Notes on Exodus 15:25-26
Notes on Exodus 15:25-26:

First Moses healed bitter waters by throwing in a tree.  The tree, of course, would be unable to make the water fit to drink under ordinary circumstances.  Modern men do not treat bad water by throwing trees in it.  In fact, throwing trees in water would generally make it worse.  Thus, this had to be a sign to the people.  It is fitting that a tree was used because Jesus was hung on a tree for our healing.  Then God declared to the people that he was the Lord that healeth thee (also translated the Lord thy Physician by some).  This was contingent upon honoring him; it was not a blanket promise.

Because this is a declaration of who God IS, not just a declaration of what he would do, it must be an eternal statement because God never changes (Mal 3:6, James 1:17).  If God revealed himself as the Lord Who Heals You, he still must be the Lord Who Heals You today.  Otherwise, God has changed, and he is now Lord Who Used To Heal You, and his declaration would become I WAS the Lord Who Heals You.  This is plainly ridiculous.  Jesus is "The mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises" (Heb 8:6).  Our New Covenant would not be better if the Israelites could be healed of any disease by The Lord Your Physician, but The Lord Who Is Not Your Physician Anymore won't heal you today.

More notes


Notes on Exodus 15:25-26 (cont.)
God's declaration that he is your physician does not do away with the need for human physicians.  Luke was never told that his profession (physician -- Col 4:14) was sinful.  Jesus said that the sick need a doctor, and that is still obvious today.  Whether you make an appointment with the Divine one, a human one, or both, you do need a doctor if you're sick, and it is not a sin to go to a human one.

Discussed under:

Why does Exodus 15:25-26 talk about God putting diseases on people?

Why you can believe in divine healing and not get healed

God's promises have conditions

Is it a sin to go to the doctor or take medicine?

Objection:  God does not heal all because he didn't heal Isaac or Jacob of bad eyesight

Objection:  We are supposed to thank God for everything, which would include sickness (1 Thess 5:18)

Objection:  God uses sickness to draw us closer to himself

Objection:  God's healing covenant in the Law of Moses was only for the Jews Anything else not listed here


Exodus 20:12
Exodus 20:12:

Honour thy father and thy mother:  that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Notes


Notes on Exodus 20:12
Notes on Exodus 20:12:

This promise is explicitly carried over into the New Covenant in Ephesians 6:1-3.  It is one of many passages promising long life.  Obviously, God's will for us is long life.  If you want long life, heed the implicit warning here.  Dishonoring your parents shortens your life!

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Exodus 23:25-26
Exodus 23:25-26:

And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.

There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfill.

Notes


Notes on Exodus 23:25-26
Notes on Exodus 23:25-26:

This is a plain promise of health to those who serve God.  This passage also promises no miscarriages or infertility, and long life.  (We will see later that God's blessing of fertility and no miscarriages extends to your livestock as well, if you have any.)  Notice that God did not say that you would live forever.  He said that he would fulfill the number of your days.  This is proof that you do not have to die from sickness, as some objectors to divine healing like to say.  If God takes sickness away from the midst of you, sickness should not end your life.  God does not need the works of the devil to call a believer home.  After you are satisfied with long life, you should go home without suffering a drawn-out, painful death from sickness, which God promised to take away from you.

Discussed under:

What's better than healing?  Health!

God's promises have conditions

Objection:  If you could always get healed, you would live forever, and God says you won't

Infertility

Miscarriages

Anything else not listed here


Exodus 30:11-16
Exodus 30:11-16:

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.

This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary; (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the LORD.

Every one the passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the LORD.

The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

Discussed under:

Healing and atonement

Healing and giving


Leviticus 14:1-32
Leviticus 14:1-32:

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing:  He shall be brought unto the priest:

And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper;

Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:

And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:

As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:

And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.

And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean:  and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.

But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair shall he shave off:  and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.

Continued


Leviticus 14:1-32 (cont.)
And on the eighth day he shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the first year without blemish, and three tenths deals of fine flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.

And the priest that maketh him clean shall present the man that is to be made clean, and those things, before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:

And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:

And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place:  for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering:  it is most holy:

And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:

And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand:

And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with  his finger seven times before the LORD:

And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering:

And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed:  and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD.

Continued


Leviticus 14:1-32 (cont. #2)
And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness; and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering:

And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar:  and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil;

And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering.

And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the LORD.

And the priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:

And he shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:

And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand:

And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the LORD:

Continued


Leviticus 14:1-32 (cont. #3
And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass offering:

And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the LORD.

And he shall offer the one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he can get;

Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meat offering:  and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD.

This is law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing.

Discussed under:

Healing and atonement


Leviticus 15:13-15
Leviticus 15:13-15:

And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.

And on the eighth day he shall take to himself two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest:

And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue.

Discussed under:

Healing and atonement


Numbers  8:19
Numbers 8:19:

And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel:  that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.

Discussed under:

Healing and atonement


Numbers 12:1-15
Numbers 12:1-15:

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married:  for he had married an Ethiopian woman.

And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses?  hath he not spoken also by us?  And the LORD heard it.

(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation.  And they three came out.

And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam:  and they both went forth.

And he said, Hear now my words:  If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.

With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold:  wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.

And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow:  and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.

Continued


Numbers 12:1-15 (cont.)
And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.

Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.

And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.

And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days?  let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.

And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days:  and the people journeyed not until Miriam was brought in again.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Leprosy


Numbers 16:44-50
Numbers 16:44-50:

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.  And they fell upon their faces.

And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them:  for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.

And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and behold, the plague was begun among the people:  and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.

And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation:  and the plague was stayed.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Healing and atonement

Anything else not listed here


Numbers 21:5-9
Numbers 21:5-9:

And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  for there is no bread, neither is there any water, and our soul loatheth this light bread.

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, and much people of Israel died.

Therefore the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.  And Moses prayed for the people.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole:  and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

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.

Discussed under:

Healing and atonement

God's promises have conditions

Objection:  Mark 16:9-20 was not in some early manuscripts

Snakebites


Deuteronomy  7:12-15
Deuteronomy 7:12-15:

Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:

And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

Thou shalt be blessed above all people:  there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.

And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee:  but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.

Notes


Notes on Deuteronomy 7:12-15
Notes on Deuteronomy 7:12-15:

This passage is a clear promise to remove all sickness from those who obey God.  One apparent problem is God's threat to lay diseases on those who hate Israel.  Does God actually put sickness on people?  Is he, and not Satan, the author of sickness?

The Hebrew here is ambiguous.  There are two different Hebrew tenses, one of which would mean that God actually did put the diseases on people, and the other of which would mean that God merely permitted or allowed them to come upon those who hated Israel.  The problem is that the verbs in both tenses would be the same word in Hebrew.  You cannot prove conclusively either that God puts sickness on people or that God permits sickness on people from this text.  However, it is evident in the rest of Scripture, such as the case of the killer plague that killed Egypt's firstborn, that God permits Satan to do it.

If God "permits" it, even if Satan does it, does that make God responsible for it?  God definitely does something that results in the people's sickness.  However, they are really responsible for it.  God set life and death before the people.  When they chose death, that was their choice, not God's.  God showed them the consequences of serving or opposing him.

Where discussed


Notes on Deuteronomy 7:12-15 (cont.)
Deuteronomy 7:12-15 is discussed under:

God's blessing on your kids

God's promises have conditions

Anything else not listed here


Deuteronomy  5:16
Deuteronomy 5:16:

Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Deuteronomy  5:33
Deuteronomy 5:33:

Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Deuteronomy  6:2
Deuteronomy 6:2:

That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and they son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Deuteronomy 11: 8-9
Deuteronomy 11:8-9:

Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it;

And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Deuteronomy 11:18-21:

Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.

And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:

That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

Notes


Notes on Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Notes on Deuteronomy 11:18-21:

Speaking God's Word when you sit, when you walk, when you lie down and when you get up, and having Scripture around your house seems so radical that most preachers would be ridiculed for even suggesting such a lifestyle.  Surely, God does not require such a radical commitment to his Word, right?  Wrong!  If you really want to stay healed by the power of God, you'd better be speaking the Word constantly.  You'd better have some good tapes playing in your car and in your home.  You'd better keep yourself built up!

Many are not healed because they do not have the kind of commitment that this verse requires for long life on the earth.  If you are half-hearted about divine healing, go see a doctor right now or else resign yourself to staying sick.

Do as this says, and store the Word in your heart before you get sick in the first place.  It's a lot harder to learn about healing when you feel lousy and don't want to study.

Discussed under:

God's blessing on your kids

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Deuteronomy 30:19-20:

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing:  therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him:  for he is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Notes


Notes on Deuteronomy 30:19-20
Notes on Deuteronomy 30:19-20:

God himself is your life and the length of your days.  The man who cleaves unto God should expect long life.  The man who does not cleave unto God but parrots healing Scriptures does not have the right to expect long life.  Seeking the blessing without seeking the Blesser is never right.  However, those who seek the Blesser should expect the blessing!

Discussed under:

God's blessing on your kids

Objection:  We should use our faith for souls rather than selfishly seeking our own healing


Judges 13:2-3, 24
Judges 13:2-3, 24:

And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not:  but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

...

And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson:  and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.

Discussed under:

Infertility


1 Samuel  1
1 Samuel 1 (excerpted):

...but Hannah had no children.

...

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and forget not thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

...

Then Eli [the priest] answered and said, Go in peace:  and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight.  So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to the their house to Ramah:  and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

Discussed under:

Why does 1 Samuel 1 say twice that THE LORD had shut up Hannah's womb?

Infertility


1 Samuel 16:14-23
1 Samuel 16:14-23:

But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.

Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp:  and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.

Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.

Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me now David thy son, which is with the sheep.

And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.

And David came to Saul, and stood before him:  and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.

And Saul said to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favor in my sight.

And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand:  so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

Notes


Notes on 1 Samuel 16:14-23
Notes on 1 Samuel 16:14-23:

Here's a problematic passage for you!  "An evil spirit from God" afflicts Saul!  Huh?  Is God is now in the business of sending evil spirits to people?

When men are disobedient, God does indeed permit evil spirits to afflict them, as he did with the firstborn of Egypt.  The phrase "from God" means that God allowed the evil spirit to afflict Saul, not that it came from heaven.  Satan is limited in his power, but he is eager to steal, kill and destroy wherever he gets the opportunity.  If you walk in the light, there is divine protection around you and Satan can't destroy you.  If you willfully rebel against God, God will allow Satan to beat you up.  This is true even in the New Covenant, where people can be "handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh."  The fact that you would have to be handed over to Satan for destruction of the flesh indicates that it is Satan, not God, who is the destroyer.  However, in such cases, as well as in Saul's case, God explicitly gives the devil permission to afflict the person.  In Gadara, Jesus allowed evil spirits to destroy a herd of pigs.  They had to ask his permission, though, before they could do it!  Likewise, God gave the evil spirit permission to trouble Saul.

The musical side of this passage is discussed under Healing and music.

Discussed under:

Anything else not listed here


2 Samuel 24:10-25
2 Samuel 24:10-25:

And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people.  And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done:  and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land?  or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee?  or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land?  now advise, and see that answer I shall return to him that sent me.

And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait:  let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great:  and let me not fall into the hand of man.

So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even  to the time appointed:  and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.

And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough:  stay now thine hand.  And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

Continued


2 Samuel 24:10-25 (cont.)
And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly:  but these sheep, what have they done?  let thine hand, I pray  thee, be against me, and against my father's house.

And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.

And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the LORD commanded.

And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him:  and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.

And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant?  And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him:  behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.

All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king.  And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee.

And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price:  neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.  So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.  So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

Notes


Notes on 2 Samuel 24:10-25
Notes on 2 Samuel 24:10-25:

Here we have another case of an angel sending disease among people.  This passage is especially jolting because "the angel of the LORD" did it and the Lord "sent" the pestilence.

God was simply fulfilling his Word.  He promised Israel curses if they disobeyed him.  David had done something that displeased God, and a curse came on Israel.  God was actually obligated by his own Word to ensure that sickness came on Israel when there was disobedience!

This raises another thorny issue.  How could the innocent people be killed by something God declared to be a curse when they were not all personally responsible?  Perhaps you have a better answer than I do, but I would say that there was definitely a collective meaning behind the blessings and curses in Deuteronomy 28.  The blessings fell on the land when the general populace obeyed God; curses came on the land when the general populace disobeyed God.  (Let this be a warning today!)  These blessings and curses are useful for determining what God calls blessings and curses, especially since Christ has redeemed us from these curses.  They were not all things that were specific to individuals.  However, in Christ, you are redeemed from any kind of curse, individual or collective.

Discussed under:

Healing and atonement	Anything else not listed here


1 Kings  3:14
1 Kings 3:14:

And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


1 Kings  8:37-39
1 Kings 8:37-39:

If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, blasting, mildew or locust, or if there be caterpiller; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be;

What prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, which shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house:

Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men;)

Notes


Notes on 1 Kings 8:37-39
Notes on 1 Kings 8:37-39:

Here Solomon shows his expectation that the sick in Israel should be able to pray and have their sickness removed.  He expected people to be able to pray for this themselves rather than having to go to a priest or someone else.  This is an expectation we should have today.


1 Kings 13: 4-6
1 Kings 13:4-6:

And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him.  And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him.

The altar also was rent, 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.

And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again.  And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king's hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Withering


2 Kings  4:12-17
2 Kings 4:12-17:

And he said to Gehazi his servant, Call this Shunammite.  And when he had called her, she stood before him.

And he said unto him, Say now unto her, Behold, thou hast been careful for us with all this care; what is to be done for thee? wouldest thou be spoken for to the king, or to the captain of the host?  And she answered, I dwell among mine own people.

And he said, What then is to be done for her?  And Gehazi answered, Verily she hath no child, and her husband is old.

And he said, Call her.  And when he had called her, she stood in the door.

And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son.  And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.

And the woman conceived, and bare a son at that season that Elisha had said unto her, according to the time of life.

Discussed under:

Infertility


2 Kings  4:18-37
2 Kings 4:18-37:

And when the child was grown, it fell on a day, that he went out to his father to the reapers.

And he said unto his father, My head, my head.  And he said to a lad, Carry him to his mother.

And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.

And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.

And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath.  And she said, it shall be well.

Then she saddled an ass, and said to her servant, Drive, and go forward; slack not thy riding for me, except I bid thee.

So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel.  And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:

Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? it is well with the child?  And she answered, it is well.

Continued


2 Kings  4:18-37 (cont.)
And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet:  but Gehazi came near to thrust her away.  And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord?  did I not say, Do not deceive me?

Then he said to Gehazi, Gird up thy loins, and take my staff in thine hand, and go thy way: if thou meet any man, salute him not; and if any salute thee, answer him not again:  and lay my staff upon the face of the child.

And the mother of the child said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee.  And he arose, and followed her.

And Gehazi passed on before them, and laid the staff upon the face of the child; but there was neither voice, nor hearing.  Wherefore he went again to meet him, and told him, saying, The child is not awaked.

And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed.

He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the LORD.

And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands:  and he stretched himself upon the child:  and the flesh of the child waxed warm.

Continued


2 Kings  4:18-37 (cont. #2)
Then he returned, and walked in the house to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him:  and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

And he called Gehazi, and said, Call this Shunammite.  So he called her.  And when she was come in unto him, he said, Take up thy son.

Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.

Discussed under:

Nonviability


2 Kings  5:1-14
2 Kings 5:1-14:

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria:  he also was a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.

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.

And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel.  And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.

And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have therewith sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.

And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me.

And it was so, when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.

Continued


2 Kings  5:1-14 (cont.)
So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.

And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

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.

And  his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

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.

Discussed under:

All about healing services

Strange ways to get healed

Leprosy


2 Kings  6:18-20
2 Kings 6:18-20:

And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness.  And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city:  follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek.  But he led them to Samaria.

And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.  And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

Discussed under:

Blindness


2 Kings 13:20-21
2 Kings 13:20-21:

And Elisha died, and they buried him.  And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha:  and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

Discussed under:

Nonviability


2 Kings 20:1-7
2 Kings 20:1-7:

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death.  And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,

I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight.  And Hezekiah wept sore.

And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears:  behold, I will heal thee:  on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs.  And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

Notes


Notes on 2 Kings 20:1-7
Notes on 2 Kings 20:1-7:

This disproves the notion that all real healings from God must be instantaneous.  Hezekiah's healing was gradual enough that it was the third day before he was able to go up to the house of the Lord.

The lump of figs was not medicine to cure Hezekiah.  If figs could have cured him, they would have figured that out already and used them.

Discussed under:

Strange ways to get healed

Anything else not listed here

Objection:  God told Hezekiah to use medicine (a poultice of figs)


1 Chronicles 21:7-27
1 Chronicles 21:7-27:

And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.

And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing:  but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

And the LORD spake unto Gad, David's seer, saying,

Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things:  choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee

Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel.  Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.

And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait:  let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies:  but let me not fall into the hand of man.

So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel:  and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it:  and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand.  And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Continued


1 Chronicles 21:7-27 (cont.)
And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem.  Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered?  even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done?  let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.

And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves.  Now Ornan was threshing wheat.

And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.

Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD:  thou shalt grant it me for the full price:  that the plague may be stayed from the people.

And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes:  lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering:  I give it all.

Continued


1 Chronicles 21:7-27 (cont. #2)
And king David said to Ornan, Nay, but I will verily buy it for the full price:  for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.

So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.

And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of the burnt offering.

And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

Notes


Notes on 1 Chronicles 21:7-27
Notes on 1 Chronicles 21:7-27:

For more details on this passage, see Notes on 2 Samuel 24:10-25, which has notes on the companion passage in 2 Samuel.


2 Chronicles  7:28-30
2 Chronicles 7:28-30:

If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:

Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:

Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all this ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men;)

Notes


Notes on 2 Chronicles 7:28-30
Notes on 2 Chronicles 7:28-30:

For more details on this passage, see Notes on 1 Kings 8:37-39, which has notes on the companion passage in 1 Kings.


2 Chronicles 30:18-20
2 Chronicles 30:18-20:

For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written.  But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one

That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.

And the LORD hearkened unto Hezekiah, and healed the people.

Notes


Notes on 2 Chronicles 30:18-20
Notes on 2 Chronicles 30:18-20:

The Passover symbolized Christ.  Paul said that Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us.  When the people kept it, they were both forgiven and healed.

How ridiculous it would be if you could not be both forgiven and healed by the one whom the Passover symbolized!  If this were true, the symbol would be better than the one it symbolized!

Discussed under:

Healing and atonement

Healing and personal perfection


Job 33:19-25
Job 33:19-25:

He [man] is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.

His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.

Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.

If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:

Then he is gracious unto him and saith, Deliver him from going down into the pit:  I have found a ransom.

His flesh shall be fresher than a child's:  he shall return to the days of his youth:

Discussed under:

Healing and atonement

Objection:  Job was a godly man, yet God let him get sick

Leprosy


Job 42:10
Job 42:10:

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends:  also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Notes


Notes on Job 42:10
Notes on Job 42:10:

Satan made Job sick.  God healed Job and called his sickness captivity.  To whom or what was he captive?  Jesus called sickness the bondage of Satan and Peter called it the oppression of the devil.

We see an example of sowing and reaping here where Job was healed as he prayed for his friends.

Discussed under:

Who or what causes sickness?

Objection:  Job was a godly man, yet God let him get sick


Psalm  21:4
Psalm 21:4:

He [King David] asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever.

Notes


Notes on Psalm 21:4
Notes on Psalm 21:4:

King David asked for long life and got it in spite of all the wrong he did.  How much more should you be able to do so!  Every Bible reader is aware of the glaring shortcomings in David's life, but he knew how to repent, and God blotted out his sins.  Thus, he had every right to ask for long life.  So do you, because you are the righteousness of God in Christ.


Psalm  30:2-3
Psalm 30:2-3:

O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave:  thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.

Discussed under:

Venereal diseases


Psalm  34:11-14
Psalm 34:11-14:

Come, ye children, hearken unto me:  I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

Notes


Notes on Psalm 34:11-14
Notes on Psalm 34:11-14:

You do not live a long life just by claiming "long life" promises.  If you're a backbiter, a gossip, a reviler, or an evil speaker, don't bother claiming long life.  If your tongue is going to slice and dice like a ginsu knife, something else will most likely get cut -- your lifespan.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Psalm  34:17-20
Psalm 34:17-20:

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous:  but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

He keepeth all his bones:  not one of them is broken.

Notes


Notes on Psalm 34:17-20
Notes on Psalm 34:17-20:

Do you consider sickness to be a trouble?  Then consider that the Lord delivers you out of all your troubles, including sickness.  Do you consider sickness to be an affliction?  Then consider that the Lord delivers you from all your afflictions, including sickness.

Note that there are two other characteristics of the people being delivered in this passage.  They are humble, and they cry to the Lord for deliverance.  Healing is not automatic.  It does not just happen to you because it is the will of God.  You have to ask for it!

Discussed under:

Objection:  Many are the afflictions of the righteous

Broken bones


Psalm  41:1-3
Psalm 41:1-3:

Blessed is he that considereth the poor:  the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth:  and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing:  thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

Discussed under:

Healing and giving

God's promises have conditions

Can I "plant a seed" toward my healing by giving to a minister who sends a letter begging for cash?

Weakness

Anything else not listed here


Psalm  41:4
Psalm 41:4:

I said, LORD, be merciful unto me:  heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.

Discussed under:

Brokenheartedness


Psalm  61:6
Psalm 61:6:

Thou wilt prolong the king's life:  and his years as many generations.

Notes


Notes on Psalm 61:6
Notes on Psalm 61:6:

David expected long life.  How long a life did he expect?  He said "many generations."  I don't know how young they were when they had kids back then, but I suppose that "many generations" would be 70 years in David's time.  (This could be about 4 generations.)  I suppose that because David was 30 years old when he became king, and he reigned for 40 years, which would make him 70 years old when he died.  That was probably well beyond the life expectancy of the time, although Elisha lived substantially longer.

The fact that God prolongs life indicates that you should live longer knowing God than you would have lived not knowing him.


Psalm  67:1-2
Psalm 67:1-2:

God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.

That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

Notes


Notes on Psalm 67:1-2
Notes on Psalm 67:1-2:

The phrase saving health in this passage does not mean simply physical healing in particular, and most translations translate it differently.  The Hebrew word yeshuah used here implies salvation, deliverance and victory, which would incorporate, but not be limited to, physical healing.


Psalm  90:10
Psalm 90:10:

The days of our years are threescore and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Discussed under:

How many years should we expect to live?

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Psalm  91
Psalm 91:

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress:  my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:  his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:  the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:  I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:  I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Notes


Notes on Psalm 91
Notes on Psalm 91:

This Psalm promises not only healing but ongoing health to those who abide in God.  It promises nothing to those who don't abide in God.  The promise covers all sicknesses, but you must meet its conditions.

Where discussed


Psalm 91 (Where discussed)
Psalm 91 is discussed under:

Dealing with fear	Don't get sick when you get old

What's better than healing?  Health!	God's promises have conditions

Healing and the blood of Jesus

I'm aching all over because I overexerted myself while out of shape.  Can I claim healing?

Can we believe for a dead person to be raised?

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?

Objection:  Saying that healing depends on you creates a new gospel of works

Objection:  Jonah was brought to the point of death so that he would learn obedience

Objection:  James' command makes it clear that we should expect to be sick, then healed, then sick, then healed, not always healthy

Objection:  If you could always get healed, you would live forever, and God says you won't

Objection:  Mark 16:9-20 was not in some early manuscripts

Boils	Lice	Poisoning

Anything else not listed here	Mistake:  Disobedience

Mistake:  Reading stupid books


Psalm 103:1-5
Psalm 103:1-5:

Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth your mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Notes


Notes on Psalm 103:1-5
Notes on Psalm 103:1-5:

This is so self-explanatory you'd have to try hard to mess it up.  God forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.  Which of YOUR diseases is God willing to heal?  ALL!

If you got a new job, would you ignore the benefits that came with the job?  "Oh, that's okay, I really don't mind paying my own health insurance.  I'd be happy to work for you without receiving that benefit."  Of course not!  You're working for God, so you get his benefits.  Why ignore any of them?  Saying you don't need a free benefit offered to you is not humility -- it's stupidity, both naturally and spiritually.

Discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!	Healing and atonement

Can I receive healing for a problem that I brought on myself?

Objection:  God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.  We'll never know why God lets some people stay sick.

Objection:  Today doctors have replaced the ancient practice of faith healing

Objection:  Many are the afflictions of the righteous

Objection:  Psalm 103:3 is a parallelism for forgiven sins and does not mean that God heals all physical diseases

Chronic illnesses	Anything else not listed here


Psalm 105:37
Psalm 105:37:

He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

Discussed under:

Healing and atonement

Healing and the blood of Jesus

Weakness


Psalm 106:28-30
Psalm 106:28-30:

They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions:  and the plague brake in upon them.

Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment:  and so the plague was stayed.

Notes


Notes on Psalm 106:28-30
Notes on Psalm 106:28-30:

God's view of plagues is much different from ours.  We would be likely to say, "Oh well, it's flu season!"  Here a plague was a curse for rebellion, and a righteous act made atonement and stopped the plague.  The fact that your sins have been atoned for by Jesus Christ puts you on the right side of this verse (the plague was stayed after an atonement was made), rather than the wrong side (rebellion brought a plague).

Numbers 25:3-13 contains the whole story referenced here.


Psalm 107:17-20
Psalm 107:17-20:

Fools because of their transgression and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Discussed under:

Hear and be healed

Healing and deliverance from poisoning

Can I receive healing for a problem that I brought on myself?

If you are sick, does that mean there is sin in your life?

Venereal diseases

Anything else not listed here


Psalm 113:9
Psalm 113:9:

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children.  Praise ye the LORD.

Discussed under:

Infertility


Psalm 147:3
Psalm 147:3:

He [the LORD] healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

Discussed under:

To heal the brokenhearted

What is "inner healing," and do I need it?


Proverbs  3: 1-2
Proverbs 3:1-2:

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:  For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Proverbs  3: 7-8
Proverbs 3:7-8:

Be not wise in thine own eyes:  fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions


Proverbs  3:16
Proverbs 3:16:

Length of days is in her [wisdom's] right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Proverbs  4:10
Proverbs 4:10:

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Proverbs  4:20-22
Proverbs 4:20-22:

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.

Notes


Notes on Proverbs 4:20-22
Notes on Proverbs 4:20-22:

Having an ear to hear the Word of God will keep you healthy!

The Hebrew word translated health in verse 22 is also translated cure, healing and remedy in other Old Testament verses.  It clearly refers to physical health.  You can be sure of this without a concordance or any knowledge of Hebrew by the simple fact that this health is "to all your flesh."

Discussed under:

God's Word is medicine

God's promises have conditions

Anything else not listed here


Proverbs  9:11
Proverbs 9:11:

For by me [the fear of the Lord] thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Proverbs 10:27
Proverbs 10:27:

The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Proverbs 12:18
Proverbs 12:18:

There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword:  but the tongue of the wise is health.

Notes


Notes on Proverbs 12:18
Notes on Proverbs 12:18:

Your tongue can bring healing or sickness to others.  It is so important to watch your words.  You could discourage someone and make him more susceptible to sickness, or cheer the person up and make him more likely to get healed.  Our tongues should speak edifying things that will bring health to others.  (Note that telling people that their sickness is the will of God or some other such nonsense is not wise and will not bring health to anyone!)

Discussed under:

Say what


Proverbs 14:30
Proverbs 14:30:

A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

Discussed under:

Mistake:  Envy


Proverbs 16:24
Proverbs 16:24:

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

Notes


Notes on Proverbs 16:24
Notes on Proverbs 16:24:

Speaking kind words to people encourages their health!  It will also help yours, since you will reap what you sow.


Proverbs 17:22
Proverbs 17:22:

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Notes


Notes on Proverbs 17:22
Notes on Proverbs 17:22:

This shows that there is more to healing than just the bodily part.  Your emotional well-being often determines your physical well-being.  (That is why God wants you to be in health even as your soul prospers -- 3 John 2.)  Thank God, Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18), and God declares that he comforts those who are cast down (2 Cor 7:6).  He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds (Psalm 147:3).  Therefore, if you are sick because you are brokenhearted or depressed, God will heal you of the root cause as well as the resulting sickness.

This is one good reason that you should "Rejoice in the Lord always" (Philippians 4:4) and "Rejoice evermore" (1 Thess 5:16).  You won't always feel like rejoicing, but the fact that you are commanded to do it proves that it is always possible to do it.  By choosing to rejoice in the Lord, you open the door for the joy of the Lord to be your strength and for your merry heart to do you good like a medicine.


Proverbs 18:14
Proverbs 18:14:

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

Notes


Notes on Proverbs 18:14
Notes on Proverbs 18:14:

The man who wants to live and is built up spiritually can survive a sickness that would end the life of someone who is broken on the inside and has lost the will to live.  This is no secret even to secular physicians.  The people who really want to live generally do better than the ones who have given up on the inside.

As pointed out in the Notes on Proverbs 17:22, God can heal you emotionally as well as physically so that you do not have a "wounded spirit."


Proverbs 18:21
Proverbs 18:21:

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Discussed under:

Say what

Healing does not require great faith

You have authority over your body


Proverbs 19:16
Proverbs 19:16:

He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

Discussed under:

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Proverbs 19:23
Proverbs 19:23:

The fear of the LORD tendeth to life:  and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Notes


Notes on Proverbs 19:23
Notes on Proverbs 19:23:

Given that sickness is evil, this is another statement that the man who fears God should not expect to get sick like those who do not fear God.


Isaiah 19:22
Isaiah 19:22:

And the LORD shall smite Egypt:  he shall smite and heal it:  and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.

Notes


Notes on Isaiah 19:22
Notes on Isaiah 19:22:

Egypt was Israel's mortal enemy.  However, God said that he would heal Egypt when its people turned to him.  If God is willing to do this for his enemies, surely he is willing to heal his own children who entreat him!


Isaiah 29:18
Isaiah 29:18:

And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

Discussed under:

Blindness

Deafness


Isaiah 33:24
Isaiah 33:24:

And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick:  the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

Notes


Notes on Isaiah 33:24
Notes on Isaiah 33:24:

This verse appears to be referring to the future Millennium (the 1,000-year reign of Christ on the earth).  We can learn something from this.  When Jesus is Lord, there is no sickness.  Therefore, God cannot be the author of sickness, since where he is in control (including heaven), there is none.

This is also another illustration of how forgiveness and healing go together in every age.

Discussed under:

Healing and atonement


Isaiah 35:3-6
Isaiah 35:3-6:

Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

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.

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing:  for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Notes


Notes on Isaiah 35:3-6
Notes on Isaiah 35:3-6:

These verses in context appear to refer to the Millennial reign of Christ.  It is obvious that where Jesus has his way, the blind, deaf, lame and dumb are healed.  So it is today where he has his way.  This will be universal in the future when the devil is locked away and is unable to oppose the plan of God in the earth.

This verse is referred to in Hebrews 12:12-13.  The weak hands and feeble knees belong to those who are afraid, so God tells them not to be afraid.


Isaiah 38:1-39:1
Isaiah 38:1-39:1:

In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death.  And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order:  for thou shalt die, and not live.

Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD.

And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight.  And Hezekiah wept sore.

Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,

Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears:  behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria:  and I will defend this city.

And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;

Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward.  So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.

The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:

I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave:  I am deprived of the residue of my years.

I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living:  I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.

Continued


Isaiah 38:1-39:1 (cont.)
Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherd's tent:  I have cut off like a weaver my life:  he will cut me off with pining sickness:  from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones:  from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.

Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter:  I did mourn as a dove:  mine eyes fail with looking upward:  O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

What shall I say?  he hath both spoken to me, and himself done it:  I shall go softly all my years in the bitterness of my soul.

O LORD, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit:  so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live.

Behold, for peace I had great bitterness:  but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption:  for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

For the grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee:  they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.

The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day:  the father to the children shall make known thy truth.

The LORD was ready to save me:  therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD.

Continued


Isaiah 38:1-39:1 (cont. #2)
For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.

Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?

At that time, Merodach-Baladan, the Son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present for Hezekiah:  for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.

(See 2 Kings 20:1-7 and its accompanying notes for comments on this story.)


Isaiah 40:29-31
Isaiah 40:29-31:

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall;

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Notes


Notes on Isaiah 40:29-31
Notes on Isaiah 40:29-31:

"Waiting on the Lord" here can be taken either in the sense of a waiter waiting on you at a restaurant or the sense of waiting in God's presence by spending time with him.  It does not mean that you have to wait for God to get around to feeling like doing something for you in his sovereign will.

This verse is an implicit health promise for those who fellowship with God.  You can't run and not faint if you have a splitting headache and your lungs are full of junk.  You can't walk and not faint if you have a bad heart.  If you have trouble with anemia or other forms of general weakness, spend time pondering this passage.  God gives power to the faint!

Discussed under:

Weakness


Isaiah 53
Isaiah 53:

Who hath believed our report?  and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground:  he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:  and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:  yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

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.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth:  he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment:  and who shall declare his generation?  for he was cut off out of the land of the living:  for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Continued


Isaiah 53 (cont.)
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:  when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied:  by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death:  and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Where discussed


Isaiah 53 (Where discussed)
Isaiah 53 is discussed under:

Isaiah's prophecy of redemption	Healing and atonement

How to be saved from your sins	Ministering to the sick

It isn't your sickness	Can I get healed of injuries from accidents as well as diseases?

Are women redeemed from labor pains?

Objection:  Only part of Isaiah 53 refers to the Atonement, not the healing part

Objection:  Jesus redeemed us from disease, but the fulfillment of that won't come until we get glorified bodies

Objection:  Isaiah 53:4 (Matthew 8:17) was fulfilled in Jesus' earth ministry and cannot be claimed as a promise by Christians today

Objection:  It's up to God -- God will heal me if he wants to

Objection:  Jesus could not have borne both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia on the cross

Objection:  God wouldn't heal Paul's thorn in the flesh

Objection:  Jesus bore our sorrows and griefs, not our sicknesses and pains, on the cross

Objection:  By Jesus' stripes we were spiritually, not physically, healed


Isaiah 57:16-19
Isaiah 57:16-19:

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth:  for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him:  I hid me, and was wroth, and he  went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

I have seen his ways, and will heal him:  I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.

I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD, and I will heal him.

Notes


Notes on Isaiah 57:16-19
Notes on Isaiah 57:16-19:

Here is another passage showing God's great compassion and mercy on the backslider and the infidel.  Surely if God is willing to heal these people, he is willing to heal you.


Isaiah 58:6-11
Isaiah 58:6-11:

Is not this the fast that I have chosen?  to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast down out to thy house?  when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily:  and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am.  If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones:  and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

Notes


Notes on Isaiah 58:6-11
Notes on Isaiah 58:6-11:

Here God says that showing his compassion on the earth will result in your health springing forth speedily.  God could not promise this if he were unwilling to do it for 100% of the people who keep the conditions in this passage.

Discussed under:

Healing and giving

God's promises have conditions


Isaiah 65:22
Isaiah 65:22:

They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Notes


Notes on Isaiah 65:22
Notes on Isaiah 65:22:

This verse is found in a passage that describes the new heavens and the new earth that God will create in the future (v. 17).  While it is not a promise for present-day believers, I have included this verse in the list because it demonstrates that long life is something that happens when Jesus Christ reigns, as he will do during the Millennium described in this part of this chapter.


Jeremiah  8:22
Jeremiah 8:22:

Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?  why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Notes


Notes on Jeremiah 8:22
Notes on Jeremiah 8:22:

God, of course, was Israel's Physician.  Why did the people not let him heal them?  In the context of this verse, there is no indication that the sickness refers to bodily sickness except as an allegory for the terrible condition of Israel, although physical healing would have followed repentance since God was their Physician.


Jeremiah 17:14
Jeremiah 17:14:

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved:  for thou art my praise.

Notes


Notes on Jeremiah 17:14
Notes on Jeremiah 17:14:

Here we have another verse where God's healing and forgiveness are found together.


Jeremiah 30:17
Jeremiah 30:17:

For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

Notes


Notes on Jeremiah 30:17
Notes on Jeremiah 30:17:

Since this passage comes in a chapter full of metaphors of having no medicine, having an incurable bruise and a grievous wound, it can be taken figuratively.  However, since it refers to the restoration of Israel after the Tribulation ("the time of Jacob's trouble"), we know from other Scriptures about the Millennium that this passage can also be taken literally.  You should consider it a prophecy about the future as opposed to a direct healing promise to the Church today.


Jeremiah 33:6-8
Jeremiah 33:6-8:

Behold, I will bring it [Jerusalem] health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

Notes


Notes on Jeremiah 33:6-8
Notes on Jeremiah 33:6-8:

This is another case of health and forgiveness being poured out together.

In the context of this verse, God has poured out his fury because of his people's disobedience.  Now God is having mercy on those he afflicted, even though they don't deserve it.  They can be forgiven and healed.


Hosea  6:1
Hosea 6:1:

Come, and let us return unto the LORD:  for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

Notes


Notes on Hosea 6:1
Notes on Hosea 6:1:

Far from proving that the Lord beats up some saints while healing others, this verse shows that when you return to the Lord, he will heal you.  As in many places in the Bible, forgiveness and healing go hand in hand.  The "smiting" was due to sin.  God was simply honoring his promises in the "curse of the Law" to allow all kinds of problems and diseases upon the people if they would not listen to his voice.


Hosea 11:3-4
Hosea 11:3-4:

I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love:  and I was to them as they that take off the yoke of their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.

Notes


Notes on Hosea 11:3-4
Notes on Hosea 11:3-4:

This refers to the Exodus from Egypt.  God did promise to heal all, but shortly thereafter, Israel was sacrificing to other gods.  Healing is included in the goodness and love of God shown in this verse.  God today continues to draw men with his goodness, his healing, his removal of the yoke of bondage, and provision.  In short, it is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance (Romans 2:4).


Malachi 3:6
Malachi 3:6:

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Discussed under:

Jesus the Healer has never changed!

How to see God's will concerning healing

Objection:  Healing and miracles are not for this current dispensation

Objection:  God's healing covenant in the Law of Moses was only for the Jews


Malachi 4:2
Malachi 4:2:

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Notes


Notes on Malachi 4:2
Notes on Malachi 4:2:

In this context, the wicked will be destroyed, but Jesus Christ will come to those who fear him with healing.  Other prophecies about the Millennium confirm that healing will be everywhere then.  This should settle what God and Jesus Christ want done -- healing!


Matthew  4:23-24
Matthew 4:23-24:

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.

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 lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 4:23-24
Notes on Matthew 4:23-24:

In verse 23, we see the threefold ministry of Jesus:  TEACHING in their synagogues, PREACHING the gospel of the kingdom, and HEALING all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.  Jesus' ministry did not consist solely of laying hands on the sick.  In fact, if there is no good news to believe, it is unproductive to simply pray for the sick.  If the sick are simply healed by the gifts of the Spirit, they will need to be healed the same way again unless they hear the good news taught and preached.  Only then will they develop personal faith to be healed apart from the gifts of the Spirit.

In verse 24, note that Jesus healed "those which were lunatick," i.e., the insane.  Thus, Jesus' healing power healed mental as well as physical illnesses.  This is consistent with the fact that mental illnesses (madness, etc.) were included in the "curse of the law" in Deuteronomy 28 and elsewhere -- a curse from which we are redeemed (Gal 3:13).

Jesus did not wander the earth looking for sick people.  Verse 24 states that all of these sick people WERE BROUGHT TO HIM.  They had to go where Jesus and his anointing were.  Jesus did not make unsolicited house calls to heal the sick.  Obviously, the sick and their friends expended some effort to get to where Jesus was.

More Notes


Notes on Matthew 4:23-24 (cont.)
Although God's best is for the believer to receive healing from God at home without anyone else's involvement, not everyone is prepared to do so.  If someone wants to seek healing by the gifts of the Spirit at a healing service, that person must go to where the service is.  This is consistent with the gospel pattern.  It is inconsistent with Scripture for the sick person to moan, "God will heal me if he wants to."  God wants to heal him, but he must expend some personal effort to receive his healing.  It does not happen automatically now any more than it did then.

The phrase "had the palsy" means "paralyzed."  This shows that paralysis is no different from any other sickness when it comes to God's ability and willingness to heal it.  Men make a big deal out of people getting out of wheelchairs, but this was perfectly normal in the ministry of Jesus.

Discussed under:

Healing and evangelism

YOU can be healed

Demon possession

Insanity

Paralysis

Anything else not listed here


Matthew  8: 2-4
Matthew 8:2-4:

And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean.  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 8:2-4
Notes on Matthew 8:2-4:

This leper gets criticized a lot in some churches for questioning the will of God about his healing.  In fairness to him, it was not common knowledge that Jesus wanted to heal every sick person.  The leper could surely observe that Jesus was healing many sick people, but like many today, he was uncertain of Jesus' willingness to do so for HIM in particular.

Notice that this man did two things right:  (1) He went to where Jesus was.  This was normally the prerequisite in his ministry to receive healing from him.  The man was risking his life in doing this, since lepers were not normally allowed to have contact with the rest of the world.  (2) He worshipped him.  Although the man was ignorant of Jesus' will, he still showed reverence for the Lord.  The man's heart was obviously open toward the Lord.

Jesus did not rebuke the man for his ignorance.  Instead, he eliminated the ignorance by telling him, "I will."  Now the man knew the will of Jesus in the matter and received his healing.

More notes


Notes on Matthew 8:2-4 (cont.)
This leper is the only man we know of who questioned the will of Jesus concerning his healing.  The only recorded answer Jesus ever gave is therefore, "I will."  Jesus never told a sick person, "I won't, keep your sickness because God has a reason for you to be sick."  How pitiful that today some ministers of (allegedly) the gospel are now saying what Jesus never said.  Instead of undermining peoples' faith, every minister should be proclaiming, "He WILL!"

Verse 4 shows that Jesus did not heal simply as a publicity stunt.  He told the man not to tell anyone what had happened.  He said to go discreetly to the priest so that his healing could be officially verified and he would be free from the laws concerning lepers.  If this were a publicity stunt, he would have told the man to tell everyone he knew.  That would have drawn bigger crowds.  Compassion and desire to do the will of God motivated Jesus, not desire for personal fame.  Anyone involved in healing ministry, or any ministry for that matter, should note and follow this pattern.  Mass healing of the sick will result in publicity automatically whether you want it or not.

Discussed under:

God is not only ABLE, but also WILLING, to heal you

Objection:  It's up to God -- God will heal me if he wants to

Leprosy


Matthew  8: 5-13
Matthew 8:5-13:

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

And I say to you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.  And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 8:5-13
Notes on Matthew 8:5-13:

Here was a man who understood authority.  He was under authority and had people under him.  He saw that Jesus had authority over disease, believed it, and received a healing for a servant at home.  There were two rarities in this story.  The man believed and received a healing for someone else, and a Gentile received a healing even though technically healing did not yet belong to the Gentiles.

Discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

Different ways to get healed

God's blessing on your kids

Can I believe and receive a healing for someone else?

Paralysis


Matthew  8:14-15
Matthew 8:14-15:

And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Discussed under:

Must we lay hands on the specific afflicted body part?

Fever


Matthew  8:16-17
Matthew 8:16-17:

When the even [evening] 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:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 8:16-17
Notes on Matthew 8:16-17:

This Scripture immediately settles any argument about whether Isaiah was talking about physical problems.  The proper translation of Isaiah 53:4 is that surely he (Jesus) has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains.  (The King James version inaccurately uses the words sorrows and griefs there.)  Surely the Holy Spirit knows how to properly translate Scripture.  This passage makes it plain that Isaiah's promise involves physical healing!  This is obvious from the context; where Jesus healed all that were sick.  He did not relieve sorrows and griefs here, except perhaps for those caused by being sick or demon possessed!  Actually, the "fulfillment" of Isaiah's prophecy was at Calvary, and Christ's healing of the sick during his ministry was proof that healing was included in his coming atonement.

The tough point on this verse is not that Isaiah's prophecy spoke of physical healing, which is obvious to any unbiased reader, but that Matthew seems to declare that the prophecy was fulfilled.  You may find a thorough discussion of this subject in the reply to the objection on this issue cited under "Where discussed" below.

Where discussed


Notes on Matthew 8:16-17 (cont.)
Matthew 8:16-17 is discussed under:

Isaiah's prophecy of redemption

Sickness is the power of the devil

YOU can be healed

Objection:  Jesus redeemed us from disease, but the fulfillment of that won't come until we get glorified bodies

Objection:  Healing is a secondary benefit of the Atonement, not a primary one

Objection:  Isaiah 53:4 (Matthew 8:17) was fulfilled in Jesus' earth ministry and cannot be claimed as a promise by Christians today

Objection:  Jesus bore our sorrows and griefs, not our sicknesses and pains, on the cross

Demon possession

Anything else not listed here


Matthew  8:28-32
Matthew 8:28-32:

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God?  art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

And he said unto them, Go.  And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

Discussed under:

Demon possession


Matthew  9: 2-8
Matthew 9:2-8:

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

And he arose, and departed to his house.

But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

(See Notes on Luke 5:17-26 for comments.)

Discussed under:

Healing and God's glory

Paralysis


Matthew  9:18-25
Matthew 9:18-25:

While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

And behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.  And the woman was made whole from that hour.

And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth.  And they laughed him to scorn.

But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

Discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

Hemorrhaging

Nonviability


Matthew  9:27-30
Matthew 9:27-30:

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this?  They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straightway charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 9:27-30
Notes on Matthew 9:27-30:

These blind men had to follow Jesus, perhaps for a while, and go to where he was.  The only reason they did is that they believed Jesus could heal them.  Here we see that the blind men, as many others, considered healing a mercy.  Since Jesus is our merciful High Priest, you should expect the same mercy from him today.

This also shows that healing was not a publicity stunt; Jesus told the formerly blind men not to go around telling people what had happened.

Discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

Get away from unbelief

Must we lay hands on the specific afflicted body part?

Blindness


Matthew  9:32-33
Matthew 9:32-33:

As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

Discussed under:

Dumbness


Matthew  9:35
Matthew 9:35:

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

Notes


Notes on Matthew 9:35
Notes on Matthew 9:35:

This is another verse showing the threefold ministry of Jesus -- teaching, preaching and healing.  Those with healing ministries today need to teach and preach God's Word also, rather than just waiting for the Holy Spirit to manifest himself in the gifts of healings.

This is also another verse demonstrating Jesus' ability and will to heal EVERY sickness and EVERY disease.  Since he is the same today, he is still willing and able to heal EVERY sickness and disease today, including ones that weren't around back then.

Discussed under:

YOU can be healed

Anything else not listed here


Matthew 10:1
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.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 10:1
Notes on Matthew 10:1:

The anointing to heal the sick is transferable.  In this case, Jesus gave his disciples the ability to do the works that he did when they preached in places he was not going in person.  This is similar in some ways to Paul's use of handkerchiefs in Acts.

It may also be noted that when a minister transfers the anointing to another individual to complete a task, that anointing does not necessarily stay permanently.  If it did, the disciples would not have had to wait to receive the Holy Spirit to do the miracles they did in Acts -- they could have gone out and done them based on this transfer of power described here.  The anointing was on them to complete a particular task.  For a modern example, a healing evangelist may lay hands on someone and ask him to lay hands on some sick people in a service.  That does not mean that the other person will now have a similar healing ministry.

You can see that Jesus did not do miracles just because he was the Son of God.  The twelve disciples were not members of the Trinity, yet here they were given power to do the same things Jesus did.

It should come as no surprise today that the Lord anoints preachers to minister to the sick, since this was the pattern in Scripture.

Where discussed


Notes on Matthew 10:1 (cont.)
Matthew 10:1 is discussed under:

YOU can be healed

Must we fast and pray to make certain demons leave?

Demon possession

Anything else not listed here


Matthew 10:7-8
Matthew 10:7-8:

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils, freely ye have received, freely give.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 10:7-8
Notes on Matthew 10:7-8:

When the kingdom of heaven is at hand, people get healed!  Note that the disciples were called to preach, not just heal people.  Also, notice that the disciples were told to heal the sick, not "lift up the sick in prayer."  How could they be confident of doing so?  Because in Matthew 10:1, Jesus gave them that authority.

The fact that raising the dead is mentioned in here leads to an obvious question -- Is that something we should all be doing?  The answer is no.  The Great Commission includes laying hands on the sick, but it does not includes a promise that we can "claim" for the raising of the dead.  The next obvious question is, "If raising the dead is not something we can all do by faith, can we think that any of the commands applies to us?"  Yes, when people were called to preach Christ, healing of the sick went along with that calling.  However, raising of the dead did not always go along with that calling.  This is done exclusively by the gifts of the Spirit as the Spirit wills, not by normal faith.  (This requires the kind of special faith alluded to in 1 Cor 12:8-11.)  Observe that in Matthew 10:1, Jesus gave his disciples authority to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers (included in "all manner of disease") and to cast out devils.  The one thing on the list in this verse that was not included in the other verse was the raising of the dead.  This shows that they did not have general authority to raise the dead, but they had it in the other areas.

Where discussed


Notes on Matthew 10:7-8 (cont.)
Matthew 10:7-8 is discussed under:

Can we believe for a dead person to be raised?

Demon possession

Leprosy

Nonviability

Anything else not listed here


Matthew 11:4-5
Matthew 11:4-5:

Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

Discussed under:

Blindness

Deafness

Lameness

Leprosy

Nonviability


Matthew 12:10-13
Matthew 12:10-13:

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered.  And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.

And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?

How much then is a man better than a sheep?  Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand.  And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 12:10-13
Notes on Matthew 12:10-13:

There will always be those who won't rejoice with you when you get healed because they don't believe in divine healing.  They would rather have you stay sick than to think that maybe you are onto something that they aren't.

Jesus never touched the man.  Sometimes in a healing service, your healing may be "called out" and you can be healed without anyone touching you.  Do not put God in a box by thinking that the only way you can get healed is to go up in a prayer line and have hands laid on you.

The version in Mark 3:1-5 shows that Jesus gets angry when people are more caught up with religious nit-picking than with seeing the sick healed.

Discussed under:

Withering


Matthew 12:15
Matthew 12:15:

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

Notes


Notes on Matthew 12:15
Notes on Matthew 12:15:

Here we see something that was a pattern in Jesus' ministry.  Those seeking healing actively went to where Jesus was to get healed.  Jesus did not walk around the villages making "house calls" at random.  Some object that Jesus did not heal every sick person in Israel, but those who sought him for healing were NEVER turned away without it.

Discussed under:

Anything else not listed here


Matthew 12:22
Matthew 12:22:

Then was brought to him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

Discussed under:

Blindness

Deafness

Dumbness


Matthew 13:15
Matthew 13:15:

For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 13:15
Notes on Matthew 13:15:

There is an important lesson in this verse.  If you hear with your ears, and understand with your heart, and are converted (which I assume that you probably are), you should expect God to heal you!  The reason so many were not healed (either physically or emotionally) is that they were not listening to God when he spoke.  God was willing to heal them all the time, but the Bible pattern is, "Hear and be healed," not, "Just try to get healing without giving time and effort to study of God's Word."


Matthew 13:54-58
Matthew 13:54-58:

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in the synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

Is not this the carpenter's son?  is not his mother called Mary?  and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

And his sisters, are they not all with us?  Whence then hath this man all these things?

And they were offended in him.  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

All about healing services

Objection:  To preach that Jesus COULD NOT do miracles at Nazareth is to deny his deity and God's sovereignty.  Therefore, the only reason he could not would be that people did not bring the sick.

Objection:  It's not always God's will to heal -- he didn't heal many at Nazareth

Objection:  We cannot expect to heal as Jesus did because we are not the Son of God


Matthew 14:14
Matthew 14:14:

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Discussed under:

God's mercy and compassion

YOU can be healed

Anything else not listed here


Matthew 14:35-36
Matthew 14:35-36:

And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 14:35-36
Notes on Matthew 14:35-36:

Again, the sick were brought to Jesus.  Jesus did not just go around automatically healing everyone.  On many occasions like this one, power went out of Jesus and healed all who touched him.  We know from the story of the woman with the issue of blood that Jesus would not necessarily know who touched him!  It was not his faith in operation.  It was the healing anointing on him -- Peter said that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; that is how he went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil.  The very word Christ means "Anointed One."  (It is not Jesus' last name; he did not grow up in the home of Joseph and Mary Christ.)  The power of God, coupled with faith in those who came to be healed, produced healing in all who wanted it.

You can see how Jesus could not have made exceptions for some of the sick, expecting them to stay that way for some modern theological reason.  The anointing was available to anyone; all you had to do was get near enough Jesus to touch his clothes!

Discussed under:

The healing anointing	Healing and evangelism

YOU can be healed	Anything else not listed here


Matthew 15:22-28
Matthew 15:22-28:

And behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.

But he answered her not a word.  And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away, for she crieth after us.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.  And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 15:22-28
Notes on Matthew 15:22-28:

There was a reason for the apparent rudeness of the disciples.  The woman did not have the right to get healing for her daughter because she wasn't a Jew.  In a way, she was being rude, but she was desperate to get what she saw Jesus giving out to the Jews.  This is why the disciples were sending her away.  (They did not send anyone in the multitudes of Jews away.)  Jesus made sure that the woman understood this.

Here healing is referred to as the "children's bread."  If you are a child of God, it belongs to you.  It is part of your sustenance that you should expect to receive from God.

Jesus did not call the woman a dog.  (He was not saying, "You ain't nothin' but a hound dog, lady!"  Nor was he saying, "Lady, your looks are 2 on a scale of 10; you'll never make it onto those TV shows where they show pretty ladies in swimsuits at the beach for carnal men to gawk at.")  He made an analogy to a family with dogs.  You don't take the children's food and give it to the dogs.  The children here were strictly Israelites, not Gentiles.  Jesus was saying, "It isn't right for the Gentiles to get the Jews' blessings."  This was legally true, yet because of her great faith, God made an exception for her, and she got a blessing that she didn't even qualify for.  Note her dogged persistence in persuing what she needed.

Where discussed


Notes on Matthew 15:22-28 (cont.)
Matthew 15:22-28 is discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

Different ways to get healed

God's blessing on your kids

Can I believe and receive a healing for someone else?

Objection:  Jesus told a Greek woman NO when she came for deliverance for her daughter

Demon possession


Matthew 15:30-31
Matthew 15:30-31:

And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them.

Insomuch that the multitude wondered, then they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 15:30-31

It is inconvenient to bring a blind person or a crippled person somewhere to be healed.  Remember that they did not have cars back then!  Many times these sick people had to be led or carried all the way to where Jesus was.  You would not go through that kind of effort unless you really believed that it would pay off, which of course, it did.  We see again the pattern that the sick had to be brought or had to get where Jesus was on their own.

Discussed under:

Healing and God's glory

Objection:  "Faith healers" call attention to man and thus rob the Lord of due glory

Blindness

Dumbness

Injuries

Lameness

Anything else not listed here


Matthew 17:14-21
Matthew 17:14-21:

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him and saying,

Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.

Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you?  how long shall I suffer you?  bring him hither to me.

And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could we not cast him out?

And Jesus answered and said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily, I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 17:14-21
Notes on Matthew 17:14-21:

Today, people would have used the disciples' failure to prove that God does not always want to heal.  However, the problem was with the disciples.  Jesus had already given them the authority to cast out all evil spirits (not just "little" ones), so there is no question that they could have done it.  They had the authority, but they did not operate in faith based on that authority.  Jesus came and did the job.  This proves that someone can miss out on healing because of lack of faith on the part of the minister doing the praying and/or the person who needs the healing.

Discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

Speaking to mountains, trees and diseases

Must we fast and pray to make certain demons leave?

Objection:  Faith is simply trust in God, not a force that you use to change things yourself

Objection:  Many do not get healed after prayer is made for their healing

Demon possession


Matthew 19:2
Matthew 19:2:

And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.

Discussed under:

YOU can be healed

Anything else not listed here


Matthew 20:30-34
Matthew 20:30-34:

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, thou Son of David.

And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Notes


Notes on Matthew 20:30-34
Notes on Matthew 20:30-34:

These blind men paid a social price to get their healing.  They had to ignore the peer pressure and the rebukes of the multitude.  However, their perseverance got Jesus' attention!  You may have to pay a social price because of unenlightened friends and relatives and even fellow church members who do not believe in divine healing.  Be desperate enough to stick with it and get your healing!  Don't let doubters talk you out of it!

You may wonder why Jesus asked two blind men what they wanted!  Actually, not everyone who is blind, deaf, or otherwise handicapped (okay, "differently abled" for the "politically correct" crowd) wants to be healed.  Jesus was not going to assume anything; he made them say what they wanted to get.  If you want healing, you're going to have to speak it out of your mouth.

Discussed under:

God's mercy and compassion

Must we lay hands on the specific afflicted body part?

Blindness


Matthew 21:14
Matthew 21:14:

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.

Discussed under:

Blindness

Lameness


Matthew 27:52-53
Matthew 27:52-53:

And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Discussed under:

Nonviability


Mark  1:23-26
Mark 1:23-26:

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?  art thou come to destroy us?  I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

Notes


Notes on Mark 1:23-26
Notes on Mark 1:23-26:

Jesus did not carry on conversations with demons.  He told them to shut up.

The fact that an evil spirit may holler when it comes out should not faze you.  Stand your ground and it has to go.

Demons have Satan's nature.  They are liars.  It appears that this one was, because he referred to himself in the plural, but the account says that there was only one of him!  This is one good reason not to ask demons their names.  (Jesus never did, and this point is proved elsewhere.)

Discussed under:

Should we ask demons their names before casting them out?

Demon possession


Mark  1:30-31
Mark 1:30-31:

But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon [immediately] they tell him of her.

And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Discussed under:

Fever


Mark  1:32-34
Mark 1:32-34:

And at even [evening], when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

And all the city was gathered together at the door.

And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

Notes


Notes on Mark 1:32-24
Notes on Mark 1:32-24:

This shows the kind of impact healings can have on a city.  Wouldn't you like to see a scene like this in your city?  As far as we can tell, this all started from one healing in Mark 1:30-31.

The term "divers diseases" means diverse or varied diseases.  It is not a reference to maladies divers can get such as "the bends."

Discussed under:

Healing and evangelism

It might only take one

Demon possession

Anything else not listed here


Mark  1:39
Mark 1:39:

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

Discussed under:

Demon possession


Mark  1:40-45
Mark 1:40-45:

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

And he straitly charged him, saying, and forthwith sent him away;

And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man:  but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places:  and they came to him from every quarter.

Discussed under:

God's mercy and compassion

God is not only ABLE, but also WILLING, to heal you

Objection:  It's up to God -- God will heal me if he wants to

Leprosy


Mark  2: 2-12
Mark 2:2-12:

And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

And they came unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies?  who can forgive sins but God only?

And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and take up thy bed, and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

Where discussed


Notes on Mark 2:2-12
Mark 2:2-12 is discussed under:

Healing and atonement

Healing and God's glory

Objection:  "Faith healers" call attention to man and thus rob the Lord of due glory

Paralysis


Mark  3:1-5
Mark 3:1-5:

And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day, that they might accuse him.

And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil?  to save life, or to kill?  But they held their peace.

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand.  And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

(For notes, see Notes on Matthew 12:10-13.)


Mark  3:10-12
Mark 3:10-12:

For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.

And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.

The healing anointing

YOU can be healed

Anything else not listed here


Mark  3:14-15
Mark 3:14-15:

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Discussed under:

Demon possession

Anything else not listed here

Notes on Matthew 10:1


Mark  5:2-20
Mark 5:2-20:

And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

And cried in a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God?  I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

And he asked him, What is thy name?  And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

Continued


Mark  5:2-20 (cont.)
And forthwith Jesus gave them leave.  And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country.  And they went out to see what it was that was done.

And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

Where discussed


Notes on Mark 5:2-20
Mark 5:2-20 is discussed under:

God's mercy and compassion

It might only take one

Objection:  Demons were only a superstitious way of explaining illness long ago

Demon possession


Mark  5:22-43
Mark 5:22-43:

And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

Continued


Mark  5:22-43 (cont.)
And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

And when he was come in, He saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep?  the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

And they laughed him to scorn.  But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi, which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

Continued


Mark  5:22-43 (cont. #2)
And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years.  And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Notes


Notes on Mark 5:22-43
Notes on Mark 5:22-43:

The story of the woman with the issue of blood is a favorite among healing ministers because of its many lessons.  The woman heard about Jesus and faith came.  (Today, faith can come as you hear about Jesus and his healing power.)  Then she went to him expecting to receive.  She obviously believed that she received something when she touched Jesus.  Her faith was what pulled the anointing into her body from Jesus.  Jesus wasn't even aware that the woman was there, so it could not have been his faith.  Jesus made it clear the woman's faith, not his faith, healed her.

This woman could have been stoned for being out in public in her condition.  She was desperate!  She was broke and was just getting worse.  This woman really wanted to be healed.  She was willing to press through the crowd to get to Jesus.

Even when the gifts of the Spirit are in operation, healings are usually not unilateral operations of God.  Many times, he makes the healing anointing available for all who want to come and receive it.  The more faith the people operate in, the more easily the healing anointing will go into them.  (This works both ways.  If they operate in less faith, less will happen.  Jesus was surely just as much the Anointed One at Nazareth, where people did not believe much and did not receive much.)  We see this principle again where Jairus was told to "only believe" to see the miracle he needed.  His faith had a part to play in the miracle.

Where discussed


Notes on Mark 5:22-43 (cont.)
Mark 5:22-43 is discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

Hemorrhaging

Nonviability

Notes on Luke 8:41-56


Mark  6: 1-6
Mark 6:1-6:

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things?  and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon?  and are not his sisters here with us?  And they were offended at him.

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

And he marvelled because of their unbelief.  And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Notes


Notes on Mark 6:1-6
Notes on Mark 6:1-6:

People fuss over why the people at Nazareth were not healed, but Matthew's account (Matthew 13:54-58) tells you plainly that it was because of their unbelief.  That there was unbelief in Nazareth should be no surprise; that is where they had tried to kill him during his first visit as a preacher!  Jesus was just as much anointed and just as much the Son of God at Nazareth as elsewhere.  Because he subjected himself to human limitations and ministered as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit, he COULD NOT heal the sick there.  If Jesus healed to prove his deity, he proved he wasn't deity at Nazareth.  (Of course, Jesus did not heal to prove his deity.  This is proved elsewhere.)  The servant is not above his master.  If Jesus could not heal the sick in such a place, neither can you.  There are churches like this!  He COULD NOT do it because God requires our cooperation in such matters.  He does not force healing on the sick any more than he forces forgiveness on sinners.  God's power must be mixed with our faith.  The problem at Nazareth is that they saw the preacher from only a human perspective instead of honoring his office.  This same mistake today can stop God's power from flowing in a service.  Respect the anointing on the minister!

Where discussed


Notes on Mark 6:1-6 (cont.)
Mark 6:1-6 is discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

All about healing services

Objection:  To preach that Jesus COULD NOT do miracles at Nazareth is to deny his deity and God's sovereignty.  Therefore, the only reason he could not would be that people did not bring the sick.

Objection:  It's not always God's will to heal -- he didn't heal many at Nazareth

Objection:  We cannot expect to heal as Jesus did because we are not the Son of God

Anything else not listed here


Mark  6: 7
Mark 6:7:

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

Discussed under:

Demon possession


Mark  6:12-13
Mark 6:12-13:

And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

Discussed under:

Should we anoint the sick with oil when we lay hands on them?

Demon possession

Anything else not listed here


Mark  6:54-56
Mark 6:54-56:

And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

(See Notes on Matthew 14:35-36)


Mark  7:25-30
Mark 7:25-30:

For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet.

The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

(See Notes on Matthew 15:22-28)


Mark  7:32-37
Mark 7:32-37:

And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Discussed under:

Speaking to mountains, trees and diseases

Strange ways to get healed

Get away from unbelief

Must we lay hands on the specific afflicted body part?

Is all sickness demonic?

Deafness

Dumbness

Speech impediments


Mark  8:22-25
Mark 8:22-25:

And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought [anything].

And he looked up and said, I see men as trees, walking.

After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

Discussed under:

Strange ways to get healed

Get away from unbelief

Must we lay hands on the specific afflicted body part?

Is it right to get in a second healing line for the same condition?

Objection:  Christ's healings were mostly instantaneous; we cannot claim to be able to do his works when we have so few instantaneous miracles

Blindness

Blurred vision


Mark  9:17-29
Mark 9:17-29:

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?  how long shall I suffer you?  bring him unto me.

And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him?  And he said, Of a child.

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.

When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead, insomuch that many said, He is dead.

But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up; and he arose.

Continued


Mark  9:17-29 (cont.)
And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Notes


Notes on Mark 9:17-29
Notes on Mark 9:17-29:

The Notes on Matthew 17:14-21 cover most of the points you could make from this story.  However, there is an additional exchange here that Matthew did not mention.  Jesus told the man that it was up to what he could believe.  It is not just what Jesus can do, it is what you believe he can do.  He could have healed everyone at Nazareth, but they did not believe that he could, so he did no mighty work there.

The man asked Jesus to help his unbelief.  He was not asking Jesus to help his unbelief in the sense of increasing it, of course.  (You can help your unbelief in that sense by going to the Christian bookstore and buying the latest book about why God won't heal everyone.)  He meant, "I believe in my heart, but my head is giving me trouble!  Help!"  You are perfectly within your rights talking to God about such trouble.  Realize, however, that it is with your heart you believe, not your head.  You can believe in your heart and still have problems in your head.  The more you renew your mind to God's Word, the less your head will give you trouble.

Jesus said plainly that all things are possible to him who believes.  Since healing is a subset of all things, healing is possible to him who believes!  The only limit is what you can believe God for!  If healing were not specifically promised, the fact that all things are possible to him who believes would still mean that you could be healed by faith.


Mark  9:38-39
Mark 9:38-39:

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

Discussed under:

The power in the name of Jesus

Your authority over sickness

Demon possession


Mark 10:46-52
Mark 10:46-52:

And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

And when he had heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called.  And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?  The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

And Jesus said to him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.  And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Notes


Notes on Mark 10:46-52
Notes on Mark 10:46-52:

It appears that Mark heard the story related from Bartimaeus's perspective; Matthew records that there were two blind men.  (Mark's story doesn't mean that there weren't two; it just records what happened to Bartimaeus.)

(See Notes on Matthew 20:30-34 for additional comments.)


Mark 16:15-18
Mark 16:15-18:

And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Notes


Notes on Mark 16:15-18
Notes on Mark 16:15-18:

The Great Commission in these verses includes the laying on of hands in the name of Jesus for the healing of the sick.  Jesus did not even question that it would happen.  He said, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."  You should believe it and act accordingly.

Who shall lay hands on the sick so that they recover?  Those who believe, not just those who preached to them!  The ministry of laying on of hands for healing belongs to every born-again child of God.  In fact, James 5:16 commands us to pray for one another's healing!

God says that these signs will follow (not precede!) them that believe, so it is implied that those who work these signs will be out sharing the good news as they are commanded to.  In verse 20, we see that God confirmed his Word with signs following.  Signs do not stand alone; they confirm the Word.

More Notes


Notes on Mark 16:15-18 (cont.)
No reasonable Christian believes that the Great Commission has been revoked.  We are still to go into the entire world so that everyone will hear the gospel.  The Great Commission stands or falls together.  It is unreasonable to think that Jesus would tell us to go into all the world now and then not confirm his words with signs following (v. 20) as he did then.  This would indicate that Jesus, whom Heb 13:8 declares to be "the same yesterday, to day and for ever," has changed, which is pure nonsense.  (It only makes a convenient consolation for those who preach with no power today.)

Note that healing is also promised to any Christian who is poisoned.  This must be considered to be accidental poisoning of oneself or deliberate poisoning of the Christian by someone else.  This is not a license to drink poison to prove something; this would prove only your own stupidity after you died from it.  Such an act would be akin to Jesus jumping off the temple -- a Satanic temptation to put God to an unreasonable test.  Some wise-guy doubters like to dare you to drink Drano on purpose to prove that you believe this passage.  This is just like Satan's temptation and would get you to the same place as jumping off a building -- the graveyard.

The same goes for serpents.  Paul did not deliberately handle serpents to prove something; this is also a (dangerous) way of putting God to an unreasonable test.  When a serpent bit Paul, it was an accident.  Paul just took it up and tossed it into the fire (Acts 28:3-6).

Where discussed


Notes on Mark 16:15-18 (Where discussed)
Mark 16:15-18 is discussed under:

Laying hands on the sick

How to deal with the devil

Your authority over sickness

Speaking to mountains, trees and diseases

Healing and deliverance from poisoning

The power in the name of Jesus

The works he did you can do:  Here's how

YOU can be healed

What can you do for comatose or delirious people who cannot believe God for themselves?

Why are there more miracles on the mission field than at home?

Should we wait until we sense the anointing to lay hands on the sick?

Objection:  Laying hands on the sick is not part of the Great Commission

Objection:  Mark 16:9-20 was not in some early manuscripts

Objection:  Demons were only a superstitious way of explaining illness long ago

Demon possession

Poisoning

Snakebites

Anything else not listed here


James 5:16
James 5:16:

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

Back to Notes on Mark 16:15-18


Mark 16:20
Mark 16:20:

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.  Amen.

Notes


Notes on Mark 16:20
Notes on Mark 16:20:

The word them is not in the original Greek.  The translators added it.  The passage could just as well be translated to say that the Lord worked with and confirmed the word with signs following.  God confirms his gospel, not the ministers themselves.  We should expect the Lord to confirm the gospel with signs following when we preach it!  Amen!

Discussed under:

Laying hands on the sick

Your authority over sickness

Healing and evangelism

What can you do for comatose or delirious people who cannot believe God for themselves?

Can we pray and believe for the healing anointing to manifest?

Would God heal an unbeliever?

Objection:  Healing is a side issue that does not deserve to be emphasized so much

Objection:  Mark 16:9-20 was not in some early manuscripts


Luke  1:36-37
Luke 1:36-37:

And, behold, thy cousin, Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Notes


Notes on Luke 1:36-37
Notes on Luke 1:36-37:

Since nothing is impossible with God, your healing is not impossible.  The same God who enabled Elisabeth to have a child when she was unable to bear children is the same God who can fix your body.  Will you explain this verse away or simply believe it?  No matter what your situation is, there are no impossibilities with God.  Dare to believe him for something impossible!


Luke  4:18-19
Luke 4:18-19:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath 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,

To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Notes


Notes on Luke 4:18-19
Notes on Luke 4:18-19:

Jesus is quoting Isaiah 61:1-2 about himself.

If he was anointed to do all these things back then, surely he is anointed to do all these things now!

Discussed under:

To heal the brokenhearted

Anointed to preach deliverance

The acceptable year of the Lord

What is "inner healing," and do I need it?

Objection:  We cannot expect to heal as Jesus did because we are not the Son of God

Blindness

Brokenheartedness


Luke  4:27
Luke 4:27:

And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

Notes


Notes on Luke 4:27
Notes on Luke 4:27:

This was from the message Jesus preached in his hometown during his first visit to Nazareth.  The people tried to kill him after he preached it, because he said that a prophet is without honor in his own country.  That was the point about Eliseus (Elisha); people in his own country didn't get healed of leprosy through his ministry, but a foreigner did.  This was an early precedent where God made an exception for a Gentile and extended a covenant blessing of Israel to someone outside the covenant who had faith.

Discussed under:

Leprosy


Luke  4:33-36
Luke 4:33-36:

And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,

Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?  art thou come to destroy us?  I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.  And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.

And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this!  for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

Discussed under:

Demon possession


Luke  4:38-39
Luke 4:38-39:

And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house.  And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.

And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

Discussed under:

Would you rebuke a Christmas present?

Fever

God even loves your mother-in-law


God even loves your mother-in-law

Just kidding.  There is no actual discussion called, "God even loves your mother-in-law."  Even though it's true.


Luke  4:40-41
Luke 4:40-41:

Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou are Christ the Son of God.  And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

Discussed under:

YOU can be healed

Demon posession

Anything else not listed here


Luke  5:12-15
Luke 5:12-15:

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will:  be thou clean.  And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

Discussed under:

God is not only ABLE, but also WILLING, to heal you

Hear and be healed

It might only take one

Objection:  It's up to God -- God will heal me if he wants to

Leprosy


Luke  5:17-26
Luke 5:17-26:

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies?  Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason think ye in your hearts?

Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

Continued


Luke  5:17-26 (cont.)
And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Notes


Notes on Luke 5:17-26
Notes on Luke 5:17-26:

The power of the Lord was present to heal the scoffing religious leaders.  So, why weren't they healed?  They did not mix faith with that power.  Only the paralytic got healed as far as we know, and that is because he and his four friends had faith.  (The Greek indicates that all of them had faith, not just the four friends.  The paralytic was in faith, too.)  The scribes and Pharisees went "through the roof" in the wrong way when they saw this healing and got nothing themselves.

This shows that Jesus equated healing with the forgiveness of sins.  In effect, he said, "I will prove my authority to forgive sins by removing sickness, one of the consequences of sin, from this paralytic."

Without faith, you can see a miracle happen right under your nose, say that you have seen strange things, and not receive anything.  Don't be like the religious people in this story -- be like the paralytic and his friends.  Refuse to settle for anything less than God's best, even if it's inconvenient to press for it.

Where discussed


Notes on Luke 5:17-26 (cont.)
Luke 5:17-26 is discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

Healing and atonement

Strange ways to get healed

The difference between "the anointing" and "your healing"

Healing and God's glory

Can I command a scoffer to be healed as a sign to him?

Objection:  To preach that Jesus COULD NOT do miracles at Nazareth is to deny his deity and God's sovereignty.  Therefore, the only reason he could not would be that people did not bring the sick.

Objection:  Isaiah 53:4 (Matthew 8:17) was fulfilled in Jesus' earth ministry and cannot be claimed as a promise by Christians today

Objection:  We cannot expect to heal as Jesus did because we are not the Son of God

Objection:  "Faith healers" call attention to man and thus rob the Lord of due glory

Paralysis


Luke  6: 6-10
Luke 6:6-10:

And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man with the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst.  And he arose and stood forth.

Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil?  to save life, or to destroy it?

And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand.  And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Discussed under:

Withering

Notes on Matthew 12:10-13


Luke  6:17-19
Luke 6:17-19:

And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases.

And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

Discussed under:

The healing anointing

Hear and be healed

YOU can be healed

Demon possession

Anything else not listed here


Luke  7: 2-10
Luke 7:2-10:

And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he would do this:

For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

Then Jesus went with them.  And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee, but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth, and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Where discussed


Luke  7:2-10 -- Where discussed
Luke 7:2-10 is discussed under:

Different ways to get healed

Healing and giving

Can I believe and receive a healing for someone else?

Anything else not listed here


Luke  7:12-16
Luke 7:12-16:

Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still.  And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak.  And he delivered him to his mother.

And there came a fear on all:  and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

Discussed under:

God's mercy and compassion

Healing and God's glory

Nonviability


Luke  7:20-23
Luke 7:20-23:

When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come?  or look we for another?

And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Notes


Notes on Luke 7:20-23
Notes on Luke 7:20-23:

Jesus was saying, in effect, "The fact that I am healing multitudes of sick people proves that I am the Messiah."  The symbols of the Messiah brought healing in the Old Testament, so surely one telltale sign that a person was the Messiah would have to be healing.

You are blessed when you are not offended at being associated with the Messiah who still heals today.

Discussed under:

Blindness

Deafness

Demon possession

Lameness

Leprosy

Nonviability

Anything else not listed here


Luke  8:2
Luke 8:2:

And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

Discussed under:

Demon possession

Anything else not listed here


Luke  8:27-39
Luke 8:27-39:

And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God Most High?  I beseech thee, torment me not.

(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.  For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name?  And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

And there was there an herd of swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them.  And he suffered them.

Then went the devils out of the man and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Continued


Luke  8:27-39 (cont.)
They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee.  And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

Notes


Notes on Luke 8:27-39
Notes on Luke 8:27-39:

A careful reading proves that Jesus did not ask the demon what his name was.  Therefore, you cannot use this passage, as some have, to justify having conversations with demons.  (This is proved in the discussion listed below on this subject.)

Swine were unclean animals.  Israelites were not supposed to eat them.  Jesus was not just arbitrarily depriving a farmer of his livelihood.

The fact that evil spirits could have such an effect on a herd of pigs should demonstrate that demons were not just a superstitious way of explaining mental illness in those times.

Discussed under:

Should we ask demons their names before casting them out?

Demon possession


Luke  8:41-56
Luke 8:41-56:

And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying.  But as he went the people thronged him.

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

And Jesus said, Who touched me?  When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

And he said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

Continued


Luke  8:41-56 (cont.)
But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole.

And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not, she is not dead, but sleepeth.

And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

Notes


Notes on Luke 8:41-56
Notes on Luke 8:41-56:

Jesus was not a liar.  He used the phrase "sleeping" to describe being dead, although the people did not understand it that way.

Jesus told the man to fear not and only believe that his daughter would be raised.  "Fear not, believe only" is good advice for any sick person, but what about a situation where someone is dead?  We have no generic mandate to raise the dead.  However, this man had a direct word from the Lord that she would be raised up if he would believe.

This shows that even in cases where the gifts of the Spirit operate, the faith of the recipients can still play a part in determining whether the miracle occurs.  If this were not the case, Jesus would not have made believing a condition for receiving this miracle.

Discussed under:

Get away from unbelief

Hemorrhaging

Nonviability

Notes on Mark 5:22-43


Luke  9: 1-2
Luke 9:1-2:

Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Discussed under:

Sickness is the power of the devil

Demon possession

Anything else not listed here


Luke  9: 6
Luke 9:6:

And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Discussed under:

Anything else not listed here


Luke  9:11
Luke 9:11:

And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

Discussed under:

YOU can be healed

Anything else not listed here


Luke  9:38-42
Luke 9:38-42:

And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.

And lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you?  Bring thy son hither.

And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him.  And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

Discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

Demon possession

Notes on Matthew 17:14-21

Notes on Mark 9:17-29


Luke  9:49-50
Luke 9:49-50:

And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not:  for he that is not against us is for us.

Discussed under:

The power in the name of Jesus

Your authority over sickness

Demon possession


Luke 10: 8-9
Luke 10:8-9:

And into whatever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Discussed under:

Objection:  Christ's disciples were told to heal EVERYONE.  No one does this today, so we cannot say we have the same authority they did.

Anything else not listed here


Luke 10:17-20
Luke 10:17-20:

And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you, because your names are written in heaven.

Notes


Notes on Luke 10:17-20
Notes on Luke 10:17-20:

The disciples realized that there was power in the name of Jesus.  They used his name to drive out devils.  Jesus cautioned against being preoccupied with power.  Just as John exhorted young men that they had overcome Satan, but exhorted the "fathers" (elders) that they knew God, Jesus made it clear that knowing God is a far greater privilege than casting out devils.

A side note in case you are curious:  When did Satan fall from heaven as lightning?  This is not recorded anywhere in Genesis 1.  Actually, it would fit between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.  Apparently something on the earth was wiped out before Genesis 1:2, and it must have been at this time that Satan fell from heaven.  (God said to replenish the earth, the same thing he told Noah to do, indicating that something was here before the recreation of Genesis 1.  Also, God said that he did not create the earth empty in Isaiah 45:18; and the word used in Genesis 1:2 indicates that the earth became void.  2 Peter 3:5-7 definitely implies the existence of different "heavens and earth" from those that "are now."  A thorough discussion of this matter is outside the scope of this book, but I wanted to get you thinking.  You do not have to believe that dinosaur bones are fakes to believe the Bible.)

Since the Bible calls sickness "oppression of the devil," and Jesus gave his followers power over all the works of the devil, you can see that he gave them power over sickness.

Where discussed


Notes on Luke 10:17-20 (cont.)
Luke 10:17-20 is discussed under:

The power in the name of Jesus

Casting out the spirit of stupidity

Your authority over sickness

Demon possession


Luke 11:14
Luke 11:14:

And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb.  And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

Discussed under:

Demon possession

Dumbness


Luke 11:20
Luke 11:20:

But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

Discussed under:

Demon possession


Luke 13:11-16
Luke 13:11-16:

And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Notes


Notes on Luke 13:11-16
Notes on Luke 13:11-16:

Here Jesus said that the crippled woman was bound by Satan and ought to be healed.  Apparently, there are spirits whose job it is to make people infirm or sick.  In this case, the woman was oppressed, not possessed.  Jesus did not need to cast the spirit out of her; he simply healed her.

How sad that anyone would complain about a miraculous healing of someone who had been crippled for 18 years.  Still, there are people like that today.

Notice that the reason she "ought to be healed" was that she was a daughter of Abraham.  If you are in Christ, you are a child of Abraham by faith, so surely you ought to be healed, too!

Discussed under:

Abraham's blessing is yours	You ought to be healed

Healing and God's glory	The acceptable year of the Lord

Is all sickness demonic?

Objection:  "Faith healers" call attention to man and thus rob the Lord of due glory

Arthritis

Demon possession


Luke 14:1-6
Luke 14:1-6:

And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.

And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?

And they held their peace.  And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?

And they could not answer him again to these things.

Notes


Notes on Luke 14:1-6
Notes on Luke 14:1-6:

Click the topic below for the dictionary definition of dropsy.

Jesus likened the man's sick condition to being in a pit.  (Sickness is the pits!)  Just as a compassionate farmer would take his animal out of a pit, Jesus would heal a sick person.  An animal should not be in a pit, and a person should not be sick.  Jesus is willing to pull you out of your pit of sickness any day of the week!

Discussed under:

Swelling


Luke 17:12-19
Luke 17:12-19:

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

And they lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests.  And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

And fell down on his face at his feet; giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed?  but where are the nine?

There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Discussed under:

All about healing services	Strange ways to get healed

I prayed in faith -- now what?	Healing and God's glory

Healing and obedience	According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

Objection:  Christ's healings were mostly instantaneous; we cannot claim to be able to do his works when we have so few instantaneous miracles

Objection:  "Faith healers" call attention to man and thus rob the Lord of due glory

Leprosy


Luke 18:35-43
Luke 18:35-43:

And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:

And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.

And they told him, Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

Saying, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?  And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

Discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

It might only take one	Healing and God's glory

Objection:  "Faith healers" call attention to man and thus rob the Lord of due glory

Blindness

(See Notes on Matthew 20:30-34 for additional comments.)


Luke 22:50-51
Luke 22:50-51:

And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far.  And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Notes


Notes on Luke 22:50-51
Notes on Luke 22:50-51:

Want to see how willing Jesus is to heal?  Check out this passage.  Jesus was willing to perform a miracle for one of his enemies -- a man who had come to take him away to be killed!  If he is willing to extend such mercy to his enemies, think how much mercy he must be willing to extend to one of his friends!  (Jesus calls you a friend if you obey him -- John 15:14.)

Discussed under:

Must we lay hands on the specific afflicted body part?

Can I get healed of injuries from accidents as well as diseases?

Injuries

Severing


John  3:14
John 3:14:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up:

Notes


Notes on John 3:14
Notes on John 3:14:

Here Jesus likened himself to the brass serpent in Numbers 21:5-9.  When people looked at the serpent, a symbol of Christ, they were forgiven and healed.  It makes sense that you should get no less when you look to the Christ who was symbolized.

Christ on the cross was symbolized by a serpent on a pole because he was "made sin" for us (2 Cor 5:21) and "made a curse" for us (Galatians 3:13) when he hung on the cross.

Discussed under:

Healing and atonement


John  4:46-53
John 4:46-53:

So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he had made the water wine.  And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum.

When he had heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth.  And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, Thy son liveth.

Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend.  And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.

So that father knew that it was the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

Notes


Notes on John 4:46-53
Notes on John 4:46-53:

This man is interesting because he took a lot of effort to seek out Jesus, yet he did not fully "believe."  This is clear from what Jesus said to him ("Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe") and from the end of the story, where the nobleman finally "believed" AFTER the healing took place!

The man had no doubt heard that Jesus was doing miracles, but he was not yet committed to following Jesus.  It is interesting that he believed the word of Jesus and received his miracle before believing in Jesus in a general way!  Apparently, this is possible.

Discussed under:

Different ways to get healed

God's blessing on your kids

Why are there more miracles on the mission field than at home?

Can I believe and receive a healing for someone else?

Would God heal an unbeliever?

Objection:  Christ's healings were mostly instantaneous; we cannot claim to be able to do his works when we have so few instantaneous miracles

Fever


John  5:2-19
John 5:2-19:

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

Continued


John  5:2-19 (cont.)
And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

But Jesus answered them, my Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Notes


Notes on John 5:2-19
Notes on John 5:2-19:

The man who was healed was healed through the operation of a gift of the Spirit, not by his faith.  That should be obvious!  The man had no idea who Jesus was, and wasn't terribly warm to the idea of getting healed in a way other than running into the pool.  Jesus equated his healing with the work of God.

This has led to controversy over why Jesus did not heal everyone else at the pool.  It has even been used as a "proof" (see objections under "Where discussed" below) the healing is not for all.  Yes, Jesus did leave the others sick, but he never turned down anyone who came to him for healing.  The other people at the pool seemed to have no clue who Jesus was.  They did not expect anything from him, so they did not receive anything from him.  (Once the man was healed, Jesus apparently left the area quickly.  We don't know for sure why, but it may have had to do with the fact that the Pharisees would be out to kill him for healing on the Sabbath.)

The gifts of the Spirit operate as the Spirit wills.  He will sometimes heal a person who is not in faith when he sees fit to do so, but no man has any guarantee of being healed that way.  Every man DOES have a guarantee of being healed if he will believe he receives his healing when he prays.  Just as those who came to Jesus in faith for healing were healed then, you can be healed when you come to him in faith now.

Where discussed


Notes on John 5:2-19 (cont.)
John 5:2-19 is discussed under:

All about healing services

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

Strange ways to get healed

If you are sick, does that mean there is sin in your life?

Objection:  To preach that Jesus COULD NOT do miracles at Nazareth is to deny his deity and God's sovereignty.  Therefore, the only reason he could not would be that people did not bring the sick.

Objection:  Jesus didn't heal everyone in his earthly ministry; he left many sick at the Pool of Bethesda

Objection:  Jesus did only what he saw the Father do.  He only saw the Father heal ONE person at the Pool of Bethesda.

Objection:  If we have this faith and authority, we should go empty hospitals

Objection:  David said that it was GOOD that he was afflicted; so it can be with us

Blindness

Lameness


John  6:2
John 6:2:

And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

Notes


Notes on John 6:2
Notes on John 6:2:

Want a one-verse church growth program?  Here it is!  No secular gimmicks, no program that worked somewhere else, no formulas, no seminars, and not even any direct costs!  Multitudes follow Jesus when they see the miracles that he does on the sick.

Discussed under:

Healing and evangelism

Anything else not listed here


John  9:1-7
John 9:1-7:

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but  that the works of God should be manifest in him.

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: The night cometh, when no man can work.

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

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,

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.

[The results of this take up the remainder of chapter 9, through verse 41.]

Where discussed


Notes on John 9:1-7
John 9:1-7 is discussed under:

Strange ways to get healed

Healing and obedience

Objection:  Christ's healings were mostly instantaneous; we cannot claim to be able to do his works when we have so few instantaneous miracles

Objection:  The man in John 9 was born blind, and that was God's will

Birth defects

Blindness


John 10:10
John 10:10:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Discussed under:

Who or what causes sickness?

Objection:  Job was a godly man, yet God let him get sick


John 11:1-44
John 11:1-44:

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

When Jesus heard that, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby.

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again.

His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in one day?  If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking rest in sleep.

Continued


John 11:1-44 (cont.)
Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Continued


John 11:1-44 (cont. #2)
And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

And said, Where have ye laid him?  They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Jesus wept.

Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave.  It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone.  Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

Continued


John 11:1-44 (cont. #3)
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.  And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin.  Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Discussed under:

To heal the brokenhearted

Healing and God's glory

Objection:  Lazarus was sick for the glory of God (John 11:4)

Blindness

Nonviability


John 12:39-41
John 12:39-41:

Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again,

He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.

(See Notes on Matthew 13:15)


Acts  1:8
Acts 1:8:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Notes


Notes on Acts 1:8
Notes on Acts 1:8:

It has always been God's plan that you receive power and then go be a witness.  Flowing in the power of God is a far more effective witness than all the canned evangelism programs you can think of.  The disciples weren't even supposed to leave Jerusalem without this power.  It was the power of God in demonstration that caused whole cities to be converted not too long after this.

It is clear from this verse that the power is to manifest when you go to be a witness to the world.  This is consistent with the Great Commission as expressed in Mark 16:15-18.

Jesus had already breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."  So why were they waiting?  When you are born again, the Holy Spirit dwells in you, but you receive power when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit, as happened in Acts 2 and elsewhere.  Salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are two distinct experiences, as proved in How to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

Discussed under:

Objection:  Mark 16:9-20 was not in some early manuscripts


Acts  3:1-16
Acts 3:1-16:

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength.

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

And all the people saw him walking and praising God;

And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.

Continued


Acts 3:1-16 (cont.)
And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Notes


Notes on Acts 3:1-16
Notes on Acts 3:1-16:

This appears to be a manifestation of the "gift of faith" found in 1 Cor 12:8-11.  This faith was "by him."  The man himself did not appear to be expecting a miracle.  He was looking for a handout as usual.  We do not know whether or not the man had heard the teaching of the apostles, either directly or secondhand from those who went in and out.  Whatever the case, he rose up healed.  This was a sign that resulted in the salvation of 5,000 people in one day!  Jesus said that signs would follow the preaching of the gospel and that he would give the disciples power to be witnesses, and this word was true.  Being healed as a sign is NOT the norm and should not be the way you seek healing.

Discussed under:

Jesus the Healer has never changed!

How to deal with the devil

Your authority over sickness

The power in the name of Jesus

Is all sickness demonic?

Objection:  By Jesus' stripes we were spiritually, not physically, healed

Birth defects

Lameness

Weakness


Acts  4:7-10
Acts 4:7-10:

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Notes


Notes on Acts 4: 7-10
Notes on Acts 4:7-10:

Jesus said that when you ask anything in his name, he will do it.  This is an example of that.  Peter, talking about the crippled man at the gate called Beautiful, said that the man was whole by the name of Jesus Christ, and then said that by him he stood before them whole.

Discussed under:

The power in the name of Jesus

Objection:  By Jesus' stripes we were spiritually, not physically, healed


Acts  4:22
Acts 4:22:

For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

Discussed under:

What are the differences between the gift of faith, the gifts of healings, and the working of miracles?


Acts  4:29-33
Acts 4:29-33:

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought [any] of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Notes


Notes on Acts 4:29-33
Notes on Acts 4:29-33:

It is Scriptural to pray for boldness and to pray for signs and wonders!  You should do it!

The disciples were not re-baptized in the Holy Spirit; they were refilled with the Holy Spirit.  This shows that there is one "baptism" with the Spirit but many "fillings" with the Spirit.  Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 5:18 to be continuously being filled with the Spirit instead of being filled with booze.  (Be being filled with the Spirit is the rough literal translation.)

Note that the miracles accompanied the bold preaching of the Word and the disciples prayed for both.  The two go together.  Don't just pray for miracles; pray for bold preaching of the Word!

Discussed under:

Your authority over sickness

The power in the name of Jesus

How can we see more miracles today?

Can we pray and believe for the healing anointing to manifest?

Objection:  By Jesus' stripes we were spiritually, not physically, healed


Acts  5:12-16
Acts 5:12-16:

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Notes


Notes on Acts 5:12-16
Notes on Acts 5:12-16:

Not all healings are signs and wonders.  Here both were done on the streets of Jerusalem.  Great power went forth and healed multitudes of people who could not walk, but all the sick folks who were brought were healed.  What could have brought this about?  First, the promised signs and wonders that follow the gospel were happening.  Second, there was great unity and prayer among the believers, and this likely had something to do with it.

Discussed under:

Strange ways to get healed

The healing anointing

Healing and evangelism

YOU can be healed

Objection:  By Jesus' stripes we were spiritually, not physically, healed

Demon possession

Anything else not listed here


Acts  6:8
Acts 6:8:

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Notes


Notes on Acts 6:8
Notes on Acts 6:8:

Stephen is an interesting case study.  He was appointed to wait on tables, but we know that he was full of faith and power.  He was what we would probably call a deacon today.  The apostles had assigned him no explicitly spiritual responsibilities.  Yet he did great wonders and miracles among the people!

This is proof that ministering healing could not have been only for the apostles, because Stephen was never an apostle and he did great wonders and miracles!  If you want to be in the ministry just because you want to do signs and wonders, you want to be a minister for the wrong reason, because laypeople such as Stephen can do signs and wonders, too.  (You don't enter the ministry unless you know that God has called you to it and other believers bear witness with your calling and separate you to that ministry.)

How did Stephen get his great faith so that he walked in great power?  We know that faith comes by hearing God's Word; therefore, Stephen must have been a man of the Word.  You don't have to speculate about it; read Stephen's speech at his trial in Acts 7.  Stephen obviously knew the Old Testament quite well, even though it wasn't distributed to the masses in those days.

If you are a layperson, you can still do great wonders and miracles.  Be a person of the Word and of the Spirit, and prepare for God to use you mightily!


Acts  8:5-8
Acts 8:5-8:

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

And there was great joy in that city.

Notes


Notes on Acts 8:5-8
Notes on Acts 8:5-8:

Philip was another of the seven deacons appointed by the apostles to take care of physical matters, but he was obviously a man of faith and power like Stephen.  His ministry had a great impact on Samaria.  He was later referred to as an evangelist, but he had no responsibility other than serving tables before he went to Samaria.  As far as we know, no one ever commissioned him to do this work in Samaria!  This is another proof that laypeople can be used by God to do signs and wonders that impact cities!

Discussed under:

Healing and evangelism

Lameness

Paralysis


Acts  9:17-18
Acts 9:17-18:

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Notes


Notes on Acts 9:17-18
Notes on Acts 9:17-18:

Ananias, like Stephen and Philip, was a layperson who did something great for God.  Imagine the privilege, in retrospect, of having been the one to lay hands on the man who became the Apostle Paul so that he would be filled with the Holy Ghost!  Paul was able to be faithful to his vision because Ananias was faithful to his.  Ananias had to believe with no natural proof that (1) Saul was saved (2) The Lord had appeared to Saul on the way to Damascus, and (3) Saul couldn't see, but would see after he laid hands on him.  Quite the instructions!  Of course, he probably knew that if he had missed God in the matter, he would probably have been one of the first Christians rounded up!

Paul's blindness was not caused by the devil, but instead from the glory of God.  Even so, he was healed of his condition when Ananias laid hands on him.  (There are other cases where people's bodies just can't handle the presence of God and respond in ways that seem like sickness.)

Discussed under:

Why do people fall over when they are prayed for?


Acts  9:32-35
Acts 9:32-35:

And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed.  And he arose immediately.

And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

Discussed under:

Jesus the Healer has never changed!

Strange ways to get healed

Healing and evangelism

It might only take one

Where's Jesus?

Objection:  By Jesus' stripes we were spiritually, not physically, healed

Paralysis


Acts  9:36-42
Acts 9:36-42:

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

Then Peter arose and went with them.  When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise.  And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

And it was known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Discussed under:

Healing and evangelism	It might only take one

Get away from unbelief	Nonviability

Objection:  By Jesus' stripes we were spiritually, not physically, healed


Acts 10:38
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.

Notes


Notes on Acts 10:38
Notes on Acts 10:38:

Who says we shouldn't preach healing as part of the gospel?  Peter did!  Peter was addressing a group of unbelievers at Cornelius's house.  If Peter could preach this part of the gospel to sinners, so can we.

It is objected sometimes that Jesus did not heal all because he left sick people at Nazareth and the Pool of Bethesda, but Jesus did heal all who came to him for healing.  The ones who were not healed were ones who did not come to him to be healed.

If the Peter and the Holy Spirit consider sickness to be oppression of the devil, so should you.  Now that Jesus is glorified and seated at God's right hand, is he less willing to remove "the oppression of the devil" from YOUR body?  NO!

This verse indicates that Jesus ministered as a man anointed by the Holy Ghost.  We can do the same works because we have the same Holy Ghost.  If Jesus ministered as God, he would not have had to be ANOINTED with the Holy Ghost and with power.  He would have just used his innate God-power to do the miracles.  Thus, he could have done that all his life.  However, we know that Jesus did no miracles until the Spirit came on him after he was baptized in Jordan.

Where discussed


Notes on Acts 10:38 (cont.)
Acts 10:38 is discussed under:

Who or what causes sickness?	Jesus the Healer has never changed!

The healing anointing	How to see God's will concerning healing

Dealing with fear	Sickness is the power of the devil

Healing and the Holy Spirit	YOU can be healed

The acceptable year of the Lord	Delivered!

I thought I was healed.  Why did the symptoms just start to return?

Is all sickness demonic?

If you are sick, does that mean there is sin in your life?

Objection:  God sometimes leads faithful saints into "wilderness experiences"

Objection:  God uses sickness to draw us closer to himself

Objection:  We cannot expect to heal as Jesus did because we are not the Son of God

Objection:  "Faith healers" call attention to man and thus rob the Lord of due glory

Objection:  David said that it was GOOD that he was afflicted; so it can be with us

Objection:  By Jesus' stripes we were spiritually, not physically, healed

Objection:  The man in John 9 was born blind, and that was God's will

Objection:  Jesus didn't heal everyone in his earthly ministry; he left many sick at the Pool of Bethesda

Anything else not listed here


Acts 14: 3
Acts 14:3:

Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Notes


Notes on Acts 14:3
Notes on Acts 14:3:

We see again the connection between bold preaching of the Word of God and signs and wonders.  They should go together.  (If we want to see signs and wonders, we should not only pray for them, but we should also pray for boldness in preaching.)

If the Lord was willing to confirm his Word then, we should expect him to do so now, since neither God nor his Word has changed.

Many references like this refer to "signs and wonders" that are not enumerated.  We don't have a record of every sign, wonder and miracle done by believers.  The ones that are explicitly mentioned are examples and not a comprehensive list.


Acts 14: 7-10
Acts 14:7-10:

And there they preached the gospel.

And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet.  And he leaped and walked.

Notes


Notes on Acts 14:7-10
Notes on Acts 14:7-10:

Paul did not heal the man at Lystra.  He preached the gospel to him (v. 7).  From hearing the gospel, the man received faith to be healed (v. 9).

The man already had faith to be healed in verse 9.  However, he was not healed in verse 9.  This shows that you can have faith to be healed and yet still not be healed because you have not added corresponding action to your faith.  "Faith without works is dead" -- James 2:26.  When the man acted on his faith at Paul's command, his healing manifested.  He did not acquire more faith between verse 9 and verse 10.  He simply acted on the faith that he already had at that point.

This shows that the problem is not always a faith shortage -- sometimes it's an action shortage!

Where discussed


Notes on Acts 14:7-10 (cont.)
Acts 14:7-10 is discussed under:

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

How to get more faith

The healing anointing

It works!

What are the differences between the gift of faith, the gifts of healings, and the working of miracles?

Objection:  Healing is a side issue that does not deserve to be emphasized so much

Objection:  God wouldn't heal Paul's thorn in the flesh

Birth defects

Lameness

Mistake:  Inaction


Acts 14:19-20
Acts 14:19-20:

And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Notes


Notes on Acts 14:19-20
Notes on Acts 14:19-20:

It is most likely that Paul was really dead and that he was raised from the dead.  We cannot prove this, but the Jews hated Paul so much that it seems doubtful they would have stopped stoning him before he was dead.  Also, notice that they did not take Paul outside the city and stone him.  They stoned him, and then dragged him out of the city, assuming that he was a corpse!

Regardless of whether he was dead or not, the disciples gathered around him and God raised him up.  He was sufficiently healed of everything so that he was able to go back into the city and then go somewhere else immediately.  This is one of the greatest healings in the Bible.  It would be tough to say that the apostle Paul did not believe in healing after this incident!

Discussed under:

Nonviability


Acts 15:12
Acts 15:12:

Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

Notes


Notes on Acts 15:12
Notes on Acts 15:12:

Not all the miracles done by the apostles are listed in Acts.  In this case, we just know God worked miracles and wonders through Paul and Barnabas.  As is always the case, it was God doing the works through them, not Paul and Barnabas doing the works in their own strength.  It is a relief to know that you do not have to "perform" or work something up.  You just have to be available to be used by God.


Acts 16:16-18
Acts 16:16-18:

And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

And this did she many days.  But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.  And he came out the same hour.

Notes


Notes on Acts 16:16-18
Notes on Acts 16:16-18:

The girl was right in what she said, but who wants the devil advertising his ministry?

Why would the devil advertise Jesus Christ?  In this case, at least part of the reason would seem to be that he knew Paul would be greatly annoyed by it.  Paul wanted nothing to do with the works of the devil, and surely he did not want to legitimize the actions of a psychic.  (As a side note, that is how psychics operate -- evil spirits give them their revelations.  It is not some innate power they have.)

This passage also disproves the popular statement by preachers, "All the devil can do is lie."  No, as with the temptation of Jesus, the devil will sometimes mix truth and lies together.  He gives you some meat along with his poison so that you'll be tempted to eat it.

Discussed under:

Your authority over sickness

The power in the name of Jesus

Demon possession


Acts 19:11-12
Acts 19:11-12:

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Notes


Notes on Acts 19:11-12
Notes on Acts 19:11-12:

It is ridiculous to think that Paul could have stayed sick with a chronic illness when objects taken from his body were so soaked in the anointing that they brought healing to others.

This is somewhat similar to the way multitudes were healed when they touched Jesus' clothes instead of Jesus himself.  The anointing is a tangible power that is able to saturate clothing and other items.

Discussed under:

Strange ways to get healed

The healing anointing

Can I believe and receive a healing for someone else?

Can I "stand in proxy" for someone else in a healing line?

Objection:  God wouldn't heal Paul's thorn in the flesh

Demon possession

Anything else not listed here


Acts 20:9-12
Acts 20:9-12:

And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep:  and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves, for his life is in him.

When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

Notes


Notes on Acts 20:9-12
Notes on Acts 20:9-12:

Does this passage give you the right to raise anyone from the dead who dies while you're preaching?  No.  Such things are a manifestation of the Spirit, not an act of regular faith.

Mediocre preachers sometimes use this passage to justify preaching long messages.  ("Paul preached all night, you know.")  If you're as good as Paul, and you're talking to people whom won't ever see again in this life, maybe you can go all night.  Actually, we don't know that Paul preached all night.  He preached until this incident, and then broke bread and talked until morning.  We don't know that his talking was continued preaching.  As for you, study and prepare so that you can preach concise messages instead of rambling, and you will run less risk of people being "bored to death" while you preach.

Discussed under:

Nonviability


Acts 27:33-34
Acts 27:33-34:

And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

Wherefore I pray you to take some meat; for this is for your health:  for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

Notes


Notes on Acts 27:33-34
Notes on Acts 27:33-34:

Here, as in 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul gives natural advice for someone's health.  Paul did signs and wonders and healed the sick, but he also used and recommended common sense.  Rather than waiting for people to get sick and then ministering healing, Paul tried to avoid having people get sick in the first place.

Discussed under:

Objection:  Paul told Timothy to drink wine instead of believing God for healing


Acts 28: 3-6
Acts 28:3-6:

And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, vengeance suffereth not to live.

And shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

Discussed under:

Objection:  Mark 16:9-20 was not in some early manuscripts

Snakebites


Acts 28: 8-9
Acts 28:8-9:

And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

Notes


Notes on Acts 28:8-9
Notes on Acts 28:8-9:

The Greek is very clear that all the remaining sick people on the island came and were healed.  The Greek word translated "others" in the King James means "the remaining ones," as you can verify with a concordance.  It's Strong's #3062 and is elsewhere translated which remain, remnant, residue and rest.

Discussed under:

Healing and evangelism

It might only take one

The power in the name of Jesus

YOU can be healed

Fever

Hemorrhaging

Anything else not listed here


Acts 28:27
Acts 28:27:

For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Notes


Notes on Acts 28:27
Notes on Acts 28:27:

We see the correlation God draws between seeing with your eyes, hearing with your ears, understanding with your heart, being converted, and being healed.  God was willing to heal these people, but they did not want to hear the gospel.  In this case, this applied to some Jews who did not like Paul's message.


Romans  1:16
Romans 1:16:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Notes


Notes on Romans 1:16
Notes on Romans 1:16:

The gospel doesn't just tell you about the power of God.  It is the power of God.  God's Word is not just ink on paper.  It is spirit and life.  It is alive and active.  The gospel is God's power unto salvation because when you hear it and believe it, you are saved and the power of God makes you a new creation.

The word for salvation (soteria in Greek) is used to describe not only forgiveness of sins but deliverance, healing and victory.  The gospel is God's power unto these other facets of salvation as well, not just the forgiveness of sins.  The gospel is that these things have already been provided for you in Christ.

If the gospel is God's power, why don't all experience this power?  Because it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.  It does not benefit you until you mix faith with it.  Then it becomes the power of God to you.

Discussed under:

How to deal with the devil

Why you don't need to pray the power down


Romans  4:16-21
Romans 4:16-21:

Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law,  but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb;

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Notes


Notes on Romans 4:16-21
Notes on Romans 4:16-21:

Here is a crash course in faith.  Abraham believed God when everything in the natural said that God lied.  He did not consider his own body or Sarah's body.  He gave glory to God because he believed God could do what he promised.

If you want to follow in Abraham's footsteps, you will have to disregard your body when it comes to believing God's promise.  That doesn't mean you should operate in denial and put yourself in physical danger.  It means that while you acknowledge the symptoms in your body (and do what you need to do in the natural), you believe that you have received your healing, and that God will back his Word that came out of your mouth.  The comment that he was not weak in faith and did not consider his own body seems to point to the fact that people who are weak in faith will waver because they become preoccupied with their bodies instead of with God's Word.

Like God, you need to "call those things that be not as though they were."  Give glory to God for the fact that he has already healed you, even though your body tells your healing "is not."

Discussed under:

What faith isn't


Romans  8:2
Romans 8:2:

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Discussed under:

Objection:  If we are subject to death, we are subject to sickness


Romans  8:11
Romans 8:11:

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Discussed under:

Jesus the Healer has never changed!

What's better than healing?  Health!

The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead

Objection:  God wouldn't heal Paul's thorn in the flesh

Objection:  Romans 8:11 refers to the resurrection, not this life

Objection:  If we are subject to death, we are subject to sickness

Objection:  Our bodies are not yet redeemed, so we are still subject to sickness

Weakness


Romans 15:18-19
Romans 15:18-19:

For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Notes


Notes on Romans 15:18-19
Notes on Romans 15:18-19:

Paul here shows that Christ himself did the miracles.  Paul was simply the vessel through whom Christ worked.  Jesus Christ is not just sitting up in heaven seeing how well we can make it on our own in our faith walk.  He is actively involved with our lives and actively involved in the spreading of the gospel.  You don't have to feel like a "great man of God" to be used in signs and wonders because it is Christ, not you, who does the miracles.  It is more a case of being open and available to be used in this way.

Discussed under:

Jesus the Healer has never changed!

Healing and evangelism


1 Corinthians  2: 4-5
1 Corinthians 2:4-5:

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Notes


Notes on 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
Notes on 1 Corinthians 2:4-5:

You don't need to be a skilled orator to preach the gospel.  In fact, people complained about Paul's speech and physical presence being contemptible.  People didn't come to see him because he was good-looking or because he had such an eloquent way with words.  Some of his letters have some run-on sentences that would curl your English teacher's hair.  You should have seen all the errors my electronic grammar checker reported on the Bible passages when I proofread this book!  People came to hear Paul because of the signs and wonders that followed his preaching of the gospel.

This doesn't mean that you should make no effort to be a good public speaker.  There is no advantage in being unprepared, using bad grammar, and constantly saying, "You know, well, uh..." between every sentence.  However, you cannot trust in your fine words to convince men that Jesus is the Christ.  It is your job to proclaim it and the Holy Spirit's job to do the convincing.

Paul didn't say that he spoke poorly.  He just said that he didn't try to use man's wisdom to make his arguments when he preached.  Instead, he preached Christ boldly and let the Lord convince men through signs and wonders.

Discussed under:

Healing and evangelism


1 Corinthians  3:16-17
1 Corinthians 3:16-17:

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

Notes


Notes on 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Notes on 1 Corinthians 3:16-17:

"Ye" and "you" in this passage are plural in the Greek.  Paul told the Corinthians that they were collectively the temple of God.  This is really a warning about church splitting, not about tobacco or alcohol or illicit drugs (not that I recommend any of them).

This being said, you still must wonder why God would want any part of his own temple to be run down and out of order.  God was very picky about his temple in the Old Testament.  Everything had to be in order.  Since we are God's temple, his dwelling place, surely God does not want his temple to be in disrepair.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

Mistake:  Wrong treatment of the Body of Christ


1 Corinthians  4:18-19
1 Corinthians 4:18-19:

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

Notes


Notes on 1 Corinthians 4:18-19
Notes on 1 Corinthians 4:18-19:

Paul looked down on powerless preaching.  It is abnormal in God's eyes.  Real gospel preaching is done in the power of the Holy Spirit.  We should expect God to confirm his Word when it is preached boldly, if for no other reason than that he said he would!

This is the difference between Christianity and other religions.  Christianity is not a philosophy that we have to argue people into believing.  People treat it as such until they see resurrection power in demonstration.  Then they have to stop and think.

If we powerless like the puffed up preachers Paul mentioned, we need to check what we are preaching and make sure that it is God's Word.  God cannot confirm human junk such as "God makes you a better Christian through suffering sickness."  No one who preaches that stuff should expect any power to follow, because there's no Word in it for God to confirm.  "God doesn't do those things anymore" becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, at least for the current audience.  We also need to see if we are being bold like the apostles.  If we tiptoe through the tulips on healing because we know that preaching healing for all makes some people mad, we are not doing the kind of bold preaching that got results for the apostles.


1 Corinthians  6:13
1 Corinthians 6:13:

Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them.  Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

Notes


Notes on 1 Corinthians 6:13
Notes on 1 Corinthians 6:13:

If the Lord is FOR the body, surely he is willing to do something for it when it is broken down for some reason.  If God were the one putting sickness on you, he would be AGAINST your body, not FOR it.

If "the Lord for the body" does not mean that God will help you with your bodily troubles, what does it mean?  What other explanation could there be for his being "for the body?"  He is not just interested in the prosperity of your spirit and soul; he is interested in your body, too!

Most people read this verse and understand that the body is for the Lord, not for sinning.  However, they miss the last part about the Lord being for the body.  If you honor God with your body, you should expect him to keep your body, which he purchased, in health.  Of course, it is unfair to God to expect him to do things for your body if you refuse to use your body for the Lord!

Discussed under:

Your body is God's property

Objection:  God wouldn't heal Paul's thorn in the flesh

Mistake:  Disobedience


1 Corinthians  6:15
1 Corinthians 6:15:

Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?  shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot?  God forbid.

Notes


Notes on 1 Corinthians 6:15
Notes on 1 Corinthians 6:15:

God says that your physical body is a member of Christ!  We are used to thinking of ourselves as members of Christ spiritually, but God goes beyond that and says that your body belongs to Christ as well!

Can Jesus Christ, who healed the sick everywhere he went, want anything that belongs to him to be sick?  No.  If he healed those who were not born again in his ministry, how much more should he heal a body that is a member of himself?

Discussed under:

Your body is God's property

Objection:  Our bodies are not yet redeemed, so we are still subject to sickness


1 Corinthians  6:19-20
1 Corinthians 6:19-20:

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Notes


Notes on 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Notes on 1 Corinthians 6:19-20:

Since your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, is the Holy Ghost glorified by a sick temple that does not function properly?  Is that any testimony to his quickening power toward our mortal body?  Of course not.  God takes your body very personally.  It is not only his temple, but he bought it with a price along with your spirit.  It is HIS.

I realize that Paul was primarily talking about glorifying God by keeping your body out of fornication, but there is another application to the truths in these verses.  Since sickness does not glorify God, and your body is to glorify God, it logically follows that your body should not have any sickness in it.  Surely God does not want your body to glorify him when it comes to abstaining from sins but then to fail to glorify him when it comes to your health.

Discussed under:

Your body is God's property	Say what	Delivered!	YOU can be healed

Objection:  1 Cor 6:19-20 is about avoiding fornication and should not be used as a healing proof-text

Objection:  Our bodies are not yet redeemed, so we are still subject to sickness

Objection:  God wouldn't heal Paul's thorn in the flesh

Objection:  Paul left Trophimus at Miletum sick instead of healing him


1 Corinthians 12: 8-11
1 Corinthians 12:8-11:

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Notes


Notes on 1 Corinthians 12:8-11
Notes on 1 Corinthians 12:8-11:

The spirit "worketh" all these things.  These gifts are not "given" to you in the sense that they ever become your possession.  The Holy Spirit alone is in charge of operating the gifts.  It is conventional to say that someone has, for example, "the gift of healing," but that is never really true.  It is true that God operates certain gifts through certain people on a more consistent basis, but no man ever possesses the gift in the sense of being able to control when and how it manifests.  (If anyone tells you he does control it, run the other way!  He's nuts.)  The only "control" you have is that you can quench the Spirit when he wants to do something, or just not be open to the Spirit instead of earnestly desiring spiritual gifts, as the Bible commands you to do.

These gifts are definitely for today.  See the reply to Objection:  Healing and miracles are not for this current dispensation for proof of this.  The presence of "gifts of healings" shows God's will in the matter of healing.  There are no "gifts of sickening" where the Holy Spirit makes the well sick to teach them patience or valuable lessons.  By the way, in the Greek, the gifts of healing are literally the gifts of healings (plural), as in 1 Cor 12:28-30.

Where discussed


Notes on 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 (cont.)
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 is discussed under:

Can we pray and believe for the healing anointing to manifest?

What are the differences between the gift of faith, the gifts of healings, and the working of miracles?

Objection:  Only some receive GIFTS OF HEALING; this proves that healing is a gift bestowed as God wills


1 Corinthians 12:28-30
1 Corinthians 12:28-30:

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

Notes


Notes on 1 Corinthians 12:28-30
Notes on 1 Corinthians 12:28-30:

Earlier in the chapter, Paul discusses nine ways in which the Spirit can manifest himself in a service.  (These are not the only ways he can move; they are some of the ways.)  Here, Paul talks about people whose ministries major on certain gifts.  Included in the list are "gifts of healings" and "working of miracles."  There is no indication that God will ever stop setting these in the Church.  (For you Greek fans, the phrase "gifts of healing" in the last verse is literally "gifts of healings," the same words used in the first verse.)

You do not have to be called to healing ministry to be used in gifts of healings any more than you have to be called to be a prophet to prophesy.  However, it should be obvious that God will use a person with this call on his life more regularly in these gifts.  You cannot decide which calling you would like to follow.  God sets these ministries in the Church, not man.

Discussed under:

Massive healing crusades:  The will of God!

All about healing services

The healing anointing

Objection:  Only some receive GIFTS OF HEALING; this proves that healing is a gift bestowed as God wills


Galatians 3: 5-6
Galatians 3:5-6:

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

Notes


Notes on Galatians 3:5-6
Notes on Galatians 3:5-6:

Here Paul tells us that God can do miracles when people believe for them.  Abraham, the example in this passage, believed God for a physical miracle.  He believed that he would become the father of many nations when it was physically impossible for him to have a son through his wife.  Rather than doubting God's promise, he called that which was not (having descendants through Sarah) as though they already were.  He did not consider his own body or Sarah's body.

If want Abraham-type miracles, we need to have Abraham-type faith.  We must also consider the word of God to be more real than the current physical condition of our bodies if we want miracles to be done.

It is not a matter of going to seminary or reading a dozen commentaries on the Bible.  It is a matter of believing God.  Your works, even your religious works, do not qualify you for a miracle.  The length of time you have been saved does not qualify you for a miracle.  The wonderful works you have done to serve the body of Christ do not qualify you for a miracle.  Believing God, as Abraham did, is what qualifies you to receive a miracle!  Don't let works be your basis for receiving from God.  The Galatians had started to make this mistake, and Paul called them foolish.

Where discussed


Notes on Galatians 3:5-6 (cont.)
Galatians 3:5-6 is discussed under:

How can we see more miracles today?

Objection:  God does great miracles only during crucial times in history

Objection:  Healing and miracles are not for this current dispensation


Galatians 3:10-14
Galatians 3:10-14:

For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit though faith.

Notes


Notes on Galatians 3:10-14
Notes on Galatians 3:10-14:

The Old Testament quote in verse 10 is taken from the last verse of Deuteronomy 27.  Since that is the verse just before Deuteronomy 28 (I'll bet you figured that out), it identifies the context of the "curse of the law" in verse 13 as the curse specified in the law in Deuteronomy 28.

We are free from the things listed in the "curse of the law" because Christ took our curse for us.  He allowed himself to be cursed by God.  He was "made sin" for us (2 Cor 5:21) and "became a curse."  The law's curse included every sickness there is.  Therefore, we are redeemed from every sickness because Christ was made sick in our place.  (Isaiah 53:10 says that he was made sick; see Isaiah's prophecy of redemption for more on this.)

Receiving the promise of the Spirit refers not to being baptized in the Holy Spirit (which Abraham never was), but receiving the promise that the Spirit made to Abraham, i.e., his blessing.

Where discussed


Notes on Galatians 3:10-14 (cont.)
Where discussed:

This passage is used throughout this book.  The following is a list of some of the more notable locations where it is discussed:

Isaiah's prophecy of redemption

YOU can be healed

Breaking generational curses

Objection:  Gal 3:13's "curse" speaks of spiritual death, not sickness or poverty

Objection:  The earth is under a curse because of Adam, so sickness will continue until Jesus returns

Objection:  Gal 3:13 means that Christ redeemed us from the law, which was a curse, not the "curse" in Deuteronomy 28

Objection:  The curse of the Law was given to Israel, not to us.  We cannot be redeemed from it because we were never under it.


Galatians 4:13
Galatians 4:13:

Ye know how though infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel to you at the first.

Notes


Notes on Galatians 4:13
Notes on Galatians 4:13:

Obviously, Paul was healed of whatever infirmities he had.  If you had just been stoned at Lystra (which was part of Galatia where he preached "through infirmity of the flesh"), you might have an infirmity of the flesh, too!  Thank God, it was only "at the first" because God healed Paul.  Another hint to the nature of Paul's infirmity is found in Gal 6:17 -- Paul bore in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

That it was only "at the first" demonstrates that Paul was healed of whatever problem(s) he had.  Thus, this verse can be used as a healing scripture, not as a "sickening scripture" the way some would use it.

Whatever his problem was, he mentioned it as a problem only at Galatia and only "at the first."  This trial "was" in his flesh, which proves that it did not continue as a chronic "thorn in the flesh" that Paul had to deal with throughout his ministry.

It has been suggested that because Paul talked about the Galatians being willing to pluck out their own eyes and give them to him, he had some kind of chronic eye problem.  I have shown that it could not have been chronic.  It could possibly have been an eye problem resulting from the stoning at Lystra.  All we know for sure is that God healed it.

Where discussed


Notes on Galatians 4:13 (cont.)
Where discussed:

Objection:  God wouldn't heal Paul's thorn in the flesh

Objection:  Paul first preached at Galatia due to a physical infirmity

Objection:  Paul told Timothy to drink wine instead of believing God for healing


Ephesians 5:28-32
Ephesians 5:28-32:

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.  He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

This is a great mystery:  but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Notes


Notes on Ephesians 5:28-32
Notes on Ephesians 5:28-32:

Just as you take care of your physical body, Jesus Christ takes care of his physical body on the earth, which is the Church, which includes you if you are born again.  He nourishes and cherishes you.  As a member of his body, of his flesh and of his bones (we're talking a physical body here), you should expect the Lord to heal your flesh and bones!  After all, his flesh and bones stayed in perfect health until his atonement for us.  Since an earthly married man is to love his wife as his own body, we should expect Christ to love the church as his own body.  Surely he wants his body, which represents him on the earth, to have the same health he had when he was on the earth.  Otherwise, we do not fully represent who Christ was on the earth.

Discussed under:

Your body is God's property


Ephesians 6: 1-3
Ephesians 6:1-3:

Children, obey your parents in the Lord:  for this is right.

Honour thy father and thy mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?

Objection:  Long life is not a New Testament blessing


Philippians 2:25-30
Philippians 2:25-30:

Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:

Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

Discussed under:

I'm aching all over because I overexerted myself while out of shape.  Can I claim healing?

Can I receive healing for a problem that I brought on myself?

Objection:  Paul left Trophimus at Miletum sick instead of healing him

Exhaustion


2 Timothy 1: 7
2 Timothy 1:7:

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Notes


Notes on 2 Timothy 1:7
Notes on 2 Timothy 1:7:

God has given you the spirit of power.  Surely he has not given you the spirit of power only to have you stay sick in need of healing power in your body.  You received power when the Holy Spirit came upon you.  The same Spirit that did miracles and healings through the apostles lives inside your body right now!  Surely if his power healed multitudes through the apostles and can heal others through you, it can heal you!

Sound mind literally means self-control or sober-mindedness.

Discussed under:

Dealing with fear

Are we redeemed from mental as well as physical illness?


1 Thessalonians 1: 5
1 Thessalonians 1:5:

For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Notes


Notes on 1 Thessalonians 1:5
Notes on 1 Thessalonians 1:5:

Paul often emphasized that God's power accompanied his preaching, and contrasted those who preached words with no power.  Since it is the same gospel and the same Holy Ghost, we should expect that the gospel will come to others through us "not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost!"


1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Notes


Notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24:

This shows you that you have three parts -- spirit, soul and body.  Some people think that spirit and soul are interchangeable terms for the same thing, but that cannot be true because the Word of God is able to divide soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12).

This passage shows that God is able to preserve your body as well as your soul and spirit!


1 Timothy 2:15
1 Timothy 2:15:

Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Discussed under:

Saved!

God's promises have conditions

Are women redeemed from labor pains?

Objection:  Paul told Timothy to drink wine instead of believing God for healing


Hebrews  2: 3-4
Hebrews 2:3-4:

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Notes


Notes on Hebrews 2:3-4
Notes on Hebrews 2:3-4:

Again, we see the norm of signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost following the preaching of the gospel.  That is what we should expect today.  If we find ourselves below the Bible norm, let's get on our faces and change whatever we need to change so that we can follow the Bible norm.

Note that signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifested as the Spirit wills.  We do not directly control them, and we cannot claim them by faith in specific instances.  (If we could, we'd probably raise the dead at every funeral.)  However, God moves where there is a demand for a move of God.  We are commanded to earnestly desire spiritual gifts.  We should ask for them (as the apostles did) and expect them.  However, the specific miracles to be manifested are strictly up to God.

This does NOT mean that healing is selectively up to God.  Healing belongs to everyone and anyone can receive it by faith without any manifestation of the Spirit.

Discussed under:

Healing and evangelism


Hebrews  4:12
Hebrews 4:12:

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.


Hebrews 11:11
Hebrews 11:11:

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

Notes


Notes on Hebrews 11:11
Notes on Hebrews 11:11:

If you follow the story of Sarah in Genesis, you'll find that she was definitely NOT in faith all along.  At first, she laughed at the promise of having a son.  Then she made all kinds of trouble by fixing Abraham up with his servant girl Hagar, blaming the Lord for being childless.  But finally she got in faith and had a child.

This should show you that no matter how long you have been in unbelief for the healing of your condition, you can get in faith and get healed.  It's never too late to believe God!

Discussed under:

Infertility

Weakness


Hebrews 11:35
Hebrews 11:35:

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Discussed under:

Nonviability


Hebrews 12:12-13
Hebrews 12:12-13:

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Notes


Notes on Hebrews 12:12-13
Notes on Hebrews 12:12-13:

This quotes Isaiah 35:3.  (See Isaiah 35:3-6.)  Both here and in Isaiah, the cause of the hands hanging down and feeble (literally paralyzed) knees is fear.  The point is definitely not that God makes you physically ill to chastise you!  (Many have interpreted this verse that way to their detriment.  See the reply to the objection below.)  The idea is not to fear God (in an anxious, as opposed to reverent, way) just because he corrects you.

If someone is sick because of fear, this verse would apply to his healing, but in its context, this is not a good verse to use as a healing proof-text for lame people.

Discussed under:

Objection:  Sickness can be the chastening of the Lord

Weakness


James 5:14-16
James 5:14-16:

Is any sick among you?  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;

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Notes


Notes on James 5:14-16
Notes on James 5:14-16:

This command is so plain and obvious that it takes a theologian to explain it away.  The sick are to be healed!  The seriously ill can be raised up by having the elders come and pray the prayer of faith.  The less seriously ill can be healed when believers pray for one another.  This is what to do IF there is any sick among you so that there WON'T be any sick among you.

Discussed under:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

Your authority over sickness

Different ways to get healed

What every elder is commanded to believe

Healing and consecration

Do you really believe in healing?

YOU can be healed

What can you do for comatose or delirious people who cannot believe God for themselves?

I have a headache.  Therefore, I am sick.  Should I call for the elders of the church, as James 5 says?

More references


Notes on James 5:14-16 (cont.)
Should we anoint the sick with oil when we lay hands on them?

Should we wait until we sense the anointing to lay hands on the sick?

Objection:  Jesus redeemed us from disease, but the fulfillment of that won't come until we get glorified bodies

Objection:  James' command makes it clear that we should expect to be sick, then healed, then sick, then healed, not always healthy

Objection:  We are supposed to glory in tribulations and count them all joy (Romans 5:3, James 1:2-4)

Objection:  Laying hands on the sick is not part of the Great Commission

Objection:  God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.  We'll never know why God lets some people stay sick.

Objection:  Anointing with oil in James is intended to be medicinal

Objection:  Today doctors have replaced the ancient practice of faith healing

Objection:  We are promised tribulation in this world

Objection:  God's healing covenant in the Law of Moses was only for the Jews

Objection:  Paul told Timothy to drink wine instead of believing God for healing


1 Peter 2:24
1 Peter 2:24:

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Notes


Notes on 1 Peter 2:24
Notes on 1 Peter 2:24:

This is a clear quotation of Isaiah 53:5 (see Isaiah 53).  Peter makes it clear that it was not just the sick at Capernaum or in Israel at large who were to be healed.  If this were the case, Peter would have said, "By whose stripes THEY were healed."  Peter is talking about YOU because Isaiah talked about YOU.  Isaiah said that the Messiah was wounded for YOUR transgressions, bruised for YOUR iniquities, that the chastisement of YOUR peace was upon him, and with his stripes, YOU are healed.  (The our's and we's in the verse include you!)  The people who were healed were the same people whose sins were forgiven.  To conclude otherwise, you must yank the last phrase completely out of its context.  You would also have to yank the last phrase out of context in 1 Peter 2:24, since it was OUR sins he bore and by his stripes, YOU were healed.  This is talking about the same people, not one set of people who get forgiveness and only a subset who get healing.

How do we know that this is physical healing?  Because Isaiah says in Isaiah 53:4 that the Messiah bore our sicknesses and carried our pains.  He bore our sins and our sicknesses as our substitute.  Also, the Greek word that Peter used for healed is used of physical healings over two dozen times in the New Testament.  It is the same Greek word from which "physician" is derived.

Where discussed


Notes on 1 Peter 2:24 (cont.)
Discussed under:   (There are a few other minor references not listed here)

Healing is already yours	Healing and atonement

Healed by Jesus' stripes	According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

All about healing services	Say what

Sickness is the power of the devil

If Jesus were to appear to you...

It isn't your sickness

What's better than healing?  Health!

YOU can be healed

If God is really no respector of persons, why do only some get healed by the gifts of the Spirit in services?

Can I get healed of injuries from accidents as well as diseases?

If God wants people healed, why doesn't he heal them?

Objection:  Just as we will never have victory over sin in this life, we will never have victory over sickness

Objection:  Only part of Isaiah 53 refers to the Atonement, not the healing part

Objection:  It's up to God -- God will heal me if he wants to

Objection:  "Claiming" your healing is an arrogant attempt to twist God's arm

Objection:  God's healing covenant in the Law of Moses was only for the Jews

Objection:  By Jesus' stripes we were spiritually, not physically, healed


1 Peter 3:10-11
1 Peter 3:10-11:

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.

Discussed under:

God's promises have conditions

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


3 John 2
3 John 2:

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Where discussed


3 John 2 (Where discussed)
3 John 2 is discussed under:

God's mercy and compassion

Your body is God's property

Healing and prosperity

Don't get sick when you get old

What's better than healing?  Health!

God's promises have conditions

YOU can be healed

Objection:  3 John 2 is a greeting and cannot be claimed as a promise

Objection:  James' command makes it clear that we should expect to be sick, then healed, then sick, then healed, not always healthy

Objection:  If we are subject to death, we are subject to sickness

Objection:  God meets your spiritual needs, not your physical needs

Objection:  God is not a vending machine

Objection:  Sickness, while unpleasant, is used by God to build character

Objection:  Paul told Timothy to drink wine instead of believing God for healing


Revelation 11:9-11
Revelation 11:9-11:

And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and  nations shall see their dead bodies three days and a half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts to one another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them.

Discussed under:

Nonviability


Revelation 21:4
Revelation 21:4:

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things have passed away.

Notes


Notes on Revelation 21:4
Notes on Revelation 21:4:

In the new earth, where Satan is absent and God's will is done on earth as it is in heaven, there will be no sickness.  Thus, we can conclude that when God has his way, there is health instead of sickness.  This is not an explicit promise of healing for this lifetime; I am just citing this to make the statement that God's will is health.  Were it otherwise, there would be sickness for the saints on the new earth for all eternity.  If sickness is a blessing, we should expect it to be eternal.  Obviously, God does not consider it a blessing, so neither should you.

Discussed under:

The powers of the world to come

The happy ending


Revelation 22:2-3
Revelation 22:2-3:

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him.

Notes


Notes on Revelation 22:2-3
Notes on Revelation 22:2-3:

There will be no more curse on the new earth.  There will be no more sickness, which is explicitly part of the curse for breaking the law.  But also, since the curse on the earth will be removed, sickness will not be around for you to catch in the first place.

I don't claim to have a definitive explanation for the leaves on the tree being for the healing of the nations.  At least I can say that anything that is from God produces healing, not sickness.

Discussed under:

The happy ending


Mark 16:16
Mark 16:16:

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.


Mark 11:24
Mark 11:24:

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.


God's power toward you

Ephesians 1:15-23

This passage describes the great power of God that is available to you.  It is not simply a description of God's great power.  It's a description of the great power that is available to you!

Most people agree that God has great power.  However, few notice that this exceedingly great power is toward us who believe (v. 19)!  It is not just great power, but great power toward you, available to you.  According to this passage, God wants you to have a revelation of that.  When you see this, you will realize that God's tremendous healing power is available to you right now.

The power of God lifted Christ up high above every name that is named.  Diseases have names.  AIDS, Alzheimer's, cancer, cystic fibrosis, flu, heart disease, leukemia, malaria, multiple sclerosis, pneumonia... the list goes on.  These names are named daily in hospitals all over the world.  But the power that God is willing to exercise toward you is the power that lifted up Christ above every name that is named, including the ones named above.  And if Jesus is above them, so are you, because God has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6).  Think about that.

If he is above them, so are you, because you are seated with him.  Of course, you walk the earth in your physical body, but as far as your authority goes, you rule and reign with Christ NOW!

All things are under his feet.  Where are his feet?  On the earth, because that is where his body is!  Are your feet attached to your head?  No.  They are attached to your body.  All things are under his feet, which puts them under the Body of Christ.  Every sickness that is named is under the Body of Christ.  You have authority over sickness, and God will back that authority, once used, with his great power that was sufficient to raise Jesus Christ from the dead and put all things under his feet.

Ephesians 3:20

We should know that God can do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.  But do you realize how he is going to do it?  According to the power that works in you!  God's power is at work it you!  You should acknowledge this and expect his power to work in your body.  The power does not have to fall on you from the sky.  God and his miracle-working power live inside you.

See also:

Your authority over sickness


God's Word is medicine

Proverbs 4:20-22

In these verses, God tells you how to have health in all your flesh.  You must reverence and listen to what his Word tells you.  You must attend to his words, not just dabble in them.  Then those words become health (the Hebrew word can also be translated medicine or cure) to you.  Not just part of you, but "all your flesh," including whatever part is sick.

You cannot approach the Bible with a cavalier attitude.  You must reverence God's words as you would reverence God himself, since the Bible is a personal message to you from God.  You must consider what he says carefully and spend time reflecting on it.  God's promises must be planted in your heart so that they can produce a harvest.  (See the parable of the sower in Mark 4.)  If you don't plant and water seed, you don't get a harvest, no matter how much "confessing" you do for it.  This is the primary reason that so few Christians get any lasting results from hearing good Bible sermons.

If you are constantly reflecting on your situation instead of the Word, you are planting seed for a harvest of failure instead of a harvest of healing.  No matter how bad your symptoms are, keep the Word before your eyes and deem it more powerful than whatever you are facing.

Observe that all of God's Word is medicine, not just "Healing Scriptures."  Just as you cannot read only "Prosperity Scriptures" to prosper (you must observe "all the law" (Joshua 1:7), not just part of it), you cannot read only "Healing Scriptures" all the time.  In some cases, the very thing that is stopping your healing, such as unforgiveness, might be treated in a Scripture other than a "Healing Scripture," and if you read only "Healing Scriptures," you will never get healed!  (Yes, you should read things other than this book!)

If you were given a prescription for your illness, you would not get healed unless you took it regularly according to the directions.  God says to keep the Word before you day and night, muttering and meditating upon it.  The Word needs to have the kind of place in your life that it did in the life of the author of Psalm 119.  (For space reasons, I have not included Psalm 119 here!)  If you do not exercise this constant attention to God's Word, you are not taking the medicine according to the instructions.  You cannot blame God if it does not work the way you think it should.

Few people are willing to pay this kind of price to store God's Word in their hearts, and that is a major reason why so few are healed through faith.  You won't get mountain-moving faith watching TV and entertaining your flesh all the time.  If you want to really know and walk in God's Word concerning healing (or anything else), it will cost you something in study time.  If you want a quick drive-thru solution to your sickness, you will not find it here.  God's Word is not a magic wand that you just wave, but if you will take the time to meditate on it and then act on what you know, it will work for you.


According to YOUR FAITH
According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

One of the biggest barriers to receiving healing from God is the wrong idea that your healing is up to God.  That is no different from saying that your salvation from hell is up to God.  In both cases, God has made a provision for you through Christ's atonement, and in both cases it is up to you to believe this and receive what Jesus died to give you.

Suppose that you thought your salvation were up to God.  "If God wants me to be saved, he will save me; if not, it must be his good pleasure that I remain unsaved."  This is no less absurd than saying, "If God wants me to be healed, he will heal me; if not, it must be his good pleasure that I remain sick."  God's will for you concerning both your salvation and your healing are clear from his Word.  He wants you to have both, and you receive them both the same way -- through your faith.

Many who are prayed for think that the preacher's faith is supposed to get them healed.  This is not what Jesus taught.  He never said, "My faith has made you whole."  In many cases, he told the healed person, "Your faith has made you whole."  It was up to the person receiving the healing.

Take the case of the woman with the issue of blood.  Jesus was not conducting any kind of healing service when she touched him.  He was on his way to take care of another healing matter at the time.  He had no idea that this woman was coming to him for healing.  He had to ask who had touched him!  The disciples were amazed because everyone was bumping against him, but Jesus wanted to know who had touched him in faith.  He felt power go out of him and knew that someone had touched him in faith, but he did not know who it was.

Therefore, this healing could not have had anything to do with Jesus or his faith.  This healing was brought about solely by the woman's faith.  Jesus told her that her faith had healed her.

Where did she get this faith?  The same way you do -- by hearing the gospel.  The woman went and got her healing "when she had heard of Jesus."  Someone must have told her the good news.

You will find the following statements in the New Testament (the Scripture references in context are below):

"As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee."

"And Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy..."

"Thy faith hath made thee whole." (This phrase appears 5 times!)

"According to your faith be it unto you."

"Great is thy faith:  be it unto thee even as thou wilt."

"And perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet."

For your clicking-and-reading enjoyment, here are the passages of Scripture where Jesus (or in one case, Luke) said that the person's faith (or a household member's faith) was responsible for the healing:

The centurion's son -- Matthew 8:5-13

The paralytic -- Matthew 9:2-8, Luke 5:17-26

The woman with the issue of blood -- Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48

Two blind men -- Matthew 9:27-30

The Canaanite woman -- Matthew 15:22-28

Blind Bartimaeus -- Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-43

A leper -- Luke 17:12-19

The lame man at Lystra -- Acts 14:7-10

Now let's look at what happened in a place where the people did not have faith:

Matthew 13:54-58

Mark 6:1-6

The Bible does not say that Jesus refused to do many mighty works.  It says that Jesus could not do them at Nazareth, and that he marvelled at their unbelief.  Consider this:  Jesus himself, the best preacher ever to walk the earth, could not get many people in the congregation healed because of their unbelief.  Here we see the opposite side of the cases where people's faith got them healed.

How unfair for unbelieving congregations today to point the finger at the preacher when no signs and wonders occur.  Yes, the preacher must believe also, but even if he does, not much will happen in a congregation with a hostile and unbelieving attitude.  If Jesus himself could not get results where there was such unbelief, no other preacher can, because the servant is not greater than his master.

It is not that God did not want to heal every disease at Nazareth.  We know that he did from Psalm 103:1-5 and elsewhere.  The same preacher (Jesus) was healing multitudes in other cities.  Jesus did not change from one place to another.  What the people received depended more upon their faith or their unbelief than it did on Jesus!

If that was true then, that is still true today.  It is not all up to Jesus.  It's not up to God who gets saved or healed; it's up to us.  "Whosoever will" can receive salvation and healing.

Read the account of the man with the demon-possessed boy in these verses:

Matthew 17:14-21

Mark 9:17-29

Luke 9:38-42

Jesus attributed the disciples' failure to their lack of faith.  He had already given them power and authority over all devils (Luke 9:1-2), so power was not the issue.  They had the power!  The issue was not what Jesus could do, but what they could believe.

Then the man asked Jesus to do something "if you can do anything."  Jesus again made it clear that the issue was not what Jesus could do, but what the man could believe.  His answer was:  "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

We know that with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37), but it's not solely an issue of what God or Jesus can do.  It's also an issue of what you can believe.

In Mark 11:24, Jesus made it clear that you can have whatsoever you desire if you believe that you receive it when you pray.  It depends on your faith, not Jesus' faith.

This is not a popular teaching these days because many Christians are lazy and do not want to take responsibility for anything.  It's so easy just to say that whatever happens is the will of God, and to let the will of Satan be done in your body while saying that it must be God.  If it's solely up to God's will, you have no responsibility.  Yet Jesus made it clear throughout his ministry that it is up to you, not him, to do something.  God is not responsible for any man's failure to receive something that is available to all.

This is especially true now that healing has been permanently provided "by his stripes" (1 Peter 2:24).  Jesus has done everything he needs to do about your healing.  Whether you receive the healing he paid for in his atonement is completely up to you.  God can heal you, and God wants to heal you.  The only issue is, can you believe it?

You can be healed in God's mercy by the gifts of the Spirit operating through another believer.  But the best way (and only sure way) to get healed and stay healed is to believe for yourself.  Ultimately, it is according to your faith that it will be done unto you!


Matthew  9:20-22
Matthew 9:20-22:

And behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.  And the woman was made whole from that hour.


Mark  5:25-34
Mark 5:25-34:

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.


Luke  8:43-48
Luke 8:43-48:

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

And Jesus said, Who touched Me?  When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched Me?

And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

And he said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.


How NOT to pray for your healing

If you want to make sure that you never get healed, simply follow these instructions from ill-informed and ill-bodied people around the globe.  These methods are practically guaranteed to ensure that you never receive your healing.  Millions of sufferers worldwide can attest to the fact that these methods do not get you healed!

Let God know how sick you are

Assume that the omnipresent, all-seeing God has a blind spot when it comes to your condition.  Enlighten him with a detailed complaint about how bad your condition is.  "Oh, God, I just can't take this pain.  It's so bad.  God, it hurts all over.  I feel horrible.  God, I'm so sick."  Make sure that you do not switch gears from complaining into actual prayer.

Beg and plead with God to heal you

Rather than believing the clear Scriptures that say that God is already willing to heal you, treat God as if he were a meanie who would barely give you the time of day, much less heal your body.  Try to "talk him into" healing you.  State all the reasons you think he should.  Start with all the nice things you have done at church.  Then proceed to the nice, clean, moral life you have been living.  In no event should you bring up the fact that the blood of Jesus has made you righteous, since you are seeking to establish your own righteousness and worthiness to receive healing.

Take a lesson from the world and start making all kinds of promises of how you will serve God if he will just heal you.  Make sure he understands that your service to him is contingent upon your healing and that you are not consecrated to serve him unconditionally at the moment.  But, oh, how you will be consecrated after he heals you.

Pray the same prayer at least 500 times

Rather than believing you receive your healing when you pray one time, don't believe that you receive it at any time.  Simply keep "bombarding the gates of heaven with your prayers."  The reason that your prayers will bombard the gates of heaven is that they will bounce off rather than making it through the gates, because they are prayed in unbelief.

Rather than taking to heart what Jesus said about using vain repetitions like the heathen, keep praying the same prayer over and over.  "Oh, God, heal me.  Oh, God, heal me.  Oh, God, heal me.  Oh, God, heal me." is a fine one to start with.  Later you can supplement this with, "God, hear my prayer.  God, hear my prayer.  God, hear my prayer (etc.)."  Once you get good at this, you can come up with some clever permutations of each sentence to pray the same thing over and over without being strictly repetitious:  "Oh, God, heal me.  Heal me, Oh God.  Oh, heal me, God."  (There are 24 possibilities with these 4 words alone.)  This will make it more interesting for the angels that are listening to your alleged prayer (the ones you haven't already driven away with this blather).

Let as many people as possible know about your sickness and ask them to pray, too

The more people you tell about your illness, the better your chances of finding people who, instead of agreeing for your healing, will agree that you have a big problem.  Their unbelief can start to rub off on you.  Telling everyone you know gives you an excellent chance to keep using your mouth to talk about how bad your condition is, which will help keep you in unbelief.

Determine in your heart that it is the quantity of prayers rather than the faith attached to them that will get you healed.  Keep telling yourself, "If I could just get more people to pray for me, God would heal me."  Ignore any sensible folks who feel the need to share the Word with you rather than to simply pray for you.  Consider prayer alone, irrespective of faith, to be the way to get healed.  Then it will be done unto you according to your unbelief, and you can find some more people to complain to, oops, I mean, request prayers from.

Have others pray "lump 'em all together" prayers

Instead of having others pray for you by name, insist that all prayer for you be done on a "lump 'em all together" basis.  Have your church just pray for "the sick" in general instead of for you in particular.  Better, just have them "remember" the sick instead of actually praying for them.  If they must pray for the sick, make sure that they pray "Bless the sick," "Touch the sick," or something else that does not involve the actual healing of the sick.  Better yet, have them just think nice prayers about the sick.  "Unspoken prayer requests" are the safest because they are always unanswered prayer requests.  They are a neat device to make sure that no one else can possibly pray in agreement with you.

Just pray in other tongues all night instead of praying anything in your native tongue

Don't bother renewing your mind with the Word of God.  Just figure that the Holy Spirit always prays in faith anyway, and let him do all your praying for you.  Ignore Paul's instructions to pray with the spirit and with the understanding.  Also ignore the fact that you cannot receive anything in faith when you don't know what you're praying about.  Just put your understanding in neutral rather than hooking it up with your spirit.  Daydream, watch TV, play video games, listen to secular music and generally get carnal while praying in tongues.

Use tongues to pray the devil away

Attempt to "pray the devil away" by praying extra loudly, and supposedly authoritatively, in other tongues.  This will give the devil a good laugh, since he doesn't understand tongues.  Since you are nowhere told to pray to the devil, he will enjoy the undeserved attention you heap on him.  The longer and louder you go, the better he will like it.  Just don't believe in your authority in Christ.  (If you were to do that, you would realize that you can just speak to the devil for a few seconds rather than praying to him.)

A similar method, in common use in the body of Christ, is to speak to the devil in a commanding tone of voice, but without really believing in your authority.  Then pray rapidly, in special "fear tongues," to keep him away so he doesn't get you back.

Ask God to take away your sickness

This method is popular, and it never loses its ineffectiveness.  This is usually used by those who think God made them sick in the first place, but it can also be used by Christians who know that the devil is the author of sickness but don't understand their authority in Christ.  Pray, "God, do something about this sickness.  God, take away this sickness.  God, stop the devil from doing this to me."  Forget that stuff Jesus said about speaking to the mountain yourself, and ask God to "do something" about the mountain and to "take away" the mountain.

Get pushy with God and ask him what's taking him so long

Determine that any delay in receiving your healing is God's fault.  Demand that he hurry up.  Let him know that you consider it unreasonable for him to expect you to exercise patience between the time you pray and the time your healing manifests in your body, regardless of what Mark 11:24, Hebrews 6:12 and Hebrews 10:35-36 say.  Then get really mad and determine that he isn't doing anything for you anyway.  These words will be self-fulfilling.

Better still, get mad at him for "allowing" you to be sick in the first place

Demonstrate your ignorance of who heals and who sickens by blaming God for your illness.  Lash out at him for "allowing" it to happen to you.  For the sake of consistency, also complain bitterly about all those years that he "allowed" you to be unsaved.

Pray for God to heal you "if it be his will"

Rather than taking the time to find out from the Bible what the will of God is concerning your healing, just ask him to heal you "if it be his will."  Do not read Jesus' answer to the leper when he was asked about his will, since this might persuade you to stop using this prayer.  If you want a break from praying for healing, also ask him to help you be a witness to others if it be his will, and to help you walk in love if it be his will, and to help you stop sinning if it be his will.

Better still, pray for character instead of healing

Focus on God having God build your character through your illness.  Pray for character to be developed in you instead of praying for your healing.  Then you will get what you pray for.  God will work on your character in answer to your prayer, but you will not get healed.  God will not give you one thing when you ask for another.

Be vague

Don't actually talk to God about healing.  Instead, ask God to "touch" you, "bless" you, "comfort" you, "strengthen" you, or some other nonspecific thing.  Join the many others who have gone to church services and walked away unhealed after someone prayed that God would "touch" them instead of "heal" them!  For maximum non-effect, pray a beggy, pleady prayer like this one I heard a minister pray once: "Oh, please, just a touch from God.  God, please let this be the night!"  He didn't get any results, and neither will you.

Pray halfheartedly, knowing that you can live with it anyway

Do not treat your illness seriously.  Why should you, if it isn't a serious illness?  Just pray out of sense of duty that it's the thing to do, and because you know that all the "faith people" at your church would approve.  Then flesh out by watching game shows and soap operas, reading a couple of tabloids, and playing violent computer games, and don't bother praying any more about it.

Pray to be healed at a future time, and then declare by "faith" that God is going to heal you

Rather than believing you receive something when you pray (Mark 11:24), believe that you will receive your healing sometime after you pray, say, next Tuesday.  "I believe that I receive my healing by next Tuesday."  Then tell everyone that you are in "faith" that God is going to heal you by next Tuesday.  You will be able to fool most people with this one, since they won't know the difference between that and real faith.  (However, this won't cut it with people who read their Bibles a lot, since they probably read Hebrews 11:1 or noticed that no one in the Bible ever used faith to receive a healing "in the future.")

Worship, worship, worship!

Use worship as a substitute for faith.  Play pretty worship tapes -- or tapes of songs about what we are doing for God, how we are winning cities to God, about the anointing, about the effects of our praise, about what we think we are doing to strongholds, anything at all -- assume that it is really worship as long as it says "worship" on the boxes.  Do not pray in faith and believe that you receive anything.  Just assume that if you worship long enough, you will just get healed in God's presence.  Avoid reading God's promises and statements regarding healing because, after all, who needs to know the Word when we can just get everything we need by worshipping God?  Advise your sinner friends that if they need to get saved, all they need to do is worship long enough and God will save them because everything they need is in God's presence.  That way, they can apply the same principle you're using.

Assume that your wonderful worship just tugs at the heart-strings of God and moves him to want to heal you, which you assume he didn't want to do when you started.  Use your worship to "get God to heal you" rather than thanking and praising him that it was already his will to do so before you started worshipping.

This method of avoiding healing is more dangerous than the others, because if you hang around God, it is possible that he will start speaking to you about his Word and his desire to heal you, and you will wise up, or worse yet, actually pray the prayer of faith.  Make sure that you base your relationship with God on experience and feelings, not his Word.  Wait to "feel like" he wants to heal you rather than knowing his will from the Bible.

Pray to anyone other than God the Father in the name of Jesus

Do not pray a scriptural New Testament prayer to God the Father in the name of Jesus (John 16:23-27).  Ask Jesus himself for your healing.  Better still, go through Peter, Paul and Mary.  Actually, any dead saint will do.  St. Jude is popular, but beware -- he is notorious for making you run that silly "publication must be promised" novena in the personals section of your local paper when you get your healing.  (Of course, you'll only use your initials in the ad so that no one will know it was you, unless you have initials like X. Z. Q., or you live in a very small town, in which case we'll all know it was you anyway.  Makes you wonder, if that thing has really never been known to fail, why don't people sign their full names proudly?)

Pray for your healing any other way you want!

Indeed, any method of "praying for your healing" is likely to keep your healing away, because you are asking God to give you something that he says is already yours in Christ.  His decision was settled irrevocably when he sent Jesus to atone for your sins.  So keep praying for your healing "until you get it," which you probably won't.  As long as you don't act like Jesus already "got" your healing for you, you run little risk of being healed.


God's mercy and compassion

Psalm 145:8-9

One of the facts God stresses most about himself is his great mercy.  He declares that his mercy endures forever.  See Psalm 136, verses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,.10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, for starters.  See Psalm 23:6:  "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."  Psalm 25:10 says, "All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies."  God "retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy" (Micah 7:18).  Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning:  great is thy faithfulness."

Remember Jehoshaphat's singers who went out before the army?  The victory was won by praising God.  What in particular did they praise him for?  Was it "for his awesome power maketh even an H-bomb seem like a cap gun?"  No.  They sang, "Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever!"  God wants you to know about his power, but he wants you to know about his mercy, too!  Plenty of people who believe that God is all-powerful don't believe that God would be merciful enough to heal them.  Actually, he is so merciful that he sent Jesus as a one-time sacrifice to provide the mercy of healing for anyone who wants it.

Do you know what they were singing about in Solomon's temple when the glory of God came in and the priests couldn't even stand up?  "For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever."

In case you haven't gotten the gist of this yet, God is good and his mercy endures forever.

Since Jesus was God in the flesh, we should expect to see the same characteristics in him.  And we do.

In Mark 1:40-45, Jesus was moved with compassion and healed a leper.  He could not have done this to show off his power, because he told the leper not to tell anyone about his healing.  This was an act of compassion on the man, not a publicity stunt.

In Matthew 14:14, Jesus was moved with compassion and healed a multitude of sick people.

In Matthew 20:30-34, Jesus had compassion on two blind men and healed them.

In Mark 5:2-20, Jesus told the ex-demoniac go tell his friends how the Lord had had compassion on him.

In Mark 9:17-29, the demonized boy's father asked Jesus to have compassion on them.  Jesus cast the devil out.

In Luke 7:12-16, Jesus had compassion on a dead man's mother and raised her only son from the dead at his funeral.

If Jesus was moved with compassion then, he is still moved with compassion today, because he has not changed (Heb 13:8).  If he had compassion on the sick in his earthly ministry, he has compassion on you today if you are sick.  Today he is your "merciful and faithful high priest" (Heb 2:17).  If he were unwilling to heal you today, his mercy and compassion would have decreased since he walked the earth, and he would not be a merciful high priest to you.

Sometimes we can teach faith and leave people with the impression that our God "who is a faith God" is simply sitting up there with a faith meter, waiting to see when you will get your act together and believe his Word.  That is a false picture.  Yes, God is moved by faith, not by need, but he is very willing to help you walk in faith.  He gave you his Word so that you could have faith and receive what is yours.  He sent the Holy Spirit so that you might know the things that are freely given to you by God (1 Cor 2:12).  The Holy Spirit will teach you all things (John 14:26) and guide you into all truth (John 16:13), including the truth about your healing.  You have not just been left here to flounder around on your own, "trying" to believe God.  You have his Word and his Helper!

God wants to help you receive your healing!  He wants you to walk in everything that Jesus provided for you.  What a waste it would be for Jesus to provide something that you never receive!  That isn't God's will.  God is more interested in your healing than you are.  He paid a tremendous price to buy it for you.

God loves you and he cares about whether or not you get healed!  He wants you to be in health and prosper, even as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

Since God is merciful and compassionate, we should be imitators of God, and be merciful and compassionate ourselves.  As he is, so should we be in this world.  Therefore, it is never an appropriate response to news of a sick brother to say, "Well, that's his problem; if he would just get in faith, he'd get healed!"  We are to bear another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ (Gal 6:2).  This does not mean that you should bear the person's sickness, but it does mean that you should pray for the person instead of judging him.  You are part of the same Body as that person, and when one part suffers, all suffer (1 Cor 12:26).  You should never have a "That's his problem!" attitude.  Be glad that Jesus does not have that attitude!


1 Corinthians 12:26
1 Corinthians 12:26:

And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.


Galatians 6:2
Galatians 6:2:

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.


How to get more faith

There is only one effective way to get more faith:

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" -- Romans 10:17.

If you want to have more faith, you need to hear more of the word of God.  Even if you mentally acknowledge what it says, you must continue to reflect upon it and speak it to yourself.  This hearing is not a one-shot deal where you hear it once and go your merry way.  This refers to a continuous process of hearing the Word repeatedly.  The Word itself produces faith.

If you look up the word word in Romans 10:17 in a concordance, you will discover that it is the Greek word rhema, which denotes a direct word from God to you and not simply the Word in a more general sense, which would be translated logos.  You must spend time thinking about the Word before it becomes rhema to you and not simply logos.  You must receive God's Word as his personal message to you.

"But what saith it?  The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:  that is, the word of faith, which we preach" -- Romans 10:8.

Faith will come automatically when you keep hearing God's promises.  They are not mere facts but spirit and life.  When you get full of the Word, you get full of faith without consciously trying to do so!  This is so simple that it's amazing more people don't see this, and thus resort to the ineffective means shown below.  God's word is the "word of faith."  Faith and the Word go together.

Many believers do not need more faith; they simply need to act on the faith that they already have.  The man in Acts 14:7-10 was an example of this.

Here are some ineffective ways to try to get more faith:

Praying for more faith

This didn't work for the apostles, and it won't work for you.

Luke 17:5-6

Here Jesus pointed out that you do not need "great faith" to do something, but you need to act on the faith that you have.  You do the majority of acting your faith with the words of your mouth.  "Ye might say unto this sycamine tree...."

Trying harder to believe

This involves a struggle to "make yourself believe" something.  Prepare for a lot of frustration and not much faith.  God never commanded you to try to believe anything.  He just commanded you to believe his words.

But there is a difference between believing his words and just trying to believe that you are healed.  If you have no Bible basis for believing that you can receive healing as a gift from God, you will not develop more faith.  You will stay frustrated and sick!  If you still have doubts that the God of the Bible has promised to heal you, the solution is to continue to listen to and read his promises over and over.  You will find that believing will start to happen naturally in you without it seeming like an impossible struggle.

Praying in other tongues

You are commanded to build yourself up on your most holy faith (Jude 20), but this verse does not say that speaking in tongues produces faith.  It can help you enter into rest and become sensitive to the Holy Spirit so that you can hear the Word better, but faith still comes by hearing the Word, not by praying in other tongues.  When you pray in other tongues, you are speaking mysteries that your mind does not understand.  You will charge yourself up to act on whatever faith you have, but you will not get more faith.

Denying your circumstances

You will not develop faith by trying to forget your problems or by pretending that they don't exist.  Doing so is not faith at all and only gives you practice lying to yourself.  Faith does not deny that the problem exists; faith denies the problem the right to continue existing based on what God says.

Looking at improvement in your body for encouragement

Faith is based solely on God's promises, not on any apparent improvement of your condition.  It does not matter to faith if you seem to be getting better or worse.  You can rejoice at improvement, but remember that it is faith that creates improvement.  Then you won't be shaken off your stand of faith if suddenly symptoms worsen or reappear in your body.

Hearing exciting testimonies

Testimonies will excite you and motivate you to believe God for yourself, but you cannot base faith on the experience of anyone else.  Just because God healed someone else with your condition does not mean that you will receive your healing.  What will you do if you hear that someone with your condition died?  Your faith must rest solely on God's Word.  Then, even if no one else you know gets any results, you still can.  Of course, to the extent that someone's testimony involves the Word of God, your faith will be built by hearing the promise that someone else believed.

The other problem with testimonies is that many are given at crusades by people are healed by the gifts of the Spirit, not their faith.  Someone could give a wonderful testimony of receiving this way, but you have no guarantee apart from your faith that YOU will receive such a healing.  It's quite possible that in his mercy, God will suddenly heal an unbeliever who has no idea what's going on.  God is looking for believers to BELIEVE and not rely on the gifts of the Spirit to receive healing.

Condemning yourself for your little faith

You will never get anywhere by chiding and belittling yourself.  "Oh, I must be a 'ye' of little faith.  God must be so displeased with me.  I really am a failure at believing God.  I should have more faith.  What's wrong with me?"  You will never develop great faith if you keep tearing down what little faith you have.  You will just make yourself miserable.

Worship

God does seek you to worship him, and failure to do so will definitely hinder you in every area of your life.  However, you do not get faith by worshipping God.  Worship is an expression of the faith that you already have, not a means to get more.


The works he did you can do:  Here's how

John 6:28-29:

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

You don't have to puzzle over how to do the works of God.  Jesus told you how.  You're going to do them by faith.  You're going to believe the words of Jesus, whom God sent.

John 14:12-14

Jesus said that if you believe in him, you will do the works that he did.  What were his works?  There is no record of him helping old ladies across the street so that they wouldn't get run over by chariots.  There is no record of opening a food bank for the needy.  There is no record of helping with a party at the local orphanage.  These are all worthy causes, but they are not what Jesus was talking about.  Jesus' works were preaching, teaching, and healing the sick.  Since those were his works, you can do those works if you believe in him.  That doesn't mean not to do the other kinds of things; it means that you can do Jesus' works as well as those other things.

Jesus did not leave you in the dark about how you would do these things.  You do them in his name.  You lay hands on the sick in Jesus' name and they recover.

You cannot get this power and authority by attending a Bible school or training center.  You cannot get this power by showing up faithfully every time the doors open at your church and serving.  You cannot do anything to earn or deserve the right to be used by God.  Jesus has already made you worthy to do it by his blood.  He has already given you the power and authority to do his works.  Whether you ever act on this fact or not, it is still true.  You could lay hands on the sick even if you are not currently doing so.  There is nothing you can do to get this power.  You already have it.  It is a tragedy that so few of us take advantage of it.

Salvation is not a feeling.  It is a fact.  You do not always "feel" saved.  You will not always "feel" like you have the authority to lay hands on the sick in the name of Jesus and see them recover, but you do have that authority.  If you wait until you feel some kind of power on the inside, you will probably never do the works of Jesus.  There are exceptional times when you feel the anointing come on you to minister in the gifts of healings.  But ordinarily, you will not feel like anything will happen when you lay hands on that sick relative.  You can either act based on your feelings or based on the facts.  It is a fact that you are authorized to minister healing to others in the name of Jesus.

You do not have to wait until you feel a special "unction" (anointing) to pray.  You should let the Holy Spirit lead you, but he has already told you through Jesus' words that you can do Jesus' works.  You have just as much right to lay hands on the sick as you would if Jesus appeared to you personally and said, "You have power over all sicknesses and all diseases.  I authorize you to be a vessel of divine healing.  Go and lay hands on the sick in my name and they will recover!"  Any statement Jesus made in the Bible carries as much weight as it would if he appeared to you in person and said it to you.

Usually, you feel the power of God move through you after you have started laying hands on the person.  Even then, you may not feel anything.  What do you do then?  You believe in the words of the Son of God, who said that you can lay hands on the sick in his name and they shall recover.  You ignore your feelings that it isn't working.  You ignore the devil's taunts that you are just embarrassing yourself and that you'll look like a fool when nothing happens.  Jesus did not promise that either you or the person you lay hands on would feel something when you prayed.  You are supposed to believe Mark 16:15-18 instead of relying on your feelings.

Jesus was moved with compassion.  It will help you minister healing if you have compassion on people.  You have to be sensitive to people's feelings.  For example, it is not a good idea to tell your relatives at a funeral, "If he had just been in faith, he wouldn't have died."  That will not bless anyone.  Nor will it help anyone to say, "Jesus healed you 2,000 years ago, and if you don't receive it, it's your own fault!"  Although these may be true statements, you are supposed to speak the truth in love.

Don't stop laying hands on the sick even if someone doesn't receive.  There are reasons why people don't receive, but it is always right and proper to offer to lay hands on sick people.  What if you lay hands on someone and he dies the next day?  Keep going; don't let a failure discourage you.  (Besides, everyone you lay hands on is going to die someday!)  Do you stop believing that sin shall have no dominion over you just because you got mad and yelled at your spouse this morning?  No, you keep working at it.  The same goes for laying hands on the sick.  Keep working at it!


Laying hands on the sick

Mark 16:15-18

Mark 16:20

Laying on of hands is one of the six fundamental doctrines of Christ found in Hebrews 6:1-2.  As the body of Christ, we are so much the worse for emphasizing other fundamental doctrines listed here and ignoring this one.  If there were as much teaching on laying on of hands as there is on eternal judgment, there would probably be as much faith in laying on of hands as there is in eternal judgment.  People for the most part believe only what they're taught; few are diligent enough to study the Scriptures for themselves.

Laying hands on the sick is not difficult.  You find a sick person and lay your hands on him in the name of Jesus, and Jesus, in response to his name being legally used in this manner, heals the person.  You don't have to "feel" like it works.  You don't have to "feel" power on the inside of you flowing into the person.  (You might and you might not.)  What matters is not what you or the other person feels, but that you are following Jesus' instructions for dealing with sick people, and that Jesus acts when you invoke his name on the earth.

Two people's faith is involved here -- your faith and the sick person's faith.  That is why you probably don't want to just waltz in and lay hands on him.  Faith comes by hearing God's Word, and if the other person has no idea what's going on, he isn't in much of a condition to hook up with you.  If you have the time, you may not even want to lay hands at all, preferring to instruct the person about healing and leaving the actual laying on of hands for a future visit when the person has had a chance to understand what you want to do.

What do you say while you're laying hands on a sick person?  Let me tell you a few things not to say.  "Oh God, please heal him!"  "Touch him, Lord!"  "God, in your mercy, please take away this disease."  I've heard enough of this junk to last a lifetime.  When you lay hands on a sick person, you are not asking or begging God to do anything.  You are following a Bible ordinance and you have a right to expect God to honor it without having to badger him or plead with him.  Whiny, pleady prayers done in many churches actually prove that there is no faith involved in the process and it's no wonder that nothing happens.  These signs follow them that believe, not them that doubt or whine.

Probably the best approach is to speak to the condition in the name of Jesus and command it to leave.  We use the term "praying for the sick," but you'll have to change your thinking if you want to see results.  You are not praying for the sick person.  You are commanding the disease to go by the authority you have in Christ.  If you want to throw in a few prayers for the person while you're at it, that's fine, but the bottom line is that you are exercising Christ's authority in the earth.  You are doing the work in his name, and Jesus did not pray for the sick.  Why should you do it differently than the person whose name you are using?  That's right, Jesus did not pray for the sick.  He was anointed to heal the sick and he healed them.  You can't find any place when he stopped and "prayed for" the person and did any of the things that are common today among church people.  Jesus believed that he was anointed to do what he did and acted on that fact.  He has in turn anointed you to do his works.  It's now up to you to believe that you are anointed to do those works and to act on that fact.


Who or what causes sickness?

First, let us determine whether sickness is bad or if it is a "blessing in disguise."  The answer should be obvious to any rational person.  Sickness is bad.  It is not a blessing in disguise.  It looks like a curse because it is a curse, not a blessing wrapped up to look like a curse.  Were it not for religious but Biblically clueless ministers, no one would ever believe that sickness is a friend or a blessing in disguise.  You certainly won't after you see what God says about sickness:

Sickness is bondage to the devil.

Luke 13:16 speaks of a woman who could not lift herself up for 18 years:

"And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?"

The devil bound her.  Jesus loosed her.

Sickness is oppression of the devil.

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.

The devil oppressed the people.  Jesus healed them.

Sickness is captivity.

Job 42:10:

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job...

Job's trials, which most notably involved sickness, are called captivity.  We know that Satan, not God, put all of Job's sicknesses on him.

Sickness is a curse.

In passages too numerous to mention, most notably Deuteronomy 28:15-68, sickness is called a curse.

John 10:10

According to this verse, it is the devil, not God, who steals, kills and destroys.  Jesus came to give abundant life, not abundant death or abundant sickness.  Sickness takes away from the abundance of your life.  It also steals your time (and often that of others who must care for you) and sometimes destroys your bank account in the process.  No one but a detached theologian would ever say that being unable to lead a normal life because of sickness is "abundant life."

1 Cor 5:1-5

In this passage, a man is to be turned over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh.  Therefore, Satan, not God, must be the one who destroys flesh.  If God were going to do it himself, there would be no need to hand the man over to Satan.

When God renovates the earth, there will be no sickness on it.  He also says that there will be no curse.  Sickness and the curse on the earth because of sin go together.  In the future, there won't be any sickness to get!  If God were the author of sickness, we would expect it to be around throughout eternity.

Based on these verses, you can see that Satan is the author of sickness and God is the author of healing and health.

See also:

Sickness is the power of the devil


1 Corinthians  5:1-5
1 Corinthians 5:1-5:

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,

To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Notes


Notes on 1 Cor 5:1-5
Notes on 1 Cor 5:1-5:

These verses may be troubling at first, as they almost give the impression that the Church is coming together to curse someone in the name of Jesus!  However, this is far from the case.  The issue here is that a member was engaging in serious, willful and persistent sin.  He was not repenting or even being told to repent by the other members.  Later in 1 Cor 5, Paul instructs us that such people are to be kicked out of the local church.

Actually, verse 5 is tantamount to saying that the man be disfellowshipped.  The person was to be handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that he would not go to hell.  (Yes, this was a believer, but believers who willfully sin after receiving knowledge of the truth are not guaranteed "eternal security."  Plenty of passages prove this, but that is somewhat beyond the scope of this book.)

Far from being a malicious act tantamount to witchcraft, this "delivering unto Satan" is definitely an act of love.  It's a bummer to have the devil eat your lunch, but it's even more of a bummer to go to the lake of fire that is the second death.  The idea was that the Church would quit praying for his protection and let the devil rough him up.  Once this happened, he could realize the error of his ways, repent of his sin, and be restored.

More notes


Notes on 1 Cor 5:1-5 (cont.)
Please note that this is a church function that must never be taken on by individual believers on their own!  The context in verse 4 makes this absolutely clear.  You can't just turn someone over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh yourself because you're mad at the person!  In this case, your flesh needs some serious work and you would be engaging in witchcraft.  Watch out -- you sow that kind of thing and you'll reap it back!  (Maybe you'll repent after the devil beats you up.)

Verse 5 is a useful verse when it comes to determining the cause of sickness.  The believers cannot pray that God will make the person sick or otherwise harm him.  They had to turn him over to Satan because Satan, not God, is the one who harms and sickens people.


Massive healing crusades:  The will of God!

Throughout Jesus' ministry, we see massive healing crusades involving multitudes of people.  This continued in the book of Acts in the ministries of Peter, Paul, and Philip.  It also appears that some in Corinth were being used in gifts of healings and working of miracles.

Since this is one way the Holy Spirit expressed himself then, we should expect him to express himself that way in our day.  The healing of the sick was the single biggest advertisement for the gospel message then, so we should expect that healing will continue to be the #1 method God uses to get the attention of sinners.  If we don't see the results the Church once had, it's because WE have changed, not God.

Such crusades give God an opportunity to demonstrate his unchanging compassion for the sick as well as his glorious power.  We should expect today to see notable, documentable, undeniable miracles performed in the very faces of unbelievers.

We should expect God to continue to anoint men today to conduct healing and miracle services.  This is evident from 1 Cor 12:28-30, where certain offices are listed.  The apostle, prophet and teacher are listed first, followed by "miracles" and "gifts of healings."  There is no indication anywhere in the New Testament that any of these ministry offices will pass away in this age.  In fact, it is clearly stated that they were given "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12).  Since this has not happened yet, and since there will always be new believers needing to be perfected, the ministry offices (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers -- Ephesians 4:11) will not pass away until Jesus returns.

Philip was not an apostle, yet he conducted healing services.  He was later called an evangelist.  The evangelist and pastor are not mentioned in 1 Cor 12:28-30, but miracles, gifts of healings, and governments are listed (among others).  Since the only Biblical evangelist flowed in the so-called power gifts, we should expect evangelists today to do so also.  In fact, it is subnormal for any evangelist to NOT flow in the gifts of the Spirit, since any time God sent anyone out to preach the New Testament message, it was always with power.  Anyone who feels called to evangelistic work should pray for and expect gifts of healings and working of miracles to manifest in his ministry.

The best way to receive healing is by personal faith without anyone else's help.  But there will always be many Christians who need to be at a service where the power of the Lord is present to heal them.  Thank God for such opportunities.

Believers always have the right to lay hands on the sick in faith in any setting, but  this does not negate the need for large healing meetings.  These meetings are often (but not always) evangelistic in nature and draw much attention to the Lord.

See also:

All about healing services


Beware:  Wrong motives for getting in healing lines

Do not play with holy things.  People in both Testaments died because they did not show the proper reverence for the holy things of God.  A healing line puts a sacred ordinance of the Lord into practice, and should never be taken lightly.

If you get into a healing line with the wrong motive, you not only risk judgment to yourself, but you will also interrupt the flow of the anointing for the people who are there to get healed.  You may rob them of a blessing for which they may have traveled some distance.  The anointing will not be as strong when you grieve the Holy Spirit with your actions.

The only reason that you should ever get into a healing line is so that you can be healed of a genuine physical or mental illness.  The person conducting the service will usually make this clear.  Make sure that you are definitely going to stand in faith for your healing no matter what.  If you aren't that serious about it, stay in your seat!  The one exception would be if your condition is definitely called out.

Do not attempt to find some insignificant condition (such as a hangnail or a pimple) simply to justify getting into the healing line for any of the reasons listed below.  Yes, God is able and willing to heal those things, but you know in your heart what your real motive is.  The anointing in a healing line is there to minister to the sick.  If you are in line for any other reason, you are out of line!

NEVER get into a healing line for any of the following reasons:

Wanting more anointing for your own ministry

I once heard that a minister who (supposedly) knew a lot about the anointing advised people, "If you can find any excuse to get in a healing line when an anointed man of God is laying hands on people, get in it!  Get around that anointing!  Lie on the floor in it as long as the ushers will let you!  You will get a deposit of it yourself for your own ministry!"

The stupidity of that advice is second only to its peril.

The anointing for ministry is not transmitted by accident.  Ministers are separated to their calling by a deliberate laying on of hands by church leadership (Acts 6:5-6).  Impartations are transmitted through a deliberate laying on of hands (1 Tim 4:14), not through healing lines.  Ultimately, what matters is that you have a definite call on your life from God himself.  Men only acknowledge and confirm publicly what God has already put on the inside of you.  You cannot "get" a call to the ministry through the laying on of hands.  Preparing for the ministry is a long process, and the anointing will only rest permanently on those whom God has tested and found faithful over time.  You are definitely not going to launch your ministry by receiving the anointing in the middle of a healing line without the knowledge of the minister.

The Holy Spirit can and does direct services where the anointing is transmitted by the laying on of hands and where it is perfectly proper to lie on the floor for an hour soaking it up.  Wait for that kind of service and get in that line if that's what you're after.  By respecting the healing anointing and staying seated, you are taking a positive step in God by showing him that you will not play games with the anointing.

Calling attention to yourself

I saw a man get up in a healing line once whose main motive seemed to be to have an experience like that of an evangelist in the early 1900's -- being "frozen" in position for three days.  This became obvious from his comments to the preacher.  After talking with him personally later, it became obvious that he thought much more highly of himself than he ought to and was hoping for a short cut to publicity in the ministry.  See the comments on the first wrong motive for more on ministry "short cuts."

Nothing is wrong with calling attention to a wonderful healing the Lord has done in your body.  Everything is wrong with wanting to receive or experience something so that people's eyes will be on you instead of the Lord.  Watch your motive and make sure that you are prepared to give God all the glory for what happens.  Be content to let him get that glory, rather than you getting glory for how well you glorify the Lord!

Hoping for a personal "word"

Some preachers give personal words of prophecy frequently, and some of the sick people in the line may be receiving personal prophecies.  You may think, "I really came here needing a word from God, so I should get in this line while that anointing is flowing!"

Don't waste your time.  God knows where you're sitting, and if he wants to say something to you through prophecy, whether you're called out individually or not, he will do so.  You will only grieve the Spirit by getting in the line attempting to "pull" on a prophetic gift when the flow to the people is primarily for healing.

Seeking a thrill or experience

Some people get in a healing line hoping that they will have some deep experience, such as having a vision of Jesus or getting "drunk in the Holy Spirit" for hours, or who knows what else.  Healing lines are for healing.  God grants visions solely as he wills and you cannot (and definitely should not!) "believe" for them.  (The devil will be happy to oblige you.)  If there is a line for people who want to get drunk in the Spirit, and that's what you want, fine, but don't get in the healing line unless you want healing.

Just because you see people fall dramatically, get totally "out in the Spirit," or shake on the floor for thirty minutes does not mean that you should get in the line to get a similar experience, however appealing such an experience may seem to you.  Respect the things of God and seek him, not unusual experiences.  The people on the floor most likely were not seeking any experience when they came up.

Wanting to feel the anointing or God's love

What on-fire Christian doesn't like to feel the anointing or the love of God?  Of course you do, but don't get in a healing line for these reasons.  We could all use a good "dip" in the anointing, but wait for a service that is geared for that.

Looking for "healing" for your finances or your marriage

Don't tell the minister you need a healing in your finances or a healing in your marriage.  Study the ministry of Jesus and the apostles.  Healing lines are for the sick, not those who need "healing" of other varieties.  God will "heal" (if you want to call it that) these areas, but the healing line is not the time or place.  If you go up with this type of request, you will distract the minister and interrupt the flow of the anointing.  If you want healing for your finances, tithe, give in offerings and believe what God says about money matters.  If you want healing for your marriage, book some counseling time with your pastor.  (If you don't have a pastor, we've found the first problem already.)

Looking for an "inner healing"

Study the Biblical accounts of healing crusades, and you will not find one case of someone going to Jesus for an "inner healing."  God can meet all your emotional needs, but not through laying on of hands in a healing line.  For further discussion about so-called inner healing, see the question, What is "inner healing," and do I need it?.

Getting experience for your future healing ministry

Forget the idea of getting in line to make observations and get valuable experience being around the healing anointing, seeing how it works from up close, and so on.  If you're up there just to be in on the party, you obviously haven't learned much about the healing anointing yet.  Get some respect for it if you ever want to be used in it yourself.

In most cases, you can find a way to observe what's going on without being in the line yourself.  Don't get in the line even if you can't get close enough to observe.  Even in a distant seat, you should still start noticing when the healing anointing comes in the room in many cases.  You can get some valuable training in your spirit right there in the back of the room.  Better yet, if you want to observe closely, get there early and sit as close as you can (without sitting in a reserved seat).  In a major meeting, just avoiding getting in strife with other believers trying to save the good seats long before the service starts will be a valuable character-building experience that will also help your ministry!

If you are going to get involved in healing ministry, you will probably spend some amount of time in a helping role for those who are already involved in it.  This will give you a lot of insight and "hands-on" experience, even if it isn't your hands being laid on anyone -- yet.  Some things are difficult to teach, and you probably won't learn them any other way.  As they say, some things are better caught than taught.

Trying to prove that it won't work

Yes, you can prove that healing lines won't work for you.  Simply get in line with the idea of proving it!  God will not force anything on you.  But if you're only going up to show someone else that you won't really get healed, you should stay in your seat.  Don't waste your time or the minister's time.  It is dangerous to play games with God, his anointing, and his servants.

Any reason other than receiving a healing in your body!

Don't get in line because all your friends are getting in the line and you want to be with them.

Don't get in line because you'd like to be noticed by someone (an usher, singer, maybe the preacher himself) with whom you would like to have a romantic relationship.

Don't get in line because you're tired and you want to lie on the floor a while.

Healing lines are only for healing.  I think you get the message by now!


Acts  6:5-6
Acts 6:5-6:

And the saying pleased the whole multitude:  and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

Whom they set before the apostles:  and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.


1 Timothy 4:14
1 Timothy 4:14:

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.


Jesus the Healer has never changed!

Hebrews 13:8

Malachi 3:6

James 1:17

God and Jesus have never changed.  Their will throughout history is their will today.  If it was God's will to heal the sick thousands of years ago, it is equally God's will to heal the sick today.  If he was the Lord your Physician, he still is the Lord your Physician.  If Jesus healed the sick during his earthly ministry, he still heals the sick today.  Otherwise, he would not be the same Jesus.

No reasonable person can dispute that Jesus healed the sick in great numbers.  The Scriptures that talk about this are too numerous to list here.  You can refer to the New Testament Scriptures about healing.  They will settle any question that Jesus healed the sick.

"Yes," you may say, "but Jesus is no longer on the earth as he was back then.  We cannot go to him for healing today."  No, you can't see him in person, but you may go to his Body, the Church.  Jesus refers to believers as his Body.  He is the Head and we are the Body.  We are his representatives on the earth, authorized in his name to continue the works that he did on the earth.

Jesus made it clear that believers would continue the same works that he did (in his name) in John 14:12-14.  This has always been his plan, even though it is never carried out in the majority of modern-day Christian congregations because of unbelief or lack of instruction.

Jesus still heals the sick through believers.  He is still teaching us today.  This is clear from Acts 1:1-2:  "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen."  Luke's gospel tells us about many healings and miracles in Jesus' ministry as well as some of his teaching.  However, Luke writes at the beginning of Acts that this is what Jesus began to do and teach before he was taken up.  The clear implication is that Jesus is continuing to do mighty works and teach today after he has been taken up.  It is still Jesus at work.

In Acts 3:1-16, Peter told the lame man, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."  Here he was doing the works that Jesus did, as Jesus said he would.  Peter boldly declared to the Jewish leaders, "His name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know:  yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all" (Acts 3:16) and "By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole" (Acts 4:10).  Peter made it clear that Jesus was doing the healing when his name was used.

In Acts 9:32-35, Peter told Aeneas, "Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed."  Peter made it clear that it was Jesus Christ doing the healing.

In Romans 15:18-19 Paul makes it clear that Christ himself wrought the mighty signs and wonders by him.  Jesus is not only still alive today, but he is actively involved on the earth through his Body.

The same Spirit who anointed Jesus to heal the sick (Acts 10:38) is the same Spirit who dwells in every believer.  Surely he has not decreased in power since then, and he is the one who quickens your mortal (subject to death) body (Romans 8:11).

So even though you cannot go to Jesus in the flesh, you can go to a member of his Body in the flesh, and that member is authorized to pray for your healing just as if Jesus were doing it himself.  The member prays in the name of Jesus, and Jesus himself does it.  (See John 14:12-14.)

Not only can you get your healing through someone else's ministry, you can also receive it yourself from God directly by believing in what Jesus did for you.  This is the same way that you receive forgiveness of sins.  This is the best way to receive your healing, but also the one that takes the most faith.  Jesus was made sick in your place at Calvary, and you can be healed simply by believing in his substitution for you.  Just as no one has to be there to pray for your salvation once you know how to be saved, no one has to be there to pray for your healing once you know that you can receive it for yourself.

Since Jesus is the same today, he desires to heal the sick just as much today.  He has no less compassion on you than he had on the sick people during his earthly ministry.  He has not changed since either his earthly ministry or the Book of Acts.  If we are not seeing miracles today as we should, it is because we have changed, not because he has changed.


God is not only ABLE, but also WILLING, to heal you

God is able to heal you!

God is able to heal every sickness known to mankind.  No reasonable Christian can question this.  Nothing is impossible for God.  He is omnipotent -- able to do anything!  He refers to himself as God Almighty.  Here are some Scriptures declaring God's omnipotence:

Luke 1:37

Genesis 18:14

Revelation 19:6

Genesis 17:1

Genesis 35:11

If God was able to create the entire universe (including you!), surely he has the power to heal any physical problem you happen to have.  The fact that Jesus healed all sickness and all diseases among the people should also be proof enough that God is able to do this.

Furthermore, upon the return of Jesus, God will instantly change your entire body from being mortal to being immortal.  In the blink of an eye, every Christian on the planet will be instantly healed of every physical problem, and even that won't put any kind of power drain on God Almighty.

So there should be no question in your mind that God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, is able to heal whatever condition you have now!  If you believe that he is going to heal you completely when Jesus comes back, you surely believe that he is able to completely heal you now!  This settles the question of God's ability to heal you.

God is willing to heal you!

But here is where most Christians stop short of their healing.  They know that God is able to heal them, but they don't believe that God is willing to heal them.  So in most cases, they don't even ask God to heal them, let alone ask in faith.

Only one person in Scripture questioned Jesus' willingness to heal.  He knew that Jesus was able to do it, but he did not know if he was willing to do it.  "If you are willing, you can make me clean."  Read about this in the following passages:

Matthew 8:2-4

Mark 1:40-45

Luke 5:12-15

Jesus' answer to the leper was, "I will."  He never told anyone, "I won't."  Since Jesus is the same today as he was then (Hebrews 13:8), his answer to anyone with that question today must also be the same:  "I will."

We know from Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9, and Colossians 3:25 that God does not play favorites.  He treats everyone the same.  In fact, we are told that we are sinning if we don't treat everyone the same (James 2:1-9, 1 Timothy 5:21).

Therefore, we know that God cannot possibly be willing to heal one person and not be equally willing to heal another, including you.  However, God is fair to insist that you meet the same conditions as everyone else.

Is God willing to save everyone?

Healing is simply the physical benefit of salvation.  God is willing to save everyone, with no exceptions.  He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).  God is both able and willing to save every person on earth.

Since the same atonement that provided salvation from hell is the same atonement that provides healing for your body, it is insane to think that God is willing to extend one benefit of salvation to everyone while withholding another benefit for some mysterious reason.  (You will see in Isaiah's prophecy of redemption that healing is definitely provided in Christ's atonement.)

The fact that some people will spend eternity in hell has nothing to do with God's choice in the matter.  Likewise, the fact that some people never get healed has nothing to do with God's choice in the matter.  It is just as ridiculous to say that a person was not healed because God wouldn't heal him as it is to say that a person was not saved because God wouldn't save him.

God's ability + God's willingness +   ?   = Healing

So obviously the fact that God is able to do something and willing to do something does not mean that it gets done.  There is a missing ingredient.  That ingredient is your faith.  When you believe that Jesus bore your sins and you receive his gift of salvation by faith, you have something that God was able and willing to give you all along.  When you believe that Jesus bore your sicknesses and you receive his gift of healing by faith, you receive something that God has been able and willing to give you all along.

You do not need to work on God's end of things to get him to be willing to heal you.  Do not beg, plead, cajole, pester, entreat or supplicate to try to make him be willing to heal you.  He already is willing!  Since he is both willing and able to heal you, you can receive healing from him.


James 2: 1-9
James 2:1-9:

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing [this means bright clothing; it does not refer to a man who showed up to the service in drag], and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

But ye have despised the poor.  Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well:

But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.


Colossians 3:25
Colossians 3:25:

But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done:  and there is no respect of persons.


Ephesians 6: 9
Ephesians 6:9:

And ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening:  knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.


1 Timothy 5:21
1 Timothy 5:21:

I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.


Romans  2:11
Romans 2:11:

For there is no respect of persons with God.


Genesis 35:11
Genesis 35:11:

And God said unto him [Jacob], I am God Almighty:  be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins.


Genesis 17:1
Genesis 17:1:

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.


Genesis 18:14
Genesis 18:14:

Is any thing too hard for the Lord?  At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.


Luke  1:37
Luke 1:37:

For with God nothing shall be impossible.


Revelation 19:6
Revelation 19:6:

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia:  for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.


Suffering

No one likes to talk about suffering, and this probably wasn't the first message you clicked.  But it is important for you to know what the Bible says about suffering as a Christian.  There is so much foolish talk out there that Christian suffering includes sickness.  I won't leave you hanging until the end -- suffering as a Christian has nothing to do with being sick.  Yes, sickness is suffering, but you don't have to be a Christian to suffer that way.  Plenty of sinners suffer sickness and receive no spiritual benefit from it.  Being persecuted for your faith is the suffering referred to in the New Testament.  You are redeemed from suffering from sickness, but you are not redeemed from suffering persecution.

Suffering for the sake of the gospel is a good thing, not a bad thing.  Paul's desire was, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death"  (Philippians 3:10).  He warned Timothy, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution"  (2 Timothy 3:12).  These verses are probably not on your refrigerator, but they are just as true as the ones we all like.

1 Peter 2:19-20:

For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

For what glory is it, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, that is acceptable with God.

There are many verses in the Bible about suffering, but not a single one of them says that you have to suffer sickness, or even implies it.  There are sufferings in this world because Satan rules over unsaved men.  They act like Satan, who is out to get you.  Read Paul's lists of sufferings and you'll see that sickness is notably absent.  (See the answer to the objection on Paul's thorn in the flesh if you think his thorn was an illness.)

Here are Paul's "sufferings":

Stripes, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watchings, fastings -- 2 Cor 6:5

In abundant labors, in stripes above measure, in prisons more often, in deaths often, beaten 39 times on five different occasions, beaten with rods three times, stoned once, shipwrecked three times, spending a day and a night in the water, on frequent trips, in danger from waters, robbers, his own countrymen, the heathen, in perils in the city and the wilderness, in the ocean and among bogus brethren, in weariness and painfulness, watching often, hungering, thirsting, fasting, being in cold and nakedness. -- 2 Cor 11:23-27

You won't find illnesses on this list, although you'll find just about everything else.  (If you think painfulness is where you'll find illness, you haven't checked the word in a concordance.  You may discover this word's meaning in the reply to the Paul's Thorn objection mentioned above.)

Yes, you will suffer in this world.  Jesus even asked how long he had to suffer his own disciples!  Jesus suffered many persecutions, and the servant is not above his master.  However, like Paul in one of the verses quoted above, you are to share in Christ's sufferings, not in sufferings that Christ did not suffer.  Jesus never suffered sickness until his atonement, when he suffered our sicknesses.  You could not possibly share in Christ's atoning sufferings for mankind.  The only one of Christ's sufferings that you could suffer is persecution.

See also:

Objection:  All Christians are clearly told that they will suffer in this life

Objection:  God sometimes heals you only after he has let you suffer a while (1 Peter 5:10)

Objection:  We need to fulfill what is left of Christ's sufferings in the earth (Col 1:24)


All about healing services

What is a healing service?

A healing service is a special meeting centered around ministry to the sick.  Some of the ideas in this discussion can apply to other services as well.  The Holy Spirit can change the order of a regular service and move this way for a certain time.

Healing services are generally conducted by one or more ministers whom the Holy Spirit has specifically anointed to minister this way.  While any believer has a right to lay hands on the sick in the name of Jesus and expect them to recover, some ministers have a special grace for this.  We see in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 that there are "gifts of healings," "working of miracles" and "faith" to be in operation in Christian services.  (See the question on these gifts for more information about them.)  Any believer, including you, could be called upon to operate in these gifts at certain times.  These are technically "manifestations" of the Spirit, since you cannot "own" any of them.  These manifestations occur "as the Spirit wills" (verse 11).

This notwithstanding, there are definitely individuals whom the Holy Spirit uses consistently in such manifestations.  We see this in 1 Cor 12:28-30.  This lists ministry offices, not single manifestations in services.  The people used in this way often, but not always, stand in the office of "evangelist" (Eph 4:11).  We know that Philip, who later on in his ministry was called an evangelist, flowed in these so-called "power gifts."  However, there are those in all the ministry offices who flow in these gifts.  It is unfair to criticize a minister who flows in the gifts of healings for "not being evangelistic enough."  The minister may stand in another ministry office, such as prophet, and may not focus on reaching the lost in his meetings.  It is equally unfair to criticize an evangelist for "not doing enough in-depth teaching" when his primary goal is to present the simple gospel to the unsaved.  God uses different men in different ways and there is no cookie-cutter stereotype of a "healing minister."  It is pointless to try to compare different men's ministries with each other.

These meetings are frequently advertised in advance with exhortations to "Bring the sick!  Bring someone who needs a miracle!"  The more genuine needs there are in the service, the more the gifts of the Spirit will be in operation.  If an evangelist holds such a meeting and no one brings any sinners or sick people to it, there may be no manifestations of the Spirit at all.

Who are healing services for?

Healing services are for anyone who needs healing, but they are particularly for the unsaved, young Christians, and people with very difficult conditions.  Mature believers are expected to believe the Word of God and receive their healing for themselves without a special healing service.  Thank God for healing services, but simple faith in God is a better way to receive your healing.  Still, if you need healing, it's not a sin to attend a healing service, even if you've been a Christian since you were a kid!

This service is indirectly for the co-workers, relatives and friends of the people there.  Many of these may take a sudden interest in the gospel when someone they know is healed.  They may be there the next night, and they may get healed and tell even more people, and so on.  That is the gospel pattern.  It did not take long for entire cities to find out about Jesus in the Gospels and Acts.  Healings were one important way that the gospel was advertised.

You will probably see some very unlikely people being healed.  That old boozer downtown may suddenly be healed of liver problems, while Sally the Saint who has faithfully taught Sunday school for 25 years walks in with eye trouble and leaves with eye trouble.  Critical Chris, who has not had a kind word to say about the pastor in eight years, is suddenly healed of terrible back pain and runs around the room rejoicing, while Deacon Dave still has his arthritis when the service ends.

This can lead to jealousy and criticism from the older Christians, who fancy themselves as being more deserving of healing.  Perhaps this is the problem in many cases.  The sinner and the backslider know that they need the mercy of God, while the older Christian can forget that healing has always been based on his righteousness in Christ, not his own righteousness.  No one "deserves" healing on his own merit.  Everyone "deserves" healing based on his right standing with God through Jesus Christ.  Rather than being jealous, older Christians should rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15) when they are healed.

The fact that some people are healed miraculously while others are not has lead to some very bad doctrine based on experience instead of the Bible.  People assume that it was God's will to heal some and not others.  That is not true.  It was God's will to heal some in a dramatic way on this particular occasion.  But it was, and is, God's will, to heal everyone.

Different methods of ministry

Many healing crusades feature lengthy "healing lines" where hands are laid on the sick.  In this way, the healing anointing is transmitted to those who need it.  However, beware of putting God in a box.  Some ministers rarely lay hands on anyone and instead "call out" certain conditions that God is currently healing in the congregation.  This is a manifestation of "the word of knowledge."  In some cases, people are healed spontaneously while worshipping God, or for no readily apparent reason, and the minister may not even be aware of it!  (God does not always tell the minister everything!)  A person may teeter all over and fall down "drunk in the Spirit" and get up healed.  The minister may simply wave at a section of the congregation, and the power of God may suddenly fall on a large number of people at once.  There is no "right" or "wrong" way for God to minister healing to people.  The way he is moving in that service is the right way, and any other way is the wrong way -- at least for that service.

The manifestation of the Spirit differs from service to service.  I have seen services where a large number of people flopped all over the place laughing in the Spirit.  Sometimes, the next evening, God was trying to move primarily through the preaching of the Word, and some people (bless their hearts) started whooping it up in the flesh trying to make the same thing happen that happened the night before.  Beware of this.  Always purpose in your heart to "hook up" with however God is moving in that particular service.  Let God direct you rather than trying to direct him.  If you start working yourself up into a tee-hee fit in the wrong service, you will be completely out of order and will disrupt the anointing.  (If the ushers are smart, they will usher you out.)  On the other hand, you are equally out of order to resist the Holy Spirit if he is moving that way and you just decide that you don't like it and won't participate in it.  You will end up being one of the jealous ones, moaning that those people who "made total fools of themselves" walk out with their healings and a whole bunch of joy, while you, you dignified thing, never flinched -- and never got anything from God, either.

Sadly, some Christians viciously criticize genuine moves of God.("They're just working it up.  They're in the flesh.  That can't be God.  They're acting like fools.  This is an embarrassment to the Body of Christ.  It's all emotional.  Those people are insane.")  Sometimes it was the very Christians who said that they wanted a move of God in the first place!

As mentioned in the discussion, Strange ways to get healed, the minister could ask you to do something unusual, like run around the room, put your hand on the part of your body that hurts, or try to do something you couldn't do before.  You would be wise to do it, even if you don't feel the anointing (tangible power) on you at the time.  As you move out in obedience, your healing will manifest.  (I am assuming that the minister heard from God, of course.)

I am not saying that everything that happens in every service is genuinely God.  Ministers are people, and they can miss God just like you do sometimes.  (Shhhhh...we won't tell anyone.)  Some people in the congregation can overdo things and get into the flesh.  But that doesn't mean that God wasn't moving.

Also, you must realize that different ministers have different personalities.  Although a minister is to speak for God, the message will always be "colored" by the vessel it flows through.  Nothing is wrong with that.  In fact, one of the worst things a minister (or any believer, for that matter) can do is to try to act like someone else.  Much unwarranted criticism is aimed at ministers because of the way they minister.  One minister might be Joe Hollywood and try to make the service a "healing extravaganza," and people will complain, "He's too showy -- that can't be God."  Another is so low-key that people complain, "He isn't very exciting to listen to.  Joe Hollywood's services are much more exciting."  The apostle Paul had a wonderful healing ministry, yet people complained, "His bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible" (2 Cor 10:10).  You see, silly complaints about ministers are not new.

If you're not careful, you can start regarding the minister "in the flesh."  In other words, you can get so caught up with what he wears, how he acts, or what kind of music he likes before he preaches, that you get your eyes on him instead of on the Lord.  This mistake can prevent you from receiving your healing.  The gifts of healings are from God, not from the man.  You are there to receive from the anointing that is on that man's ministry, not on the man's clothes or jewelry.  If you stew over his expensive watch (that someone probably gave him anyway), you may miss your healing completely because you're in a critical mood rather than a mood to receive from God.

I am not saying that everything that every minister does is right.  I am saying that you need to look past the man's possible imperfections or personality quirks and look to the anointing upon him.  I have had the power of God get all over me in more than once service where I was not fond of the minister's methods or delivery.

Don't be like Naaman the Syrian

Naaman the Syrian got healed, but first he had to repent of an improper attitude.  He wanted Elisha to lay hands on him, and Elisha told him to bathe in the Jordan River seven times.  Naaman got very upset because he thought the rivers back in Damascus were better than the Jordan, and the request seemed ridiculous.  He was healed when he obeyed Elisha's instructions.  You can read about this in 2 Kings 5:1-14.

It is possible to be like Naaman the Syrian today.  The minister instructs those around you to lay hands on you instead of laying hands on you himself, or tells you to lay hands on yourself and receive from the anointing in the room.  Then you get mad because you wanted a regular healing line!  Or someone other than the man you like was anointed that night to minister in the healing line, and you're mad because you wanted your favorite preacher to lay hands on you.  Well, you can either stay sick or you can go with the flow.  Rather than getting upset over methods, cooperate with the way this individual service is going.

Jump in!

I don't know that you'd want to make theology out the Pool of Bethesda, but there does seem to be a parallel in practice.  When the minister says that the Holy Spirit wants to minister to certain people, and you're one of those people, get down there as fast as you can without walking out of love (or running out of love).  Just as only the first person in the pool got healed when the angel troubled the water, often the people who respond right away are ministered to by the anointing, while those who sit there debating whether they really feel like going down there lose out.  Allegorically speaking, when the angel troubles the pool, jump in and receive!

This is very important to the "flow" of the service.  If the minister has to wait for people to obey God, it can disrupt the flow of things, and the anointing may wane.

How do you know it's really God?

There are indeed fake healing ministers out there, and still others who have a genuine anointing but mix a lot of flesh with it.  How will you be able to tell if the minister is for real or not?

First, if you are a Christian, your born-again spirit will be comfortable in a service where a man of God is ministering.  If the man is a fake, something just won't seem right to you on the inside and you'll be uneasy the whole time.  Now it is possible to be in a godly service where your flesh cringes at some things that are going on, but you know in your heart that they're done under the anointing.  If the Holy Spirit bears witness with your spirit concerning your salvation (Romans 8:16), you can expect that he will bear witness with your spirit about other matters, also.  Part of growing as a Christian is having your senses exercised by reason of use to discern good and evil (Heb 5:14).

Second, the message preached will be Biblical.  This does not mean that every word will be a Scripture verse.  It means that the point of the message will be found in the Bible.  Some ministers are fond of telling long stories to illustrate points.  Some evangelists may seem to say nothing about God or his Word until they get to the conclusion of their message and they "throw out the net."  Some prophets may spend a good deal of time speaking specific things about specific situations under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  But when all is said and done, you should be able to point to one or more verses in the Bible that summarize the message brought forth by the minister.  If you can't, you have reason to suspect that something is wrong.

Third, the message will be liberating.  Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Cor 3:17).  If you leave feeling like you were just beaten up, either you misinterpreted the message, or the message was not from God.  Note that your flesh may not enjoy a good message on repentance, but that is still a liberating message because repentance does bring liberty.  Some preachers wrongly divide the Word of God and use it to try to bring people into bondage, not liberty.  They preach the Word, but in the wrong spirit!  The Pharisees were prime examples of this.  Jesus said to beware of their doctrines!

Fourth, your pastor probably knows more than you do about the particular ministry and may have either recommended that people go if they can or warned people to stay away.  Your pastor can't control your life, but God gives pastors for the protection of the sheep.  Beware of going to a meeting that your pastor does not support.  Many sheep come back embarrassed or hurt after disregarding warnings about a certain ministry.  For a time, they think that the pastor is just an old coot who is not into the new thing that God is doing today.  They are sure that they know more than the pastor does, and besides, he just might be jealous that God is not using him in this wonderful new way.  Then they find out that the man wasn't genuine (or was off his rocker) and that the pastor was right all along.  The pastor may have known some bad things about the minister but for love's sake would not share the specifics publicly.

I'm not saying that your pastor couldn't be wrong, because he could be.  Some local pastors have gotten quite upset at genuine moves of God.  I'm just telling you that a warning light should go on if he does not approve of the meetings.

Fifth, if the man does not have the support of local churches for his ministry, you should avoid him.  Beware of "Lone Ranger" ministers who don't think they need support from pastors in the area!  There is no excuse for this in most places today, because plenty of good churches are around.  Another problem with an unsponsored meeting is that the people who get saved at the services will need churches to attend.  If there are no churches ready to receive the new converts, they may just go back into the world again.  The meeting will bear no lasting fruit.  As someone once said, "The harvest isn't the harvest until it's gathered into the barn!"

Sixth, if the minister himself does not have a pastor and a home church, stay away.  God will not give authority to those who do not operate under authority themselves.  A traveling minister needs a pastor and a home church.  Avoid any man who claims, "The Body of Christ is my church" (as I heard one idiot "minister" declare).

Seventh, if the meetings are of God, Jesus will be glorified.  The gifts of the Spirit will declare Jesus to be Lord (1 Cor 12:3).  If man, rather than Jesus, is exalted, the meeting is being done in the wrong spirit.

Eighth, the minister will point you to Jesus and to the Word of God, not to his anointing, his ministry, or even the gifts of the Spirit.  He will present Jesus and God's promises as the answer to every need.  Ministries based on the gifts of the Spirit are top-heavy.  Ministries based on the Word are on solid ground.  You cannot always get a need met through the gifts of the Spirit, but you can always get every need met through God's Word.

Ninth, the man's personal lifestyle (as far as is publicly known) should be consistent with New Testament teaching.  If it is common knowledge that the man is involved in any practice that is against Biblical standards, avoid him.  (However, you shouldn't hold someone accountable for the things he did before he got saved, or things he did after he got saved but repented of.)  Note that I am not saying that you should go around gossiping and trying to dig up dirt like some tabloid.  Also, some people with genuine anointings are really messed up!  The reason to avoid their ministry is not because they aren't anointed, but because you don't want to pick up their attitudes!

Tenth, the man will have a godly approach to the offering.  Impostors usually give themselves away when it comes to money, since that why they're there.  Some men have tried to prophesy money out of people, which is never right.  (In some cases, the man may have a supernatural knowledge about money or possessions someone has, and try to tell the person that God says to give it away.  Watch out!  Not all supernatural knowledge comes from God.  Demons know some things, too -- see Acts 16:16.)  Assume that the man is not of God if he spends a disproportionate amount of time on the offering, or tries to put undue pressure on people to give.  And give what you can give cheerfully, not reluctantly or under compulsion (2 Cor 9:7).  Don't give just because he had a "word" that there were businessmen in the congregation who were supposed to give $1,000 each.  (I don't know what it is about businessmen and $1,000, but I have heard this a disproportionate number of times over the years.  Thus far, God has not even indexed that number for inflation.  Note my skepticism.)  I'm not saying that God would never have someone say such a thing, but make sure that your giving is based on your convictions, not pressure from the minister.

What should my attitude be when I go?

You should be prepared to receive from God.  This is critical.  What you receive in such a service is more up to you than it is up to God or the minister.  To some degree, what the congregation as a whole expects determines how much happens, as I am about to prove.

Do not go with the attitude that you want to "see what kind of anointing the preacher has."  You will miss it.  The preacher could be the most anointed preacher who ever lived, but if the people are cynical and not open to receive from him, or just sit judging him, little will happen.

I can prove this from the following account in Mark 6, where the most anointed preacher who ever lived (Jesus), attempted to minister in Nazareth, where he was met with hostility and skepticism.  Read these passages:

Matthew 13:54-58

Mark 6:1-6

The servant is not above his master.  If Jesus could do no mighty work at Nazareth, where people would not receive his ministry but got preoccupied with the human side of him, no minister today can fare any better under similar circumstances.  This was the same Jesus who healed multitudes everywhere else.  The difference was solely in the congregation!  Note that Jesus could do no mighty work.  He wasn't unwilling to, he simply couldn't.  This may surprise people who assume that as the Son of God, Jesus could do anything.  But Jesus limited himself to what was available to man, emptying himself of his divine privileges (Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 2:16-17).  No minister can force healings and miracles to take place where people are not open to receive them.  Jesus told his disciples to heal in the cities that received them, not in the cities that did not receive them.  (This is expounded upon in an Objection reply elsewhere.)

Recall the Scriptures where Jesus told the sick that it was their faith, not his, that healed them.  (See the discussion, According to YOUR FAITH be it unto you! for these passages.)  It is still the same today.  God's power is limited only by what you can believe!  See Mark 9:17-29.

Do not yawn your way through praise and worship or the preaching of the Word, thinking to yourself, "Come on, get on with it!  I want to see the good stuff -- healings and miracles!"  If you don't want to praise or worship God, you probably have your eyes in the wrong place to begin with, since he is the one doing the healings.  Why not praise him in advance for what he is going to do!  Spending time honoring God, conscious of his presence, certainly will not hurt you.  People have been known to get healed in this part of the service without even having hands laid on them!  Pay attention to the preaching of the Word.  While an unwise or inept minister might just spend time fiddle-diddling waiting for the anointing to fall, a minister with any sense will be teaching you what the Bible says about healing, faith, or other topics, to help you receive from God.

Some people get healed without exercising much faith at all!

How can this be?  Like the man in John 5:2-19, some people who seem to be in unbelief do get healed at healing services.  However, God does not guarantee to anyone that he will be healed in a service without exercising any faith.  Recall that the other people at the Pool of Bethesda were sick when Jesus got there and sick when Jesus left!  But didn't Jesus heal all who were oppressed of the devil?  He healed all who came to him.  There is no record that anyone else at the Pool of Bethesda asked for healing.  And in the man's case, Jesus did not say that his faith had healed him.  This man was healed by a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

We have no reason to suspect that the soldier whose ear Peter hacked off had any faith.  Yet Jesus healed his ear.  The man was coming to take him to be tortured and die and Jesus healed him anyway!  Jesus did not tell this man that his faith had made him whole!

So why does God pick certain individuals at certain times and heal them in spite of their lack of faith?  We don't know.  The manifestations of the Spirit are given as he wills.  He surely has a reason behind it, but he is not obligated to share the reason with us.

One thing is for sure:  The fact that God in his mercy may heal a person who has no faith at all does not mean that he does not want to heal others.  God is fair and has made provision for the healing of the whole world through the atonement of Christ.  Anyone could be healed at that meeting (or anywhere else for that matter) by believing that he was healed by Jesus' stripes (1 Peter 2:24).  Anyone who is properly instructed and right with God can be healed.

Beware lest you get the prodigal son's brother's attitude.  The backslider comes back, and gets the red carpet treatment.  God heals him and shows him great mercy and favor.  Meanwhile, there you sit, mad because you think God didn't do anything for you when you never backslid like that.  However, all that God has, including healing, was yours all along.  (See Healing and the prodigal son.)

When you're in a healing line

If you choose to go up during the part of the service where hands are being laid on the sick, here are some practical suggestions.

First, determine that you are going to receive your healing when hands are laid on you.  Do not just assume that the anointing will do all the work.  Remember the woman with the issue of blood!  Her faith made a demand on the anointing that was on Jesus.  If you go up with the idea that you doubt anything will happen anyway, you are wasting the minister's time as well as yours, and you should not get in line in the first place.

I'm not saying that to be harsh.  When a string of people believe they will receive something, a real "flow" gets going.  If the minister is forced to deal with groups of people who don't expect anything to happen, it will be harder for the gifts of the Spirit to manifest.

As much as possible, keep your mind on the Lord and his Word.  Unless you are specifically told to sing or do something else, I would suggest being quiet and in the mood to receive.  There is no point in trying to get "hyper."  In fact, the more you do mentally or physically to try to hook up with God's power, the harder it will be for you to do so.  That is because you receive healing from God in your spirit, not your mind.  Thus, it is generally better to have your mind quiet so that it won't get in the way!  Sometimes a minister has to stay with a person for a little while because the person is so wrought up that he is no condition to receive anything from God!

It is tempting to get nervous when the minister gets near you, especially if people are falling all over the place.  Keep in mind that it is the Lord who is doing the healing.  The anointing of the Holy Spirit is being transmitted through the minister's hands.  Don't worry what people will think of you.  They are probably too busy thinking about themselves to be thinking of you, anyway.

Don't worry about falling and/or getting up.  This idea is to get healed, and whether you fall over or not is irrelevant.  Jesus said that hands would be laid on the sick and they would recover; he did not promise that they would fall over.  See the questions on this topic for some elaboration on this.

There is no need to contort yourself (mentally or physically) in an attempt to "suck" the anointing out of the minister.  Just stand there and receive it.  Let it go into you.  If you're sick, the healing anointing is there for your benefit, and God knows that.  You don't have to enter some kind of mega-worship, either.

Don't get in the healing line unless you need a physical healing or healing of a mental illness.  See the discussion, Beware:  Wrong motives for getting in healing lines for some exhortations and warnings about this.  Healing lines are serious business; don't play games with the anointing.  If the healing line is for a specific condition only, don't get in it unless you have that condition.

What you can do to enhance the service

Contrary to popular opinion, the results are up to the congregation as well as the minister.  We have discussed expectations earlier.  Go expecting God to move supernaturally.  It is easier for everyone to receive in at atmosphere of mass faith.

Never act in a way that would distract others from the service.  Do not pass notes, tell jokes, make late-night snack plans, or do anything else that shows irreverence for God and his workings.  Do not make comments to your neighbors about other people going up for healing.  If there are specific instructions from the platform (sing, pray, etc.), follow them.  If there are no explicit instructions, worship the Lord quietly, pray for the people in line, or do something else that keeps you hooked up with what is going on.

You do not have to get into some deep kind of prayer for the people being prayed for.  The time for that was before the service, and the minister and others involved have surely prayed.  It is amusing (for at least the first five seconds or so) to watch people who want to "help" the minister by stretching out their hands toward the sick and making a big commotion.  If you really sense the need to pray, do so in such a way that calls no attention to yourself.

Preachers sometimes make analogies between sporting events and church.  "If you can shout like Comanchee Indians at the ball game, why do you stand there like wooden Indians in church?"  (Or, for the "politically correct" crowd in the U.S., why do you stand there like wooden Native Americans in church?)  However, a Christian service is not a sporting event, and it is not entertainment.  The type of wild shouting and cheering that might be in order at the ballpark may not be in order.  There is a time and a place for cheering and even clapping, but the end of a prophetic word from the minister (or worse, the middle of it) is not the place for such.  Be sensitive to the flow of the service, and let the minister direct it.  If no one else is hooting and hollering, it is out of order for you to do so.  On the other hand, if the ministry team is running the aisles screaming, go ahead and join them if you want.

Do not get up, leave, and come back in unless there is a dire emergency.  If you are absolutely going to wet your pants if you don't get to a bathroom, go out and back in as discreetly as possible.  Of course, you should arrive at the service in time to take care of such matters beforehand.  Do not be like some folks who make "potty runs" just because they're bored and want a break.

Since Jesus is the one doing the healing, you should act as if Jesus were on the platform.  Let that be your guide for conduct.  Jesus is not a pickle-puss; you can rejoice in his presence.  Be free, but don't be disrespectful.

Aren't the gifts of the Spirit solely up to the will of God?

It is an error to assume that if God wants to do something through the gifts of the Spirit, he will just do them anyway.  God commands us to desire spiritual gifts (1 Cor 14:1) and covet earnestly these gifts (1 Cor 12:31).  If we have nothing to do with it, these commands are meaningless and a waste of space.

We cannot dictate to God that he move in a certain way or do something spectacular for a certain individual.  We can ask God to manifest himself through the gifts of the Spirit, leaving the details to him.

It is possible to grieve the Holy Spirit so that he stops moving.  For example, if the minister is prophesying and people are not paying attention, the Holy Spirit may stop speaking.  God is not going to waste his time if people won't listen to him.  If people act like they're bored and want to go home, he may stop healing people through the gifts of healings.  It is possible for the conduct of the crowd to rob people who still need to receive a blessing.

God will overlook the goofiness of a few individuals in the crowd.  A few nut cases always come out of the woodwork for this kind of meeting.  Don't worry about them.  But if the majority of the crowd is "tuning out," you can expect the anointing to leave.

We cannot make God move through the gifts of the Spirit, but we can sure stop him.

What if you don't feel anything, or aren't instantly healed?

Remember that it was a healing line, not a feeling line.

In most cases, you will feel something like an electric current going into you when hands are laid on you.  It is possible that you will feel nothing at all.  On the other hand, you may end up on the floor wondering what just happened to you.  There's no way to tell in advance.

One of the biggest mistakes people make in healing lines is to assume that because they do not get an instant manifestation of healing, they must have missed it, or perhaps the minister just wasn't anointed this time.  Like the ten lepers, you may be one of those who is "healed as they went."  See Luke 17:12-19.  The proper attitude is to believe that the anointing went into you (which you may or may not have felt) and to believe that God's power is continuing to work in your body.

I can picture some people saying, "Oh, come on, that's just a cop-out to get the healing minister off the hook.  That way, when there's nothing there, you can pretend that something is there, as in that story about the Emperor's new clothes."  Object if you wish, but I have been healed marvelously in cases where I noticed no change when I was prayed for!  In a couple of cases, I got worse physically before I got an instant manifestation of healing later.  But I still got it, and it was still God.  If you go around affirming that you didn't get anything, you have dug up the seed that you have planted for your healing.

It is always proper to "believe that you received when you prayed" despite adverse circumstances after you pray.  God says that we receive the promises through faith and patience (Heb 6:12), and that we have need of patience after we have done the will of God (Heb 10:35-36).  If all healings were instantaneous, you would only need faith.  There would be no need for patience.

Why should you believe that anything will change when you didn't notice any change when hands were laid on you?  Because you should believe your Lord!  He said that believers would lay hands on the sick and they would recover.  If hands were laid on you, you should expect to recover, because that is what Jesus himself said you can expect!  Jesus did not promise that each person would recover immediately.  He said they would recover.

There will always be people who are unwilling to learn about faith from the Bible.  Such people will live sad lives, going from healing service to healing service without getting healed.  After they see no change when hands are laid on them, they will say, "See, it didn't work!"  They expect the minister to do it all for them, and he can't.  (He would if he could!)

It is the minister's responsibility to come to the meeting ready to flow in the Spirit, and to preach and teach accurately to help the people.  It is his responsibility to be willing to make the anointing available to the sick through the laying on of hands.

It is your responsibility to believe for your healing when hands are laid on you.  It is your responsibility to exercise faith and patience and receive God's promise.  That is not the minister's responsibility!  If only more people could see that!

Healing flows in regular services

Sometimes the gifts of healings can start operating in a service at your church that was not designated as a healing service.  When this happens, the comments made about healing services in this discussion apply to the part of the service that has become a "healing service."  The service will sometimes go into a healing "flow" and then go into something else.  It is important to respond right away if you need healing; this will help the service keep flowing.  I have yet to figure out why so many people wait for someone else to go up first, knowing full well that they need healing.  Be bold, go down there and receive!

The best way to be healed

Thank God for healing services, but the best way to be healed is on your own, with no help from anyone else.  You don't have to wait for a healing service to receive your healing any more than a sinner needs to wait for an evangelistic crusade to get saved.  Thank God for both kinds of services.  But the best thing you can do is to build your faith for healing before you get sick!  In case you haven't noticed, it's harder to study and pray when you have a temperature of 103 and you ache all over.  It's also harder to get healed when you're already sick as a dog than it is to get healed when you sense the first symptom come on you.

Healing is available to you anywhere, at any time, whenever you need it.  God's best is for you to stay healthy so that you don't need to go to a healing service.

See also:

Massive healing crusades:  The will of God!


Romans 12:15
Romans 12:15:

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.


1 Corinthians 12: 3
1 Corinthians 12:3:

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed:  and that no man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.


1 Corinthians 12:31
1 Corinthians 12:31:

But covet earnestly the best gifts:  and yet I shew unto you a more excellent way.


1 Corinthians 14:1

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.


Ephesians 4:11
Ephesians 4:11:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;


Philippians 2: 5-8
Philippians 2:5-8:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.


Hebrews  2:16-17
Hebrews 2:16-17:

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.


Signs and wonders!

You can expect that there will be signs and wonders in New Testament church services.  The most normal signs Jesus talked about in Mark 16 are speaking in other tongues and laying hands on the sick and having them recover.

Besides this, unusual things can happen when the anointing of God meets mortal flesh.  I am mentioning this simply because you may see some unusual things happen to some people in services, and I don't want you to leave "freaked out."  There is New Testament precedent for things that might surprise you.

The glory of God in manifestation

The priests at the dedication of Solomon's temple could not even stand up when the glory of the Lord came in the first time:  "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever:  that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;  So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud:  for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." -- 2 Chronicles 5:13-14.  "And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud:  for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD." -- 1 Kings 8:10-11.

If men could not stand up when the glory of the Lord came in under the Old Covenant, we should expect there to be times under our "more glorious" covenant (2 Cor 3:7-11) when the same thing happens.

Now look what happened after Solomon's speech under the "less glorious" covenant:  "Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.  And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house." -- 2 Chronicles 7:1-2.

Under a more glorious covenant, we should expect the glory of God to come into our services, too!

Drunk in the Spirit?!?

The men in Acts 2 were falsely assumed to be drunken (Acts 2:13-16).  This could not have been concluded from the fact that they were speaking in other languages.  If anything, everyone would have been shocked at their sudden erudition.  After all, these were not learned men.  Apparently, the way they were acting gave some the impression that they had been drinking.  If they were acting normally other than speaking languages they had never learned, Peter would have said that Jesus had shed forth that which they heard.  But Peter said that Jesus had shed forth that which they had seen and heard, so there was evidently something unusual to see, too!

If this happened when the Holy Spirit first came, we can expect that something similar can happen today, since we are still in the same Holy Spirit dispensation.  I am not saying that we should go to extremes and make a quasi-denomination out of "laughing in the Spirit," which is not emphasized in Scripture.  But if David could leap and dance before the Lord (2 Samuel 6:14-16), we may see people dance before the Lord.  If Elijah could run in the Spirit and keep up with Ahab's chariot (1 Kings 18:46), the Spirit may prompt men to run today.  If those of Israel could be filled with laughter when the Lord turned their captivity, how much more should we, whose captivity has been permanently turned, be able to laugh?  See Psalm 126:1-2:  "When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.  Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing:  then said they among the heathen, the LORD hath done great things for them."

Struck dumb by God?!?

This almost seems like a contradiction.  After all, didn't Jesus heal the dumb?  In this case, we are not talking about sickness, but a person being so overwhelmed by the anointing that he is unable to see or speak.  (By the way, dumb in this usage means "unable to speak," not "stupid.")

Zecharias (Luke 1:18-64) was struck dumb for at least nine months when he asked for a sign that the angel Gabriel was not lying.  I suppose he would have considered that a sign!  This sign had the double benefit of being portentous concerning the child's future fame and forcing Zecharias to shut up so that he wouldn't mess up the plan of God by speaking any more unbelief out of his mouth.

Daniel, on the other hand, was not in unbelief when he "set his face toward the ground, and became dumb" (Daniel 10:15).  So, this can happen to the consecrated as well as to the unconsecrated.

I have seen people in services who became unable to speak.  They don't have a physical problem; they are just so struck by the power of God that they can't talk.  Although the people in question were consecrated Christians, it is also quite possible that a scoffer could be struck dumb in a service, and have a lot to think about!

Sickened by the anointing?!?

"And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business, and was astonished at the vision, but none understood it." -- Daniel 8:27.

How could a vision from God make Daniel sick?  It depends what you mean by sick.  You can be sure that Daniel did not catch the flu from having a divine vision.  Daniel was apparently without strength (he "fainted") for several days.  I have had similar experiences.  The anointing was so strong on me that I could barely function normally for a day or more.  I was not physically sick; the anointing was just overwhelming.  What's the difference?  Sick people tend to get short-tempered, but people under the anointing can't help but think about God and his awesomeness and goodness.  Once, I was physically unable to move for a short while.  I was literally paralyzed.

If this could happen to Daniel, we may see some in our day who are "wiped out" by the power of God for a while.

Signs and wonders you don't want to see

The Holy Spirit gave Peter a word of knowledge about Ananias and Sapphira's plot to look more generous and self-sacrificing than they really were.  He spoke, and Ananias fell down dead.  Soon thereafter, Peter spoke, and Sapphira fell down dead.  (See Acts 5:1-11.)  They lied to the Holy Spirit and paid for it with their lives.  You can expect that in our day there will be those who try to deceive the sheep and die on the spot.  The Holy Spirit does not appreciate having people play games with the things of God.  Do so, and we could soon be scheduling your funeral (or "homegoing celebration," or whatever nice euphemism you want to use for the event commemorating your premature death).  Actually, a funeral would be better than Ananias and Sapphira got; the believers just buried the liars and went on with church.

A certain sorcerer tried to interfere with Paul's preaching of the gospel to a government official who had asked to hear him.  God struck him blind, and the official believed after seeing this wonder of judgment take place!  You may read the full account in Acts 13:6-12.  We should expect that there will be similar judgment miracles today on those who attempt to stop the God's plans from being accomplished.

I am not sure what kind of insurance and legal issues could come up these days when these signs happen, but I'm sure we'll find out sooner or later.

Signs and wonders of this kind are necessary to restore the fear of God to the Church, which has been largely lost in our day.  The idea is not to be the object lesson yourself.


Acts  2:13-16
Acts 2:13-16:

Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;


Luke  1:18-64
Luke 1:18-64 (excerpted):

And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this?  for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God:  and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

And the people waited for Zecharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

And when he came out, he could not speak unto them:  and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple:  for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

...

And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, His name is John.  And they marvelled all.

And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.


Acts  5:11
Acts 5:1-11:

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Whiles it remained, was it not thine own?  and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power?  why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?  thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost:  and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much?  And she said, Yea, for so much.

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?  behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost:  and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.


2 Corinthians  3:7-11
2 Corinthians 3:7-11:

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.


How to be baptized with the Holy Spirit

By the time you finish reading this topic, you will recognize the fallacy of the following traditions of men, all of which are propagated in many churches today:

--	"You already received all there is of the Holy Spirit when you were born again."

--	"The Holy Spirit baptism is for some, but not all, believers."

--	"You have to tarry at the altar until God fills you with the Holy Spirit."

--	"God won't give you the Holy Spirit until you are holy."

--	"You should only speak in tongues when the Holy Spirit comes on you."

--	"Tongues should only be used for evangelism in unknown languages, not all the time."

--	"Tongues are not for today."

You won't believe any of this nonsense once you see that the Bible has to say about this wonderful gift.  If you are a born-again believer, Jesus wants to baptize you with the Holy Spirit!  This gift is available on the same basis as forgiveness from sin.

Hear the Word!

Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.  Read for yourself what God says about the baptism with the Holy Spirit:

Matthew 3:11:

[John the Baptist speaking] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance:  but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear:  he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mark 1:7-8:

[Referring to John the Baptist] And preached, saying, there cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

I indeed have baptized you with water:  but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Luke 3:16:

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose:  he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

John 1:33-34:

[John the Baptist speaking] And I knew him not:  but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Luke 11:9-13:

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone?  or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

If ye them, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children:  how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Luke 24:49:

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you:  but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Mark 16:17

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

John 7:37-39:

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive:  for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

John 14:16-17:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him:  but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:26:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26:

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:7:

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away:  for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Acts 1:5-8:

[Jesus speaking] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:  and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Acts 2:1-39 (excerpted):

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And there were at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

...

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:  and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

...

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

...

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus for [lit. because] of the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Acts 8:5-20:

Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them:  and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

And there was great joy in that city.

But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

To whom they all have heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Then Simon himself believed also:  and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Now then the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them:  only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Acts 9:17:

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:44-48:

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.  Then answered Peter,

Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.  Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 11:15-17:

[Peter relating his experience with Cornelius] And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost,

Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

Acts 19:1-6:

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus:  and finding certain disciples,

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed [lit. having believed]?  And they said unto him, We have not so much heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?  And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

1 Cor 14:5:

I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied:  for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1 Cor 14:15:

What is it then?  I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also:  I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

1 Cor 14:18:

I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

Gal 3:2:

This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

(Notes to those ministering along these lines:  Gal 3:14 is sometimes used as an additional "proof text" of receiving the Spirit through faith, but this is out of context.  The passage refers to the promise of [made by] the Spirit to Abraham.  Those opposed to Pentecostal teaching rightly point out that this is a misapplication of the verse.  Also, Eph 5:18's command to be filled with the Spirit is talking about a continuous process, not the initial baptism of the Spirit, and should not be used for this either.  However, the fact that someone might use a verse incorrectly in no way invalidates the Scriptural proof that the baptism with the Holy Spirit is an experience subsequent to salvation, as demonstrated by the many passages above.)

Having the Spirit in you vs. being baptized with the Spirit

When you are born again, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside you:

Romans 8:9:

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Romans 8:15:

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself [himself] beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

In John 20:22, Jesus breathed on his disciples and said "Receive ye the Holy Ghost."  Yet they were not baptized with the Holy Ghost until Acts 2!

We can see that being baptized in the Spirit is an experience after salvation in the New Testament.  The disciples in the upper room, the men of Samaria, the men at Ephesus, and Paul himself were baptized with the Spirit after being saved.  (Paul was already called Brother, and Paul had already baptized the men at Ephesus before they received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands.  Paul would never have baptized them if they were not believers before they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.)  One exception was that at Cornelius's house, they were saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit either simultaneously or very close to it.

Who can be baptized with the Spirit?

Simple answer:  Any believer!  Jesus said that the Father would give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.  Peter preached that the gift of the Holy Spirit was for you, your children, those who are far off (that's you, unless you happen to live in the Middle East), even as many as the Lord our God shall call (that's you, if you're saved).  The Gentiles at Cornelius's house did not have to become mega-holy; they received the Holy Spirit right away!  No New Testament preacher ever said that you must qualify somehow (other than being born again) to be baptized with the Spirit.  It is a gift, like salvation, offered to anyone.  Frankly, there is no shortage of tongue-talking nitwits out there who don't bear much Christian fruit.  They received the Holy Spirit not because they deserved to, but because they asked.  That is just as well; if everything were on a merit basis, we'd all be going to the eternal lake of fire, anyway.

Remember Galatians 3:2 above.  You receive the Spirit by faith, not by works.

The fact that as many as the Lord our God shall call may receive the Spirit is proof that this is still for today.  The usual "explain-away" verse is the passage in 1 Cor 13 where Paul says that when the perfect comes, the imperfect (manifestations of the Spirit) will be done away.  Turn on the news tonight and you will discover that the perfect has not yet come.  Besides, when the perfect comes, we will fully know, just as we are known (1 Cor 13:12), and that statement obviously does not apply to anyone today.  I don't know everything fully and neither does anyone else.

Why you need to be baptized with the Spirit

Jesus himself, who became totally human, only did miracles after the Holy Spirit came upon him.  If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to do these miracles, how much more do we?

By the way, the accounts in the so-called lost books of the Bible such as Jesus changing the color of a woman's dress and fixing Joseph's carpentry while a child are a bunch of bunk.  The real Bible says that Jesus did not do any miracles until he turned water into wine at Cana (as stated in John 2:11:  "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee...").  If you own any of those "lost books," I suggest you make them truly consistent with their name and lose them.

We can see several benefits of being baptized with the Spirit in Scripture:

The primary one is power for evangelism.  God has always commissioned his preachers to perform signs and wonders to confirm his word.  He considers this so important that the disciples were told not to leave Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit.  We are supposed to preach in the power of the Spirit, not with mere logical arguments of men.  Anyone can argue, but not everyone can demonstrate the power of God!  In our day, contrary to Jesus' instructions, most ministers go out with no Holy Spirit power to back them up.  Perhaps this is why they don't get better results.  The less honorable ones are usually the first to cast stones at preachers who do have signs and wonders in their ministries.

The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a door into operating in the manifestations of the Spirit found in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 through 14.  It is the will of God for all believers, including you, to be used by the Holy Spirit in these ways.  1 Cor 12:7:  "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."  1 Cor 12:11:  "But all these [nine manifestations of the Spirit] worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

Along with this comes boldness.  Peter denied the Lord three times before Jesus was crucified, but you can read in Acts how he boldly confronted the Jewish leaders who sent Jesus to his death.  Peter was a different man after he got baptized with the Spirit in Acts 2!

Another obvious benefit is the ability to pray by the Spirit in languages you don't know ("tongues").  This is so vital, I don't know how any Christian gets by without this!  When you have no idea how to pray in your own understanding, you can still pray perfect prayers to God about situations.  This does not replace knowing the Word and praying in your native language, as 1 Cor 14:15 above should make obvious.  God wants you to pray both ways!

Jude 20 talks about "building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost."  Praying in tongues does not give you faith, but it builds up your inner man.  Given that Paul equates praying in the Spirit to praying in other tongues, we can see that you can build yourself up by praying in other tongues.  I am convinced that most Christians live far below their privileges because they do not hook up with the Holy Spirit in this way.

A command, not an option

God wants all believers to walk full of the Spirit.  If you do not desire to have the Holy Spirit manifest himself through you, you are out of the will of God in that area.  God commands you to desire spiritual gifts and to walk in love.  "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy"  (1 Cor 14:1).

Preachers should not enter the ministry until they are baptized with the Spirit.  That was Jesus' standard.  I am aware that there are many ministers out there doing much good without being baptized in the Spirit, but I am quoting the Bible standard, not experience.  Anyone could be even more effective filled with the Spirit, with the gifts of the Spirit operating through him.  Jesus considered the baptism with the Holy Spirit to be so essential that he told his followers, "Don't leave Jerusalem without it" (Luke 24:49, New American Express translation).

Tarrying for the Holy Spirit?

An old, but unbiblical, practice is to "tarry at the altar" asking God to give you the Holy Spirit.  No one ever tarried for the Holy Spirit after the day of Pentecost.  The initial outpouring on the day of Pentecost is the one place in the New Testament where anyone had to wait to receive the Holy Spirit.  Jesus told them to tarry at Jerusalem.  If you believe this command is for today, you will have to go to Jerusalem to do your tarrying.  (Most people who live in Jerusalem today would not be pleased if you did this.)

Jesus said in Luke 11 (cited above) that your Father would give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him.  God gives good things to his children who ask.  He does not tell them to wait for some mysterious reason.  He won't hand you a stone or a scorpion.  He won't let you get some evil spirit when you ask for the Holy Spirit!

Here is the main point for you to get:  The Holy Spirit has already been given!  John 7:39 (cited above) says that (at that time) the Spirit "was not yet given" because Jesus was not yet glorified.  Now Jesus has been glorified, so the Spirit has been given!  Jesus promised that he would send him (John 15:26, 16:7).  As far as God is concerned, he has already sent the Holy Spirit!  Note in Acts 19, Paul asked the Ephesians if they had received the Holy Ghost.  He didn't ask if God had given them the Holy Ghost.  God has already given him, it's now up to us to receive him.

The Holy Spirit is a person, not a force

Remember, the Holy Spirit is not "power" or "tongues" or a "force."  He is the third member of the Trinity!  You are not simply receiving power or tongues, you are being filled with a member of the Godhead himself!  He is a person.  The preachers in Acts did not talk about receiving "it" -- they talked about receiving the Holy Ghost.

Baptism vs. filling

You only need to be baptized with the Spirit once, just as you only need to be born again once.  However, the fact that you were once baptized in the Spirit is no guarantee that you will always lead a Spirit-filled life.  You are responsible to stay filled with the Spirit.  The men in the Bible were never baptized in the Spirit more than once, but they were "filled with the Spirit" on subsequent occasions, and so it should be for us.

Acts 4:7-8:

And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel...

Acts 4:31:

And when they [the company of believers] had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the Word of God with boldness.

Acts 6:3-5:

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

And the saying pleased the whole multitude:  and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost...

Acts 7:55:

But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.

Ephesians 5:18:

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.  [Literally, "be being filled with the Spirit."]

You shall speak in other tongues

The Holy Spirit does not speak in tongues.  Believers do.  The devil loves to talk people out of it by saying, "That's you."  Yes, it is you, in fact.  You have to do the speaking.  The Holy Spirit will give you the words when you willingly yield your tongue to him, but he will not do the speaking for you and will never "make" you do anything.

Probably the worst thing you can do is get analytical and try to "make up tongue words" in your head.  Jesus said that the rivers of living water (speaking of the Spirit) would come out of your belly (i.e., your spirit), not out of your head!

Some people (in error) think they have to wait for the Spirit to "make them" start speaking in tongues.  This is not what Paul said at all.  He said that he would pray with the spirit (i.e., in tongues).  He made that choice.  It was his decision.  He did not say that the Holy Spirit ever told him when to do it.

On rare occasions God uses believers to witness to foreigners in other tongues, unknown to the speaker but known to the listener, as happened in Acts 2.  This is nice, but it is the exception to the rule.  Acts 2 was the only place where it happened.  There is no record that any unbelievers understood the languages spoken by other men who were baptized with the Spirit.  Therefore, it is an error to say that tongues are solely for evangelistic purposes.  Again, praying in tongues is up to you, as it was up to Paul.  You can do it whenever you want if you are baptized with the Spirit.

Get drunk, stay drunk, live drunk!

Figured that would get your attention.  (I preached a sermon with that title once, and it got their attention, too!)  God wants you to live full of the Spirit, not full of booze (Eph 5:18).  If you want to stay drunk on booze, you have to keep drinking.  If you want to live full of the Spirit, you have to keep drinking, too!  The drinking you do is the kind found in John 7:37-39 above.  "Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."  (Isaiah 12:3)

This is the key to overcoming sin.  You don't do it by trying harder not to sin, beating yourself up and condemning yourself for sinning, inventing silly little punishments for yourself, and so on.  You overcome sin by walking in the Spirit!  Galatians 5:16:  "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."  Concentrate on walking in the Spirit, and sin will lose its appeal.  Galatians 5:25:  "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

Please understand that I am not saying that you should spend all day rolling on the floor, laughing like a hyena.  This can happen occasionally, but it is not the main way to stay continually "drunk" or "filled" with the Spirit.  Ephesians 5:18's context clarifies this:  "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."  True Spirit-filled living is holy, praise-filled, thanksgiving-filled living!  Keep drinking!

What will you feel when you receive the Holy Spirit?

The Scriptures do not say that they "felt" anything!  They do say that they began to speak with other tongues.  We know that Paul spoke in tongues after he was baptized with the Spirit.  That is clear from 1 Cor 14.  The disciples in Acts 2 spoke in tongues after they were filled with the Spirit.  The men at Ephesus spoke with tongues when they were filled with the Spirit.  The folks at Cornelius's house spoke with tongues when they received the Spirit.  We can assume, although it is not explicitly stated, that the believers in Samaria spoke in tongues, since Simon saw that people were receiving the Holy Spirit.  There must have been some outward sign to see, then.

I remember when some believers laid hands on me to receive the Holy Spirit.  I was hoping that the power of God would just shower me, and I would be caught up in the glory and have a vision or some other great spiritual experience.  You know what happened?  Nothing!  I didn't feel a thing.  I simply believed that I received the Holy Spirit.  I may have stammered a few words in tongues; I forget.  On my way home in the car, I began praying in other tongues, since I knew I could now that I was filled with the Spirit.  Although I didn't feel much different, soon I developed a great zeal to lay hands on the sick and have God use me in the gifts of healings.  This was not the case before I was baptized in the Spirit.  I am not saying that this is exactly what will happen to you; God calls each of us to "major" in something different.  I just wanted to say that I am experiencing the long-term blessings of being baptized in the Spirit even though I did not see angels or fall on the floor at the time.  It was strictly a faith transaction.  I believed that I would receive, and I did.  Believe that you receive, and don't be thrown off by feelings or lack thereof.

Are you ready?

Study the Scriptures concerning the Holy Spirit until you are personally convinced that God will baptize you with the Holy Spirit if you ask him to.  Once you see what God has said on the matter, receiving the Holy Spirit is easy!  You can either do it right now, or you can wait until one or more Spirit-filled friends are around, which might make it easier for you.

You can do it right now, in front of your VGA-compatible monitor.  Tell God that you believe that the Holy Spirit has been given and that you believe his promise is for you.  Then ask him to baptize you with the Holy Spirit, believing that he will do what he promised.  Then get ready for a bolder, power-filled life!

You can also have one or more Spirit-filled believers lay hands on you.  This was the prevailing method used in Acts.  Agree with them that you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit when they lay hands on you.

Be prepared to speak in other tongues.  Do not try to make up tongue words in your head!  Let them rise out of your spirit.  The Spirit will give you utterance; yield your tongue to him.  Relax and let it flow out of you!  (One of the biggest hindrances is getting "uptight" about it.)  There's no big rush; take your time.  Don't let the devil or tradition deter you -- if you receive the Spirit, you can speak in tongues.  Your flesh may fight it at first, but remember the Scriptures in Acts that say that believers who were baptized with the Spirit spoke with other tongues.  You are receiving the same Spirit they did, so you can do what they did!


Casting out the spirit of stupidity

Or:  Getting rid of stupid and unbiblical ideas about demons.

In some circles, demons are held responsible for everything from gluttony to bad breath.  People in these groups spend lots of time casting out nonexistent demons from each other.  Generally, if these people gave God half as much glory and attention as they give the devil and his demons, they would be spiritual giants.  Beware.

Most of the time they are trying to "cast out" the flesh, and you can't do it.  If only you could!  You have to walk in the Spirit to avoid catering to the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16).  It's not something someone can do for you on a one-shot basis at a "deliverance service."

Jesus did not "heal" fat people by casting out the spirit of gluttony.  There is no such thing.  You will not find a spirit of gluttony anywhere in the Bible.  You just have to dominate your flesh.  There is no quick fix.

There are sometimes spectacular "manifestations" at meetings such as people "throwing up demons" into bags.  It pretty much comes down to this:  Give the devil a stage, and he'll perform.  Jesus did not hand out "barf bags" to people whom he delivered from evil spirits.  If you don't see it in your Bible, avoid it.  Unwitting Christians can open themselves up to real demonic manifestations at such meetings.

Few people in "Christian" (at least in name) countries really qualify as demon-possessed.  Such people are generally locked up in asylums.  It is ludicrous to think that any significant number of people at a meeting in a Christian nation need to be delivered from real demon possession.

Most Christians do not need deliverance -- they just need to quit listening to the devil.  There's a difference.  The devil tempts everyone, but he does not possess everyone.  Some people use "The devil made me do it" as a lame excuse for sin.  The devil is defeated; he cannot make you do anything.  You can overcome any temptation (1 Cor 10:13).

I am not minimizing the fact that demons can and do talk to Christians to try to influence them to divorce their mates, kill themselves, and all kinds of other things.  The solution to this is the Word, which is our armor (see Eph 6:10-18 and 2 Cor 10:3-5).  It is up to you to resist the devil (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9) and to give him no place in your life (Eph 4:27).  You have authority over him (Luke 10:17-20).  Use it!


Galatians 5:16
Galatians 5:16:

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.


Paper roadblocks to healing

Imagine driving down the highway and encountering a line of roadblocks that force you to get off at an exit that doesn't go where you're going.  Then imagine your irritation when you find out that someone with no authority put those roadblocks up, and they were actually made of paper.  They were just painted to look like the real thing.  You could have just nudged them out of the way and kept going if you had only known that they were fake.  Instead, you got off the road and didn't get to your destination.

The devil has invented a number of paper roadblocks to healing.  You can just mow them down and drive on and get your healing, unless you're convinced that they're real.  Then you will stop yourself from getting what's yours.

"Bound sins"

According to this line of teaching, if someone else has unforgiveness toward you, they are binding a sin to you, and this can hurt you and hinder you from receiving from God.  This is supposedly supported by Jesus' statement in John 20:23:  "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."  If the other person continues to "retain" your sins, you are supposedly penalized, and will have trouble receiving from God.  Hah!

Was Jesus really saying that you can make someone else pay the penalty for his sins by not forgiving him?  This would be contrary to everything else taught in the New Testament.  God has washed you clean in the blood of Jesus.  Jesus has already taken all the penalties for all your sins.  God cannot force you to bear these penalties again just because someone else won't forgive you.  The person who is in unforgiveness opens himself up to the devil and paves the way for destruction in his own life.

If we believe that someone else can get in the way of your healing through his unforgiveness, we have established a new priesthood between you and God.  But the only priest you have is Jesus, your High Priest.  Under the New Covenant, we are all kings and priests (Revelation 1:6).  No one else can stand between you and God.

Your pastor (or rector, or priest, or whatever your group calls him) does not mediate between you and God.  Under the New Covenant, Jesus is the only mediator between God and men (1 Tim 2:5).  You still need a pastor.  But that pastor is responsible to God to care for, lead and protect the congregation.  He does not stand in an Old Testament-style priestly position.  The man is on the same level as you as far as his standing in Christ.  He is equipped by the Spirit to serve a specific function in the Body of Christ.  Even if he doesn't forgive you (he should know better), that can't interfere with your own walk with God.

So, what was Jesus saying?  I believe the point was that the disciples were entrusted with the message of eternal salvation.  If they would publish it, people would believe and be forgiven.  If they would hold back, the sins of those people would not be forgiven.  This applies today as well.  If no one tells a person about forgiveness of sins, that person will not believe, not be forgiven, and be lost forever.  However, this cannot apply to people who are already believers.

Although you cannot ruin someone else's life with your unforgiveness, your forgiveness can affect someone else.  According to 1 John 5:16, you can hold off trouble from someone who is sinning (to some extent) by asking God to forgive that person.  If you are in unforgiveness toward that person, you can hurt him only to the extent that you do not pray for him this way.  If the person willfully persists in sin for a long time, eventually Galatians 6:7-8 will come into play and he will reap corruption.  (See Galatians 6:7-9.)  This is a spiritual law that no amount of prayer can set aside.

Generational curses

Another fallacy is that a curse on your family could stop you from getting your healing.  That is sheer nonsense; Jesus redeemed you from all curses when you were born again.  I am not saying that curses on families are not real; God indicates in many places that children and future generations can be harmed by your sin.  But once you are saved, you are free from any curse from your ancestors' sins.  Your spiritual lineage is now very simple -- God is your Father, and he does not have any curse on him!

I could go on at length, but to keep this particular topic shorter, I have expanded on this in a separate topic, entitled Breaking generational curses.

Prior occult involvement

I used to be involved in the occult before I was born again.  I renounced everything to do with it when I gave my life to Jesus Christ and I have never done anything occult since then.  (Why should I when I have something far better now?)  Yet some believers tried to tell me that I needed special ministry to break some supposed curse that would linger over my life even as a Christian because of  my prior occult involvement.  One fellow even took it upon himself to do some special little ritual for me to supposedly sever my spiritual ties to the occult.  I'm glad no one was watching; I was embarrassed for his ignorance.  All this proves is that some people have more faith in the devil than in the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.

When you are born again, sin has no dominion over you (Rom 6:14) and you are delivered from the power (authority) of darkness and brought into the kingdom of God's son (Col 1:13).  Well, are you delivered or aren't you?  Yes, you are.  You need no special ritual or prayer to get something you already have as a believer -- total dominion over Satan and all of his works in your life.

Hexes

If a witch decides to curse you, can that stop you from getting healed?  Your answer is correct.  I haven't even heard your answer, but it is correct.  If you say that it can, it can.  If you say that it can't, it can't.  Of course, I prefer that you would say what God says -- that you are delivered from Satan's power.  Colossians 1:13 says that you were delivered, so it is a colossal mistake to think you need to do something to "get" delivered from Satan's power.  God promises that a curse causeless shall not alight on you (Prov 26:2).  There is no cause for a curse on a righteous man whose standing with God has been secured by the blood of Jesus.  This is probably why Satan hates talk about the blood of Jesus.  If you know that you're blood-washed and clean before God, you know that no curse has any right to affect you.

However, I have met people who have gotten all upset over curses (actual or threatened) by witches.  They panic and think "What am I going to do now?"  Laughter over the devil's stupidity would be appropriate.  As part of Abraham's covenant of which you are an heir, God will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you (Gen 12:3).  Whatever the witch says will come back on his own head anyway.

I know a pastor who was warned by a witch to get out of town -- "or else."  This was in a nearby city that is known as a regional center for the occult.  The pastor stood his ground despite her threat of a curse.  The pastor was never affected as far as I know.  However, the witch's family was constantly having catastrophes, so much so that one of her former followers left because she noticed how many bad things seemed to follow the witch around!  Touching God's anointed is dangerous for the person doing the touching, not for God's anointed!  You will reap what you sow eventually.

The devil has no authority whatsoever over a Christian unless the Christian hands it to him.  The two ways you can do this are deliberate sin (which puts you in Satan's playground) and wrong speaking with your mouth (saying that the devil can do something to you).  No curse can affect you in any way -- unless you agree with your mouth that it can.  Then you have authorized the devil to act.  He does not have the authority to do anything to you.  His game is for you to use your own authority against yourself by agreeing with him!

I am not saying that witches do not have any power.  Read about what the Egyptian witches in Exodus did, and you'll see that there is such a thing as occult power.  I know from experience that these things are real.  I am saying that witches do not have any power over Christians.

All hell breaking loose against you

First, all hell never breaks loose against you.  You aren't enough of a threat yourself that all the demons will be called off everyone else to get you.  Second, even if all hell did break loose against you, you have authority over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:17-20).  From the standpoint of authority, you are seated with Christ in heavenly places, far above all demons (Ephesians 2:6, Ephesians 1:15-23).  The name of Jesus makes every knee "under the earth" bow (Philippians 2:9-11).  Therefore, no amount of attack from the devil excuses defeat.

The premise here is that if enough of Satan's forces come against you, they can defeat you.  That is totally contrary to the Bible, which states that all of his forces were stripped of their power by Jesus' work on the cross (Col 2:15).  The devil cannot defeat a Christian.  You can only defeat yourself with wrong thinking and wrong speaking.  If you want to speak about how big and bad the devil is and how you think that all hell is breaking loose against you, you are unwittingly authorizing that very thing with your mouth.

Sadly, even ministers of the gospel (maybe especially ministers) use this as an excuse for not walking in victory, bellyaching about their "special" trials they encounter because they are ministers.  This proves only ignorance because ministers do not get temptations that are any different from the ones laymen encounter.  This is proved by 1 Cor 10:13, which states clearly that any temptation you encounter is "common to man."  Even if there were "special" temptations, that would still be no excuse to be defeated, because there is always a way of escape to avoid falling into the temptation (see 1 Cor 10:13 again).

No number of demons can ever stop your faith in the Word of God from working.  The number of them "coming against you" is irrelevant.

Principalities in the heavenlies

A similar line of thought is that there are demons in the air trying to stop your answer from coming through to you, and that some kind of special prayer must bust through the demon layer for you to get your healing or whatever else you need.  People usually use Daniel 10:12-13 to support this, where the angel sent with his answer was apparently detained by demonic opposers.

That may have been true in the Old Testament, where Daniel, on the earth and with no direct authority over the devil, could only wait the 21 days for his answer.  It does not apply under the New Testament, where you are seated with Christ far above any demons that happen to be around.  If you are seated with Christ in heavenly places, and you need something he provided, how many demons does your answer have to pass through?  None!  Your body may be on the earth, but you rule and reign over the devil and sit with Christ in heaven.

Also consider this from the earthly perspective.  Daniel was not born again.  God did not live in him.  God lives in you.  How many demons must God go through to get the answer from himself to you when he lives in you?  None!  Daniel's case does not apply to New Testament believers.

Do you see the silliness of supposing that principalities of the air can stop you from getting your healing, or anything else that you need?

I suppose that people sometimes look for things like this when they get impatient that they do not see the manifestation of their healing immediately.  Gee, maybe some demons are holding up the answer and we need special prayer.  Wrong.  You need patience, not prayer, between the time you believe that you receive and the time that the answer manifests in your body.  Besides, it's like praying away demons that are stopping your corn from growing because it doesn't produce full ears the day after you plant it.  Some things take time.

Summary

Every one of these paper roadblocks exalts the devil and declares him to have power that he does not really have.  He has no power over you.  He cannot stop your healing from manifesting when you pray in faith.  Only you can stop it, and one way to do so is to get into agreement with the devil that one of these paper roadblocks can really keep your healing away.


Genesis 12:3
Genesis 12:3:

And I [God] will bless them that bless thee [Abraham], and curse him that curseth thee:  and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.


Proverbs 26:2
Proverbs 26:2:

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.


Luke 10:19
Luke 10:19:

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:  and nothing shall by any means hurt you.


Colossians 1:13
Colossians 1:13:

Who [Jesus] hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:


1 Timothy 2: 5
1 Timothy 2:5:

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.


How NOT to deal with the devil

Follow these simple practices to ensure that you will live in constant harassment from the devil.  Those already following these procedures can attest to this.

Fight him!

This is probably the best method of ensuring defeat.  Put the devil on notice that you will fight him as hard as you can.  He will be pleased to hear this from you, rather than hearing that Jesus already defeated him for you and that you have authority over him in Jesus' name.  Act like you are in a great battle, rather than believing that the fight is over and that Jesus won it for you.  Fight the devil instead of fighting the good fight of faith (1 Tim 6:12).

"Come against" him

Do not actually command the devil to leave or stop doing anything.  Simply repeat the prayer, "Devil, I come against you in the name of Jesus."  Or substitute any other spirit you want.  "We come against the spirit of _____ (insert your favorite spirit here) in the name of Jesus."  He has no idea what "coming against" him is (and neither do you), but as long as you don't actually issue any direct commands to him, he will be content to let you "come against" him as long as you want.  Do not follow the examples of Jesus and the apostles, who simply made demons leave because they were too old-fashioned to pray a "we come against you" prayer.

Pray at the devil in tongues

Use your prayer language to speak mysteries in the spirit to the devil.  He won't understand a word you say, but he'll be happy to listen.  After rebuking him in English, unleash a quick barrage of "fear tongues" at him to make sure that he doesn't get back at you for it.  The devil enjoys it when you pray to him in any language, since the Bible nowhere tells you to pray to the devil at all.

Make principalities leave your city!

Waste as much time as possible in prayer against demonic strongholds over your city, thinking that you are doing some great thing that will precipitate revival.  Be sure to tell every principality to leave your municipality.  Since they're going to go somewhere, maybe you can suggest a nearby city with less praying people, so that they won't pray them back over to your city.  Since you have this wonderful revelation of being able to make wicked spirits leave geographical areas, next command the ruling spirit over your entire state or province to leave.  Then command the ruling spirit over your country to leave.  Then command the ruling spirit over your continent to leave.  Then command the ruling spirit over your hemisphere to leave.  Finally, command the biggest ruling spirit of all, Satan, to leave the planet entirely.  See if he will give up his legal right to be here (courtesy of Adam) in answer to your prayers.  Maybe his less knowledgeable cohorts will give up their legal right to be here, too.

This will show that you know more than Jesus or his apostles, since none of them ever commanded a demon to leave an area.  (They only cast spirits out of people because they didn't have as much revelation as you do.)  It will also give the spirits involved, at least the ones that really exist, a good laugh, which they could use, since their final doom is getting closer every day.

Pray fervently and repeatedly for the darkness to leave, rather than bringing in the light (by sharing the gospel), which wipes out darkness automatically.

Pray through the demon layer

Determine that the demons that stopped Daniel's prayers under the Old Covenant won't stop yours!  Pray and pray until you feel like you have broken through all the above-mentioned principalities (the ones you haven't banished to Jupiter yet).  Wait for a feeling that tells you that God has finally heard your prayer.  Avoid any Bible statements about God living in you or being seated with Christ in the heavenly places, as this might nullify your faith in the demons' ability to stop your prayer from reaching God or his answer from reaching you.

Insult him

Rail on the devil for being a low-down, no good, rotting, stinking, cheating, hypocritical, filthy, perverted, lying ripoff artist.  The more epithets you sling at him, the better he will like it.  He will enjoy the fact that you have not read or acted on Jude verses 8-9.

Ignore Jude, who didn't have your new revelation about this, and act as "macho" as you can with the devil.  He will appreciate the fact that the time you spend insulting him is not being used for any productive purpose.

Praise God at the devil

Rather than using your praise to please and honor God, use it as a tool by "praising God at the devil."  Sing to Satan.  You could start with some "militant praise" songs about following God's command to Joshua to take the land.  (Bring your Uzi, since God told Joshua to kill all the inhabitants while taking the land.)  "Use your praise" to "open heaven" above you, so that your prayers don't get stopped by the demon layer (see above).  Whatever you do, make sure that you think more about the devil than you do about God.  This is important, because if you focus on being in God's presence, you might forget about the devil for a while.  Instead, focus on being in the devil's presence, and forget about God for a while.

Better still, leave God completely out of it and sing one of those modern "worship" songs that addresses the devil directly instead of God.  Raising your hands and closing your eyes when you do this makes it even nicer (for the devil).  If you can't bring yourself to do that, at least just sing songs about how great we are and how nice our praise is and what it's doing, rather than actually praising God.

Give whiny devilmonies in church

Declare to your brothers and sisters in Christ how big and bad you think the devil is.  This will inspire them to have faith in the devil equal to yours.  "The devil is making me sick!"  "The devil is keeping my money away!"  Continually confess what you are allowing the devil to do to you so that others may allow him to do the same things.

Pretend he isn't there

Just stick your head in the sand and ignore him, hoping he'll go away, rather than watching out for him and actively resisting him as you are commanded to do in 1 Peter 5:8-9 and elsewhere.

Pray to God about the devil

Rather than resisting the devil yourself so that he will flee from you (James 4:7), ask God to make the devil go away!  Attempt to apply the promise of God rebuking the devourer for your sake (made about tithing in Malachi 3:11 to people with no direct authority over the devil) to every area of your life under the New Covenant.  To play it safe, don't tithe to your church, just to be sure that Malachi 3:11 can't possibly apply to you.

Become more devil-conscious than God-conscious

Be sure to pay more attention to "this present darkness" than you do to "this present Jesus," "this present Holy Ghost," "this present victory," "this present anointing" or "these present angels" (who are stronger than demons and can defeat them handily).  Ignore John's statement that you have already overcome opposing spirits (1 John 4:4).  Instead of thinking on things that are "true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, praiseworthy" (Philippians 4:8), spend your time thinking about Satan and his demons, who are liars, ignoble, unjust, impure, ugly, of bad report, sinful and criticismworthy.

Blame the devil for everything

When you get a flat tire, rebuke that flat tire demon.  Then be sure to buy new tires, since experience shows that new tires have a spiritual force about them that repels flat tire demons.  Be sure to blame the devil when you bang your head or get a smaller income tax return than you expected.  Constantly acknowledge his presence in your life so that he will feel at home with you.  Talk with him frequently; he enjoys conversing with Christians who allow him to do so.

See also:

How to deal with the devil


Philippians 4: 8
Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


1 Timothy 6:12
1 Timothy 6:12:

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.


1 John 4:4
1 John 4:4:

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:  because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.


How to deal with the devil

See him for what he is

The devil never was and never will be an evil counterpart of God.  Satan is a created being just like Michael the archangel.  He has power, but he is way below God in the scheme of things.  God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.  The devil is none of these.

Satan is not omnipotent.  If he were, he would have overthrown God and taken over heaven a long time ago.  His ability in your life is limited to what you allow him to do.  He will be tormented day and night forever in the lake of fire (Rev 20:10).  He if were omnipotent, he would be able to get out.

Satan is not omniscient.  He cannot read your mind.  He only knows what you're thinking when you're foolish enough to give ear to his thoughts, or when you speak.  If he had any idea what he was doing, he would never have incited the mob to demand Jesus' crucifixion.  Look where that got him!  Satan is a fallen angel, and angels do not know when Jesus is coming back (Matthew 24:36).  1 Peter 1:12 says that angels long to look into the gospel, so you probably have a better understanding of it than they do.  Ephesians 3:10 says that the church will make the manifold wisdom of God known to the principalities and powers.  That means that they don't know all of the manifold wisdom of God yet.  So obviously, there is plenty that Satan does not know.  Even his friends the psychics can only know what he tells them, and then many of these future events will only happen if you submit yourself to him by believing his psychics.  Satan does not know everything about the future.  He has the advantage of being in the spirit realm and being able to see some things coming.  But your choices determine your future for you, at least to a large extent, and Satan can't control your choices.

Satan is not omnipresent.  He walks to and fro on the earth (Job 1:7, Job 2:2).  He cannot be in more than once place at one time any more than Michael or Gabriel can be at more than one place at one time.  He will never "fill all things" like Jesus (Eph 4:9-10).  He will be physically confined to the lake of fire and will not be anywhere else.

When we "resist the devil," we are actually resisting his wicked spirits, since Satan himself will most likely not have time to pay you a personal visit.  He's sort of like Santa Claus.  He can't be at all the shopping malls at the same time.  So when a kid asks how this can be, his parents often explain, "Santa has a lot of helpers."  That is how it is with Satan and his helpers.  He isn't everywhere, but he has cohorts everywhere who do his bidding.  (I am not recommending that you lie to your children about Santa Claus, by the way.  If you do, someday they will wonder how old they have to be before you tell them that there is no Jesus.)

Deal with him as a defeated enemy

Jesus defeated Satan for you.  He stripped him and his principalities of their power, triumphing over them openly (Col 2:15).  All angels and powers are subject to Christ (1 Peter 3:22).  Jesus has all authority in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18).  You have been delivered from Satan's power (Col 1:12-14).  Jesus, not the devil,  now holds the keys of death and hell (Revelation 1:18).  His atoning death has judged Satan already (John 12:31).  The Greater One lives in you, so you have already overcome the antichrist spirits that are in the world (1 John 4:1-4).  You have overcome the devil (1 John 2:13-14).

Ephesians 1:15-23

You sit with Christ in heavenly places (Eph 2:6), far above all principality, power and might.  God has put all things under his feet.  Jesus is the head.  Where are his feet?  On the earth, of course.  Jesus, the head, is in heaven, and his Body (the Church) is on the earth.  The feet are part of the body, not part of the head.  So guess what?  If all things are under his feet, they are under your feet.  Do you see that?  Satan and all of his principalities are under your feet.  That means that you rule and reign over them.  You have authority over them.

Don't fight Satan.  The fight is over.  Jesus fought him and won, and you have the victory with him.  You are called to enforce Jesus' victory over the devil, not to win the victory.  Don't fight for a victory that's already yours!

Ephesians 4:27 says not to give the devil an opportunity.  That shows that it's up to you to stop him.  God promises that if you resist him, he will flee (James 4:7).  Since God commands you to resist the devil, it is your responsibility, not God's, to do so.  Your faith can overcome all the attacks of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16, click Ephesians 6:10-18).  Your faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).

The name of Jesus

God gave Jesus the name that is above every name, and all things everywhere must bow at that name (Philippians 2:9-11).  This passage is widely misinterpreted to be talking about some day in the sweet by and by when every knee will bow to Jesus.  That isn't at all what this passage says!  This passage is talking about the sweet now and now, and it does not say that anything will bow before Jesus anyway!  Read it carefully.  Paul said that everything must bow at the name of Jesus!

Who uses the name of Jesus?  One thing is for sure, Jesus himself doesn't.  Jesus bought your victory for you and sat down at the right hand of God.  He is not visiting the earth and using his name.  Believers use his name.  Jesus said that in his name we would do many things, including laying hands on the sick.  (See Mark 16:15-18.)  Peter told the lame man at the gate Beautiful to rise and walk in the name of Jesus.  Then he said that his name, through faith in his name, had healed him.  (See Acts 3:1-16.)  See The power in the name of Jesus for an elaboration of everything said here.

How to resist the devil

The devil never shows up with a red suit, horns and a tail, eating a deviled ham sandwich and devil's food cake and saying, "Hi, I'm the devil.  I'm here to steal, kill and destroy."  Instead, the devil and his cohorts use thoughts to try to get you out of God's will and into sin.  The battleground is your mind, and you decide who wins.  As far as God's concerned, you have the tools to win right now, but you have to use them.  Your mind is the arena where you wrestle against wicked spirits.

Do not argue with the devil.  Speak the Word to him and command him to leave you alone.  Your own thoughts, apart from God's, will be ineffective.  The devil's realm is reason.  He's been defeated in the spirit realm; that is why he can't take you on there.  He has to try to win his victory in the mental realm.  That is why you MUST "renew your mind" (Romans 12:1) with God's Word.  God's Word is your defensive armor against the devil's mind games.

God's weapons

Ephesians 6:10-18

Your "weapons" all concern the Word of God -- in particular, who you are in Christ.  As Jesus did in Luke 4, you use the Word to run the devil off.  Confess who you are in Christ, not what the devil says.  Notice especially that Paul did not tell you to "pray against the devil."  He told you to "pray for all saints."  There is a difference!  The silly idea of trying to make ruling spirits leave cities using these weapons (5 out of 6 of which are defensive) is covered under "How NOT to deal with the devil."

There are many other absurd ideas based on this passage.  One is that you must "spiritually dress" yourself every morning with the full armor of God.  Well, I suppose you need to if you took it off the night before.  Actually, this is not talking about any kind of mystical spiritual force field around you.  To put on God's armor is to renew your mind with his Word concerning your salvation.  It is not some strange ritual that you must practice in prayer so that the devil won't get you.  You don't have to try to "see" a belt of truth around your waist -- you know the truth, and the truth makes you free (John 8:32).  You don't have to "see" a breastplate of righteousness on you -- you have to know that you are the "righteousness of God in Christ" (2 Cor 5:21) when Satan tries to condemn you and make you feel like an unworthy little worm.

If you took this armor stuff literally, Satan could get you just by sneaking around your backside, where you don't have any armor.  He is not omnipresent, but he is at least mobile enough to do that.  No, the point Paul is making is that instead of natural weapons, you use spiritual weapons against the devil.  In modern-day terms, he is saying, "Take the bulletproof vest of righteousness and the submachine gun of the Word of God (etc.)."  There is no deep spiritual significance to the placement and meaning of each piece.  In 1 Thess 5:8, you are told to "put on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."  Oops.  Guess you hyper-spiritual folks will have to "put on" and wear two breastplates every morning, because the Ephesians 6 model is "righteousness," and the 1 Thess 5 model is "faith and love."  For the rest of you, realize that Paul is speaking allegorically!

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Here we see that God's weapons cast down imaginations and bring thoughts into captivity.  That is because thoughts are the devil's weapons.  These thoughts can become strongholds in people's minds.  (That is the kind of stronghold Paul is talking about, not demonic strongholds "in the air" over cities.)  It is the gospel, which is "the power of God unto salvation" (Romans 1:16), that has the power to destroy the mind games of the devil in people's lives.  The things we destroy by sharing the gospel are those thoughts (propagated by devils) which "exalt themselves against the knowledge of God."

I am not saying that there are no demonic powers over cities.  I am saying that they are already defeated and powerless as far as the Church is concerned.  Their strongholds are not in the air over cities but in people's minds.  Because they are defeated, they cannot stop revival or any part of the work of God with brute force.  Their only strategy is deception.  If they can deceive the minds of men on the earth, they can get those men to cooperate with them to resist the gospel.  The Word of God is alive and active and destroys the strongholds in people's minds that these evil principalities plant.  They have no effective counter-weapon to God's Word when it is preached.  God's Word is unstoppable.  Paul said that the Word of God is not bound (2 Tim 2:9)!

It is not necessary to make these defeated principalities and powers leave an area to have revival.  It is also unnecessary to "defeat" them; Jesus Christ already did that!  You can walk in his victory over them.  You can go ahead and have revival right under their noses because they are powerless to stop it!  If we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that we, not the defeated demonic powers, are the real hindrances to revival!  If we sow the Word of God, that Word will produce a harvest!

Respect him

What?  Respect the enemy of your soul?  Yes!  I'm not saying to make friends with him, but you must give him respect, since he has a right to be here.  Do not use railing accusations against him.  There is no point in talking to him anyway, unless you are going to do what Jesus did in Luke 4 (and elsewhere) and speak the Word of God to him when he tempts you.  According to Jude 8-9, it is wrong to insult the devil.

See also:

How NOT to deal with the devil


Romans 12: 1
Romans 12:1:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.


2 Corinthians  5:21
2 Corinthians 5:21:

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.


Jude 8-9
Jude 8-9:

Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not [didn't dare] bring against him a railing accusation, but said, the Lord rebuke thee.


Ephesians 3:10
Ephesians 3:10:

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,


1 Peter 1:12
1 Peter 1:12:

Unto whom [the Old Testament prophets] it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.


1 John 2:13-14
1 John 2:13-14:

I write unto you fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.  I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one.  I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning.  I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.


Revelation 20:10
Revelation 20:10:

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.


Matthew 24:36
Matthew 24:36:

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.


Job  1:7
Job 1:7:

And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou?  Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.


Job  2:2
Job 2:2:

And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou?  And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.


Ephesians 4: 9-10
Ephesians 4:9-10:

(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)


Romans 12: 2
Romans 12:2:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.


What faith is

Being sure of something you can't see

Hebrews 11:1

Faith is being certain of something you don't see.  It is evidence in your heart that you have something when there is no natural evidence that you have it.

Faith always refers to the present; never to the future.  Faith is the certainty that you have something now.  It is not the certainty that you will get something in the future.  Thinking that you will get something in the future is called hope.  Faith is the assurance of things hoped for.  Thus, faith goes beyond hope.  There is uncertainty associated with hope.  Faith removes the uncertainty and brings what was a future hope into the present.

You have faith if you are a believer.  You believe that you have something you cannot see -- salvation from eternal judgment and from the wrath of God on sinners.  You cannot find a legal document on earth that guarantees you such a thing (other than the Bible, of course).  You cannot prove to anyone that you are saved without using Scripture.  You may be a nice person, but many nice sinners are going to hell without Jesus.  You may even do signs and wonders, but according to Jesus' words in Matthew 7:21-23, you could still be unsaved.  There is no proof other than what God said.

You are not hoping to be saved; you are saved now.  You are not hoping to get eternal life; you have eternal life now.  You have the assurance of it.  You have evidence in your heart of something you cannot see.

Faith for healing is no different.  You are convinced that you have something you can't see right now.  You accept God's word that you were healed by Jesus' stripes before you see any physical evidence of it.

Just as you must believe and confess unto salvation before your life changes and your sinful habits stop, you must believe and confess unto healing before your body changes and your physical problems stop.

Thomas had a problem with faith, as do many people today.  He would not believe in Jesus' resurrection until he felt his wounds in person.  He would not believe anything until he saw it physically first.  That is not faith!  It can't be, because Jesus told Thomas that he was faithless (John 20:27).  If you say, "I won't believe I am healed until I see something change in my body," you are faithless, not in faith.

Jesus commanded Thomas to be believing instead of faithless (John 20:27).  Faith therefore must involve your will; you can choose to believe or choose not to believe.  God could not command you to do something if you could not make a conscious choice to do it.

Faith is based on the Bible

Thank God, we are not just commanded to "have faith!"  Real faith always has a basis in the Bible.  You can point to Scripture that says that you have something you cannot see.

If you cannot quote one or more Bible verses to substantiate what you are believing for, you are not in real faith.  You may be in strong hope, but you are not in faith.  When the devil tempts you to stop believing, your only effective weapon is the Word of God.  Ephesians 6:10-18 makes this clear.  If you can't fight with the Word, you have nothing to fight with.

It is always good to have specific promises in mind, not just general ones about nothing being impossible with God, having whatsoever you say, and so on.

If you say that you believe you receive your healing, and suddenly your body gets worse, what are you going to do?  If you have no assurance from Scripture that you had the right to pray and receive something you can't see, you will cave in and say, "Well, I guess it didn't work after all."

God is able vs. God is willing vs. God will vs. God did

There is a ladder you can climb on the way to real faith.  First, you must believe that God is able to do what you need done.  Like Abraham, you must be fully persuaded that what God has promised, he is able also to perform (Romans 4:21).  If you don't believe that God is able to heal your disease, you can't receive healing from him.  Of course, you would be a fool to think that God can't heal your disease.  When Jesus returns, every Christian on the earth will be instantly healed of every physical problem at once.  Since God is able to do that then, it is no big deal for him to fix one of your physical problems now!  God is almighty.

The next thing you must realize is that God is willing to do for you what he is able to do.  The leper who came to Jesus and worshipped knew that Jesus could heal him, but he did not know if he would be willing.  To this only person who ever asked, Jesus said, "I will."  Jesus let the leper know that he was willing to do it as well as able to do it.  God does not play favorites.  His answer to the leper is his answer to you.  He is willing to heal you as well as able to heal you.

But knowing that God is able and willing to heal you still does not get you healed.  You can know that he is able and willing and stay sick.  Now you must go on to the next step and believe that if you were to ask God for your healing, he would definitely give it to you.  No maybes about it.  Contrary to the popular delusion, God does not sometimes say, "Yes," sometimes say, "No," and sometimes say, "Wait."  God always answers faith with "Yes!"  You must believe that God would really do that for you.  Because he is not only able but also willing, you have the right to receive something from him.  You must be convinced that there is no possibility that God will turn down your prayer.

Here is where sin can enter the picture.  If you are in known sin and you refuse to repent, your conscience will convict you.  You will not feel able to receive from God because of this area in your life where you have not judged yourself.  Hence, you will not have any assurance that you will receive anything from God when you pray.  You will have to deal with the sin before you get that assurance.

Finally, once you are convinced that God is able to answer your prayer, willing to answer your prayer, and that he will answer your prayer, the only step left is to pray and receive from him!  This takes your healing from the "God will" realm into the "God did" realm.  Only now are you exercising what the Bible calls faith because you have an assurance that you have something you cannot see right now.  You did not have this assurance before you prayed, but now you do.  You have received something by faith.

How do you know if you're in faith?

If you have to ask, you aren't.  If you are in faith, you know it.  You have an assurance, not a 90% probability, that you have received something from God.  If you aren't sure if you received anything, it is probably safe to say you didn't.  (It is possible to pray in faith and then get into doubt, waver, and lose what you prayed for.  Peter's water-walking experience is an example.)  By definition, if you are not assured of something, you are not in faith.  See How to tell if you're in faith or not for a more thorough discussion.

You do not look at your body to determine if you are in faith.  Think about it for a minute and you will see how silly that is.  Would you look at your body or look to your feelings to determine if you are saved today?  Of course not!  Does a sickness in your body persuade you to believe that you are going to hell after all?  No!  Why not?  Because your faith is not based on your body or your feelings; it is based on the Bible.  Salvation is not a feeling.  It is a fact.  Whether or not you feel saved when you roll out of bed in the morning, you still are.  You know that because of what the Bible says.  If you would not trust your body for information about your faith in this area, why trust it for information about your faith in any other area, including healing?

I understand that because your healing involves your body, it is tempting to let your body tell you what is going on.  Remember, faith is the evidence that you have something you cannot see (or otherwise perceive with your body).  If your body felt healed instantly, you would not need faith; you would simply know that your body was healed. No faith would be involved at that point.

Faith is like a deed.  If you don't own a house, perhaps you have played Monopoly.  The only proof that someone has to pay you $50 to take a walk on the Boardwalk (assuming you haven't got Park Place, and you haven't mortgaged Boardwalk) is your Boardwalk deed sitting in front of you.  Your ownership of Boardwalk is intangible.  The Boardwalk deed is proof of something intangible.  If you own a house in real life, you have a real deed that proves the otherwise invisible fact that it is yours.  (If you have a mortgage on it, you probably look forward to paying it off so that you can turn your deed rightside up.)  You don't wonder if you own Boardwalk or your house.  You know you do because you have the proof.  When you possess something by faith, you don't wonder whether you own it, either.  You have the proof.

The proof is not natural.  Never look to your body for proof that you have received healing by faith.  Faith is the proof.

Faith is not enough!

You cannot inherit God's promises through faith alone.  Hebrews 6:12 says that you inherit God's promises through faith and patience.  Why do you need patience?  Because once you believe God for something, patience will keep you on track until it manifests.  It is possible to pray in faith, believe you receive something, and then let go of it through impatience.  "Well, I guess I never got anything after all -- I haven't seen anything yet!"  At that point, you are expressing faith -- faith that you don't have anything.  According to your (lack of) faith it will be (not) done unto you.

Examples of faith

God told Noah that a flood was coming when there was no physical evidence of it.  Noah believed God and acted on what God had said, thus saving his life and mankind in the process.

God told Abraham that he had made him the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5) before Sarah had conceived Isaac.  Abraham believed this even though he had no physical evidence to support this fact.  He continually called himself Abraham, meaning "Father of a multitude," although nothing seemed to have changed.  Abraham "called those things that be not as though they were" and said he was the father of a multitude.  He received exactly what he said.  He spoke God's promise and God made good on it.  He believed that he had something before there was any sensory evidence of it.

God told Joshua, "See, I have given into thine hand Jericho," when Jericho was just as fortified as ever and there was no physical evidence that the Israelites could possibly take that fortress city.  Joshua believed God and spoke what God had said.  He told his army, "Shout, for the Lord hath given you the city," when there was still no physical evidence of this.  He spoke God's promise and God made good on it.  He believed that he had something before there was any sensory evidence of it.

David took on Goliath, telling him ahead of time exactly what he would do to his head and carcass.  He then proceeded to do it.  David spoke ahead of time before there was a physical manifestation, but it was as good as done already as far as he was concerned.

Jesus cursed the fig tree, but there was no immediate evidence that the tree would die.  It started to shrivel up from the inside out, where no one could see it until the next day.  Jesus spoke faith-filled words and changed the natural circumstances.  He believed that it was done and did not pray again, despite appearances.

Jesus told his disciples, "Let us go over unto the other side of the lake."  A storm came up that looked like it would kill them all, but Jesus was asleep.  When they woke him up, he spoke to the storm while it was still raging just as badly as before.  After Jesus spoke faith-filled words, the storm stopped.  You cannot say, "Oh, but that was Jesus," because he rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith!

You can see some examples of those who received healing by faith in the discussion, According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you.

No matter what faith is for, it works the same way.  You believe that you have something before you can see any physical evidence.  You speak what you believe, and it comes to pass.  To apply this to your healing, you must believe that you receive the healing that God says is yours before you see any physical evidence.  You speak what you believe, and it comes to pass.

See also:

What faith isn't


Genesis 17:5
Genesis 17:5:

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.


What faith isn't

An abstract belief that God exists

People today misuse the word faith to indicate hope or mere wishful thinking.  For example, "I'm really sick and I don't know if I'm going to die or not, but I have faith."  No, if you had faith, you would speak God's word instead of defeat (2 Cor 4:13).  What you are really saying is, "I don't really have any faith at all that God will do anything for me, but I assent to the fact that he exists."

James said that demons believe there is one God -- and tremble.  If you simply assent to the fact that God exists, you and demons are on the same level of faith.  The world calls that faith, but the Bible does not.  You cannot get saved by simply believing that God exists.  This is obvious, since demons are not saved.

Your Christianity in general

Sometimes people use "faith" to indicate "religious persuasion," as in, "That man is of the Buddhist faith, and his sister-in-law is of the Hindu faith."  Actually, it would be more correct to say, "That man is of the Buddhist unbelief, and his sister-in-law is of the Hindu unbelief."  (This is theologically correct, not "politically correct.")  While Christianity is referred to even in the Bible as "the faith," this is not the same thing that Hebrews 11:1 is talking about.  You can be in "the faith" as far as being a Christian, but not be "in faith" for your healing.

Denial

Faith for healing does not involve denying physical problems.  It denies their right to continue.  It is not faith, and can be dangerous or even fatal, to just ignore symptoms in your body.  You cannot just ignore them and think that they have to go away by themselves.  Trying to make yourself stop thinking about your body is not faith, either.  You must consider God's Word more powerful than anything going on in your body.  Simply not thinking about your problems is denial, not faith.  Wishing will not make your problem go away.  Some people talk about blind faith, but faith is not blind.  Faith faces and acknowledges whatever challenge comes before it, but declares the victory to be already won.  There is a difference between claiming victory in a fight and refusing to believe that a fight is going on.

Denial can be dangerous.  If you need medical help, get it.  If you are really in faith, the doctor will vouch for you healing.  If you're not, he may well save your life.

Resignation

"I'm not going to pray about it anymore.  I've just put this matter into God's hands."  What this may really mean is, "I am going to let God decide whether or not to heal me.  I am not actively believing for anything.  If nothing happens, I will not be at all surprised.  Whatever happens, happens.  I've done the best I can."  That's resignation, not faith.  Faith does not put anything into God's hands, it takes something from God's hands!

Even those who know the Word can drift from faith into resignation if they do not keep their faith active.  You can stop praying about it because you know you have received your answer on the inside.  However, you can also stop praying about it because you have simply given up!  Make sure you know which applies to you.

Expecting something to happen in the future

You cannot "believe" for a healing in the future.  To say "I have faith that God will heal me" is an error.  This actually means, "I hope that God will heal me, but I am not in faith for it."  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the assurance of things not seen (Heb 11:1).  If you do not have the assurance that you have something that you cannot see now, you are not in faith.  If you think you will get something in the future, you do not have the assurance that you have the unseen thing right now.

There is nothing wrong with hope.  Faith, hope and love abide, but none is a substitute for the others.  You cannot get saved by hoping that you will go to heaven.  You cannot get healed by hoping that God will heal you in the future.  You will fool most Christians today saying that you have faith that God will heal you, but you will not fool God, or your sick body!

Struggling to believe something

"For we which have believed have entered into rest" (Heb 4:3).  If you haven't entered into rest, you haven't entered into faith.  If you are struggling to make yourself believe something, you are not ready to pray in faith.  Hear the Word on a continual basis on the topic of your prayer.  If you need healing, go over and over the scriptures on healing.  Instead of straining to believe, hear the Word enough and faith will come automatically.  This can take time.  If you need to take the time, take it!  It beats staying sick.  Even if you aren't successful at first, it's worth developing the discipline so that down the road you can succeed at it.  The best time to put the Word in your heart is before you need it, not during your trial!  Many are in no position to believe for anything during a trial because they never "exercised themselves unto godliness" before the trial started.

Will power

Faith is not a matter of trying to will something away.  Again, we who believe have entered into rest.  You are trusting in God's power, not your own will power.

Mind over matter

You receive healing from God through your spirit, not through your mind.  You are not attempting to "psyche" yourself into anything or control your body with your mind.

Throwing away your medicine

This could be harmful or fatal.  Throwing away your medicine neither proves your faith nor compels God to heal you supernaturally.  God is only compelled to heal you when you approach him in faith.  It is possible to put him to a foolish test by throwing out your medicine.  If you are not in faith, you have not met God's condition for healing, and you will need that medicine you just threw out.  You will make your doctor mad and look like a fool in front of unbelievers.  Objectors to divine healing will make you another object lesson in their books.  Whether or not you are in faith has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not there is medicine in your cabinet.  It is not necessary to throw out your medicine or stomp on your glasses to receive healing by faith.  Get healed first, and then once you have physical proof of it, do what you want with your medicine or your glasses.

Mimicking the words of someone else who is in faith

You cannot get the same results as someone else simply by saying the same words that he does.  For example, you cannot just parrot the words, "I believe I receive my healing.  Hallelujah.  Thank you, Jesus!" just because someone else did so and received his healing.  It worked for the other person because he believed in his heart and spoke with his mouth.  If you just speak with your mouth but don't believe it in your heart, nothing will happen.  I prayed a "sinner's prayer" with someone once just to make him happy and remained just as unsaved when he was done because I didn't mean it.  (I did pray it and mean it later.)

There is the confession of faith and there is the confession unto faith.  The first speaks what you already believe.  The second is simply speaking God's Word to yourself to build faith, which is a valuable practice that every Christian should do (see Joshua 1:7-8).  Just don't confuse the two or kid yourself about which you are doing.

Paul cast out demons in the name of Jesus.  When the sons of Sceva mimicked Paul's words and ordered a demon to leave in the name of Jesus whom Paul preached, they were the ones who ended up leaving the house, not the demon.  They used the same name, but Paul was in faith while the sons of Sceva weren't.  (See Acts 19:13-17.)

Being pretty sure of something

There is a difference between being pretty sure of something and really believing something.  If you have hands laid on you for healing, and you answer someone who asks if you got your healing, "I think so," you are not in faith.  If you are in faith, you know it.  If you don't know if you're in faith, you aren't.  Being in faith is like being pregnant -- you either are or you aren't.  You can't be "sort of" in faith any more than you can be "sort of" pregnant.

Trying to feel better

Real faith does not consider your body, just as Abraham did not consider his body.  See Romans 4:16-21.  You do not have to "psyche" yourself into thinking that you feel better.  Don't even try.  It doesn't matter if you feel worse just after you pray.  If you are in faith, your healing will manifest itself.  Sometimes a healing minister who has laid hands on people asks for a show of hands of people who feel physically better already, and it is tempting to try to convince yourself that you feel at least a little better so that you can raise your hand.  Don't bother.  You will not hurt the minister's feelings if you don't see any change yet!  Some people do not notice a change right away.  That is normal and nothing to worry about.

Likewise, you don't have to keep checking your body every five minutes for the next day trying to convince yourself that you feel at least a little improvement.  That is counterproductive; it will get you focused on the problem instead of the solution.  If you are really in faith, you have entered into rest (Heb 4:3) and you are confident that God's power is working in you.  Continue to thank God for your healing and make that your focus.

Having faith in your faith

Jesus said, "Have faith in God" (Mark 11:22).  He did not say, "Have faith in your faith."  Always remember that your basis for believing that you have received a healing is God's Word on the matter.  God's Word cannot change.  The devil will try to challenge you with thought that you aren't really in faith.  He will try to make you question whether you could really believe God like that.  The way to conquer such thoughts is to remind the devil and yourself that God says you are healed, and you are simply agreeing with God's present statements concerning you.  Don't make your faith the issue.  God's Word concerning healing is the issue.  You have the right to speak it continually, not just when you first pray, because it is continually true.

Quoting lots of Scripture

You could fool people even in most "faith churches" with the following answer to the question, "Are you healed?"  "According to 1 Peter 2:24, I was healed by the stripes of Jesus.  God's Word says that I was healed, therefore I am healed.  God is the Lord that healeth me.  Jesus bore the curse of the Law for me and I am redeemed from sickness."

This seems like a good answer, but a person who is really in faith would more likely respond, "Yes!"  He would not try to defend his answer or talk himself into it.  The Scriptures are nice and they are true, but they do not prove that you have actually believed that you have received anything at all.  They simply prove that you know the Bible's teaching on the subject of healing, which is a different matter from appropriating that for yourself.

Take as an example your eternal salvation.  If someone asked you if you are saved, you would say, "Yes."  You would not get theological and say, "According to 1 Peter 2:24, my sins were borne by Jesus in his own body on the tree.  By grace I am saved through faith.  The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."  In other words, you would not sound like you are still trying to talk yourself into believing something, which is what you are doing, when you get right down to it.

You can and you should quote Scripture about yourself.  But the quoting of Scripture is distinct from the actual prayer of faith that receives something that God has provided for you in Christ.

See also:

What faith is


Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Does God ever bring on sickness as judgment?  Yes!  The following cases in the Old Testament should demonstrate this more than amply.  Remember when you read these accounts that sickness was considered punishment.  Since Jesus has taken the punishment for your sins, you do not need to be punished for them.  Jesus has made you exempt from the things talked about here.  You may click the notes on the various passages for comments about each incident.

In Exodus 8:16-17 and Exodus 9:8-11, lice and boils are put upon the Egyptians as a plague and a judgment for Pharaoh's refusal to obey God and let Israel go.

In Exodus 32:35, people are made sick because they built a golden idol calf in the desert.

Leviticus 26:14-39 and Deuteronomy 28:15-68 made it clear that God would cause sickness to come on Israel if the people were disobedient.  This happened repeatedly throughout Israel's history.  This does not make God the author of sickness.  Sickness is only on the earth because of sin.  However, God made it clear that he would personally ensure the sickness of Israel if the people would not serve him.

In Numbers 11:33-34, Israelites who lusted were made sick when the Lord smote the people.

In Numbers 12:1-15, Miriam was struck with leprosy for seven days as judgment for having a mutinous attitude toward God's appointed leader.  (Note that God was merciful and healed her.)

In Numbers 14:36-37, the spies who brought back an unbelieving report were killed by a plague.

In Numbers 16:44-50, Israelites were killed by a plague because the Lord was angry with them for siding with Korah's rebels and the burners of illegitimate incense who were killed by God.

In Numbers 25:3-13, 24,000 Israelites were killed by a plague sent as punishment for idolatry.

In Numbers 31:14-16, and Joshua 22:17, the Israelites were reminded that a plague came on them through idolatry.

In Deuteronomy 29:19-22, God clearly declares plagues and sickness to be a curse for disobedience.

In 1 Samuel 5:1-6:5, the Philistines (who stole the ark of God) were smitten with terrible plagues.

In 1 Samuel 16:14-23, an "evil spirit from God" tormented backslidden Saul, who lost his anointing as king because of his disobedience and presumption in performing a priestly duty.  Kings were not priests and were not allowed to perform priestly duties.  (Click the notes to this passage if you're wondering what the phrase "evil spirit from God" means!)

In 1 Samuel 25:37-38, God smote Nabal for his churlish treatment of David.  He died within ten days.

In 2 Samuel 12:13-18, David and Bathsheba's illegitimate child died as judgment for their sin.

In 1 Kings 13:4-6, King Jeroboam's hand was struck useless because he attempted to harm a prophet of God.  Jeroboam asked the prophet to pray for healing, and when the prophet prayed for healing, God healed Jeroboam.

In 1 Kings 13:33-14:1, Jeroboam's son was smitten by a fatal illness as judgment for Jeroboam's leading of the nation into sin.

In 2 Kings 1:2-4, Ahaziah died as judgment for seeking advice from Baalzebub, a heathen god.

In 2 Kings 5:27, Naaman's leprosy came on Gehazi as punishment for his deception.

1 Chronicles 21:7-27 has another account of a plague that was judgment for sin.

In 2 Chronicles 21:12-19, horrible disease struck the family of a wicked king of Judah, along with other calamities, because of his sin.

In 2 Chronicles 26:16-21, King Uzziah was struck with leprosy for attempting to perform a priestly duty.

Psalm 89:20-23 and Jeremiah 50:13 mention plagues on God's enemies.

Micah 6:12-13 talks about people being made sick for their sins.

Zechariah 14:12-15 describes an awful killer plague that will come on those who attack Jerusalem.

Zechariah 14:16-19 declares sickness to be a judgment for not keeping the feast of tabernacles.

You can tie yourself up in knots debating God's "permitting" of Satan to destroy versus God doing it himself, but the fact is that God is responsible for the judgments in these verses, even if indirectly.  Whether you want to say that he "sent" them or "allowed" them, clearly he was involved.  There is such a thing as the wrath of God, although it is not often preached today!  You are saved from wrath through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:9), so none of these things should happen to you.  However, there are times even under grace where sickness can be still be chastening or judgment.  (See the discussion, Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament.)

Sickness is not a nice little pet for you to get cozy with.  It is a curse for sin.  It does not belong to you.  You are the righteousness of God in Christ, so you should not pay the penalty for sin.  Jesus already paid it for you.  Why should something that is judgment come upon a person who has been legally acquitted?  You have a right to walk free from it.  Like sin, sickness will try to attach itself to you, but you can overcome it through God's Word.


Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

If you want a hot-potato issue in the church world, this is probably it.  You get people mad on both sides when you start digging into the Scriptures to answer questions like these: "Can sickness be the chastening of the Lord in the New Covenant?  Can sickness or death be the judgment of God in the New Covenant?"

The answer is clearly yes.

But no believer walking in the light qualifies for chastening or judgment.  If you are walking with the Lord and staying out of gross sin, you do not qualify to get sick or die prematurely as judgment.  However, there are things you can do that will get you out from under God's protection and open you up to sickness or worse, even under grace.

There are two prevalent, equally incorrect, views on this subject.  One is, "Our God is a good God, so he can't ever put sickness on anyone because there is no sickness in heaven.  So God could never chasten or punish anyone with sickness."  The other is, "Sickness is a tool of God to build character in us.  We can learn patience and other valuable lessons through sickness."

The facts are these:  You are redeemed from sickness by Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice.  As long as you walk in the light, you can walk free from sickness.  However, if you willfully choose to sin, even as a Christian, God will permit you to be ill or even actively see to it that you get ill or even die!  That's a strong statement that I will back up with Scripture.

Herod killed for trying to steal God's glory

Acts 12:21-23 tells how God killed Herod because he attempted to take God's glory for himself.  An angel of the Lord struck Herod with a fatal illness.  This surely makes us squirm if we are used to the idea that God could never harm anyone because he is good.  Yes, God is love, but the wrath of God is just as much a New Testament reality.  Of course, if you are not stealing God's glory, you don't have to worry about being another Herod.  Herod was not a believer.

Bar-Jesus struck blind by the hand of the Lord

It is explicitly stated that the hand of the Lord, not the hand of Satan, struck Bar-Jesus the sorcerer blind in Acts 13:6-12.  This was a supernatural blindness, not necessarily any kind of eye disease.  No regular eye disease would instantly strike you blind and then let you see again later.  This was a sign and a wonder to the people Paul was attempting to minister to.  It was also a visible judgment on the sorcerer, who was trying to hinder the spreading of the gospel.

Jesus kills!

Revelation 2:22-23 contains an even more shocking statement from Jesus himself, where he says he will kill an adulteress's children and throw her into a bed (implying a sickbed)!  This is disturbing to us because he does not say that he will "permit the devil to kill them," although in practice that may be how it worked out.  Obviously, Jesus would have a direct role in the death of these children as well as in the adulteress's apparent sickness.

This woman (called Jezebel) was messing around with the Lord's Church.  Judgment was not immediate.  Jesus said in the verse just before the ones above that he "gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not."  Even in her gross sin, mercy was extended to her for a season.  But when she would not repent, Jesus pronounced judgment against her.  This was necessary to protect his church at Thyatira.  If he allowed this self-named prophetess to continue seducing and misleading his people, the church at Thyatira would be in danger.  Jesus had to take her out of the way.

Let this be a warning to anyone who would try to lead the people of God into immorality.  Jesus will give you space to repent, but eventually judgment will fall, and it will hurt.  It's one thing to be immoral yourself, but when you start corrupting the Church, you are in a lot of trouble with God.

If you are not seducing or misleading the people of God, this passage does not apply to you.  Even if you were to get into gross sin, we see that the mercy of God would give you time to repent.  If you didn't, it would be your own fault and you would bear the consequences.  Jesus will never do anything like this to a believer who is living a normal Christian life.

Ananias and Sapphira lie and die

Acts 5:1-11 shows that lying can lead to dying even under the New Covenant.  Ananias and Sapphira fell dead as judgment for lying to Peter about the money that they gave.  If you think this is too harsh a punishment, perhaps you do not share the Lord's intense hatred of lying.  Lying may be socially acceptable in our day, but it is unacceptable with God.  One incident of lying to God's anointed was all it took to end both of their lives.  Do not play games with God's servants.

It has been suggested that Ananias and Sapphira simply died of embarrassment when their sins were publicly exposed and that God did not have a direct hand in it.  I find that difficult to accept because Peter knew beforehand that Sapphira was going to die.  In the context of verse 9, he seems to link it directly to her sin.  He basically said to her, "How could you agree to lie like that?  You're history, just like your husband!"  Besides, do you know anyone who has actually died of embarrassment?

If you aren't doing what they did, you have nothing to fear.  God will not strike you dead arbitrarily.

Many Corinthians get sick and many die for failure to "judge themselves"

1 Cor 11:27-32 says that many Christians at Corinth were made sick and many died because they would not "judge themselves" regarding their sin.  In this case, they were eating the Lord's supper in an unworthy manner, walking out of love toward each other while doing it, and seeing it as an opportunity to pig out rather than reverence God.  They were failing to appreciate that they were partaking of emblems of Christ's death.  They were playing games with the holy things of God.

One side effect of this would be to fail to see that Christ's body was broken for our healing.  By regarding the communion bread as mere food, they missed an opportunity to reflect on the fact that healing belonged to them.  This is sometimes stated as the reason the Corinthians died, but it is not the main reason in context.  Many Christians do die because they do not recognize that Jesus' broken body provided healing.  That is a fact, but this passage is not primarily talking about that.

It is clear from the context that the sickness and death that befell them were not from ignorance of their covenant healing rights, but were direct judgment from God for their misconduct.  The main point is that they were eating and drinking damnation (judgment) on themselves by treating holy things lightly.  They were "guilty of the body and blood of the Lord."  This kind of mistake cost Nadab, Abihu and Uzzah their lives, cost King Uzziah his health, and cost King Saul his throne in the Old Testament.  All these people attempted to perform a priestly function that was not theirs to perform.  They were taking the holy things of God lightly.  Playing with the holy things of God will cost you.

This passage is widely misunderstood to be a warning not to let an unbeliever take communion because he is "unworthy."  That is not stated.  Needless to say, there is no point in an unbeliever taking communion, since communion is an ordinance for believers.  However, the warning is not about unworthy people taking communion.  It is about believers taking communion in an unworthy manner.  The people getting weak and sickly and dying were the Corinthian believers, not unbelievers!  Paul said that those judged were "among you."  Paul wasn't warning unbelievers; he was warning believers.

"For if we should judge ourselves, we should not be judged" makes it clear that the context is believers who will not take the things of God seriously or who willfully persist in sin.  It is perfectly clear from this statement that no believer walking in the light will suffer this kind of judgment.

Even this judgment shows the mercy of God.  Some of these people could have completely fallen from grace if God had not intervened.  "But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."  At least the ones who died will not be condemned because they were still Christians when they died.  They just left the earth a lot sooner than they had to.  That is better than going to hell.  As for the ones who were sick, the Lord was chastening them to bring them to their senses.  If they repented, they could have been rid of their sicknesses instead of staying sick and even dying.

Unfortunately, God does have to remove people from his Body who are causing trouble within it.  The idea is not to be one of these people.

No believer who makes a normal effort to get sin out of his life has to fear being "chastened of the Lord."  The fact that God does use sickness and premature death to "chasten" and "judge" unruly believers does not mean that all sickness and premature death are God's judgment!  Do not assume that God is judging you just because you get the flu, and do not assume that other people who get sick are being judged for secret sins in their lives.  Sickness can be used as judgment, but not all sickness is judgment.  Most of it isn't; it's just part of the corruption that is on the earth because of sin.

Homosexuals receive a just reward in themselves

Romans 1:26-27 talks about homosexuals receiving the just reward for their error (not alternative lifestyle) in themselves.  This will never win any awards for political correctness, but the fact is the AIDS and other venereal diseases are considered by God to be just punishment for the abomination (Lev 18:22, Lev 20:13) of homosexuality.  (If you received such an illness through a blood transfusion or inherited it from a parent, obviously this does not apply to you.)  Some homosexuals do not like to hear this and try to explain away these verses, but they will not go away.  God does not condone sodomy.  He declares that no homosexual (or other sex pervert) shall inherit the kingdom of God.  If that's too strong for you, take it up with God, who wrote 1 Cor 6:9-10:  "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived:   neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

You still walk in love toward homosexuals, just not in their kind of love (lust).  For purposes of sharing the gospel, the homosexual does not need you to inform him that his HIV-positive condition is judgment for his sin.  He needs to know how to get out of his sin.  He needs to know that Jesus bled and died for all of this sins (not only sodomy) and that God will forgive him.  He needs to know that the power of God can straighten him out.  He needs to know that God loves him so much that he was willing to send Jesus to be tortured and killed in his place.  The name of Jesus can drive out AIDS just as it can drive out cancer.

But you can't explain away these verses.  You can only avoid doing what they talk about to avoid getting what they talk about.  This is why finding a cure for AIDS would not be a permanent solution.  Since Romans 1:26-27 will always be true, there will always be another horrible disease to take its place.  Partaking of God's wrath for sexual and other sins is also mentioned in the next verse below.

Notice that this passage does not come out and say "God puts sickness on homosexuals."  That is actually not the case; they are receiving the results of a spiritual law in the earth.  They are sowing to the flesh and reaping corruption of the flesh.  God established this law, but anyone engaging in sodomy is really bringing corruption on himself.  God does not need to do anything explicit to put it on him.  Although the context of this section is the wrath of God, the use of the phrase "receiving in themselves" (as opposed to "receiving from God") would indicate that God is not directly responsible for their sickness.

Partaking of the wrath of God on the disobedient

Eph 5:5-7 shows that even a believer can be a partaker of the wrath of God if he gets into serious sin.  Ephesians was written to believers!  Paul warned them not to be a partaker of the wrath of God that comes on the disobedient because of their sin.

Col 3:25 also makes it clear that a believer can receive recompense for the wrong he does.  1 Thess 4:6 warns believers that God avenges adultery.

Destroying God's temple destroys you

1 Cor 3:16-17 is widely misinterpreted to mean, "If you smoke and drink, you're destroying God's temple, so God will destroy you."  That's not what this passage is talking about.  You is in the plural.  God's Church collectively is called the temple of God.  God is saying that if any man tries to destroy the Church, God will destroy him.  This is a sober warning to anyone who tries to split a local church or tries to break the "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" in a local body.  If you play stupid little churchy political games, setting one person against another to advance yourself, you are a candidate for sickness and destruction.  It is too tame to say, "God will allow the devil to destroy you," because this verse says that God will destroy you.  God is jealous for his Body, and he will personally judge anyone who messes with it.  If you can't tolerate your local church, go find one you can tolerate.

Complainers destroyed

1 Cor 10:5-11 warns us of judgment under the New Covenant for some of the same sins that led to judgment under the Old Covenant.  In particular, we are warned about lusting after evil things, idolatry, fornication, tempting Christ, and murmuring.  If we do these things, we can still incur the same penalties under the New Covenant:  dying and being destroyed by the destroyer.

Sin opens you up to the devil's works and gives him the right to move in your life.  There is no warning here about calamities for a child of God who stays out of these sins.  They only come on you if you choose to sin in these ways.

Even if you would never think of committing adultery, you have purchased the ticket to trouble when you use your tongue to complain about everything the pastor does and criticize everyone else.  Touching God's anointed is bad news in either covenant.  Even if a leader makes a mistake, you will not secure a blessing for yourself by publicizing it and complaining about it.  Lift the leaders up in prayer and get behind them, or find somewhere to go where you can do so.  If you can't find anywhere, you are the problem and you are already in trouble.

In churches where sexual sins and complaining are rampant, we should expect destruction to also be rampant among those individuals involved.  Sin is not a light thing under any covenant.  Willful persistence in sin is the door to destruction.  Stay out.  You have been warned.

Judgment begins at the house of God

When God judged Israel in the book of Ezekiel, he said, "Begin at my sanctuary."  The same principle holds true today.  The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17).  Those who persist in deliberate sin even when they know better will be judged.

Handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh

1 Cor 5:1-5 orders a certain man committing incest to be "handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."  This was to be formal church discipline.  The man was to be kicked out of the church until he repented.  The idea was to prevent others in the church from being corrupted in a similar way.  If others saw him get away with it, they would be tempted to follow suit.

This is so important that God warns you not even to eat with a so-called brother who is fornicating.  The church is to kick such people out and not let them back in until they repent.  (The remainder of 1 Cor 5 discusses this; other sins are included in this category along with fornication.)  Today we coddle such people and reassure them about God's wonderful boundless mercy and grace, and some of them just keep sinning and sinning like the man in Corinth before Paul rebuked the Corinthians.  If we really obeyed the Bible and kicked sex offenders out of the church until they repented, we would not have so many embarrassing incidents among Christians in the Church.  These people are a great danger to the flock and cannot be tolerated.

Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery but then told her to go and sin no more.  We should do the same.  We forgive others for their sins, but we expect them to "Go and sin no more."  If they keep sinning in this kind of way, we should refuse to fellowship with them.  If you think this is too harsh, talk to God about it after reading the whole chapter yourself.  Beware:  "Evil communications [companions] corrupt good manners" (1 Cor 15:33).

Handing the man over to Satan implies that no prayer would be made for his protection; he would be on his own.  Without the prayers of the church, the man would soon reap what he sowed and get beaten up by the devil (not God).  The idea is that after his flesh started hurting, he would decide to repent and come back.  If he did not repent, the devil could kill him before he managed to fall from grace completely.  Thus, his spirit would be saved even though his flesh was destroyed.  This beats going to hell.  Tough as this seems, this is the mercy of God in action, although the relatives at the funeral may have a hard time believing that.

This is a case where God authorizes the devil to afflict someone who is in sin.  God is not doing the afflicting himself, but he is explicitly sanctioning it.

Another case of this is found in 1 Tim 1:19-20:  "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:  Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme."  The purpose of handing them over to Satan was not to vengefully curse them and get even with them.  It was to cause them to come to their senses and quit sinning -- "that they may learn not to blaspheme" as opposed to "that they may get what's coming to them for blaspheming."

Sowing and reaping

Gal 6:7-9 discusses a spiritual law in the earth concerning sowing and reaping.  According to this law, you reap whatever you sow, and neither God nor the devil is directly involved.  You reap your own punishment if you choose to walk in the flesh instead of the Spirit, and you reap your own reward by choosing to sow to the Spirit.  In this sense, bodily affliction can be a punishment for walking in the flesh.  But it is not necessarily "sent" to you by either God or the devil, any more than God or the devil makes your computer mouse (or compatible pointing device) fall if you pick it up and let go of it.  There are spiritual laws that are just as binding as physical laws.  They can override physical laws.  Just as electricity can either kill you or let you run hypertext healing programs on computers, these laws can work either for you or against you, depending on what you do.

Sin

James 5:14-16 says to confess your sins one to another and to pray for one another, that you may be healed.  James said that when the elders anoint the sick in the name of the Lord, he will be forgiven of any sins.  The implication seems to be clear from this passage that sin can bring on disease.  Jesus definitely believed that.  He told the man who had been infirm for 38 years to "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you" (John 5:2-19).  Therefore, it is a New Testament teaching that sin can bring on disease.  God does not put it on you; you put it on yourself.  Your disobedience to God opens the door to the devil.

This doesn't mean that everyone who is sick is in sin.  It just means that sin can bring disease on you, and some people are sick because they are in sin.

"Vial" sores and pains

Rev 16:1-2 talks about a vial of the wrath of God being poured out on the earth, and horrible sores coming on those who worship the beast.  Is the common teaching that "God doesn't have any sickness in heaven to give" really true?  God does not steal this vial from the devil; it comes from heaven, and it makes men sick!  (Yes, I know that there will be no sickness in our eternal home on the renewed earth.)  Food for thought, isn't it?  We tend to downplay the wrath of God today because no one wants to hear about it and we want everyone to like our nice messages about how good God is.  The wrath of God is real today.  Sinners will find this out after we leave the earth when Jesus appears in the clouds.

Rev 16:10-11 talks about another vial of the wrath of God that produces pain so bad that men gnaw their tongues.  God will send this plague; he will not "permit the devil" to do it.

The wrath of God

Soon, the wrath of God will bring hail, scorching, poisoning, earthquakes, fire, meteorite impacts, and the destruction of a third of mankind.  See the book of Revelation.  You can miss all this fun by being born again and being snatched away with Jesus before it happens.  You see, God reserves wrath for his enemies, not for his children.

Preaching about the wrath of God doesn't tickle people's ears.  People want to hear how good he is, and how blessed he wants us.  Perhaps it would upset many of them if we really studied out the wrath of God in Scripture.  When is the last time anyone preached Nahum 1:2?  "God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies."  Just as God's love carries over from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, so does his wrath.  The book of Revelation is in the New Testament!

You can't blame the devil for the woes in Revelation.  In  fact, some of the judgments in Revelation are on the devil and his associates.  It is too thin to say, "God will permit the devil to pelt the earth with killer comets."  It is clearly God's doing.  God will kill people.  God will torment people.  God will make people sick.  Does this make you uncomfortable?  Perhaps there is a side of God you have not learned about because these verses are not the ones we post on our refrigerators or buy books about.  These plagues are the final punishment for unrepented sin on the earth.  God is merciful, but he is also just.

God is not simply "lovey-dovey," and we have oversimplified our theology when we say that if anything is bad, it must be the devil.  "God is love" is a complete statement as far as a blood-washed saint is concerned.  Jesus "delivered us from the wrath to come" (1 Thess 1:10).  This wrath is still real, you are just delivered from it.  But the sinners in the earth will discover that there is another side of God, too -- his holiness!  He cannot tolerate sin.  If any man does not accept Christ's substitution for him, that man will personally endure the wrath of God.  He will be sent to burn in the lake of fire that is the second death, and be in conscious, everlasting torment.

God created everlasting fire for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41), but everyone who is not saved in this life will go there and suffer forever.  Talk about pain!  At least a saint who unnecessarily dies of cancer endures no more pain from that point on.  In the lake of fire, the sinner suffers forever and ever, with no hope of ever escaping his agony.  What a horrible punishment!  Can you see how foolish it is to say that God is simply a mushy heavenly teddy bear?  The lake of fire is a New Covenant concept, too!

I am not saying that you should go around telling sinners about the lake of fire and the vials of God's wrath on the earth.  The reality of eternal judgment should motivate you to share your faith to spare others a literal eternity of agony.  However, it is the goodness of God, not the wrath of God, that draws men to repentance (Romans 2:4).  The apostles preached Jesus, the solution to damnation, rather than harping on damnation.  But the wrath of God is real!

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life:  and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."  (John 3:36)

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness."  (Romans 1:18)

"But [thou] after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (Romans 2:5)

"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience" (Colossians 3:5-6)

"And out of his [Jesus'] mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations:  and he shall rule them with a rod of iron:  and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." (Revelation 19:15)

There are many more verses on this topic, but these should be enough to give you the idea.

If we took this side of God seriously, there would be much more fear of God in the Church, and much less sin.

"Chastening" in Hebrews 12?

I can accept sickness as chastening for the Christian who deliberately lives in sin, as explicitly stated in 1 Corinthians 11:32 (quoted above).  However, the "chastening" in Hebrews 12 is another matter, and does not fall into this category.  This kind of chastening refers to fatherly correction and rebuke.  It definitely does not refer to God correcting us with sickness.  (For proof, see Objection:  Sickness can be the chastening of the Lord.)

Conclusion

Even in the New Testament, God can use sickness as chastening and judgment, even to the point where he actively sends it.  This never applies to a believer with an up-to-date walk with God.  Sickness as judgment falls only on wayward Christians and unbelievers.  If you are neither, there is no reason to believe that God has anything to do with your sickness, and you should exercise your authority in Christ over it and get rid of it.


Leviticus 18:22
Leviticus 18:22:

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind:  it is abomination.


Leviticus 20:13
Leviticus 20:13:

If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination:  they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.


Matthew 25:41
Matthew 25:41:

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:


1 Thessalonians 1:10
1 Thessalonians 1:10:

And to wait for his Son from heaven, who he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.


1 Thessalonians 4:6
1 Thessalonians 4:6:

That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter:  because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we have also forewarned you and testified.


Healing and atonement

One of the most noteworthy themes in the Bible is the connection between healing and atonement.  When a sacrifice was made (often a blood sacrifice), healing or protection from sickness was the result.  Symbols of the atonement of Christ produced healing in the Old Testament, as you will see below.  How foolish to think that the Israelites could be healed by the symbols of Jesus Christ, but that Christians cannot be healed by the very Jesus Christ who was symbolized!  Healing, atonement and forgiveness are found together throughout the Bible.  Where there is atonement and forgiveness, there is healing.  Since Christ atoned for your sins and forgave you, you should expect to be healed physically, too.

Exodus 12:12-13 says that the plague that killed Egypt's firstborn would pass over any house that had the blood of the Passover lamb on the front door.  This symbol of Jesus Christ kept sickness away.  The "destroyer" (Ex 12:23) would not visit any house with this blood on the door.  The Passover lamb is explicitly declared to represent Christ in 1 Cor 5:7.  Not only did the killer plague stay away, but also not a single Israelite was even feeble after this (Psalm 105:37).  Israel walked in health after partaking of this symbol of Christ's atonement.

It is noteworthy that the Passover consisted of both the blood and the body, and commands were given for both.  The blood sprinkled on the door redeemed the people from the plague, but the body was also significant because the people were to eat it.  The people would not have had time to bake anything because of the haste with which they had to flee Egypt.  The body of the Passover lamb was for their physical strength.  We should expect the blood of our Lord (symbolized by the Passover) to redeem us from plagues, and we should expect the body of our Lord (also symbolized by the Passover) to give us physical strength.

Exodus 30:11-16 contains a command to the Israelites to give "ransom money" to the Lord to make atonement for their souls, so that there would be no plague among them.  Atonement kept sickness away from them.

The "law of the leper," as found in Leviticus 14:1-32 and Leviticus 15:13-15, required atonement to be made for a leper to be admitted back into the camp.  The healed leper could not be readmitted without this atonement.

Numbers 8:19 says that the Levites were given to make atonement for Israel, so that there would be no plague when they came near the sanctuary.  God is holy.  The people under the Old Covenant could not approach him in their sins.  If they did, judgment would break out, as it did against the Philistines who stole the ark of God (1 Samuel 5:1-6:5).  Atonement allowed men to approach God with no fear of getting a plague.

Numbers 16:44-50 tells how a plague that killed 14,700 people was stopped when Aaron made an atonement.

Numbers 21:5-9 contains the story of the complaining Israelites, many of whom died from a plague of serpents.  The plague was stopped when Moses lifted up a brass serpent on a pole.  Anyone who looked at this symbol of Christ was healed and forgiven.  Jesus compared himself to Moses' serpent in John 3:14.  It follows that anyone who looks to the One symbolized by the serpent should also be healed and forgiven.

Numbers 25:3-13 tells of another plague that killed 24,000 people before it was stopped by an atonement.

2 Samuel 24:10-25 and 1 Chronicles 21:7-27 tell of another plague that ended when a sacrifice was made.

2 Chronicles 30:18-20 says that the Lord healed Hezekiah's people after they kept the Passover, which symbolized Christ's atonement.  How sad it would be if you could be healed by the symbol of Christ's atonement and not by the very thing it symbolized!  This would make the symbol more powerful than the real thing when it comes to healing.  This shows that physical healing continued to be connected with the Passover even in a memorial of the actual event.

Job 33:19-25 shows an understanding even in Job's day of the principle of healing following a ransom (atonement).

Psalm 103:1-5 says that God forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases (among other things).  Forgiveness and healing go together.  When your sins are forgiven, you can get healed.

Isaiah 33:24, pointing to the millennial reign of Christ, says that the forgiven people will not be sick.

Isaiah 53 prophesies about the Messiah who will be bruised for our transgressions.  He will bear our sicknesses and pains, and with his stripes, we are healed.  1 Peter 2:24 echoes this.  See Isaiah's prophecy of redemption for definite proof that healing was part of Christ's atonement.

Matthew 9:2-8, Mark 2:2-12, and Luke 5:17-26 all give an account where Jesus heals a paralytic as proof that he has power on earth to forgive sins.  When the sins were forgiven, the person could be healed.  Now that your sins are forgiven, you should be healed as well.

It should be clear from the above that atonement stops plagues, and forgiveness results in healing.  Now that Jesus has bought forgiveness for us through his atonement, we must conclude that healing is now ours as well.  Otherwise, the mere symbols of Christ brought God's people more than Christ himself did.


Healing -- a gift from God

James 1:17

Matthew 7:11

Good gifts come from God.  Jesus said that your heavenly Father gives good gifts to them that ask him.  If you are sick, wouldn't you consider healing to be a good gift?  Then you have a right to receive it from God when you ask him for it.

You can learn something else important from this.  God does not force his gifts on any man.  No one has to get saved, and no one has to get healed.  God's gifts are given to those that ask him for them.  This debunks the stupid idea that sickness can be a gift from God, as some say.  Did you ask God for your illness?  Did God offer you a choice of receiving it or not receiving it?  NO.  Then it was not a gift from God.  That isn't how God operates.

Besides, what kind of a "gift" is it when you are told to pray for its removal in Scripture?  Surely not one of God's gifts.  God wouldn't give you any gift that he doesn't want you to keep.  You know this because Romans 11:29 says that the gifts and callings of God are without repentance.  We usually major on the callings part of this verse in relation to people called to the ministry, but here God tells us that when he gives gifts, he doesn't change his mind and take them back.  That proves that sickness is not a gift from God.  He would not give you a gift and then remove it.

Sickness is not a gift from God, but healing is.  God's gifts are good.  Jesus said that he was the Gift of God (John 4:10) and Paul called Christ a gift (Eph 4:7).  The Holy Spirit is called a gift (Acts 2:38).  Salvation is called a gift throughout the book of Romans.  Righteousness is called a gift (Romans 5:17).  God is the giver of good gifts to his children.  But notice that these gifts don't just come on you automatically because it's God's will.  You had to receive Christ and his righteousness.  You had to receive the Holy Spirit.  God was always offering the gifts, but you had to receive them.  Healing is no different.

Nowhere in the Bible is sickness is called a gift.  You will have to close your Bible and read modern unbelieving preachers' statements to get this doctrine.


Free access to the throne!

Only one thing gives you access to God.  The shed blood of Jesus Christ guarantees you an immediate audience with him.  No work that you can do gives you access to God.  Thank God, you don't need to work for it.  Jesus gave it to you as part of your redemption.

Hebrews 10:19:

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Ephesians 2:13:

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:18:

For through him [Christ] we both [Gentiles and Israelites] have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Your righteousness in Christ gives you the ability to approach God at any time, for any reason.  There is no veil between you and God as there was under the Old Covenant.  In fact, the presence of God himself, once reserved for the holy of holies, is now inside believers, including you!  Furthermore, you are seated in heavenly places with Christ.  It should be clear that there is no barrier between you and God that would stop God from hearing you.  You do not have to "bombard the gates of heaven" or tire God's ear with the same request over and over.

The outer court/inner court/holy of holies fallacy

A common, but unscriptural, notion of approaching God holds that you must first enter into his "outer courts" by giving thanks, and then into his "inner courts" by praising, and finally into the "holy of holies" by worshipping.  This is simply not true.  This notion is generally propagated by music ministers who would like to see themselves as tour guides to the holy of holies instead of the helps ministers (like ushers) that they actually are.  It is not New Covenant theology.

In fact, it was never true under the Old Covenant, either.  If you weren't the designated priest and you went into the holy of holies, you would be struck dead on the spot, worship or no worship.  You never got to go there.

This whole teaching is based on a misinterpretation of Psalm 100:4:  "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise."  This means simply that when you enter the courts of the Lord, do so with thanksgiving and praise.  (The gates went into the courts; like most Hebrew poetry, this is phrasing the same thought two ways.)  It never meant that thanksgiving got you into the outer court and praise took you into the inner court.  No one in the Old Testament ever started thanking God and suddenly said, "Oh, look, I'm in the outer court now!  How'd I get here?" then started praising God and said, "Oh, look, I'm suddenly in the inner court.  My praise must have taken me here!"  The Psalmist wasn't saying to enter his gates by thanksgiving, he said to enter them with thanksgiving.  See the difference?  You can just start fellowshipping with God right now without having to work up thanksgiving and praise first.

Your praise and worship and thanksgiving are important, but you'd better not think for a minute that they give you access to God.  It is strictly the blood of Jesus that gives you free access to the throne.  The New Testament definitely teaches that you should praise and worship and thank God, but it does not teach that these actions get you an audience with God.  They just help you get your flesh under and make you more conscious of what is already yours.

I have nothing against musicians; I am one.  I just don't like bad theology that overinflates the importance of music ministers.  You don't need praise, worship or music to approach God -- the blood of Jesus is your "season ticket" to the holy of holies.

What to do in your time of need

If you are sick, you are in need.  It is your '"time of need."  What should you do in your time of need?  Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us therefore [because we have a great high priest] come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."  Because Jesus Christ's blood gives you access to the throne, you are supposed to go there and get what you need!  If you are sick, you should go and receive the mercy of healing that you need!  Notice that the mercy and grace to help are there and you can "obtain" them.  God will not withhold them from you.


Say what

The words that come out of your mouth control your destiny.  They affect the realm of the spirit.  They bring life or bring death.  They can bring healing to your body or keep you sick.  In fact, your confession of Christ or your failure to confess Christ out of your mouth determines whether you see heaven or hell when you die!

Proverbs 18:21

Jesus said that what you speak, believing, you will get.  This promise in Mark 11:23-24 is not restricted to good things.  Jesus did not say that you would receive whatever you said believing as long as it was something good.  Like a car, this principle also runs in reverse!  If you believe the wrong thing and speak the wrong thing, you are guaranteed to receive the wrong thing.

There are two principles here.  The first, in Mark 11:23, is that you can speak to your obstacles in faith and make them leave.  If you can speak to a mountain, it is surely easier to speak to cancer, heart trouble, etc., and command it to leave your body.  You have the authority in Christ to do exactly that.  If you believe this, you will speak to your bodily trouble, and it will have to obey your words.

Few Christians walk in the light of this fact, but we should raise our walk to meet the Bible standard rather than lowering the Bible standard to match our walk.

The second principle, in Mark 11:24, involves receiving from God in prayer.  This is another way to be healed.  You believe that Jesus has paid the price for your healing, and that healing is rightfully yours as a Christian.  God doesn't have to do anything new; he already did all he needs to do.  Now you receive this gift just as you received the gift of salvation from hell.  If you believe that you receive it when you pray, you will have it, regardless of whether you notice any difference immediately.

The angels of heaven stand ready to back your words.  In Psalm 103:20 we see that angels obey God's words.  If you speak God's words out of your mouth, the angels go to work to make sure that it comes to pass.  However, if you speak something else out of your mouth, the angels are handcuffed, and you can license Satan's forces to work against you!

In Jeremiah 1:12, God says, "I will hasten my word to perform it."  The Hebrew word translated hasten in the King James means to watch out for, not just to hasten.  In other words, God is watching over his word to make sure that it comes to pass quickly.  But where will that word come from?  Out of your mouth!  God's words are in the earth, but they do not benefit you until you speak them in faith.  In Isaiah 55:11, God says that his Word "shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."  When does God's Word return to him?  When you speak it out of your mouth!

You could not be saved until you confessed Jesus with your mouth.  Romans 10:9-10 says that you believe with your heart and confess with your mouth unto salvation.  It works the same way with healing.  You believe in your heart that God bought your body with the same atonement that saved you from sin (1 Cor 6:19-20).  Then you speak that with your mouth, and healing manifests in your body.

Note that Luke 12:8-9 says that your words decide whether or not Jesus confesses you before the angels!  Your words determine your eternal fate!  Your words also determine your fate in this life.

How powerful can words be?  Words made everything there is!  Hebrews 11:3 says, "The worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."  Just as God's words framed this world, your words frame your world.

It is important that your words line up with the God's Word.  According to God, you were healed by the stripes of Jesus.  So it is always correct to say, "I am healed by Jesus' stripes."  You agree with God when you say that.  You do not agree with God if you say, "I am sick and it doesn't look like things will get any better."  You do not even agree with God if you say, "I believe that God is going to heal me."  You want to agree with God!

You are not lying when you say that you were healed by the stripes of Jesus, even though your body may not bear witness with this yet!  You would be lying if you denied being sick.  There is a difference.  You are not denying that there is a problem in your body.  You are simply stating a higher truth (your redemption) that will overrule the current physical facts about your body.

You may sometimes act like an unbeliever.  You are still correct to state that you are dead to sin and living unto righteousness (1 Peter 2:24) even when you just acted like the devil incarnate.  You can't deny that you sinned and that the physical evidence would seem to indicate that you are not even saved.  But there is a higher truth that gives you victory over sin, and you are correct to say so.  The more you affirm to yourself what you have in Christ and who you are in Christ, the more you will believe it and act like it.  (If you want a good spiritual exercise, read Who you are and what you have and continually confess those things.  It will improve your life.)

It's easy to say, "I have received my healing" around church people of like precious faith.  The real test is what you say outside of church!  If you don't dare say that you have received your healing by faith, you really haven't received it.  Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  If you won't say it, you don't really have it.

2 Cor 4:13 is a good indicator of who is and isn't in faith for healing.  If you believe something, you will say it.  If you wouldn't say it, you don't really believe it yet.  Listen to what someone says and you will soon find out what is in his heart.

Your words can corrupt not only your success in life, but also your physical body!  In fact, the words that come out of your mouth will defile you more than the food that you put into your mouth (Matthew 15:11).  Speaking bad things about others will eventually make you sicker than living on soda, potato chips and chocolate bars.  James 3:2-6 contains a strong warning about the way that your words can set on fire the very course of nature in your life.  James says that if you can control your tongue, you can rule your entire body.  Don't let anyone talk you out of this glorious fact -- you can rule your entire body!  In other words, you can make it obey you.  James tells exactly how you will do it -- with your tongue!

Think of it!  If you speak right things with your tongue, you can stop yourself from getting sick.  Kind words can even promote health in others.  (See Proverbs 12:18.)  If you speak evil with your tongue, you can make yourself sick!  This is no great revelation to most modern doctors, who have documented the links between bad attitudes and illness, but this point seems to be lost on many Christians today.  (They wouldn't say some of the things they say if they really believed James!)

James also said that no man can tame the tongue.  Does this mean we give up and let our tongue become the local sewer?  No!  There is a way to tame your tongue, but you cannot do it in your own natural strength.  It's easy.  You lay up God's Word in your heart.  Jesus explained this principle in Luke 6:45.  Whatever is in your heart will come out.  So the idea is to stuff the right things into your heart so that the right things will come out of your mouth.

This is not strictly a New Testament idea.  Joshua 1:7-8 makes it clear that this was an Old Testament practice as well -- at least it was supposed to be!

This takes time.  There is no shortcut.  You must study God's Word and reflect upon it.  Only then will it fill your heart and come out of your mouth.

The good news is that this works automatically.  Try it and see!  The more you put God's Word in your heart, the more it will just come out of your mouth naturally in the face of adversity.  You won't have to "work it up."

See also:

Healing does not require great faith


The missing link

Are you frustrated because you have heard that you were healed by the stripes of Jesus, but you just don't seem to be able to believe it?  All of us have been there at some point.  I know I have!  There is a missing link to get from having heard that healing is yours to actually being able to believe it and receive healing for yourself.

That missing link is meditation on the Word.  I am not talking about some weird eastern religion here.  You don't have to get in the lotus position and repeat a meaningless word while staring at a candle, contemplating random acts of kindness and visualizing world peace.  Scriptural meditation is the muttering and contemplating of what God says.  Cult-style meditation is designed to empty your mind.  Scriptural meditation is designed to fill and renew your mind.

This is not simply a nice suggestion.  It is a requirement for anyone desiring godly success in life.

Joshua 1:7-8

You succeed in life when you do God's will.  To do God's will, you must fill your mind with what that will is, so that when the pressure is on, you know what to do and do it.  Then you make your own way prosperous.

Notice that Joshua was not to let the book of the law depart from his mouth.  Of course, this means that he was supposed to speak the words contained in the book, not that he was supposed to run around like a dog with the actual book of the law in his mouth.  Joshua was supposed to continually speak the Word of God.

This is what you should do, too.  Continually reflect on God's Word.  If you need healing, you should major on Scriptures about healing.  However, God told Joshua to do all the law, not just its healing part, if he wanted to succeed.  You are wasting your time quoting healing verses if you refuse to walk in love, and you generally won't find verses on love in lists of healing scriptures.

It is up to you, not God, whether or not you meditate on his word and prosper.  If you refuse to pay close attention to his words, don't blame God when you don't seem able to get anywhere in your faith walk.

Finally, make sure that you are a doer of the Word and not a hearer only.  God did not promise Joshua success if he only meditated the Word.  He had to do it.  So do you.  But doing it becomes easier once you fill your heart with it.


Your authority over sickness

You have authority over all sickness and disease through the name of Jesus.  Jesus said that in his name, you would lay hands on the sick and they will recover.  See Mark 16:15-18.

He said that it was to our advantage that he went away and sent the Holy Spirit (John 16:7).  How can this be, given all the miracles that Jesus did?  Anyone who was sick could go to him and get healed while he was walking on the earth.  How can it be better now?

It is better now because Jesus can be everywhere through his Body, the Church.  Every member of his body is authorized to do the works that he did in his name.  What the multitudes could get from Jesus they can now get from us.  This includes physical healing.

We underestimate the power in the name of Jesus.  A man who was not a regular disciple cast out demons in the name of Jesus during Jesus' ministry, to the consternation of the disciples.  (See Mark 9:38-39 and Luke 9:49-50.)  Jesus then spoke of a person doing a miracle in his name.  This person was not even commissioned, as far as we know; he simply used the name of Jesus!

In Luke 10:17-20 we see the disciples rejoicing over the fact that even the demons were subject to them through Jesus' name.  Jesus said that he gave them power to trample on serpents and scorpions and all the power of the enemy, and that nothing would by any means hurt them.  Of course, sickness is one tool of the enemy, so we must have power over it, too.

We are not simply laborers for God, we are laborers with God.  God works with us, just as he worked with the disciples, confirming his word with signs following (Mark 16:20).

Ephesians 1:15-23 contains many powerful truths, one of which is, "God has placed all things under his [Jesus'] feet."  All things would include sickness, wouldn't it?  Sickness is under Jesus' feet.  But wait a minute.  Jesus is the Head and we are the Body of Christ in the earth.  Your feet are not part of your head, assuming that you are not some alien on Star Trek or something.  They are part of your body.  If all things are under his feet, they are under us.  And if sickness is part of all things, sickness is under us.  We have authority over it.

Acts 3:1-16 contains an account of a man who was made whole when Peter commanded him to get up and walk in the name of Jesus.  Peter said that Jesus' name, through faith in his name, had healed the man.

Read Acts 4:29-33 and see how the disciples prayed.  They asked that signs and wonders would be done by the name of Jesus.  In Acts 16:16-18, a Paul cast out a fortune-telling spirit in the name of Jesus.

Philippians 2:9-11

Jesus has the name above every other name, yet he has never used that name in the earth.  Believers are to use his name.  At his name, every knee must bow in heaven, on the earth and under the earth.  This verse does not say that every knee will bow to Jesus.  It says that every knee bows at his name.  They will not hear Jesus' name from his own mouth; they will hear it from believers' mouths!  (People who glance over this passage often completely misunderstand it.)  The knees bow when we use the name of Jesus, the name above every name.

Plenty of things have names on this earth.  AIDS, cancer, pneumonia, diabetes and other diseases have well-known names.  The name of Jesus is above these names.  We have authority over these things in the name of Jesus.

James 5:14-16 contains New Testament instructions for ministering to a seriously ill person.  (If you just had a cold, you could go to church.  You wouldn't have to call for the elders to come to you.)  This is just as much a command as being baptized and walking in love, yet regrettably, this passage is almost never followed today.  Rather than visiting the sick and praying the prayer of faith to raise them up, we "remember" the sick on a list of sick people read from the pulpit.  No, these people are to call for the elders of the church, who are to anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord and then pray the prayer of faith for them that will raise them up.

If we did not have authority over sickness in the name of Jesus, how could the elders be expected to pray "the prayer of faith?"  If (as some say) we should ask for a direct revelation from God concerning his will before praying, there must be no scripture on which to base the prayer.  Since faith comes from hearing God's Word, if you don't have any scripture, you don't have any faith.  Your prayer becomes just so much wishing and begging and pleading.  Yuck.

John 14:12-14 promises us that Jesus will do whatever we ask in his name.  He did not qualify this by saying, "unless you ask for healing."  The "works of Christ" that are mentioned in this passage would specifically include, not exclude, healing!

See also:

The power in the name of Jesus

God's power toward you


Different ways to get healed

Perhaps the different methods of healing found in the Bible have made you wonder what the proper way to get healed is.  The good news is that there is more than one way to get healed, and all of the methods work!  Some are easier than others.  God has made provision for everyone from the newest believer to the most mature Christian to be healed.  These are roughly in order from the easiest methods to the methods that require stronger faith.

Manifestations of the Holy Spirit

Sometimes the Holy Spirit uses a believer as a vessel to heal someone who is not exercising faith for his healing.  The Bible describes gifts of healings as a manifestation of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 and 1 Corinthians 12:28-30.

Sometimes even unbelievers receive healing this way.  The gifts of healings operate as the Spirit wills, so you cannot "claim" that you will be healed by a special manifestation of the Holy Spirit.  However, you do not necessarily need any faith to receive this way.  This is probably the easiest way to receive a healing.

At other times, there may be a word of knowledge for a certain class of person, and you may be asked to come forward in a service.  You may need to exercise some faith to receive from the anointing.  Sometimes the anointing can be so strong that you won't need any faith at all.  The stronger the anointing, the less faith you need.  If there were no healing anointing at all, you could still receive 100% by faith, as pointed out below.

This can be linked closely with the laying on of hands, although it is possible to be healed through the gifts of the Spirit without hands being laid on you.  For example, I have had people get healed while I played the piano or sang.  Some ministers announce healings through the word of knowledge without touching people.  Sometimes people come forward and the anointing is so strong that they can't even walk up to the minister to get hands laid on them.  (Occasionally, the anointing may be so strong that the minister can't get off the floor, either.  Hey, it happened in Solomon's temple under the less-glorious covenant, so why not now?)

The glory of God

In services where Jesus is worshipped in spirit and in truth, there may be a manifestation of God's glory in the service.  When this happens, people sometimes get healed spontaneously, whether they were expecting anything or not.  At other times, the minister may direct those needing healing to just believe they receive while God's presence is being manifested in this way.  It is easier to receive your healing when the anointing is all over the place.  I have found that even if you don't get healed, you may be pain-free as long as the anointing stays; the anointing seems to be a very effective painkiller.  (I will admit that this is a personal observation from experience; I do not claim to have a verse to back this up.)

I remember preaching a particular service, expecting to have a time of laying hands on the sick at the end.  When we got to the end, I sensed that the healing anointing was in the room, but I had no leading to lay hands on anyone.  The only thing I felt led to do was sing a worship song and play the piano.  People were healed of serious problems without anyone touching them.  To be honest, I almost freaked out.  People started coming up and testifying of how the power of God suddenly hit them, instantly healing them.  I was probably the most surprised one of the bunch.  I had become so used to laying hands on the sick at the end of services that I had slipped into a mindset that this is the official way God heals people at church.  Yes, it is one way, but God has other ways.  This "no-contact" method is a lot easier on the minister.  In large evangelistic crusades, God may have to move this way just because so many people need healing.

Believing + Medical Help

If you are not ready to simply believe for your healing, it is no sin to use whatever natural means you can to get healed, or at least to get some relief for your condition until you get healed.  This is not God's best, but it beats suffering.  You can ask God to give the doctors wisdom to figure out what to do about your condition.  You can believe for a speedier recovery than usual.  You can find something you can believe for even if you are not ready to believe for your complete healing.

I am not saying that you should believe that by Jesus' stripes you were partially healed.  That would not be true.  But since healing is rightfully yours, you can legally believe for any part of it.  Many times, you can have more than one condition, and you are ready to stand in faith in one but not the other.  It's better to be healed of one (for now) than to keep them both!

You can't receive something you can't believe for.  If you can believe for wisdom for the doctors and a speedy recovery, but can't believe for a complete healing, go ahead and receive what you can believe for.  We're all growing in this, and you have to operate where you are in your faith walk, not where you'd like to be someday.  Don't let anyone ridicule your faith if you trust God to guide the surgeon.  I would rather hear that you believed God for a successful operation and had a supernaturally good one rather than hear that you tried to believe God for a complete healing and died.

Anointing with oil and the prayer of faith

This method only applies to those who are too sick to go to church on their own.  Please understand that this is a commandment, not an option.  If you are sick and in the hospital (or laid up at home), you are supposed to call for the elders of the church to come and lay hands on you, anoint you with oil in the name of Jesus, and pray the prayer of faith over you.  The Lord will raise you up, and you will be forgiven for any sins you may have committed, including the ones that may have made you sick in the first place.  If you don't have a church, we have just identified one problem you need to solve right away.  The televangelist cannot come anoint you with oil in person.  (I'm not against televangelists unless they try to tell you that you only need them and not your own local church.)

If you just have a cold or something, there is no need to call the elders together!  This is talking about a serious situation.  If people called the elders every time they had colds, many elders would have full-time jobs just visiting people.  If you can make it to church, go and request prayer there.

You can get healed this way even if you personally don't have mountain-moving faith.  God honors the prayer of the elders as well as your obedience to his command to be anointed and prayed for by them.

By the way, do not get mad if the elders don't visit you in the hospital if you never called and told anyone you were there.  Amazingly, some people really get mad about this; I guess they assume that if the pastor were really "in the Spirit," he would just know that they missed church because they were in the hospital, as opposed to being on vacation or something.  It is a violation of this Bible command to wait for them to call you.  You are commanded to call them.  (If you are unable to even make a call, have someone do it for you.)

It is also biblical to have an anointed cloth brought to you from a service where the healing anointing was in manifestation.  But if you do so, you must do it in addition to the command in James, not instead of following that command.

It is a crying shame that most churches do not believe James 5:14-16.  Instead of sending the elders to anoint with oil and pray the prayer of faith, the pastor (or whatever they call the leader of the church) comes out and prays for the sick person to have patience and peace in his trial.  The sick person stays sick and is "remembered" (but not necessarily prayed for) on Sunday morning.  This is simply disobedience to the Word.  That's tough, but it's the truth.  After all, how many ways can you interpret James 5:14-16?

It is implicit that the elders should not be sick themselves; otherwise, they would be unavailable to go and pray the prayer of faith that raises up the sick.  The fact that the elders pray this for someone indicates that the mature believer should receiving healing some other way.  However, if you're an elder and you get terribly sick, this method is still available to you.

Laying on of hands

This method is good for younger believers.  Another believer (who believes Mark 16:18) lays hands on you in the name of Jesus, and you recover.  This method of healing should be part of the basic education of every new convert.  That's not my private opinion; that's God's opinion, as expressed in Hebrews 6:1-2.  The laying on of hands is one of the six fundamental doctrines of Christ for a new believer to know.  Laying on of hands can impart more than just healing, and I am not saying that laying hands for healing is the entire "doctrine of the laying on of hands," but it is surely an important part.  (Jesus also laid hands on children just to bless them, to the consternation of the disciples.  It is okay to have a time of laying on of hands just to bless people!)

This is one of the easier methods because someone else's faith gets involved with yours.  Not only do you believe that Jesus told the truth about laying hands on the sick, but the person laying hands on you does, too.

Although this is ideal for new believers, it is certainly not a sin for a mature believer to request the laying on of hands for his healing, either.

The prayer of agreement

Jesus gave us the right to pray in agreement with one or more other believers.  He guaranteed that he would be "in the midst of us" when we so gathered in his name.  This Scripture, Matthew 18:18-20, is sometimes misunderstood to mean that Jesus is present whenever we have church.  But Jesus is present even if one person shows up, because Jesus lives in believers.  You don't need two or three, because where you go, he goes.  It is bad theology to think that Jesus is not present unless you get two or three people together, and then he shows up.  That's not what he was talking about.  He was talking about gathering in his name to agree on something, and saying that he would be there in the midst of us (to make it happen) when we did so.

You and another believer agree that you are legally healed by the stripes of Jesus and that sickness must leave your body.  This takes a little more faith on your part than the previous methods.  If you do not really believe that you can do this because Jesus paid for your healing, you are not in agreement, and thus you are not truly praying the prayer of agreement!  However, it is still easier to have someone agree with you than it is to just do it yourself.  Many times, the prayer of agreement will be prayed along with the laying on of hands.

If you are praying for a sick person, it is important to enter into agreement with him.  There is no point in "agreeing" that the person will be miraculously healed if the person can only get in faith for a speedier recovery than normal using medical methods.  You should share the Word with sick people.  If they are not ready to believe for their complete healing, at least find something that you can agree on.  Do this even if you would believe for more if you were in their shoes (or out of their shoes and in their bed).

Prayer for your healing

James goes on to say that we (believers) should pray for one another's healing.  (You can read his complete instructions in James 5:14-16.)  You can have other people pray for you when you are sick, whether in person or not.  One advantage of this method is that if there is some roadblock to your healing, the people praying can pray that God will reveal it to you so that you can get healed.  Of course, I suggest that you get only those who believe that healing is in Christ's atonement, and thus legally yours, to pray for you.  There is no sense in having other people "ask God to heal you."  They should instead be asking God to help you receive the healing that already belongs to you.  They can pray that you will be illuminated about this and that this fact will become real to you.

That God commands us to pray for each other's healing is proof enough that God will honor the prayer.  God would never command you to pray for something that he was not already willing to do.  If you had no other healing verses in the Bible, you could know that God is willing to heal people from this one verse alone.

Receiving by faith

You can receive healing anytime, anywhere, without anyone else's involvement, by following Mark 11:24.  You first must understand that your healing has been purchased already and it is just waiting for you to take it.  If you feel that you must twist God's arm to get him to heal you, you are not yet ready to receive your healing in this way.

You are simply receiving a gift from God that has been reserved for you since Calvary.  Contrary to what people might tell you, this is not a difficult thing to do.  Let's face it, the people in the Bible who touched Jesus' clothes did not have the wealth of Bible teaching that we have today.  Yet they managed to have it "done unto them according to their faith!"  If it didn't take them years to figure this out, it doesn't have to take you years, either.

Besides, if you are saved, you already know how to receive a gift that has been laid up since Calvary.  That is how you were born again.  You are a believer.  Your spirit has been created in God's image in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24).

The only thing that makes this hard is the enormous amount of junk teaching in the church world that makes fun of divine healing and those who practice it, and leaves you with the mistaken idea that you cannot really practice Mark 11:24 and receive your healing.

Speaking to your condition

A related, but slightly different, method is to speak to your condition directly yourself and command it to leave in the name of Jesus.  The basis for this is Mark 11:23, where Jesus said that you could speak to a mountain and it would be thrown into the sea.  He said that if you say something with your mouth and believe it in your heart, you will have whatever you say.

Jesus was not concerned with having you literally throw a mountain into the sea.  That could cause trouble unless you also have the faith to stop the killer waves and other damage that could result from doing so.  The point was that your words contain virtually unlimited power.  You have the authority to speak a thing and have it come to pass.

You and all other believers are constantly using this principle.  The trouble is that the immature believer uses it against himself.  He gets into fear and believes what the devil says instead of what God says.  He speaks what the devil says, and that comes to pass.  Jesus did not say that you would have whatever you believe and say as long as it is good.  You will have what you believe and say whether it is good or bad!  Unbelievers can do this because this applies to whosoever.

The people that Jesus commended for having great faith were those who believed so much in the power of words that they did not need anything else.

In Matthew 15:22-28, a Gentile woman who was not under the Old Covenant persisted in demanding that Jesus do something about her demon-possessed daughter.  Jesus merely spoke words.  He did not visit the daughter.  The woman believed the words Jesus spoke and her daughter was healed.  Jesus said that this woman had great faith.

In Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:2-10 you can read an account of a centurion who understood authority.  He believed that Jesus could just speak words and his servant would be healed.  He did not even ask for a personal visit.  Jesus spoke words and the servant was healed immediately.  Jesus marvelled at this man's great faith and said that he did know of anyone in Israel with such faith.

In John 4:46-53, a nobleman did request a personal visit, but Jesus simply spoke words instead, the man believed that his words had authority, and the man's son "began to amend" at precisely that moment.  Jesus never visited or touched the boy.

Jesus demonstrated the power of words to his disciples when he cursed the fig tree.  The next morning, there was visible proof that it was dead, although this process started immediately but invisibly.  This is the context for Mark 11:23-24 as well as Matthew 21:18-22.  This is a good lesson when you are using words to make the sickness in your body die.  Like the fig tree, it may not immediately appear to be dead even though it starts to die the minute you speak.  After a while, as long as you stay in faith, what was once only on the inside will manifest on the outside.

We can surmise from Jesus' statements about great faith that people who are experienced in walking in faith would use this method.  A new believer would probably not receive his healing this way, although he is legally entitled to do so as much as a mature believer.

Take your pick!

You can be healed in any of these ways.  Use whichever you feel like using.  If you don't feel ready to use the more "advanced" methods, use the easier ones.  The main idea is to get healed!  In his mercy, God has given you many ways to receive your healing!


Ephesians 4:24
Ephesians 4:24:

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.


Hebrews  6: 1-2
Hebrews 6:1-2:

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.


Strange ways to get healed

If you are at a healing service, do not be taken aback if you see some people healed in unusual ways.  You may even be called upon to do something unusual to get your healing.  You may not even have hands laid on you.  Look at some of these strange ways of getting healed in Scripture:

2 Kings 5:1-14:  Naaman the Syrian had leprosy.  He got mad when Elisha told him to bathe seven times in the Jordan River.  He expected that Elisha would come out and lay hands on him in the name of God.  But Naaman would not have been healed if he had waited for that to happen.  He had to do what the prophet of God said.

2 Kings 20:1-7:  Isaiah told Hezekiah to put a lump of figs on his boil, and he was healed.  Since Hezekiah's disease was incurable (he would have died), this was not medicine in practice, but an act of obedience to God.  (If figs really had that kind of curative power, all hospitals would be laying figs on people's sores today.)

Mark 7:32-37:  Jesus put his fingers in a deaf man's ears.  Then he spat and touched his tongue.  The man got healed, and the Board of Health didn't even close down the meeting.

Mark 8:22-25:  Jesus spit on a blind man's eyes and then laid hands on him.  The man received his sight.  No one arrested Jesus for this seemingly rude action, either.  (My guess is that if you spit on a blind person and he gets healed, most people will not be too upset with you.)

Mark 10:46-52:  Blind Bartimaeus received his sight even though Jesus did not lay hands on him.  Jesus simply spoke, Bartimaeus believed, and instantly Blind Bartimaeus became The Person Formerly Known as Blind Bartimaeus.

Luke 5:17-26:  A paralyzed man was let down through the ceiling by his friends.  (This is the only case where it is good to have friends who let you down.)  Jesus simply told the man that he was forgiven and then told him to get up, which he did.  There is no record that the man ever touched Jesus or vice versa.  (There are other accounts of this story in other passages.)

Luke 17:12-19:  Ten lepers came to be healed.  Jesus simply said to go and show themselves to the priests.  They were not healed instantly when he said this, but they were healed as they obeyed Jesus and went.

John 5:2-19:  Again, we have a case where Jesus simply spoke to someone instead of laying hands on him.  He told the man to get up.  The man obeyed him, and as he did, he was healed.  If he had stayed there and kept protesting that he couldn't, he probably would have stayed sick.

John 9:1-7:  Jesus spat on the ground, made clay from it and anointed the eyes of a man born blind with the clay.  If that weren't enough, he then sent the man to wash in the pool of Sent.  The man received his sight after obeying Jesus.  There is no record that anyone witnessing this miracle complained about the method that the Holy Spirit used.  Would you?

Acts 5:12-16:  People were placed where Peter's shadow would pass over them, and they got healed!

Acts 9:32-35: Peter spoke to a crippled man.  The man got up and walked.  There is no indication that Peter laid hands on him.

Acts 19:11-12:  Handkerchiefs and aprons were taken from Paul's body, and the anointing was transferred through them to sick and demonized people, who were healed and delivered.

Note that these cases involve healing by the manifestation of the Holy Spirit.  You don't have to do anything unusual to accept your healing by faith.  But if you're in a "Holy Ghost service," you may be ministered to in an unusual way.  Don't lose out on your healing because something is a little different.

Many healing services involve ministry by the "word of knowledge."  The minister calls out certain conditions.  In some cases, these people are asked to come forward for prayer.  (Better go if that's you!)  In others, the minister simply announces that God is healing someone of a certain illness, and it just happens without the laying on of hands.

I've seen people healed when the minister just pointed at them.  I saw a minister go up to a man in terrible back pain and hit him hard in the back!  The man was instantly healed, much to the relief of all of us who saw this.  I saw a man healed of chest pains while flopping on the floor completely "drunk" in the Holy Spirit, laughing and laughing.  (Ordinarily you would not want to laugh like that if you were having chest pains.)  I've seen the Holy Spirit move on a minister to hit someone in the belly, tackle a person, blow on a person, and just stand and laugh at a person -- and this was all done under the anointing!  Now please don't try these things just because you heard about them.  You could get in real trouble if you do things like these and you're not following the anointing!  But unusual manifestations do happen in services sometimes.  If it's God, people will be blessed.  The funny thing is, if you're ministering and there is an anointing to do something like that, it seems very natural at the time.  It's only later that you start thinking, "What did I just do?"

At other times, the minister may ask someone to do something that he can't do, such as run around the room.  As the person obeys, he gets healed and is able to do it.

I have seen spontaneous healings when the people were just worshipping God.  No one announced the healings; they just happened and people testified.  I have seen people healed while being ministered to in music.  Thank God for the anointing and the different ways he uses people.

The norm is still laying hands on the sick in the name of Jesus.  But don't let exceptions to the rule bewilder you.  If these kinds of exceptions happened when the Holy Spirit ministered through Jesus, we can expect them to happen when the Holy Spirit ministers through others.


How to be saved from your sins

There is a prevailing, but incorrect, notion in the world today about how to be saved.  This notion is that God will weigh your good deeds against your bad deeds when you die and then decide whether or not you make it to heaven.  In other words, he will credit you for being honest about getting too much change at the drug store, but then he will offset that with the fact that you lied to your teacher about why you didn't do your homework as a kid.  He will credit you for giving ten dollars to the Salvation Army, but then he will offset that with the fact that you skipped church to play golf on August 4, 1991.  He will put everything in a scale and see which way it tips.  Let's see -- do you make it?

Fortunately, that is not how it works.  You can know for sure that you are going to heaven before you face your final judgment.  The fact is that God will not weigh your deeds to determine if you are "good enough" to make it into heaven.  You aren't good enough.  God's standard is perfection, and you have fallen short, as everyone else has.  "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

That is why God sent Jesus.  Jesus lived a sinless life.  But at the end of his life, he allowed himself to be tortured and killed as punishment for your sins.  God punished him as if he had committed every sin you will ever commit.  By bearing your punishment, he freed you from having to bear eternal punishment yourself.

Jesus was raised from the dead and lives today, seated at the right hand of God.  He is no mere historical figure, but a living Lord.

Eternal life is yours when you receive Jesus Christ.  Receiving him is not a mental assent to what he did, but an active decision to yield control of your life to him.  You are yielding your life to a living person, not to a historical figure's set of teachings.  That is where Christianity differs from other religions.  It is the only religion whose founder was raised from the dead, never to see death again.  When you receive him, you become a child of God, and Jesus comes to live inside you.

There is no other way to be saved.  Popular culture likes to think that the world's religions are all different roads that lead to the same destination.  That is almost correct.  Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and other religions are different roads that lead to the same place -- the lake of fire.  Only Christians go to heaven, because only Christians have forgiveness of their sins.  Jesus declared plainly, "I am the way, the truth, and the life:  no man cometh to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).  Therefore, you cannot come to God through Buddha, Confucius, Mohammed, or anyone else.  If you want to live with God eternally, you must receive Jesus.  Otherwise, you will not be saved and you will be separated from God forever.  As Peter so boldly preached, "Neither is there salvation in any other:  for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).  Jesus has the only name by which you must be saved.

You will not be reincarnated and get another chance.  It is "appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).  The choice you make in this life will last forever, and there is no second chance.

Who is Jesus?

Jesus has always existed with God and has always been God.  He did not start existing when he was born of Mary.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." -- John 1:1-2.

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" -- John 1:14.

"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." -- John 8:58.

"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." -- John 17:5.

John the Baptist was born before Jesus (see Luke 1 and 2), yet declared, "He that cometh after me is preferred before me:  for he was before me."

Why should you trust your eternal future to the words of Jesus?  Because Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ, the Anointed One.  He said so himself.

"The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ:  when he is come, he will tell us all things.  Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he." -- John 4:25-26.

"And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona:  for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." -- Matthew 16:16-17.

"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe in the Son of God?  He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?  And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.  And he said, Lord I believe.  And he worshipped him." -- John 9:35-38.

"Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?  And Jesus said, I am:  and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." -- Mark 14:61-2.

Jesus came to earth to save us from our sins

"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." -- John 1:29.

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" -- 1 Tim 1:15.

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." -- Romans 5:8-9.

"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.  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." -- Isaiah 53:5-6.

You can know your eternal future now!

Your eternal future is already determined right now.  Fortunately, if you are going to burn in hell fire, you can change your future!  But there is no question where you are going.  If you believe in Christ, you are going to heaven.  If you don't, you are going to hell.  These are both temporary stops on the way to different eternal homes.  Technically, your eternal home will not be either heaven or hell.  It will either be the renewed earth (Rev 21:1-3) or the lake of fire into which hell itself will be cast (Rev 20:14-15).  Without describing both in detail, suffice it to say that the renewed earth is the more pleasant of the two choices.

You have probably heard John 3:16, or are at least aware of the passage from bumper stickers and banners at televised sporting events.  But you may not have read the next two verses, and you should!

John 3:16-18:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned:  but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

You see, you are already under a death sentence if you are not in Christ.  You stand condemned right now.  (Or sit condemned, seeing as you are likely sitting at your computer.)  It is no mystery what will happen to you.

By believing in the Son of God, you can have eternal life.  This life does not start later, after you die.  It starts the minute you receive Jesus Christ and are born again of the Holy Spirit.  Once you do this, your eternal destiny changes.  You will get to live with God forever.  You are no longer under the condemnation that awaits those who have not believed in the name of the Son of God.  You have literally passed from spiritual death to spiritual life.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." -- John 5:24.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." -- John 8:51.

You must be born again!

To be admitted into heaven, you must be "born again."  This term is used so frequently today that its obvious original meaning is often lost.  You must literally be born a second time to enter heaven.  This is not speaking of a physical birth, but a spiritual birth.  Your spirit must be reborn.  Jesus said so himself.

John 3:3-8:

Jesus answered and said unto him [Nicodemus], Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, "How can a man be born when he is old?  can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:  so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.

Jesus said that you must be born of the Spirit.  You need to have a new spirit put inside you by God and become a new person.  You will keep the same body and same mind, but your spirit will be reborn.  This work of the Holy Spirit takes place when you receive Jesus.

This is popular, but it's trash:  "We are all brothers and sisters, and we are all God's children."  While we are all God's creations, only born-again Christians -- men who have received God's Son -- are God's children.  "But as many as received him [Jesus Christ], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12).  Note the word become in this passage.  When you receive Jesus Christ, you become a son of God, which you previously were not.  You have to believe on the name of Jesus and be born of God.

Eternal life is free, but only on God's terms

Eternal life is a gift.  You receive it.  You do not work for it or earn it.  Your sin would earn wages, namely damnation.  But nothing you can do can earn eternal life.  The only way to receive it is on God's gift basis.  "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).  "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5).  "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast"  (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Galatians 2:16:

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law:  for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Knocking on doors does not save you.  Being baptized or sprinkled as an infant does not save you.  Being a member of a church and giving and serving does not save you.  Many people's names are on church membership rolls but not in the Lamb's Book of Life.  There is no work you can do that can save you and make you righteous.  Eternal life is free, but it is available solely on a gift basis from God because of what Jesus Christ did for you.  If you are trusting anything other than the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ to save you, you are not saved yet -- but you can be!

You can be born again right now!

There is no standard "sinner's prayer" in the Bible.  You can use your own words to tell God your decision to receive Jesus Christ.  You must believe that Jesus rose from the dead and make him the Lord of your life.

Romans 10:8-10:

But what saith it?  The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart,:  that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

You must believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, because you cannot ask a dead man to be your Lord.  You could not ask George Washington to be the Lord of your life.  Only a living person can be Lord.  Jesus rose from the dead, and is seated at God's right hand today.  He is very much alive, so he is able to be your Lord.

Then you must confess him with your mouth.  That means that you must state that Jesus is your Lord.  To call him Lord, you must turn over your life to him.  You must be willing to tell anyone who asks that Jesus is Lord of your life now.  If you want it to be a secret, you are not ready to get saved, because it is with your mouth that confession is made unto salvation.  If you're not willing to say it, you don't really mean it or believe it yet.

When you give Jesus lordship over your life, you are born again at that moment.  Your old sinful nature is destroyed and replaced with a new nature that wants to serve and please God instead of sin.  Jesus comes to dwell in your heart.  You become (literally) God's temple in the earth.  God himself moves in and lives in you!  As awesome and impossible as it may sound, the Creator of all things comes and dwells in you.

Then what?

Being part of the Body of Christ is not something you do on your own.  You need to find a local fellowship where you can be taught God's Word, be with other believers, and have a place to serve Jesus and take part in his Great Commission to tell the world the gospel.  Do not even consider a church that does not explicitly believe that you must be born again, as Jesus taught.  I would seek out a church that believes that healing was provided in Christ's atonement as well.  Otherwise, it will be hard to get healed while being taught that it is not for you today.  (Beware:  Many churches say they "believe in healing" if you ask it that way.  Find out if they really believe that Jesus made healing available to everyone, or if they just believe that God wants to heal some of the people some of the time.)  Good churches have popped up all over the place and are not nearly as hard to find as they used to be.  If your church does not teach that you can be born again, leave it.  Do not stay thinking that you will enlighten the others.  I have seen people try to do this, and you won't affect them -- they will just drag you down.  If they are not preaching the gospel, they have no right to expect that you will support them with your finances, even if Great Grandpa went to the same church.

Read your Bible.  You probably have one, but if you don't, you can get one almost anywhere.  I use the New King James Version for my own study, but there are other good versions out there, too.  The original King James is very faithful to the original language, but the old-style wording annoyeth and confuseth at times.  (If perhap thou wonderdst, I didst use the original King James because verily, there are no royalty payments to make, for it hath not been copyrighted, unlike unto the other translations.)

I would suggest that you start with the gospel of John, although any of the gospels would do fine.  I would read the entire New Testament before venturing into the Old Testament.  I know a fellow who got saved and figured he would read his Bible, so he started with Genesis.  About halfway through Leviticus, he asked me if it was a Christian Bible or not because of all the Jewish sacrifice laws.  He got confused!  The Old Testament will make more sense to you after you have read the comments on the Old Testament found in the New Testament itself.  Then you won't wonder if you can eat ham or not and whether you need to slaughter a sheep on an altar somewhere.

In this electronic age, I must point out that no on-line forum is a substitute for Christian fellowship in a local body of believers.  No TV personality is a substitute for a local pastor who is there when you need him.  I am not against Christian TV or online Christian chats, but they are supplements, not substitutes, for involvement in a local church.

Look up things for yourself in the Bible.  Never take anyone's word (including mine) for something until you can see it in the Bible.  Before you accept it, you must know that God said it in the Bible, not just that some man said it from a pulpit.  If you adopt this attitude, it will keep you from believing a lot of junk that circulates in the Body of Christ.

Healing is only one part of your redemption.  You won't grow just by reading about healing in this book, although I would encourage you to learn all you can about it.  In the local church, you will learn about walking in love, and you'll surely have opportunities to put it into practice!  (The other people there did not become perfect Christians overnight any more than you will.)  You will learn what belongs to you in Christ.  You will have a place to serve and honor God.


Revelation 20:14-15
Revelation 20:14-15:

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life, was cast into the lake of fire.


Revelation 21:1-3
Revelation 21:1-3:

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:  for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.


The healing anointing

Any believer can lay hands on a sick person in faith and expect him to get well.  Any believer can receive healing by faith without anyone else's assistance simply by exercising Mark 11:24 along with Hebrews 10:35-36.  However, there are times when healing is ministered through the tangible "healing anointing."  This is not some abstract concept for theological eggheads to debate in ivy-covered halls.  The healing anointing is just as much a real force as gravity or electricity.  It can be felt, it affects those it touches, and it can flow from one person to another.

Let's look at some places in the Bible where the healing anointing is discussed:

Acts 10:38:  God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power.  He ministered to the sick with this power.

Mark 5:25-34:  A sick woman touched Jesus' clothes and power flowed out of Jesus into her and healed her.  Jesus didn't even know that the woman was there.  This woman simply believed that Jesus was anointed, touched him, and received from the anointing that was on him.  Jesus said that her faith had made her whole.  This is an important lesson for those attending healing crusades.  Your faith will draw the anointing out of the minister and into your body.  Of course, your faith is not in the man himself, but in the Holy Spirit who has anointed him for this job.

Matthew 14:35-36:  People thronged Jesus just to touch his clothes, and all who touched were healed.  The anointing was on Jesus and when people touched him, it flowed into them and healed them.

Mark 3:10-12:  Again, many crowded in on Jesus to touch him.  Jesus was not going around looking for sick people; they were coming to him, believing that he was anointed, and the anointing flowed into them and healed them when they touched him.

Mark 6:54-56:  They laid the sick in the streets so that they could touch Jesus, and everyone who touched him got healed.  Notice that Jesus didn't touch them; they touched him.  They came to him in faith and received.

Luke 6:17-19:  Everyone in the crowd tried to touch Jesus because power went out of him and healed them all.

Acts 5:12-16:  People from all over brought the sick into the streets so that they could get healed if even Peter's shadow passed over them.  Peter was anointed and the people believed it, and they received healing through his ministry.

Acts 19:11-12:  Cloth items that had been in physical contact with Paul were taken to the sick and demonized, and they were healed and delivered.  This shows that the anointing is a real force that can be stored and transferred.

Clearly, God anoints some ministers to bring healing to the sick.  All believers have an anointing to lay hands on the sick, but God anoints certain ministers with a special grace for this.  This is referred to in 1 Cor 12:28-30.

People will receive at healing services if they (1) believe that God wants to heal them, and (2) believe that the minister is anointed.  This second condition may shock you or seem fleshly, but it is the truth.  The men at Nazareth got no miracles because they did not believe that Jesus was anointed.  They were offended at him.  Jesus was just as anointed to preach as he was everywhere else, but the people would not believe that he was anointed by God, and very little happened.  You need to respect God and God's servant at such meetings.  It is important to maintain a reverent attitude.  Remember Nazareth, where they didn't do that.  If you want to sit in your chair and criticize everything the minister does and then get up for healing, you may be disappointed when the anointing does not flow into you!

With so many cases in Scripture where people were healed because they came and touched Jesus' clothes, it is unreasonable to expect that if the minister just prays long and hard enough, he'll be really anointed, even if you don't expect anything.  Did Jesus pray a lot?  Yes.  But that couldn't break through the ice of unbelief at Nazareth where the people were not in the mood to receive.  Yes, the minister should be a man of prayer, but you should be, too!

The healing anointing is a real force, not a religious fabrication.  It is possible for people to fall over or otherwise react when they come in contact with it.  Some people get scared and you have to reassure them that it's God's power and that it won't hurt them.  Many times, it feels like electricity or heat.  Do not "freak out" if you are prayed for and you feel something like this.

One more thing:  Get up and receive when the altar call is given and the anointing is flowing.  Do not go up to the minister after the service to request private prayer for your healing.  The tangible power may not be flowing at that point, and you will miss out.  You need to follow the Holy Spirit.  Go up when the preacher gives the altar call!  Even Peter and Paul did not always minister with a tangible healing anointing.  For example, the man at Lystra was healed by his own faith after hearing the gospel (Acts 14:7-10).  Do not call or visit the minister in the middle of the night!  No one was rude enough to do that to Jesus.


Saved!

When God says that his Word is his power unto salvation, what does he mean?  We think of this in terms of being saved from hell, but the words used in the Bible for saved and salvation actually encompass more than that.  Let's go on a little tour and see what else salvation encompasses.

One of the primary Greek words used for salvation is sozo (Strong's #4982).  This is used in Matthew 1:21, where it says that Jesus shall save his people from their sins.  In 1 Timothy 1:15, Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  Jesus said that whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16).  So being saved obviously includes its traditional meaning of being saved from your sins.

The disciples in the boat used the same word when they asked the Lord to save (rescue) them in Matthew 8:25.  Peter cried, "Lord, save me" when he began to sink while walking on water.  So we see that save can also mean rescue.  Preservation in a general sense is indicated by 2 Tim 4:18:  "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom."  This again is the word sozo.

The same word sozo is used in James 5:15, where the prayer of faith shall save the sick.  In this sense, the sick person will be healed.  The person is already saved from his sins; otherwise, he would not qualify for this verse!  Jesus told a blind man, "Receive thy sight, thy faith hath saved thee."  Again, the word sozo means healed.  In 1 Tim 2:15, where a godly woman is promised that she will be saved through childbearing, the meaning is that she will be physically preserved through the process.

There are plenty of other cases where sozo means healed.  Here they are.  The italicized words in each passage were translated from the same Greek word sozo:

"For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.  But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.  And the woman was made whole from that hour." -- Matthew 9:21-22.

"And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live." -- Mark 5:23.

"For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole." -- Mark 5:28.

"And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." -- Mark 5:34.

"And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole." -- Mark 6:56.

"And Jesus said to him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.  And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." -- Mark 10:52.

"They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed." -- Luke 8:36.

"And he said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." -- Luke 8:48.

"But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole." -- Luke 8:50.

"And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole." -- Luke 17:19.

"If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole..." -- Acts 4:9.

"The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed..." -- Acts 14:9.

We can see that God's idea of what saved is encompasses more than just avoiding hell when you die.  You are not only saved from eternal damnation, but in God's eyes, you are saved from various temporal troubles as well, including sickness.  The next time you think about the fact that you are saved, think about all that this word means in the Bible!  Realize that Jesus your High Priest is able to save you to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25), not just save you from sin.  Realize that you are more than just reconciled to God.  Jesus Christ saves you on an ongoing basis!  As Romans 5:10 says, "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."


Delivered!

You are delivered from the power (authority) of darkness and brought into the kingdom of God's dear son (Col 1:12-14).  God is not going to deliver you.  You are delivered now.  It has already happened.  It is incorrect to pray that something will happen that has already happened.  You do not need to pray for victory over the devil and his weapons.  You have victory now.  Do not ask God to deliver you from Satan's power.  He did!  You are in the kingdom of God's dear Son now.  Thank God for that!

This is one of the simplest, yet least-acted-upon truths in the Church world today.  Most Christians talk about how the devil is beating them up and how bad things are.  They are unaware that the devil is getting his power from their mouths.  Jesus spoiled principalities and powers (Col 2:15) and they have no legal right to dominate a Christian -- until the Christian gives them that right with his mouth!

Do not talk defeat.  Do not glorify the devil by exalting his alleged power over you as a believer.  Talk about Jesus and how he set you free from Satan.  Talk about the victory that is already yours in Christ.  Talk about how you have been brought into Jesus' kingdom already and how he is Lord over every area of your life right now.

Satan is powerless until you authorize him to act with your mouth.  He has no authority.  You have the authority.  Satan's game is to get you to use your authority against yourself.  If you say that the devil is doing this and that to you and leave it at that, you have authorized him to act, and he'll surely take advantage of it!

You must stop saying that the devil is beating you up and doing all kinds of bad things to you, and start saying that you have been delivered from the devil's power.  If you say that the devil is lording it over you, you are taking sides against the Bible.  If you say that you are already delivered from Satan and that Jesus is Lord over every area of your life, you are agreeing with God.

Any idiot can state physical facts.  "It looks like the money won't come in.  It looks like I'm going to die.  It looks like the devil is winning."  The man of faith looks beyond the facts just as the two faithful spies saw the giants in Canaan but affirmed that they were well able to go possess the land because God had promised it to them.  The other ten spies talked about the giants, and talked Israel right out of the victory that would have been theirs.  The giants did not keep the Israelites out of Canaan.  Their unbelief of God's promises kept them out.  They could have defeated the giants; God told them so.  The giants did not defeat even one of them; they defeated themselves and dropped dead in the desert.  If they had taken on the giants, the giants would have lost!  The devil is no different from those giants in Canaan.  He can't defeat you.  You can only defeat yourself by doubting God and backing away without a fight.

Sickness is one area in which Satan lords it over believers today.  Luke said that Jesus healed those who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38).  Sickness is part of the "power of the devil" over humanity.  God says that you have been delivered from the devil's power, which includes sickness.  This is consistent with Peter's statement, "By whose stripes you were healed."  Jesus has made you free from the claims of sickness over your body.  Satan has no right to exercise lordship over your body.  Because Jesus paid for the redemption of your body as well as your spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20), Jesus is the rightful Lord over your body.  The will of God should be done in your body.  The will of Satan (sickness) does not have to be done because you have been set free from his power.

Do not ask God to deliver you from the devil's power.  Agree with God that you already are delivered from the devil's power.  Then act and talk like it.  Once you get a revelation of this on the inside, it will be a key to victory for you in every area of your life.


Isaiah's prophecy of redemption

Isaiah 53

This is probably the best passage in the Bible to use to demonstrate that God has provided healing for us in Christ's atonement.

This is surely one of the most-quoted chapters in the Bible, written hundreds of years before Jesus Christ came, yet foretelling his works.  One of these works is healing.  Unfortunately, this has been somewhat muddled with some unfortunate word choices by the translators.  (All statements made regarding the Hebrew are fully documented in this program.)

Verse 3 calls Jesus, "A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief."  The words used here would correctly have been translated "A man of sickness, and acquainted with pain," or something similar.  Likewise, in verse 4, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows" should read "Surely he hath borne our sicknesses, and carried our pains."  For absolute, unshakable, definitive proof of this, see the reply to the objection, Jesus bore our sorrows and griefs, not our sicknesses and pains....  If you don't feel like reading that, just read Matthew 8:16-17 and see what the Holy Spirit thought he meant in Isaiah 53!  The verses are plainly connected with healing.  You can argue with my translation, but you can't argue with God's!

Clearly, Jesus bore our sicknesses at Calvary because verse 4 says that he bore our sicknesses and pains, YET we considered him smitten of God and afflicted.  This is all one sentence.  The only time Jesus was "smitten" and "afflicted" was at Calvary, therefore, his bearing of our sicknesses and our diseases MUST have been at Calvary.  Since the subject of the entire chapter is Christ's atonement for us, his bearing of our sicknesses and pains must have been part of that atonement.

Once you see this, the rest of the chapter becomes clearer.  In verse 5, we read that Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, and that with his stripes we are healed.  Jesus' body was torn up so that our bodies would not have to be torn up.  He was our substitute.

How do we know that he bore sickness as our substitute?  Because Isaiah said that surely he bore our sicknesses and our pains.  He was not bearing his own; he was bearing ours.  He was never sick until he was "made sick" for our sins.  ("Made sick" is the literal translation of "put to grief" in verse 10.)  He was made sick with our sicknesses.  He was "smitten of God" and "afflicted" as punishment for our sins, not his own.  Isaiah said that we are healed.  We must refer to the same people referred to by us and ours in this chapter.  The people who are healed are the people whose sins were borne.  In other words, YOU are healed.  What good would it do for Jesus to bear your sicknesses if God would still require you to bear them?  That would be stupid.  Every part of the punishment Jesus endured was what we rightfully deserved for our sins, and he took that punishment to relieve us from having to bear it ourselves.  Surely, he did not leave any part of the punishment for us to bear ourselves.

The bearing of sickness was required by Deuteronomy 28:15-68, Leviticus 26:14-39, and other passages that explain the "curse" for not keeping God's law.  Although Jesus kept the law himself, he had to be punished by receiving the curse for sin himself.  Gal 3:13 says that he was made a curse for us to redeem us from the curse.  He had to accept the curse as punishment for our sins.  Part of this curse was sickness -- every sickness and disease that there is (Deut. 28:61).  To bear the curse, he had to bear the sicknesses.

This is why you cannot possibly be an exception to God's will to heal ALL.  He carried OUR sicknesses and OUR pains, and this includes YOUR sicknesses and YOUR pains.  Despite modern theology to the contrary, God could not justly ask you to bear a punishment that Jesus Christ already bore in your place.  That would be like condemning two criminals for a crime committed by only one.  Jesus already served the sentence.  No human court ever asks anyone to serve a sentence for a crime when someone else has already fully served that sentence.  The courts may have their problems, but they are not as warped as modern theology yet.

Notice the blessed fact that our healing was not a one-time thing, but an ongoing thing to last through our lifetimes, based on a one-time act by Jesus Christ.  Read the tenses carefully:  "Surely he hath borne [past tense] our sicknesses and carried [past tense] our pains:  yet we did esteem [past tense] him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.  But he was wounded [past tense] for our transgressions, he was bruised [past tense] for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was [past tense] upon him; and with his stripes we are [present tense] healed."

This is important to notice, because eventually you will meet someone who objects that Matthew 8:16-17 refers only to Jesus' earthly ministry and not to his atonement.  But the true fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, which clearly paints healing as being part of Christ's atonement for sin, must involve healing for all.  In fact, the reason Matthew says that the healings were that Isaiah's prophecy "might be fulfilled" is that Christ's healing of the sick in his earthly ministry was done on the basis of his future atonement.  Aside from the fact that there is no other adequate explanation of what Matthew meant, you can find further proof of this in the reply to Objection:  Isaiah 53:4 (Matthew 8:17) was fulfilled in Jesus' earth ministry and cannot be claimed as a promise by Christians today.

Isaiah said clearly that the Messiah would be made sick in our place to bring healing to us.  Jesus Christ was made sick with your sicknesses so that you would not have to bear them.

See also:

Healing and atonement


Pre-approved for healing

Ever get those credit card applications in the mail that say that you're pre-approved for a new credit card that has a 20.9% APR, no grace period, and a $40 annual fee?  All you have to do is sign your name and send back the application.  You're guaranteed to get the credit card, to say nothing of the right to have your supper interrupted for the next five years by telemarketers pitching supplemental hospital insurance, shopping services, travel clubs, and so on, all conveniently billable to your new credit card.

If someone acted toward this offer the way Christians act toward their healing, he would:

--	Send back the application with a list of good references who can vouch that he is truly deserving of this pre-approved credit card.  "Joe has lived a good moral life.  If anyone is deserving of this credit card, surely he is."

--	Write a passionate letter pleading for the card.  "PLEASE give me this card.  If you do, I promise that I will rack up big bills with it.  I will make only the minimum payments and help you build your next skyscraper downtown with all my interest charges."

--	Throw up his hands and say, "Well!  If they really wanted me to have this credit card, they would just send it to me.  I guess they really don't want me to have it."

--	Say, "No way do I want this credit card.  Sinful Sam down the street got this same offer.  I'm insulted to be offered exactly the same terms as Sinful Sam."

You can't do a thing to deserve your healing.  Jesus made you worthy to receive it.  Jesus already paid a price so that you could be healed.  You are pre-approved for healing.

I didn't receive my pre-approved credit card the last time I got one of those mailings.  You know why?  I didn't send in the application!  (I get those offers every couple of weeks anyway.  I've noticed that they don't send those things to people who really need credit cards -- they send them to people who already have credit cards.)  That wasn't the credit card company's fault.  The only reason I didn't get it was because I did not act on the pre-approved offer.

God already made provision for your healing when Jesus bled and died.  You had not done a thing to please God.  Your salvation was reserved for you while you were still in sin.  Healing is available on a gift basis only.  It is not a trophy for a handful of especially consecrated Christians.

The problem is not God, but modern philosophy and theology, as reflected in Proverbs 32:2-3:  "For you never know what God will do.  Sometimes he will say Yes, sometimes he will say No, sometimes he will say Wait, and sometimes he just won't answer.  Surely God helps those who help themselves."  These thoughts aren't in the Bible but people quote them things as if they were.  The truth of the matter is that God will never say no to a request backed by his covenant.  1 John 5:14-15 makes this clear.

We even have people telling us that sickness is a friend and a blessing.  If sickness is a blessing, instead of gifts of healings operating in the body of Christ, we should have gifts of sickening.  Preachers should be heard saying, "There's a man in the third row, and God showed me that you are well.  As I speak, God is blessing you with pain in -- I think it's your lower back, but I could be wrong...."

Healing is available to you on the same pre-approved basis as salvation from hell.  It does not become yours until you respond to God's offer.  The good news is that you can't be turned down when you send back your application in faith!


Your body is God's property

1 Cor 6:19-20

In the clearest terms, Paul said that your body is God's, not your own.  Both your spirit and your body were bought with the same price -- the precious blood of Jesus.

Once you realize this, you will see how foolish it is to think that God would want your body to be sick.  Why would God mutilate his own personal possession?  Do you think that God wants "the temple of the Holy Ghost" to be broken down and out of commission?  What glory would he get from that?

In the Old Testament, God spent chapters and chapters discussing every minor detail of his earthly tabernacle under the Law of Moses.  He was so concerned about his Old Testament temple that we might wonder sometimes why such a large amount of space was committed to it.  God was adamant that Moses make everything according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain.  There were to be no substitutions and no compromises.

If God was this concerned about his tabernacle in the desert, how much more should he be concerned about his New Testament tabernacle -- believers!  Does God no longer care if his "house" is in rough shape?  Or was he more concerned about how many pillars and hooks and sockets were in place fulfilling their functions than about whether your organs are in place fulfilling their functions?

Under the Old Covenant, God did not allow sickness in his holy sanctuary!  Leviticus 21:16-23 contains laws stating that various classes of sick or deformed people were not to approach God with offerings because they would profane his sanctuaries.  Since God did not want his Old Testament sanctuary to be profaned with sickness, surely he does not want his New Testament sanctuary (you) to have sickness!

1 Cor 6:15

Here your body is called a member of Christ.  This is another definitive proof that your body, not just your soul and spirit, is now "in Christ."  How do you suppose Christ feels about his own members?  We can see below in the next passage:

Ephesians 5:28-32

We read here that Jesus nourishes and cherishes his Church.  We are members of his body.  The Church is referred to as the Body of Christ on the earth.  How could Jesus make an obedient member of his body sick when he cherishes his body?  He can't.  Our flesh is his flesh on the earth!  He is concerned about it.  We are one with Christ and our bodies belong to him.

1 Cor 6:13

God could not "sicken you for a reason" because he is for your body, not against your body!  God is in favor of your health (3 John 2), not against it!  Moreover, your body is "for the Lord."  You are to use your body to serve and glorify Jesus.  You can serve and glorify Jesus far more effectively outside a hospital than inside a hospital.

A helpful aside here:  Since your body is "for the Lord," you had better be intent on using it that way.  You will find it difficult or impossible to receive your healing if you are not consecrated to doing the will of God with your body.  God is not interested in healing you so that you can carouse and drink and otherwise sin with more vitality and strength.  If you are holding out on God in one area of your life, you may not be able to be open to him in another area of your life.  My assumption throughout this book is that I am addressing God-fearing, Jesus-loving, Spirit-filled, consecrated Christians.  The issue is not how much you know or how long you have been a Christian, but where your heart is with the Lord.  If you are double-minded, you should not expect to receive anything from God (James 1:5-8), including healing.


Healing and giving

Being generous promotes healing:

In Psalm 41:1-3, God says that he will help you when you are sick if you remember the poor!  That's a good deal.

In Isaiah 58:6-11, we see that your health can spring forth speedily when you have compassion on the poor.

In Exodus 30:11-16, people were required to give a financial offering to prevent plagues from coming on them!  The finances given represented an atonement in this context, but the clear implication was that if the people did not obey God in their giving regarding this offering, they would get sick as a result of their disobedience in giving.

Being stingy can make you sick!

Ecclesiastes 5:13-17:

There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.

But those riches perish by evil travail:  and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.

And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go:  and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?

All the days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.

However, you cannot "buy" your healing, because Jesus already bought your healing.  It cost him his life, but it's free to you.  You do not "plant a seed" toward your healing by giving money to somebody.  The Bible way to plant a seed for your healing is to hear the Word of God on the subject.

Unfaithfulness in finances can hinder your healing.  Jesus asked, "If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon [money], who will commit to your trust the true riches?"  (Luke 16:11).  This proves that mishandling money can block your ability to receive the more important things of God.

Failure to obey God in one area of your life can lead to difficulty of receiving in another area of your life.  If God leads you to give to a certain ministry and you don't do it, it will be hard for you to receive the will of God in your body while resisting the will of God in your finances.  Robbing God of tithes and offerings will not help you get healed.  Some people get healed after they consecrate another area of their lives to God.  If you're holding out in obeying God with your money, reading all the healing Scriptures in the Bible may not help you; only obedience will get you in a position to receive.  Disobedience puts you under the devil's authority where sickness is.

Generosity puts you in a place to receive from God.  Note that story in Luke 7:2-10 of the Gentile who gave to Israel, building a synagogue because he loved their nation.  This man had so much faith that Jesus didn't even need to go to his house -- his son was healed of a fatal illness through words alone.  I think it entirely reasonable that the Gentile man's favor with God was tied to his generosity in giving.  Also consider that Cornelius, the man at whose house the gospel was first preached to the Gentiles, was a giver even though he was not saved.  His giving "came up for a memorial before God" (Acts 10:4).

Finally, an observation.  I am convinced that many times the power of God is hindered in crusade-style meetings because people are stingy with the offerings and "tune out" when the bucket is passed.  I believe that when financial respect is shown to the man of God, there is a greater flow of the anointing.  This is not because the man needs your money, and it is certainly not a case of buying your healing.  Scripture teaches that preachers should be able to make their living from the gospel, and when the people hold back, it shows a lack of appreciation for the ministry gift.  Perhaps the minister just feels freer when he doesn't have to be concerned about the budget, but it does seem that the power of God flows more after the budget is met!

I am not excusing useless and extravagant crusade expenses, but the ministry team should not have to eat peanut butter sandwiches between services because there's no money.  If you're going to invite a minister in, you need to be prepared to take care of him.  If you don't, he will probably look elsewhere for meetings in the future!


Healing and evangelism

Healing has always played a central role in God's evangelistic plan.  Attempting to win the lost without demonstrating healing to the unsaved is like trying to type on your computer with one hand tied behind your back.  You can get fewer results with the same effort or the same results with more effort.

Jesus and the apostles did not need to put up placards or pay the local town crier to announce that they were going to have meetings.  The healings and miracles were the advertising.  It is no sin to let people know where you will be preaching, but God's method of advertising is surely more effective than anything a public relations firm could invent.

Let's look at the results in Scripture of healings and miracles:

Matthew 4:23-24 states that Jesus' fame went all over Syria after he healed all diseases among the people in Galilee.

Matthew 14:35-36 shows that the people sought out the sick so that they could bring them to Jesus for healing.  (We would see more sick people healed in our services if people would bring more sick people!)  Other passages state the same thing.

Healing resulted in the entire city showing up at one house in Mark 1:32-34!

John 6:2 says that many followed Jesus because of the miracles that he did on the diseased.

In Acts 3, at least 5,000 people ran together after the beggar at the gate Beautiful was healed!  Peter preached Christ to them, and 5,000 men became believers through one sermon!  The miracle did not save anyone, but it brought the multitudes to hear Peter's sermon so that they could hear the gospel, believe it, and be saved.

In Acts 5:12-16, many sick were brought for healing, just as in the ministry of Jesus.

In Acts 8:5-8, the people listened to Philip because of the miracles that he did.

In Acts 9:32-35, Peter ministered healing to a paralyzed man.  The result was, "All that dwelt in Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord."

In Acts 9:36-42, Peter raised a woman from the dead.  The result was, "It was known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord."

In Acts 28:8-9, when Publius's father was healed through Paul's ministry, all the other sick people on the island showed up and got healed!

In Romans 15:18-19, Paul attributes signs and wonders and Holy Ghost power to being part of what made the Gentiles obedient.

In 1 Cor 2:4-5, Paul says that the demonstration of the Spirit and of power was used instead of logical arguments so that men would trust in the power of God instead of man's wisdom.

In Mark 16:20 and Hebrews 2:3-4, we read that God bore witness to the message preached by his servants with signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Signs and wonders do not save anyone.  Believing the preaching of the Word is what saves people.  If you are preaching Christ, you cannot afford to major on signs and wonders at the expense of your preaching ministry.  Men are saved when they believe your preaching.  God's pattern is to confirm the preaching of the Word with signs and wonders.  If you can't preach a decent sermon, there is nothing for God to confirm!  Work on your preaching, and expect signs and wonders to follow it!

See also:

It might only take one


Hear and be healed

Come to hear, not just be healed

Luke 5:12-15

Luke 6:17-19

In both of these passages, we read that people came to hear Jesus and to be healed of their diseases.  If you want to be healed, it is important that you hear the Word of God.  Do not simply run from one healing crusade to another, trying to get healed through "gifts of healings" in operation.

It shows a bad attitude to attend a healing crusade and nod off while the minister is preaching God's Word on the subject of healing.  You have already missed it if you think, "Come on, preacher, let's get to the good stuff -- lay hands on the sick!"  You can get healed 100% of the time by simply believing God's Word.  You are not guaranteed to be healed through the gifts of the Spirit 100% of the time.  If you are unwilling to be in faith when hands are laid on you, you should save your gasoline and your time and not bother attending.  It is hearing the Word that produces faith.  If you will not listen, no faith will be produced in you.  If you will hear God's word, faith will rise in you and you will be in a position to receive your healing.

Remember Psalm 107:17-20!  God sent his Word and healed them.  His Word can heal you, too.  To ignore the Word is to ignore God's primary avenue of healing for the believer.  Hear and be healed!

Plant God's seed in your heart

Jesus told a parable about different people who heard the Word of God.  The seed was the same in each case.  The ground it was planted in determined the harvest.  After telling the parable, Jesus made a very strong statement about hearing and not hearing the Word, and the results of each.  Read the Parable of the Sower:

Mark 4:2-25

This last verse of this passage is puzzling if you do not read it in context.  In context, it is crystal clear.  Things will be given to him who has ears to hear.  From him that does not have ears to hear, even what he has will be taken away.  If you hear the word, you will receive things from God.  If you refuse to hear to the word, you will not only fail to receive from the Lord, but you will lose things you already have.  Hence the importance of continually hearing the Word, not just hearing it once and then saying, "Yeah, I heard that already."

It is difficult to preach healing to people who have a "Yeah, I heard that already" mentality.  If they know that healing is theirs, why do they get picked off by every two-bit virus that comes along, just like the rest of the world?  If we really know we're healed, we won't get sick even when everyone else does.  We will stand out from the world.  You cannot convince anyone you know that healing is yours until you start walking in it.  Faith comes by continually hearing the Word, not by having heard it once.

Beware of offenses

You might as well be forewarned -- you will not be popular with a lot of churchgoers if you start believing God's Word about healing.  Some people will call you a flake, others will call you a cult member, and still others will actively try to talk you out of your healing and defend to the death their own right to stay sick.  Jesus warned that Satan will come to try to steal the Word from you.  The anti-healing books on the market today are tools he uses for this.  Jesus warned that there would be persecutions for the sake of the gospel.  You must not cave in when people belittle you for your stand for God's Word.

Replies to common objections are included in this book so that you won't be scared off by something someone writes against divine healing.

When to plant seed

God's Word is his seed.  Plant it in your heart and it will grow.  By planting healing Scriptures in your heart, you are planting for a healing harvest down the road.  It may not come overnight, but it will come if you are consistent about hearing the Word.

Don't do what most people do and wait until you get sick to start paying attention to healing Scriptures.  When you are sick, you don't feel like reading healing Scriptures.  You just want to lie in bed and moan.  It is harder to concentrate on what you are reading.

If you wait until you are sick to read healing Scriptures, you are like a farmer who suddenly realizes that he has two days' worth of food left in his house.  So he says, "Honey, we've got to plant some seed now, quick!  We need a harvest in two days so we can eat!"  It's a little too late then, isn't it?

I am not suggesting that you dwell only on healing Scriptures.  If you want a better marriage, more money, a better love walk, or to walk in greater victory over sin, there are other topics you will have to read in the Bible.  Reading healing Scriptures will not give you faith for these other things.  Reading healing Scriptures gives you faith for healing.  You don't plant corn and reap tomatoes.

Keep your ears open

Do you have ears to hear?  Continue to hear the Word.  You are God's husbandry [farm] (1 Cor 3:9).  Let God's Word grow on the inside of you to produce a harvest of healing!


Mark  4:2-25
Mark 4:2-25:

And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came in devoured it up.

And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth:

But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God:  but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand, lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable?  and how then will ye know all parables?

The sower soweth the word.

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

Continued


Mark 4:2-25
And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time:  afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed?  and not to be set on a candlestick?

For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear:  for with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you:  and unto you that hear shall more be given.

For he that hath, to him shall be given:  and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.


I prayed in faith -- now what?

One of the most crucial lessons for you to learn in your Christian walk is what to do between your prayer to receive by faith and the point where the answer manifests itself.  Like the fig tree that Jesus cursed, your illness may not die instantly on the outside.

You don't need to pray to receive again

One mistake made by novices is to pray again, figuring that maybe if they believed they received some more, they would have some more.  That is not faith, and it can uproot the seed you have already planted for your healing.  Rather than cultivating good ground for the seed, you are throwing away the seed before it has a chance to sprout.  Do not keep saying, "Lord, I really do believe I receive my healing now."  All that proves is that you didn't do it the first time.  If you didn't receive it the first time, you do need to pray again, but don't let the devil talk you out of anything you've already received.

Don't let the devil do this to you...

The devil will probably whisper in your ear, "You're not in faith!  You're not in faith!  You prayed all right, but you weren't in faith.  You'll get nothing!"  How will you respond to this?  Obviously, don't agree with him.  He will lie and tell you that you are not in faith when you are.  He would like you to believe that this unbelief is coming from the inside of you, not from him.

Don't try to defend your faith by thinking of how much you were really in faith when you prayed.  Instead, look to the Word.  This is the only Scriptural method of dealing with the devil.  Dwell on the same promises you thought of when you prayed your original prayer.

"By Jesus' stripes you are healed" is always a true statement, not just when you prayed.  A good response would be, "I am healed by the stripes of Jesus.  Healing is my covenant right.  Sickness is a curse and I am redeemed from it.  It was true when I prayed, and it is true now.  I will continue to believe what God said.  My faith is not in my faith, but in God's faithfulness to his Word.  I ordered this sickness to leave in the name of Jesus.  Jesus promised me that I could ask anything in his name, and he would personally do it.  Jesus is at work in my body, healing me right now."

How to pray after receiving your healing by faith

This is not to say that you should stop praying.  You should not.  But every prayer you pray after your initial prayer to receive should reflect the faith of the first prayer, not substitute for it.  Your prayers concerning your healing now become prayers of thanksgiving and praise to God for the healing he already gave you.  We who believe have entered into rest.  You no longer need to petition God for your healing.  You have settled in your heart that the necessary steps have been taken, and you are thanking God for the results in advance.

This is a whole different subject, but praising and thanking God is important.  Praise and thanksgiving do not "get you into the presence of God," but they are important, and it is right to come before God with praise and thanks.  If you do not cultivate the praise side of your Christian walk, it can hinder your success in other areas, including healing.  Sometimes you just have to do as Paul and Silas did in jail, and sing praises to God when your body is hurting!

It is not necessary to praise God to receive your healing (it's free), but it is bad taste not to praise him.  Jesus was critical of the nine lepers who were healed but did not return to give God thanks (Luke 17:12-19).  It is proper to thank God for healing you!  When you have received your healing by faith, you can thank him that you have already received it, because you have.  You do not have to wait for the manifestation of it in your body.

In fact, if you have to wait for your healing to show up in your body before you start praising God, you are not really in faith to begin with.  If you had really received your healing, you would be thanking God for giving it to you already!


Healing pleases God

God is pleased when you get healed, and God is pleased when he can use you to help others get healed.

Jesus went around healing the sick.  He said, "And he that sent me is with me:  the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him" (John 8:29).  Since he always did those things that please God, healing the sick must please God.  What a contrast to those who say that God is pleased when we glorify him in our sickness!

God will be pleased when you receive your healing!  He is not withholding it from you.  He wants you to have it, and it will make him happy when you get it.


It might only take one

You could start a major revival in your city.  Praying in faith for one single person's healing could trigger a revival that results in an entire city being saved.  It happened in the New Testament.  It can happen today.

Healing brought an entire city to one house in Mark 1:32-34.  As far as we know, this all got started when one person, Peter's mother-in-law, was healed.

In Mark 1:40-45 and Luke 5:12-15, one leper's healing resulted in people coming to Jesus "from every quarter" to "hear and be healed."

In Mark 5:2-20, "All men did marvel" in Decapolis when one former demoniac went around giving his testimony.

In Luke 18:35-43, one blind man's healing resulted in "all the people" giving praise to God.

In Acts 9:32-35, the healing of Aeneas resulted in the conversion of two cities.

In Acts 9:36-42, the raising of Tabitha from the dead caused many in Joppa to believe in the Lord.

In Acts 28:8-9, a shipwreck had left Paul on an island that he never planned to visit.  Once Publius was healed through the laying on of Paul's hands, all the other sick people on the island came and got healed, too.

Your city would wake up to the Lord if the people saw a lot of miracles.  But it might only take one.  And you could be the one God uses to do it.

See also:

Healing and evangelism


Don't do this!

If you want to get healed, let me tell you something I used to do that will definitely not work.  That is sitting around condemning yourself for your lack of faith.  The devil would love to use you against yourself in this way.

If you are thinking any of these thoughts, you can be sure that they do not come from God:  "I'm a failure.  I stink.  I just can't believe for my healing.  Everyone else can, but I can't get healed.  I know what the Bible promises me, but I just can't get it.  My heart must be so wrong.  If I were just a better Christian, I could believe God.  I'll bet Jesus is mad in heaven right now, saying, 'Oh, ye of little faith.  How long must I put up with you?'  What's the matter with me?  Why can't I have childlike faith in God?  My faith is so small.  I'm a spiritual mess-up."

According to Philemon verse 6, your faith grows by acknowledging the good things that are in you in Christ, not by acknowledging doubt and unbelief.  According to Romans 10:17, faith comes by hearing the Word, not by hearing yourself trash yourself.  Stop focusing on yourself and start focusing on the Word.  Stop considering yourself and start considering your High Priest who is the author and the finisher of your faith.  Stop pulling up your seed and start watering it.

If it's any consolation, I used to think the thoughts above, and I was cured of it by continuing to read the Word about healing.  Instead of struggling to get faith, read the Word and faith will come by hearing it.  It may not seem like anything is changing for a while, but keep it up.  You will find that it is not nearly as hard to believe God as you thought it was.

Also, you may be struggling with something you don't need to struggle with.  It is not supposed to be a struggle to "pull down" your healing from heaven with your faith.  Your faith receives something that God has already decided is yours.  God is freely offering healing to you.  Once you see that, you will understand that it is not a struggle at all, any more than you have to struggle to believe that you are saved when you receive Jesus.  We who believe have entered into rest, not struggle.  Struggling is not faith.  Faith rests in the promises of God.

Dissing yourself will never produce positive fruit.  Why give the devil a day off?  He doesn't even need to send any of his troops your way when you do his dirty work for him!  God is for you.  If God is for you, why should you be against you, thus taking sides against God concerning yourself?  Quit it now!  Read the Word and build your faith, rather than tearing down your faith!


Healing does not require great faith

Do not get "hung up" over the size of your faith.  Receiving healing does not require great faith.  You just have to act on the faith you already have.  The normal way to act on the faith you have is by speaking.

The apostles asked Jesus, "Increase our faith!"  Jesus did not say, "Okay, here's some more faith."  Instead, he said, "If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you."  Notice that itty-bitty faith could throw a big tree into the ocean if you attach words to it.  Faith is like tobasco sauce.  A little goes a long way.  Getting more faith was not the issue.  Speaking was the issue.

Jesus also his disciples, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."  Notice that itty-bitty faith could move a mountain from one place to another if you attach words to it.

Walking in this faith is not only for "faith giants."  Anyone can do it.  Jesus said, "Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith."  So anyone can do great exploits by faith, if he attaches words to it.

Whether you realize it or not, faith-filled words are the most powerful force on the earth today.  God spoke everything into existence!  We sometimes emphasize the faith part, but Jesus really emphasized the speaking part.  If death and life are in the power of your tongue (Proverbs 18:21), surely sickness and healing are also in the power of your tongue.  James said that if you can control your tongue, you can control your whole physical body.

The people who had "great faith" in Jesus' ministry were those who believed that Jesus could speak and something would happen.  The centurion and the Greek woman had "great faith" and did not need a personal visit from Jesus to get healing for a loved one.  His word was good enough for them.  They believed that his words had power and authority, and that when he said something was done, it was done.

The next time the devil belittles you for your small faith, remind him that faith the size of a mustard seed can move a tree or a mountain when you attach words to it.

See also:

Say what


Healing is already yours

1 Peter 2:24 is not a healing promise.  In fact, it is not any kind of promise.  God does not promise you anything in this verse.  There is only the statement that Jesus did something for you.  God did not say that he would heal you.  He said that you were already healed by Jesus' stripes.  That's how God sees it.  Once you and God agree on this matter, you can receive what's yours.

This verse does not promise salvation from sin, either.  It simply tells what Jesus did for you.  It is up to you to act on it.

People make a mistake when they cite this verse as God's promise to heal them.  A promise to heal you would put your healing off into the future.  This verse puts it in the past tense.  It says that Jesus already healed you.  If you are "believing that God will heal you," you are not in agreement with God at all.  You are saying he will and he is saying he did.  Can you see the difference?

The obvious question is, if you are healed, why are you experiencing pain in your body?  This is probably the #1 misunderstanding that people have.  As usual, it helps to draw a parallel with the spiritual side of salvation.

We know from many Scriptures that Jesus bore the sin of the whole world on the cross.  He was punished in our place, thus purchasing complete forgiveness for us.  The Scriptures say that he atoned not only for our sins, but the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).  Yet not everyone is saved.  That is because only some have received the forgiveness that is already theirs in Christ.  Those who do not receive this forgiveness do not benefit from it.  When a sinner receives forgiveness, Jesus does nothing new.  The sinner simply acts on the facts and receives what Jesus already made available.

No sinner would ever get saved by standing around saying, "God promised to save me in John 3:16!"  It is not enough that the price was paid and the provision was made.  The sinner is only saved when he receives something that already belongs to him as far as God is concerned.  Salvation from sin does indeed belong to everyone, but only those who receive it get it.

Likewise, healing belongs to everyone.  It is part of the same atonement.  But only those who receive it get it.  You can't even just believe that Jesus made it available to you.  You have to receive it.  Until you do, you experience pain in your body even though God considers you healed by the stripes of Jesus.

What Peter didn't say

Peter did not say that you are not sick.  He did not say that your sickness must be a figment of your imagination because you are really healed.  To think that is incorrect and dangerous; you could die denying the symptoms in your body.  The statement, "You were healed" does not mean that you cannot get sick.  Epaphroditus and Timothy were sick, and Paul did not spiritualize this.  Peter's statement must be understood to say that you are legally healed by the stripes of Jesus, just as you were legally saved even before you were born again.  In other words, healing belongs to you as a Christian.  It is part of your inheritance in Christ.  Sickness may manifest in your body, but you have a right to make it leave.

Don't beg for what's already yours

Do you go in every payday and grovel before your boss to get your paycheck?  Of course not.  You simply receive something that rightfully belongs to you.  When something rightfully belongs to you, you do not beg for it.

When you go to the bank, do you beg the teller (or the ATM machine) to give you money from your account?  Of course not!  That money rightfully belongs to you.

That is why it is unproductive and useless to beg God for your healing.  Don't beg and plead for something that is already yours.  Instead, receive healing from God just as you would withdraw money from your bank account.  God has already deposited your healing into your heavenly bank account.  You have a legal right to withdraw it at any time.

In God's mind, you are already healed by the stripes of Jesus.  Nothing can possibly change this fact.  You never have to worry whether or not healing is yours, because it has been settled once and for all.

Your healing already exists!

Don't treat your healing as something that you want God to manufacture in heaven and give you.  Your healing already exists!  It is waiting for you to take it.  God already laid it up for you.  Remember that faith is the assurance of something that is unseen.  If your healing did not exist, you could not be in faith about it, because there would be nothing there to get.  There would be no unseen thing to have an assurance of!

You are not creating anything with your prayers.  You are receiving something.  Jesus said to believe that you receive when you pray, not to believe that you create when you pray.  When you receive healing, you are taking something that already exists that God is offering to you.  He does not have to whip up a new healing for you in heaven.

One of most awesome statements in the Bible is that God has given to you all things that pertain to life and godliness (see 2 Peter 1:3-4).  This would certainly include healing.  In other words, your needs have already been supplied in Christ.  When you believe for a need to be met, you are simply making a withdrawal from heaven of something that has already been laid up for you.  Full provision for everything that you need is already in storage waiting for you to claim it.

People sometimes get mad when you talk about claiming things, but that really is what you're doing!  When I travel, I have a claim check that enables me to claim something that is already mine when I get to where I'm going.  No one fusses with me for claiming my luggage -- it's mine.  No one should ever fuss at you for claiming your healing or anything else that pertains to life and godliness -- it's yours!  People talk as if you're going to cause a heavenly power drain by making a demand on heaven's resources, but you can't possibly do that.  Everything that everyone needs has already been laid up in Christ!  Everyone could claim everything at once and it wouldn't put a dent in God's unlimited power.

When I claim my luggage, I don't try to make it exist.  I know it exists; I just want to pick up what's mine.  When you claim your healing, you aren't manufacturing anything new, and neither is God.  You are just picking up what is already yours.


1 John 2: 2
1 John 2:2:

And he is the propitiation for our sins:  and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.


You have authority over your body

God does not refer to your body as you, even though most people consider a person and his body to be the same.  God refers to your body as "your body" instead of "you."  You should always make the distinction in your mind.  Rather than thinking, "I am sick," you should think "My body is sick."  (Yes, I know that you were healed by the stripes of Jesus, but I am making a point.)

I have had wonderful things happen in services where I was standing for my own healing while I ministered!  My condition didn't affect the anointing at all.  You know why?  The anointing comes out of your spirit, not out of your body.  Remember, Jesus said that rivers of living water would flow out of your belly (speaking of your spirit).  I was not sick!  My body was sick.  That is why you can minister healing even when you feel rotten yourself!

You can control your body!  Your words can determine whether you get well or get sick, and whether you live or die.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).  James 3:2-6 shows that your tongue can either "set the course of nature on fire" in your body or "bridle your whole body."  Like a rudder or a bit in a horse's mouth, your tongue can control your body.  You can get into sin and pay a price in your body, or speak wholesome words and reap health in your body.

You are not a helpless slave of your body.  Paul said in 1 Cor 9:27, "But I keep my body, and bring it into subjection:  lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."  Paul is talking about mortifying the deeds of the body, but the point I want to make is that your body is subject to you -- the real you, or your spirit.  Paul didn't say that he kept himself under subjection.  He said that he kept his body under subjection.  Paul understood that his body was not the real him.  You are a steward over the unique body that God has given you, but your body is not the real you.  The real you will live forever.  Your mortal body will rot in the ground.

Romans 6:12 says, "Let not sin reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof."  It doesn't say not to let sin reign in you.  The real you is a spirit being who has been born again, recreated in God's image in righteousness and true holiness.  There's an interesting side note here that might bless you and might make you mad, since it cuts across the grain of modern theology.  You do not have an old man and a new man both living in one body!  The old man is dead, all things have become new, and you are a new man in Christ.  The Christian struggles not with an old dead spiritual nature (which is gone), but with the mortal body, which is led by the senses and what "seems" right, and with the mind insofar as it is unrenewed with the Word of God.  That is why Paul said not to let sin reign in your body.  Again, there is a distinction between you and your body.  You are not to let sin reign in your body.  Your body is what is referred to as "the flesh," not an old sin nature that is gone now.  If you follow your body, you will indeed get in trouble.  That is why you have to keep your body under subjection, as Paul did.

In 1 Cor 6:18, the sexual sinner sins against his own body (not "himself").  In 1 Cor 13:3, Paul talked about giving his body (not "himself") to be burned.  In Romans 12:1, Paul beseeches you to present your body as a living sacrifice to God.  There are many, many other places where Paul referred to his body as "his body," not "himself."  Your body is not you!  You can't get sick!  Only your body gets sick!  And you, the real you, have authority over your body.  So use your tongue correctly to speak the Word of God about your body.  Speak that you were healed by the stripes of Jesus.  Speak life, not death.  Your body will respond.


Ministering to the sick

It amazes me that the primary way we think we should minister to the sick is to pray for their healing in their absence, whether they know anything about it or not.  There is no reason that healing, the physical side of salvation, should be ministered in any different way than the spiritual side of salvation.

If we ministered the new birth the way we typically "minister" healing, we would gather people around in a service to pray that the new birth would fall on Mr. X.  We would pray that God would make Mr. X a new creation in Christ right there where he is (probably at the girlie bar; that is how he got the name Mr. X).  We would "claim" his salvation "by faith" for him.  Would this work?  NO!!!

What would you pray for Mr. X?  Scripturally, you would pray that he would see the light of the glorious gospel, and you would demand the Satan stop blinding him.  You would pray for laborers to go into the harvest and tell Mr. X how to be saved.  Someone would share the gospel with Mr. X, faith would arise in his heart, and he would receive something that already belonged to him through his own faith.

It makes sense that if you want someone to be healed, you would pray that laborers would go into the harvest to share the good news of healing with him.  You would consider going yourself.  If the gospel is not preached, there will be no basis for faith, and even if the healing anointing "falls" on the person, he won't know what it was or how to cooperate with it.  He will probably lose whatever he gets in short order.  The sick person needs to hear the good news about healing before he can have a basis for faith.  If he has no basis for faith, he cannot pray in agreement with you for his healing.  God may show him mercy, but to stay healed, the man needs to be able to stand on the Bible on his own.

Probably the #1 difficult type of prayer request I have received in my limited experience has been people wanting prayer for Uncle Charlie in the West Indies who is sick and has never heard the gospel.  The requester wants healing to fall out of the sky so that Uncle Charlie will be instantly healed.  That isn't usually how it works!  If I could make that work, I would.  Usually, I ask if anyone is going to share the gospel with Uncle Charlie, and in almost every case, no one is going to even attempt to tell him about Jesus, and no one has.  Then I encourage the person to do so or find someone else who can do so.  Many times, when people find out that boldness and some time commitment may be involved, they back off, because they wanted a quick fix with no effort on their part.  Ministry involves sacrifice and love, not just faith and power!

Since we're on that subject, there is a saying that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.  Ministering to a seriously ill person may involve some serious time commitment and no small amount of patience, since people usually don't "get it" the first time around.  If you simply come in and blast away with your Scripture shotgun, the person may reject your message because he feels that you are just there to preach Bible verses at him.  Jesus was moved with compassion, and unless you demonstrate the compassion of God as well as his power, the person may not want to hear from you at all.

You may not be there to discuss the weather or what sports teams are winning, but you may have to engage in some small talk before the person is comfortable with you.  You need to prove that you care, and that you are not just looking for a great look-how-God-used-me-glory-to-me testimony on Sunday morning.  You will turn people off if you get preachy.  It will not help to simply tell the person how sorry you feel for him, but it is not wrong to show sympathy for his condition.  You don't have to encourage self-pity, but you can let the person know that you understand that his situation is difficult for him.  Of course, you don't have to listen to senseless rambling all night, either.

Beware of anything smacking of a critical attitude.  No one will want to listen to you if you come across as saying, "Healing is yours in Christ -- why can't you get that through your head, stupid?"  You probably didn't get it the first time, either.  Also remember that drugs can mess up people's minds and make it harder for them to understand what you are saying, although the Holy Spirit can and does break through that at times.  The Word will minister to the person's spirit, and the drugs have no effect on the person's spirit.

Don't give up.  The person may suddenly get a revelation of what you're talking about just as you're ready to give up in exasperation.  If the person is open to listen to you, keep planting the Word in him.  If he doesn't want to hear any more, you are out of line trying to force anything on him.  As discussed in one of questions in the Questions section, some people just decide to die and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it once they make up their minds.

I think the biggest thing people need to know is that it is definitely God's will for them to be well.  So many people think that God is punishing them or teaching them something, and people have to have their minds renewed to the truth before they will be able to receive anything.  It doesn't take much to prove this point.  You can point to the miracles in Jesus' ministry and then show that Jesus is the same today.  You can show that Jesus healed those who were oppressed of the devil.  As long as the person thinks that sickness might be a good thing after all, he is in no condition to receive healing.  There is no basis for faith until you know what God wants to do.  Otherwise, your prayer is mere wishful thinking and hoping, not faith.

You can point out that Jesus took our sicknesses and pains on the cross.  It is probably better to just say that than to open to Isaiah and whip out your laptop computer, run this program, and prove that the Hebrew word used for griefs in Isaiah 53:4 means sickness everywhere else in the Old Testament.

You can point out that sicknesses were part of the curse of the Law, and Jesus has redeemed us from them.  You can show that disease is a penalty for sin, and we are redeemed from sin by the blood of Jesus.  Stress that Jesus bore our punishment, including sickness, in our place.

If you can, give the sick person some good literature about healing.  The person isn't going to get well watching people run a ball up and down a field between beer commercials.  He needs the seed of the Word to be planted in his heart to produce a harvest of healing.

You can turn to Mark 16 and tell how Jesus' followers can lay hands on the sick for their recovery, and offer to do so.  I would suggest that you wait until after you have shared the Word before doing this.  This gives the person an opportunity to hook up with you in faith.  If you will have multiple opportunities to see the person, you might not want to pray at all the first few times unless he says that he is ready.  The best way to minister healing is to minister the Word so that faith can arise in the sick person's heart.  As much as you might want to, you cannot permanently receive a healing for someone else.  They may get supernatural relief as a result of your prayers, but unless the person is able to stand in faith on his own, the devil will be right there to swipe his healing from him.

I'm not saying not to pray; the person may be very encouraged by how God answers your prayer.  However, you must be prepared to help the person stand on his own two feet, spiritually speaking.  What good will you do if you get a hundred people healed when you pray, and they all get sick again?  If anything, they can be very hard to reach next time.  Ministering to the sick is not a hit-and-run affair.  It will require time and patience on your part.  Are you willing to spend the time to help the other person understand what you understand?

A really good way to hook up with someone who does not like Bible verses is to share your own testimony of healing.  The best kind of testimony is how you believed you received when you prayed and got healed, because the other person is able to do the same thing.  If you just share about being healed through the gifts of the Spirit in a church service, a person who is not in good shape to go to a church service may not be able to see himself in your shoes, receiving healing.

Faith comes from hearing the Word, not from testimonies, but I have found that I can mix the Word with my testimony.  I explain that I believed what Mark 11:24 says.  (I don't usually cite the reference; I just say that Jesus said that.)  I have been amazed at how quickly some people have latched on to this and "gotten it" themselves after I shared how I got healed.

Finally, ministering healing is a great way to find out how much you really believe in your heart, and how much is just head knowledge to you.  When the sick person starts asking you questions about healing, you'll find out what you really believe!


Healing is a good thing

Another proof that God wants everyone healed is the fact that he will not withhold good things from upright Christians.  Is healing a good thing?  Ask any sick person.  God never said that he would meet every need except healing needs.  He never said that he would give good things except healing.  Even if there were no regular healing verses in the Bible, the presence of these verses alone would prove that God is willing to heal everybody.

Psalm 23 talks about God's provision for us.  It opens with the statement that I shall not want.  Why?  Because the Lord is my Shepherd.  Certainly, if the Good Shepherd is in control of your life, you should not be in want.  The verse means that you shall not lack, not that you shall not want anything.  It doesn't mean that you won't want to be healed; it means you won't lack for healing!  If God would not heal you, you would still be in want of healing if the Lord were your Shepherd, and this verse would not be true.

Psalm 34:9-10 says that those who seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.  (Want again means lack.)  You should not lack healing.  Healing is a good thing, isn't it?

Psalm 84:11 says plainly that God will not withhold anything good from the upright.  Healing is good, so God will not withhold it.

Psalm 145:19-20 says that the Lord fulfills the desire of those who fear him.  If you are sick, you desire healing, don't you?  God's will is to fulfill your desire.

Matthew 7:11 says that God gives good things to those who ask him.  Is healing a good thing?  Of course!  Therefore, God will give it to those who ask for it.

James 1:17 shows another picture of God as the giver of every good and perfect gift.

Jesus said in Mark 11:24 that you can receive whatever you believe for when you pray.  This includes healing.  Jesus did not say that this would work for everything except healing.

If you're sick, is it your will to be healed?  Jesus said in John 15:7-8 that if you abide in him and his words abide in you, you will ask what you will and it shall be done unto you.  Therefore, if it is your will to be healed, and you let God's words abide in you, you know that you can be healed.

In John 15:16, Jesus made it plain that God would give you whatever you ask for in his name.  You can ask for healing in the name of Jesus and God will give it to you.  It has already been laid up in heaven for you.  You are receiving something that already exists in the realm of the spirit.

John 16:23-27 contains yet another promise that you can ask the Father for anything in the name of Jesus and get it.  That would include healing.

Matthew 18:18-20 shows us that when people agree on something in the name of Jesus, he is there in the midst of them to bring it to pass.

Romans 8:32 says that God freely gives you all things with his Son.

Even if you never read a traditional "healing Scripture," the facts shown above would be sufficient to let you know that you can ask God for healing and get it -- because healing is a good thing!


How to see God's will concerning healing

John 14:9

Jesus said that if you have seen him, you have seen the Father.  What do you see Jesus doing?  Healing the sick (Acts 10:38)!  When you see Jesus healing the sick, you have seen the Father in action.  Therefore, it must also be God's will to heal the sick.

Jesus attributed the healings in his ministry to his Father!  "But the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me:  or else believe me for the very works' sake" (John 14:10-11).  Since God does not change (Malachi 3:6), he must still be willing to heal the sick today.

"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also:  and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." -- John 14:7.

"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do:  for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.  For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth:  and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel." -- John 5:19-20.

"The same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me." -- John 5:36.

"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." -- John 6:38.

"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." -- John 8:19.

"And he that sent me is with me:  the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him." -- John 8:29.

"The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me." -- John 10:25.

"I and my Father are one." -- John 10:30.

"If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.  But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works:  that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." -- John 10:38.

"And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me." -- John 12:45.

"If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin:  but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father." -- John 15:24.

"I have glorified thee on the earth:  I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." -- John 17:4.

Given the long list of New Testament passages where Jesus healed the sick (see that section), you must conclude this:  Healing is God's will for you.  When you have seen Jesus, you have seen God, and Jesus healed the sick.  Jesus did his works in his Father's name, proving that it is your Father's will to heal you.  Healing is part of the work God gave Jesus to do, so it is still the work of God today.  Knowing that Jesus always did the will of God and pleased him, you know that healing is the will of God, and it pleases him.

If you want to see God's will concerning healing, just look at Jesus.  Then you'll see it!


Healed by Jesus' stripes

1 Peter 2:24

When we think of Christ's atonement, we usually think of his suffering on the cross.  However, his atonement did not start there.  Before Jesus went to the cross, he had already been beaten to shreds with a Roman whip.  He was so weak from this that he could not even carry his cross all the way to his crucifixion site.  The stripes (literally the bruise) laid on Jesus was part of the punishment for our sin that he had to bear.  (Although he was lashed many times, apparently his back ended up being one big bruise.)

It was the bruise inflicted on Jesus that healed us.  How could his bruise heal us?  He was bearing the physical part of the curse for breaking the Law.  He was bearing the curse in his body as our substitute.  This frees us from having to bear the curse for breaking the Law (which includes all sickness and disease) in our bodies.

If Jesus were not supposed to provide physical healing for us, he could have just hung on the cross and shed his blood for our forgiveness.  He would not have had to endure the scourge that brought physical healing to us.  The only explicitly stated benefit of the scourging that came before his crucifixion is healing.  This is really where his body was broken, more so than on the cross.  This is the act commemorated by the communion bread.  The wine commemorates his blood, which was shed mainly when he was pierced after he died, although surely he shed quite a bit of blood while he was still alive.

Jesus did more than shed his blood for us.  He allowed his body to be broken for us.  We celebrate both when we partake of communion.  We should walk in the benefit of his broken body (healing) as well as the benefit of his shed blood (forgiveness).


You have faith

If you are a believer, you already know how to believe God.  You have faith.  Without faith, you could not have been saved, since you are saved through faith (Eph 2:8-9).  Do not allow Satan to tell you that you don't have any faith or that you cannot believe God.  Those are lies.

You currently believe that you have something you cannot see.  You believe that you are going to heaven and that you have eternal life right now.  Yet you cannot see it or prove it in the natural.  You could point to outward signs of being nice, but there are nice sinners out there on their way to hell, too.  The only proof you have of your salvation is your faith.  Faith is the assurance of something you cannot see (Heb 11:1).

You are betting your entire eternal future on something you can't see.  You became a new creature in Christ, which is a greater work than a physical healing, by exercising faith in what Christ did for you on the cross.  You have faith!

Romans 12:3 says that God has given to every man (Romans was written to believers) the measure of faith.  So, God says that you have faith.  Don't side in with the devil and say, "I don't have any faith," because then you are lying just like the devil.  If God says that you have faith, you do.  Don't take sides against God!

God says that there is faith and love in Christ Jesus (1 Tim 1:14, 2 Tim 1:13).  Since you are in Christ Jesus, you can walk in faith and walk in love.

Don't become introspective, trying to evaluate how much faith you have.  If you have faith as a mustard seed, you could move a mountain if you express your faith in words.  Concentrate on the promises of God and speak them with your mouth out loud.  The more you hear God's Word, the more you will water that divine seed, and it will become natural for you to say it.

Jesus told you to "have faith in God" (Mark 11:22) and then talked about what your faith could do.  Jesus could not command you to do this if it were impossible!  Therefore, you can have faith in God.  You can speak to mountains and have them move.  Don't go around saying that you just can't believe God.  Go around saying that you can believe God, because Jesus said you can!


1 Timothy 1:14
1 Timothy 1:14:

And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.


2 Timothy 1:13
2 Timothy 1:13:

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.


Read this if you don't understand healing

Guess what?  God never told you to understand healing.  Guess what else?  You don't have to understand healing to get healed!

You need to renew your mind with God's promises and statements regarding healing.  But you are not commanded to understand everything about healing!  Jesus commands you to believe the gospel, not understand the gospel mentally.

Do you understand how the Trinity can be three persons and yet be one?  That doesn't stop you from believing in the Trinity, does it?  Do you understand how Jesus could have borne your sins in his own body on the cross?  That doesn't stop you from believing that he did, does it?  Do you understand how God can hear and answer prayers for millions of people simultaneously, and all the while treat you as if you were the only one praying and you had his undivided attention?  That doesn't stop you from believing that he does, does it?

Do you understand how God in his fullness can actually live inside you?  That doesn't stop you from believing that he does, does it?  Do you understand how God can make your old nature cease to exist when you get born again and give you a brand new nature?  That doesn't stop you from believing that he does, does it?  Do you understand how God always existed before time or the universe that we know, and that no one made God?  That doesn't stop you from believing that he has eternally existed, does it?

Oh, but now that we're talking about healing, do you suppose you have to understand it to get it?  You believe and walk in the light of these other things without understanding them, right?  Why not believe in and walk in the light of your healing without understanding it?

Jesus said that you believe with your heart.  Trying to understand healing is trying to believe with your mind.  Yes, you should renew your mind, but you don't believe with your head -- you believe with your heart!  And you can believe in your heart even when your head does not understand it.  We have just proved that.  Faith arises in your heart when you hear the Word of God.

If you've received the Holy Spirit, you can pray in other tongues.  Unless God gives you the interpretation, you have no idea what you're saying.  You can pray very effective prayers out of your spirit without your mind understanding anything.  This is clear, because Paul said that he would pray with the spirit and with the understanding, and that his understanding was unfruitful when his spirit prayed in an unknown tongue (1 Cor 14:14-15).  So your spirit can know things that your mind does not grasp, and you can still get results anyway!

Why should you believe that you are healed by the stripes of Jesus?  Because God says so!  Why should you believe that God heals all your diseases?  Because God says so!  Why should you believe that surely Jesus has borne your sicknesses and diseases?  Because God says so!  Why should you believe that your body as well as your spirit was bought with the price that Christ paid?  Because God says so!

Stop trying to believe the Bible!  Trying to believe is a mental struggle that is nowhere encouraged in Scripture.  Jesus did not tell you to "try to believe" the gospel!  Quit trying and start doing it.  You can!

Here is something that should help you a lot.  Your receiving is based on your actions, not on your understanding.  God tells you to "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).  This does not mean that you leave your brains at the altar when you get born again.  God did not say to throw out your understanding or even to ignore your understanding.  (You'll need your understanding to drive to work.)  God just doesn't want you to trust in your understanding instead of in him.  If you know what God says and you don't understand it yet, you are commanded to act on what he says instead of what your understanding says.

The key is to act based on the Word of God instead of based on your understanding when there is a conflict.  Your understanding says, "I don't know why I can't get healed."  God says, "By Jesus' stripes, you were healed."  Act on your understanding and you will say, "I guess I'm going to have to tough out this cold."  Act on God's Word and you will say, "I may not feel like it, but God says that I am healed.  Sickness does not belong to me; healing does.  Thank you, Father, that I am healed and not sick!  Thank you, Jesus for taking my sicknesses away so that I don't have to bear this one!  Thank you that I have healing for my body, and the devil can't keep it away because I already have it!"

You aren't going to feel like acting on God's Word most of the time.  You might as well settle that now.  Your flesh is going to fight you.  The less renewed your mind is, the more your mind will fight you.  It is a question of obedience and reverence for God's Word.  Your feelings do not matter.  You must act on God's Word whether you feel like doing so or not, and whether it feels like it is true or not.  The fact that God said it is sufficient.

So in summary:  Stop trying to believe, and start acting on God's Word instead of leaning on your own understanding!


1 Corinthians 14:14-15
1 Corinthians 14:14-15:

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

What is it, then?  I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also:  I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.


Healing and prosperity

If there were no specific promise in the whole Bible saying that healing is yours, it could be proved simply by citing the scriptures that promise financial abundance to the child of God.  You can't prosper financially while stuck in bed with a splitting headache for three days.  You can't enjoy success in life and reign as a king while on a morphine pump.

God told Joshua to continually meditate (dwell on and mutter) the commands of God so that he would do them and prosper:

Joshua 1:8:

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Being laid up in the hospital is not the road to prosperity, unless we're talking about the prosperity of your medical specialists!  Being incapacitated is not having good success.  Therefore, if you learn and obey the Word of God, you should not be sick.  You should be successful.  If cancer cuts you down in mid-life, you are not successful inasmuch as you lose your chance to succeed in later years.

Part of the "curse of the law" from which we are redeemed is poverty and lack.  If you're unable to work and lacking because you can't go do anything, you are experiencing something that God calls a curse.

The Biblical concept of prosperity goes beyond financial wealth and includes well-being in every area of your life.  (Some opponents of faith are usually quick to point this out, but they may want to back off when they see that this works against them in opposing healing.)  Being sick is not being well.  As in 3 John 2, healing and prosperity go together, just as poverty and sickness go together in the terrible "curse of the law" found in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and elsewhere.

See also:

Abraham's blessing is yours


Abraham's blessing is yours

Because you are in Christ, you already have something called "the blessing of Abraham."  You do not need to get it.  You already have it now.  You don't receive it by your works.  You received it when you were saved.  Whether you ever walk in the light of it or not, Abraham's blessing is yours already!

Let's prove this in Galatians 3:

"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." -- Gal 3:-7-9.

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:  for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." -- Gal 3:13-14.

"Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.  He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." -- Gal 3:16.

"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." -- Gal 3:29.

You are a partaker of the blessing of Abraham because you are in Christ.  It has nothing to do with your works.

One of the conspicuous blessings Abraham had was great wealth.  This is why you should not run around acting and talking like the devil is keeping money away from you.  If you say that, he'll be happy to mess with your money, but the truth is, he can't keep it from you because you already have the blessing of Abraham.  You're not trying to get it.  You have it now.  You just need to act and talk in agreement with that.

What does this have to do with healing, and why is this included in a discussion of healing?  Abraham enjoyed good health.  Isaac was born to him when he was a hundred years old.  Years later he was able to climb a mountain to offer Isaac as a sacrifice.  This guy was definitely in good shape for that age.  And that's not all!  When Sarah died, Abraham remarried -- and had six more kids by his second wife (Gen 25:1-3)!  In all, Abraham lived 165 years (Gen 25:8).  Long life was one way that God blessed him.

Yeah, but can we really think that health is part of the blessing of Abraham?  You can think what you want, but what Jesus thought is in Luke 13:11-16.  Jesus said that the woman ought to be healed because she was a daughter of Abraham.  It appears that Jesus considered good health to be part of the blessing of Abraham, which you now have.  Therefore, you should enjoy this part of the blessing.  Remember, this blessing is already yours.  You're not trying to get it -- you already have it!  Act and talk in a way that reflects that fact.

See also:

Healing and prosperity


Who you are and what you have

Look at who the Bible says you are and what the Bible says you have because you are in Christ.  Then see if it makes sense to you that God would do all of this for you and leave out the healing of your body!  This is not even a comprehensive list.

You have eternal life (1 John 5:11-13).  You shall not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).  You have everlasting life (John 3:36).  You shall never see death (John 8:51).  You will never die (John 11:26).  [These speak of spiritual death.]

You are redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19-20).  You are justified freely by God's grace by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).  You are justified by Jesus' blood and saved from wrath through him (Romans 5:9).  Jesus has delivered you from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10).  You are reconciled to God by the death of his Son (Romans 5:10).  You have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ because you are justified by faith (Romans 5:1).  You have been reconciled in the body of Christ's flesh through death so that you could now be presented holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight (Col 1:22).  You are reconciled to God (Eph 2:16).  You have redemption through Jesus' blood, the forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7).  You are forgiven for all your sins (Eph 4:32, Col 1:14, Col 2:13, 1 John 2:12).  You were purged from your old sins (2 Peter 1:9).  God forgets your sins (Heb 8:12, Heb 10:17).

You are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor 5:21).  You are righteousness, you are light, you are Christ [to the world by being part of his body], and you are the temple of God (2 Cor 6:14-16).  There is no condemnation for you (Romans 8:1).  The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in you (Romans 8:4).

You have been created after God in righteousness and true holiness (Eph 4:24).  You are a new creation in Christ; the old has passed away and all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17).  You are born of God (1 John 5:1).

Your old man is crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth you should not serve sin (Romans 6:6).  You are freed from sin (Romans 6:7).  You are dead to sin and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:11).  You are under grace, and sin has no dominion over you (Romans 6:14).  You are dead to sins (1 Peter 2:24).  You are made free from sin, and have become the servant of righteousness (Romans 6:18).  You are dead to the law by the body of Christ (Romans 7:4), and delivered from the law (Romans 7:6).  You have eternal redemption by the blood of Christ (Heb 9:12).  You were baptized into Christ's death, so that as he was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, you should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).

You are more than a conqueror through him who loved you (Romans 8:37).  You have received abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness, so you shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).  You are a king and a priest unto God (Rev 1:6), a king and a priest on the earth (Rev 5:10).  All things are under your feet (since the Church is Christ's body and thus his feet on the earth) (Eph 1:22).  God gives you the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 15:57) and always makes you triumph in Christ (2 Cor 2:14).  You are part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9).  The Lord will deliver you from every evil work, and will preserve you unto his heavenly kingdom (2 Tim 4:18).  You have overcome the world (1 John 5:4-5).  You are quickened together with Christ (Eph 2:1, Eph 2:5) and have been raised up to sit with Christ in heavenly places (Eph 2:6).

You are delivered from this present evil world (Gal 1:4).  You have been delivered from the power of darkness and have been transferred into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Col 1:13).  You have the right to use the name of Jesus to make the knee bow of everything that is named (Phil 2:9-11).  You have overcome the wicked one (1 John 2:13-14).  You have already overcome antichrist spirits (1 John 4:4).  The Lord will establish you and keep you from evil (2 Thess 3:3).

God freely gives you all things (Romans 8:32).  You have received the Spirit of God so that you might know the things that are freely given to you by God (1 Cor 2:12).  God gives you all things richly to enjoy (1 Tim 6:17).  There are many good things in you in Christ Jesus that you should acknowledge (Philemon 6).  All things are yours (1 Cor 3:21-22).  God's divine power has given you all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).  God has already blessed you with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Eph 1:3).  You shall never hunger or thirst (John 6:35).  You are complete in Christ (Col 2:10).

Christ has received you to the glory of God (Romans 15:7).  You are accepted in the beloved (Eph 1:6).

You have boldness and access with confidence through the faith of Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph 3:12).  You have access by faith into this grace (Romans 5:2).  You have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus (Heb 10:19).  You can draw nigh unto God (Heb 7:19, James 4:8).  You can come boldly to the throne of grace, obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:16).  You are made nigh by the blood of Christ (Eph 2:13).  You have access through Jesus Christ by one Spirit to the Father (Eph 2:18).  You have been brought to God by Christ (1 Peter 3:18).

You have received a gift to minister to others (1 Peter 4:10).  The manifestation of the Spirit is given to you for the benefit of others (1 Cor 12:7).  You have been given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Eph 4:7).  You have gifts which differ from those of others by God's grace (Romans 12:6).  You are God's workmanship, and God has already pre-ordained good works for you to walk in (Eph 2:10).  You have been set in the body as it pleased God (1 Cor 12:18).  God works in you to will and to do his good pleasure (Phil 2:13).  Your sufficiency is of God, who has made you an able minister of the new testament (2 Cor 3:5-6).  Rivers of living water flow out of you when you minister to others (John 7:38).

You have the love of God shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5).  You are taught of God to love others (1 Thess 3:9).

You are no longer a debtor to the flesh to obey it (Romans 8:12).  You have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts (Gal 5:24).  You have put off the old man with his deeds (Col 3:9).  You have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:4).

You are a child of Abraham (Gal 3:7), blessed with Abraham (Gal 3:9), a partaker of the blessing of Abraham (Gal 3:14), and Abraham's seed according to the promise (Gal 3:29).  You are an heir of God through Christ (Gal 4:7).  You are an heir (Titus 3:7), an heir of salvation (Heb 1:14).  You are a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).  In Christ you have obtained an inheritance (Eph 1:11).  You are called to inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9).  You are a fellowheir with the Jews (Eph 3:6).  You are worthy to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light (Col 1:12).

God works in you mightily (Col 1:29).  The Word of God works effectually in you (1 Thess 2:13).  He who began a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6).

God the Father is in you (Eph 4:6).  God dwells in you (1 John 4:15).  Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost that is in you (1 Cor 6:19).

You [together with the Church] are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwells in you (1 Cor 3:16).  Your body is a member of Christ (1 Cor 6:15).  You are God's house (Heb 3:6).

You are a child of God (Romans 8:16, John 1:12).  God is your Father and you are his child (2 Cor 6:18).  You are joined to the Lord and one spirit with him (1 Cor 6:17).

Christ is establishing you and God has anointed you (2 Cor 1:21).  You have an anointing from the Holy One and you know all things (1 John 2:20).  The anointing that you have received of him abides in you (1 John 2:27).

Jesus has given you his glory (John 17:22).  You are brought into glory (Heb 2:10).  You are changed into the image of the glory of the Lord, from glory to glory, by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:18).  You are called, justified and glorified (Romans 8:30).  You are called to God's kingdom and glory (1 Thess 2:12).  You are called by the gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thess 2:14).  Christ in you is the hope of glory (Col 1:27).

You have glorious liberty (Romans 8:21).  You are free with Christ's liberty (Gal 5:1, Gal 5:13).

You are sanctified (1 Cor 1:2).  You are sanctified once and for all (Heb 10:10).  You are washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor 6:11).  Christ Jesus has been made unto you wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (1 Cor 1:30).

You are comforted by God in all your tribulation (2 Cor 1:4).  God comforts you when you are cast down (2 Cor 7:6).

The world is crucified to you, and you to the world, in the cross of your Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 6:14).  You are crucified with Christ:  nevertheless you live; yet not you, but Christ lives in you (Gal 2:20).  You are buried with him in baptism and risen with him (Col 2:12, Col 3:1).  You are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God (Col 3:3).  You are not of the world (John 17:16).

You have a High Priest -- Jesus (Heb 10:21).  Jesus lives to make intercession for you and is able to save you to the uttermost (Heb 7:25).  Jesus is the author and the finisher of your faith (Heb 12:2).

The Spirit is poured out abundantly on you through Jesus Christ your Savior (Titus 3:5-6).  You are in the Spirit (Romans 8:9).  You have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby you cry Abba [Daddy], Father (Romans 8:15).  You are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise unto the day of redemption (Eph 1:13, Eph 4:30).  You have been made to drink into one Spirit (1 Cor 12:13).  The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made you free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).  The Comforter shall abide with you forever (John 14:16).  The Spirit of truth is in you (John 14:17).  The Holy Ghost teaches you all things (John 14:26).  He brings Jesus' words to your remembrance (John 14:26).  He testifies of Jesus (John 15:26).  The Spirit guides you into all truth (John 16:13) and shows you things to come (John 16:13).  He will show you the things of Jesus (John 16:14-15).

You have not been given the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Tim 1:7).  You are delivered from the bondage of the fear of death (Heb 2:15).

God will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5).  The Lord is your helper, and you will not fear what man shall do unto you (Heb 13:6).

You have the measure of faith (Romans 12:3).

You shall not be ashamed because you believe in Jesus (Romans 9:33, Romans 10:11).  You shall not be confounded (1 Peter 2:6).

You, along with the rest of the Church, are being framed together into God's holy temple, a habitation of God through the Spirit (Eph 2:20-21).  The Lord nourishes you, and you are a member of his flesh and of his bones (Eph 5:30).  You have been baptized into one body (1 Cor 12:13) and are a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27).  You, with the rest of the Body, increase with the increase of God (Col 2:19).  You are in the household of God and are a fellow-citizen with all other saints (Eph 2:19).  You are built up as a lively stone in a spiritual house in a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5).  You and fellow believers are members one of another in the body of Christ (Romans 12:5).  You are God's husbandry [farm] and God's building (1 Cor 3:9).

You are baptized into Christ and have put on Christ (Gal 3:27).  You are one with Christ (Heb 2:11).  As God is, so are you in this world (1 John 4:17).  You are in Christ and he is in you (John 14:20).

Jesus became poor so that you through his poverty might become rich (2 Cor 8:9).  God supplies all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19).

God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think according to the power that works in you (Eph 3:20).  God's power to you who believes is exceedingly great (Eph 1:19).  You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Phil 4:13).

You have a better covenant, established upon better promises than the Old Covenant (Heb 8:6).  God puts his laws in your mind and writes them on your heart (Heb 8:10), and puts his laws into your heart and writes them in your mind (Heb 10:16).

God has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9).  You are a child of the light (1 Thess 5:5).  You are light in the Lord (Eph 5:8).  You shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).  Jesus is your light, and you shall not abide in darkness (John 12:46).  You hear and know Jesus' voice, and you follow him (John 10:27).

You are the Lord's freeman and Christ's servant (1 Cor 7:22).  You are free indeed (John 8:36).

Jesus and his Father love you and will manifest themselves to you by living in you (John 14:21-23).

Jesus Christ is your peace (Eph 2:14).  Jesus gives you peace that the world cannot give (John 14:27).  He made peace through the blood of his cross (Col 1:20).

You can do the works that Jesus did and greater (John 14:12).  You can ask anything in Jesus' name and he will do it (John 14:14).  Jesus has chosen you to bear lasting fruit, that whatever you ask the Father in his name, the Father will give you (John 14:16).  Whatever you ask the Father in his name, the Father will give you (John 16:23).  You can speak to physical circumstances and they must obey you (Mark 11:23).

Jesus is preparing a place for you (John 14:2).

You have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16).

All the promises of God are yea and Amen in Christ by you (2 Cor 1:20).

God makes manifest the odor of his knowledge by you (2 Cor 2:14).

You have God's treasure in an earthen vessel (2 Cor 4:7).

You are dead to the law, that you might live unto God (Gal 2:19).

You are "the circumcision" (a true Jew) (Phil 3:3).

You are renewed in knowledge after the image of him who created you (Col 3:10).

God preserves your spirit, soul and body blameless until the coming of Christ (1 Thess 5:23).

The angels are sent forth to minister for you (Heb 1:14).

You have obtained mercy (1 Peter 2:10).

God cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).  The Father himself loves you (John 16:27).

You have fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1:3) and with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 13:14).

Would God give you all of these other blessings and leave healing out?  Don't some of these blessings imply that you would need to be healed?  For example, how can you reign in life as a king and a priest on the earth if you are laid up in the hospital for the rest of your life?  If God gives you all things, surely he cannot leave healing out.  If Jesus saves you to the uttermost, surely he saves you from sickness.  If all things and all blessings are yours, surely healing is included.

If you can believe all that, surely you can believe this:

Jesus himself took your infirmities and bore your sicknesses (Matthew 8:17).

The Spirit quickens your mortal body (Romans 8:11).

You are redeemed from the curse for breaking the law, which includes every sickness there is (Gal 3:13).

You were healed by Jesus' stripes (1 Peter 2:24).

Your body and spirit are bought at a price and are God's (1 Cor 6:20, 1 Cor 7:23).

God wants you to prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers (3 John 2).


Why you don't have to touch Jesus as he passed by
Why you don't have to touch Jesus as he passes by

Some traditional people have an expression about touching Jesus as he passes by in a service.  That is not a Church Age concept.  Too often we picture Jesus seated at the right hand of God in heaven and forget that he also indwells you, the believer!  Jesus the Healer lives inside you!  You don't have to go find him somewhere and wait for him to walk by while singing Kum Ba Ya Ma Lawd.  All that he is dwells in you!

There is such a thing as responding to the anointing in a service.  In such a case, you should answer a call for a healing line that applies to you as quickly as possible, without bowling others over to get down there.  That is responding to the anointing, but not really responding to Jesus as he passes by, despite the popular expression.

The same Jesus Christ who healed all that were oppressed of the devil lives inside you now!

Col 1:27 speaks of "Christ in you, the hope of glory."  Jesus promised to live in you (John 14:23).  God the Father is in you (Eph 4:6).  God dwells in you (1 John 4:15).  Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost that is in you (1 Cor 6:19).  God Almighty lives in you!  He is not going to pass you by.  He is in you to stay!  The Spirit abides with you forever (John 14:16).  The same presence of God that was in the Old Testament "holy of holies" is now in you.  When Jesus died, the veil in the temple in front of the holy of holies was torn from top to bottom, indicating that God had moved out!  The same awesome presence that was there is in you now!

You do not have to try to grab Jesus as he passes by or try to get him to Kum Ba Ya.  He already Kame Into Ya.  The same Jesus who healed the multitudes lives in you!  You have constant access to the Healer, the Miracle Worker.  During Jesus' earth ministry, if you wanted a healing, you had to go find him.  Now you don't even have to look for him, because you know where he is!  The same Jesus who healed the sick 2,000 years ago lives in you.  He is available to heal you today!


You are holy and worthy to receive healing

Ephesians 4:24:

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

You are not some unworthy, sinful little worm.  You are a new creature in Christ.  You are holy.  You are righteous.  Therefore, you are worthy to receive healing.  Do not pray to be holy, and do not pray to be found worthy.  You already are both because of what Jesus Christ did for you.  Failure to realize this will hinder your prayer life, because you will feel unworthy to receive your healing.  God says you are holy and worthy.  This does not mean that we bow down and worship you and cry "Holy, Holy, Holy, Worthy are you," but in God's eyes you are already holy and worthy because you are in Christ.

You are holy.  You can present yourself a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1).  The temple of God is holy, which temple you are (1 Cor 3:17).  The children of believers are considered holy (1 Cor 7:14).  We were chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before him in love (Eph 1:4).  We are growing into a holy temple of the Lord (Eph 2:21).  Christ gave himself for the church so that it might be holy and without blemish (Eph 5:25-27).  You are reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to be presented holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight (Col 1:21-22).  You are the elect of God, holy and beloved (Col 3:12).  First Thessalonians was to be read to all the holy brethren (1 Thess 5:27).  God wants men everywhere to lift up holy hands (1 Tim 2:8).  You are one of the holy brethren referred to in Hebrews 3:1.  You are part of a holy priesthood (1 Peter 2:5).  You are part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9).  The Holy Spirit in you is called, as if you couldn't figure this out, the spirit of holiness (Romans 1:4)!

The fact that God lives in you is proof that you are holy.  God would not allow anything unholy into his presence in the Old Covenant.  You are God's holy temple under the New Covenant, as seen above.

You are worthy to receive healing because you are righteous!  You are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor 5:21).  By the obedience of one [Christ] you have been made righteous (Rom 5:19).  Your faith is counted for righteousness (Romans 4:5, Gal 3:6).  Jesus condemned sin in the flesh so that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in you (Romans 8:3-4).  Righteousness is of faith (Romans 9:30).  With the heart man believes unto righteousness (Romans 10:10).  The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 15:17).

Christ Jesus is made unto you righteousness (1 Cor 1:30).  The New Covenant is called the ministration of righteousness (2 Cor 3:9).  You, as a believer, are called righteousness in 2 Cor 6:14.  Paul talked of being found in him [Christ], not having his own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith (Philippians 3:9).  Noah was an heir of the righteousness which is by faith (Hebrews 11:7).  Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness (James 2:23).

There is no question that you are righteous right now if you are born again.  Yet for some reason this is controversial today.  Many still insist that you are still a fallen sinner, and your sins are just covered.  According to this popular view, you are actually unrighteous, but the blood of Christ puts a righteous covering on you so that God sees you as righteous.  This "covering" of sins is an Old Testament idea, not a New Testament idea.  David could talk about his sins being covered, and that is the best that he could have under his covenant.  However, your sins are more than covered.  They are obliterated.  You have more than a covering of righteousness.  You are the righteousness of God in Christ.

The verse at the beginning of this discussion proves that you have been recreated in righteousness and true holiness.  Your new born-again spirit is righteous and holy, not sinful, and not in need of any kind of covering.  Jesus Christ took your sin and gave you his righteousness.  Your born-again spirit is every bit as righteous before God as Jesus Christ was when he walked the earth.

Those who object to this say that if we were really just as righteous as Jesus was, we could not sin.  That is not true.  Your mind, to the extent that it is unrenewed with God's Word, will lead you into sin.  Your body, if you listen to its sense-realm information, can lead you into sin also.  God does not say that your mind is righteous or that your body is righteous.  Your mind was not born again and your body was not born again.  Your spirit was born again.  Your born-again spirit is the "new man" that was created after God in righteousness and true holiness.  You were re-created in God's image.  You are not omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, or worthy to receive worship, but you look like God on the inside.  Your spirit was literally born of God.

Because you are righteous, your prayers for healing avail much!  "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16).

What about other Scriptures that command us to be holy?  Why would God command us to be something that we already are?  These Scriptures speak of holiness in conduct, not holiness in terms of standing with God.  Your holy conduct should reflect your holy standing.

See yourself the way God sees you.  You are righteous.  You have the right to receive healing from God along with all his other blessings.  You are his holy temple.  God was very concerned about the condition of his temple in the Old Covenant.  He didn't want to live in a run-down dump.  Surely he does not want his current temple -- you -- to be a run-down dump, either.


Dealing with fear

If you have been diagnosed with a serious illness or are experiencing alarming symptoms in your body, it is very important that you learn to deal with fear.  The devil will try to get you into fear over what the doctor or your body tells you.  You must deal with fear.  Do not entertain it.  You cannot operate in faith and fear at the same time any more than you can put your car in first gear and reverse at the same time.

Fear is not of God.  God wants you to be free from fear.

Luke 1:74:

That he would grant unto us [through part of Christ's work], that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

You are delivered from fear!  "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear..." (Romans 8:15).  Through death Jesus destroyed him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and delivered them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (Heb 2:14-15).

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:  because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect is love" (1 John 4:18).  So part of overcoming fear must be acknowledging the presence of your loving Father.  "I will fear no evil, for thou art with me" (Psalm 23:4).  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear..." (Psalm 46:1-2).  "But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil" (Proverbs 1:33).  "Fear thou not, for I am with thee:  be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness" (Isaiah 41:10).  "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee" (Isaiah 41:13).  "Fear not, for I am with thee" (Isaiah 43:5).

This is further amplified in Psalm 91.  The following belongs to the man who "dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High" and "abides under the shadow of the Almighty" and "says of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress:  my God; in him will I trust:"  "Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee."  Here God tells you that you do not have to fear sickness if you abide in him, even if 11,000 people around you have just dropped dead from it.

In other words, you have heard that cancer has killed millions of people.  The doctor tells you that you will probably have cancer because it runs in your family.  You can confidently state that you to not have to have cancer, let alone die from it, because you abide in the secret place of the Most High.

This may run contrary to what your Christian friends will do.  Some of them may panic and think that they need to hold an all-night emergency prayer meeting for you.  You don't have to panic, even if you are diagnosed with a fatal illness.  Even if thousands have just fallen from the same thing, you do not have to fall.

Satan loves to work you over about supposedly faith-filled Christians who died because from the same condition you have.  Don't let that distract you.  You can never really know someone else's heart or someone else's situation, and you will probably be in for a few surprises when you get to glory.  You can still receive your healing, just as you could still get saved even if thousands of people around you go to hell unsaved.

"Do not be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken" (Prov 3:25-26).  "In righteousness shalt thou be established:  thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear..." (Isaiah 54:14).  Note that sickness is the oppression of the devil (Acts 10:38).

Fear, like faith, is a force that changes circumstances.  "The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him" (Prov 10:24).  What you say and believe in your heart will come to pass.  Jesus did not say that this principle only applies toward positive things!

Jesus contrasted faith and fear:  "Why are ye so fearful?  How is it that ye have no faith?" (Mark 4:40).  "Why are ye so fearful, O ye of little faith?" (Matthew 8:26).  Jesus told Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, "Fear not:  believe only, and she shall be made whole" (Luke 8:50).

The most common thing that angels say seems to be, "Fear not."

It is vital that you dwell on things that will encourage you in your faith (the Word, testimonies of people who got healed of fatal illnesses by faith, etc.) instead on those things that would encourage fear (finding out how horribly Uncle John suffered before he died, ignorant books by promoters of unbelief, etc.).

The spirit of fear

2 Tim 1:7:

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Peter's problem in walking on the water was wavering mentally, not giving in to a spirit.  But here the Bible talks about "the spirit of fear."  Anyone who has walked with the Lord and attempted to do anything for him has felt the opposition of the devil through the spirit of fear.  The devil tries to intimidate you out of doing the will of God.  When he tries this, speak to the spirit of fear and command it to leave in the name of Jesus.  Power, love and a sound mind belong to you.  It is the wicked, not the saints, whose hearts will faint for fear of the times (Luke 21:16).

Since there is only one verse about the spirit of fear, we should not be too quick to categorically state that the source of all fear is a spirit of fear.  You can do a good job working yourself into fear without any help from the devil if your mind is not renewed with the Word of God.  Jesus did not tell Peter or the others to rebuke a spirit of fear; he told them to believe instead of fearing.  Faith is the antidote to fear.  Trying harder not to fear is not the antidote.  You don't overcome sin by trying harder not to sin; you overcome sin by believing God's Word, which in particular, tells you that you have victory over sin now.

Fear is a choice

John 14:27:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

You can let your heart be afraid, or you can "let not your heart be afraid."  It is your choice.  You never have to fear.  The Bible is full of commands to "Fear not."  If it weren't your choice, and you couldn't do anything about it, God would be unjust to command you not to fear!  Therefore, you can choose not to fear.

This does not mean that you will not feel fear, any more than you will not feel anger or jealousy at times.  Between your flesh and the devil, you will feel these things and many more.  But it is up to you whether you resist them and reject them or give in to them.  It is not sin to be tempted to sin, and it is not sin to feel like sinning.  It is only sin to actually sin!

Fear IS faith

Fear is really faith running in the wrong direction.  If you are in fear, you are afraid because you believe something!  You believe the wrong thing, but you still believe something.  Most likely, you believe that something awful will come to pass when you have no proof that it will.  If you are in strong fear, you have proved that you can operate in strong faith!  You are going not by circumstances, but by what you believe your circumstances will be in the future.  If you can do such a good job of acting on what you believe, even without natural proof, just turn it around and start treating God's Word the same way that you treated the bad report that got you into fear.

How many times have you lost a good night's sleep over something that never really happened?  I've done it more than once.  The problem was that I let contrary circumstances become more real to me than God's promises.

If you can believe that something bad will happen even though you can't prove it, surely you can believe that something good will happen instead, even though you can't prove it in the natural.  Everyone believes something.  What you believe will determine what you say, and what you say will determine what you receive.  It works in both directions.  Stop using this principle against yourself, and start using it for yourself!

The best way to beat fear

God has already given you all things pertaining to life and godliness.  All things are yours.  You are complete in Christ, and God has promised to take care of you.  If you believe this, there is no basis for fear.  All fear is rooted in ignorance or unbelief of something that God said.  If you are in fear in any area, there is guaranteed to be Scripture that covers your situation.  If you would believe that Scripture, you would no longer fear.  You would replace your faith in the devil and the world with faith in God.  God has provided all that you need to triumph in Christ in every situation.  You will find your answer in his Word.  Please note that it's not a case of praying on and on.  It's a case of finding out what God says and choosing to believe that instead of something else.

Rather than just trying not to fear, which is really trying not to believe something, find out what to believe and believe that instead!  You can't believe God's Word and believe that you're going to fail at the same time.


Sickness is the power of the devil

Acts 10:38

If you study out this verse in the Greek, you will find that the word oppressed means under the power of.  (At least one popular translation words it this way.)  Jesus healed those who were under the power of the devil.  If there is sickness in your body, the power of the devil is at work in your body.  This does not mean that there is a moral failure on your part.  It simply means that when there is sickness, the devil is in control of something.  Sickness is his power, not God's.

According to Colossians 1:12-14, Jesus has already delivered you from the power of darkness.  This is not a promise; it is a fact.  You are already delivered from the power of the devil because you are now in the kingdom of God's Son.  Since sickness is part of the power of the devil, you are therefore delivered from sickness.  You could tell that from 1 Peter 2:24 and Matthew 8:16-17; this is just another way of proving it.

Jesus gave his disciples power over all devils and all sicknesses (Luke 9:1-2).  You cannot object that you are not called to preach as they were, because the Great Commission applies to you as a believer.  This commission includes the laying of hands on the sick for their recovery.  You have power over the power of the devil.  Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)!  You have already overcome him (1 John 2:13-14).  It follows, then, that you do not have to put up with the power of the devil in your physical body.  You have overcome him and have power over his works.  The Son of God, who was manifested to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), lives in you.  Since Jesus, and not Satan, rules your life, you get the things that go with Jesus (healing) instead of the things that go with Satan (sickness).

See also:

Who or what causes sickness?


You ought to be healed

Luke 13:11-16

Jesus said that this sick woman ought to be healed because she was a daughter of Abraham.  You are a child of Abraham because you in Christ (Gal 3:7).  (For more proof, see Abraham's blessing is yours.)

Therefore, if you are sick, you ought to be healed.  You are just as much a child of Abraham as that woman was, and you have just as much right to healing as she had.  She got her healing, so you ought to be healed, too!


Don't get sick when you get old

God's desire that you be in health (3 John 2) has no age limit.  As long as you are on this earth, God wants you well.  "By whose stripes you were healed" applies in old age, too!  Therefore, you do not have to be afflicted with the diseases that often come on older people.  You are still redeemed from every sickness, and you can still flourish.

Psalm 92:13-14:

Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.

It is the devil's lie that you have to become senile and decrepit when you get old.  God says that you can flourish in old age.  Look at Moses, who lived to be 120, yet "his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated" (Deut 34:7), or Caleb, who was still slaying giants in his eighties.

You do not have to get sick to die.  You can choose to go home to be with the Lord when you are satisfied.  Paul said that he had a choice to depart and be with Christ or to stay on the earth, which was more needful for the people.  It was Paul's choice, not the devil's choice through sickness.

God concludes Psalm 91 by saying that he will satisfy you with long life, and show you his salvation.  Long life is not satisfying if it is spent wasting away in pain or debility in a nursing home (or assisted living center, or whatever term is currently in vogue for a place that cares for those who can't care for themselves).  God isn't going to torture you with long life.  He doesn't want you to spend your later years wishing you would die.  He wants your long life to be satisfying, and he wants to show you his salvation, including healing, throughout your long, satisfying life!

Until you're ready to go home to your eternal reward, healing belongs to you, so believe God and stay healthy!

For more on this topic, see the answer to the Objection:  If you could always get healed, you would live forever, and God says you won't.


Why you don't need to pray the power down

God's power is already down!  We can pray for the "power gifts" of the Spirit to manifest in our services, but anyone who knows the Word can receive healing without a special manifestation of the Spirit.  You can get anything you need by believing God's Word.

We can and should pray for manifestations of the Spirit as signs to unbelievers (and carnal or weak believers, for that matter).  Thank God for people who get healed that way.  But you don't need to get healed that way.

There is no power shortage on the earth.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16).  "For the preaching of the cross is to them the perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor 1:18).  The gospel is the power of God!

Why is this?  Jesus has already provided for us everything we need, including healing.  We don't need to ask that God's power will fall on people.  We need to tell them that healing is already theirs so that they can believe it.  The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes.  The power is not activated in their lives when we pray for power.  It is activated when they believe and respond to the gospel.

That is how you got saved.  No one had to pray for "saving power" to come over you.  No one had to believe that there would be a special "salvation anointing" for you.  The power to save you was there all along.  It did something for you when you believed the gospel.  It is no different with healing.  There is enough power in the room you are in right now to heal every sick person on the earth.  How do I know that?  God is in you, and he has that power!  It is not a question of power.  You don't have to pray for "healing power" to show up.  The power to heal you has been there all along.  It does something for you when you believe the part of the gospel that pertains to healing.

Jesus told his disciples that they could not cast out a demon because of their unbelief.  He did not say it was due to lack of power.  It could not have been, since he gave them "power over all devils" before this event happened.  They did not need to pray more power down.  They needed to believe Jesus' words.  The gospel is the power of God to him who believes.

I can still remember a passionate sermon I heard once at a Pentecostal church.  The preacher was getting all excited and being very dramatic.  He kept saying over and over, "People, we need the power of God!  We need the power of God in church today.  We need to pray for more power.  God, give us your power!"  It was very heartfelt and also one of the worst sermons I have ever heard in my life.  (It was not the worst.  I think that one I heard about God causing his people to fail so that only he would get glory was worse, as was one about Mary leading an attack on Satan in the last days.)  I sat there thinking, "Doesn't this man know anything?  He's telling us to pray for something we already have!  Thank God the people are falling asleep and barely paying attention and this rubbish won't sink in!"

You have authority over Satan now.  You have authority over sickness now.  There is no more power to get.  You have it.  It is not a case of getting more power; it is a case of using what you have.  The reason few people do so is that they do not feel like they have this power.  So what?  God told you to believe the gospel, not feel the gospel.  The New Covenant is not a feeling.  It works when you act on it.

If you are looking for healing through a special manifestation of the Spirit in a service, you may have to keep looking for "the power."  You can receive healing just as well when you are not in such a service.

I got healed of my three worst medical problems to date through faith in the Word.  There was no tangible anointing present in any of the three cases; I just believed that I received my healing.  In one case, things got a lot worse for a couple of weeks, but then instantly vanished and never came back.  I did not need more power.  I did not need extra prayer.  I had already prayed and believed that I had received by healing.  I stood on God's Word and his Word became the power of God to me because I believed.  Through faith and patience I inherited the promise.


1 Corinthians  1:18
1 Corinthians 1:18:

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.


Get away from unbelief

Jesus could do no mighty work at Nazareth because of community unbelief.  If you want to minister to a sick person, a good place not to do it is where there are people around watching who do not believe in divine healing (in any meaningful sense of the phrase).  If Jesus could not get much accomplished in an atmosphere of unbelief, neither will you.  It would nice if God would do something dramatic to show the naysayers a thing or two, but that isn't how it works.

Jesus took a blind man out of town before ministering healing to him in Mark 8:22-25.  Jesus ministered to two blind men who were in faith for their healing in a house instead of in public (Matthew 9:27-30) even though the men were following him.  In Mark 7:32-37, Jesus pulled a deaf man aside from the multitude.  In Luke 8:41-56, Jesus put the weeping wailers and everyone else out of the room except the parents, Peter, James and John before raising Jairus' daughter from the dead.  In Acts 9:36-42, Peter followed his Lord's example and put the weeping widows out of the room before raising a woman from the dead.

If Jesus and his disciples did this, it is good idea for you to do it, too.  It will not help you or the sick person in a hospital bed if there are unbelieving people (especially unbelieving Christians) around!  It will not help you minister the good news that the person is healed by Jesus' stripes if there is someone else around begging and pleading with God to heal the person.  You will have to run the risk that some people will think you are rude.  Jesus walked in love; he was not rude.  He was just doing what he had to do.

If you are the sick person yourself, especially if you are in the hospital, you may have to establish some boundaries concerning who can visit you and when.  You are not there to socialize with your relatives.  You are there to get healed.  If someone, even someone close to you, continues to sob over you and tell you that it looks like you're going to die, you don't need that person around.  It is not that you want to be rude; you just want to be healed!

If you read Scripture and healing books, the nurses will think you are strange.  They are used to people laying there watching carnal soap operas and game shows.  The doctor may think you're a nut.  That's fine; after you get healed, he won't think that anymore.  Your roommate may not appreciate your stand of faith or the believers who come in and stand with you.  Too bad.  You are crucified with Christ anyway, and it should not matter to you what anyone else thinks about your stand for God.

This would not be a good time to listen to the local half-faith, half-unbelief "Christian" radio station where one guy says you can be healed and another guy says that healing isn't for today and faith people are in a cult.  If you've got a decent station around, fine.  Otherwise, don't listen to anyone who would rob you of your faith for healing.

It is not wrong to listen to the doctor's report; he is just reporting physical facts that are subject to change.  Don't give the doctor a hard time about it.  Just realize that his word is not final, but God's word is.


Healing and prayer

If there is any area where people get confused about healing, it is probably in the area of prayer.  The common misconception is that we need to get a maximum number of people to bombard heaven's gates with requests for your healing, and this will maximize your chances of getting healed.  That is totally wrong.  There is no need to bombard heaven's gates to get something that is already yours.  You do not need to talk God into healing you.  God is moved by his Word, and specifically by your faith in his Word.  The majority does not rule him!

The problem with this mindset is that it assumes that healing is something that you have to "get out of God."  Some people use Jesus' parable of the persistent midnight knocker to teach that you should just keep praying until God gives you what you want.  That is not a picture of God.  God is not withholding your healing from you!  God wants you healed!  He already made provision for your healing.  You don't need to talk him, or pray him, into doing anything about your healing.  He has already done all that he needs to do about it.  It is now your move, so to speak.

I am an avid chess player, and I know that you would be thrown out of a chess tournament if you kept making moves when it wasn't your turn.  That would be against the rules.  There are rules concerning God's dealing with man, too.  God moves when it is his turn, but he does not move when it is your turn.

If I were playing a chess match and my clock were running, and I failed to make a move, eventually a flag on the clock would fall, indicating that I had forfeited the game on time.  I would be disqualified for not moving when it was my turn.  It would not be my opponent's fault; it would be my fault.  I could not blame my opponent for my loss of the game.

Well, thank God he is not your opponent; he is your ally.  But the same idea still applies.  If you do not move when it is your turn, you lose.  It is not God's fault; it's yours.  God will not make a move when it is not his turn.

God made his move when he sent Jesus to bear a terrible bruise on his body.  That bruise brought physical healing to you.  Healing is now available on a "whosoever will" basis, just as forgiveness of sins is.  It is now your move.  Your move is to receive what God is freely offering you right now.

Now suppose that instead of making a move in the chess game, you simply prayed in tongues the whole time.  You would surely be more edified by the time your clock ran out, but you would still lose the game because you did not move.  You can pray in tongues on and on for your healing, but you still lose if you do not move.  You are speaking mysteries to God in the Spirit.  Therefore, you do not pray in tongues for healing, because healing is not a mystery.  God has made it absolutely clear that healing is for you.  There is no need to pray in tongues about something when the will of God has been made known to your understanding.

I am not saying that it is wrong to pray in tongues when you are sick; I am just saying that you cannot pray "the prayer of faith" in tongues.  Yes, you say, but doesn't the Holy Spirit always pray in faith?  He can't pray in unbelief, can he?  No, he can't, but to pray the prayer of faith, you must believe that you receive something when you pray.  You can't believe that you receive something if you only pray in tongues, because you have no idea what you're saying.  Your understanding is unfruitful, to use Paul's words.  You can't receive something by accident.  To receive from God, you must know that you are doing so!

If you want to pray in tongues while asking God to reveal to you the cause of your problem, that's fine.  I was having trouble with persistent headaches and when I was praying in tongues, felt that I should look into having my wisdom teeth out.  Maybe you are not as dense as I was and would have figured it out, but I thank God for tongues.  I had the wisdom teeth out and the headaches stopped.  (Obviously, I am not against doctors, although I am glad I will never have to repeat that particular experience.  By the way, the next day, a famous healing minister was in town and I went to his meeting.  Before the meeting, I couldn't even eat, and when it was over, I could eat whatever I wanted without hurting, which I promptly did because I was very hungry.  I believed God for a fast recovery and got it.  You can do that, you know.)

There is no need to pray marathon prayers.  This is where so many people miss it.  They think that if they pray for 8 hours, they will get their healing.  Actually, you would be better off praying for 8 seconds in faith to receive your healing.  It would make the 8-hour marathon prayer totally unnecessary.

If you listen to most Christians pray, you will discover that they are wasting much of their time.  They are praying for things that are already theirs according to the New Testament, things that they could just receive from God.  If you want to pray for eight hours after receiving from God, that's fine.  Thanking God that you already have something for eight hours would hardly hurt you.  You only pray the prayer of faith once.  After that, there is no need to ask for what you want again, because you have already received it.  If you pray after that, just thank God for what you already have, regardless of whether you see any change in your body.

Church people too often use prayer as a substitute for faith.  You cannot make up for a lack of faith with extra prayer.  Rather than rambling on and on, people need to build their faith in God's healing covenant.  We would see more results if we would emphasize the receiving part by the sick person, rather than stressing that prayer be made for the sick person.

I am not saying that it is wrong to pray for the sick.  James said that you can pray for one another's healing.  But as he also said, the prayer of faith is what saves the sick.  James didn't just tell the elders to pray for the sick in a general sense.  He said specifically that the prayer of faith would heal the sick person.  It is good and right to pray the prayer of faith with each other.  But your attempts to do so will be thwarted if the person you are praying for does not have an understanding of the fact that healing is already settled as far as God is concerned.

It certainly is scriptural to pray for the sick to get a revelation of God's healing covenant.  We are told to "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2).  Sometimes the Spirit will just put an urge on you to pray for a sick person, and you should follow his leading.  Some people do get healed when people they don't even know pray for them.  However, it is always best for the people to get saved and get an understanding of healing so that the devil does not steal their healing from them.


Why you can believe...and not get healed
Why you can believe in divine healing and not get healed

Many people all over the world attend good churches that preach and teach divine healing.  Their statement of faith says that Christ's atonement purchased your healing.  Yet they are not healed!  If you ask them if they believe in healing, they will assure you that they do.  They know all about 1 Peter 2:24.  They know what Matthew 8:16-17 says.  They have heard that God heals all their diseases, as Psalm 103:3 says.  They know that God is the Lord who Heals You from Exodus 15:26.  They may be able to quote many more verses about healing.  If you tried to tell them that healing is not for all today, they would never believe you.  Yet they are sick!  Sometimes the church people are just as sick as the world when a stupid little virus goes around.  How can this possibly be?

They know that there are hindrances to healing.  They are not walking out of love.  They are not in unforgiveness, envy, strife, or anything else that would keep their healing away.  They are walking uprightly before God.  Yet they are still sick!

It is possible to believe in divine healing and never get healed.  You can have 100% correct theological doctrine about healing and stay sick.  That is because you do not get healed by believing in the doctrine of divine healing!

You need to believe in the doctrine of healing to get healed, but you do not get healed by simply believing that Jesus bore your sicknesses for you.  You do not get healed simply by believing that God is both willing and able to heal you, or even that he surely would heal you.

You get healed when you receive your healing from God.  You have to receive it.  There is a big difference between agreeing with the doctrine of healing and believing that you personally have received your healing.  If you merely assent to the fact that divine healing is for all today, you have not done what Jesus said to do.  You have not believed that you received when you prayed.  That is the key step.  You can get everything else right, but if you do not pray and believe that you receive your healing, you will stay sick unless medicine and doctors can help you.

I would hazard to say that most of us who theologically believe in the doctrine of divine healing do not have as much "heart faith" as we think we do in the matter.  We think we believe it until we get sick, and then we let our bodies tell us what is going to happen.  We haven't really let it become a part of us.  We let the seed get planted, but we don't take the time to water and care for it.  If you just go to church once a week and hear that healing is for you, but you never take the time to reflect on and speak these Scriptures about yourself out of your mouth, your faith will never be where it needs to be.  You will be frustrated, knowing in your head that you should be healed, but not seemingly able to overcome your senses when it comes to receiving healing.  If you want to be a person of faith, there is a price tag.  You need to study God's Word diligently and speak it out of your mouth.  Get used to hearing yourself agree with God about your healing.  Then, when you get sick, it won't be so hard, because your words have agreed with God all along.  You can just keep saying what you're used to saying.


Who is in control of your life?

The religious reflex is to say, "God is!"  But God is not totally in control of your life.  You are largely responsible for what happens to you.  God is actually only in control of your life to the extent that you believe that he is and say that he is and let him be in control.  The extent to which you will believe and say that he is depends on how much of his Word abides in you.

If God were totally in control of your life, you would never sin, would you?  It is not God's choice for you to sin; it is your choice.  You were on your way to hell before you were born again.  You chose to be saved and go to heaven.  God did not force you to do it.  God does not force anyone to do anything.  He sets before you life and death and asks you to choose life.  But it is you making the choice, not him.

If we could just get this through the heads of religious Christians, we would be a long way toward having them walk in the blessings of God, including healing.  Too many Christians use God's sovereignty as a cop-out.  In effect, they say, "Whatever happens to me is part of the perfect will of God for my life, because God is in control of my life."  They lay back and allow the will of Satan to be done in their bodies, their finances, and the rest of their lives.  I'm not kidding.  I knew someone who attributed everything that happened to her to God.  When she got a pay cut, she told the sinners where she worked that God was using this to teach her something.  That was unintentional slander of God's character.  If God were like that, Satan could quit his job because God would be out-doing him.

Death and life are in the power of your tongue!  God framed the worlds with his Word; your personal world is framed by your words.  You decide if you will have sickness or health, poverty or wealth, anxiety or peace, depression or joy.  James talked about the tongue being like the rudder on a ship.  You steer your course through life with your mouth.  It is not up to God to do that; it is up to you.

Please understand that you do not have the right to do whatever you want.  When it comes to your place of service in the Body of Christ, God arranges the parts as it pleases him, and you do not have a say in the matter.  He is your Lord and you obey him whether you "feel like it" or not.  But if you walk with him, he will work in you both to will and to do his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13), and you will find yourself having godly desires that line up with his will for your life.  I am not teaching against consecration; that is vital.  In fact, unconsecrated Christians will have a very difficult time receiving healing or anything else from God.  If you are resisting his will in one area, it is difficult or impossible to receive his will in another area.

God is not in control of the earth.  He owns it but he does not run it.  The devil, by and large, runs Planet Earth.  He is "the god of this world."  But the only reason he can do it is because men cooperate with him.  By himself, Satan cannot run this world, and neither can God.  It is man who decides what happens here.  We can authorize Satan to act and we can authorize God to act.

Psalm 115:16:

The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S:  but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

God has already given you all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4).  It is not a case of God doing something new for you.  Everything you need is at your disposal; you simply receive it from God.  God has already taken care of all your needs, including healing.  You decide whether or not to receive what you need.  That is not God's decision, and he is not in control of that decision.  You are.


The power of God's spoken Word

Isaiah 55:10-11:

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:  it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

God's words do not return to him without accomplishing what they were sent for.  But notice that he said that his words return to him.  How can this be?  Once he speaks something, how is it that his words can come back to him?  Do they have little boomerangs on them?

It's simple.  His words return to him when you speak them out of your mouth.

When you speak God's Word, you are causing that word to perform what it was sent to do.  God needs your agreement.  When you agree with God concerning any matter and say so, you release his power on the earth.  The power is already everywhere; God is omnipresent.  But that power is not released until God's Word comes out of your mouth.  We see this principle in Romans 10:9-10, where confession is made unto salvation.  Salvation is not yours until you confess (say) that it is.  We would not accept a testimony that someone got saved if no one heard the person declare Jesus Christ to be his Lord.  Likewise, healing does not manifest until you are willing to say it out of your mouth.  To say that you believe it in your heart, but you would just be uncomfortable saying it, is a lie.  Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  If you won't say it, you don't really believe it.  That might sound hard, but it is definitely the truth.

It is not difficult to tell what people really believe.  Just listen to them talk for a few minutes and you'll figure it out.  If they say anything other than "I have received my healing; it is mine now," you know that they are not in faith, even if they mentally agree with the doctrine of divine healing and can quote all the Scriptures on it.  There is a difference between assenting to a doctrine and actually receiving something.  If you really believe something, you will say it.  You will have the spirit of faith that says, "I believed, therefore have I spoken" (2 Cor 4:13).

But when you do believe God's Word and you speak it out of your mouth, you are releasing power into the earth.  You are returning God's Word to him, and it does not return to him without accomplishing the thing he sent it for.

God sent his Word and saved you from your sins.  God sent his Word and healed you.  But only when you say it do you receive it.  Otherwise, the power that was there for you all along goes to waste.  It is not up to God to return his Word to him.  It is up to you.

I am not talking about a "fake it till you make it" mentality, where you pretend to believe something until you really do.  There is a confession unto faith and a confession of faith.  A confession unto faith repeats God's Word to yourself so that you get used to hearing yourself agree with the Word.  This develops your faith.  A confession of faith releases the power of God in the situation now and receives the answer now.

Note one more thing about rain and snow.  The crop doesn't grow overnight, does it?  It is the same with the Word of God.  You need to consistently return it to God.  Just as a farmer would go broke if he only watered his crops the day he planted them, you will go broke spiritually if you just say God's Word once and then stop saying it.  I am not telling you to receive by faith multiple times; you only do that once.  I am saying that you must continually speak God's Word if you want to walk in faith.

There are many testimonies of people who have given up after a few days or weeks and never gotten anything.  There are also many testimonies of people who continued to speak only the Word of God about a situation and received a miracle.  It is sometimes a process of months or even years of standing on the Word of God and speaking it, but God's Word will accomplish what it was sent to do.  We all love stories about people in wheelchairs suddenly getting up and mentally impaired people instantly being made normal.  However, I have heard more testimonies of gradual healings as the Word of God was consistently spoken than I have heard of dramatic, instantaneous healings.

The fact that a healing is gradual does not mean that it is unmiraculous.  Many have been totally healed of hopeless problems over a period of months or years.  It was still a total healing.  Don't shortchange yourself and give up just because you don't see any results right away.  Many of those who have these healing testimonies saw no improvement for a long time, yet continued to return God's Word to him.  And just as he promised, his Word did not return to him without accomplishing that which it was sent to do.


Looking at the unseen

2 Corinthians 4:18:

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:  for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

At first, this verse appears to be a contradiction.  How can you look at something that's invisible?  The answer is that you have to look with your eyes of faith, not your natural eyes.  The things you are to look at are eternal, but they are invisible to your sense of sight.

Notice that Paul did not say that we look at things that do not exist.  He said that we look at things that are unseen.  They exist.  You just can't see them with your natural eyes.  This is crucial to understand.  The things of the Spirit are real and they exist.  They are just invisible.  Your healing already exists.  If your natural eyes could see spiritual things, you would see that Jesus Christ has already provided your healing for you, and all you have to do is receive it.  It is there now in the spirit realm.

Too many people think of their healing as something that does not exist.  Therefore, they cry and beg and plead and holler and try to talk God into doing something about it.  They think that God has to "create" their healing.  This is not true.  Your healing exists in the realm of the Spirit.  Your faith is not creating something new, spiritually speaking.  Your faith is receiving something that already exists in the spirit realm.  When you receive it with your spirit, it manifests in the natural realm where you and everyone else can see it.  In the world's perspective, you are healed when your healing manifests in your body.  In God's perspective, your healing already exists and belongs to you as a believer.  All you have to do is receive it with your spirit so that it can manifest in the physical realm.  God is not doing anything new for you.  You are just receiving what he already did 2,000 years ago when "by Jesus' stripes you were healed."

Your faith takes hold of something unseen and it then becomes seen.  This is what God's definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 talks about.  Faith is the certainty of something unseen.  It is being certain that you have something real that your regular senses cannot yet detect.  Your basis for believing that you have it is the Word of God on the matter.  God says you were healed.  That means that your healing exists now.  You can receive it now and enjoy the benefits.  But while you are in faith, you are certain of something that you can't see.  You have it and are convinced that you have it, even though you can't see it.

That is the essence of faith.  For example, you already believe that your salvation from hell exists, even though you cannot see it.  You believe that you have citizenship in heaven, but you have no proof outside the Bible that this citizenship is yours now.  It's real, more real than the physical world around you, because it will outlast the physical world around you.  The physical world around you is temporal, but your heavenly citizenship and salvation from hell are eternal.  You simply need to start doing with healing what you are already doing in other areas of your life.

When something changeable meets something that cannot change, it is the changeable that will change!  Applying this to your body, the physical facts are temporal.  They can change.  God's Word is eternal and cannot change.  When the facts of your condition meet the eternal Word of God, the Word of God will not be what changes!  Your circumstances must change to line up with the Word.

Once you have believed that you have received your healing, it is important to stay active, rather than passive, with your faith.  Look at eternal things.  Continue to meditate on God's Word concerning healing.  Realize that it is possible to receive something and then let it slip away through neglect.  Many passages in the book of Hebrews warn you of this.  Keep encouraging yourself in the Lord.  Keep speaking what God says about your healing.  Keep thanking him that healing is yours.  You are not trying to make something else happen; you have already prayed to make it happen.  You are just staying in faith and refusing to get into doubt or unbelief of God's Word.


Let God be true and every man a liar

Romans 3:3-4:

For what if some did not believe?  shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

God forbid:  yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

Someone else's unbelief cannot invalidate your faith, but you need to believe what God says over what anyone else says.

When the doctor tells you that there is nothing he can do to help you, you must let God be true and count the doctor as a liar.  He is not evil and he is not lying on purpose; he is just doing his job.  He is giving you accurate physical information, but you have accurate spiritual information that can override his accurate physical information!  The outcome God promises is guaranteed; the outcome the doctor promises can be changed by God's Word.

When your friends tell you that you are in a faith cult and that divine healing is a doctrine of devils, you must count God as true and them as liars.  When your family tells you how bad things are looking, you must count God as true and them as liars.  It's very simple -- you must continue to believe the Word of God no matter what.  Until you are prepared to do this, you are not ready to pray the prayer of faith.  You might as well know it now -- the devil will see to it that you have plenty of opposition when you start walking in faith!

Their unbelief shall not make the faith of God without effect unless you let it!  If you want to be justified in your sayings and overcome, you must stick with what God said.  Decide that ahead of time!  Let God be true and every man a liar!


The difference between...anointing and...healing
The difference between "the anointing" and "your healing"

It is possible to confuse "the anointing" with "your healing" when you are being prayed for in a service setting.  I have some thoughts on this to share with you that I believe will help you.

When you are in a prayer line, it is common (at least in better places) to feel something tangible in the air.  You are feeling "the anointing."  However, it is possible to feel the anointing go into you and still not receive your healing.  In fact, if you don't receive your healing, the anointing will go back out of you because there will be no demand on it.

It is possible to feel the anointing so strongly that you cannot even stay on your feet, and yet get up without your healing.  That is because the anointing is not the same thing as your healing.  The anointing will go into you and work in your body when you exercise faith for your healing.  It's not enough just to be around the anointing.  Recall the story in Luke 5:17-26 about how the power (anointing) of the Lord was present to heal the religious leaders.  The anointing was there to heal them all, but they did not get healed because they did not mix faith with that anointing.  The anointing by itself is not enough.  Even if you are healed by the gifts of the Spirit with no faith of your own, you will generally need faith to keep your healing.

I think what happens is that some people feel the anointing and assume that it is their healing.  Then they don't exercise any faith because they figure that they must have received something already because they felt the power of God.  Then they are disappointed when they feel rotten again after the anointing subsides or the service is over.  They think, "I felt something, so I assumed I had my healing."  But faith does not have anything to do with your physical feelings!  You don't assume anything based on how you feel after you pray, even if you feel the presence of God all over you.  You wouldn't ask your body how it feels to determine if you're saved or righteous before God, would you?

On the other hand, if you keep your focus on God and his Word rather than on the minister or your physical sensations in the service, you will pull the anointing right into you.  It will go to work in your body and bring about the healing that you desire.  If you're going to focus on something, focus on receiving your healing, not on feeling the power of God.  Most of us love to feel the power of God and get "goose bumps," but the idea is to receive something, not to feel something.  Remember, it's a healing line, not a feeling line.  You can receive your healing without feeling a thing.  Do not assume that just because you did not feel a tangible anointing, you did not receive your healing.  As I've said elsewhere, I remember being the only person left standing in a healing line once where I received by faith.  I was also the only one I know of who received his healing then.  We don't know if the people in Jesus' ministry fell over or not.  If they did, God doesn't consider that important because he doesn't mention it.  The idea is to get healed, not upended.

Can you see the difference?  The power of God (the anointing) can be there to heal you, but just because you feel it in the air or feel it go into you does not mean that you have received your healing.  You receive by faith, not by feelings.  Stay focused on receiving your healing,  Don't be distracted by feelings.


Your heavenly Father and your healing

If your children disobeyed you, would you deliberately put chicken pox on them to teach them something?  Would you teach them patience by putting cancer on them if you could?  Would you try to develop their character by making them gasp for every breath with a lung disease?

Of course not!  You do everything you can to help your children get well, don't you?  You certainly don't try to make them sick.

God reveals himself as your heavenly Father.  Are you a better parent than God is?  If you would not do the things listed above, and God would do them, you would be a more loving parent than God.  Some agency would surely declare God to be an unfit parent.

If you could do something for your sick child, wouldn't you do it?  God can do anything.  He loves you and wants you to be in health.  He is not withholding healing from you or your children.  However, he has put healing on a faith basis.  To receive healing from God, you must believe that you receive it.  God is not waiting to feel like healing you.  He is waiting for you to receive from him in faith.

Jesus told a foreign woman that deliverance for her daughter's problem was the "children's bread."  He was talking about not giving Gentiles what was for the Jews under the Law.  He did not say that healing was a special favor; he said it was the children's bread.  In other words, it's a necessity that your heavenly Father has provided for his children.  It belongs to his children.  Now under the New Covenant, Gentiles are equal partakers with Jews of God's healing mercies.  The children's bread belongs to you, too.

It amazes me that anyone can say, "God is love," and then say, "God wants you to suffer sickness so that you will grow."  Is that what love would do?  I suppose there are some deceived Christians out there who think that sickness will work out for the best, and that it is really better for you than not being sick, and God knows that and loves you enough to make you sick.  That is not God's kind of love.  God's kind of love does not abandon you and leave you as a helpless doormat for the devil.  God loved you enough to give you his best, his Son Jesus Christ.  He also says that with him he freely gives you all things (Romans 8:32).  God is good and God is generous.  That is what God is really like.  He has given you his Spirit within you that cries out, "Daddy!"

Religious people couldn't care less if you talk about God, but when you start calling him Daddy, they get upset.  God is your Daddy.  He is your spiritual Father.  You have a physical father on the earth, but your physical father is not your spiritual father -- God is your spiritual Father.  He is a better Father than your natural father is.  He loves you and cares for you.

If your picture of God is that he is ready to condemn you for everything, you must renew your mind with his Word and discover how wonderful he really is.  Otherwise, you will never trust him for your healing because you won't think he's good enough to let you have it.  God is for you, not against you.  God is not your problem; he is your answer.  God is not your sickener; he is your Healer.  He loved you enough to have Jesus bear stripes on his back before he went to the cross to pay the price for your healing.

You are not redeemed from suffering persecution, but you are redeemed from suffering illnesses.  Your Father does not want you to suffer with sickness.  He wants you to be healed, and he sent his Word to heal you.  He loves you as your Father.  If you get the picture of God that Jesus and the New Testament writers paint, it will be much easier for you to receive your healing.


How much do you desire healing?

You need to settle in your heart whether you really want to be healed or not!  Do you really want to be healed, or do you want to have some reason to remain the object of sympathy and have people dote over you, at least until they get tired of hearing you only talk about your pains and sufferings?  Do you really want to be healed, or would you rather continue to lie in bed, watch TV, and collect disability payments?  Do you really want to be healed, or do you want to die?  Do you really want to be healed, or do you fear losing your social acceptance among others who have your condition?  Do you really want to be healed, or do you want an excuse to complain and act ornery all the time?  Do you really want to be healed, or would you rather watch game shows and soap operas until the undertaker takes you under?

If you have decided in your heart that you can live with it, and it really isn't important to you one way or another if you get healed or not, you do not desire healing.  Do not attempt to apply Mark 11:24 if that is so.  Right after you pray, the devil will lean on you to give up, and you will.  If you are not determined to get your healing, you won't get it.  You can't be wishy-washy about it, because you will get negative pressure.  You will get it from your body, you will get it from unenlightened Christians, and you will get it from the devil.  If you don't really care, you are sure to cave in and you won't be able to stay in faith.

(By the way, I had originally planned to write this topic around the phrase, "What things soever ye desire" in Mark 11:24, but a trip to the concordance convinced me that the word desire could better be translated ask.  I didn't want to build a castle on a faulty foundation.  This would make the common mistake of preaching something that is true but basing it on the wrong Scripture.)

In John 15:7, Jesus said, "If  ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."  If you don't really want healing, don't ask for it until you do.  Also, notice the condition that you must abide in Jesus and let his words abide in you.  If you don't meet the condition, you don't qualify for the promise.

You must pay the price in time spent meditating on healing Scriptures.  You must continually plant and water the seed of God's Word in your heart so that it can spring up and produce a harvest of healing.  If you are unwilling to do this, just call the doctor and let medicine do all it can from you, because you won't be healed supernaturally.

Some people don't see the need to pay this price because they know someone who was healed by the gifts of the Spirit without exercising faith.  Thank God for signs and wonders and people who get instant miracles, but they are the exception, not the rule.  In general, people must receive healing by planting healing Scriptures in their hearts until they act on them and speak them instead of being overwhelmed by pains and feelings.  No Christian has a guarantee of being healed through the gifts of the Spirit, but every Christian has the right to receive healing by acting on God's Word.  It takes work.  You must labor to enter into rest, as contradictory as that seems at first.

It is not necessarily a sin not to aim your faith at a minor physical condition that doesn't matter much.  Just make sure that you know where you stand.  Don't try to use your faith for things that you don't really desire.

Now let's assume that you really do desire your healing.  You are willing to face the inevitable pressure and contrary circumstances and stand your ground.  You have no choice a Christian in this case.  You must "believe that you receive it when you pray" and you shall have it.  Those are your instructions from your Creator and Father.  Obey them!

God would be unjust to command you to do something that you cannot really do.  If Jesus said that you can believe you receive something when you pray, you can do it.  That's right, YOU.  You, the person with your name, sitting in your seat, reading this computer screen, can believe you receive the healing you desire when you pray.  Jesus said you can do it.  So you can.  Don't let anyone talk you out of it.

Consider the tenacity of some of those whom Jesus healed.  Blind Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus all the louder when men around him told him to shut up.  The woman with the issue of blood could have been stoned for being out in public, but went out and touched Jesus anyway.  No wonder she feared and trembled when she told Jesus all the truth!  The Syrophonecian lady persisted in asking for deliverance for her daughter after the disciples kept trying to get rid of her and even after Jesus told her (correctly) that she had no right to healing because she wasn't a Jew.  The ten lepers weren't supposed to be anywhere near Jesus, but came anyway to be healed.  These people wanted healing and put their lives where their mouths were.  What a difference from those who blab a few "Healing Scriptures" because they think that's all they need to do.  Friend, you are going to need some tenacity if you want to be healed.  Many men today will try to talk you right out of your healing, just as they tried to do to Bartimaeus.  You are going to need some patience and Holy Ghost boldness if you expect to be healed.

You may not feel like you can do it.  You probably feel like you can't do it.  Big deal.  Walking by faith has nothing to do with how you feel about it.  You can't let your emotions rule you.  One of the biggest lessons you need to learn in life is that you can act on God's Word without feeling like it will work, and it will still work!  As long as you believe in your heart, you can even doubt in your head!  Did you realize that?  Doubt only chokes your faith when you act on it instead of acting on what God said.  As long as you act on what God said, you will get God's results.  Acting on what God said includes speaking what God says about your situation.

Get ready to experience great freedom in your life when you realize that you can believe that you receive when you pray.  (You already did that to get saved.)  This is not some special advanced topic for faith giants.  This is easy and you can do it.  Nothing is so bad that you can't overcome it with faith in God and his Word.  Knowing this destroys fear in your life.  You will no longer be afraid of some awful thing that Satan might bring you next.  You will know that no matter what comes along, you will be able to overcome it with your faith.  You will be able to believe that you receive when you pray and your answer will manifest and your problem will be over.  You will speak and you will "have whatsoever you say."


Why you might not want to pray...
Why you might not want to pray for your healing right away

One sure way to frustrate yourself and tie yourself up in knots is to attempt to pray the prayer of faith when you are not really in faith.  It is not enough to know that some preacher believes in healing.  You have to believe it before it will work for you.

This is one cause of the whiny "I tried it and it didn't work" testimonies that some people have.  There is no such thing as "trying" to be in faith, anyway.  You either are in faith or you aren't.  If you're "trying" to be in faith, you are not in faith.  Did you ever notice that Jesus did not teach that faith was a struggle?  We who believe have entered into rest.  If you're struggling, you haven't entered into rest, and therefore, you don't believe.  I'm not saying that to be ornery; I'm trying to help you.

You will not get more faith by praying more.  You will just get more frustrated.  You get faith by reading and hearing God's Word, not by praying.  As one preacher said, prayer does not make faith work; faith makes prayer work.  If you are not ready to believe that you receive, it is not time to pray!  It is time to read and hear the Word as much as you can.  That is the only way that you will build your faith.  Even hearing testimonies of how others received their healings won't build your faith; although it will give you hope.

I am convinced that we do ourselves a disservice when we major on miraculous, instantaneous healings that are frankly a result of special manifestations of the Spirit in operation.  Sure, we want everyone to know what drastic conditions got healed when we ministered because that makes us look good.  But there is something far more important than looking good as a preacher.  The main objective of any healing preacher is (or should be) how to teach people to receive their healing for themselves.  Some unbeliever or backslider might get a great healing through the gifts of healings in a service, and that's exciting.  However, that won't necessarily help you receive your healing.  You can't do what the other person did, because sometimes the other person didn't do a thing.  God just had mercy on him.

To some extent, it depends on our purpose.  If the purpose of the meetings is to get unbelievers saved, it is right to trumpet God's goodness through testimonies of amazing miracles done by the Spirit.  God can and does use this method to get sinners to come and be saved.  However, if the purpose is to see believers get healed, this should not be the primary emphasis.  It is my personal opinion that we should share more testimonies of people who believed they received, saw absolutely no results for a while or even had things get worse, and then had what they had received manifest in the natural.  This might not please the crowds as much, but it would give the serious Christians in attendance a lot more help by showing them examples to follow in receiving their own healing.  I would rather see more people get healed than try to convince you that I am really hot stuff.

Jesus was rather direct about it.  He said to believe that you receive when you pray and whatever it is that you ask shall be yours.  If you are not prepared to believe that you receive when you pray, you are not ready to pray!  That's not a sin; we've all been there.  This isn't a put-down.  You will ultimately do much better if you wait until you are in faith before you pray.  There is no point in praying until you are there.  Or if you pray, pray that God will make the Scriptures about healing come alive to you as you read them.  Even if your situation seems desperate, it will not help you one bit to try to receive something that you are not really convinced you are receiving when you pray.  It will hurt you rather than help you.  It will make it harder for you to pray the prayer of faith later.

You can't be "half in faith" and "half receive" something.  If you are not in faith, you won't receive anything.  James warned about how the double-minded man receives nothing from the Lord (James 1:5-8).  The double-minded man is part in faith, part in doubt, but he receives nothing, not some pro-rata portion equal to the ratio of his faith to his faith plus his unbelief.

Build your faith in the Word before you pray.  This is why having multi-day healing meetings is effective.  Some people are just not ready to receive on the first day of the crusade, and it might hurt them more than help them to lay hands on them right away.  But if they take the time to hear the Word, they will have a basis for faith.  Then when they come up for prayer, they are prepared to believe that they receive healing when they pray.


If Jesus were to appear to you...

If Jesus were to appear to you and say, "I have healed you.  Healing is yours.  You can receive it right now," what would you do?  Would you doubt him?  Would you argue with him that we never know what God will do?  Would you tell him that he's wrong; no one can really do this faith stuff?  Or would you take your healing?  I hope that you would believe his words and take your healing.

Jesus is the Word (John 1:1).  He has already told you that he has healed you (1 Peter 2:24).  The written Word of God has just as much force as if Jesus appeared to you and said those things in person.  The Bible contains God's words to you.  It is a more sure word of prophecy than if you had a vision or a visitation.  You could always dispute what you saw or heard in a vision, but the Word of God is forever settled in heaven.  You can always go back and verify what it says and be sure of it.

If you would receive your healing if Jesus said these things in person, you should receive your healing now because he has said those things to you personally through the Word of God.  Failure to do so indicates that a vision would be more important to you than the written Word, which is a very dangerous attitude.  Anything God says in the Bible has the same authority as it would if Jesus appeared to you and said it to you in person.

Think about it.


You win

1 Cor 15:57:

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 2:14:

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.

Romans 5:17:

For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:6:

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.  Amen.

Revelation 5:10:

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.

1 John 5:4:

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:  and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

If there were no verses in the Bible about healing in particular, these verses should be sufficient to tell you that you can have it.  If you have victory over sickness, you can get rid of the sickness.  If you always triumph in Christ, you triumph over sickness.  Sickness cannot take away your victory in Christ or stop you from triumphing in Christ.  If you get sick and die, you have victory in heaven, but you did not get victory and reign in this life, as God wants you to.

If you reign as a king in life, sickness cannot rule over you.  How can you reign in life while you're stuck in bed popping pain pills?  How can you function as a king and a priest if you're out of circulation?  Being laid up sick is NOT reigning in life.  You have to be a deceived Christian to believe that being sick is reigning in life, because no unbeliever would consider that to be reigning in life!

Nothing can defeat the child of God who uses his faith.  Your faith is the victory that overcomes the world.  Through faith, many others have received victory over disease.  So can you.  (See According to YOUR faith be it unto you.)  They walked in victory, and so can you.


You are Christ on the earth!

It would be a shame to write a perfectly good book on healing without giving the pro-unbelief folks at least one statement to yank out of context and berate me for.  So I figure this will get their attention.  This title is not a gimmick; it is the absolute truth!

The Church is called the Body of Christ.  We are Christ's body, the fulness of him who fills all in all (Eph 1:23).  So we, being many, are one body in Christ (Romans 12:5).  "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular" (1 Cor 12:27).  Jesus is the head of the body (Col 1:18).  The believer, in 2 Cor 6, is called righteousness, light, the temple of God...and Christ!  When Saul of Tarsus persecuted the Church, he persecuted Jesus Christ himself -- the Lord told him so when he appeared to him on the way to Damascus.

Before I get written up in the latest anti-cult literature, let me point out that I am not saying that YOU are Jesus Christ.  That should be obvious.  But if you are a Christian, you have been baptized into Christ.  You are part of Christ's body on the earth.  Since Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father, the only physical presence of Christ in this earth is his Body!

To me, you need no further proof that healing and laying hands on the sick are for today.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8).  What he did in his ministry on earth 2,000 years ago is what he wants to do today.  He wants the gospel to be preached and the sick to be healed.

We are ambassadors of Christ.  We represent him in front of the whole world.  We are literally the only Jesus that they can see with their physical eyes.  How pathetic it is to think that we should be sick!  Does that accurately reflect Jesus Christ, who never suffered a single sickness of his own?  NO!  We represent Jesus Christ accurately when we lay hands on the sick and see them recover as he did.  How can we represent our Master without doing the works he did, as he promised us that we would?  How can it possibly be God's will for the Body of Christ to live a lower life than Christ himself did?  IT ISN'T.

Jesus Christ is not physically on the earth in the way that he was during his ministry, but his name is still on the earth.  Sickness and adversity must bow its knee at the name of Jesus just as it would do before Jesus himself.  That is because Jesus' name carries all of his power and authority.  We are to cast out devils and lay hands on the sick in his name (Mark 16:15-18).  We are the only ones who can use that name.  Jesus himself can't and never has.  He is seated in heaven with God and does not come down and use his own name.  He authorized his Body to use his name.  He told us that whatever we ask in his name, he himself will do it.  The use of his name by the believer, the member of the Body of Christ, brings Jesus Christ himself onto the scene to do what needs to be done.

This does not mean that you should use the phrase "in the name of Jesus" as a lucky charm, as some would seem to do, given their lack of results.  The phrase "in the name of Jesus" is also not a code for "end of prayer."  (Nor is "Amen," by the way.)  The name of Jesus did nothing for the sons of Sceva, who had no faith in that name.  It did everything for the beggar at the gate Beautiful, of whom it was said that Jesus' name, through faith in his name, made him whole.

Can you see how silly it is to think that Christ himself, who "nourisheth and cherisheth" his body the Church (Eph 5:28-32), should be portrayed as the sickener and destroyer of his very own Body on the earth?  It would be just as ridiculous as it would be if you said that it was your will for your head to be whole but for your third finger on your left hand to endure sickness.  Besides, you know full well that you go to a doctor or take medicine to try to relieve your suffering when you are sick, which makes you a hypocrite if you really think sickness is God's plan for you.  You know it isn't your will for any part of your body to be sick.  Why do you think it could be God's will for part of his Body to be sick?

If sickness is such a blessing, why did God set in the Church gifts of healings instead of gifts of sickenings?  Jesus did not go around giving out sickness to his own faithful, and we misrepresent him (and slander his character) when we say that he does.  The gifts of the Spirit, which draw attention to Jesus and exalt him, include gifts of healings and working of miracles.  Jesus is exalted by the healing of the sick, not by the sickening of the well!

Let's face it.  The only way that you can represent Jesus Christ is to live like he did and do what he did.  To do otherwise is to fail to represent Christ accurately to the world.  That means that you should be well and actively involved in laying hands on the sick for their recovery.  If you are not doing this, you are living beneath your privileges in Christ, and missing out on a lot of fun, besides.


Why some people will never get healed

It has been well said, "All sickness is curable, but not all sick people are curable."  Some people will never receive their healing even though they go around to healing crusades seeking it.  Here is why they won't get healed.  Don't let this happen to you!

These people want someone to lay hands on them and make their sickness go away, but they do not want to take the time to study the Word for themselves.  They do not even want to hear preaching at a healing crusade.  They just want to get down front and get prayed for.  They want the gifts of the Spirit to operate for them, but they ignore the fact that God "sends his word and heals them."  They forget that God's Word is "health to all their flesh."

Ignoring God's Word and just looking for a special manifestation is no different from getting a doctor's prescription but refusing to take it because you want an operation instead.

These people will be prayed for and will receive nothing, which means that they receive exactly what they were truly expecting.  Then they will complain that the healing minister has no anointing, because if he did, surely they would have gotten something.  Yet even when they complain, they will be back every service to get their healing prayed for again.  They will express their problems (if allowed to) the same way every time, like a broken record.  Although they get no results, they will not change what they are doing.  They will just get more upset with the minister for not waving a magic wand and making something happen.  The minister will think to himself, "Oh, no, it's that person again, the one with whom it's like laying hands on a brick wall."  He'll have to pray something to be polite; this will be more to keep the flow going for others than any belief that anything will happen to the person.

You can't do a thing for a person who will not reverence the Word of God and give it first place.  There will be spiritual butterflies who flit and float from meeting to meeting and never get anything.  Like the poor, they will always be with us.  For some reason, healing services seem to draw out the flakes who don't even attend a church with a real pastor.  Such people have problems that a quick prayer from the healing minister is not going to fix!

Jesus is the Word made flesh.  If you do not reverence the written Word of God, you do not reverence Jesus himself.  If you say that you love Jesus but you do not love God's Word, you lie.  Some people say that Jesus means a lot to them, but when you try to get them to hear the Word, they sit there and stare into space and tune you out or even literally fall asleep.  Sleepers usually like to sit in the first few rows so that you can't miss them.  (I have never figured out why this is.)  You can't help these people.  Barring a sovereign act of grace, they will never get healed.  That's just a fact of life.  You have to go on and help the people that you can help who will hear the Word of God.

I suppose that you could resort to preacher tricks like yelling, running around the room, stopping every two minutes to tell people to say something to each other (which is often preacher code for "Wake up, for crying out loud!"), asking for shows of hands for things all the time (see previous comment), and so on.  (I would avoid deliberately misquoting Scripture to see if anyone is awake enough to correct you.  This will backfire if no one is actually paying attention, and besides, they won't be able to trust you after that.  They'll think you're out to trick them, which I guess would be true at that point.)  Ultimately, you can lead a Christian to living water but you can't make him drink!  If anyone gets anything, it will because he wanted to get something.  If he doesn't get anything, it will be because he really wasn't expecting anything anyway and he had a ho-hum attitude toward the service.  Anyone who thinks it's up to the preacher should read the accounts of Jesus at Nazareth and the stories of those who were healed by their faith, which you can find elsewhere in this book.

There are churches full of people like the ones I have described, and the best thing you can do if you're preaching there is to remember that you're preaching to the ones (maybe the one?) who will listen and benefit from what you say.  I have seen people healed in places where you would never believe that anyone could get anything, because someone chose to hear and believe the Word while the others were nodding off.


What every elder is commanded to believe

James 5:14-16

Every elder in a church must be prepared to pray the prayer of faith for the sick.  If you are incapable of doing this, you cannot fulfill the command to do so in James 5.  It is "the prayer of faith" offered by the elders that causes the Lord to raise up the sick person.  If you cannot pray the prayer of faith, you should not be installed as an elder.

Most churches subscribe to the unscriptural practice of choosing elders based on their financial or business skills, or even their age.  In Acts, even those entrusted with the distribution of food had to be full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.  (YOU try being in charge where there are big responsibilities and complainers and see if you don't agree that you need the Holy Ghost and wisdom!)  There are moral qualifications as well, as Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus make clear.  You must be prepared to fulfill this solemn responsibility in the name of the Lord.  James 5's instructions are commands for the church.

It is a tragedy that most churches ignore this command of the Lord, which is just as binding as the command to walk in love.  In many churches, you would get nothing but "the prayer of unbelief" from any of the elders, or even from the pastor.  It should not be that way!  You would do yourself a disservice by asking such men to come and pray for you.  They will talk you out of any faith that you might have.  They will blame God for it all and ask God to comfort you and give you peace, instead of praying for you to be healed as they are supposed to.  You would be better off finding a church that believes in healing and having its elders come.

I am not saying that some of these elders are not fine Christians in the moral sense.  I am saying that they will do you more harm than good if they do not believe that the Lord will raise you up when they anoint you with oil in his name.  It's nice that they believe in walking in love and morality, but you do not need someone to pray that you will walk in love and be moral -- you need someone who believes that God will heal you in answer to prayer.

If you don't know of any believing elders who can come, take consolation in this:  The woman with the issue of blood, blind Bartimaeus and others had no support or encouragement and received their healing anyway with their own faith.  Their faith made them whole, and your faith can make you whole.  Remember how the very people who should have been encouraging Bartimaeus told him to shut up?  Sometimes the very people who should be helping you will pour cold water on your faith in the same way.  Even if they do, you can still get your healing.  It is wiser, though, not to let unbelieving people pray for your healing.  Two can't walk together unless they agree.  If you're expecting healing and they're expecting "a touch from God," "a blessing," "peace," "comfort," etc., instead of healing, you are not in agreement anyway and the prayer is a waste of time and hurts you more than helps you.

If you are a church elder, do not think that you can ignore the command in James 5.  If you are called for, you must go and pray the prayer of faith and expect the Lord to raise up the sick person because you have obeyed his command.  Remember that in this case, even if the person has sinned in some way, the Lord will forgive him, so that cannot prevent his healing from coming.

You should also be prepared to explain how healing was provided in Christ's atonement and is available to all on a gift basis.  You need to be able to speak words that will put faith into the person who needs the healing.


How to tell if you're in faith or not

With all the sad-sack stories floating around about so-and-so being in faith and dying anyway, you need to know if you're really in faith or not.  Otherwise you can end up kidding yourself (as so many do), thinking that you're in faith when really you've just mentally agreed to some doctrinal truths.  There is a difference between agreeing that healing belongs to you and standing in faith for your healing.  This discussion should help you locate yourself.  Please bear in mind that trying to say and do the right thing just to satisfy these conditions will not prove that you are in faith.  Be honest enough to admit what you are doing, and be open to see where you need to change.

1.  Are you wondering whether you're in faith or not?

If so, you're not!  You don't wonder if you are really saved, do you?  No, you don't, because you are in faith as far as that is concerned.  No one would be able to convince you that you are not in faith, and you don't spend any time wondering whether you have received your salvation or not.

The other questions here apply to you if you honestly believe that you are in faith, and you aren't wondering about it.  They serve as a check-up to see if you really are in Bible faith for your healing.

2.  Can you quote specific Scriptures to back up what you say you believe?

So many kid themselves into thinking they're "in faith" when they have no Scripture to stand on.  Faith is not based on feeling like God heard your prayer.  Faith is not based on a physical sensation when you pray.  Faith comes by hearing God's Word, therefore faith must be based solely upon God's Word.  If you can't quote chapter and verse to prove your healing, you're not in faith.  If you don't know for sure that Christ bore your sicknesses to relieve you of having to suffer them, you have no real basis for believing for healing.  You cannot trust the word of a man who says that he knows God wants to heal you.  You must know what God says for yourself.  So here's the test -- what does God say about your healing?  If you think that there is any possibility that God would turn you down when you come to him for healing, you are not truly standing on Scripture and you are not in real faith.

3.  Are you still praying about your healing?

If so, you are not in faith for your healing.  The prayer of faith does not "bombard the gates of heaven."  You pray it once and that settles it.  Once you believe that you receive your healing, any subsequent prayers will be thanksgiving and praise because you have received your healing.  If you are not thanking God for what you already have, you don't have it!  If you are still praying for your healing, you have not believed that you have received it yet.  If I gave you $200, you would not continue to ask me to give you $200 after you had already received it, would you?  Even if I wired it into your bank account and you had no natural evidence (yet) that I had done so, you would not ask me to give you that money after I told you that I deposited it into your account.  So it is with your healing.  If you have received it from God, you are no longer asking him for it.

4.  Are you rejoicing that you have received your healing, just as if you felt better already?

If you really believe you have received your healing, you should be rejoicing just as if you felt better already.  You know you have received your healing and you won't have to be sick anymore.  You rejoice in your victory over the sickness.

If you are delaying your rejoicing until you feel better, you probably don't really believe that the healing is yours right now, so you are not in faith.

5.  Are you worried about your condition?

The book of Hebrews says that we who believe have entered into rest.  If you are worried, you have not entered into rest, and you do not really believe.  That's strong, but it's true!  If you are worried about whether you will ever be normal again, whether you'll be able to work and pay your bills, whether you'll ever be pain-free, etc., you are not in faith.  You cannot be in fear and faith about the same thing at the same time.  You are either in fear (and thus worrying) or you are in faith.  If you're still worrying, you have not yet believed that you have received your healing.

6.  Do you have God's joy and peace?

Paul prayed in Romans 15:13:  "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing...."  If you have God's joy and peace, you are probably in faith.  If you are depressed and agitated, you are not really believing.  You are trying to be in faith but you are not really in faith yet.

7.  Are you telling people that you have received your healing?

Real faith is both in your heart and in your mouth.  If you have the "same spirit of faith" as Paul, you believe, and therefore you speak.  Be honest.  If you are secretly thinking, "I've received this healing, but I don't want to commit myself to that fact publicly by telling anyone that I have done so," you are not in faith and you have not received your healing.  Jesus said that out of the abundance of your heart your mouth speaks.  If having received your healing isn't coming out of your mouth, it isn't in your heart.

As pointed out elsewhere, it is not a lie to say that you have prayed and received your healing.  It would be a lie to say that your body is not currently sick, but you have every right to proclaim a greater truth that will override the facts of your current physical condition.  It is never a lie to quote the Word of Truth, which says that Jesus has "surely borne your sicknesses and carried your pains" and "by his stripes you were healed."

Just as we would not accept that notion that a person is born again if he has never confessed Jesus as his Lord before men, we cannot accept the notion that you have received your healing if you are unwilling to say that you have it now.

8.  Are you expecting God to heal you at some point in the future?

If so, you have not received anything.  You are hoping for your healing.  You have not believed for it yet.  You cannot receive when you pray to get something in the future.  You have to receive it now.  The manifestation may be in the future, but you have to receive it (with your spirit) now in order for the manifestation to occur.  If you are waiting to feel different before you believe anything, you may never get healed.

9.  Are you preoccupied with wondering when the manifestation will occur?

Beware of checking your body every ten minutes "to see if your healing has manifested yet."  Abraham had strong faith, and he "considered not" his body and Sarah's body.  If you are constantly considering your body, either you are in very weak faith and in danger of caving in, or you were never in faith to begin with.

10.  Are your mental plans consistent with being healed or with staying sick?

Faith without works is dead.  If you are in faith for your healing, you are not thinking of "Plan B," "Plan C," and so on.  You are not thinking of how you should sell your business because you'll never be fit to run it again.  You are not calling your lawyer to amend your will.  (Nothing against wills, but I think you understand what I'm saying.)  You are not debating which relative should care for your children because you won't be able to.  Instead, you are planning all the wonderful things you will be able to do because you are healed.  You are thinking of how you will be able to testify to the Lord's goodness to sinners.  You are thinking of how beautiful your life will be without sickness.

In other words, you see yourself healed in the future; you don't see yourself sick.  This principle applies even to minor ailments like the flu.  If you say you have believed that you have received your healing, but you keep thinking about how you will now rot in bed for four days and stay home from work, you are not in faith.  If you believed that you had received your healing, you would see yourself going back to work and being productive and healthy.  I have found that this test is one of the best indicators of whether I am in faith or just playing mental games.


Healing and deliverance from poisoning

God's promise to deliver you from poisoning is further proof of his healing covenant with you.

Mark 16:15-18

One sign that Jesus said would follow believers was immunity from poisons, delivered either through a drink or through a serpent.  This is not a license to drink poison to prove something; you'll prove only that Mark 16:15-18 does not work for people who deliberately ingest poison!

We can see that the statement that you would "take up serpents" refers to immunity from poisonous snakebites, as exemplified by Paul's experience on the island of Melita.  A poisonous viper (snake) bit Paul while he was getting wood for a fire.  Paul would normally have died, but he didn't suffer any harm at all, and went on to get everyone healed who was sick on the island.

Consider for a minute the foolishness of thinking that God would deliver you from poisons but not from sicknesses.  Some poisons (such as anthrax) are actually disease organisms that multiply in your body.  Also, some diseases cause your body to poison itself by "reprogramming" it to generate toxins that break down your organs.  If some poisons are diseases and some diseases poison you, where are you going to draw the line?  It seems to me that you have to be delivered from both or neither.

Consider also that some diseases can be caused by poison.  Prolonged exposure to certain chemicals can cause illness.  You don't want to knowingly expose yourself to danger, but if you have been exposed to poisonous chemicals and have gotten sick as a result, you should claim Mark 16:15-18.  I am not saying that you should do so to the exclusion of medical treatment, but you have a right to trust God to heal you!

If poison from a snakebite or something you drink doesn't kill you, it could at least make you sick.  Thank God, deliverance from poisoning and deliverance from sickness is part of the same gospel package.  You don't have to think about what caused your sickness; you have a right to be healed no matter what caused it -- viruses, chemicals, even your own foolishness if you have repented of it (Psalm 107:17-20).

If God will not allow your body to be destroyed by a poison, why would he turn around and let it be destroyed by an infection?  Infections and poisons do the same thing -- they destroy and kill part or all of your body.  The fact that God has made protection from poisoning part of the New Covenant is further proof that healing is part of that covenant.  You can be healed of anything that is caused by a poison as well as anything caused by viruses, birth defects, or anything else.


To heal the brokenhearted

Part of the anointing on Jesus was to heal the brokenhearted.  See Luke 4:18-19.  Since the same Spirit anoints us, and Jesus is the same today, it is still part of his ministry to heal the brokenhearted.  This is consistent with Psalm 147:3, where this ministry is shown to be part of what God does.

We are majoring on physical healing here, but you should know that emotional healing is part of God's plan for you, too.  You cannot "confess away" grief, but you can let God minister to you so that it does not overwhelm you.  2 Cor 7:10 says, "The sorrow of the world worketh death."  You do not have to be crushed by tragedy in your life and have death work in you.

Grieving over the loss of a loved one is not a sin!  If that kind of sorrow is sin, Jesus was a sinner.  He wept before going to the tomb to raise Lazarus.  He got alone after hearing about the execution of John the Baptist.  Jesus went through emotional agony in Gethsemane.  Having negative emotions is not a sin and does not mean that you are not a "faith person."  Jesus was a "faith person" if anyone ever was, and he had to decide to act based on God's Word instead of his emotions.  Since he had that struggle, so will you.

There is actually very little you can do about  your emotions.  Having emotions is part of being human.  You can't stop them from happening.  What you can do is determine that you will not allow your emotions to dictate what you will do!  You can act based on God's Word even when your emotions are running contrary to it and still get results.  Having victory does not mean that you always feel victorious.  It means that you don't give up even when you feel like quitting, which you will at times.  Such feelings are part of life and how you respond to them determines whether you go down in defeat or press on to victory.

God comforts the downcast (2 Cor  7:6).  He comforts you in all your tribulation (2 Cor 1:3-4).  The Holy Spirit is called "another Comforter" (John 14:16), showing that this is part of Jesus' ministry to you as well as the Holy Spirit's ministry to you.  You should note that the word used actually denotes more than mere comfort, but also advocacy, as a lawyer would do.  The believers in Acts walked in the comfort of the Holy Ghost (Acts 9:31), so you can, too.

God will help you through the hard times.  Since we are mortal, you will lose loved ones at various times.  Expect God to comfort you and heal your broken heart.  That is part of his ministry to you.  Be open to it.


John 14:16
John 14:16:

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;


2 Corinthians  1:3-4
2 Corinthians 1:3-4:

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.


2 Corinthians  7:6
2 Corinthians 7:6:

Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus:


It isn't your sickness

It is a mistake to go around talking about "your" cold, "your" allergies, "your" growths, "your" trouble breathing, and so on.  Don't take ownership of diseases.  They do not rightfully belong to you.  As a child of God, healing is your possession and sickness is not your possession.  Sickness belongs to its originator, Satan, and it is trespassing in your body!

It will help you if you keep this perspective.  As long as you consider it "your" flu, you've got it!  It's yours.  Don't consider it yours -- God doesn't.  God declares you healed.  It's the devil's flu trespassing illegally in your blood-bought body.  The devil's flu is working in a member of Christ on the earth, where it does not belong.

The Bible tells us exactly what happened to your sicknesses.  Surely he (Jesus Christ) has borne our sicknesses, and carried our pains (Isaiah 53:4).  Jesus Christ bore your sicknesses in your place during his atonement.  Our sicknesses most certainly include your sicknesses.  Peter agrees when he says that by Jesus' stripes you were (physically) healed (1 Peter 2:24).  Therefore, you have a right to say, as God does, that all of your sicknesses were laid upon Jesus.  Any sickness that attempts to attach itself to you does not belong to you legally.  It is trespassing on God's property.  It can't be yours in the sense that God means for you to have it, because Jesus Christ took care of your sicknesses.

Remember also that technically, you are not sick!  In general usage (including some Bible verses), people are said to be sick, but if you think about it, only your body is sick.  Your spirit isn't sick!  The real you on the inside is not sick!  Only your earthly tabernacle has the problem.  (This is a good truth to remember when you are preaching if you don't feel good.  The rivers of the anointing will flow from your spirit, not your body, and since your spirit isn't sick, it won't be hindered.  I have seen a marvellous anointing and been used by the Holy Spirit in services where I felt awful, at least when I started.!)

You are a spirit being and you have a physical body.  Your body is not you.  It can't be you, because after your body rots in the ground or is cremated, you will still be around.  Paul talked about his body as such -- his body.  He said that he kept his body under.  He didn't say that he kept himself under because his body was not his real self.  He kept his body under.  Whether you realize it or not, you have control over your body through the power of God's Word.  You can stop it from sinning, and you can stop it from staying sick, too.

This may seem like a subtle point, but when you grasp it, it will help you immensely:  You can have something in the spirit before you have it in the physical, and you can not have something in the spirit that you have in the natural.  You have the growth inasmuch as it is in your body, but you can refuse to own it in the spirit realm.  You can declare that the growth is not yours, because it legally isn't.  It does not belong to a child of God, who was healed by the stripes of Jesus.  It may be in your body illegally, but you can declare boldly that it is not yours and you refuse to have it in your body.  You declare that you have healing, not sickness, because healing is legally yours.  You can believe that you receive healing when you pray and take possession of it.  If you "have" the healing, spiritually speaking, you do not "have" the sickness any more.

I like to put it this way:  I do not have this illness (whatever it is at the time).  It is not mine.  It is the devil's and it has no right to exist in my body.  I refuse to accept it as mine.  I am healed by the stripes of Jesus.  I am redeemed from the curse of the law, which includes every sickness and every disease.  Jesus bore all of my sicknesses for me, so no sickness belongs to me today.  I am redeemed from this curse that is trying to attach itself to me.  I take authority over it in the name of Jesus and I command it to leave my body now.  I believe that I receive complete healing for my body now as I pray, and I thank God that it is accomplished.  From now on, I will thank God for delivering me from the devil's attack of sickness and stop worrying or praying about it.


Healing and the Holy Spirit

Part of the Holy Spirit's job is to guide you into all truth (John 16:13).  You have not been left to figure out healing on your own!  As you may have seen in these discussions, there can be many reasons that people don't receive healing other than simple lack of faith.  The Holy Spirit knows which, if any, is a problem for you.  If you're having difficulty receiving your healing, ask the Holy Spirit to help you!

He can show you what, if anything, you're doing wrong.  Perhaps he will tell you to go and make things right with an offended relative or church member.  Perhaps he will deal with you about attitudes that need to change.  Perhaps he will point out an area in which you are being disobedient to the known will of God.

He can also show you the parts of Scripture that you need to understand better.  Only he really knows what you need to hear.  Trust him to open up the Scriptures to you.  Ask him to give you revelation knowledge of God's Word concerning healing.  He may lead you to certain verses that will give you the insight you need to receive your healing.  He will make the Bible come alive to you.

You have a Helper on the inside.  Let him do his job and help you.  The Holy Spirit wants you to get healed!  He will help you if you ask him to.  Ask!  Jesus said that those who ask receive, that those who seek find, and those who knock get it opened to them.  God said to call on him and he would show you great and mighty things that you don't know (Jeremiah 33:3).  Take God up on his promise!

You have a Strengthener, an Advocate on the inside.  Avail yourself of his services.  He wants you help you get your healing.

Since it was the Spirit himself who anointed Jesus of Nazareth to heal the sick (Acts 10:38), and God now promises to pour out of his Spirit on all flesh (Acts 2:17), it makes sense that the same healing, life-giving Spirit will help you receive healing from God!


Is your situation hopeless?

If it is, good!  You won't be the first person to be delivered from a totally hopeless situation!  God has delivered his people from so many hopeless situations, it would be hard to count them all.  You may fit right into the pattern.  First, the hopeless situation, then the supernatural deliverance that was impossible through natural means.

Of course, I won't kid myself into thinking that you necessarily enjoy being in a hopeless situation, such as a report that you have an incurable disease that will slowly destroy your body, hurting and embarrassing you, making you an increasing burden to your family's time and money.  But at least a report like that defines the situation clearly.  You must either believe God or die.  Either you put his Word to work in your life, or your life on earth will end.  In a way, that is a better situation than one where the doctors think that trying eleven different treatments might cure you or delay the progression of your illness.  In the case where they might be able to help you, you can lean on the arm of flesh and waver in your walk with God more easily.  When it's God or an early exit, the choice is easy.  You have no choice but to hear God's Word and act on it.

It's funny how we get so down on the spies with the bad report who could not enter Canaan, and the grumblers who predicted that the Egyptian army would "terminate" them at the Red Sea, but then when we face a situation that pales in comparison, we don't want to walk the walk of faith that Moses did.  We admire Moses for his courage and trust in God, but we want to run away from the situation rather than be taken through it.  We get an electric bill in the mail that we can't pay and we panic.  Let me tell you, God can deliver you from things much bigger than electric bills!

The Israelites were not just being sued at the Red Sea.  They were not just going to be inconvenienced.  They were going to die.  There was no way out.  They were surrounded.  They followed God's instructions, and it looked like God had let them down and given them up to die.  Some even said so.  Picture what they must have feared.  No life to enjoy a spouse and children, no chance to ever fulfill your dreams and make something of your talents.  Just a sure, ugly death at the hands of the merciless Egyptians.  Just watching the enemy butcher your family and friends, knowing that you're next.  It was over; there was no way out.  This is not a fairy tale.  This happened to around two million real flesh-and-blood people like you!  Death was certain and everything was hopeless -- except for one thing.  These people had obeyed God's Word, and God was not going to let them fail.  God had promised them something -- the land of Canaan.  God's promise meant more than all the Egyptian chariots put together.

God's promise was the only thing these people had, but it was all they needed.  When God's promise is the only thing you have, rest assured that it is all you need, too.  And God has provided healing for your body even if the doctors have given up hope.  God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites.  That was impossible -- there was just no way it could happen.  God can heal whatever is wrong with your body even when seems to be no way that it could happen.

Later, God told Israel to conquer Jericho.  Talk about "Mission: Impossible!"  The shout of victory out of their mouths caused Jericho's walls to fall flat.  The shout of victory out of your mouth can flatten the walls that stand before you, no matter how impenetrable they seem.  God is well able to give you the victory when you can't possibly figure out a way to get it.

How about Daniel?  Wouldn't you consider being thrown into a den of lions to be a hopeless situation?  It was certain death.  We get religious about it because we know the outcome, but Daniel was going to be executed as a criminal.  They just happened to use lions instead of gas chambers, electric chairs, firing squads or lethal injections back then.  He would have made a good subject for one of those "death row" movies.  All appeals have failed.  They throw a switch or pull their triggers.  But the gas that is supposed to end his life somehow doesn't do it.  The electricity in the chair doesn't hurt him.  The bullets all miss.  He's not dead.  This is a fairly good illustration of what it must have felt like to be Daniel.  He was a regular person like you, not some comic book hero.  I'm sure he had some disagreeable feelings before he got thrown to the lions.  How would you feel if you were about to be executed using the standard procedure where you're from?  All Daniel had was God, and God was all he needed.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were also supposed to be executed for their stand for God.  Their situation was hopeless, too.  You just don't survive being thrown into a furnace.  The people who threw them in didn't even survive!  Don't you suppose they might have had some tense moments, even though they knew that God would deliver them?  It was God or nothing, and God was all they needed.

What about David at Ziglag, where the enemy had torched the city, carried off the women and children captive (including David's two wives), and his own army started to commit treason against him by speaking of stoning him?  How would you like to be David that day?  This really happened to a real person.  David did not have the advantage of reading 1 Samuel 30 to see the outcome.  David was probably about ready to die!  He was "greatly distressed."  I suppose that if bandits kidnapped your family and burned down your house, you would be greatly distressed, too.  Don't get religious about it; you know full well that you would not consider it a good day.  David "encouraged himself in the Lord his God," prayed and got instructions from God, and got everything back!  If David had quit, he would not have gotten anything other than a fatal stoning.  He chose to encourage himself in the Lord despite impossible circumstances.  If David can do it and get the victory, so can you!  David didn't have your new and better covenant!

Consider Hezekiah's dilemma.  He had at least 185,000 men coming at his city, intent on conquering it.  How would you like to have 185,000 people heading toward your town, intent to take it over?  Not only that, but they've hired a good PR man who has managed to put fear into the people in your town so that they feel defeated before the battle even starts.  You can see why Hezekiah rent his clothes.  (Rent means tore; it does not mean that Hezekiah visited the local tux shop.)  When he cried out to God, God sent an angel and killed 185,000 people in one night.  (Side note covered elsewhere in this book:  God can and will remove you from the picture if you actively set yourself against his works.  You won't stop his plans.  God reserves wrath for his enemies.  The idea is not to make yourself one of his enemies.)

Now on the other hand, King Asa had a hopeless situation -- an exceedingly great disease.  King Asa did not encourage himself in the Lord his God.  He did not seek God at all.  He looked only to doctors who could not cure him.  He died.  Asa served the same God that David, Daniel, Hezekiah and the others did.  In times past, his trust in God delivered Israel in battle.  But when he stopped trusting God, God stopped coming through for him.

Backslidden Israel got into some really hopeless situations, and the people died!

From this, we see that being in a hopeless situation is by itself no guarantee that you will be delivered.  If you stay true to God and to his Word, you will be, but if you doubt him or trust in man, he will not necessarily come through for you.  God does the impossible stuff but it is up to you to trust him and take him at his word.

Now suppose that you took the religious world's approach to a deadly illness.  You just accept it as the will of God.  You pray to die as painlessly as possible and to have peace while so doing.  There won't be any deliverance for you if you do that -- you'll just die!  The greats of faith listed above were actively trusting God to deliver them.  Their deliverance did not just happen.  Hezekiah got no help until he asked for it.  Just because you are a Christian does not mean that God will just swoop down from heaven and heal you, any more than he would just swoop down and save sinners irrespective of his Word.

The woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5 got no help until she reached out and received it from God.  I don't mind stating that God can and does use doctors, but he didn't use the doctors who worked on this woman.  She lost everything paying their bills and still only got worse.  She had an incurable disease, but her faith got her healed of it.  (That's not being arrogant; Jesus himself said that her faith had made her well.  Argue with him if you don't like that.)

Think of all the blind and deaf people Jesus healed.  Their situations were incurable.  No one else was going around healing those people.  Yet nothing was impossible when men came to the Savior.  He is the same Miracle-Worker today.

Your illness is curable, even if your doctor says it isn't.  The Great Physician stands ready and able to heal you.  He will be more than happy to heal you of your hopeless terminal illness!


The Word AND the anointing!

If people are to be healed, we need the Word AND the anointing to go forth when we minister.  One without the other will produce only partial results.

It is true that you can get anything by the Word that you can get through the anointing, but some people are not going to receive that way.  Some people are so bound that only the anointing will set them free.  They are not in a position to hear the Word, or are so distracted by their problems that they do not focus on the Word.  The Word alone will not free them, but the anointing of God will do it!  They can be set free in five seconds when it might have taken years of Word-based counseling to get them free.

On the other hand, you cannot base everything on manifestations of the Spirit, as some healing ministers do.  The people may or may not get healed as the Spirit manifests himself.  Even if they do get healed, they will most likely lose their healing if they do not hear the Word concerning their salvation from sickness.  The Word, not the anointing, is the foundation for healing ministry.

So, we need to pray for two things.  First, we need boldness to speak the Word about our redemption from sickness despite widespread opposition to this teaching.  We need to pray that God will open the eyes of men's understanding so that they will be enlightened and know the hope of their calling, including healing.  Second, we need to pray that God will stretch forth his hand and do signs, wonders and miracles by the name of his holy child Jesus.  Our generation needs to see the goodness of God manifested, and he is going to use his Body to display that goodness!


What's better than healing?  Health!

3 John 2

God's will for you is health, not simply healing.  Here we see that God's desire is for you to be in health.  This is far better than getting sick, getting healed, getting sick again, getting healed again, and so on.  Thank God, healing is available to you when you get sick, but health is available to you so that you don't have to get sick in the first place.  It is not God's perfect will for you to get sick and need healing!

1 Peter 2:24

Here we see that by Jesus' stripes (the wound on his body from his flogging) you were healed.  It is important to recognize this as a statement, not a promise.  Peter did not say that by Jesus' stripes you were promised healing when you get sick, although that is also true by implication because of your legal standing with God.  Peter puts your healing in the past tense.  You were healed.  If your healing is in the past tense, you have the right to walk in health at all times, because healing has already been accomplished for you as far as God is concerned.

Of course, if any among you is sick (notice the if), that person can call for the elders of the church and receive healing through the prayer of faith.  But James' very use of the word if shows that sickness is abnormal for the Christian and needs to be done away with.  This is because the Christian is to walk in health, not simply healing.

Psalm 91

Here we see that the pestilence is not to come near you.  It is not to come nigh your dwelling.  That means that the latest flu strain does not have any business being in your home.  If the pestilence does not come near you, you are not going to get sick from it and then need healing.  You are going to walk in health because you don't get sick first.  We can see this even under the Old Covenant.

Romans 8:11

Here we see the ongoing quickening (life-giving) work of the Holy Spirit in your body.  This life-giving force will keep you from getting whatever sickness is going around.

Exodus 23:25-26

God promised Israel that he would take sickness away from the midst of the people.  This goes beyond a promise to heal diseases if they came (which he did elsewhere), but shows that even under the Old Covenant, it was God's will that there not be any sickness in the first place.  Even if you want to interpret this as healing sicknesses when they come, it is still a health promise and can be interpreted no other way.


Would you rebuke a Christmas present?

This title probably surprises you because it sounds so ridiculous.  You would probably not rebuke a Christmas present.  (If you would, please refer to the section on mental illnesses.)  But this is a valid question if you believe many Christians' bad teaching that sickness can be a gift from God to help develop your character.  According to this line of teaching, sickness can be like a Christmas present to you from God.

If so, Jesus rebuked this "Christmas present" in Luke 4:38-39!  In other words, he did the same thing with the fever that he did with demons!  Jesus rebuked demons.  Look up the word used here for rebuke in your concordance and you will find that it is the same word used for rebuke everywhere else in the gospels, where it is used primarily of rebuking demons.  Jesus' attitude toward sickness was the same as his attitude toward Satan and his demons.

As Christians, we must take our Lord's harsh attitude toward sickness and treat it the same way that we would treat Satan himself.  We should be no more tolerant of sickness in our bodies than we would be of Satan telling us to sin.  Regardless of what some popular "Christian" books may say, sickness is never your friend.  Who wants a Christmas present that steals, kills and destroys?

Jesus showed how to deal with things that steal, kill and destroy.  When a storm was going to kill him and his disciples, he rebuked the storm.  He took authority over it and commanded it to stop.  Since Jesus came to do the will of God and destroy the works of the devil, the storm could not have been the work of God.  Jesus did not come to destroy the works of God!  He never rebuked the works of God; he only rebuked the works of Satan.  Therefore, it is clear that the fever was the work of Satan, not God.  Jesus would never have rebuked it if it were from God.  Jesus did not rebuke presents from his heavenly Father.  James said that every good gift comes from above, not that every good gift and quite a few bad ones come from above (James 1:17).


Healing and the prodigal son

Luke 15:11-32 contains the story of the prodigal son.  We can learn many things about the nature of God from this story, some of which relate to healing.

We can see that the father (who represents God) had compassion on the backslidden son when he came to himself and repented.  Sometimes a person is sick because he is not right with God, and once he comes back and repents of his backsliding, God heals him.  (And such people might not ever get healed until they repent, no matter how much they pray for healing!)  When such a person receives a dramatic healing, the religious people can get very upset because they figure that if anyone deserved such a miracle, they did.  Like the elder son, they miss the key point that the father made:  "All that I have is thine."  Healing belonged to them all along!  All of God's healing ability was theirs for the asking.

There is no point leaving a healing crusade mad because the people you think of as spiritual "low life" gets miracles while you don't.  The same power is available to you!  Sometimes a repenting backslider or sinner is more conscious of his need for God (and more humble) than you are, so he finds it easier to receive a gift from God.  Thank God for good works, but your good works won't heal you.  Healing is a gift that Jesus Christ purchased for you.  Don't ever forget that!  You didn't merit it.  He gave it to you while you had still done absolutely nothing to please God and you were still in sin.

Don't be like the self-righteous elder son who was too mad to go enjoy the food and the music!  He was only hurting himself with his attitude.  All that God has is yours.  The Scriptures tell us that you have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ and that God has already given you all things pertaining to life and godliness.  Healing is yours.  Get it for yourself, and don't get mad when someone else gets it.  Rejoice with the person, because that's what God is doing!


Luke 15:11-32
Luke 15:11-32:

And he [Jesus] said, A certain man had two sons:

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me.  And he divided unto them his living.

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat:  and no man gave unto him.

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

And am no more worthy to be called thy son:  make me as one of thy hired servants.

And he arose, and came to his father.  But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

Continued


Luke 15:11-32 (cont.)
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.  And they began to be merry.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

And he was angry, and would not go in:  therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment:  and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad:  for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.


Healing and God's glory

Dead, stinking tradition says that God wants to be glorified through your patient suffering of sickness.  The Bible has something completely different to say about how God is glorified in your body.  Let's look at some places where God's glory is mentioned regarding healing and see exactly what gives God glory among men:

Matthew 9:2-8 tells us that when Jesus forgave and healed a paralyzed man, the multitudes "glorified God, which had given such power unto men."  So the fact that God's healing power can flow through one man into another gives God glory.  Mark describes the same incident and concurs that glory was given to God because of it (Mark 2:2-12).  Luke also describes the incident (Luke 5:17-26) and adds that the man who was healed glorified God as he departed to his house.

Matthew 15:30-31 tells of the great healing miracles Jesus did, and the result was that the multitudes "glorified the God of Israel."  Again, God received glory from the healing of the sick.

Luke 7:12-16 says that the people glorified God after Jesus raised the widow's son back to life.

Luke 13:11-16 tells of a crippled woman who was healed on the sabbath day.  She glorified God over her healing.  There is no mention that she ever glorified God for the privilege of staying sick for 18 years, bound by Satan.

Luke 17:12-19 tells of ten lepers who were healed, one of whom came back and with a loud voice glorified God for his healing.  God is glorified through the healing of incurable illnesses!

Luke 18:35-43 tells us that when Jesus gave a blind man his sight, the blind man followed him, glorifying God, and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

In Acts 4:21, "All men glorified God for that which was done [the healing of the crippled beggar at the gate]."  They weren't glorifying God for the man's endurance of his handicap before then.

Rescuing the afflicted glorifies God.  "Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.  For he hath not despised not abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard" (Psalm 22:23-24).  "And call upon me in the day of trouble:  I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me"  (Psalm 50:15).

Romans 15:9 says that the Gentiles should glorify God for his mercy.  A quick tour through the Psalms should convince you that his mercy endures forever.  This is different from trying to glorify God despite his lack of mercy to you.  God wants his mercy and willingness to heal to be known, not his supposed unwillingness to heal.

God's glory and his goodness are inseparable.  When Moses asked to see God's glory, God showed him his goodness.  Thus, God himself relates the two.  "And he [Moses] said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy"  (Exodus 33:18-19).  We see in Exodus 34:5-7 that the "name of the Lord" that God himself declared was "The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in grace and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation."  Remember that this was the answer to Moses' request to see God's glory.

Jesus' miracle in John 2:11 was said to manifest his glory:  "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him."  He equated seeing Lazarus raised from the dead with seeing the glory of God (John 11:40, read John 11:1-44 for the full account.)

Want to get more radical?  Read John 14:12-14.  The Father is glorified in the Son when you ask for something to be done in the name of Jesus and Jesus does it!  God gets glory when you believe his promises and receive what he promised you:  "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and Amen, unto the glory of God by us" -- 2 Cor 1:20.  (Religious types don't like the by us part at the end, but it's there anyway.)

Now consider these words and see what God says about his glory filling the earth in these last days:

"But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD." -- Numbers 14:21.

"And blessed be his glorious name for ever:  and let the whole earth be filled with his glory." -- Psalm 72:19.

"And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together:  for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." -- Isaiah 40:5.

"Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people:  but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee." -- Isaiah 60:1-2.

"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." -- Habakkuk 2:14.

"The desire of all nations [Christ] shall come:  and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts" -- Haggai 2:7.

"The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former" -- Haggai 2:9.

"But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory." -- 2 Corinthians 3:7-9.

This much is clear -- the glory of God should manifest more under our new covenant than it did under the old.  There were great miracles and signs under the Old Covenant, but these should pale in comparison to what we have under the New Covenant.  If God's glory is going to overrun the earth, we should expect God's healing mercy to overrun the earth.  We should expect signs, wonders and miracles now.

One thing is conspicuously absent in all of Scripture.  Nowhere was God was said to receive glory from someone failing to receive healing and patiently enduring his sickness.  If this glorified God, he should have received great glory at Nazareth, where people stayed sick because of their unbelief.  Yet he got no glory there.  You won't find one place where it is written, "The man patiently endured his sickness, being kind as the incurable cancer slowly destroyed his body and made him a burden to all those around him, and the multitudes glorified the God of Israel because of this man."

I am not saying that healing is the only way that God receives glory.  He was glorified for many other reasons in the Bible, but never because someone remained sick.

No, if you want to hear that patiently remaining sick is the way God wants to be glorified, you will have to look somewhere other than the Bible.  However, you won't have to look too far -- there are plenty of junky books out there that teach this.  Better Christian bookstores don't carry them, but lousier Christian bookstores (not hard to come by) have big displays of them.  I hope for their sakes that the owners carry them out of ignorance, not out of desire to make money on unbelief.


Healing and the last days

James 5:7:

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.  Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

God expects a harvest from the earth.  But before there was harvest, there was rain.  The early rain got the seed going; the latter rain prepared the crop for harvest.

The Church Age started with a great outpouring of the Spirit.  We should expect in these last days to see another great outpouring of the Spirit that will produce a final harvest of souls before Jesus returns.

Although the former rain and the latter rain take place at different times, they have one thing in common -- they both consist of water.  In other words, the former rain and latter rain are the same thing.  So when we wonder what kinds of things should be happening today, we need only look at what happened in the book of Acts.  We should be expecting more of the same today -- whole cities turning to the Lord because of healing miracles!  Lame people healed by the dozens!  Judgment miracles against people who attempt to stop the work of God and lie to the Church!  People raised from the dead!

God's healing mercy has always been available to all.  God is not more willing to heal the sick in these last days.  However, we should expect that there will be more signs and wonders that will confound the intellectuals and force men to recognize the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  More miracles should arrest the attention of sinners.  We should expect Jesus to return for a triumphant church that knows its rights in Christ and exercises them in this world.

These will not happen automatically just because it is time for the "latter rain."  If we ask not, we will have not.  "Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field" (Zechariah 10:1).

You may wonder:  Is this trying to establish a new "dispensationalist" theory that the early Church was in an Early Rain dispensation, which was followed by a No Rain dispensation, which has been succeeded by a Latter Rain dispensation?  Would this not prove that there is a time for miracles and a time not to have miracles?

I believe that given what God said about his glory in the last days (see Healing and God's glory), we can conclude that as the coming of Christ approaches there will be more manifestations of God's glory on the earth.  This is consistent with being in the time of the Latter Rain.  Of course, if we are in the time of the Latter Rain, it is time to expect great miracles in abundance and to pray for them to be done in our midst!

However, we are not under a separate covenant or in a separate "age" from the early Church.  The same healing scriptures apply to both.  Anyone could receive by faith then, now, and any time in between.  Special manifestations do not indicate a greater willingness for God to heal, but a sign for sinners on the earth to notice.  We desperately need such signs in our day to wake up the sinners.

Consider the following.  In the 1950's, there was a great healing revival.  It was no more God's will to heal then, but there were more manifestations of spiritual gifts along those lines.  Later, there was a teaching revival where faith was emphasized and taught more than before.  Those faith concepts were true all along.  A long time ago, meetings where people got "drunk in the Spirit" were fairly common, and they even wrote songs about it.  This almost disappeared for a while, only to come back more recently.  In earlier centuries, people being "slain in the Spirit" was a common occurrence when evangelists preached to the masses.  People thought it was a new thing when it came back in our day.

The point is that there are different moves of God at different times.  We did not have a "healing dispensation" or a "faith dispensation" in which healing and faith work when they didn't before.  They were just different things that the Holy Spirit was emphasizing at the time.  There are different "flows" of the Spirit within the same dispensation.  The early and latter rain are "flows" as opposed to "dispensations."

Judgment is coming.  Read Revelation if you don't believe that.  But God always gives men space to repent and shows them mercy before judgment falls.  We should expect a great wave of God's mercy in the earth before the Church is taken out of here and judgment falls.


Healing and personal perfection

2 Chronicles 30:18-20

While it is important to live a life consecrated to God and his service, healing is not just a matter of works.  You can forfeit healing by clinging to sin, as shown in the section, Mistakes that keep your healing away.  However, you do not have to live in sinless perfection for God to heal you.  God is more interested in your heart than he is in finer points of the Law.  Jesus made this clear to the Pharisees, whose hearts were corrupt even though they scrupulously tithed on the herbs in their gardens.  God desires mercy more than he desires sacrifice, as Jesus said on more than one occasion.

We see this even under the Law in the passage above.  The people had not kept the Passover (symbolic of Christ) for a long time.  King Hezekiah decreed that the Passover should be re-instituted, but it was on short notice.  The people did not have time to get themselves ready and did not really understand this ordinance, not having done it before.  Thus, some of the people partook of the Passover contrary to the requirements of the Law.  This was done in ignorance, not in a blatant attempt to mock God.

Look what God did.  Hezekiah prayed that the Lord would pardon those who "prepared their hearts to seek God" even though they were not cleansed properly.  God did, and he healed the people who partook of this symbol of Jesus Christ.  God looked at the hearts of them that sought him, and overlooked the minor technical violations of cleansing rituals.

If God could overlook sins when people's hearts were right toward him under the Old Covenant, surely he can do so under our new and better covenant.  "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" -- John 1:17.  We are under grace and truth today.  We are not under the Law of Moses.

Technically, the lepers and the woman with the issue of blood who came to Jesus could have been stoned to death for going out in public contrary to the Law of Moses.  However, Jesus did not pick up any rocks but instead healed them.  He looked past the legal violations and saw their faith.

God does not condone sin, but he is not a nitpicker, either.  God was able to use Peter despite his faults, which are documented for all generations to see.  Peter wasn't perfect, but he sought God and God honored him for it.  God has used men in healing ministry who were proud, alcoholic, short-tempered, jealous, vindictive, greedy, and more.  Although many were judged eventually because they would not judge themselves, God still did mighty miracles through them.  They weren't perfect; but they were available.

If your idea of God is that he searches the Bible looking for technical violations in your life, you don't know him very well.  God loves you and is for you.  He wants to bless you.  He expects consecration, but he will overlook your current imperfections if you are seeking him.  You don't need to be perfect to get healed.


It works!

There are plenty of objectors to divine healing out there saying that it's too hard and that this stuff doesn't work.  If you want to hear what they are saying (with responses), refer to the Objections overruled! section.

However, the fact is that healing works!  The "gospel of healing" is producing fruit all over the world right now.  People are receiving "faith to be healed" by hearing the gospel (like the man at Lystra in Acts 14:7-10) and rising up healed.  The Lord is still healing the blind, the deaf and the crippled.  Thousands at once get healed in large crusades overseas.  Undeniable miracles are happening now.  You really have to deliberately stick your head in the sand to believe that faith for healing doesn't work or it's too hard.  If it's too hard, how are these people getting healed?  Why are there testimonies everywhere of people being healed by the power of God when Jesus Christ is preached?  Don't let anyone talk you out of it -- divine healing works!  I can testify to this from experience, and it's too late to convince me or anyone else who's been healed this way that it doesn't work!  People in churches all over the world are believing they receive healing when they pray and getting it!

If you need healing, go where healing is going on!  You won't be in much shape to receive healing if you listen to anti-healing radio programs and read anti-healing books.  Get around people of like precious faith who will encourage you to stand your ground.  Get around people who have their own testimonies of how they got healed; they can probably help you get your healing!  Get around people who know that divine healing through faith in Christ's atonement works.  Go where they preach healing, not unbelief.  Read books on healing.  Get tapes on healing.  Immerse yourself in it until faith comes and unbelief leaves.  It may not happen overnight, but if you keep at it, faith for healing will come.

If you go places where you can see people's faith for healing working, it will be a tremendous encouragement to your own faith.  If you stay in some dead, dry church that doesn't believe that the power of God is for this age, you'll be dragged down with their unbelief.  (Unbelief, like faith, comes by hearing preaching!)  Just because it doesn't work there is no proof that it doesn't work any more than the fact that it didn't work at Nazareth proves that it didn't work anywhere else.


Found:  The cure for AIDS!

The cure for AIDS has been found, and it does not require expensive drugs or treatments with unknown or undesirable side effects.  The cure is Jesus Christ, the Healer!  Surely this should be headline news.  Surely this message is worth spending money to propagate.  If we can spend money on organizations looking for a cure for AIDS, it is certainly worth spending money on organizations that have already found the cure for AIDS so that they can get the word out!

AIDS has no special power against the Word of God; it is just one more disease that you are redeemed from by the atonement of Christ.  If God heals ALL your diseases, he heals your AIDS.  If God takes away from you ALL sickness, he takes AIDS away from you.  No footnote to Mark 16 says that we shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover, unless they have AIDS, in which case they won't recover.  With God NOTHING, including curing AIDS, is impossible.

Those suffering from AIDS or any other (supposedly) incurable illness would surely want to know that the cure has been found.  They may reject it, but at least they should have the chance to receive it or reject it.  We know that God hates sin, but his mercy extends even to fools who are sick because of the very sins they committed.  Of course, you need to repent of the sin you are in if it lends itself to contracting AIDS; it is a slap in God's face to continue in immoral relationships while asking God to heal you of the consequences of them.

I am not against contributing money to research institutes that look for medical cures for diseases.  If it were not for natural means of treating the sick, some people would not have lived to hear the gospel.  I am one of those people.  My life was saved by medical science when I was eight years old.  If it were not for medicine and doctors, this book would not be on your computer screen right now.

However, think of what an investment it is to contribute money to a local church that preaches that Jesus Christ has defeated AIDS!  In fact, you could even use that as "bait" with people who ask about your giving habits.  You can tell them that you support an organization that has found the cure for AIDS!


The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead

Romans 8:11

Here Paul tells us the blessed fact that we have the same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead inside us!  This same Spirit did miracles through Christ throughout his earthly ministry.  (Remember that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and did no miracles before then.)  Not some weak, wimpy, watered-down Holy Spirit Lite.  The same Spirit.  Not part of the same Spirit; the Holy Spirit is not divisible.  You have the same Holy Spirit in you that did Christ's miracles and raised up his dead body.

And what will he do for you?  Paul says that he will quicken (give life to) your mortal body.  As discussed in an objection reply elsewhere, this certainly refers to this current life.  Paul is not talking about the Spirit quickening your dead body; he's talking about the Spirit quickening your current mortal, but not dead, body.

If the Holy Spirit was able to heal the sick through Christ and then raise him from the dead, don't you suppose that he could heal your body, too?  He's living in you, after all.  You don't have to run to a healing crusade to find him.  You have a Person inside you who is well able to cure every disease that you could possibly have.  The power to heal your body is in your body right now!  It is a case of releasing it with your faith.

You can go to a healing service where the gifts of the Spirit move.  But the same Holy Spirit who does those healings is in you all the time.  The same Spirit who moves in those services wants to give life to your body on an ongoing basis.  Stop and think about the Powerhouse within you!  There is no power shortage.  The Holy Spirit has more than enough power to heal any problem you have.  Welcome him to do his work of giving life to your mortal body.


Descent into stupidity

The following is a guided tour into the Grand Canyon of Stupidity.  Man's religious mental reasoning will be our tour guide.  Notice that the whole descent starts with one bad foundation -- experience.  This should show you the danger of using anything but the Word as a foundation for doctrine.  And now, let the ignorance begin!

--- START HERE --->

Joe and Lisa just lost a little girl to leukemia.  They were fine Christians who attend a "faith church."  Joe and Lisa are shook up and don't know why this happened to them.  But we'll make them feel better by telling them that God took their little girl.  We will tell them that it was God's perfect will for the child to die, and that he knows what's best for us.  Even though it seems to be contrary to every long-life and healing promise in the Bible, we'll try to shoehorn Romans 8:28 into the situation and say that God meant it for Joe and Lisa's good -- to draw them closer to himself.  Just think of how they have to depend on God just to make it through the day now.  Of course, we have to mention in passing that everything they were taught about faith for healing at the church doesn't necessarily work.  Then they won't feel so bad that their girl was not healed.  We'll just plant a little seed of doubt that there must be something wrong with the healing message, although we're not quite sure what.  We just know that it must not always work.  We wouldn't want to make Joe and Lisa feel bad by saying that healing is for all.

<----CONTINUE<----

Now that we have established that God has made an exception in the case of Joe and Lisa's daughter, we can no longer teach that God forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.  We will now teach that God forgives all your sins and heals some of your diseases, when it's his will.  We'll assume that it's usually his will and that he makes exceptions in his sovereignty to teach us lessons and for other mysterious purposes.  This sounds very good and religious.  (Actually, it's religious but not very good.)  We'll say we believe in healing because we believe that God does heal today.  We just won't say that he always wants to heal because he might want to make an exception in his sovereignty, as he did for Joe and Lisa's daughter.

--->THIS WAY DOWN--->

Now of course we have some pesky verses that we will have to explain away.  For example, that one in James 5 about praying the prayer of faith for the sick.  Well, that obviously can't be for us today, because you can only pray the prayer of faith when you know the will of God.  That is because faith is the assurance, not the hope-so, of something you can't see.  Since God can make exceptions in his sovereignty, the elders cannot pray the prayer of faith for a sick person.  Instead, tell the elders to water it down and pray for "endurance" rather than healing, just so that no one gets disappointed.  Cheer up the sick with small talk, and watch trash TV with them in their hospital rooms for a while.  Do anything except what God said to do -- anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord and praying for them in faith so that the Lord raises them up!  Oh, I know, James was just for the early church before the gifts of healings passed away with the last apostle.  That sounds like a reasonable excuse.

<---CAUTION:  STEEP GRADE AHEAD<---

Now about believing you receive when you pray, as Jesus taught.  Well, we can't do that unless it's God's will, and since we don't know whether or not healing is God's will for us, we will have to pray and ask God for a direct revelation that it is his will to heal us before proceeding in faith.  Remember, God makes exceptions in his sovereignty -- he did for Joe and Lisa, you know.  So until you get a witness in your heart that you're not a sovereign exception, you can't pray for your healing in faith.  Trouble is, God doesn't give out direct words like that because he gave you his general words in the Bible that apply to everyone.  So you don't get a direct word from the Spirit that he wants to heal you.  Ah, you know why that really is?  He doesn't want to heal you right now!  You don't have a revelation that he wants to heal you in particular or heal you at this particular time.  Oops, guess you have to put up with that sickness, because God could be making an exception for you like he did for Joe and Lisa's daughter.  Just trust in his sovereignty and believe that he will "permit" whatever is best for you.  Don't forget Romans 8:28.

--->DANGER:  SHIFTING SAND ON TRAIL--->

Now you aren't getting healed either.  It appears that God's sovereign exceptions occur more often than we thought.  In fact, let's make healing the exception and staying sovereignly sick the standard.  After all, we know other "faith" people who didn't get healed when they prayed.  Yeah, we all remember Uncle Barney -- he died too, you know.  And Phyllis the singer from the church across town -- God saw fit to confine her to a wheelchair with multiple sclerosis.  Actually, there aren't many people getting healed supernaturally.  Most of the people at our faith church get prayed for and then have to get operated on anyway.  So, yeah, maybe God is more into giving surgeons wisdom these days than into healing the sick.  After all, God invented medicine, didn't he?  Yeah, we don't see many miracles.  Hah, that proves that miracles are exceptional and sickness is normal.  In fact, sin is pretty normal at our church, too, so maybe that's the sovereign will of God.  Oops, no, we know better than to judge God's will on sin by the experience and practice of those around us!  Sin is wrong, but sickness is different -- we should expect that the current state of the church in this area is the will of God.  The experience and practice of those around us should determine our doctrine.

<---CLIMATE CHANGE ZONE<---

Let's cool off a bit and get lukewarm with God.  After all, we're not so excited about him anymore now that he doesn't seem like he's willing to help us all the time.  Gee, it was more exciting thinking that he loved us enough to heal us.  Being sovereignly sick is a drag.  But we should condemn ourselves when we feel like we want to be healed.  Wanting healing is so selfish and me-oriented.  Yeah, what do you want to get healed for, anyway, just so that you can feel good or something?  God could be teaching you lessons, you know.  Feel guilty that you should love God more and more although you are coming to respect him less and less because of his capricious ways of dealing with you.

---ROCKY BOTTOM---

No one has any guarantee of divine healing.  Most of those healing crusade guys are probably charlatans and frauds anyway.  We're glad we know better than to go to a healing crusade and expect healing in our bodies!  We're sophisticated now; we accept sickness as God's sovereign will.  We accept the untimely passing of those around us as part of God's mysterious plan.  He let some famous preachers die from illnesses, you know.  When God doesn't heal, we bow before his mystery and majesty, and we worship the God Who Doesn't Always Heal.  Those miracles in the Bible, well, we guess they aren't for today or at least aren't for everyone.  We know they aren't because Joe and Lisa didn't get one.  Yeah, so there.  Joe and Lisa's experience proves that the Bible's promises aren't always for us today.

---->ONE WAY OUT---->

If you want out of this canyon of unbelief, start reading and meditating on the healing Scriptures found in this book rather than basing your faith on people's experiences.  Find out what the Bible standard is and move up in that direction rather than settling for making your life a sad copy of someone else's bad experience.  I'm not making fun of anyone's experience, but you base doctrine on the Bible, not experiences.  That is, unless you like where this trail went.

[Note:  This story was made up.  Any similarity to real people named Joe and Lisa (including the fact that they are named Joe and Lisa) is unintentional.]


Anointed to preach deliverance

Luke 4:18-19

Many times, we think of Jesus being anointed to destroy yokes of bondage from people, and that is part of the truth.  The part we sometimes miss is the fact that he was anointed to preach deliverance, preach the gospel to the poor, preach recovering of sight to the blind and preach the acceptable year of the Lord.  In other words, he was not just anointed to give the blind their sight -- he was anointed to preach recovery of sight to the blind, which is a completely different matter.  He was anointed to preach to men what they could have in God's kingdom so that they could believe it for themselves.

Many times we major on the "power" at work in a healing minister's meetings, but God has also anointed men to preach healing -- the universal availability of it.  There is an anointing to do this, and every minister should endeavor to flow in the anointing rather than just preaching out of his head.

As mentioned elsewhere, some people will not get healed because they want the bondages to be broken off of them by the anointing.  They fail to realize that there is an anointing on the message itself that could get them free if they would give ear to it.

Let's expect the Holy Ghost's help not only in doing miracles but also in proclaiming the truth boldly so that men will understand it, believe it, act on it, and get healed.  If men get healed through the gifts at work in you, they will be healed only when you're around.  When they hear and believe the gospel of their deliverance that you preach to them, they will be able to get healed when you're not around.


You're dead!

No, that's not a bad confession.  That's what the Bible says!

"For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God" -- Colossians 3:3.

"For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him" -- 2 Timothy 2:11.

"We, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness..." -- 1 Peter 2:24.

"I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me..." -- Galatians 2:20.

Your identification with the death and resurrection of Christ is one of the most important themes in the entire Bible.  Surprisingly, few Christians even begin to understand this.  If they did, they would not run around saying that they are sinners saved by grace.  If you are saved by grace, you are no longer a sinner by nature!  You were created in God's image in righteousness and true holiness.  You are not some unworthy little worm.  Never talk about yourself that way.  You'll drain away all your boldness to approach God by wallowing in that stuff.  You have the same right standing with God that Jesus Christ himself does.  For some reason, this offends some people, but if you don't understand it, you may need to get saved!  As a believer, you are the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor 5:21) and are completely worthy in his eyes to receive anything you need.  If you don't understand that, you need to go back and grasp the total significance of what Jesus did for you at Calvary.  Read Romans!  Paul said in Romans 10:10 that you have believed unto righteousness -- you are righteous right now!

I am not going to include the entire book of Romans here, but a key passage is Romans 6:1-14.  Think about what this says.  You are dead and buried with Christ.  You're dead to sin.  Sin has no power over you.  You are to walk in newness of life.  You don't just live a crucified life; you live a resurrected life!

Romans 6:1-14:

What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

For in that he died, he died unto sin once:  but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin:  but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

For sin shall have no dominion over you:  for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Jesus took on your sins and died, but when he rose, there were no more sins on him.  That is what you are to identify with.  Your old sinful nature was killed when you were born again, and your new nature is free from the stains of sin.  You are a righteous and holy new creation in Christ.

It is essential that you recognize your righteousness.  It is part of your armor in Ephesians 6 that you use to stop the devil's attacks.  At some point, you have probably had the thought that you deserve to be sick because you didn't walk in love or because you sinned some other way.  If you're in sin, just repent and God will forgive you completely and immediately.  If you sit around condemning yourself, you are doing the devil's work for him. You do not deserve any of the consequences of sin.  Jesus personally bore the consequences of sin for you.  You deserve God's best because you are blood-washed.  You are right with him.  God forgets your sins.  God does not hold your sins against you.  The blood of Jesus Christ has cleansed you from sin.  Nothing that is a result of sin belongs in your life.  That includes sickness.

Sin has no claim over you, and therefore Satan has no claim on you.  His claims on mankind are based on sin.  You are delivered from sin and from Satan's kingdom.  You are translated into the kingdom of God's Son.  What you deserve to get in life is no longer based on what you did; it is based on what Christ did.

Jesus Christ never got sick until he willingly yielded his body to take your sicknesses and pains during his atonement.  Of course, he could be tired, weak, hungry, and other things that we experience as part of life, but he was not sick.  You are as righteous before God as he was, and you have every bit as much right to walk in health as he did.  It doesn't make sense that Christ's physical body was not sick as he walked the earth, but that now his current physical Body on the earth (the Church) should be sick.  If we are sick, we are not representing to the world the way Jesus was when he walked on the earth.

If you don't believe that you are just as righteous as Jesus Christ in God's eyes, you need to do some serious studying and find out just how righteous the blood of Jesus Christ has made you!  You have received his righteousness as a gift.  The "old man" who deserved sickness, poverty, destruction and death is dead.  You are a new man in Christ.  You are now a child of the light instead of a child of wrath.  The old has passed away and all things have become new.  The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made you free from the law of sin and death.  You should now walk in newness of life.  You are right with God and you don't deserve sickness.  Nothing you have in Christ is based on what you did; it's all based on what he did for you.  See yourself as God sees you -- as someone who was buried with Christ and now lives with him in the power of his resurrection!


Quit worrying about your health!

Worry is a sin.  If you're doing it, you're out of the will of God and you're sinning.  You can worry yourself sick or even to death.  You can make yourself sick worrying when you were perfectly healthy to begin with!

A major obstacle for some people to overcome is the "My daddy had it, my daddy's daddy had it..." syndrome.  It does not matter if the last 40 generations in your family have had it, you don't have to have it.  Even if you are "genetically predisposed" to it, God's healing covenant covers whatever it is.  You do not have to suffer the same fate your ancestors did.

The absolute last thing you should do is to keep saying, "It's only a matter of time until I get it.  It runs in the family.  I should enjoy my health now while I still have it, because I know what's coming."  God says that death and life are in the power of your tongue, and that if you speak something and believe it in your heart, it shall be yours.  So if you believe you're going to get it and say you're going to get it, you are going to get it, even if you wouldn't have gotten it otherwise.  This applies to both health and sickness.  The same principle works for either -- which do you want to expect and say?

Study God's healing covenant until thoughts of healing crowd out the thoughts of getting and staying sick.  This is not mind control; this is mind renewal (Romans 12:1)!  You will never quit worrying just by trying harder not to worry.  You won't stop any sin by trying harder not to sin.  You overcome sin by filling yourself with God's Word until you think and act on God's Word instead of sin.

You don't have to worry about your health.  Faith will drive worry out, so concentrate on building your faith in what God says about healing you.  When thoughts of worry come (and they will), speak God's Word the same way Jesus did to Satan when he was tempted.

You don't have to worry that you'll get sick and God won't heal you.  God is perfectly willing to heal you of anything you get.  Do not worry that you will get senile.  God's healing covenant covers senility.  Do not worry that you will be confined to a nursing home, an invalid who wets his pants and can't feed him.  God's healing covenant covers lameness, incontinence and all forms of being crippled.  You can't come down with anything that God won't heal, so quit worrying about it.  Quit seeing yourself getting sick.  The more you visualize it, the more you'll speak it and attract it.  Besides, no one likes being around someone who's always talking about how sick he will be in the future and how much of a burden he will become in his advancing old age.  Quit talking trash and start speaking God's Word out of your mouth.  Stop worrying and start believing.


The power in the name of Jesus

Mark 9:38-39

Luke 9:49-50

Here we have a very interesting situation.  An unauthorized, uncommissioned preacher was successfully casting out demons in the name of Jesus.  This man was not one of the ones anointed by the Lord to cast out demons.  Jesus never gave him any power or authority.  This was before the Church Age.  This man was not saved, let alone baptized in the Holy Ghost.  How on earth could he have cast out devils?

One thing this man obviously had was a revelation of the power of the name of Jesus.  He realized that Jesus had authority over all devils.  So the man ordered devils to leave in the name of Jesus.  He knew that they were subject to Jesus.  He seemed to know that his name had authority on the earth.  And thus, a "nobody" made the disciples angry with his success in the ministry.

If you think that's something, consider Matthew 7:21-23, where we see that even an unbeliever can use the name of Jesus to cast out devils and do wonderful works!  The disciples knew the power of Jesus' name; in Luke 10:17-20; they were rejoicing that the demons were subject to them through Jesus' name.  This is the first recorded "use" of the name of Jesus.

If this unidentified man could use the name of Jesus like that then, how much more can we use it now!  After all, Jesus identified some of the works that believers would do in his name, including healing of the sick and casting out of devils (Mark 16:15-18).  Jesus said in John 14:12-14 that we would do the works that he did.  How?  By using his name.  If we ask anything in his name, HE will do it.  That is why Luke says that his gospel was a record of what Jesus began to do and to teach.  Jesus is continuing "to do and to teach" through his Body on earth, the Church.

This is a little different from the thought expressed in John 15:16 and John 16:23-27, where Jesus promised that whatever we ask the Father in his name, the Father will give it to us.  In John 14:12-14, we see the truth that Jesus Christ himself backs up his name.  He has pre-authorized us to use his name as a blank check that he promises to back.  We ask something to be done in the name of Jesus and he does it.

What a privilege!  And what a deal, too!  We get the easy part.  We simply use the name of Jesus.  He does the hard part -- healing.  Too many times we pray when instead we should simply use the name of Jesus.  A quick tour of the New Testament shows that the apostles did not really pray for the sick -- they used the name of Jesus to heal the sick.  (Yes, Paul prayed before he laid hands on Publius' father in Acts 28:8-9, but it does not say that he prayed for the man.  He prayed and then laid hands on the man so that he would be healed.)  They knew that Jesus backed his name and used his name freely.

In Acts 3:1-16 we see that Jesus' name, through faith in his name, healed a crippled beggar.  In Acts 4:7-10, Peter said that the man was healed "by the name of Jesus Christ."  In Acts 4:29-33, the disciples prayed that signs and wonders would be done by (note the use of that word again) the name of Jesus.  In Acts 16:16-18, Paul commanded an evil spirit to leave in the name of Jesus and it did.  We should expect the acts that Jesus did to be done where we use his name.

The name of Jesus makes everything's knee bow NOW

Philippians 2:9-11 shows us that the name of Jesus is powerful enough to make the knee bow of everything everywhere.  This passage doesn't say that they bow to Jesus; it says that they bow at his name.  We are the ones who use that name -- Jesus doesn't use his own name on the earth today.

Someone took me to task for this rendering of Philippians 2:9-11, objecting that this was a prophecy about the Great White Throne Judgment.  I can see how someone could read it that way, but there is a problem with that interpretation.  Revelation 20:11, beginning the account of this judgment, says, "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them."  They don't exist, at least not in habitable form, at the time of the Great White Throne Judgment!  (Peter said that they would be renewed by fire, and this is where that happens.)  Five verses later, we read, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:  for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea."  So during this judgment, there is no heaven (in the sense of the atmosphere over the earth), and no inhabitable earth, since both are being renovated by fire.  No one is left "under the earth," either.  The devil and his cohorts have already been thrown into the lake of fire!

Since the devil and his demons aren't around at this judgment, they can't possibly bow their knees and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father at the Great White Throne Judgment.  Thus, the part about knees under the earth bowing at the name of Jesus cannot possibly refer to demons bowing before Jesus at this judgment.  Therefore, we must conclude that this bowing of the knees at the name of Jesus of all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth takes place not at the Great White Throne Judgment but now.  There is no mention of knees bowing at this judgment anyway; perhaps this has been confused with the judgment seat of Christ for believers in Romans 14:10-12:

"But why dost thou judge thy brother?  or why dost thou set at nought thy brother?  for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  For as it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

This talks about the Judgment Seat of Christ, which is completely different from the Great White Throne Judgment.  The former is for believers only, where our works done in the body are judged; the latter is where unbelievers receive their final damnation sentence.  The devil and his cohorts are not present at this former judgment, nor are unbelievers, so their knees cannot be bowing to Christ during this judgment either!

Since the devil and his demons won't be at either judgment seat, their knees won't be bowing then.  So Philippians 2:9-11 can't mean that their knees will bow at any judgment seat of Christ.  However, it does make sense that their knees must bow now, given that we have authority over the devil and demons in the name of Jesus (Luke 10:17-20).  Even the demons must acknowledge his lordship, as they are powerless to stop any command issued to them in his name.

Someone further objected that you can't just go shout the name of Jesus in a fast-food place and make every knee bow with it.  That's nonsense if you understand why you use the name of Jesus -- to do his works on the earth.  Jesus did not go around making knees bow at the local eateries.  In fact, this passage is generally translated to read (as in the King James quoted here) that things, not people, bow their knees.  If that surprises you, consider that Jesus spoke to a storm and stilled it and spoke to a tree and killed it.  Things on the earth bowed to the Head of the Church.  Given that we are his Body, the fullness of him who fills all in all, it should be no surprise that things on the earth bow to us when we use the name of Jesus.

Your authority is not based on how you feel today

I know people who have been healed of serious conditions when the preacher felt nothing and they felt nothing while being prayed for.  You don't go by feelings.  The policeman directing traffic downtown may not feel like he has authority when he gets up in the morning, but the cars will still stop when he puts his hand up.

You don't have to feel like the name of Jesus will work any more than you have to feel that your car will start when you turn the ignition.  Feelings have nothing to do with your authority in Christ.  The President does not stop being the President if he rolls out of bed one morning and doesn't feel like he's the President.  You might not even feel like you're saved in the morning.  You can't be led by feelings.  All you have to do is use the name of Jesus.  It's easy; don't make it hard.  Believe that he will back his name, as he promised he would, and help someone get free!  If someone who didn't even know Jesus personally could get people free in his name, surely we who have him living inside us should be able to do it!

See also:

How to deal with the devil


Beware of Pharisees

If you think that Pharisees only existed in the time of Christ, guess again!  As then, there are religionists today who do not want to see you healed.  I have heard people who will try to talk you out of your healing after you get it!  These people do not believe in healing and the fact that you got healed threatens them.  You have something they don't have.  They are jealous.  I have had my own healings attributed to Satan by some who hate the gospel of healing.  They actually claimed that Satan did it to get me to believe and teach bad doctrine.  (According to them, God sickens and Satan heals.  How's that for a perversion?)

Jesus said that you must beware of the teaching of these people.  "Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees...Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." -- Matthew 16:6, 12.

How can you spot a Pharisee?  See what they were like in Scripture.  They were Bible experts who knew the letter of the Law but not the spirit of it.  They got upset when people got healed.  They tried to discourage people from going to Jesus for healing.  They complained about healings happening on the Sabbath day.  They said that Satan was doing the works.  They didn't care about world evangelism and interfered with those who did care.  They had no concern for the lost and were upset that Jesus would minister to people that they thought were low-down.  They nit-picked everything Jesus and his disciples did and looked for ways to trip them up.  They gave men dead religious formalism, not life.  Above all, they were threatened and jealous of the success that the real Christians had.  And so it is today.

What do you do about them?  You avoid them.  You don't go to the churches they run, even if Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa always did, and even if your family has "that" kind of religious background.  Stay away from party-poopers who mock divine healing and aren't glad you got healed.  Don't waste your time and money on a church that has no vision to see lost people born again, either.  Don't go to a church that has a form of godliness but no power.

2 Timothy 3:5:

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:  from such turn away.

You will find that some of the bitterest opponents of healing are people who once believed in it but then stopped when someone they knew failed to receive his healing.  Some of these people will stop at nothing to try to talk you out of believing God for your healing.  Their bitterness usually shows itself plainly in their words.  Don't hang around such people.  If you do, not only their unbelief but also their bitterness can get off on you.  (Scripture talks about many being defiled from one root of bitterness.)  Find people who have experienced healing through faith in Christ and hang around them instead!

Go somewhere where the new birth is preached, where Jesus is preached as being the Healer -- the same yesterday, today and forever!  To continue to go to a lousy church, even while reading good healing literature, will hinder you from getting and staying healed.  Beware of the leaven of modern-day Pharisees!


Where's Jesus?

Most Christians know that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.  Unfortunately, most Christians live as if that is the only place he is.  Yes, he is in heaven, but he is also here on the earth in his Body.  He indwells believers.  If you're born again, you have "Christ in you, the hope of glory" -- Col 1:27.  Jesus said, "If a man love me, he will keep my words:  and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (John 16:23).

Believers are not nearly aware enough of the fact that Jesus Christ, the Miracle Worker, the one who "healed them all" time after time, lives in them.  Jesus goes where you go!  The Healer goes to any sick people you visit!  Being aware of this will change your perspective on ministering healing to the sick.  The Healer is inside you, desiring to work through your hands and your prayers.

Jesus is also anywhere that believers use his name:  "Again, I say into you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:19-20).  This refers not to a religious service, although by extension, you could apply it there, but to a case where believers are agreeing that something be done in the name of Jesus.

Jesus said that he would personally be there.  He does not just stay up in heaven watching how well we get along down here.  His name brings him on the scene.  Jesus Christ himself ministers healing to the sick when his name is used.  He is present to heal.  He is just as willing and able to heal as he was when he walked the earth in a physical body.  He is not some imitation or just a religious idea.  Jesus Christ, the risen Savior, the holy Son of God, manifests himself on the scene when prayer for healing is made in his name.  If you're being prayed for, he's personally ministering healing to you!  That's right -- Jesus Christ is ministering healing to you.  The same Jesus Christ who healed the sick all over Israel during his earthly ministry.  The same Jesus Christ who healed all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.  Not some new, less powerful, modern Jesus.  The same Jesus!

You can miss it if you get your eyes on man.  That person laying hands on you is not going to heal you.  He can't.  Those people agreeing with you in prayer can't heal you, either.  Don't look to them and expect that you'll get healing from them.  Look to Jesus and expect to receive healing from him.  If you will expect Jesus to minister healing to you, his power will flow out of the people laying hands on you and into your body.

Our services would be different if we would stop and realize that Jesus Christ is in the midst of us.  We supposedly believe that; after all, we are worshipping him, aren't we?  We're not worshipping someone far away!  If we could see Jesus in the front of the sanctuary, how would that change our praise and worship?  How would it change our expectations when people are prayed for?  Yet Jesus is present.  The Healer, the Savior, the Deliverer, the Chief Shepherd, and everything else that he is, is present in our services.

Peter realized this.  He told Aeneas, "Jesus Christ maketh thee whole" (Acts 9:32-35).  Peter knew that Jesus Christ was personally on the scene when he ministered.  It was Jesus, not Peter, doing the healing.

If we would just be aware of his presence among us, there would be a lot more healings, to say nothing of a lot more reverence!  Fewer people would come in late, leave early, gab during the message, daydream, and make potty runs during the altar call.  Respect him!  He is present with us.  He's not just up in heaven!  Jesus Christ is present to heal today!  If you're being prayed for, Jesus Christ lives both in the people praying for you and in you!


Ianity

Ianity is what you get when you try to practice Christianity but you leave Christ out of it.  Modern-day Pharisees everywhere keep a form of Christianity but deny its power.  They call it Christianity but it has little to do with following Christ personally.  It's a matter of rules and traditions.  Did you know that it is easy even for so-called "Full Gospel" or "faith" people to drift into their own pernicious version of Ianity?

It usually starts by learning certain principles of God's Word concerning faith, healing, money, and similar matters.  This is exciting!  But after a while, everything can become a formula, a dead ritual as bad as anything at a dead traditional church.  Three fast songs, two slow songs, an offering, a message, an altar call, and announcements.  We could copy an "Order of Worship" and hand the same one out at every service.  We remember the teachings and the formulas but forget the fact that Christianity is centered around the person of Jesus Christ and a personal relationship with him.  We ignore the Holy Spirit who ignited the Church in Acts, without whom nothing would have been accomplished.  Everything is a boring routine.  We no longer look forward with excitement to having a fresh encounter with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit every time we go to church.  We unwittingly become like the very people we thought we were "delivered" from.

You slide into Ianity when you get satisfied and content with what you have.  The way church is right now suits you fine.  You don't need to see more lost people saved, more sick people healed, or more oppressed people set free.  You're comfortable with the current attendance.  You think you've arrived, and you have arrived, and if you have any sense, you'll get out of the place where you arrived and return to your first love!  If you don't, watch God raise up some small church that you thought wasn't doing anything but caught fire to see the lost saved.  Watch them pass you and have more miracles than you do.  You'll catch on eventually.

Religious, legalistic thinking is an insidious thing, and any of us can and will fall into it if we do not keep a fresh relationship with the Author and Finisher of our faith himself.  Christianity is about following Christ, not just keeping rules and regulations -- or even faith principles!


Healing is not a formula

I deliberately do not teach healing as a formula.  Your flesh would like a little 3-step healing formula that you could work every time and get your healing.  The reason your flesh would like this is that then you could "work a principle" independently of God, and you wouldn't have to base any of it on a relationship with him.  You could just go out and sin any way you want, have worldly motives, and work your little formula to be healed.  God has no interest in having you turn Christianity or even part of it into a formula.  The Pharisees were adept at that, and Jesus pronounced hideous woes upon them.  They lived their lives based on certain (selected) Scriptural principles, but they had no love at all for God or their fellow man.

God is not interested in healing you so that you can go out and sin better.  Really, God isn't even interested in healing you so that you can go out and do your own thing "for God" in your own way.  There are people out there whose motive for getting healed has nothing to do with being more useful for the Master's work.  Don't expect to get healed if that's you.  You will find that if you are holding out on God in other areas of your life, it is difficult or impossible to receive healing from him.  You are living in a state of confusion, and until you yield your life to God completely, you will stay sick unless God decides to show some extra mercy to you.  For example, some people who are called to the ministry have never responded to the call.  If that's you, you may not be able to get healed until you do something about the real problem in your life -- disobedience!

People got healed in all kinds of different ways in the Bible.  Thank God, they weren't all thinking in terms of formulas.  Healing is centered on the work of the Healer himself.  If you're having trouble receiving your healing, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you.  What helps you might not be what helps me or someone else.  He knows what you need to hear.  It's all the same Word, but he knows how to make it come alive to you and communicate it so that you "get it."  That is part of the Holy Spirit's job -- to take the things of Christ and reveal them to you.  Let him do his job!  Ask him!  Don't go it alone.  God didn't give you the Holy Spirit so that you could ignore him and try to figure out everything yourself.

You need to know certain things to get healed, and these are articulated in the articles in this book.  However, it is not enough to just know "Healing Scriptures."  Many people are not healed because of sin they won't give up or problems addressed by Scriptures that have nothing to do with healing.  The Corinthians had plenty of faith and gifts of the Spirit, yet many of them got sick and died because of their rotten attitudes.  If many in this "faith" church suffered this fate, there is probably more of this going on today than you realize.  I am not saying that any particular person who died was in this kind of sin, but we should expect this same thing to happen today.  If these people "claim" their three-step healing formula, they will be the first on the bandwagon to insult healing preachers and say that the formula doesn't work when they don't get healed.

Some false cults believe in some form of healing, and most of them base the healing "formulas" they use on the Bible!  Jesus said that whosoever speaks to a mountain and believes that it will move can move it.  He did not restrict this statement to believers.  I read a totally Satanic book once by an author who specialized in testimonies of people who used Mark 11:23's principle without Christ and got results!  However, these folks will still burn in hell unless they repent.  Jesus said that people would even do works in his name without knowing him (Matthew 7:21-23)!  That should highlight the risk of using principles rather than living a life led by the Holy Spirit.

You can indeed "get" some things using principles, but still be empty.  Mormons are not Christians (despite their claims to the contrary), but they tithe, and they do well financially as a group, probably for that reason.  Other unbelievers have tithed and experienced great increase because of it.  They still suffer eternal fire if they die without Christ, even though they are successfully working a Biblical formula.

Healing is always God's will, 100% of the time.  You do not need to be "led by the Spirit" to discern whether healing rightfully belongs to you as a Christian -- it does.  I am just saying that if you are only applying formulas, you may not get your healing, even though God wants you to prosper and be in health.

I am not knocking anyone in particular who teaches three steps to this and seven steps to that.  The only caution I have for you is that you can't set hard and fast rules that will apply to everyone in a few steps.  People need the whole counsel of Scripture, and you just can't break it down into a few words.  The danger is that they'll try it and fail and then give up on healing in general because your little formula did not work.


Healing and consecration

James 5:14-16 talks about calling for the elders to anoint you with oil in the name of the Lord.  Why oil?  Oil is Scripture is a symbol of consecration.  Men were anointed with it to be set apart for certain tasks.  The king was anointed with oil.  The priests were anointed with oil.  It symbolized holiness, in other words, being set apart for God.

It is a mockery of God to be anointed with oil for healing while deliberately retaining sin in your life.  James said to confess your sins and that if you had committed sins, you will be forgiven.  However, if you want to continue doing something that you know is sin, save the elders some time and don't call for them.  It's safer than mocking God.

The Corinthians were living proof (and sometimes dead proof) that living an unconsecrated life can mean living a short or sick life.  Their problem was not lack of faith but lack of consecration.  You can know all the right Scriptures and "formulas" and still get sick and die if you're not serious with God.  The Corinthians "came behind in no gift," which indicates that the gifts of healings and working of miracles were operating at Corinth.  Yet these people did not receive healing or miracles in their own bodies.  I wonder how many people got offended and turned off to healing because of them.

I have to assume for the sake of teaching in most of this book that you are a serious, committed, consecrated Christian whose life is sold out to Jesus Christ and who desires to glorify God on the earth.  I can't put little footnotes for you to click after every other sentence that says, "This may not work for you if you are living an unconsecrated life."  However, you may assume that such footnotes are implicit throughout this book.  If you aren't serious about your walk with God, forget healing.  If you get it, it's God's mercy in action, and you still need to reform.

I am not saying that everyone who fails to receive healing is unconsecrated.  Lack of proper instruction is a far more common cause.  Also, all of us have areas in our lives where God is dealing with us about our motives, actions, and attitudes.  You don't have to be perfect to get healed, but you need to be serious about your walk with Jesus Christ.  It's more of a case of where you're moving as opposed to where you are in your Christian walk right now.  A person who was born again yesterday and determined to live for God is in a better place to receive healing than an "old fogey" Christian who has camped out on his blessings and isn't striving to grow in God anymore.


God's promises have conditions

It is a mistake to "claim" healing Scriptures without regard to their context.  If you are living right before God and are not knowingly disobeying him, you have a clear conscience to receive all of his precious promises.  However, most of the "Healing Scriptures" we quote have conditions attached to them.  No one should teach that you can just live any old way and "claim" healing Scriptures and get your healing anyway.  It is instructive to review the conditions.  As covered in an objection reply, we are not establishing a gospel of works, but neither are we tempting God by ignoring his conditions while claiming his blessings.

In Exodus 15:25-26, the condition was, "If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes...."  Then God would keep you healthy.

Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16 and Ephesians 6:1-3 link long life with your honoring of your parents.

In Exodus 23:25-26, the condition was, "And ye shall serve the Lord your God...."  Then God would take sickness away from you.

In Numbers 21:5-9, you could be healed of a fatal snakebite, but only if you steadfastly beheld the symbol of the crucified Christ.

In Deuteronomy 5:33, the condition was, "Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you..." to live long and prosper.

In Deuteronomy 6:2, the condition for long life was, "That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee...all the days of thy life...."

In Deuteronomy 7:12-15, God promised to take sickness from you "if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them...."

In Deuteronomy 11:8-9, prolonged days were promised under this condition:  "Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day...."

In Deuteronomy 11:18-21, long life was available under this condition:  "Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.  And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates...."  This means constantly keeping God's Word before you!  How many sick people ignore this principle and just think God should wave a wand and heal them while they watch soap operas in the hospital!

In 1 Kings 3:14, God promised lengthened life "if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk...."

In Psalm 34:11-14, the promise of many good days is for you when you "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."

In Psalm 41:1-3, the giver to the poor is promised strengthening on his sickbed.  Isaiah 58:6-11 talks of speedy health to the one who helps the poor.

Psalm 91 is full of protection promises.  However, the following conditions are stated:

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High," "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress:  my God; in him will I trust," "Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation," "Because he hath set his love upon me," "because he hath known my name."  If you aren't doing and saying what this Psalm says to do and say, you don't qualify for the benefits.

Proverbs 3:1-2 is yet another passage promising long life if you "forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments."

Proverbs 3:7-8 says health comes when you "Be not wise in thine own eyes:  fear the LORD, and depart from evil."  Proverbs 10:27 contains a similar thought.

Proverbs 3:16 and Proverbs 9:11 say that long life comes from wisdom.

Proverbs 4:10 says that when you hear and receive God's sayings, you'll live long.  Proverbs 4:20-22 promises health to all your flesh when you "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."

In Isaiah 40:29-31, renewed strength is promised under the condition that you "wait upon the Lord."

That was under the Old Covenant.  What about our New Covenant?  Does it have conditions, too?

That favorite "faith" verse Mark 11:24 is immediately followed by teaching in the next two verses that your faith won't work if you walk in unforgiveness.  (See Mistake:  Unforgiveness for that passage.)

1 Timothy 2:15 promises that a woman will not die in childbirth -- but only if she continues in faith, holiness and sobriety.

1 Peter 3:10-11 echoes the language of Psalm 34:11-14 and basically says that if you want to live a long time, watch your mouth.

3 John 2 expresses God's desire for you to be in health, but notice that it is "as your soul prospers."

The Corinthians failed to walk in healing despite their knowledge and willingness to flow in manifestations of the Holy Spirit.  This stands as proof that healing is not absolutely promised even under our New Covenant to those who are not serious about their walk with God.  Yes, healing is your covenant right, but there are conditions if you want to be able to enjoy that right.

We are not "redeemed" from the blessings promised in the Old Covenant in our new and better covenant, but you must realize that the blessings had conditions and cannot just be "claimed" independently of those conditions.  If you ignore God's Word, are a miser, are wise in your own eyes, and generally don't fear the Lord (in the reverential sense), you have no right to claim any of the promises listed above.

The conditions above have this in common -- they have to do with your walk with God.  How's yours?  If you need to get some things straightened out with him, you should do so before you start claiming his healing promises.  You don't have to be perfect in works to get healed, but you can't be lazy or callous about the things of God and expect him to heal you.  He did not promise unconditional healing to those who want to live any old way under either Testament.


Priests should not be sick, and you're a priest

Leviticus 21:16-23

Priests with physical deformities were not allowed into the Holy of Holies under the Old Covenant.  God said entering his sanctuary with a physical deformity would profane it.  God did not want sickness or deformity in his holy presence.

If God did not want his priests who served him to have physical deformities under the Old Covenant, why would he want priests under the New Covenant to be sick or deformed?  You are a priest (Rev 1:6, Rev 5:10, 1 Peter 2:9) under the New Covenant!

That doesn't mean that you can't approach God if you're sick!  The blood of Jesus has permanently opened the Holy of Holies to you.  In fact, you should go to God if you're sick!  God healed the sick under the Old Covenant, too.  The point I am making is that God did not want sickness in his presence under the Old Covenant.  Why should he want it in his presence, which now dwells within believers, under our New Covenant?  If he didn't want it in his Old Covenant temple (a tent), why should he want it in his New Covenant temple (your body)?


The powers of the world to come

The writer of Hebrews speaks of those "who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come" (Hebrews 6:4-5).  It is not this article's intention to delve into qualifications for committing the unpardonable sin.  The point I want you to notice is that we today can taste the powers of the world to come.

What will the world to come be like?  During the Millennial Reign of Christ, the inhabitants of the land will not be sick (Isaiah 33:24).  In our final home where we live on the new earth with God, there will be no crying or pain, and thus no sickness to cause pain (Revelation 21:4).  We will be changed in an instant and given new bodies that can never decay.  Think of the power that will take!  However, a down-payment of that kind of power is available today, just as the Spirit has been given to us as a down-payment of the blessings to come.

Thank God, it is possible to taste the powers of the world to come today!  You don't have to wait until then.  Yes, sickness will be done away with eventually, but you can experience God's power that drives out sickness today.  This power will be widespread during the Millennium and universal on the new earth, but you can taste it now.

Most Christians don't know that they can taste the powers of the world to come in this life.  But they can!


God's Word is seed

Mark 4:2-25

In the parable of the sower, Jesus said that God's Word is seed.  Notice that Jesus said that it is the seed, not you, that produces thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold -- or not at all if it is planted in bad soil.  It is God's Word working in you that produces a harvest.  If you don't plant the Word, you will no more get a harvest than a farmer would get a harvest without planting seed.

It will help you greatly to realize that God's Word, the Bible, is not a collection of philosophical ideas.  It is not the definition of a system of religion.  God's Word itself is alive.  Jesus said, "The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life" (John 6:63).  Hence, God's words are not mere words; they contain inherent life and spiritual power.  Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the word of God is quick [alive], and powerful...."  God spoke through Isaiah, "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater:  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:  it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10-11).

Just as a seed contains within itself the ability to grow and produce a harvest, the Word of God contains within itself the ability to produce a harvest.  "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." (1 Thessalonians 3:13).

Do you have ears to hear?

In the parable of the sower, it was up to you to have ears to hear.  The seed can either produce a hundredfold in you or get choked out and produce nothing in you.  The difference is the ground because it's the same seed.  The kind of ground you are depends upon whether or not you have ears to continue hearing the gospel.

Paul said that you are God's husbandry (farm) in 1 Cor 3:9.  You are a farm where God's precious seed is planted.  How you care for that seed will determine how it will grow in your life, if at all.

Plant now for a future harvest!

It is not a good time to start looking at healing Scriptures when the doctor tells you that you have three months to live.  That would be like a farmer saying to his wife, "Honey, we only have two days of food left in the house.  Quick, let's go out into the field and plant some seed today!"  Seed takes time to grow.  You plant seed before you need the harvest, not when you need the harvest!

Prayer is not seed

Many sick people are under the delusion that prayer is the key to healing, and the longer they pray, and the more people they get praying for their healing, the more likely it will be for them to get healed.  That isn't the answer.  The answer is for the sick person to go over healing Scriptures until he sees for himself that it is definitely God's will to heal him.  Prayer is not a substitute for faith!  The prayer of faith is extremely short and is prayed only once.  You believe that you receive when you pray.  Long prayers are generally wrong prayers.

Imagine if the ignorant farmer above said to his wife, "Honey, I've got a better idea.  Let's just pray longer and harder and get more people to agree with us.  Then corn will come out of the ground and we will have a harvest!"  No, it is silly to think that a farmer would get a harvest because people prayed, when he did not plant the necessary seed to produce the harvest.  When it comes down to it, the only thing capable of producing a harvest is seed!

Sowing seed into others' lives

It is important to realize that the Word of God is seed when you minister the healing part of the Gospel to someone else.  People desperately need to hear that healing was provided in Christ's atonement.  Sharing this with them will do infinitely more good than just offering to pray with them about their condition.  Prayer is good, but to get a harvest of healing, they need God's Word on the subject, since nothing else can produce faith -- not even prayer.  Praying with them is like handing them a fish, while giving them God's Word on the matter is like teaching them to fish.


Do you really believe in healing?

Many churches say, "We believe in healing," but they don't believe in healing in a way that will help anyone receive it.  Many times, what they mean is, "We believe that God heals today, but we do not believe that God wants to heal everyone of everything in every case."  Or perhaps they mean, "We believe that God heals today through the gifts of the Spirit, but we do not believe that healing was provided in Christ's atonement."  I submit to you boldly that if you don't believe that healing was provided in Christ's atonement, you have insufficient faith to be healed.  If you aren't sure that God is willing to heal everyone, you can never be sure that God is willing to heal anyone.

This is not a little side point.  It is a monumental, major big deal.  It makes the difference between getting healed and staying sick.

If you don't believe that Jesus was made sick in your place to redeem you from sickness, you have no basis for faith for your healing.  Faith and question marks are incompatible.  If there is any doubt in your mind that you receive your healing when you pray, you have failed the qualifications to receive from God in James 1:5-8, and you must not think that you will get anything from God.  (Don't get mad at me for saying that; I'm just quoting James!)

If there is no promise in the Bible that you can use to support your belief for your healing, you are not in faith, because faith comes by hearing the word of God.  It's that simple.  Faith must be based on a specific promise or statement of God.  It is not a free-floating thing that just tries to believe something.

If you don't believe that healing was provided in Christ's atonement, you cannot be sure that God ever wants to heal anyone, including you.  Your only choice is to try to get a special revelation from God of whether or not he wants to heal you, and whether or not he wants to do it now.  This is doomed to fail, because God has already given you his Word on the matter, and you cannot expect a special revelation of this any more than you can demand a special revelation of whether God wants you to walk in love.  You have no sure way of ministering to the sick if you believe that God can make exceptions.  Therefore, you can't be sure that God wants to heal any particular sick person on whom you lay hands.  You are ministering in hope but not in faith.  You can't possibly fulfill James 5:14-16 and pray the prayer of faith, because faith is based on the Bible.

If you do get anything from God without believing that Christ took your sicknesses to redeem you from them, you may lose your healing and not get anything the next time you need healing.  You will have no Scripture to confront the devil with when you are attacked, which you will be, just as surely as you are reading this.  You need Scripture, not just prayer, to run the devil off.  If you can't respond the way Jesus did to the devil's attacks -- by saying, "It is written" and quoting what is written -- you are firing blanks at the devil and he knows it.

I am not trying to be mean by making this point so boldly.  I want to shock you into reality so that you don't kid yourself about where you stand for your healing.  Unless you know that you have Biblical proof that God is not only able, but also willing, to heal you now, you are not in faith and you are in no position to get healed.  This needs to be presented boldly because so many people think they're in faith for healing when they're not, and then we who preach healing as a covenant right get a bad name because "So-and-so was really in faith for his healing and he died of cancer anyway."  That is why we must preach boldly that Christ bore both sin and sickness.  A watered-down gospel designed to please men (even Christian men) will have watered-down results.  Don't think that you'll get along with everyone when you start preaching this.  People will fight you for their right to stay sick.

But when you know that Jesus bore your sicknesses for you, you understand that you do not need to bear sickness in your body.  You understand that sickness is illegal, and that it is trespassing in your body, which is a blood-bought member of Christ.  You know that you were healed by a completed act that cannot be nullified by the sum total of the devil's attacks or pallets of anti-healing books.  You know that because God has legally healed you already, he will have only one possible answer for you -- "YES" -- when you come to him to receive that healing.  You know that God not only paid for your healing, but he is currently offering it to you.  He doesn't have to whip something up or do anything new for you.  The work, as Christ declared, is finished.  You need only receive what is already offered to you freely.

In short, you know that you know that total physical healing belongs to you as a Christian, and that you don't have to settle for anything less.  You can boldly declare your healing before God and the devil alike.

If this is not what your church teaches, it does not really believe in healing.  If this is not what you believe, you do not really believe in healing.  Check yourself.  The test is simple:  Can you declare on the basis of God's unchangeable Word that you have the right to receive your healing now?  You can only believe that healing is for you if you believe that healing is for all, and you can only believe that healing is for all if you believe that healing was included in Christ's atonement.

Sure, you and your church may have sporadic success getting the sick healed through God's mercy and through the gifts of healings and working of miracles and special faith talked about in 1 Cor 12:8-11.  But you won't be very successful unless you give people something to trust other than the gifts of the Spirit.  People need to know that healing is legally theirs because Christ bore their sicknesses and diseases in their place.  Anything short of unqualified preaching of this part of the gospel will result in wavering, doubting and unbelief on the part of the people, which in turn will result in many people staying sick because they are improperly instructed.


You're designed to be healthy, not sick

God designed your body to repel sickness.  Sickness is an unnatural condition.  When sickness enters your body, your body activates all kinds of defense mechanisms to get rid of it.  Your body does not want to be sick!  In fact, even as you go around saying it's the will of God for you to be sick, your body will fight your words and keep trying to heal itself anyway!

Any doctor can tell you that medicine can relieve suffering and help your body heal itself, but that the medical profession can do little about actually healing you.  The doctor can't even heal a scrape on your hand.  He can simply do what he can to help your body heal itself, which God designed your body to do.

Look at all the money sinners and saints alike spend trying to get well.  Think of the desperate lengths to which people go to find a cure for their illnesses.  People have exhausted their life's savings, as the woman with the issue of blood did, just trying to be well again.  You can't tell me it's natural to want to just accept illness as the will of God and live with it.  Why don't people in the world just accept sickness as the will of God, as some Christian teachers today would have us do?  Because they haven't had their minds polluted with stupid and unscriptural doctrines about sickness being the will of God to teach us things.  Only silly church people embrace sickness.

Ask any sinner if he had a choice of being sick or being well (which he does, as you can tell him), would he choose sickness?  Maybe a few would because they like the attention and sympathy, but by and large, not many people would choose to be sick instead of well.  It's unnatural to even want to be sick.  People in general don't want to be sick.  Think about this:  If people really wanted to stay sick, why would whole cities show up bringing the sick on stretchers and beds to be healed by Jesus Christ, or Peter, or Paul, or healing evangelists today?  The very fact that healing is such a powerful evangelistic tool demonstrates that people want to be healed.  Given a choice, they want healing.  They show up to be healed when someone preaches to them that they do have a choice.

Saying that God wants you sick won't win many doctors to Christ.  They already know better.  They know your body was designed to heal itself.  And thank God, your family physician is not going to pray a foolish prayer to see if healing is the will of God for you in particular before he treats you.  He's going to do all he can to get you well.  No one blames your doctor for trying to get you well without checking the will of God first.  And if you go to the doctor for relief when you think your illness is God's will, you are a hypocrite.  I think it is fair to say that most unsaved doctors have a better attitude than many Christian teachers about wanting to see you get healed.  They even wear a snake on a pole, which is both a symbol of healing and of Jesus Christ, whether they personally know the story or not.


Bodily exercise profiteth little

1 Timothy 4:7-8:

But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

For bodily exercise profiteth little:  but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

God does not say that exercise is useless.  He says that it profits a little.  Therefore, it is certainly no sin to exercise.  God expects us to be good stewards of what he has given us.  If you eat wrong, don't exercise, and don't take care of yourself, you will end up having to believe for healing when you shouldn't have to.  Natural laws do not cease to operate when you get saved.

On the other hand, you are an idolater if you spend lots of time working out at the gym but say you don't have time to pray and fellowship with God and read your Bible.  To many today, physical fitness has become an idol.  If it means more to you than God, your life is out of balance.  Jesus didn't go around telling people to exercise, but he told them to exercise faith.

In perspective, bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness profits a lot.  Bodily exercise may make your body less vulnerable to certain illnesses, but it won't get rid of some pesky viruses that go around.  On the other hand, the Word of God can get rid of those things that physical fitness by itself can't get rid of.  If you really want to stay well, spend more time "working out" spiritually than you do physically.  God's word is health and life to all your flesh.  Think what spiritual giants some people would be if they were as serious about their spiritual health as their physical health!

How do you exercise yourself unto godliness?  Spend time talking with God.  Read your Bible regularly, and make a point of reading all of it, not just the parts you like.  (Of course, since you are under the New Covenant, you would want to major on the New Testament, particularly the epistles.)  Speak the Word out of your mouth.  Pray in the Holy Spirit.  Intercede for others.

It is amazing that some people refuse to "exercise themselves unto godliness" and then complain, "This faith stuff doesn't work."  That would be like me going to the gym and complaining that I can't bench-press 200 pounds when the most I ever did all year was 30 pounds at of those mini-health clubs at a hotel.  In both the spiritual and the natural, if you don't exercise yourself, you'll get out of shape!


Healing and obedience

The blessings in the Law of Moses were promised to those who obeyed God.  The curses were promised to those who disobeyed God.  It is an insult to God to expect him to remove curses and bestow blessings in your life if you are knowingly disobeying God.  This disobedience could take two forms -- refusing to repent of sin that is declared as such by God's Word, or refusing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit's personal instructions for your life.

If you aren't willing to do what God tells you to do, regardless of "what others might think," you are in no position for healing.  Some people in the Bible were healed only after they obeyed God's instructions.

In John 9:1-7, Jesus told the blind man to go and wash in the pool of Sent.  If you were in his shoes and were sent to Sent, and you didn't go where you were sent, you would have missed out on your healing.  The lepers in Luke 17:12-19 would most likely not have been healed had they not heeded Jesus' command to go and show themselves to the priests, which indicated that their healing would manifest while they went.  Naaman the Syrian almost missed his blessing when Elisha did not meet him in person and instead sent instructions to wash in the Jordan River seven times.  When he obeyed, he got healed.  Had he not obeyed, he would not have been healed.

The Bible never promises healing to the willfully disobedient.  It actually promises sickness to such people.  Make sure that you are willing to obey God no matter what he asks you to do -- not just in the things that you wanted to do anyway.


YOU can be healed

YOU can be healed!  YOU can be one of the "whosoevers" who believes the Word of God and receives healing from the Lord in your body.  You are not an exception.  There is no special reason why you cannot be healed.  God is not using your sickness for some purpose.  He does not want you to be sick.  You do not have Paul's thorn in the flesh and you are not another Job.  Your body and your spirit were both purchased by the blood of Jesus.  You have a legal right to healing because Jesus bore your sicknesses and pains for you.  This book will help you to see these truths so that you can receive the healing that God is already offering to you right now.

Let's look at how Jesus determined who should get healed in the New Testament.  Here are some verses from passages where Jesus healed the ill during his earthly ministry:  He healed all types of sickness among the people and healed all the sick people present (Matthew 4:23-24), healed all that were sick (Matthew 8:16-17), healed every sickness and every disease among the people (Matthew 9:35), healed them all (Matthew12:15), and healed their sick (Matthew 14:14).  All that were diseased were brought to him and all that touched his clothes were made perfectly whole (Matthew 14:35-36, Mark 6:54-56).  He healed great multitudes (Matthew 19:2).  He healed as many as were sick (Mark 3:10-12).  He laid hands on every one of them and healed them (Luke 4:40-41).  He healed them all (Luke 6:17-19).  He healed them that had need of healing (Luke 9:11).  He healed all who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38).  That is how Jesus determined who should be healed -- whoever came to him to receive healing!

How did the apostles determine who should be healed?  Peter ministered healing to all the sick who were brought to him on the streets of Jerusalem (Acts 5:12-16).  Paul got every sick person on the island of Melita healed (Acts 28:8-9).  Jesus gave his disciples power to heal all manner of sickness and disease (Matthew 10:1).

How should you determine who should be healed?  John expressed God's wish that you be in health (3 John 2).  James said that any sick in the church should have the prayer of faith prayed over him for his healing (James 5:14-16).  Paul said that Christ redeemed you from the Law's curse for not keeping all of God's commands (Gal 3:10-14) and that your body was purchased in the same sacrifice that bought your spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20).  Peter said that you were healed by Jesus' bruise when he bore your sins in his body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24).  Jesus said that believers would lay hands on the sick and they would get well (Mark 16:15-18).

So, who can be healed?  YOU can be healed!  Jesus did not make exceptions and tell people they had to keep their sickness for a reason.  Peter and Paul did not make exceptions and tell people they had to glorify God in their sickness.  The Bible pattern is simple.  You cannot be an exception.  Stop letting the devil lie to you and tell you that there is some reason you can't get healed.  You CAN get healed!

The guarantee that healing is for all is found in Isaiah's statement that Jesus surely bore our sicknesses and suffered our pains.  He did not just bear some of our sicknesses -- he bore all of them, including the ones in your body right now.  He did not just bear some people's sicknesses -- he bore everyone's sicknesses, including yours.  His great atonement was for everyone, including you, so you can partake of the benefits along with anyone else.

Receiving healing is not complicated.  You don't need to read the entirety of this book to be healed.  You don't need some special revelation that I have that no one else does.  (I don't have any such revelations anyway.)  I am just telling you what Jesus already did for you, and trying to get you to see that healing is yours and has been yours all along.

You are not an exception.  God does not want you sick.  YOU can be healed!  Read the other discussions and sections of this book and you will discover for yourself that YOU can receive the healing that Jesus purchased for you at Calvary.


Healing and the blood of Jesus

When the Israelites splattered the blood of the Passover lamb on their doorposts, the killer plague that took Egypt's firstborn passed over them.  Christ is called our Passover (1 Cor 5:7).  It is significant that the symbol of his blood kept sickness away under the Old Testament.  If the symbol could do it, surely the real thing can do it!

This shows us that God's will for us is not only healing but health.  We know that God healed any feeble people in Israel at this time also, because there was not one feeble person among them in the Exodus (Psalm 105:37).  But notice that the blood on the doorpost did not heal anyone.  It kept them from getting the plague in the first place.  This agrees with Psalm 91's promise of no plague coming near the house of the man who abides in God.  Healing is available because Christ's body was broken for us in our place, but health is also available.  You don't have to wait and get sick and then get healed.

When Israel transgressed against God, atonement was made for the people's sin and the sicknesses were taken away.  Blood sacrifices were offered to God.  Jesus was the ultimate blood sacrifice.  If sickness could be removed by a one-time atonement of animal blood in the Old Testament, surely it can be removed by the blood of the Son of God, which was shed once and for all!


1 Corinthians  5:7
1 Corinthians 5:7:

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.  For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:


Healing and music

In 1 Samuel 16:14-23 we see that Saul was delivered from an evil spirit, "refreshed" and "made well" when David ministered to him on the harp.  We don't even know for sure if David sang anything; there's no evidence that he did anything other than play at the time.  This raises a couple of interesting questions, namely, why would David's music cause Saul to be healed, and can we expect music to have such a part in healing ministry today?

It is obvious that harp music in and of itself does not heal people.  Otherwise, there would be a lot of people making big money playing the harp and healing the sick.  Clearly, the anointing on David made the difference.  Although David was not king yet, he had already been anointed by Samuel and clearly had a strong anointing operating in his life.  Thus, God used anointed music, played by an anointed musician, to minister healing to Saul.

There were singing prophets in the Old Testament, and when they sang, the anointing fell on Saul.  Here is the account in 1 Samuel 10:5-6:  "After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines:  and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them:  and they shall prophesy:  And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man."  This came to pass in verse 10 of that chapter:  "And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them."

Music was instrumental in bringing other manifestations of God as well as healing.  You probably know about Jehoshaphat's army of praisers who went before the army and defeated the enemy just by praising God.  Then in Solomon's temple, when the musicians played in one accord, the "glory cloud" came in and at first the ministers could not stand up, and finally no one could even make their way into the room because the anointing was so strong.  That should provoke you to expect things, given that our new covenant has been declared more glorious and excelling the old in glory (see 2 Cor 3)!

There is no Scripture in the New Testament where music was involved in healing.  Jesus did not bring a praise and worship team or even a special-music singer with him, and he got along just fine, as did Peter, Paul, Philip, and others who had no musicians with them.  It's the anointing, not music, that destroys the yoke of bondage in people's lives.  Music is one way that anointing can be transferred from one person to another, but this is not discussed in the New Testament.

I'm a musician and do either preachy concerts or unusually musical preaching, depending on how you look at it.  I don't want you to develop a doctrine on my experience, but I have seen people healed when I was just singing and playing the piano, or even just playing the piano.  I usually wasn't expecting it at the time; it just happened.  Why did the anointing get on people like that through the music?  I don't know, but I'm not complaining!  I would say that God will use whatever you have to offer him for his honor and glory, and that includes musical talent.  Other ministers out there have had similar experiences when they ministered in music.  It is not the music itself, but rather the anointing of God on the music, that makes the difference.

One reason I don't want to make too big a deal about this is that some musicians get swelled heads and think they're the main people God is using today.  Hey, just remember that Jesus and his followers got all their results without any music!  You don't need music to have miracles.  Not only did they not have music ministries, they did not have altar calls as we know them, church buildings and building funds, Sunday School classes as we know them, greeters, and many other modern church trappings.  These things are not wrong to have, but when it comes down to it, it's the anointing that matters.  If you have everything else without the anointing, people will still not be set free.  So pray for the anointing to manifest and expect it!

If you are in a position to be playing music at a healing service, you should be aware of some things.  One minister put it well:  "Half of flowing in the anointing is paying attention!"  That should be self-explanatory.  Don't get off in the ozone with God on the platform; you are ministering to the people as well as to the Lord.  What songs should you play?  Whatever the minister asks for!  Some like fast songs, some like worshipful songs, some like run-the-aisles-and-swing-from-the-rafters music and some like just soft instrumental music.  Some prefer tapes.  Some just want to do their own music, and some don't even like to have any music at all because they find it distracting.  If you cooperate with the minister, you will make him more comfortable and thus more able to flow in his anointing.  No songs are right or wrong as long as they're Christian and not flaky or anything.  Don't get personally offended about song choices.  You're there to serve!  Come ready to "go with the flow."  The only sure way to learn these things is to do them and learn from others, as well as from your own mistakes.  Also, as you work with different ministers, you get used to what they like and don't like, and it's easier.

The goal is to lead people (not lecture them or beat them) into worship and to set a reverent atmosphere where the Lord is glorified.  This will make it easier for the gifts of the Spirit to flow, because the gifts of the Spirit exalt Jesus (if they're genuine manifestations).  If everyone is already exalting Jesus, you won't have to change gears to have the gifts of the Spirit operate.  You'll just go from one way of exalting Jesus to another.

The best ways to flow effectively in music are to (1) practice and (2) live a lifestyle of praise and worship when you're not in a service.  Then it can come from your heart instead of being a big show that you put on at church.  The anointing will not leave just because you hit a wrong note.  Actually, it won't leave by itself if you hit a whole lot of wrong notes, but what happens is that the people get distracted and they stop hooking up with it, and the flow stops.

Music done well can be a tremendous blessing to a speaker who is unsure about which way to go in a service.  As happened with Elisha, as the musician plays, the power of God can come on the minister and he can get clear direction.  You should expect this sort of thing to happen.  On the other hand, music poorly done is the shortcut to ruining an entire service.  I've seen both.  Another purely natural benefit of music is that it can keep the flow of the service going while the minister takes a mini time-out to seek God about what to do next.

In short, music can really enhance the anointing and keep the right atmosphere in the service or it can destroy the service.  But the gifts of the Spirit can operate without it, so don't blow it out of proportion.


About opponents of divine healing

Plenty of people out there will fight vigorously for your right to stay sick.  Who are these people, and why do they do it?

In general, you will find that opponents of healing love God just as much as you do.  They are just as consecrated to God as you are.  They want the will of God to be done just as much as you do.  They are as zealous for truth as you are, and they honestly believe that they are doing God service by attacking the teaching of divine healing.  They think that they are saving you from some hideous, harmful doctrine that will hurt you and others, possibly leading you to an early grave.  They think that by lowering your expectations concerning healing, they are saving you disappointment in the future when you (supposedly!) find out that it doesn't really work.

Those who have lost loved ones and friends to illnesses may have an ego stake in believing that nothing could have been done.  Unfortunately, they set the stage for others to die prematurely and perpetuate the cycle by embracing unscriptural ideas about God's sovereignty and will in the matter.  They don't mean to do this.  If these people really knew the truth about divine healing, they surely would be proclaiming it themselves.  Hardly anyone would knowingly be used by the devil to promote his works on the earth.

Unfortunately, some opponents of healing make baseless accusations against those of us who believe in it, and accuse us of saying things we have never even heard anyone say.  This is the basic "build a straw man and knock it down yourself" approach.  The kind of church they describe I would never want to attend either!  After describing a nonexistent "church from hell," they go to ranting and raving.  The more reputable authors don't do these things, but the more sensational books seem to sell more copies.  Here is the sort of thing I mean:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BEWARE OF DISGUSTING WORD OF FAITH CHURCHES	    by Horendo Brilchild

Pity the poor sick person who attends a "faith church."  First, he will be told that his sickness is due to some sin in his life.  Then he will be told to deny that the sickness, or the "symptoms" even exist, and that they are lies of Satan.  Then he will be made to feel personally guilty about anyone he knows who has died of an illness.  He will be told, "You just didn't have enough faith!"  He will be made to feel responsible for his own sickness.  He will be told that Jesus took his sicknesses, so therefore there is something wrong with him if he can't believe that and be healed.  He will hear dozens of Scriptures quoted out of context without any balance, all based on personal visions of revelations of a Word of Faith Prophet.  He will be told to put such a Prophet's words before Scripture itself, which is the basis for all cults.

Now, besides being sick, the man now carries a burden of guilt and self-condemnation for "being in the devil's unbelief."  If anything, this will make him sicker.  He loses the joy of his salvation and subscribes to a gospel of works based on his ability to "believe and receive."  Eventually, he becomes so disappointed that he leaves the church and mostly gives up on his walk with God.  He thought he could trust God, but to him God is now unreliable because he did not keep an artificial and man-made promise of universal healing.  He ends up on the scrap heap, spiritually bankrupt, and all because of an ear-scratching but unscriptural doctrine.

Can you see, dear reader, why we must oppose this disgusting, Christ-insulting message of "divine healing" for all?  It wreaks havoc in the church, and is "another gospel" from the one delivered to the saints.  Why do these churches preach it?  Because they are big moneymaking operations, and the "faith preachers" would stand to lose big if the truth were known.  They don't care about the sheep; they just want to promote their private prophets and profits at the expense of the torn lives they leave behind.

Church, we must speak up against this damaging doctrine of devils, this hedonistic heresy, which is being promoted by spiritual con men around the world.  These scam artists are destroying the very lives of their victims, twisting Scripture to line their own greedy pockets.  Let us boldly contend for the faith as it was once delivered and expose these apostles of apostasy for what they are.

["Ad hominem" attacks against selected prominent faith preachers follow here.]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you've ever read some of the popular anti-healing books, you will probably agree that this fictitious article is no exaggeration.  Mr. Brilchild has probably never set foot in a "faith church" but thinks he knows all about their practices.  Thus, he misrepresents the real doctrines taught by reputable ministers.  His heart may be right toward God, but his approach is unscholarly.

No one in his right mind would want to attend the church that Mr. Brilchild described in his article.  If such a church exists, I haven't been there.  Real healing preachers will not tell you to deny your sickness, and they present the message as good news, not a guilt trip.  They realize that sickness is a result of sin in the earth, and you are not necessarily morally responsible for your illness.  (Of course, some illnesses are a direct result of sin, but we don't need to belabor that.)  Contrary to what Mr. Brilchild says, people can and do get healed as a direct result of hearing the Word concerning healing.  Of course, we all hate the idea of Scripture being taken out of context, so this article's accusations should stir up your righteous indignation against it.  It is easy to line up people behind you with such a generality, but notice that this article does not even attempt to refute any of the arguments for divine healing on a Scriptural basis!  As far as taking some man's word or vision over the Bible, you have to be stupid to do that.  Any reputable healing minister preaches healing from the Bible and does not ask you to believe anything because he had some vision or visitation.  The gospel of healing is clear enough from Scripture that there is no need to reinforce it with unusual personal experiences!

The author imputes false motives where none exist.  Face it, any author would lose financially if his teachings started to be considered false.  This is a simple fact and does not prove that the author just wrote it for the money.  There may be some pro-healing authors well as anti-healing authors who are in it for the money, but I don't believe most of them are.  How could you prove such an accusation, anyway?

While it is annoying to see healing ministers' motives ridiculed and their characters assassinated, bear in mind that it is not fair to do the same to those who object to healing.  You cannot assume that an anti-healing preacher loves tradition more than God do, is not really right with God, or never listens to the Holy Spirit.  You should never speak of an anti-healing preacher in those terms.  He may live a more morally pure life before God than you do!  Some outspoken opponents of healing have powerful ministries along unrelated lines and are genuinely, obviously anointed by God.  They just got into an area other than the one they are called to minister in, and they lack insight in this area.  That does not make them bad Christians.

If most anti-healing preachers would take the time to study everything the Bible says about healing and sickness, and not just Job's trial, Timothy's stomach and Trophimus who was left at Miletum sick, I am convinced that many of them would change their minds.  Others, being bound by traditions such as "Paul's thorn was sickness," will never see it because they will believe the tradition more than the Word.  Please understand that they never consciously decided to believe tradition instead of the Word of God.  Do you know anyone who would knowingly choose an unsupported tradition over Scripture?  I don't.

Some of these preachers would truly rejoice with you if you got healed.  They are in favor of healing in that sense.  They would love to see as many people healed as possible.  Unfortunately, they stand against the very doctrine that you must believe to be assured of receiving healing, that is, that Jesus Christ bore your sicknesses in your place.

Finally, if people want to contend for the right to stay sick, let them stay sick and find someone who is open to divine healing.  You can waste a lot of time arguing with people whose minds are already made up, and your time and theirs would be better spent actually furthering the gospel on the earth.  Arguing about divine healing, as opposed to preaching it, can become just another trap and diversion of the enemy to stop real progress.


Things the New Testament DOES NOT SAY about healing

You will not find any of the following in the New Testament.  I dare you to look for yourself and prove me wrong.

1.	A case where God gave a believer a sickness to teach him a spiritual lesson.

2.	A case where God gave a believer a sickness to build character, endurance and patience in him.

3.	A case where God refused to heal someone who came to him for healing.  (See the section on Paul's Thorn if you have been fed the lie that it was a sickness that God would not heal.)

4.	A case where God said NO or WAIT instead of YES in response to a request for healing.

5.	A case where God told an elderly person that he had to get sick in order to die at the appropriate time.

6.	A case where sickness is referred to as a "blessing in disguise," a "friend," or something good.

7.	A case where God wanted someone to stay sick because in his "sovereignty" he had a reason for it.

8.	The phrase, "You never know what God's gonna do" or anything remotely similar.  (You can know through his Word exactly what he will do when it comes to healing!)

9.	A case where the Lord used sickness as the means to "take someone home" at the end of his race.

Given that none of these things is in the New Testament, isn't it strange that they are preached as gospel in so many churches today?


Believing in God vs. Believing God

Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness (Romans 4:3).  He believed God who quickens the dead (Romans 4:17).  Through his faith, he received a miracle.

However, demons believe in God (James 2:19) and are none the better for it.

It is one thing to believe in God (that he exists) and quite another to believe God (to accept his promise to you as a sure thing).  Some who say when asked about their healing, "I'm believing God!" are really saying, "I believe in God and I sure hope he does something soon."  Others say, "Well, I have faith."  Join the club; the demons believe, too.  The problem is that you must believe in more than God's existence.  You must believe his promises and statements that healing is available to you, and you must believe that you receive healing when you pray.  The difference between the person who believes in God and the person who believes God is that the latter will speak and act according to what he believes.

I have met people in prayer lines who have been in plenty of healing services without receiving anything.  Once enlightened, they admit that they never once believed they received anything when they prayed.  In other words, they didn't follow the rulebook and that's why they didn't get any results.  They believed in God but they did not believe God.

Failure to believe God means that either (1) you are unsure of what he has promised to do for you, or (2) you are not sure that God will keep his promises in the Bible.  You take care of both problems by reading God's Word.  You will find out what he promised you, and you will see that God has been faithful to his Word throughout all the ages.  You will start to understand that God will not make an exception out of you, and that his promises are just as valid as if he appeared to you in person and said them.  Get to know God through his Word.  That is the only way you can get to know him better.  The better you know him, the more you will trust him because you will see how trustworthy he is.


Faith in the Word and the spirit of faith

Attitudes and lifestyles are contagious.  1 Cor 15:33 tells us not to be deceived because bad company corrupts good morals.  If bad company can rub off, so can good company.  Proverbs 13:20 tells us, "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed."  You need to associate with those who will help you in your faith walk, not those who will talk you out of your inheritance in Christ.  Getting around those who believe God gets you used to seeing faith in action, and used to seeing God come through.  This can be a tremendous confidence-booster for you.

Here is the point I want to make:  Do not simply read this book and pray on your own!  That is a big mistake!  You were not designed to function on your own apart from the Body of Christ.  You need others and they need you.  1 Cor 12 makes this very clear.  Fellowship with others who will encourage you in your faith walk.  Associate with those who have the "spirit of faith" and speak and act on God's Word.  Their testimonies will not produce faith per se, but they will greatly build your hope and encourage you.  Satan picks off lone rangers.  Don't be one of them.  A brother or sister in Christ may have the very way to word something so that you see it even though you've missed it for years.

Don't be confused by the term "spirit of faith."  It's not another spirit that's a fourth member of the Trinity!  It just means an attitude of faith.  You will find that the spirit of faith is contagious.  (So is the "spirit" of unbelief.)  When you get around those who have it, it will rub off on you.  Then it will start to rub off on others!  It's hard to describe how it happens, but it definitely does.  (As the old-timers like to say, some things are better caught than taught, and better felt than telt.)  I love being around people who believe God and get results.  It encourages me.  When you get around a church full of people like this, you feel like they are doing more for you than your preaching could do for them.

So, build your own faith in the Word.  But make sure that you associate with others who have the attitude of faith.  You will then find the same spirit of faith operating in you -- you will believe and therefore you will speak.  You'll talk faith instead of doubt and unbelief.  You'll start to act like those with whom you associate.


The acceptable year of the Lord

Luke 4:18-19

Jesus was sent, among other things, to proclaim "the acceptable year of the Lord" (verse 19).  What does that mean?  It is almost certainly a reference to the Old Testament "year of jubile" in which those who had been forced to sell possessions were to have them returned.

Leviticus 25:8-13:

And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.

Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.

And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof:  it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you:  ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.

For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you:  ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.

In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession.

The basic idea behind the year of jubile was that if you had to sell your property to someone to pay your bills, you were to get it back in this year.  Slaves were freed and could go back to their families.  Debts were canceled.  Liberty was to be proclaimed to all the inhabitants of the land.  Note that this was linked to the "day of atonement."

I do not claim to be able to prove this absolutely, but it seems that Christ was likening his soon-coming atonement with the day of atonement in the year of jubile, at which time people were to get their lost possessions back.  In the verse at the start of this discussion, Jesus said that he had come to proclaim deliverance to the captives.  Then he said that he was sent to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.  In the day of atonement in the year of jubile, liberty was to be proclaimed throughout the land.  In other words, the captives got to go free that year.  I don't think it's too much of a stretch to conclude that Jesus was likening his coming atonement and its resulting liberty to the captives to the year of jubile and its day of atonement.

What's this have to do with healing?  Recall that healing was a covenant right even under the Law of Moses.  Everyone had a right to be healed by Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who Heals You.  Obviously, many people in Jesus' time were not walking in this right.  Healing was their rightful possession (Jesus called it the "children's bread"), but they had lost it.  Jesus went around restoring this possession to the people who had lost it.  His atonement provided the means by which we can have our possessions back.  We can get back what Satan has stolen from us, including our health.

Also recall that Jesus declared sickness to be bondage to the devil (see Luke 13:11-16), and Peter said that sickness was the oppression of the devil (Acts 10:38).  Given that Jesus was declaring liberty to the captives, he must have been declaring healing to the sick, since he considered it a form of captivity.  He came to set at liberty those who were bruised, just as all men were set at liberty in the year of jubile after the day of atonement.  I consider this allusion to the year of jubile to be another indication that Christ's atonement was to bring liberty and healing for all.


How NOT to testify about your healing

Want to be out of order and decrease the anointing in a service?  You can do it by testifying about your healing!  The trick is to use the techniques in this article.

Give a preachimony

Use your big opportunity with a microphone in front of a crowd to work in the message that you think the Holy Ghost really wanted preached instead of that message the minister preached.  Start out with a real testimony to establish your credibility.  Then digress slowly into your new revelation about the identity of the beast or the future of Israel or whatever.  In fact, convince yourself that this is the big break you've been praying for in your kitchen with both your friends.  Yes, someone will notice that you share with a great anointing, and he will ask you to speak somewhere.  Things will surely snowball from there, and you'll be nationally famous in a fraction of the time it took that minister to get known, with an even smaller fraction of the effort.  Your anointing that your last eight pastors never recognized will finally come to the forefront!  You've found the shortcut to the ministry; forget work and training and serving others and all that.  Just hope that it doesn't occur to your potential hosts that if you won't follow the instructions of one man of God, you won't follow their instructions either.

Give a blabbimony

Use at least triple the time you're supposed to.  If you use double, you'll only be about average.  I carry a calculator with a stopwatch most of the time, and I'm interested in statistics.  I have timed testimonies over the last 15 years and noted their relationship to the time the person was supposed to use.  The average testimony uses about twice the allotted time.  Very few testifiers actually stick to the time limit you give them.  I've seen testimonies go as much as 44 minutes over their limit because the person running the meeting was too "nice" to cut the motor-mouth off.  I kid you not.  Of course, there aren't too many scientific folks like me who actually set a countdown stopwatch when they start talking to make sure that they don't go over, and most people have a distorted view of time.  For example, as you go on and on with all your details, it will seem to you that you are using less time than you really are, and it will seem to everyone else that you are using substantially more time than you really are.

An effective blabbimony must be given rapid-fire with no breaks between run-on sentences.  That way, the preacher does not have a polite or convenient time to try to interject something like, "So what did Jesus do for you?" or "How do you know you're healed?" or "Please get to the point."

A good blabbimony starts with the phrase, "Before I say this, I just want to say that...."  This phrase is usually used when the gift of gab is manifestation.

This sample segment of a blabbimony should inspire you:  "I first noticed a lump on my leg about five months ago.  I was on my way home from Aunt Freda's and I was stopped at the end of Exit 13 on the interstate, the one just after Maplewood.  Aunt Freda had been talking about how she hurt her right leg getting out of her shelter after a tornado went through town.  That was the tornado that destroyed the local trailer park.  You know how tornadoes are, there's just something about them that makes them aim for trailer parks.  Well, when her cousin Billy Bob built the shelter, he didn't pound the nails in too well, but Billy Bob never was one for details.  Aunt Freda caught her leg on one of the nails.  Anyway, I noticed coming off the exit that my own right leg was hurting a bit.  At first, I thought it was the three-and-a-half-hour ride from Aunt Freda's, but I felt the spot where it hurt and there was a lump there.  It was about half, no wait, a third, no wait, maybe about two-fifths of the way from my ankle to my knee.  You know, I'm convinced that GOD had Billy Bob leave that exposed nail there so that Aunt Freda would hurt her leg and talk about it and I would notice that my own leg had a problem in the same spot.  Well, I called my doctor, Joe Wizecky at the Middleville Medical Center, the son of Brutus Wizecky, the All-American football player, whose autograph I got when I was in eighth grade just before the game that ended his career when he ran into the goal post -- you know, that was before the days where they put the goal posts at the back of the end zone -- but he said that he couldn't help me anymore because he had just signed up with a different insurance company from the one that I had, so I looked in the phone book under leg doctors, but I couldn't find any listings for leg doctors, so I called Aunt Freda, because I figured she must have found a good leg doctor in her town and maybe all the good leg doctors know each other...."

In case you thought this was outlandish, I heard one "testimony" that included a several-minute-long review of a Boston restaurant.  The dear person running the meeting was just too "polite" to interrupt the man.

Give a devilmony

Make sure that you use Satan's name a lot in your testimony and describe how powerful you perceive him to be, rather than just saying what your physical condition was that Jesus healed.  Make Satan look like someone bigger than he really is (a fallen angel who is legally under our feet).  Gross everyone out with the lurid details of how horribly Satan afflicted you.  Be sure to credit Satan personally for that injury he gave you when you skied on the double-diamond expert trail on your first day out, or for the lung cancer he so foully put on your after you smoked five stogies every day for three decades, or for how he was personally responsible for the fact that you accidentally sliced your hand with a kitchen knife.  (Laugh if you want; I heard someone give that last one in a church service!)  It is important to name Satan more frequently than Jesus,  since the rule of thumb is that the name you mention more belongs to the one you are really glorifying.

Give a braggimony

Talk about your faith and how you received and impress us with what a great faith person you are, with no regard for the fact that without Jesus, there would be no basis for faith to begin with.

Give a phonymony

Say that every pain has left your body when really about 40% of it is still there.  Surely Jesus will get more glory if you say he did more than he really did.  (Given that exaggeration is simply a form of lying, you might want to read the beginning of Acts 5 before doing this.)

Get spiritual

Rather than just stating the facts, interpret them for the crowd.  Instead of saying, "I felt power shoot into my arm and now it's healed," say, "I felt the Shekinah glory of the presence of God permeate my arm after the anointing was transferred into it by the law of contact and transmission."

Other cool ideas

Here are some other neat ways that you can make your testimony more interesting for everyone.  If you get the microphone, try pointing it directly at the nearest monitor or speaker between sentences.  Or speak in a quiet, mousy little voice and hold the mike a foot away from your mouth.  Or leave it right in front of your mouth, but aim it in another direction, which with today's directional mikes accomplishes the same result.  If you must hold the mike like a normal person, give a normal testimony, but at the end scream, "HALLELUJAH!!!!" as loud as you possibly can, directly into the mike.  (This will wake up the people who fell asleep during your testimony.)


God's blessing on your kids

Godly parents should expect to be able to pray for the healing of their children.  God's Word promises many blessings to the offspring of the person who serves God.  (The word seed is used of offspring frequently in Scripture.)

In Numbers 25:3-13, the children of a priest who was zealous for God were to be honored.

Deuteronomy 28:4 says to those who hearken diligently to God's voice and do his commandments:  "Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body."

Deuteronomy 7:12-15 promises a blessing on the "fruit of your womb" if you obey God.

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 contains a promise of long life for your children when you teach them the Word of God consistently.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 says that you and your seed shall live when you choose life.

Psalm 112:2 says that the seed (children) of the upright shall be mighty on the earth and blessed.

Mark 7:25-30, Matthew 15:22-28, and John 4:46-53 are examples of people who received a healing on behalf of their child.

The many Scriptures promising curses on your children if you disobey God should underscore the impact that you have on your children.  (See Breaking generational curses for more about this subject.)

You should expect the blessing of God to rest on your children, and this includes the blessing of healing.  This is one reason that you can pray and get results for your kids when they don't yet know how to do so for themselves.


Why are you here?

Why are you still on the earth right now, given that departing and being with Christ is far better?  There is one reason.  As part of the Body of Christ on the earth, you are an ambassador of Christ and a minister of reconciliation.  In short, your purpose is to glorify God and be a shining light that draws others to Jesus Christ.

Sure, God is interested in your well-being and in giving you things richly to enjoy.  But if you want things to enjoy, there will be a lot more of them in heaven!  You aren't here just to see what you can get out of life (and out of God).  Your life is not your own!  You died and now Christ lives in you.  You are Christ's servant for the rest of your days on Planet Earth.  God wants you to bear fruit for him.

Once you understand why you are here, you will understand how ludicrous it is that God would want you sick and unable to care for yourself.  He could use members of his Body in a greater way when they are well than when they are sick.  You can't "go into all the world" from a bed in a nursing home.  You can't go out and do the works of Christ when you are in a hospital needing the works of Christ to be done to you!

Since soulwinning is the #1 priority of God's heart, it should be our #1 priority as well.  Christ Jesus came to save sinners.  Jesus sought that which was lost, and so should we.  This is a major reason why God wishes above all things that you prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.


Conformed to Christ's image

Romans 8:29:

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

You are supposed to resemble Jesus Christ on this earth.  He is your elder brother, and you should bear a family resemblance!  When people see you, they should see Jesus.

Jesus Christ was not sick until he took your sins.  He walked the earth in divine health.  You are supposed to be conformed to his image.  Therefore, you should walk in divine health, too.

No one who looks at someone suffering some terrible illness will see an accurate image of Jesus Christ on the earth.  Jesus Christ walked in authority over sickness and gave his disciples the same authority.  Being well is part of being conformed to Christ's image.


The happy ending

Revelation 21:4

Revelation 22:2-3

On the new earth that will be the eternal home of every Christian, there will be no sickness.  There will be no gifts of healings, because no one will need them.  No one will need bodily miracles, so there will be no miracle crusades.  No one will be raised from the dead by the gift of faith because no one will die.  No one will need this book.

For the Christian, death is not a real defeat.  It is far better to be present with the Lord.

One thing is certain.  Regardless of whether or not you believe in divine healing in this life, and regardless of whether or not you ever receive healing from God in this life, there is a happy ending in the Bible:  All Christians get completely and permanently healed!


Breaking generational curses

There is a simple one-step plan to break all generational curses off your life -- get saved!  Once you are saved, any "curse" that could have resulted from the actions of your ancestors is broken, and all you need to do is believe that and walk in the light of it.  You do NOT need any special kind of ministry.  He whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

Your life affects your children

Scripture does teach that sin and righteousness both have an impact on your children.  Sin causes a curse to fall on your children; righteousness causes a blessing to fall on your children.

The fact that sin can affect your posterity is clear from many Scriptures, including:

Exodus 20:5 AND Deuteronomy 5:9:  *

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:  for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

*[These two verses are identical except that the second uses the word unto in place of to in the first phrase, and the translators put a comma instead of a semicolon at the end of the second one.]

The fact that righteousness can affect your posterity is also clear:

Psalm 112:2:

His seed shall be mighty upon earth:  the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

(See God's blessing on your kids for more verses about this.)

If you won't walk with the Lord for your sake, do it for the sake of your kids!  It matters.

Your parents' sins cannot "curse" you once you are born again

If your parents and their ancestors were in all kinds of sin, you do not have to worry for a minute about having to live under a "generational curse" (or any other curse for that matter) because of it.  You have been delivered from the power of darkness, and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son (Colossians 1:12-14).  The blood of Jesus has already broken from your life any curse that may be on your lineage.  Because you are righteous, you are redeemed from curses.  The "curse of the Law" in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and elsewhere includes curses on children.  Jesus redeemed you from this curse (Galatians 3:13).  You do not need to "get delivered" from it.  You are delivered from it because you are a Christian.  Agree with God and say so.

Proverbs 26:2:

As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.

There is no cause for a curse in the life of any Christian who is walking in the light.  (Failure to walk in the light does open the door for curses to come on you.)

You do not have to spend years searching your "roots" in endless genealogies.  (1 Tim 1:4 declares this to be a waste of time anyway.)  You have one spiritual ancestor -- God is your Father!  God is not under any kind of curse.  Therefore, you have not inherited a curse from your Father.

The "old man" (who could rightfully be under a curse) died when you received Christ.  Now all things are new, and you are not under any kind of bondage to your former life or anything to do with your former life.

You do not need special ministry to get rid of a generational curse.  You do not need to buy a special book or tape series to find out what to do.  Jesus has already done everything that needed to be done.  He has already delivered you.

I should point out that in some places, the term "generational curse" is used to describe an illness that runs in a family.  Since sickness is indeed a curse according to the Law of Moses, that is a pretty good name for it.  However, you are legally healed by the stripes of Jesus of everything that got handed down to you in your genes from your parents.  You do not have to get in fear because of how your ancestors died, or because some modern genetic test indicates that you are at risk for a certain illness or even have it already.  God heals all your diseases, so ones handed down in your family are nothing to get excited over.  God's promise to you covers whatever it is.  Again, you do not need any kind of special ministry to walk in what God says is already yours (healing from your generational problem).  You can just take it by faith.

In closing, may I add that many things attributed to "generational curses" (divorce, alcoholism, etc.) are actually handed down from one generation to another through bad examples and training.  While it is a curse (in a sense) to have a parent who leads you into wrong thinking, wrong thinking is cured not by special prayer but by renewing your mind with the Word of God.


Speaking to mountains, trees and diseases

You can speak to a mountain and command it to be removed.  You can speak to a tree and command it to be removed.  You can speak to a disease in your body and command it to be removed.

Jesus said explicitly in Mark 11:23-24, Matthew 17:20 (see Matthew 17:14-21) and Matthew 21:18-22 that you can speak to a mountain and it would be cast into the sea.  Of course, there is little practical value in speaking to a mountain.  These days, some lawyer would probably file a class-action lawsuit against you on behalf of the owners of coastal property that was destroyed when your mountain crashed into the sea..  Jesus was showing what power faith-filled words have; power that literally could throw an entire mountain into the sea.  There is no point in trying to water down what Jesus said.  It's nothing in comparison to what God did, anyway.  He spoke and all the mountains and everything else came into existence in the first place.

Jesus said explicitly in Luke 17:5-6 and Matthew 21:18-22 that you can speak to a tree.  Jesus did so himself, and the disciples saw the results of Jesus' faith-filled words spoken to an object.

Don't freak out because Jesus said that you can speak to objects that are not sentient beings.  He said you can, and he demonstrated it.  It's futile to argue with the Son of God about something.  He spoke to the wind and waves, and they obeyed him.  Wind and waves don't have ears to hear you any more than trees and mountains do.  (I've heard of mountaineers, but they're something different.)  Yet Jesus spoke to such things and got results!

If you can speak to a mountain and you can speak to a tree, you can speak to disease in your body or someone else's body.  This is of far more practical use than in telling a sycamine tree to be uprooted, especially in many locations where you might expose underground cables and get in trouble with the local utility companies.  If you can command a great big lump of rock and earth to be gone, it's a far smaller thing to command a lump of cancer to be gone.  If you can command a tree to be yanked up by its roots and removed, it's a far smaller thing to command arthritis to be yanked up by its roots and removed.

It should follow from the statements that Jesus made that you can speak to diseases just as you would speak to mountains or trees.  In fact, Jesus demonstrated this fact explicitly.  He rebuked the fever in Peter's mother-in-law in Luke 4:38-39.  In Mark 7:32-37, Jesus spoke to a deaf ear and commanded it to be opened, and it was.  This is not the only way to minister to a sick person; you can simply lay hands on the person in obedience to Mark 16:15-18.  Even when you do this, you should do so with the understanding that you are exercising your authority over the sickness that is in the person's body.

The fact that you have the right to speak to diseases is a neglected key to ministering to the sick.  It is right to pray for the sick inasmuch as we should pray that the sick get a revelation of God's healing covenant.  However, it is not right to "pray for the sick" if that means that we should ask God to heal the sick.  No one in the New Testament ever asked God to heal a sick person!  Instead, Jesus and his followers took authority over sickness and taught the truth about healing.  Instead of "praying for the sick" in the modern sense, they preached the gospel (which includes healing) and healed the sick in the name of Jesus.  (Paul prayed before he laid his hands on Publius, but Luke did not say that Paul prayed for Publius's healing.)  You will see better results when you quit "praying for the sick" and start speaking to sickness, exercising your authority over it in the name of Jesus.  Don't ask God to do something that he has already delegated authority to you to do.

Take authority over that disease that is in your body.  Don't ask God to heal you because you are out of agreement with his Word when you do that.  God says that you were healed by the stripes of Jesus.  Agree with that instead and thank God for it.  Command disease to leave your body in the name of Jesus.  Remember that Jesus backs his name when you use it.  When you ask anything in his name, he will do it.  When you command the disease to leave your body in the name of Jesus, Jesus himself personally backs his name and Jesus himself forces the disease out and heals your body.

When it comes to other peoples' bodies, you need their consent and cooperation.  If the person is an unbeliever or a young Christian, he must at least allow you to speak to his body and his condition in the name of Jesus.  You should explain what you are doing first, of course, so that the other person can agree to the best of his ability.  Also, if you don't explain yourself, the person may misinterpret you if you say, "I command you to leave in the name of Jesus, you foul thing!"  With more mature believers, you are really praying the prayer of agreement together with them, uniting your faith against the disease as you speak to it.


Discussions about healing

YOU can be healed

Jesus the Healer has never changed

God is not only ABLE, but also WILLING, to heal you

Isaiah's prophecy of redemption

Your body is God's property

Healing is already yours

Healed by Jesus' stripes

According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!

Different ways to get healed

How NOT to pray for your healing

God's Word is medicine

God's Word is seed

Healing pleases God

How to see God's will concerning healing

Would you rebuke a Christmas present?

God's power toward you

Who or what causes sickness?

What faith is

What faith isn't

You have faith

Believing in God vs. Believing God

Faith in the Word and the spirit of faith

Healing does not require great faith

How to get more faith

Looking at the unseen

How to tell if you're in faith or not

Dealing with fear

Is your situation hopeless?

Why you can believe in divine healing and not get healed

The difference between "the anointing" and "your healing"

Your heavenly Father and your healing

The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead

How much do you desire healing?

Why you might not want to pray for your healing right away

Why you don't have to touch Jesus as he passes by

Why you don't need to pray the power down

You are holy and worthy to receive healing

Who is in control of your life?

Don't do this

You have authority over your body

It isn't your sickness

You win

What's better than healing?  Health!

Healing and the blood of Jesus

Healing and prayer

The power in the name of Jesus

The powers of the world to come

I prayed in faith -- now what?

Hear and be healed

The power of God's spoken Word

Healing and atonement

The acceptable year of the Lord

Healing is a good thing

Pre-approved for healing

Saved!

Delivered!

Say what

The missing link

If Jesus were to appear to you...

God's mercy and compassion

Healing and the prodigal son

God's promises have conditions

Do you really believe in healing?

Suffering

Healing -- a gift from God

You ought to be healed

You're designed to be healthy, not sick

Sickness is the power of the devil

Where's Jesus?

Healing and deliverance from poisoning

To heal the brokenhearted

Anointed to preach deliverance

The healing anointing

The Word AND the anointing!

Healing and the Holy Spirit

Healing and God's glory

Free access to the throne!

Your authority over sickness

Healing and prosperity

Abraham's blessing is yours

Who you are and what you have

Priests should not be sick, and you're a priest

Don't get sick when you get old

Quit worrying about your health!

Let God be true and every man a liar

You're dead!

Healing and evangelism

It might only take one

Healing and giving

Bodily exercise profiteth little

Healing and music

What every elder is commanded to believe

The works he did you can do:  Here's how

You are Christ on the earth!

Why are you here?

Conformed to Christ's image

Laying hands on the sick

Ministering to the sick

Speaking to mountains, trees, and diseases

Healing and personal perfection

Get away from unbelief

Why some people will never get healed

Descent into stupidity

Things the New Testament DOES NOT SAY about healing

It works!

Found:  The cure for AIDS!

Massive healing crusades:  The will of God!

Signs and wonders!

Healing and the last days

All about healing services

How to deal with the devil

How NOT to deal with the devil

Casting out the spirit of stupidity

Paper roadblocks to healing

God's blessing on your kids

Breaking generational curses

Strange ways to get healed

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

Healing and obedience

Healing and consecration

Ianity

Healing is not a formula

Beware of Pharisees

About opponents of divine healing

Beware:  Wrong motives for getting in healing lines

How NOT to testify about your healing

Read this if you don't understand healing

The happy ending

How to be baptized with the Holy Spirit

How to be saved from your sins


Do you believe that God wants you to be healed?

Absolutely YES -- God wants ME to be healed.

I believe that God heals today and that he generally wants everyone healed, although there are exceptions.

I think so, but I am not completely sure.

I'm not sure.  I think there may be a higher purpose behind this illness.

No, I'm sure he doesn't.


I think God wants me well, but I'm not sure
You need to know for sure before you can pray in faith!  You get faith by hearing what God has to say about a matter.  Spend time going through the Scriptures, discussions, and other parts of this book, and faith will come for your healing.  Then you will be sure that God wants you to be healed, and you'll be able to believe that you receive your healing.  To pray BEFORE you are sure of God's will simply invites frustration.  Your prayers will go unanswered because you will waver.  Thus, you will have failed the qualifications for praying the prayer of faith.

How do you intend to find out if God wants to heal you?

I plan to pray about it and ask him.

I plan to find out more about what the Bible says about healing.

I don't; it's not that important to me whether I get healed or not.


What would make someone an exception?
You say that there are exceptions.  What would make someone an exception?

I don't know; God just decides not to heal some people for reasons known only to himself.

God leads some people through times of sickness to help them grow spiritually.

He gives some people a thorn in the flesh as he did to Paul.

God has not promised to heal everyone, so some people have to stay sick.  It's just part of life.

He knows that some people are suffering so badly that they would be better off dead, so he lets them die.

I can't think of a reason.  I guess God doesn't make exceptions for healing after all.


God has not promised to heal everyone...
God says he heals all your diseases.  He says that he desires that you be in health.  He says that he is the Lord your Physician.  He says that he will take sickness away from your midst, and that no plague shall come nigh your dwelling.  He says that sickness is a curse, and that Christ has redeemed you from that curse, and by his stripes you were healed.  He says that if you are sick, the prayer of faith will raise you up, and that you have the right to lay hands on the sick and have them recover!  Jesus healed all who came to him in faith, and where a couple of people weren't in faith, he exhorted them and got them into faith!  Jesus has not changed, so he still must be willing to heal all today.

Spend some time studying the verses in this book and you will see that God HAS promised healing to you.  It is NOT something you just have to put up with.  The sick people who came to Jesus didn't have to put up with it.  Why should you put up with it today?

Return to Welcome Screen


God decides not to heal some people...
As you study the Scriptures, you will find that God does NOT decide not to heal people.  On the contrary, some people fail to receive healing, just as some fail to receive the new birth.  God has already decided to heal everyone just as he has decided to save everyone, and failure to receive is on our part, not God's.

If God just decided not to heal people, it would have been evident in Jesus' ministry, and he would not have healed ALL in many crowds.  As you study further, you'll find that it was the PEOPLE who decided to be healed.  THEY sought out Jesus and went to where he was.  THEY listened to his teaching.  THEY touched him or his clothes and THEY received healing.  Once they went to Jesus, Jesus never turned any of them away for any reason, mysterious or otherwise.

I suggest that you read the answer to the objection below and then return to the previous question, since your answer should change!

Objection:  God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.  We'll never know why God lets some people stay sick.

Return to previous question


God leads people through times of sickness...
You cannot find one shred of evidence for your statement in the Bible.  I dare you to support your claim with Scripture!  You will not find God or Jesus "leading people through sickness" to help them grow spiritually.  You will see them healing those who have sickness instead!  You will find that it is the devil, not God, who brings sickness on people.  You can read the answers to the objections below for more on this subject.

In case you want to bring up Job, he went backward spiritually in his sickness.  He did not rail on God at first, but he became progressively worse in his conduct and attitude toward God.  Job's time of sickness most certainly did not lead to spiritual growth!  Also, it is explicitly stated that Satan made Job sick.  God was the one who healed him!

Objection:  Sickness, while unpleasant, is used by God to build character

Objection:  God uses sickness to draw us closer to himself

Return to previous question


God gives some people a thorn in the flesh
God did not give Paul a thorn in the flesh.  Satan did.  Paul's thorn in the flesh was a demonic being that stirred up persecution, not an illness.  Read the reply to Objection:  God wouldn't heal Paul's thorn in the flesh.  Then you will realize that you have to change your previous answer.

Return to previous question


God does not "take" seriously sick people
There are two kinds of people in this world.  There are sinners and there are Christians.

This statement cannot be true of a sinner.  Any sinner who dies will be infinitely worse off than he would be suffering from some hideous cancer.  It would be better for you to writhe in agony but still have a chance to hear the gospel and avoid hell than it would be for you to suffer guaranteed, irreversible eternal turmoil in hell.  It is never the will of God for a sinner to die and go to hell.  The sickness may make the person's choice for him, but God would never make such a choice.

This statement cannot be true of a Christian.  Some saints decide they want to die because they are in such physical torment.  That is their decision, not God's.  God will honor it.  However, God has made a healing covenant with us, and we do not have to die in torment from an illness.  It is always the will of God to heal all your diseases, including "terminal" ones that cause extreme agony.  If not, Psalm 103:1-5 and other such scriptures mean nothing.  The healed saint is able to witness to God's goodness.  The sick saint who dies cannot be used as an ambassador of reconciliation anymore.

Never blame God for "taking" someone.  God never uses sickness to take a Christian home because God is not the author of sickness.  It is the devil who uses sickness to "take" people off the earth.  Unless the person receives a miracle, the sickness can run its course and kill him, but that has nothing to do with God.

To say that God knows the person would be better off dead is to say that God could not heal the person and that he is just hastening the inevitable.  This contradicts God's Word, which says that with God, all things are possible.  Jesus Christ never killed anyone because he knew that the person would be better off dead, and he is the image of God (Col 1:15).

Click below to change your answer.

Return to previous question


Colossians 1:15
Colossians 1:15:

Who [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:


I plan to pray about it
It is dangerous to "pray" about doctrine, since there are a lot of voices out there that are not the voice of the Good Shepherd.  You would be better off searching the Scriptures for your answers than praying for answers.

The only case where praying about doctrine is valid is when you ask God to show you through the Scriptures what his will is concerning healing.  Then you will have something to stand on when the devil bombards you with contrary thoughts.

Go ahead and pray that God will open the Scriptures to you concerning healing so that your faith will have God's Word as its unshakable foundation.

Return to Welcome Screen


I plab to find out what the Bible says
Good!  The Bible is the only 100%-reliable source of information concerning Christian doctrine.  As you study the Scriptures in this book, you will find out what the Bible says about healing, and you will realize that it is legally yours as a Christian!  You are on the right track.  May God bless you as you study his Word!

Return to Welcome Screen


God spoke to me in prayer...
I must be very bold with you.  YOU ARE WRONG.  God did NOT speak to you and tell you that he wants you to endure your disease.  God cannot contradict his own Word concerning healing.  He NEVER told anyone in the Bible who came to him for healing that he wanted the person to endure his affliction for now.  You may have heard a voice, since there are many voices in the world, but the voice you heard was not God.  One of the devil's agents tried to get you to accept something that Jesus Christ has legally redeemed you from.

God will always agree with his Word.  Study the Scriptures in this book and you will see that God would have to contradict himself to say what you claim that he said.  Now I have another question for you.

Continue


Are you taking medicine...?
Are you currently taking any kind of medication, seeing a doctor, or using the services of any hospital or medical facility to treat your condition?

Yes.

No.


I am not taking medicine
Do you want to be healed?

Yes

No


I want to be healed
If you want to be healed, but you are sure that God does not want you healed, it sounds like you have been tricked by one of the many objections to divine healing that circulate in the church world.  Please go to the section shown below.  You should be able to find an answer there to whatever dead tradition of men has convinced you that God does not want you to be well.

Objections overruled


I don't want to be healed
If you do not want to be healed, God will never force healing on you.  You are free to keep your condition, whatever it is.  However, it would be sad if you did so, because God really does want to heal you.  He made provision for your healing and it is your legal possession as a Christian.  I hope that you will read the Scriptures and discussions in this book and discover that God wants you to be well and has already done something about it!

Return to Welcome Screen


You are a hypocrite.
You are a hypocrite.  You are sure that God does not want you to be healed of your condition, yet you are taking explicit steps to get out of what you think is his will.  Shame on you.

If you really believe that God just wants you to be sick, you should just stay sick.  Why resist him?  Just suffer if you really think that's what God wants.

Actually, I hope you see the contradiction of your position.  You don't think God wants you to be well, but you really do want to be well.  If you enjoyed suffering, you wouldn't be taking measures to avoid it.  God designed you to want to be well.  Your very body does all it can to heal itself; God made it that way.

Okay, I see that my position is hypocritical and self-contradictory.

I am not convinced.  I think God wants me to use medicine, but he does not want to heal me supernaturally.


God wants me to use medicine
Why do you think that God would want to use a lesser means of healing you rather than healing you supernaturally?

He is unable to heal me supernaturally.

I don't believe that divine healing is for today.

He wants me to suffer, but to a limited and controlled degree.

I see your point.  That really doesn't make sense.


God is not able to heal me
God is omnipotent!  He is the Almighty!  Nothing is too difficult for him.  The Bible makes it clear that God has sufficient power to do anything.  It sounds like you have been reading some silly book that is not based on the Bible.  For proof that God is able to heal you supernaturally, read the discussion below.

God is not only ABLE, but also WILLING, to heal you


Divine healing is not for today
There are many dead traditions of men floating around the church, and this is one of them.  The truth is that we are living in the same dispensation as the apostles.  The old tradition about healing passing away when the last apostle died has no Biblical basis and is disproved by history, to say nothing of the miraculous healings happening today.  No one can prove from the Bible that healing passed away with the last apostle.  Besides, there are still apostles today (Eph 4:11), so the last apostle isn't dead yet!

For more proof of this, refer to the answers to the objections below.

Objection:  Healing and miracles are not for this current dispensation

Objection:  Today doctors have replaced the ancient practice of faith healing


God wants me to suffer to a limited degree
So God wants you to suffer to the extent permitted by medical science!  That's interesting.  If you really believe that, you would have to conclude that God's will to heal depends on medical technology in your country.  Therefore, God must have some sovereign reason for letting people in third-world countries suffer more than people in more industrialized nations where there is better medicine.  So, God must want some people with illnesses in poorer nations to suffer and die, while willing relief or healing for a person with the same affliction in a more-developed country.  Therefore, we should pray for better doctors to go to third-world countries to change the will of God there!

If what you say is true, God wanted people in darker ages with poorer medicine to suffer more than he wants you to suffer.  You also imply with your answer that God only heals curable illnesses today.  Thus, he must have changed, because he used to heal ALL diseases, including incurable ones.

The problem is that you will never find anyone in the Bible matching your description.  No one was left sick at the hands of doctors because God was unwilling to heal him.  On the contrary, the woman with the issue of blood spent all her money on doctors and was not helped.  Was it God's will for her to stay sick because she could not be cured by medical science?  The answer is obviously, "No."

How are you going to determine the degree to which God wants you to suffer?  At what point is your suffering excessive and worthy of God's help, instead of being something that you must suffer to a limited and controlled degree?  Where are the limits and controls?  Certainly not with God.  You are the victim of a religious delusion.  Jesus never told anyone to suffer to a limited and controlled degree, and if he were to tell you that, he would have changed.  Jesus went about healing the sick, not telling them to suffer to a limited and controlled degree.  Since Jesus healed ALL illnesses in the Gospels, he is still willing to heal ALL illnesses today, including the ones you have right now.

Return to Welcome Screen


Why don't you think that God wants to heal you?

He didn't heal other people I know.

God is mad at me.

I think God is trying to teach me something or work through my condition.

God spoke to me in prayer and told me that he wanted me to endure this affliction for now.

I think that God wants me to have this disease and that it is a blessing in disguise.

He has not promised anyone healing during this lifetime.


He didn't heal other people I know
God has not saved some people that you know, either.  Is that a good reason not to believe that salvation from hell is available to all?  NO.  This argument is no better when it is applied to healing.  You cannot base your doctrine on other people's experience.  You must base it solely on the Bible.  If you base it on experience, you could become a witch doctor or a Christian Scientist or a Spiritualist, since these people also claim to have "experiences."

The other people you know may not know about their blood-bought privilege of being healed, but that is no reason why you should stay sick.  If you don't want to stay out of heaven just because you know others who are staying out, why should you fail to receive your healing just because others fail?

You may think you know that the other people were in great faith, but only God knows their hearts.  The only person you can be sure of is yourself.  Don't lose out because other people are losing out.  God has made provision for your healing!

Return to Welcome Screen


God is mad at me
If God is mad at you, you must be a sinner on your way to hell.  The wrath of God abides on the sinner who does not receive Jesus Christ.  The man outside of Christ stands condemned in his sins, and only the blood of Jesus can cleanse him.  If you are born again, God is not mad at you.  Jesus made peace with God for you by the blood of his cross.  He washed your sins away!  Therefore, God does not deal with you according to your sins, but according to the very righteousness of Christ.  He was mad at your sins, but he took out his wrath on Jesus, thus sparing you from the wrath to come.

There is forgiveness for all your sins through the blood of Christ.  If you are born again, you are forgiven.  God is not mad at you.  God is not punishing you with sickness.  He already punished Jesus with sickness because of your sin.  Heaven's court, like any earthly court, cannot find two men guilty for the same crime.  Jesus was declared guilty in your place, and you get off scot-free because of what he did for you.  Jesus served the sentence for sin, so you do not have to.

Therefore, God is not "sentencing" you to sickness because he is mad at you.  It is the devil who is mad at you and wants you to be sick so that you are hindered from fulfilling the Great Commission.

Return to Welcome Screen


God is teaching me something
What do you think God is trying to teach you through your illness?

Bible doctrines

Character


God is teaching me doctrine
God has already sent his Spirit to lead you into all truth.  You do not need sickness to teach you all things when the anointing inside you teaches you all things.  God's Word is able to teach you.  God does not use curses to teach you lessons.  God calls sickness a curse.

If you only read your Bible when you're sick in bed, you may indeed learn Bible doctrines, but that is not God's plan for you.  God would rather that you study his Word voluntarily when you are healthy!  If you are going to learn doctrine while sick, I hope that the first doctrine you learn is that of divine healing so that you can get off your sickbed and start serving humanity!

Return to Welcome Screen


He has not promised anyone healing...
There are many places in the Bible where God has promised exactly that.  Please read the Scriptures found in this book.  You will see many precious promises concerning your health during your life on this earth.

Return to Welcome Screen


Why do you think you are sick right now?

I just caught something contagious -- nothing to do with God or the devil.

God is using this trial to develop my character.

It's just something I have to live with in this fallen world.

I got into sin, and I had it coming to me.

God is mad at me and this is his judgment on me.

I am helping to complete the sufferings of Christ on this earth.

It is a blessing in disguise.

I really have no idea.  I wish I did.

The devil is the ultimate author of my sickness.


Where do you believe that diseases come from?

They're just kind of around -- I don't know.

God made them part of his creation; therefore, they are good.

All diseases are actually evil spirits.

The devil created them to steal, kill and destroy people's lives.


I don't know where diseases come from
Satan is the author of sickness and disease.  Jesus of Nazareth went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38).  For more proof that Satan is the ultimate author of all sickness, read the discussion below.  Then, once you realize that sickness comes from Satan, click to return to the earlier question, which you will want to answer differently!

Who or what causes sickness?

Return to earlier question


Viruses are from the devil
You are correct.  God does not want you to have the work of Satan in your body, since he redeemed your body with the same price he paid for your spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20).  Your sickness is indeed a work of the devil, and the Son of God was made manifest to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).

Now that you realize that Satan is the sickener and God is the healer, click below to continue our conversation.  You will want to change your previous answer.

Continue


Viruses are evil spirits
The Bible does not teach that viruses are evil spirits, although some diseases were attributed to evil spirits.  Jesus cast out spirits to heal some people, while others with the same external conditions were simply healed and not delivered from demons.  Study the gospel accounts in this book and read the answer to the question below.

Is all sickness demonic?

Return to previous question


I don't know why God wants me sick
Study the answer to the question below, and you will find out why you are sick!  It is most definitely NOT the will of God for you to keep enduring your affliction.

Who or what causes sickness?

Return to earlier question


The devil is the ultimate author of my illness
Correct.  The devil is the one who afflicts with sickness.  God and Jesus are in the healing business, not the sickening business.  Now that you realize that sickness is a tool of Satan to steal, kill and destroy.  You must re-examine whether God wants you to have the works of the devil in your blood-bought body.  Since sickness is Satan's tool and you have been delivered from Satan's kingdom and brought into the kingdom of God's dear Son, you can see that God does not want you to be sick.  Thus, you must change your mind about the answer to the original question.

Back to original question


Viruses are part of creation
That's an interesting answer.  How many sick people do you know, including yourself, who could honestly say that they believe that the disease that they have is GOOD?

Besides, if it's so GOOD, why are you interested in getting healed of it?  Surely you would not want to use any medical means to ease or rid yourself of this wonderful suffering that you are experiencing.

If it's such a blessing, why don't you try to spread the blessing around to as many others as possible and ask God to bless you with more?

If it's so good, why don't you go out and try to get sick on purpose?

I think you should read the answer to Objection:  Disease viruses are part of God's creation and are therefore good, even though we often don't think so when we catch them.  Then tell me what you think:

Come to think of it, maybe it isn't so good after all.

Good point -- I will go attempt to infect everyone else with this blessing from God.


I will try to make everyone else sick
I predict that you will be a very unpopular person!  Not even a sensible sinner would want to get sick or think that it was a blessing.  I suspect that you noted my sarcasm and just wanted to see what I would say.  If you are really serious, you should consult the discussions on mental illness because they apply to you.  Start on the section below.

Mental illnesses


Sickness is not a blessing disguised as a curse
Sickness is not a blessing disguised as a curse.  The reason that sickness looks like a curse is because it is a curse!  God does not disguise his blessings, anyway; you won't find Scripture for that.  The following discussions should prove these points to you.  Please read them.

Who or what causes sickness?

Would you rebuke a Christmas present?

Objection:  God works all things for good (Romans 8:28); this includes sickness

Objection:  David said that it was GOOD that he was afflicted; so it can be with us

Objection:  Sickness can be proof of God's special favor

After reading these discussions, do you still think that your sickness is a blessing in disguise?

Yes

No


God doesn't think that sickness is a blessing in disguise
Good.  God doesn't think it is either.  Click below to return to the question where you said that your sickness was a blessing in disguise, since you now realize that your answer was incorrect.

Click here


Why not spread your blessing of sickness?
Since you believe that your sickness is actually a blessing, why don't you go out and try to spread it to as many family members and friends as possible so that they may share in your great blessing?

I allow God in his sovereignty to determine whom he blesses with terrible diseases.

I am selfish and pray that I will be the only one blessed with illness.

I would if I could, but my condition isn't contagious.

This sickness is a special blessing from God just for me.

God knows that I can handle it; maybe they can't.

I would never want them to suffer this way.

Okay, maybe it isn't such a blessing after all, when I think about it.


God's blessings are received by faith
This is an interesting theological twist.  Most of the blessings of God in the Bible, including salvation itself, need to be received by faith.  No blessing of God is ever forced on you without your consent.  Here you are saying that God is going to bless you with something without respect to your faith and without your consent.  That is inconsistent with how God blesses man in the Bible.  You could not even receive the blessing of salvation without being involved in the process.

You should read Objection:  We cannot demand healing from God because God is sovereign.

Additional remarks


You are selfish
Since selfishness is sin, you need to repent.  If you really love people, and you really believe that sickness is a blessing in disguise, you should want to see other people sick.

Additional remarks


At least you are not a hypocrite
At least you are not a hypocrite.  You are willing to share your blessing of disease with others, but just not able to do so.  That's okay.  You will have no trouble finding other sick people who DO have contagious diseases.  Shake their hands after they've sneezed or coughed into them or picked their noses with them.  Then stuff your fingers into your mouth and believe for a double portion of their blessing.  Then spread this blessing to everyone that you can.

By now, you should realize how sick this all sounds.  Perhaps you are now ready to admit that sickness is not really such a "blessing in disguise" after all.

Additional remarks


You are now accusing God of playing favorites
You are accusing God of playing favorites.  You say that he has given you a special blessing that he is unwilling to give others.  The God of the Bible does not do that.  God's blessings are always for "whosoever" wants to receive them.  What Jesus did was for everybody, and anyone can receive anything pertaining to life and godliness.  God will not bless you in a way that he is unwilling to bless others.

Additional remarks


You are saying that you are so spiritual that you get sick
In effect, you are saying, "I am so spiritual that I get sick.  Other people are not spiritual enough to qualify for this special trial from God."  Not only are you deluded, but you are on a pride trip as well.

Explain how some wicked sinners who don't know Christ are suffering with the same special trial ("blessing") that you have!  If they're unsaved, they don't qualify to receive the blessings of the New Covenant yet.  What special blessing in disguise is God granting these people who don't even know him?

Face it.  Many people who are completely unspiritual and even unsaved are probably sick right now with the same problem you have.  Hospitals are full of sick sinners.  Is God blessing them, too?  Hardly.  Ask them if they think they're getting blessed.  Interview them and see whether they're glad they're sick because the wonderful spiritual benefits outweigh the physical discomforts.  They will probably give more sensible answers than you just gave.

Additional remarks


Additional remarks
I think you need to go back and read about where sickness comes from some more.  I don't have anything to say that I haven't already said in those discussions.  The Bible calls sickness bondage, oppression and a curse.  You are calling it a blessing.  It sounds to me like you are out of agreement with God on the matter.

If you actually like your sickness and the results of it, you are free to keep it and enjoy your wonderful blessing of disease and illness.  No one can deny you your right to stay sick.  However, if you ever change your mind and decide that you don't want your "blessing" after all, I'll still be here on your computer if you haven't uninstalled me.

Return to Welcome Screen


You have just proved that you really don't believe...
You have just proved that you really don't believe that sickness is a blessing.  If you really thought so, you would conclude that it is worth the discomfort that it causes because of the blessings sick people receive.  If you really loved people, you would want them all to get sick.

Return to previous question


Sickness is not used to build character
Read the response to Objection:  Sickness, while unpleasant, is used by God to build character.  You will see that you have been tricked into believing a tradition of men rather than the Bible.  After you have read this, click below to continue.

Continue


What is your basis for believing that God wants you healed?

My Pastor or another person that I respect teaches that.

It is part of my church's statement of faith.

The Bible says so.

I prayed and got a direct revelation from God about it.

I just sense it in my heart.

I am a good person.

I have been serving God faithfully for a long time.


Has the person whom you respect convinced you?
Has the person whom you respect absolutely convinced you that the Bible says that God wants you to be healed?

Yes, the person has proved to me from the Bible that God wants me well.

No, but I respect the person highly and believe that I can accept his word on the matter because he knows more than I do on the subject.


You can only believe what you know from the Bible
You can only believe for something when you know for yourself that the BIBLE promises it.  It's a good start to accept someone else's opinion or experience, but that isn't a sufficient basis for faith.  Read what happened to the sons of Sceva in Acts 19:13-17.  They tried to get results because of Paul's experience, but they were not in faith to produce their own experience.  They got no results, and neither will you until you know for sure that the Bible, not just a preacher, says that healing belongs to you.

Spend some more time in the Bible and in other healing literature such as this book, and faith will come by hearing the Word of God.  Then you will be able to believe for yourself.  That is the only way to get results.

Return to Welcome Screen


Statement of faith at church does not heal you
I have been to many churches whose official statement of faith says that Jesus provided healing at Calvary.  Some of these churches really act on this fact, but many are full of unbelief because they have accepted some of the traditions of men about healing.  Their practice is based on those traditions rather than on their official statement of faith.

It is not enough to know that your church "officially" believes in healing.  It is not even enough to know that the preacher and the elders believe in healing and practice it.  You must know it for yourself from the Bible.  Your church probably has a doctrinal statement that Jesus paid for your sins at Calvary, yet anyone could walk in and out of your church without being saved.  God's word produces no results when it is simply ink on paper.  The word of faith only produces results when it is in your heart and in your mouth.  A sinner would be saved at your church only when he believes for himself that Jesus paid for his sins and rose from the dead and confesses him as Lord.

The sinner receives forgiveness when he realizes that Jesus bore his sins and rose from the dead.  You will receive healing when you believe that Jesus paid for your healing.  It must be in your heart and in your mouth, not simply in a doctrinal statement on paper.

Read the Bible and other healing literature until you believe in your heart and can say with your mouth that Jesus Christ is your Healer as well as your Lord.

Return to Welcome Screen


If you talk to God about your healing...
If you talk to God about your healing, he will lead you in line with his Word, which says that you have a legal right to healing through Jesus Christ.  However, it is dangerous and incorrect to base doctrinal beliefs on what you think you heard from God in prayer.  Many people have gotten into serious error this way.  Some voices in the spirit realm are not of God.

Although you seem convinced of God's will to heal you in this case, you are setting yourself up for failure in the future.  If you think that you have to pray for a revelation from God concerning his will to heal every individual disease, you will always be questioning the will of God in your heart.  You will become double-minded and unable to receive from God.  Worse yet, you may not have time to pray about God's will in the matter when you need healing someday.

You need to settle in your heart that it is always God's will to heal you.  You never have to pray and ask him for his opinion on your latest illness, because you already have his Word that says that you were healed by Jesus' stripes.  Read through the Bible promises and statements about healing in this book until you are convinced that it is always God's will to heal you all the time.  Then you will realize that you have been wasting your time praying for a revelation of God's will in your particular case, because God has settled the matter once and for all.

I would hazard to say that if you are basing your belief on what you think you heard in prayer, your faith for healing may not be sufficient.  The devil will always be able to argue with you about whether or not you really heard from God.  There's a better way!  The devil cannot argue with what is written in the Bible!  You need to be able to say, "It is written!" and quote Scripture when the devil tries to get you into unbelief.  "Well, God told me so" won't cut it in the long run.

Return to Welcome Screen


It is not enough to "just sense" something
It is not enough to "just sense" something.  You are dealing with the emotional realm where the devil is able to move.  Your emotions are not a reliable guide to the things of God.  You are not at a place where you will be able to stand in faith for your healing.

You need to study the Bible on healing.  This book will help you.  If you don't know what the Bible says, you will be tossed to and fro on the subject.  You can't be moved by feelings or even "sensings" on the inside when it comes to a matter that Jesus Christ has already settled.

Of course, God will lead you in line with his Word, and he may well be speaking to your heart about your healing.  He will often do this for younger Christians who have not yet had time to study the Bible much.  However, you need to get on a more solid foundation (God's Word) if you want to walk in steadfast faith.  Read what the Bible says about healing.  (You can start with the Scriptures presented in this book.)

Return to Welcome Screen


You are not good enough
You are not good enough.  No one is good enough to deserve healing on his merits apart from Jesus Christ.

Your good works are not a basis for receiving anything from God.  If you were to be judged on your works, sin would be found in your life, and you would be found to have fallen short of the glory of God.  You would not qualify for healing or any other blessing.

You need to understand your righteousness in Christ.  Jesus' perfect righteousness was imputed to you when you were born again.  You are "good enough" because you are in Christ.  You are "good enough" because of his works, not because of your works.

I suggest that you read the discussion, You are holy and worthy to receive healing to get a better understanding of your righteousness.  Then click below to answer the previous question again.  (Your answer should have changed!)

Return to previous question


You have the wrong basis for expecting healing
You have the wrong basis for expecting healing.  Healing is a gift offered to you by Jesus Christ.  He took your sicknesses and your pains on the cross so that you would not have to be sick.  Jesus already did this for you and settled the matter forever before you had ever done a single thing in God's service.

Healing is not a reward for faithful service.  It is a gift.  If you approach healing on your current basis, you will get angry, because you will see people who have served God much less than you have receive their healings by faith while you stay sick.  Receiving healing is based on faith, not works, even works of service to God.  Just because you have done a lot for God, even in the ministry, you have no more right to healing than anyone else.  You are not exempt from the requirement to believe and receive by faith.  Faith is the means by which everyone, even a healing minister, has to receive his healing.

Spend time reading the Word so that faith will come.  Then you can receive your healing the correct way.  (The main advantage of receiving by faith is that it works, whereas what you are doing now does not work.)

Return to Welcome Screen


God's promises give the only reliable information
Good.  The promises of God in Scripture are the ONLY reliable source of information on this subject.  Until you are convinced for yourself from Scripture that God wants you well, you will not be able to stand against sickness successfully.

You believe that God wants you to be healed.  At the moment, though, you are sick.  Which of the following statements do you believe applies in your case?

God is going to heal me.

I know God wants me healed, but I just don't seem to be able to "get it."

I prayed and believed that I received it; it just hasn't manifested yet.

I know I should receive healing by prayer, but have not done so yet.

I am a miserable failure at receiving healing from God.


I prayed and believed that I received...
You are in a good and scriptural spot right now.  I would advise you to read the discussion below to make sure you are really in faith and not just mental assent or resignation:

How to tell if you're in faith or not

Once you know you are in faith, read:

I prayed in faith -- now what?

You are taking the same road that has led to miraculous healing for countless believers around the world.  Don't let the devil or anyone else talk you out of your healing!  If you still have questions about taking medicine, what to tell others in your current condition, or anything else, refer to the Questions section for answers.

Questions


I know I should receive healing by prayer...
NOW is the day of salvation, which includes healing for your body.  You can receive right now.  God is not making you wait.  God is waiting for you to act on his Word so that he can make it good in your life.

I knew how to be born again before I was born again.  I was alone in my dormitory room at college when I gave my life to Jesus Christ.  But I still would have gone to hell even though I knew how to be born again if I had died before I received Christ.

Why wait?  The only reason to wait would be that your faith is insufficient to stand for your healing.  If that is the case, take the time to read the Scriptures and discussions in this book until faith comes.  Then you can pray and receive your healing!

Return to Welcome Screen


I am a miserable failure at receiving healing from God
Stop condemning yourself.  I used to do that, and I can attest that it does not get you healed!  Instead of just being sick, you will sick and miserable if you keep thinking such thoughts.  Please read the discussions below:

YOU can be healed

Don't do this


Are you born again?

Yes

No

I am a good Catholic

I am not sure

What does born again mean?


I am not born again
Being born again is essential.  Jesus said that unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.  John said that to as many as received Jesus Christ, he gave power to become the sons of God.  You are not God's child until you receive Jesus Christ!  A born-again person in rotten health is in a better position than a sinner in perfect health.  The born-again man knows that he will have eternal perfect health in heaven, while the sinner can only look forward to bodily, conscious torment in hell for eternity.  Of course, this book's purpose is to show you how you can be born again and in health!  But to get to this position, you first have to be born again!

This matter is far more important than your physical healing.  Please read the discussion cited below immediately.  Your eternal future is hanging in the balance.  You must receive Jesus Christ!  Good works, church membership, giving, baptism, attending church, and prayer are all good but none of them can save you from an eternity in hell with unforgiven sins.  Only Jesus Christ can wash you clean and get you into heaven!

How to be saved from your sins


I am a good Catholic
You can be Catholic and be born again (I have some friends in this category), but you can be Catholic and not be born again.  Actually, the same can be said for people of any denomination.  Just because you practice Catholic rituals or attend mass does not mean you are born again.  Sadly, it is possible to attend mass daily and still go to hell when you die.  What a waste of your time on earth and what an eternal tragedy!

Being born again is a matter of the heart, not a matter of saying the Rosary or attending mass.  Better Catholic churches make this clear.  Crummier ones let you go through the motions, take your money, and never warn you that salvation is a gift instead of a reward for good works.

I cannot tell if you are born again based on whether or not you are Catholic.  I will have to ask you a couple of questions.  One thing is for sure.  If you are not born again, you can be!

Continue


I am not sure
Do you believe that God literally raised Jesus Christ from the dead?

Yes

No


I believe that God literally raised Jesus Christ from the dead
Since you believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, you must believe that he is still alive today.

Is Jesus Christ the Lord of your life?  In other words, have you turned control of your life over to him rather than considering yourself free to live any way you choose?  I am not talking about choosing to live by good principles that he taught.  I am talking about consciously asking the risen Jesus Christ to rule over your life.  This does not happen by accident or without your knowledge or consent.  Have you ever done this?

Yes

No


Jesus Christ is my Lord
If you have really done this, you are born again.  Romans 10:10 says that if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth and believe that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved.

To be really sure, you may want to read the discussion below.

How to be saved from your sins


Jesus Christ is not my Lord
You are NOT born again.  You may be doing fine Christian works and attending church faithfully, and you may even be a minister.  But if you have never actually given your life to Jesus Christ, you are not a real Christian and you are not saved.  You would not go to heaven if you were to die this instant.

You can change that right now.  Give Jesus Christ your life.  Tell him that you want him to rule your life and ask him to live inside you and make you a new person.  Once you do this, you will be born again, and you will go to heaven when you die.  Salvation is a gift and it is easy to receive.  It is not based on good works!

For more information about being born again, read the discussion below:

How to be saved from your sins


I do not believe that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead
You are NOT born again.  You must believe that God raised Jesus from the dead to be saved.  Therefore, you are not saved.  You are still on your way to hell...but you can change that right now!

Jesus rose from the dead and is changing the lives of believers around the world.  He is also healing sick bodies all over the world.  Millions of people can testify that he is not in the grave anymore.  They know this because of the changes he has made in their lives.  Perhaps you have met such people.  If you haven't, you just met me -- I am such a person!  What I have, you can have.

Please read the discussion below to find out how you can be born again today!

How to be saved from your sins


What does born again mean?
Being born again means having God create a new spirit in you.  You keep the same body and soul, but your spirit is literally made new.  You become a new person on the inside, with a nature that seeks to please God instead of seeking sinful pleasures.  You will still have your flesh (body) to deal with, but your new spirit enables you to resist sin instead of being enslaved by it.

Please read the discussion below.  Becoming born again is the most important step you can possibly make in your entire life.  It is literally the difference between heaven and hell.  Please consider the discussion carefully; your eternal destiny depends on it.

How to be saved from your sins


Can you SEE the risen Christ?
Can you actually SEE the risen Christ with your physical eyes right now?

Yes

No


If the Lord Jesus is appearing to you right now...
If the Lord Jesus is appearing to you right now in person, I suggest that you leave your PC and talk to him.  I will still be here later.  (Of course, I highly suspect that you picked this answer just to see what I would say, and that you do not really see Jesus at the moment.  That's okay; if you were simply curious, I don't believe that you will fall dead over your keyboard for lying.)

Please wait until you and Jesus are done, and then click below:

Continue


How do you believe that you're going to heaven?
You do not see Jesus, yet you believe that someone that you cannot see is in control of your life and has guaranteed you a place in heaven when you die.  How can you believe all of that if you don't actually see him right now?

I accept it by faith.

That's a good point.  I don't really believe that he is alive.


You believe what you can't see.  So which is true...?
You have just told me that you can believe something that you cannot see as far as your eternal destiny is concerned.  You say that you have faith, and you are correct.  The only way you can believe in Jesus Christ and be saved is by faith.  Therefore, which of the following statements is true?

I have faith.  I can receive things from God without seeing them first.

I have faith for salvation but I guess I don't have faith for healing yet.

I am incapable of believing God for anything, including healing.


I have faith.
YES!  You CAN receive things from God without seeing them first.  Therefore, YOU can receive healing from God without having to feel differently first.  You have already operated in faith before.  Now you can do it again for your healing.  You are a believer -- it is your nature to believe God's promises and appropriate them for yourself.

Faith comes by hearing God's Word.  Feed on God's Word concerning healing, and faith to receive healing will arise in your heart.

Return to Welcome Screen


Sorry -- you're wrong.  You CAN believe God.
Sorry -- you're wrong.  If you are born again, you CAN believe God for things.  You are a believe-er and it is natural for you to trust God now.  Your flesh doesn't like this but your born-again spirit knows this.

Return to previous question


You are in hope, not faith
Thank God for hope.  You are walking in the hope that God will heal you.

Hope has to do with the future, and you believe that at some point in the

future, God will heal you.

However, it requires FAITH to actually receive your healing, and faith can

only operate in one time frame -- NOW.

Although it is popular to say that you are standing in faith that God will heal you, that is actually untrue.  I do not say this to be mean, but rather to help you see something.  Jesus said that you should believe you receive the things you desire WHEN YOU PRAY, not later.  (Mark 11:24)  You cannot believe you receive later.

The discussions below will help you understand the difference between hope and faith.

What faith is

What faith isn't


You do not have to live with it
You do not have to live with it.  It is God's will for you to live without it.

You need to study the Scriptures about your redemption.  If you have been taught that healing is not part of your current redemption and is only available later, you should start by reading the following:

Isaiah's prophecy of redemption

Objection:  Jesus redeemed us from disease, but the fulfillment of that won't come until we get glorified bodies

Objection:  Our bodies are not yet redeemed, so we are still subject to sickness

Objection:  If we are subject to death, we are subject to sickness

Then click below:

Return to previous question


God will heal your sickness even if it is your own fault
I have good news for you.  God will heal your sickness even if it is your fault.  Of course, if you are sinning, you need to repent of the sin before you ask to receive your healing.

Proof of this is found in Psalm 107:17-20.  If you are one of the fools described here, you should repent of your foolishness and believe that God has sent his Word to heal you.

For further discussion of this, see Can I receive healing for a problem that I brought on myself?

Return to Welcome Screen


Sickness can be judgment on those who are not right with God
There is Scriptural precedent for sickness to be a judgment on someone who is not right with God.  If you are right with God, this does not apply to you.  Read these discussions and see if you are doing anything that would merit sickness as a judgment:

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament

Sickness as chastening and judgment in the Old Testament

Are you involved in any of the things in these discussions, so that you deserve to be sick as a judgment from God?

Yes.

No.

I'm not sure.


You need to repent or exit this program
On the same cross, Jesus purchased pardon for your sin as well as healing for the sickness that you brought on because of sin.  You need to repent.  If you are unwilling to repent, you might as well stop using this program right now.  You are just going to stay sick.  If you persist, you can end up weak or dead, as presented in one of the discussions you just read.

On the other hand, if you repent and stop doing the things that bring judgment, you have every right to declare yourself clean by the blood of Jesus.  If you confess your sins, God is faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  You then become just as righteous as if you had never sinned in the first place.  Then you have every bit as much right to healing as someone who has never done what you did!

After you have repented, click below to continue our conversation.  (Your answer to the previous question should have changed.)

Continue


You do not deserve judgment
Since you are not doing something drastic that the Bible cites as grounds to be made sick as judgment, you now know that you are NOT being judged by God for sin.

Return to previous question


Why aren't you sure?

I just don't know if I am sinning in one of those ways or not

I didn't read those discussions that you told me to read


If you're born again, you know if you're sinning
If you are born again, your spirit convicts you if you are in sin.  If God has not brought any particular sin to your attention, don't go on a witch-hunt looking for one.  You can safely assume that you are not being judged for a particular sin if you don't even know what the sin might be.  Your sickness is just a work of the devil that God wants to remove from your body.

Click below to return to an earlier question so that you can change your answer.

Return to earlier question


Quit playing games
I'm trying to help you, but if you are just going to play games or be lazy, I can't do anything for you.  Please click below to return to the earlier screen and read the discussions this time!

Return to earlier screen


You are not completing the sufferings of Christ
No, you are not completing the sufferings of Christ on the earth by being sick.  Christ already suffered all sickness for everyone.  You cannot add to Christ's atonement for sickness.  On the other hand, you will suffer persecution if you try to live a godly life.

For proof that you are not completing Christ's sufferings on the earth, read Objection:  We need to fulfill what is left of Christ's sufferings in the earth (Col 1:24)

Then click below:

Return to previous question


Build your faith by hearing God's Word
Build your faith by hearing God's Word!

Think for a minute:  How did you receive your pardon from hell and judgment?

Someone told you that salvation was available to you as a gift.  You heard what God had to say about that topic and you believed that.

Since you have already done this in that area of your life, you are certainly capable of doing it in another -- the area of healing.  The process is the same.

First, you must hear what God has to say about the topic.  Faith comes when you hear what God's Word has to say about a matter.  You can't act on a promise you don't know!  You will just be "trying to believe," which doesn't work.

If you want faith in the area of healing, you must spend some time reflecting on the scriptures about healing.  You will receive strong faith in any area that you study diligently.

After you do this for a while, you will find that faith comes automatically.  You do not have to struggle to get faith.  All you need to do is meditate (think over and mutter to yourself) the Bible promises about healing.  You are planting the seed of God's Word in your heart, and it will produce a harvest.  You may even surprise yourself when suddenly God's Word starts pouring out of your heart and mouth in response to your symptoms or situation.

Return to Welcome Screen


Questions about divine healing

Why can't I get healed?

What do I do if I don't see any improvement after praying?

I thought I was healed.  Why did the symptoms just start to return?

Is it a sin to go to the doctor or take medicine?

Should I throw away my medicine because I believe I am healed?

If God wants people healed, why doesn't he heal them?

Can I believe and receive a healing for someone else?

Can I believe God for a partial healing?

How can I speed up the manifestation of my healing after I believe I receive it?

"They shall recover" -- How long should it take?

Do I have to wait for a healing service to receive a healing?

Can I "stand in proxy" for someone else in a healing line?

Can I lay hands on myself for my own healing?

Are we redeemed from mental as well as physical illness?

Would God heal an unbeliever?

Can we believe for a dead person to be raised?

How many years should we expect to live?

If you are sick, does that mean there is sin in your life?

Is there a difference between having a disease and "just having the symptoms" of it?

Why are so few people healed of the common cold and the flu?

Can I receive healing for a problem that I brought on myself?

If God is really no respector of persons, why do only some get healed by the gifts of the Spirit in services?

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?

I believe that I have received my healing but I do not feel any better.  Should I go do some strenuous activity that I had planned?

I'm aching all over because I overexerted myself while out of shape.  Can I claim healing?

I'm sick because I'm fat!  Can I claim healing?

How long does it take to build faith for healing that works?

Why do people fall over when they are prayed for?

Should I expect to fall over or resist falling over when I am prayed for?

If I fall over, should I try to get up as soon as possible?

Is it right to get in a second healing line for the same condition?

I believe I received my healing when I prayed, but my body doesn't act like it.  They called a healing line.  Should I get in it or not?

The minister called out a condition that almost fit me -- should I go up for prayer?

The minister called out my condition but someone else already went up for it.  Should I stay in my seat?

Should we have "catchers" in healing lines?

Why do some ministers allow only people with "healing cards" to get into a healing line?

What kind of music should be done during healing lines?

Must we lay hands on the specific afflicted body part?

How long should we keep our hands on someone when we lay hands on him?

I felt fine before I laid hands on a bunch of people at a service.  Why do I feel sick now?

Why did Paul tell Timothy not to lay hands suddenly on anyone?

Why was it easier for me to get healed when I was a baby Christian?

Is God really interested in taking away headaches and colds?

Can someone else's unbelief stop me from getting healed?

Can I command a scoffer to be healed as a sign to him?

What do you do if you're ministering and there are "brick-heads" who won't receive the anointing when you lay hands on them?

Should we anoint the sick with oil when we lay hands on them?

Can I "plant a seed" toward my healing by giving to a minister who sends a letter begging for cash?

What are the differences between the gift of faith, the gifts of healings, and the working of miracles?

Should we wait until we sense the anointing to lay hands on the sick?

Who can lay hands on the sick in Mark 16, apostles or all believers?

Can we pray and believe for the healing anointing to manifest?

What can you do for comatose or delirious people who cannot believe God for themselves?

How can we see more miracles today?

To what extent are prolific miracles limited to those called to the ministry?

Why are there more miracles on the mission field than at home?

What if someone doesn't want to be healed?

What if someone wants healing but doesn't want Jesus?

Can I get healed of injuries from accidents as well as diseases?

Do we need to know the specific condition before we can pray for healing?

What is "inner healing," and do I need it?

Should a Christian go to a healing shrine?

Is it scriptural to pray in agreement with a suffering person that he will die?

Are women redeemed from labor pains?

I have a cold.  Should I stay home from church?

I have an engagement to preach healing somewhere, but I'm really sick myself!  What should I do?

Can I get healed of alcoholism, drug addiction, lust and homosexuality?

Why does 1 Samuel 1 say twice that THE LORD had shut up Hannah's womb?

Why does Exodus 15:25-26 talk about God putting diseases on people?

Can I leave my sick child in the church nursery because "By Jesus' stripes he was healed?"

Since God says I am healed, can I assume that I do not need medical insurance?

I have a headache.  Therefore, I am sick.  Should I call for the elders of the church, as James 5 says?

Can Satan heal?

How can I know that it's God and not the devil doing the healing?

Is all sickness demonic?

How can you tell if a certain condition is demonic?

Must we fast and pray to make certain demons leave?

Should we ask demons their names before casting them out?

Will God heal my pets or livestock?

Do I have the authority to cast out computer viruses?


What kind of music should be done during healing lines?

There is no instruction on this subject in the Bible.  It is totally a matter of preference.  The best answer to this question is -- whatever music the person ministering likes!  (Find out in advance if you can.)  Some preachers like upbeat music, many like slow, worshipful music, some like singing while others like instrumental music, and some prefer no music at all!  Having played for healing lines for preachers in all of these categories (okay, excluding the last one if you want to get technical), I haven't noticed any correlation between the quality of the anointing and the type of music.  I don't think God cares, as long as people are reverent.  They can be running the aisles and still be reverent; they don't have to be quiet.  The one kind of music you don't want to do is something that encourages people to get out and do Greek line dances or something in the flesh.  (However, if the minister tells you that he has an unusual anointing whereby people are healed by the busload while doing Greek line dances, don't let this comment stop you from cooperating.)

Some of the old-timers insist that the songs from the good old-days just had more anointing on them, but you'll put the hip-hop crowd to sleep singing those old songs.  On the other hand, you may drive away the retirees if you do all rap music.  If you have any choice, try to gear your music to your audience.  (There is anointed rap music out there, although I suppose there wouldn't be any anointed gangsta rap.)

For additional advice for musicians who play in healing services, see Healing and music.


Why do some ministers allow only people with "healing cards"...?
Why do some ministers allow only people with "healing cards" to get into a healing line?

I understand that Jesus and his disciples did not use healing cards, but they did not use musical instruments, overhead projectors or tax receipts either as far as we know, or these are okay.  For that matter, in the Bible there are no "altar calls" as we know them where people shut their eyes and sneak one hand in the air while no one is looking around (except the ones who are looking around), yet millions have been saved under such circumstances.  I would put healing cards in the same category.  They are a human device designed to make things flow better.  Before you get upset that you are kept out of a prayer line, you should understand the many good reasons that some ministers use healing cards.

Healing cards restrict access to serious people.  If you won't take the time to fill out a healing card, you aren't serious about your healing in the first place.  That, or you just have a bad attitude toward authority in a service and you wouldn't be in a good position to receive anyway.

This is a good way to keep out people who say, "I'd like to be healed and not have to wear glasses!" who are just seeking a thrill or an excuse to get around the anointing.  (I'm not mocking you if you want to be healed of eye trouble.  I was healed of an untreatable eye problem myself.  If you're serious, fine.  Not wearing glasses just happens to be one of those things that some flaky people get in healing lines for.  Don't do it unless you really mean business.)

The thrill-seekers and the frivolous are not usually the first ones in a prayer line.  The folks who aren't serious get in line after half the line is done.  They want in on the action at the last minute.  Let me tell you, if you have to think five minutes about getting in the prayer line, you should do the minister a favor and keep out!  Let the folks who are definite about what they want from God receive ministry.  You can't say that you came expecting anything if you hemmed and hawed through several choruses before figuring out if you wanted to get healed or not.

Because healing cards are generally given out in advance, they require you to come to the service expecting something specific.  The people who come expecting are usually the ones who receive.  Those for whom healing is an afterthought generally don't get anything.

In some crusades, you are not allowed to get in a healing line until you have been certified as being in attendance at one or more teaching sessions on the subject of healing.  This ensures that only those who come to "hear and be healed" (as they did in the Bible) will get in line.  The ones who bop from healing meeting to healing meeting hoping and praying (but not really listening to the messages) will be excluded, which is good because they waste everyone's time getting prayed for.  If you're unwilling to be instructed on healing before prayer, you have no business going up for prayer.  The chances would be good that you would fail to understand how to receive your healing when prayer is made for you, and you would not get anything when hands are laid on you.  You will then complain that the minister has no anointing or some similar nonsense -- while dozens around you get healed.

Healing cards also enable the crusade staff to be good stewards of the anointing that is on the person (or persons) laying hands on the sick.  The staff can weed out certain kinds of people who will just put a drain on the minister and his anointing.  By requiring people to be specific, they will save the minister the trouble of dealing with people whose healing request is, "I just need healing in general for everything, I think."  (This is a common "request.")  They may also be able to stop the types who say, "Well, I also want prayer for my back, and for my left foot, and for my right eye, and my stomach..." but are not in faith for any of these parts to be healed when they come up.  The more specific you can be, the better it is for the minister, because he can pray in agreement with you when you're specific.  The staff can sometimes help those who otherwise would not be in faith so that the minister does not have to spend service time trying to help them.  The staff may also be able to screen out the flaky types who really want to preach or prophesy when they get near the microphone or in front of people.  See How NOT to testify about your healing.  (Good rule of thumb for preachers:  Always keep your hand on the microphone when someone wants to testify!)

Finally, healing cards provide a means to check up on people after the crusade.  The minister can find out how many people kept their healing and how many lost it or never received it.  Don't seek this information unless you are humble and have a cast-iron stomach, because most people do not get healed in healing crusades, and most of those who do don't keep their healing.  I am certainly not against crusade-style healing meetings, but we must be realists about the fact that some people will not have enough time during the crusade to learn the Word to establish a foundation for receiving and maintaining their healing.  Thank God for the ones who do get healed, and we'll keep on working to find better ways of instructing and ministering to the sick!

I am neither advocating nor discouraging the use of healing cards; that's a matter of personal preference for the minister.  I'm just stating some good reasons why some ministers use them.


I felt fine before I laid hands...Why do I feel sick now?
I felt fine before I laid hands on a bunch of people at a service.  Why do I feel sick now?

The anointing is just as real as electricity, and like electricity, it affects physical bodies.  It is quite possible to feel almost sick yourself after ministering to the sick under the anointing.  It is not as much a matter of being actually sick as it is of being "drained" because of the power that was flowing through you.  Sometimes this doesn't hit you until a little while after you have left the service.  You can go quite suddenly from feeling ready to conquer the world to just wanting to zonk without eating or doing anything else.

I have no ready explanation for why this happens some of the time but not all the time.  You could just as easily feel "wired" after ministering and be so revved-up about the things of God that it seems like you couldn't sleep if you wanted to.  Be careful in cases like that if you have a busy schedule -- don't try to just run on the anointing!  If you don't take care of your body and make yourself get some rest, even when you're all pumped up like that, it will catch up with you.  Your body has ways of getting the message across that it has been overloaded, and you will experience some of those ways if you're not careful!

It is scriptural to feel physically drained after an encounter with the presence of God.  See the answer to the question, Why do people fall over when they are prayed for? for some examples.  Note particularly Daniel's experience.  God does not make people sick, but his presence can be so overwhelming to the physical body that it can become weak and seem sick.  This did not happen every time in the Bible, so there is no reason to think that it should happen every time now, either.

Of course, it's possible to feel sick because of an outright attack of Satan after a service, but this would be the exception, not the rule.


I'm going to preach healing, but I'm sick...What should I do?
I have an engagement to preach healing, but I'm really sick myself!  What should I do?

The devil would love to conjure up visions of you standing before a congregation, sick as a dog, seemingly a walking advertisement against the very message you're preaching.  Then he would love to have you think that you're going to make people sick by laying hands on them instead of getting them healed!  I've been in this predicament.

This is another matter that ends up being between you and God.  Remember, the fact that you preach healing to others gives you no advantage when it comes to believing for your own healing.  You have to practice what you preach!

I know of two people who came to preach at my church and threw up shortly before preaching!  (One had to stop the car on the way over; one had to make a dash for the bathroom.)  They preached anyway and you would never have known from their ministry that anything had been wrong.  Thank God for the anointing!

Let me tell you what I would do.  If the condition were anything that didn't require an immediate visit to the emergency room, I would do anything to drag myself to the service.  Chances are, once you get there, the anointing will hit you and you'll be able to preach and lay hands on the sick and feel great.  You may not feel good after you leave, but you'll probably feel good during the service!

I was going to a church to preach on healing and a couple of hours before the service, I was so sick that it took me several minutes just to drag myself out of bed.  I had believed that I had received my healing, but my condition was getting worse.  I could hardly walk or talk.  I had a fever, a brutal headache, a cough, and a messed-up voice.  I felt rotten all over.  I knew I had a decision to make.  If I called and said that I couldn't take the service, I know they would have understood.  (The devil would love to make you think that the pastor would never want you back to preach healing if you cancel due to sickness, but most pastors are more mature than that.)

I'm not going to preach my convictions as doctrine, but let me explain what I did and why.  I took some generic medicine for these kinds of things but still did not feel much better.  I forced myself to go to that service, knowing that I'd never be able to preach in the condition that I was in.  I walked in sucking on a cough drop and trying to hold back coughs and sniffles.  After some mercifully short preliminaries, I got up to the pulpit and sure enough, the anointing hit me!  I was able to preach a full message, sing, and lay hands on the sick, and a tangible anointing to pray for the sick was present.  Thank God, it got on me, too.  I doubt that anyone there would have suspected what I had gone through to get there, and I didn't tell anyone.  By the way, I felt lousy after the service was over, but not nearly as badly as before the service.

One reason I did this was that I am determined to preach healing.  I was not about to allow Satan, the author of disease, to stop me.  The intensity of the symptoms, if anything, suggested that there was something supernatural going on in the bad sense -- the devil did not want me to preach that service.  I don't believe that you can interpret every contagious illness you might catch as a personal attack to stop you, but there are certainly times that the devil will really lean on you to try to discourage you from preaching.

I also remembered some past experiences.  I was playing the piano with a 103-degree fever one time, and the anointing came on me and God really used the music to minister to people that evening.  I was in a similar condition leading worship at another church and saw the power of God move through me in a way I rarely experienced when I was well!  I was getting sicker and sicker one afternoon due to food poisoning, and I was supposed to play the piano for another preacher who was frequently used in gifts of healings.  About five minutes before the service started, I was in the men's room having things rapidly come out both ends.  I had believed that I had received my healing, but my flesh was telling me I would be at the piano and get the runs or throw up in front of everyone and embarrass the other preacher.  I played anyway and had no trouble either during the service or afterward.  I believed that once I stepped into the anointing, I would be all right, and I was.

You can preach healing when you're sick because it isn't you doing the healing anyway!  That really becomes obvious to you when you're in a condition like this.  You know full well that it's the Word and the gifts of the Spirit in operation and not your personal wonderfulness.  God's Word works anyway; it's not limited by your current physical condition!

You aren't sick anyway; your body is sick.  That is an important distinction to remember, because the things of God flow from your spirit, not from your flesh.  Since your spirit isn't sick, why should anything work any less effectively?  The rivers of living water Jesus spoke of come from your belly, meaning your inner being or spirit, through the Holy Spirit.  It has nothing to do with your body.

Paul admitted to the Galatians that he was not in good condition when he first preached there (after being stoned at Lystra, which is part of Galatia).  Paul did not allow his physical infirmities to stop him from preaching; he preached while he was obviously hurting!  I figured that if it didn't stop Paul, it shouldn't stop me, either.  I wouldn't want to compare "tough situation" stories with the apostle Paul!

I'm not giving you a pat answer on this question because it really depends on where you stand in your faith walk and how you like to do things.  You'll have to make your own decision.  I just want to encourage you with the fact that you can get to the service, have the anointing hit you, and have no trouble at all preaching.  Of course, this is easier if you are preaching at a church or meeting that is boldly in favor of divine healing, as this place was.  They were used to seeing the sick healed and there was a lot of faith as well as a strong pull on the anointing.  I suppose that I might think twice if I were going to preach healing in a "dead" place and felt that badly.

God can still use you to preach healing and lay hands on the sick even when you feel like everyone else should be laying hands on you!

Finally, I want to cover a separate moral issue associated with this.  If you have a contagious disease, is it wrong to have a ministry line and lay hands on people?  If there could be live germs on you, are you to be blamed for possibly allowing your healing service to become a sickening service?

Here's my answer.  Think about it in natural terms.  Suppose that you are healthy when you call a healing line.  After you lay hands on the first person, there is a risk that there are live germs present on you!  Even if you did not walk in with a disease, the sick people who want prayer definitely walked in with diseases!  So there is the possibility that a disease could be transmitted from any person with a contagious disease to any other person through you.  There is also the possibility that the people in the line could give each other their colds.

Don't be in bondage about this.  If you just look at things in natural terms, no one will get healed anyway and a healing line is a waste of time.  A healing line is supernatural.  It transcends natural laws.  Jesus did not go out and spray himself with disinfectant after praying for every person.  He definitely prayed for people with contagious diseases, since leprosy is contagious and is mentioned specifically.  Because the anointing was on him to destroy disease, people did not get each other's diseases -- they got healed!  Don't miss God by looking at this from a purely natural viewpoint.  Jesus didn't say, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and the sick will get whatever illness they have."  Nor did he say, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and spread the sicknesses of the sick around."  He said, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover!"


I have a cold.  Should I stay home from church?

Just about anyone who attends a decent church has probably had this conversation with himself:

"I have a cold.  Should I stay home from church?"

"Sure.  Other people stay home when they have colds.  Why shouldn't you?"

"Church is the place to go when you're sick, because the anointing is there.  Also, people there can pray with you in faith."

"Yes, but you really don't feel up to going to church.  You feel awful.  You don't want to be rude to the pastor.  You might nod off during his message, and that would embarrass you and annoy him."

"No, people at church love me.  They have compassion on the sick because they know that their Lord has compassion on the sick.  They wouldn't mind if I sat in the back and brought my Kleenex.  Even if I did doze off, they would respect me for making the effort to show up at all."

"Yeah, see how much they love you after they get what you have.  You know, I'm almost sure that you got this thing from Sister Van Grippe at the Wednesday night Bible study.  Now you're just like she was.  You don't want everyone else to get this stupid thing.  You should stay home."

"Yes, but God's Word is health to all my flesh.  I should be around the Word."

"You can read your Bible at home.  You even have a computer program that will show you 'Healing Scriptures.'"

"Yes, but God says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together in one place."

"True, but if you pass out in the car on the way over, you'll never make it to that place."

"But I know that I always feel better when I'm around the anointing.  I'd be glad I went."

"Maybe you would be glad you went, but the people sitting within a ten-seat radius of you would not be so glad.  They would not appreciate hearing you punctuate the pastor's message every ten seconds with coughs, sniffles and sneezes."

"That's why they make cold medicine, silly.  Just take a gulp of Shotgun Panacea, that new long-lasting liquid they advertise on television.  It unclogs your stuffy head, dries your runny nose, stops your coughs, numbs your headache, lowers your fever, strengthens your body and cures nausea, diarrhea and dizziness, all in one non-narcotic gulp.  If I can figure out how to remove the child-proof cap, I can take one hit of that and no one will know I'm sick."

"Yes, but you know full well that cold medicine doesn't heal you.  You'll still have your cold, and you can still pass the thing around."

"Okay, but they won't know where they got it from!  Maybe they'll just assume that they got it from Sister Van Grippe, too!"

"Yes, but you'll know.  How will you stand yourself next week with that on your conscience?"

"It won't be on my conscience.  Those people all have a right to believe God for their health.  We do believe in healing, remember?  If they come down with this, it's not my fault."

"You believe in healing, too, and you're having a struggle with this.  Why give other people the same challenge?"

"I'll try not to spread it around.  I won't hold hands with anyone when we pray.  I won't shake hands with the ushers or hug the greeters.  I'll sit in the very back as far away as possible from everyone else.  If I have to lie on the floor, I'll do it.  I'll do whatever it takes to be around the anointing."

"That's not wise.  You're pushing yourself when you're already weak.  Straining your body by dragging it to church will only make you worse.  Your body is telling you that it needs rest."

"Yeah, but last time I stayed home, they had a healing line.  Don and Theresa had the same thing I had, and they got healed because they showed up at church.  I stayed home and stayed sick.  That was a real bummer."

"Look, skip all the talk about the anointing.  You're obviously not in faith anyway, so if you aren't healed now, what makes you think you'll get healed there, even if they have a healing line?"

"It's just easier to receive something by faith when you're around a lot of people who are worshipping God.  A corporate anointing is there.  Maybe that's the very thing I need."

"What you need is about 12 more hours of sleep so that you can get rid of this thing.  Don't you know that doctors tell you to get lots of rest when you're sick?"

"But faith without works is dead.  Healthy people go to church.  If I really believe I'm healed, I should act healed and go to church."

"You've been believing you're healed for the last 48 hours, so what makes you think you're suddenly going to feel better just because you get out of your pajamas and drive to church?"

So, who's right?  At least when you argue with yourself, you know that you are right!  The problem is figuring out which part of you is right!

Let me start by saying that you shouldn't get in bondage about this.  God is not going to blot your name out of the Lamb's Book of Life and deny you before the holy angels just because you stay home and rest when you have a cold.  Nor will Jesus add unto you all the plagues in the book of Revelation if you go to church and someone else gets your cold.

I don't have a clear-cut "thus saith the Lord" answer for you from Scripture.  Really, either option is valid, but there are reasons for choosing one over the other.  The answer to this question depends on where you are in faith.

If you have resigned yourself to having the cold, there is no point in kidding yourself that you are in faith and that you just need to go to church to receive your healing.  You may be better off just resting your body.  You know in your heart if you're really in faith.  If you're not sure, read How to tell if you're in faith or not and find out.

In fact, if part of your problem is that you have overworked yourself, even in the ministry, you need to start respecting natural laws and get some rest.  Now would be a good time to start.

Don't stay home because of any little ache or pain, though.  A good rule would be that if doesn't keep you out of work, it shouldn't keep you out of church.

On the other hand, if you are determined to receive your healing and stay in faith, I would do whatever it takes to get to church.  I believe I have a Biblical basis for this statement.  Almost everyone who received a healing from Jesus had to go where he was to receive healing from him.  I understand that he lives in you now if you're born again, but I'm talking about receiving from the anointing through the gifts of the Spirit.  At home, you can receive by faith, but you can't pull on someone else's anointing.

Consider the struggle that the paralyzed man and his friends went through to get to Jesus.  There was no room in the house, so they lowered him through the roof.  That was extreme faith!  Consider the blind men who had to do whatever they could to get to where Jesus was.  Consider the multitudes of seriously ill people who were brought to Jesus.  They went where the anointing was to receive from the anointing.  That is the general rule in the Bible.

If you want to receive healing by faith or you believe that you have already done so, go to church.  If you have to tank up on medicine and crunch breath mints in your mouth all service to keep your head clear, do it.  Be around the Word, the anointing, and like-minded believers.  James told us to pray one for another so that we could be healed.  If you just have a cold, you don't qualify for a visit from the elders.  To apply the more general command in James, you have to request prayer.  People do not automatically know that you need it, although I suppose that if you wheeze and sneeze all service, someone will figure it out.

Don't be too proud to ask for prayer.  It's consistent with James' command to pray for one another to be healed.  All of us have times when we are "down" and need the support of the Body.  Being around people of faith encourages you in your own faith.  They can agree with you for your healing.  As mentioned elsewhere, even if you're already in faith, you can have people agree with you that you are healed.

What about the moral issue of staying home so that you don't give someone else your cold?  I hope it is safe to assume that you would not deliberately share your cold.  We know that people with contagious diseases were brought to Jesus.  Leprosy was known to be contagious since at least the time of Moses.  There were laws about keeping lepers separate from everyone else.  There is no place in Scripture where the apostles or Jesus rebuked people for coming because their condition was contagious.  If Jesus didn't rebuke people with contagious diseases who wanted healing then, you can be assured that he would not do so today, because he hasn't changed.  You are welcome in any service as far as Jesus is concerned.

Especially if you go to a healing service, there will be people with contagious conditions there.  That's part of life, both at work and at church.  If you would go to work in your present condition, you should go to church.  If you have a contagious condition, I believe that most pastors would prefer that you attend church and hear the Word.  People may not trip over each other trying to get near you, but most people have been in that position and can empathize with you.  Do what you can to avoid giving the cold to others, but not to the extreme where you draw attention to yourself.  For example, I suppose you could wear a surgical mask over your face to keep the germs in.  To be even more extreme, you could wear riot gear or a chemical suit with a hood that makes you look like an astronaut.  These options would probably be effective in preventing the spread of your illness, but they would also call undue attention to you and look silly.  People report for work with colds and don't resort to such measures.  If your measure would be mocked at work, don't do it at church.

Perhaps you should not be the first to volunteer to lay hands on others when you have a cold yourself, but you should know that you still have the right to do it.  Most healing ministers can tell you stories about how awful they felt at a particular service where God still healed people through the laying on of their hands.  The question about ministering healing while you're sick yourself is covered elsewhere.

I understand that having a cold is an awkward condition because of the possibility that it could spread to others.  Jesus understands that, too, and he is full of mercy and compassion toward you.  He wants you to be healed of that cold, and his healing provision covers colds and other nuisance diseases.  The more you feed on Scriptures about healing, the more you will be equipped to stand in faith against such pesky common illnesses.

Please understand that this topic is about having a cold.  It is not about being in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital.  I am not saying that you should rip out all your life-support tubes and run to church if you are in such a condition.  More serious conditions dictate a visit from the elders to pray the prayer of faith for you.


I believe that I received...should I go do some strenuous...?
I believe that I have received my healing but I do not feel any better.  Should I go do some strenuous activity that I had planned?

That's between you and God.  There are certainly cases where people have believed that they were healed and not felt any better, but went ahead and climbed a mountain or worked a very physical job, and the healing manifested as they did so.  On the other hand, I would not advise this as a general practice because there are too many people who say they believe they have received but are not really in faith, and it could be dangerous for them to push themselves hard when their bodies are weak.  It is not unbelief to go easy on yourself until the symptoms leave.

Please remember that engaging in the activity itself does not obligate God to heal you.  This is similar to the question about throwing away your medicine.  You receive healing by believing God.  Whether or not the healing occurs in your body will be based solely on whether or not you're believing God, not based on what activities you force yourself to do.


I'm sick because I'm fat!  Can I claim healing?

Actually, if you admit this, you are halfway to healing.  If you are willing to repent of overeating (gluttony), you open the door for physical healing.  If you are going to pig out anyway, you might as well throw your healing scriptures in a dumpster; you're just asking for trouble.  The same holds true for other sins such as drunkenness and fornication, which can also lead to disease.  The Bible plan is to repent and then "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon thee."

On a side note, if you're fat, you may need to ask yourself why you overeat, since many people overeat to compensate for emotional needs or even spiritual hunger.  Spend more time in the presence of God and in his Word and see if you don't start getting more control over your appetite.  When you're satisfied on the inside, you won't be looking to your refrigerator to experience satisfaction.  Fasting would be a good idea too; it is Biblical and it will help you keep your flesh under.

If you are fat because of a chemical problem in your body, you can believe for healing from that.  Otherwise, you'll just have to eat less and/or exercise more and put your flesh under like the rest of us.  To keep making yourself fat and claim healing for overweight-related problems is no different from smoking four packs a day while believing for healing from lung cancer or drinking a six-pack every other night while believing that God will heal your liver.  It just doesn't make sense.

See also:

I'm aching all over because I overexerted myself while out of shape.  Can I claim healing?


I'm aching all over because I overexerted...Can I claim healing?
I'm aching all over because I overexerted myself while out of shape.  Can I claim healing?

You are not sick.  You're sore because you violated natural laws by pushing your body too far.  Jesus did not bear your overexertion for you.  God gave you a mortal body and you are expected to use wisdom in how you take care of it.  If you sit on your couch all day and then suddenly decide to enter a marathon for the fun of it, you are going to hurt big time when you get done (if you even finish).  The devil did not put these hurts on you, nor did you get them through the "curse of the Law."

I don't want to minimize God's mercy; you can still ask God for mercy in such a situation.  However, that is what it is -- mercy!  Thank God, his mercies are new every morning, mercy follows you all the days of your life, and God crowns you with tender mercies.  His mercy endures forever.

However, you should realize that there is no Biblical case of someone overexerting himself and receiving an instant healing that made everything okay all of a sudden.  There IS a Biblical case of someone who overexerted himself and stayed sick for a while -- Epaphroditus!  See Philippians 2:25-30.  Fortunately, God in his mercy did heal Epaphroditus, and Paul called it mercy.  However, the just should live by faith, not by mercy.

Don't overwork yourself and claim healing scriptures while so doing, thinking that it will spare you any physical trouble.  It won't.  If you want to get three hours of sleep a night for a week, you will pay for it physically, healing scriptures or no healing scriptures.  It is no different from deliberately jumping off your roof , quoting healing scriptures all the way down.  Thank God, Jesus did not jump off the temple when the devil tempted him to "believe" Psalm 91 and do so.  Remember Jesus' answer -- you shall not tempt the Lord your God (by putting him to a foolish test).

On a more long-term note, fat people tend to have a lot more heart attacks, clogged arteries, bypass surgery, and so on.  Smokers tend to get more cancer.  Heavy drinkers have more liver trouble.  That's just how physical laws operate.  You cannot get fat and then claim healing from every problem (shortness of breath, lethargy, or whatever) that is a direct result of your gluttony.  What you need to do is lose weight!  It is amazing that people literally kill themselves in various ways, even while quoting healing scriptures!  This is like asking God to bail out your boat while you are busy drilling new holes in it.

As I say, I am for and not against doctors, and your doctor may be able to give you valuable advice on how you can lengthen your life through natural means.  God will preserve your life from things you can't control, which would include a large number of diseases, as you trust him to honor his Word.  However, he is not obligated to undo the consequences of your own deliberate unwise choices.  If you have been unwise, be sure to repent before asking God to heal you.

This would be a good time to read the related topic below.

See:

I'm sick because I'm fat!  Can I claim healing?


How long does it take to build faith for healing that works?

There is no direct answer to this question.  It differs by person.  The important things are:  (1) Keep building your faith by meditating on what the Scriptures say about healing until you get faith that works, no matter how long it takes, and (2) You can do it, just as many others have done!  Don't give up because you aren't a faith giant by the day after tomorrow!

How long it takes obviously has something to do with how diligently you work at getting the Scriptures about healing inside you.  It must get to the point where they become part of you and become real to you.  If you read a healing verse once every other week, you'll probably never build effective faith.  You are going to have to study and work at it!  If you are not willing to invest a considerable amount of time developing your faith in healing, just stay sick.  Faith is free, but it comes only by hearing the Word of God.  If you are unwilling to hear the Word of God on a continual basis, you will not develop your faith and you won't be able to receive healing from God.  It isn't just going to happen overnight.  There is no quick formula or shortcut for it.  If you aren't willing to pay the price, just accept your sickness and live with it.  That's not God's best for you, but it's the best you'll get without effort on your part.

Think of the amount of effort you might spend going to specialists, getting tests, and so on.  Isn't it worth some of your time to take God's medicine?  Will you invest more effort in getting help from man than in getting help from God?  Doctors are fine, but you need to make study of the Word on healing a high priority while you're getting natural medical care, or the natural care will be the only thing that helps you.

To the readers who think this sounds like a works gospel -- it isn't.  Jesus did the works.  Through him, you already have all things pertaining to life and godliness.  Your work is to believe the gospel, and that can take work!  This apparent paradox is stated in Hebrews, where we are exhorted to "labor to enter into God's rest."  God's rest is free and does not depend on your works.  Your labor is to believe so that you can tap into it.  "For we which do believe have entered into rest."  God gave the land of Canaan, which is symbolic of our blessings, to Israel freely.  However, those who did not believe could not enter it, while those who did believe were able to enjoy it.  God made the provision, but faith was required to enjoy that provision.


Why does Exodus 15:25-26 talk about God putting...
Why does Exodus 15:25-26 talk about God putting diseases on people?

I asked a friend who studied Hebrew for some help with this one, since I know very little about Hebrew.  About all I know about it is -- .slwv nttrw n r rht dn sdrwkcb t dr t vh Y  (Did you figure that out?)  My friend told me that two Hebrew tenses could have been used here.  One is a causative verb that would indicate that God actually took diseases and actively put them on people.  The other is a passive verb that would indicate that God merely permitted the act to take place but did not necessarily cause it.  He also said that for the particular verb used, both tenses of the verb would be written identically.  In other words, you could not prove that the verb should be taken one way and not the other.  The King James translates it causatively but you cannot prove that this was the correct translation.

So how do we know that it was passive?  The Hebrew doesn't prove the opposite either -- that God allowed the sicknesses as opposed to actually making them sick.  However, to draw a conclusion that God would go around stealing and destroying people's health and killing them today would be out of harmony with the rest of the Bible, whereas the conclusion that he permits diseases to exist would not be.

You could argue that God did send the plagues on Egypt and that perhaps this was a reference to that, but that does not hold up under scrutiny.  There was only one killer plague on one night and it was not caused by a variety of diseases.  In the case of the killer plague, "the destroyer" actually did it, not God in person (Hebrews 11:28).

Also, Deut 28:15-68 also refers to the "diseases of Egypt which thou wast afraid of," which could not refer to the killer plague on the firstborn, which the Israelites were not afraid of because they were protected from it.  This was talking about a variety of fearsome diseases that were common in Egypt.

There is New Testament Scripture for God putting diseases on the disobedient, as proved in the discussion, Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament.  There is NO New Testament Scripture for God putting sickness on an obedient believer, so drawing the conclusion that God puts sickness on believers based on this verse in Exodus is totally out of harmony with the Bible.


Is it scriptural to pray...that (a suffering person) will die?
Is it scriptural to pray in agreement with a suffering person that he will die?

If a Christian has lived out a full life and wants to die, that person has a scriptural right to die and go home to be with the Lord.  Refer to the remarks elsewhere about Paul choosing to stay here instead of departing and being with Christ.  In fact, if the person really wants to die, you cannot force healing on him because you would not be in agreement with him.  A person does not have to choose to be kept alive by machines and extraordinary medical procedures.

On the other hand, you would never want to pray that a sinner will die, knowing that he will spend eternity in hell.  If a sinner wants prayer to die, he needs prayer to be born again first!  Then he can go home to glory instead of endless torment if he still wants to leave.  It would be no act of mercy at all to agree that a sinner will die and go to a Christless eternity, where the fire never goes out and the worm never dies.  He might think that death would be a relief, but death would be only the doorway to worse suffering.  He could not possibly be better off dead than alive no matter how much he is suffering now.

Also, if a person has not lived out a full life, there is no precedent for explicitly praying that he will die.  You would in that case be praying contrary to the known will of God.  However, if the person wants to die anyway, you can't keep him here against his will with your prayers.  To that extent, your "agreement" is just that you won't try to keep him here.


I believe I received...should I get in (a healing line)...?
I believe I received my healing when I prayed, but my body doesn't act like it.  They called a healing line.  Should I get in it or not?

Yes.  If your healing has not fully manifested, you will not offend God by getting in a healing line.  It's certainly not going to hurt.  However, when you stand in the line, your attitude should be that you want the person laying hands on you to agree with you that you have already received your healing.  You are not going up there to "believe you receive" a second time, which is unnecessary.  But if you have a chance to be ministered to under the anointing, go up and let that anointing go into you.

I can understand why some people might not want to get in line.  They are concerned that getting in line is a "bad confession" (through action) that they are not yet healed.  They don't want to get in a line "for people who need healing in their bodies" because they're afraid that it would make a statement that they have not yet received their healing, and that it would even undo their prayer to receive healing.  If you are going up with the idea of "believing you receive" again, you are stating that you did not really believe you received the first time.  Of course, if you are not really in faith, you ought to get up there, believe you receive when you pray, and get in faith.  However, it is not a contradiction to have hands laid on you even though you believe you received your healing when you prayed.

Let me address one more concern.  You are not lying by going up in a healing line when you have received your healing by faith.  You should consider any healing line to be open to anyone who is still experiencing any kind of physical problem, whether you have already prayed the prayer of faith or not.  This refers to general calls for healing.  It would be out of line to be in line when the call was for stomach trouble and you want prayer for your wrist.


What can you do for comatose or delirious people...?
What can you do for comatose or delirious people who cannot believe God for themselves?

(There are also people who are in such physical torment that even though they are not vegetables, they are basically unable to pray for themselves.  The same comments here would apply to those people.)

I have heard testimonies of people who went in and read God's Word to people in both categories and they were healed.  God's word is spirit and life and there is something about it that gets into the person's spirit even though his mind may not be operating much or at all.  Don't sell God's Word short.

You still have the right to lay hands on a comatose brother or sister in the name of Jesus.  The prayer of faith can be prayed for "any sick among you" (see James 5:14-16), not "any who are sick, but not too terribly sick, among you."

The problem is when the sick person is not a Christian.  The command in James applies to prayer for a sick believer.  It does not apply to the unbeliever.  If you are in a situation where you have the liberty to preach the gospel to the relatives, you would have a basis for laying hands on the sick person according to Mark 16:15-18.  Remember that Jesus promised that signs would follow the preaching of the gospel.  If there is no preaching of the gospel going on, this Scripture does not apply either!  In other words, if you are too timid to share Jesus with people, you are not putting out any word for God to work with and confirm with signs following (Mark 16:20).  Jesus never promised that anyone who was not actively involved with promoting the gospel would do anything in his name.  And if you lack the boldness to share Jesus, you certainly don't have the boldness to lay hands on a comatose person in front of unbelieving hospital personnel.


Why does 1 Samuel 1 say twice that THE LORD...
Why does 1 Samuel 1 say twice that THE LORD had shut up Hannah's womb?

I think the best explanation is that the phrase "the LORD had shut up her womb," which does appear twice, is to be understood in the permissive sense rather than in the sense that God did some special act that made Hannah unable to bear children.  In Job 42 there is a statement about the evil that "the LORD had brought upon him" even though it is explicitly stated that Satan did the sickening in Job's case.  Obviously, in context with Job 1, this must be understood in the permissive sense.  Thus, I would understand 1 Samuel 1 to say, "The LORD had permitted Hannah's womb to be shut up."

One teacher has explained the phrase by saying that in those days, they blamed God for everything.  This would seem to be an unacceptable answer to anyone believing in the inerrancy of Scripture.  If the author of Samuel was wrong about this, we can then make every word everyone wrote back then equally suspect.  I respect the teacher who explained it this way, but I disagree with him on this point.

You certainly can't use this phrase to prove that God won't heal infertile women or that he wants them to not have children, because Hannah asked for a son and God gave her Samuel.  This passage should build your faith in healing, not take it away!  See the section on Infertility for proof that God wants to heal women who can't have children.  I know couples who couldn't have children according to their doctors and have children today because God intervened when they asked him for children.


What do you do...if there are "brick-heads"...?
What do you do if you're ministering and there are "brick-heads" who won't receive the anointing when you lay hands on them?

Unfortunately, some people are like bricks.  In other words, you would feel just as much flow of power if you laid hands on a brick when you lay hands on them.  You will find that many of these people are church-wise folks who have been around a long time.  In general, new believers and unbelievers are easier to minister to because God has mercy on them and doesn't expect as much from them given where they are in their walk (or lack thereof) with him.

So what do you do?  Above all, be led by the Spirit.  I have only a couple of suggestions, and these are definitely "So say I, not the Lord" ideas.

1.	Try to start with people who are visibly ready to receive.  I don't know how you describe knowing that someone is ready; it usually shows on his face, but not always.  If the "brick-heads" see others receive, they may be encouraged to receive themselves and let their walls down.  No one says you have to start at one end of a line and work down -- unless the host pastor told you do to it that way, in which case you need to follow his instructions.

2.	If you have a small number of people in line, you can sometimes get some quick teaching or exhortation from the Word before you finish with someone.  Sometimes it helps; sometimes it doesn't.  You can't tell the person everything there is to know about healing while you're standing in front of him.  The idea is to tell everyone about faith and healing in your message.  Still, some people doze off on you or don't pay attention.  Such people are probably not going to be healed because they do not do what the crowds did around Jesus -- hear and be healed.

3.	If it's not an assembly line kind of healing line where the ushers scoot the people out to replace them with more people down front, you can tell such people that you will come back to them and keep going.  This can help to keep the "flow" of the anointing going.  Spending too much time with too many people in a row who are in no position to receive tends to ruin the flow of the anointing.  Of course, keep your word and come back!  I've seen a couple services where the minister did this but then forgot and never went back.  Oops!

4.	You might think this is a little underhanded, but I will admit having done it:  At some point, I came across someone who was like a sponge and was very open to receiving from God.  I practically needed someone to catch me because of the way this person hooked up with the power.  Then I had to pray for others who were not receiving as well, and the flow of things was broken.  I went back and laid hands on the first person some more!  This person "pulled" on the anointing some more, and the "flow" got going again.  It was sort of like getting a jump-start.  Anyway, that seemed good at the time.  If you think you have a better idea, I'm open to suggestions.  (What would you have done?)  I also suspect that I have seen some other ministers do the same thing for the same reason, which is where I got the idea.

5.	FORGET this piece of advice someone told me once (I've deliberately forgotten who): "If you push the first three people down, the rest of them will fall over, too."  Don't ever play games with the anointing.  If the power's not flowing, it's not flowing.  Don't try to con people into thinking that it is.  Never put on a show.  That's just plain dangerous and a good way to get the judgment of God on you in short order.


The minister called out...but someone else...went up...
The minister called out my condition but someone else already went up for it.  Should I stay in my seat?

NO!  Get down there, the sooner, the better!

First, you have no idea if that other person even has your condition.  Maybe he's going up for the wrong reason or he misunderstood the minister.

Second, if the anointing is present to heal that condition, no one says that multiple people can't get healed at the same time.  Sometimes many people with the same condition all get healed when they come forward in response to a specific call.  There were multiple healings of the same condition in the Bible.  Two blind men were healed at once, two demon-possessed men set free at once, and ten lepers cleansed at once.  Many paralyzed and lame people were healed in Samaria through Philip's ministry.  Don't assume a special anointing is just for one person and that you miss out if you're not the first one prayed for.

In most cases, it seems that there is one person in particular that the Holy Ghost was singling out, but if others with that same condition go down for prayer, they can get in on the same anointing and get healed, too.  Sometimes it just seems to "spill over" onto the other people in line.


The minister called out a condition that almost fit...
The minister called out a condition that almost fit me -- should I go up for prayer?

This refers to a case where it sounds for sure like the minister is talking about you, but some minor detail that might be a bit off makes you wonder if it's really you.

I was in this situation once.  I got very technical, as we computer lovers are known to do, and did not go up because of a minor point.  I should have and I knew it, but I talked myself out of it.  If it sounds like you because of a series of details and there is only one fuzzy point, I would go up unless the minister was being emphatic about that one fuzzy point.  Ministers are human beings like you.  They can miss God or misinterpret what they pick up in their spirits.  Most of the time, God has not spoken words to them about anyone.  They simply sense something in their spirit and attempt to articulate it the best way they can.  I don't think that God would be upset with you for getting in a line if there is a reasonable likelihood that the minister means you.

Sometimes it is just a slight communication glitch, and the person didn't quite come across saying what he meant to say.  Take this case of a lady who had a headache and went up for prayer.  Later on, the minister asked her, "How's your head?"  She exclaimed, "It's GONE!"  (I didn't make this up.  I was on the platform playing the piano at a convention when this happened.  I almost had to stop playing because it struck me so funny.)  You know what she really meant, even though that's not quite what she said, right?

Another key is what you sense on the inside.  If you're not sure if you should go up, check your spirit.  If you're supposed to go up, something will stir in your spirit.  You'll have a knowing that you ought to go up there.

I am not saying that you should get in a line for ear trouble if the minister calls out nose trouble just because your nose is near your ears.  However, if he called out a very specific condition that you have and said he sensed it was someone's left ear, and it was actually your right ear, I would go up.  There is no clear-cut answer to this question, but the best advice I could give you is that if you think it sounds like you, get in line.  If you get sent back to your seat, don't be personally offended.  We're all growing in these things.  Stay open and stay teachable.


Why was it easier for me to get healed when...
Why was it easier for me to get healed when I was a baby Christian?

God often answers the prayers of young Christians in dramatic ways to encourage them, just as an earthly parent helps his youngsters in ways he won't help them when they grow older.  You could probably get praise from your parents at one point in your life just by smiling and saying, "Ga-ga, goo-goo."  However, you would probably not get any smiles if you did that today.  They expected you to grow up, and so does God.

God does not love baby Christians any more than he loves mature ones.  The babies need more support and encouragement, and God provides that.  However, part of maturing in Christ is learning to believe God's word and receive by faith on your own.  If you don't develop that, the time will come when getting things won't be as easy.  It's like a parent telling a child, "I expect you to clean your room before you get any privileges."  The parent of a 3-year-old would probably grant privileges without such a prerequisite, but the parent of a 13-year-old would probably not.

Unfortunately, many people have this experience when they let their zeal for God taper off as they get older in the Lord.  They "coast" and don't stay up-to-date with God.  Ignorance is not bliss for a Christian.  You cannot continue to get a spiritual baby bottle by refusing to grow up.  At some point the bottle will stop whether you're ready to lose it or not.  That is because you are not just accountable for what you know -- you are accountable for what you have the reasonable opportunity to know if you apply yourself.  If you don't know the Word because you just got saved, God will have mercy on you.  If you don't know the Word because you let your Bible collect dust for the last year, you can't expect God to treat you the same way he would treat a new believer who doesn't know the Word.

Many times we let the things slip that were our mainstays:  Spending time with God, reading the Bible, fellowshipping with other believers, praying, sharing the gospel with sinners.  It's possible to let these things slip, and it's important not to do so.  It should not be harder to get healed now than it used to be.  However, you may have to make a stronger stand against contradictory symptoms in your body.  God expects more faith from you as you get older.

This is why some evangelists have noted that unbelievers and young Christians often get healed dramatically by gifts of the Spirit in healing services while mature believers don't.  Although God is merciful, his perfect will for the believer is to be healed through simple faith in Christ's atonement, not gifts of the Spirit.

It takes more strength to lift a 50-pound weight than it does a 5-pound weight.  (That's 22.68 kilograms and 2.27 kilograms for those of you in metric countries.)  However, it is easier for you to lift a 50-pound weight than it is for a toddler to lift a 5-pound weight because your muscles are more developed, and you've grown to be able to handle more weight.  Therefore, even though it takes more force, it is not harder.  Healing should be the same way.  If you have to receive 100% by faith instead of having God meet you halfway in his mercy, it should still be as easy for you.

One more thing -- check on what you really believe about healing.  Plenty of Christians have heard so much nonsense on the subject that their minds are confused and it is hard for them to receive healing.  See the discussion, Do you really believe in healing?.


Why did Paul tell Timothy not to lay hands suddenly...?
Why did Paul tell Timothy not to lay hands suddenly on anyone?

Paul's exhortation to Timothy had nothing to do with healing.  He was not talking about laying on of hands for healing.  He was talking about laying hands on men to ordain them as elders in the church.  He warned Timothy not to set anyone up as an elder quickly.  This is consistent with his advice elsewhere to make men prove themselves before being given an office in the church.  Otherwise, Timothy could inadvertently become a partaker of other men's sins by putting his stamp of approval on men who were sinning.

That Paul was talking about ordination is obvious from the context.  No further discussion should be needed once you read this whole passage:

1 Timothy 5:17-22:

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.  And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins:  keep thyself pure.


Can I receive healing for a problem that I brought on...?
Can I receive healing for a problem that I brought on myself?

Yes, of course, but you should repent of the underlying cause first.  Psalm 107:17-20 speaks of fools who get sick because of their own doings.  What is God's attitude?  In his mercy, "He sent his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions."

However, this doesn't give you a license to run around outdoors in the winter with no coat on, overeat, eat junk food all day, overwork yourself, get too little sleep, stay mad at people, and then "claim" healing.  Epaphroditus almost died because he overworked himself in the ministry (Philippians 2:25-30).  You have to take care of your body.  Failure to do so will get you in trouble, and it won't be the devil's fault.

Actually, you are mocking God if you continue to do the things mentioned above and then demand healing.  You probably won't have much success.  But if you will repent of the things you are doing to yourself, God will forgive you and heal you.  Just realize that if you continue living wrong, you invite more trouble.  As Jesus told the man at Bethesda, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee."

Of course, one class of problem doesn't involve sin, such as slamming the car door on your foot.  Yes, God will heal you of that; he is the Lord Your Physician, and any physician will treat problems even if you brought them on yourself.

God's willingness to heal problems that are your fault includes the healing of sexually transmitted diseases.  There is reason to suspect that David himself has such a disease, repented and got healed, based on some of the verses in Psalms.  Consider Psalm 38:5-7:  "My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.  I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.  For my loins are filled with a loathsome [burning] disease:  and there is no soundness in my flesh."  Remember that God "forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases" (see Psalm 103:1-5).  Whom God forgives, God is willing to heal, and forgiveness for whatever sexual sins you have committed is available to you because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Unless you truly repent, though, you are in no position to receive healing.  You tempt Christ when you say you want to be healed of AIDS, but you still plan to go sleep around or go to gay bars or use illicit intravenous drugs.  You need to repent and get forgiveness.  Forgiveness and healing go together throughout the Bible.


Is God really interested in taking away headaches...?
Is God really interested in taking away headaches and colds?

Definitely!!!

Jesus took all your diseases, not just some of them.  This includes minor diseases as well as major ones.  He bore the curse of the Law in your place, and "every sickness" is included in the curse of the Law according to Deuteronomy 28:61.  You do not have to have a headache.  You do not have to have a cold.  I have been healed of both by believing God.  God does not want you or me to suffer "nuisance" sicknesses.  No Scripture indicates that God's healing covenant stops at minor ailments, while dozens of Scriptures demonstrate God's will and Jesus' will to heal all illnesses of any kind.

In fact, it is a good idea to start believing God to heal you of such minor ailments.  Don't wait until something major like cancer or diabetes comes along.  Get used to receiving healing from God now.  It will be easier to receive your healing later.

Since Jesus healed "every sickness and every disease among the people," it stands to reason that anyone with a headache or cold would have been healed.  Since he has not changed, he still heals "every sickness and every disease among the people."  This agrees with Psalm 103:3, which says that God heals ALL your diseases (not just your major ones).

I suppose you could get carried away trying to get healed of hangnails and pimples, but no one says you can't believe God for healing of anything that's wrong with you.  The only "catch" with very minor ailments is that it is easy to be wishy-washy about receiving healing for something that doesn't interfere much with your daily life.  Don't play games with your faith.  Either believe for something and go all out and get it, or don't make a pretense of believing for something.


Should I throw away my medicine...?
Should I throw away my medicine because I believe I am healed?

NO!!!!!

When the healing you believe for has manifested itself in your body and your doctor confirms that you don't need your medicine anymore, feel free to throw it out.  Until then, keep taking it.

Consider what happened to one man.  He wanted to prove to God that he believed his eyes were healed and that he didn't need glasses anymore.  To "act his faith," he took his test for a driver's license without his glasses, "believing" that his healing would manifest and he would pass.  He failed.  Moral of the story:  After your body confirms to you that you're healed, you can stomp on your glasses or flush your pills down the toilet or whatever.  Until then, don't, unless you want to endanger and/or embarrass yourself and the Body of Christ.

Whether or not you take medicine has nothing to do with whether or not you believe that you have received your healing.  God is moved by faith, not by whether you threw out your pills or stomped on your glasses.  You can do those things and still not be in faith, and you'll just regret that you did them.  You can also be in faith and keep taking medicine.  Why suffer unnecessarily while waiting for the full manifestation of your healing?  If anything, it's easier to pray and read God's Word and stay built up when your body is not screaming in pain, and this can actually help you stay in faith.  Of course, you must not confuse medicinal relief with real divine healing from God.  You would not want to say, "Oh, my healing has manifested; I'm not in pain" when you just took two aspirins (or your favorite pain reliever) to get rid of the pain.  You'll find out if you're healed or not in a few hours!

Despite the scare stories that circulate about people dying without medicine "believing" for their healing, I have yet to meet a minister who preaches healing who says you should throw away your medicine.  Yes, there are cases (some well publicized) of people who did not take medicine and died who claimed to be "believing" for their healing.  Their zeal, unfortunately, exceeded their wisdom.  They were not following generally accepted teaching among those who preach healing today.

People make a big deal about medicine vs. faith, but both are on the same team, so to speak.  They both promote healing.  One famous healing evangelist took a lot of flak for opening a hospital, and he had to keep explaining to people that he was using faith and medicine to help the sick, and that this was not a contradiction.  He was right.  It isn't a contradiction.

If we were all perfect in our faith walk, we would not need medicine and we would receive healing by faith every time sickness tried to get on us.  I don't know about you, but I'm not there yet.  That's our goal, and if we only get healed 80% of the time, that beats staying sick 100% of the time, doesn't it?


How long should we keep our hands on someone...?
How long should we keep our hands on someone when we lay hands on him?

There is no set amount of time in Scripture, but there is no case in Scripture of hands being laid on someone for a long time.  Technically, there is no need to leave your hands on anyone more than an instant, since you can then claim Jesus' promise, "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

In practice, "hit and run" laying on of hands won't work for a lot of people because they're too nervous or distracted when you first lay hands on them.  It takes them a little time to settle down and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to them.  You'll have to be led by the Spirit when it comes to this.  Some people are "human bricks" who for one reason or another are in no position to receive at all, and you could stand there all night and nothing would happen.  This is unfortunate, but there are plenty of such people out there.  (Don't "assure" such a person that he has received his healing!)

With some people, you may feel the anointing start to go into them and then seem to come back out.  You can encourage such people to receive the anointing.  You may want to say that you can't receive it with your head; you receive it with your heart.  Some people will receive when they just quiet their heads down enough for their spirit to rise up.


Must we lay hands on the specific...
Must we lay hands on the specific afflicted body part?

No.

Jesus touched Peter's mother-in-law's hand and she was healed instantly of a fever (Matthew 8:14-15).  The woman with the issue of blood could not have touched Jesus where the problem was!  Many people were healed just by touching Jesus' clothes.  As long as there is a physical connection, you don't have to pray over the specific spot.

However, there are other cases where Jesus did lay hands on a particular spot: Eyes (Matthew 9:27-30, Matthew 20:30-34, Mark 8:22-25), and ears (Mark 7:32-37, Luke 22:50-51).  In other cases, Jesus simply spoke or ministered some other way, so it can work either way.

It's probably a good idea to lay hands on the afflicted area where it is reasonable and socially decent to do so.  You should have enough sense to know that your hands don't belong in certain places on members of the opposite sex, or even members of the same sex!  You should get someone of the same gender as the person being prayed for to lay hands on certain spots if it would be indecorous for you to do so.  You can then lay hands on the person's head or something.  Remember the case of Peter's mother-in-law.  Don't get legalistic about where you put your hands.  (I once saw a whole book on hand placement when ministering to the sick.  But Jesus did not require his disciples to take courses on hand placement and medical causes of illnesses.  Just believe what Jesus said -- you will lay hands on the sick and they will get well!)


Do we need to know the specific condition...
Do we need to know the specific condition before we can pray for healing?

No.  People sometimes find it helpful to be able to identify a certain body part to speak to, and if that information is available, that's good.  However, it is not required.  Jesus was not a medical doctor.  He did not diagnose cases.  If you're smart, you won't try to do so either, unless you're a certified doctor yourself.  It is not your job to diagnose illnesses.  It is your job to command healing of whatever the problem is in the name of Jesus.

I saw a book once that made it seem like you had to be a doctor to minister in healing lines.  It was full of "this condition means speak to this particular body part" advice.  I'm not qualified to comment on the quality of the advice, but I wouldn't waste my time with something like that.  Besides, when medicine advances, what do you do when you realize that you've been praying the wrong thing for a certain condition?

Don't play doctor.  The Great Physician lives inside you, and he knows exactly what is wrong.  Jesus said that you could lay hands on the sick in his name and they would recover.  He did not say that you had to provide expert medical diagnosis for the sick.  Besides, if you start practicing medicine when you aren't qualified to do so, you can (deservedly) get in legal trouble.


Should we have "catchers" in healing lines?

No specific Scripture tells us how to handle people who fall over in healing lines, so we'll just have to use some common sense.  The argument against catchers is that if the Holy Spirit knocks people over, he won't hurt them anyway, and if you have no catchers and concrete floors, people will be less inclined to "fake it" and fall over when they don't have to.  The argument for catchers, which I would subscribe to myself, is that many (sometimes most) people fall in the flesh, and you don't want them to get hurt.  Also, you don't want Sister Toothpick to get hurt when Brother Beerbelly lands on her!  Nor do you want some flake to file a huge lawsuit because he got hurt in your healing line.  I agree that the Holy Spirit won't hurt you.  There are no instances in Scripture where someone got hurt going up for a healing.  However, I believe it is wise to use catchers.

I used to try to prop people up if they were starting to fall, but that was a bad idea, too.  I think it's safer just to let them fall.  My advice is, don't apply any kind of backward pressure to push people over (you'd be surprised how common this is), but don't try to keep someone upright who's obviously going down.  I admit that I am stating a personal opinion, since there is no Scripture that addresses this particular situation.


I thought I was healed.  Why did the symptoms just return?
I thought I was healed.  Why did the symptoms just start to return?

This can happen for more than one reason.

First, the fact that you believe that you have received your healing does not mean that there will be no more symptoms from that point on.  If you go by "symptoms," the fig tree had the symptoms of being alive after Jesus cursed it.  Jesus did not panic and say, "Oh no, my faith didn't work!  The tree is still showing symptoms of being alive.  I thought I was in faith but I guess I wasn't!"  Jesus was simply not moved by the fact that the tree still looked alive immediately after he cursed it.  He knew that he had declared something in the spirit realm that would surely happen.  Likewise, you need to stand firm in what you believe and not be moved by apparent circumstances to the contrary.  If you could never have symptoms after praying in faith, all it would take to receive healing would be faith.  However, the Bible teaches that you need faith and patience to receive God's promises (Heb 6:12).

Second, whether you have realized it yet or not, there is a personal devil out there who is out to steal from you, kill you and destroy you.  One of his tricks is to put symptoms of things on people so that they accept the illness by saying out of their mouths that they have it.  He loves to try to get you to accept a sickness back after you've already been healed of it.  Chances are, the symptoms are accompanied by some depressing thought such as:  "See, you didn't really get healed after all" or "It's back and you won't get healed this time."  If you will resist it just as you would resist the devil and command it to leave your body in the name of Jesus, it will go.  You may even be surprised how suddenly you get healed -- probably about as suddenly as you felt sick again.

We tend to think of sickness as something that just happens to us without Satan's direct involvement.  While that is often true, there are definitely cases where Satan sends a spirit to harass you with lying symptoms to get you to accept them.  Whether it's direct or indirect, sickness is still "the oppression of the devil" (Acts 10:38), and Satan is its source.  This is proved in the topic, Who or what causes sickness?.

Third, you may have been around the anointing and experienced relief without actually receiving your healing.  Once you get out of the anointing, you feel crummy again.  See the discussion, The difference between "the anointing" and "your healing" for a further discussion of this matter.

Fourth (you might not like this one), you may not have believed that you received your healing at all.  You just experienced some temporary relief for entirely natural reasons.  If you prayed and took aspirin, maybe the relief you felt was from the aspirin!

One thing that should help you when symptoms return is to realize that you are perpetually, legally healed by the stripes of Jesus.  You always have the right to declare yourself healed.  You are always agreeing with God when you do so.  No matter how often or how long symptoms return, you always have the right to say that you are healed and that the sickness is no longer yours.  In fact, you should keep saying this continually until every symptom is gone.  (Okay, I don't mean that you should be unable to function at your job because you have to keep saying you're healed.  Say it to yourself if you're in public; don't make a scene or make you're boss think you're a fruitcake.)  You do NOT have to pray "the prayer of faith" again to re-receive your healing!

You are not a sick person being lorded over by Satan.  You are a healed person defending your legal right to be and stay healed.  You have a right to demand that sickness leave your body and stay out in the name of Jesus.


What do I do if I don't see any improvement after praying?

Keep believing that you have received your healing.  Keep saying that you have received your healing.  Keep thanking God for the healing that you have already received.  Don't let up until your healing has completely manifested itself in your body.  Continue to do whatever natural things you need to do (taking medicine, for example) until your healing is fully manifested.

If the reason you ask this question is that you are afraid that it didn't work, you are probably not in faith to begin with.  In that case, continue reading healing Scriptures and good healing literature to build your faith.  You will have to start over at the point where you believe that you receive your healing.  Actually, if you are really asking this question, the chances are good that you are not in as much faith as you think you are.

The time after you pray and before you see any change is the time when you "Let God be true and every man a liar."  It is the time when you exercise patience along with your faith.  This patience is not a resignation to your condition.  It is an active force that undergirds your faith and refuses to back down despite circumstances.

Where some people miss it is if they don't receive the results they want by faith soon enough, they assume that they need to do some more receiving by faith!  They try to crank out more faith.  That doesn't work.  You pray the true prayer of faith once.  After that, you thank God that you have already received your answer in your spirit.  Thank God for it even though you don't see any improvement yet.  Thank God for Jesus' statement that you can believe and receive what you pray for when you pray.

If your condition suddenly worsened and seemed to require immediate medical attention, I would urge you to get it.  It is not anti-faith to get medical help.  If you are really in faith, your supernatural healing will manifest itself anyway.  If you are not in faith, and you avoid medical help because you want to think you're in faith, you could die in the process.  If you're in faith, you're in faith, and you don't need to be scared of seeing doctors.  After all, they can verify and document your healing when it comes.

You need to do what Abraham did and "consider not your own body."  That doesn't mean that you deny or ignore symptoms; it means that you do not consider your body's current condition to be the final word concerning your healing.

Other topics are devoted to helping you determine if you're really in faith.  Read them and see whether you have really believed you have received anything or if you're just a hopin' and a prayin'.  The bottom line is that if you really believe that you have received something, you don't really care that you don't see any improvement yet.  You are at rest knowing that it must manifest as long as you stay in faith.

Some other useful thoughts are found in the topic, I thought I was healed.  Why did the symptoms just start to return?.


To what extent are prolific miracles limited...
To what extent are prolific miracles limited to those called to the ministry?

Some preachers obviously walk in a lot more anointing for miracles and healings than the rest of us do.  This is to be expected, since 1 Cor 12:28 talks about those who have ministries along the lines of working of miracles and gifts of healings.  (See 1 Cor 12:28-30.)  Since the Spirit uses only some in this spectacular way, it stands that the rest of us will not flow in that degree of power or anointing for healing.  If we all were equal when it comes to healings and miracles, Paul would not have mentioned some individuals with the comment, "Are all workers of miracles?  Have all the gifts of healings?"

This does not mean that you cannot lay hands on the sick -- you can.  However, you cannot expect to be used like a minister who majors in this kind of ministry unless that is also your function in the Body of Christ.  You have authority to lay hands on the sick and expect them to recover.  However, you may not see the instantaneous miracles that an evangelist would see frequently.

One obvious reason that these ministers have more miracles to report than you do is that they encounter more needs every day than you do.  They are always ministering to the sick.  They have a heavy anointing because the anointing needs to be there to meet the needs of many sick people.  Many times, sick people healed in those meetings would never have been healed by their own faith.  If the ministers had a lesser degree of anointing on them, they would never be able to minister to long lines of sick people in one night.  They need a greater anointing because God has called them to minister to more sick people.

Also, these kinds of anointings are usually, but not always, associated with the office of the evangelist.  Philip is our example of a New Testament evangelist.  He preached the gospel with signs following and turned many to Jesus.  The purpose of the signs is to advertise God's goodness so that the goodness of God can draw men to repentance.  This doesn't mean that only evangelists can flow in these gifts consistently.  I have seen people with prophetic ministries flow in these gifts, also.  Signs and wonders are also the calling card of the apostle.

Don't sell yourself short if you don't have a full-time healing and/or miracle ministry.  God may well use you in a spectacular way.  Stephen was a layperson and did great signs and wonders.  Philip had never been commissioned (that we know of) as an evangelist before he went to Samaria; he was basically an usher.  When he did the work of an evangelist by preaching the gospel to the lost, the signs followed.  (He was later called an evangelist.  He is the only New Testament person so labeled.)  Ananias, who prayed for Paul to receive the Holy Spirit, was used supernaturally in a way that still affects the entire world.  Yet he was an ordinary believer as far as we know.  We do not know of anything else that Ananias did.  There are plenty of good testimonies today of ordinary believers reading and believing Mark 16, laying hands on the sick in the name of Jesus and having them recover.

Inasmuch as you play the part of an evangelist to those around you, you should expect signs to follow the preaching of the Word out of your mouth, just as they would follow the preaching of an evangelist.  The more lost people you reach, the more signs and wonders you should see.


Why are there more miracles on the mission field...
Why are there more miracles on the mission field than at home?

1.  Miracles follow the preaching of the gospel

Mark 16:15-18 makes it clear that the healing of the sick accompanies the going into the entire world.  Because the gospel is reaching the lost, God performs "signs and wonders" (which include but are not limited to healings) to get their attention.  If you're not reaching the lost, you aren't "going," so why should you expect any signs to follow you?  God confirms his Word.  If you aren't giving out his Word, there is nothing for him to confirm!  On the mission field, there is a greater emphasis on evangelism, so there would tend to be more dramatic confirmations of the gospel message.

2.  They don't have Christian bookstores full of anti-healing unbelief books

It's great to tell new believers what they have in Christ before the wet-blanket crowd gets a chance to tell them that you never know what our sovereign God will do, Paul had an eye disease, and you're Job II.  Once people latch on to these arguments, you cannot get them healed unless you can show them why these arguments are invalid.  That is one reason for this book.  You can give them some good reasons why these traditions of men don't make sense.

3.  They have a greater desperation for miracles because the medical facilities aren't as good

People in most countries can't just show a card and get medical treatment for most conditions.  Many times, either God heals them or they don't get healed at all.  Thus, they are more desperate for miracles.  They are like the woman with the issue of blood who spent all her living on doctors, but only grew worse.  She was so desperate that she risked execution for being in public to get her healing.  People who are that desperate are ripe to receive a miracle.  If you can live with your illness because you can get some medicine at the local drugstore, you probably will live with it instead of without it.  You aren't desperate enough.

However, desperation by itself is not faith, and "desperate" prayers don't work unless they are desperate faith prayers.  Remember, the woman in Mark 5 was desperate, but she came in faith based on what she had heard of Jesus.  She was not coming in desperation alone.  The people need to hear God's healing covenant so that they can pray in faith, not simply in desperation.

4.  They don't intellectualize everything

Education is good,  but it makes a lousy god.  You can't completely grasp the things of God with your head.  Faith is of the heart.  Jesus never told you to believe in your head.  Sometimes we block our healing by trying to intellectualize it instead of believing it in our hearts.  It's good to educate your head, but not at the expense of growing in the things of the Spirit.  People overseas are often less educated and would be less likely to have this problem.

Here's an aside.  Never knock education.  Keep learning and get as much education as you want.  Preachers do everyone a disservice when they brag about their lack of education.  "I'm just a simple ole farm boy with a sixth-grade education, but God uses me to lay hands on the sick!"  You don't even need a sixth-grade education to lay hands on the sick; that privilege comes free with salvation.  But ignorance is nothing to brag about.  Don't be proud of your lack of education.  If you ever get a big ministry laying hands on the sick, you won't be able to keep the books with a sixth-grade education!  You'll need some other people around you to run your business affairs for you.  Ministries are businesses whether you want to think of them that way or not.  You don't go into the ministry for the money, but if you're in the ministry, there is a business side to run.  Good ministries have been destroyed not because they didn't know the Word but because they didn't know how to handle money and the business side of ministry.

You are not more spiritual because you are less educated!  Never make fun of people because they have advanced degrees.  Some such people have unfortunately turned into eggheaded theologians, but there are intelligent people out there who love God and have doctorates.  When you knock education from the pulpit, you alienate the intelligent people in the congregation who worked hard and sacrificed to get a good education.  That's stupid, because these people usually make better money than the less educated and can give better offerings!

Consider that the men in Jesus' parable of the talents got different numbers of talents according to their different abilities!  Get more education and you get more ability, assuming that you really learn your stuff and don't just cram to get good marks on tests.

5.  God meets people where they are

People on the mission field are often more open to the gifts of the Spirit.  They may not know much about the Word, but they know that God can do miracles.  They are much like the nobleman in John 4:46-53.  They are unlearned, but also tenacious and sometimes desperate to see miracles.  Such people will put us to shame if we aren't careful!  God is willing to meet them where they are.  His perfect will is for them to know the truth so that they do not have to depend on manifestations of the Spirit for healing.  But God knows that they have not had the opportunities you have to hear the Word taught, and he is patient with them.

6.  They are used to the supernatural

The devil is happy to move wherever he has an open door, and less-developed countries often have more demonic activity than more-developed countries.  (I was going to say that some places overseas have more demonic activity, but it occurred to me that you might live in one of those places, and overseas to you would mean somewhere else.  I suppose that by definition no one lives overseas, since overseas to people overseas is somewhere else, like where you live.)  The people already know that there is a spirit realm and that the supernatural is real.  Witch doctors still make a good living in many places by "healing" the sick temporarily until the devil feels like making them sick again so that they have to go pay the witch doctor more money.  I think it is easier for the people to accept the supernatural side of the gospel when they are used to the supernatural in general.

Unfortunately, "Christian" witch doctors out there pose as Christian ministers but actually minister under the influence of evil spirits.  Their ministries would be easy for us to spot because we know God's Word.  The fact that they act and teach contrary to the Bible is a give-away that their ministries are not of God.  This is why there is a need for teaching as well as evangelism overseas.  If the people knew the Bible better, they would reject such ministers.  Some of these ministers, I am sure, are Christians, but they have perhaps brought in elements of their old pagan religion into their Christianity and have concocted a mess.  Some confused people even worship BOTH Jesus and Satan, or so they say.  I guess they are hedging their bets.  They are also offending God in a big way.

When the people have a zeal for God and the gifts of the Spirit but little knowledge of the Word, they are open to fraudulent or flaky ministries that are based on spectacular "manifestations" instead of the Word.  That is why zeal must be coupled with knowledge!


How can we see more miracles today?

1.  Teach God's healing covenant clearly.

People must have a Biblical basis for believing in healing.  Faith comes by hearing God's Word.  If people hear that they were healed by the stripes of Jesus and that any sickness in their body is trespassing illegally and is not rightfully theirs, they have a basis for faith to be healed.  If they are just trained to wait on manifestations of the Spirit in services, and are never taught to know for sure that God will heal them in answer to their prayers, they may never get healed.

Many churches say, "We believe in healing," but they don't believe that healing was provided in the Atonement.  If you do not believe that healing was provided in the Atonement, you have no firm basis for faith.  Many relegate healing to the moving of the Spirit, yet Galatians 3:5-6 speaks of God doing miracles in response to faith.  When people come with expectant faith as people did to Jesus, they will get healed as they did in Jesus' ministry.

2.  Preach the gospel to the lost!

Too many of us are asking God to have signs follow us when we aren't going anywhere.  The great signs and wonders followed the preaching of the Word.  If there is no preaching of the Word to the unsaved, there will be few "signs and wonders"-type miraculous healings.  The signs to follow mentioned in Mark 16 are clearly to follow those who believe as they obey the Great Commission.  The gifts of the Spirit are not playthings for the entertainment of the saints.  They confirm the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Why should God "confirm" anything when no one is preaching the resurrected Christ to the lost?  There is no message to confirm then!

If you want some horrible meetings, invite an evangelist who flows in sign-type gifts to your church, and then don't invite anyone who is unsaved.  Just show up wanting a good time for the saints.  The evangelist and you will both be frustrated.  He will have to try to get the saints revived so that they will start inviting people to church rather than hoping that people will come because they saw ads for the services.

3.  Ask God for boldness.

You can't pray for faith, but you can pray for boldness.  The apostles did, and God answered their prayer.  You will see a connection in the Bible between bold preaching and signs and wonders following.  The more boldly we preach Jesus, the more signs and wonders will follow.

4.  Ask God for miracles.

The united believers in Acts 4:29-33 prayed for, and got, miracles.  Therefore, it is scriptural to ask God to perform miracles and expect him to do them.  We have other witnesses on this subject.  Paul encouraged believers to earnestly desire the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:31, 1 Cor 14:1).  We are told to ask for rain in the time of the latter rain (James 5:7, Zechariah 10:1), which is surely today.  (The signs of the last days are all around us.)  Just because it is time for the latter rain does not mean that we do not need to pray for it, as the verse in Zechariah makes plain.

5.  Get rid of hindrances.

The believers in Acts were in one accord.  If there is strife and discord in your church, you don't qualify for what they got.  Sin in the camp will stifle the move of God even under our new covenant.  This applies more to leaders and active church members, not to the flakes who flit from church to church and fringe people who attend but never help in any area.  Those people don't qualify to be part of a revival anyway, so don't worry about what they do.  Those who can't start a revival can't stop it either.


Zechariah 10:1
Zechariah 10:1:

Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.


James 5: 7
James 5:7:

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord.  Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.


Do I have the authority to cast out computer viruses?

No.

I could tell you some neat testimonies of times when the Holy Ghost supernaturally fixed computer equipment, but these would all fall under the category of manifestations of the Spirit.  You can't claim any Bible promise to cast out computer viruses by faith.  This goes right along with sound system problems at church.  As one preacher said, you don't need to cast the devil out of your sound system -- you need to fix it!  (Or get someone who knows how to run it, in some cases.)

If you are a technical person, you can believe God for wisdom according to James 1:5-8 to find out how to solve any computer problem.  I have worked this out on a daily basis and had too many answers to prayer to begin to list here.

If your machine has a virus, there is virus-removal software out there.  If you can't do it yourself, some companies will remove viruses for you for a considerable price.  Computer viruses are not going to go away just because you speak to them in the name of Jesus.

Of course, you can take common-sense precautions to prevent viruses from getting onto your machine in the first place.  If you practice "safe computing," you won't get electronically-transmitted viruses.  A Christian is sinning when he violates a software license agreement by making or using illegal copies of software.  You have yourself to thank for your trouble if you're a thief.  I am continually flabbergasted by the number of Christians who think nothing of violating software copyright laws.  Especially preachers.  Doing the work of God doesn't justify doing the work of the devil to get the software you need.  Learn to believe God for the money to buy it!  Meanwhile, don't copy software unless you have permission.  Of course, you already have my permission to copy this book and give it to everyone in the world for free.  I won't be building a mansion with the proceeds, but I'll have one waiting for me in glory that will make the richest software baron's estate look like an outhouse.


If God is really no respector of persons...
If God is really no respector of persons, why do only some get healed by the gifts of the Spirit in services?

The gifts of the Spirit manifest as God wills, and it is up to him to heal as he sees fit through these gifts.  Healing is available to everyone through faith, but only some will receive miraculous healings through the gifts of the Spirit.  The truth is, we will never know this side of heaven why God heals some and not others in this way.  However, it is still God's will to heal the ones who are not healed by the gifts of the Spirit in a particular service.  Everyone in the service could be healed by faith in God's statements regarding healing.  God would not "respect persons" when it comes to that.  Healing is universally available.

This question gets into a whole area that includes dreams, trances, visions of the Lord, angelic visitations, and so on.  I have yet to see the Lord and have seen angels maybe three times.  (All three looked like regular people.  One disappeared, one turned and walked through a wall, and the other one I was the only one who saw.)  How could God give Paul so many special experiences and not give me the same if he is no respector of persons?  I don't know why he does these things for some people and not others.  Why did he appear to Paul but not to notorious modern persecutors?  These will be good questions to ask in heaven.

God is no respector of persons as far as covenant rights go.  Everyone gets the same.  Everyone can be healed.  Everyone can get provision from heaven to pay bills.  Everyone can enjoy peace and joy that the world cannot take away.  Everyone can reign in this life through Jesus Christ.  Everyone can speak to a mountain or a tree and have it obey.  Everyone can believe and receive through prayer.  Anything God promised in the New Testament is for all Christians today.  God is no respector of persons in that he will not withhold a blessing from one and bestow it on another.

The point that people miss is that God has already healed you as far as he is concerned.  1 Peter 2:24 puts healing in the past tense for the Christian.  People sometimes mistake God's healing of some in services as proof that it is only his will to heal some.  Since you were healed already in God's eyes, it cannot possibly be his will for you to stay sick.

If everyone could always get healed through manifestations of the Spirit, there would be no reason to teach faith!  Jesus taught faith.  It is essential to teach personal faith to be healed so that the people who are not healed through the gifts of the Spirit can still get healed.

Here is a practical hint for you.  Your faith can "pull" the anointing out of  a healing evangelist, even if the gifts of the Spirit are not operating at the moment.  The woman with the issue of blood made a demand on the anointing that she knew was on Jesus, even though Jesus was not flowing in the gifts of the Spirit at the time.  If you will make a demand on the anointing at services where healing is going on, you can take advantage of the anointing in that service and pull it into your own body, just as the woman with the issue of blood did.


Should a Christian go to a healing shrine?

You don't have to -- you can be healed by faith.  The New Testament never instructs you to visit a healing shrine.  If you are critically ill, you are to call for the elders of the Church and be anointed with oil in the name of the Lord.  The prayer of faith will raise you up.

On the other hand, there are no admonitions not to do so.  Jesus visited a healing shrine where God was responsible for the healings.  He healed a man there.  He didn't carry him to the water to get healed.  This is a good example for you.  When you have Jesus, you don't need the shrine -- you can get healed without it.

However, Jesus did not tell the other people there that they were sinning.  It was hardly a sin to wait until an angel troubled the water and get healed.  There is no record that the angel stopped troubling the water after Jesus visited the place.  For all we know, people kept getting healed that way.

I would personally not go to a healing shrine for my own healing, but I could not tell you that you're in sin if you go.  Just be careful.  I don't know what places do what, since I don't frequent such sites, but make sure that you don't get into something that denies Jesus.  If the people running the shrine don't believe that Jesus Christ was God in the flesh, stay away.  If anyone other than Jesus Christ gets credit for the healings, stay away.  (That includes his mother and his apostles.)

Since different "healing shrines" do things differently, you can't make a blanket statement about them.  Some may have people who can teach you what the Bible says about healing and help you get it.  Others, at worst, may even have manifestations of devils; I have heard reports of such places.  I have been to one shrine (out of curiosity, not a need for healing) that was pretty good in some ways and a little flaky in others.  All in all, I would expect that some people would get healed going there because the people who ran it were Spirit-filled.  Needless to say, if the people running the place aren't born again, you have no reason to turn to the heathen for your healing.

Who knows -- maybe some places do have mud that has some therapeutic value.  I don't plan to find out myself.  Suffice it to say that you do not need to go to a healing shrine to get healed any more than you need to go to a healing service to get healed.


What are the differences between (power gifts)?
What are the differences between the gift of faith, the gifts of healings, and the working of miracles?

These are the three so-called "power gifts" found in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11.  Paul does not elaborate on them, so the distinctions are somewhat open to interpretation.  Before I try to categorize them, please realize that you don't have to pigeonhole a gift into a certain category to flow in it or receive from it!  The same Holy Spirit works all of these manifestations.  I will also say up-front that the distinctions I draw here are more a matter of experience and personal opinion than Scriptural argument, since you won't find much Scripture to define these gifts.  You may feel free to disagree with my definitions; I won't consider you a heretic.

The gift of faith

The gift of faith is sometimes called "special faith," and rightly so.  All believers have faith.  God has given you the measure of faith (Romans 12:3) and you had to have faith to be saved (Eph 2:8-9 and many other references).  Faith comes by hearing the gospel.  The man at Lystra received faith to be healed by listening to the gospel (Acts 14:7-10), and so can you.  So this cannot be talking about faith in the general sense or even faith for specific things that are already promised to you in the New Testament.  The "faith" in 1 Cor 12 is given by the Spirit to certain people for certain situations.  Faith in general is for everybody.  You cannot use 1 Cor 12 to prove that only certain believers can have faith!

Perhaps the best way I can describe this gift from experience is that this is a "know-so" faith, the same as you could exercise for any Bible promise, but without a specific Bible promise to back it up.  (If you have a Bible promise to back you up, you can always receive it, so that can't be what this gift is.)  You have a revelation in your heart that God will do something in particular, but you are responding to a specific word from God to you as opposed to his general Word to all believers.  There is no doubt that you have received your answer even though you cannot quote a particular Scripture for it.

This special faith receives from God just as general faith would, but there can also be an added element of unusual boldness.  When this comes on you, you feel like some invincible comic strip character.  You just know that you will get results.  There is no question about it.  You declare boldly what God is doing.  Let anyone say otherwise, and you'll just feel like laughing.

This gift can apply to things other than simply healing.

The gifts of healings

This is perhaps the most obvious of the three, since the result is healing!  One important point that is lost on many people is that you don't need a special gift of healing to minister healing to the sick!  All you need is the name of Jesus, and you have the right to use that name because you are a believer.  You can command sickness to leave in the name of Jesus, and it must obey you.

Being bold to use the name of Jesus and pray for the sick and see them recover is Scriptural, but it does not constitute the gifts of healings!  It can't, because those who believe (all believers including you) can lay hands on the sick and expect them to recover, and the gifts of healings are only in operation through some people.  (Anyone could be used in this at one time or another, but no one is used in this all the time.  Some preachers who have a ministry along this line flow in a fairly consistent manifestation of this gift, but even they cannot control when it manifests.)

The gifts of healings go beyond a simple prayer of faith or the taking of your authority in the name of Jesus.  They involve a tangible healing anointing.  People can be healed without a tangible anointing simply by using the name of Jesus, but when this healing anointing is present, people who would not normally receive by faith, including unbelievers, may get healed.  The people healed may be taken by surprise!

The gifts of healings may manifest in various ways.  Probably the most common is through the laying on of hands on people who come forward for healing.  Another common way is for the minister to have a "word of knowledge" and announce that God is performing a specific healing.  The healing power falls on one or more individuals right in their seats.  There can be as many variations on this as there are ministers; the Holy Spirit is creative!  I have seen people healed for no apparent reason when I minister in music (with or even without words); the power of God just hits them.  I am one of the last people to find out what went on; I find out after the service!  The power of God can also just "fall" on people without any altar call, announced word of knowledge, or any other particular thing.  In some cases, God's glory just visits the place and people just start getting healed in the presence of God.  God is not boring.  Thank him for variety!

Laying hands on the sick in the name of Jesus does not require that you or the person prayed for "feel" anything at the time.  However, it is common for the gifts of healings to kick in once you have already committed yourself to use the name of Jesus to command healing.  You may start feeling nothing, but suddenly the power of God manifests itself and you and/or the person being prayed for feels it.  You won't always feel a tangible anointing when you lay hands on the sick in the name of Jesus, but you certainly won't feel anything or get anything if you don't pray for the sick in the first place.  That is the #1 reason why we don't see more of this today -- people think it doesn't work, so they shy away from laying hands on the sick completely.  It's a shame.

One often-asked question is why this "gift" is put in the plural.  I don't know, but my best guess is that some ministers have a gift for certain conditions, and God uses them consistently in healing certain conditions.  We had a preacher who specialized in teeth once.  I know someone who got a cavity filled in one of the services, a fact that was attested to by his dentist.  (Why didn't God just heal the tooth?  I don't know; you can ask him about that if you want.  That's just how he did it in this case.  It was a sign and a wonder.)  I know someone else who seems to have success with back problems.  Another minister that I don't know personally has good results with tumors.  Why is this?  I don't know!  Ask God!  We do have the New Testament example of Philip the evangelist, who seemed to have special success with paralyzed, lame and demon-possessed people.

"Healings" is also in the plural in the Greek in the three places it is found in 1 Corinthians 12.  Why this is plural is perhaps more obvious.  "Working of miracles" is not "working of miracle" because more than one miracle is performed.  "Gifts of healings" are not "gifts of healing" because more than one healing is performed.  At least that's my opinion on it; I don't claim to have the definitive answer.  I use the phrase "gifts of healings" in this book to be technically correct, but surely, everyone would understand what you mean by "gifts of healing."

The gift of working of miracles

These involve some kind of action that supersedes natural laws.  Examples of this include Jesus' turning of water into wine, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, and walking on water.  I would also include the supernatural blindness that came upon Bar-Jesus in Acts 13:6-12.  I would consider this to be involved in the cases of the raising of the dead.  (See Nonviability for a list of cases in the Bible where people were raised from the dead.)

This gift can go beyond physical healings.  I have seen God fix bad computer equipment when I spoke to it with this anointing on me.  (If I could just do this as a covenant right all the time, I could make a business of it and put computer repair centers out of work.  This kind of thing happens as the Spirit wills, not as we will.)  I have met others who have had similar experiences.

God also describes what happened to the beggar at the gate called Beautiful as a "miracle of healing" (Acts 4:22).  So, miracles do encompass healing.  These would be instantaneous miracles involving a dramatic physical change, not just a recovery from an illness.  For example, if you don't have a right arm, and you suddenly grow one when you are prayed for, that is a miracle, not a healing.  Your right arm was not healed because there was nothing to heal!  You needed a creative miracle to get a new arm.

General truths about the gifts of the Spirit

The gifts of the Spirit (technically, the "manifestations of the Spirit") manifest as the Spirit wills, not as we will.  God has left himself an open door through the gifts to move in ways other than simply responding to faith in his Word.  However, faith in God's Word always works; you cannot count on a gift of the Spirit manifesting to meet your particular need.  You do not "own" or "have" a gift in the sense that you can control its operation.  However, you may be consistently used by the Spirit in certain gifts as he sees fit.  You cannot "claim" a gift and operate in it "by faith!"

Never attempt to "operate" a gift of the Spirit "by faith" without specific direction from the Lord!  Some bad teaching going around says that you can just do it by faith and expect the gift to manifest as you step out.  That is presumption and is extremely dangerous!  You can end up having the devil accommodate you since you have ceased to flow under the lordship of Jesus regarding the gifts of the Spirit.  Don't try to "use" the Spirit.  The Spirit is supposed to use you!


Ephesians 2:8-9
Ephesians 2:8-9:

For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.


Romans 12: 3
Romans 12:3:

For I say through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.


I have a headache...Should I call for the elders...?
I have a headache.  Therefore, I am sick.  Should I call for the elders of the church, as James 5 says?

No.  This could end up being a real headache -- for the elders!  The elders cannot come visit you every time you have a headache.  Read the passage in James carefully.

James 5:14-16

James 5 does not say that you should call for the elders if you have a headache.  If you want someone to pray with you for your healing, that is consistent with James 5:16, where we are told that we can all pray for one another's healing.  But it does not justify calling for the elders.  There are three proofs of this within the passage in James.

First, James said to let him call for the elders of the church.  If you have a headache, you do not need to call for them to come to you.  You are perfectly capable of going to church yourself unless you are in such pain that you cannot possibly get to church.  Go and have those who are mature in faith pray for you at church!

Second, James said that the elders were to pray over him, implying that the sick person is confined to a bed.

Third, James said that the Lord shall raise him up.  This is further proof that the sick person is bedridden.  If you simply have a headache, the Lord does not need to "raise you up."  You can raise yourself up.

Thus, it is clear from the context in James 5 that James is talking about the believer who is so seriously ill that he cannot go to church on his own.  If that does not describe you, you should not call for the elders of the church to come to you.


Are we redeemed from mental...illness?
Are we redeemed from mental as well as physical illness?

Absolutely, positively, definitely yes!

Some of the afflictions in Deuteronomy 28 were mental illnesses.  Of course, any illness of any kind is covered by verse 61 of that chapter, so you would know that you are redeemed from mental illness on that basis alone.  But look at some of the parts of the curse from which you are redeemed:  Vexation, madness, astonishment of heart, groping at noonday as the blind gropeth in darkness (this isn't normal behavior, is it?), your eyes failing with longing, having no might in your hand, being oppressed, crushed, and mad for the sight of your eyes, a trembling heart, failing of eyes, sorrow of mind, your life hanging in doubt before you, fearing night and say, having no assurance of your life, always wishing it were later because of fear.  Yes, the curse from which you are redeemed includes mental illness!

The behavior described in the similar curse in Leviticus 26:14-39 is also that of mentally ill people:  Having a faint heart, falling on each other when no one is persuing, and running from the sound of a shaken leaf.  These all demonstrate a fear that is totally out of control.  You are redeemed from this!

Another giveaway is the fact that Jesus healed the mentally ill as well as the physically ill.  Some of the ill people he ministered to had no known physical problem.

God has given you the spirit of sound mind (2 Tim 1:7).  This actually means self-control or sober-mindedness in the Greek.  If you have a mental problem that involves lack of self-control, this verse is for you!  Given that "sound mind" does not literally mean "a mind free from mental illness," I will not cite this as a proof-text for healing from mental illness.  Nor will I attempt to stretch the Scripture about having the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16) to say that you have perfect mental functions.  1 Cor 2:16 in context in fact says something very different, that you have the mind of Christ and not just a natural mind that can understand natural things.  But there is enough Scripture already to prove the point; you don't need to drag out 1 Cor 2:16 and try to make it say something it doesn't say.  It is possible to use the wrong verses to make a correct point, and I try to avoid that.  (Bad example actually published in a book:  A verse about "cleanness of teeth" was cited as God's promise of dental health.  Actually, it was a metaphor for famine and starvation and had no connection to dental hygiene.)


How can I speed up the manifestation...
How can I speed up the manifestation of my healing after I believe I receive it?

No Scripture directly supports the idea that you can speed up the manifestation of your healing!  Once you believe you receive, the matter is out of your hands.  You are at rest about the matter, because you know you have your healing.  To some degree, it does not matter to you how long it takes the manifestation to come, because you would be willing to hold on forever.  You know that you have received something even though you can't see it yet, and nothing will shake you from that.

It is possible, however, to delay or negate your healing completely by wrong words and wrong actions.  You can ensure that it never manifests by giving in to the sin of worry about it or speaking words of doubt.  Don't think that the devil won't try you on this!  You will have opportunities to give up when it looks as if nothing is happening.  You can undo the effects of your prayer of faith if you give up.  You need patience as well as faith to inherit the promises of God.

When Jesus spoke to the fig tree, something invisible happened immediately, but the disciples could not see the difference immediately.  Jesus did not keep speaking to the tree repeatedly to "speed up the manifestation."  In fact, he didn't do anything!  He believed that it would be as he had spoken and said nothing more to the fig tree.  If he had spoken again, it would only have shown that he was not really in faith the first time.  If you're all concerned about when your healing is going to manifest, perhaps you are not in as much faith as you thought you were.

Jesus said that if you believe you receive something, it shall be yours.  He did not say when, and he did not say that it would be immediately in every case.  You have it immediately in the spirit realm after you pray, but it does not necessarily manifest on the outside right away.

What could Abraham or Moses or Joseph have done to "speed up the manifestation" of God's promises in their lives?  They waited years and years, but God was faithful and did what he said he would do.  Your faith is what impacts the spirit realm.  Beyond that, there is really nothing extra you can do to make things physically appear faster.

It seems on a practical basis that the stronger your faith is, the sooner the manifestation comes.  It is obvious that some people consistently get a manifestation more quickly than others do.  However, the issue is building your faith, not doing something extra to influence the spirit realm after you pray.  It is always a good idea to work on building your faith, preferably before you need it!


Since God says I am healed, can I assume...
Since God says I am healed, can I assume that I do not need medical insurance?

I wouldn't assume that if I were you.  Of course, I am not you.

Whatever you do, don't let the devil condemn you for carrying medical insurance for yourself and your family.  Doing so is not "anti-faith."  I carry medical insurance, and I don't consider that a compromise.  I would rather have the medical resources available to keep me alive or somewhat comfortable in the natural while I believe God for my healing than to die prematurely.

I know that there are people who have no medical insurance and believe in divine healing.  Even strong "faith people" have challenges, and more than a few have ended up in the hospital temporarily.  Why go broke unnecessarily?  Such people can end up burdening the church financially when they don't have any insurance because they (supposedly) are in such great faith.  I would dare say that for every one Christian who really doesn't want insurance because he believes in healing, there are probably 100 who are just too lazy to believe God for the extra money to get medical insurance!  How many people do you know who never get sick and would never need insurance?  I suppose that such people may exist, but they are a tiny minority.

Please understand that failure to carry medical insurance does not obligate God to heal you if you get sick.  You get healed by faith, and whether or not you have insurance has nothing to do with it.  You're either in faith and you get healed supernaturally, or you're not in faith and you'd better have medical insurance if you don't want to drown in bills.


Can someone else's unbelief stop me...
Can someone else's unbelief stop me from getting healed?

Not unless you allow it to!

No force on this planet can prevent you from receiving your healing from God, just as no force can prevent you from getting saved if you choose to do so.  When it comes to personal faith for receiving things, the only thing that will stop you is your ignorance or unbelief.  Other people's ignorance or unbelief cannot stop you unless you permit it to become your ignorance or unbelief!

You may be thinking of the encounter at Nazareth where Jesus could do no mighty work because of their unbelief.  This passage cannot be used to say that mass unbelief could stop you from getting healed if you were in faith.  Apparently, few there were in faith.  On other occasions, only one person was in faith and that person received, even though others were unbelieving or even critical.  The woman with the issue of blood received a healing at a time and place where no one else was being healed.  The paralytic let down through the roof was healed while the others in the room (who were mocking) were not.  If their unbelief could have stopped the paralytic's faith, he would not have been healed.  Blind Bartimaeus got no help in his faith from those around him who were telling him to shut up, but he was healed in spite of their hostile unbelief.

Mass unbelief such as that at Nazareth definitely stops the flow of the anointing and the gifts of the Spirit.  In such an environment, you will either be healed by your faith or not be healed at all, since there will be few if any gifts of healings in operation.  Remember, through, that Jesus did lay hands on a "few" sick people and heal them even at Nazareth.  It is possible to get healed even when surrounded by Nazareth-level unbelief.

This having been said, it is still a bad idea to have people who are critical of divine healing around when you are standing for your healing.  They may mean well, but you may have to be firm with them about not coming and trying to make you feel sorry for yourself instead of encouraging you in your faith.  You do not need some man in a religion costume praying over your bed for God to prepare you for your imminent departure or some such nonsense.  A true minister should read you your rights, not your rites.  Avoid any minister who attempts to talk you out of believing and receiving your healing.  Yes, you may hurt the minister's feelings or those of your family, but it's your body.  If not hurting people's feelings is more important to you than getting healed, you are free to let anyone come in and do his religious mumbo-jumbo over you.  If you really want to get healed, you need to avoid having unbelieving ministers in, who will not only not build your faith, but will try to talk you out of any faith you already have.


Can I believe God for a partial healing?

Sure.  You can believe God for anything that you earnestly desire and are willing to stand in faith for.

I can give you a personal example.  My left eye was having so much trouble that I could barely see to work.  My right eye has had a far less severe problem all my life that requires some mild correction.  When my livelihood was at stake, I had no choice but to believe God for the healing of my left eye.  My eye doctor said the condition was inoperable and that furthermore if it ever went away I would still have fuzzier vision for the rest of my life.  I believed and received my healing.  About two weeks after receiving my healing with my spirit, the condition instantly vanished and has never come back.  It was just as if it had never happened, although I had been slipping for a long time.

But at this writing, I still wear glasses even though the eye that had a problem is now 20/20 or better.  I have not believed and received my healing for my right eye.  So, to that extent, I have believed for a partial healing of my eyes.

That may sound strange to you.  After all, why not just go ahead and believe for the whole thing, especially when the worse problem was the one I got healed of?  To be honest, it is a case of desire.  Maybe someday I will extend my faith toward the healing of the other eye.  Currently I can see fine without my glasses, and it just isn't something I'm in a hurry to do.  It isn't enough of a nuisance that I have a strong desire to be healed of it.  And yes, I'm aware that Jesus' stripes took care of both eyes.

Perhaps in most cases you are believing for a partial healing anyway!  You believe that a certain condition must cease, but you may have other conditions that are not as drastic that you are not praying for at the time.

Okay, but now what about one certain condition?  Can you believe God for improvement as opposed to total restoration?

I think that confusion is over the fact that Peter and Isaiah agree that you were healed by the stripes of Jesus, not partially healed.  So it might seem that you cannot believe for a partial healing, because you would not be standing on the Word.

I disagree with that viewpoint.  It is a fact that Jesus paid for your total healing.  You can have as much or as little of it as you want, or none at all.  You can still exercise faith for some portion of your healing.  You can also believe for a speedier-than-humanly-possible recovery.  It all depends on where your faith is.  Find out what you can believe and have people agree with that.  Even if others are pressuring you to believe for total healing of everything, if you aren't ready to stand for it in spite of any circumstances that might arise, you should not "agree" with them, since you would not truly be in agreement.  You would just be trying to do the right "faith person" thing, but not be acting on what is real to you in your heart.

In fact, you are making a mistake attempting to "believe God" for something that is beyond your heart knowledge of the Word.  Even if you know some things in your head, you really can't believe past what has become real to your heart.  This takes time in meditation on the Word.  If you have never heard about healing before, and you want to be healed of deafness and quadriplegia, you will most likely have to develop your faith over a period of months or years.  You can do yourself a disservice by attempting to extend your faith beyond what it is capable of receiving now.  You will get so frustrated that you may just give up.  At worst, you'll be the next chapter in one of those ubiquitous "I tried that faith stuff, and it doesn't work" books.

It is far better to believe and receive some specific phase of your healing than to give up and not pray at all because you don't feel ready to receive total healing.  Some people have found that as their faith grows, they get colds for fewer and fewer days.  Your faith walk has to grow just as your love walk does.  You don't start out being an expert overnight.  I can play the piano practically in my sleep now, but I have been practicing for over three decades.  I did not perform in front of a symphony orchestra the first year I started lessons.  (I have soloed twice with a symphony orchestra, but I had to practice a lot to get there!)

So maybe you can start by just believing God for a good night's sleep.  (See Insomnia for some good Scriptures to stand on for that.)  Then work your way up.  Nothing is wrong with this.  It is actually the wise way to work your faith.


How can I know that it's God...doing the healing?
How can I know that it's God and not the devil doing the healing?

There is much talk today about the devil doing lying signs and wonders, and some of the very people being most mightily used of God are considered agents of Satan by some.  How can we know?

When God does the healing, he gets the glory.  When Jesus healed the sick, God was glorified, not the preacher, even though Jesus was the preacher!  If the devil is doing the healing, God will get no glory and man or even the devil is glorified instead.

Does the man preaching say that Jesus was God in the flesh?  If not, stay away because 1 John 4:1-4 tells you that an antichrist spirit is at work.  If the man does say that Jesus was God in the flesh, he is not of an antichrist spirit.

Your mind might not appreciate this answer, but you will know on the inside if something is of God or not.  The Holy Spirit will give you an uneasy feeling about things that are not of God, but he will give you peace about things that are of God.  The writer of Hebrews talks about having your senses exercised to discern both good and evil.  Experience will build this in you.

Of course, you need no special discernment if anyone other than Jesus Christ is getting credit for the healings.  If anyone else (living or dead) is presented as the one responsible for healing you, you don't need to be "led by the Spirit" to know to stay away!

Plenty of New Age trash out there promises spiritual healing.  Some of it is positive thinking, which is not inherently bad but makes a poor substitute for faith.  A lot of it is doctrines of seducing spirits.  If someone says that his spirit guide told him that he got his healing power from an amulet in a prior life, you should have enough sense to recognize his "ministry" as demonic.

Ten criteria for distinguishing real and false ministers are listed in the discussion, All about healing services.  See that topic for further comments.


How can you tell if a certain condition is demonic?

Obviously, if the person you are ministering to suddenly starts writhing on the floor like a snake and screaming, "Don't say that name (Jesus)!" you have a good indication that a demon is involved.  (This happened to me only once.  By that I mean I faced the situation; I was not the one on the floor.)  In general, people in Christian countries hardly ever exhibit true demon manifestations outside mental institutions.  Many people are just totally in the flesh and that's all there is to it.  They are doing adultery and fornication and divorce and abortions because those are fleshly things.  You will hardly ever meet anyone truly driven by demons.  If you go on the mission field, that is another story.

It is hard to put into words how you tell if a demon is present if there is no outward manifestation.  Maybe it is trite to say that you just know, but that's about the best way to put it.  If you spend time developing your spirit through prayer and time with God and his Word, you will pick up things like that.  You will become aware of an evil spirit opposing your prayer.  Some people who are used in the gift of discerning of spirits pick up on this kind of thing more quickly than the rest of us.

Never assume that there is a demon present unless you are sure there is one.  You can do untold damage by attempting to "cast out" a nonexistent spirit.  In the majority of cases, there is nothing explicitly demonic going on, and you are always on safe ground to act as though there isn't.  Never assume that there is a demon present just because the person has a certain condition.  (See Is all sickness demonic?.)


Is all sickness demonic?

Clearly not.

Jesus cast devils out of some people with certain ailments, such as deafness and lameness, while he healed others without casting out a devil.  Therefore, we cannot say that all sickness is due to the direct action of a demon in your body.  However, all sickness does have its origin with Satan, regardless of how it comes to you.

In Mark 7:32-37, Jesus healed a deaf man without casting out a demon.  In Mark 9:17-29, Jesus healed a boy with a deaf spirit in him.  So you cannot say that deafness always is or always isn't caused by an evil spirit.

The lame man at the gate called Beautiful was healed in Acts 3:1-16 without any reference to a demon being cast out.  However, the woman bound by Satan in Luke 13:11-16 was bound by a spirit of infirmity.  Again, this can go either way.

You are not necessarily having a personal visitation from the devil just because you are sick.  But sickness is called the oppression of the devil in Acts 10:38.  Sickness is part of the devil's kingdom, not God's, and you have been redeemed from Satan's kingdom (Col 1:12-14).  Sickness was not part of God's creation in Genesis 1, all of which was declared good.  It will not exist in heaven or the new earth where Satan is not present.  That should tell you right there who the author of sickness is.

Suppose I put a rock on the accelerator of my car and aimed it at your house.  My car plows into your house and demolishes your living room.  You say, "I'm not mad at the guy who wrote Healing for Windows.  It was a car that wrecked my living room, not a person."  That is no different from saying, "It's just a virus going around.  It's not the devil."  Who do you think invented viruses to steal, kill and destroy?  Satan is the author of sickness, regardless of whether or not he personally puts it on you.  Thus, in a sense, all sickness is Satanic.  However, not all sickness is caused by the direct action of demons.  Sin brought trouble into this world, including sickness, and sickness will be here until Satan is banished.  It is part of life on Planet Earth.  However, you do not have to have any of it yourself, and sickness does not have to be part of your life on Planet Earth.


Will God heal my pets or livestock?

Yes.

Deuteronomy 7:12-15 explicitly extends the blessing upon you to your livestock.

We often take Deuteronomy 28 figuratively to apply to our business endeavors, but it still can be taken literally as well:  "Blessed shall be...the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep."  God blesses the livestock of the man who fears him.  Now let's look at the flip side, which is part of the curse for breaking the Law:  "Cursed shall be...the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep."  It is not explicitly stated how your livestock would be cursed, but having your animals get sick and die is surely a curse, not a blessing.

Sickness is the work of Satan whether it affects your animals or you.  You have authority over the works of Satan.  Satan, not God, killed Job's animals.

You animals were not healed "by the stripes of Jesus," so you cannot use that scripture to claim their healing.  However, it does make sense that if you can lay hands on "the sick" that you could lay hands on a sick animal in the name of Jesus and expect it to recover.  We do not have any Scripture where a New Testament believer laid hands on an animal, but then again, we don't have any Scripture where there was a praise and worship team in the New Testament, either.  We have to make some conclusions based on the general themes of Scripture where there is no explicit statement.  I will admit that I would not be willing to be burned at the stake before denying that God would heal your cat, but I believe that it is consistent with the spirit of the New Testament.  Of course, if anything happens, it will be by your faith, as your cat cannot exercise faith in the Word, no matter how many Bible verses you read to it.

There is further Bible precedent for believing that your animals will do better than sinners' animals.  In Exodus 9:3-6, we see one of the plagues of Moses:  "Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep:  there shall be a very grievous murrain [plague or pestilence].  And the LORD shall sever [distinguish] between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt:  and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel.  And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, To morrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.  And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died:  but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one."

I laid hands on the dog of someone I was witnessing to, and God healed it.  God was displaying his goodness.  I am not suggesting that you bring Fido to the next healing meeting in your city for prayer.  (In fact, please don't.)  However, you should exercise your authority against the work of Satan.

Someday Rover and little Fifi are going to die, and no amount of prayer will prevent that.  But in the meantime, if something concerns you, it concerns God, and you have the right to take it to him in prayer.


How many years should we expect to live?

The most common, but incorrect, answer is that the godly should expect to live 70 years, and 80 years if their strength holds (Psalm 90:10).  This cannot be true in context, because Moses, who wrote Psalm 90, lived to be 120!  So we know that Moses was not making a statement about the maximum lifespan allowed by God.

Many notorious sinners have lived past 90 or even 100.  Obviously, this verse does not say that you can only expect to live a maximum of 80 years.  If that were true, God would be saying that the godly should live shorter lives than sinners, which would contradict a large number of other promises.

Read the context of this verse, and you'll discover what it is really saying:

Psalm 90:5-11:

Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep:  in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath we are troubled.

Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

For all our days are passed away in thy wrath:  we spend our years as a tale that is told.

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

Who knoweth the power of thine anger?  even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

This psalm is not a statement by God of the allotted lifespan of his servants.  It is a lament over the sorry state of Israel in the wilderness and the wrath of God that has been poured out on the people.  Moses was lamenting that people were only living 70 to 80 years.  Since this is a lament, the implication is that the godly should live longer than the backslidden Israelites, who lived only 70-80 years because of their poor spiritual health.

Read the context again.  Moses was lamenting that our lives were like grass that grows up and dies quickly.  So he was saying that living only 70-80 years is to die prematurely.  We can see how a man who lived to be 120 without losing his eyesight or his strength would state this!

So the question remains, what is the proper lifespan for the believer?  We know that it must be more than 80 years based on the evidence above.

Here is the next verse that would come to mind:

Genesis 6:3:

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh:  yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

At first, this would appear to put a 120-year limit on man's life.  There is a problem with that interpretation also.  Jacob lived after this statement was made and was 130 when he died.  Abraham lived to be 165.  So this verse does not absolutely limit man's lifespan to 120 years.

One famous Bible commentator stated that man in Genesis 6:3 is literally the man or Adam, and that this was a statement to Adam and not to man in general.  In other words, Adam was being given 120 more years.  Let's do some math from Genesis 5 and see if this makes sense.  Adam lived a total of 939 years.  He begat Seth when he was 130.  Seth was 105 when he begat Enos, who was 90 when he begat Cainan.  Cainan was 70 when he begat Mahaleleel, who was 65 when he begat Jared.  (I hope I'm not boring you too badly.)  Jared was 162 when he begat Enoch, who was 65 when he begat Methuselah.  Methuselah was 187 when he begat Lamech, and Lamech was 182 when he begat Noah.  So Noah was born when Adam was 130+105+90+70+65+162+65+187+182 years old.  As you can verify with the Windows Calculator, that comes out to 1056 years old, which proves that Adam was already dead before Noah was born.  Since Noah was born at the end of Genesis 5 and is talked about in Genesis 6, this statement by God was apparently made during Noah's lifetime (Gen 6:8:  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD).  If so, it could not possibly have been made to Adam himself, because Adam was not on the earth at that point.

Now note that Noah, who walked with God, lived to be 950 years old.  So this statement did not even limit Noah's life.  If anything, Gen 6:3 is another curse because "the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Gen 6:5).  The 120-year lifespan was for the wicked, not the godly!

Where does that leave us?  There is no stated age at which you must die.  God does say, "With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation."  What is long life?  I don't know, but God says that you will be satisfied with it, which is really all that matters.  In other words, God will let the man who serves him live as long as he wants to.  When you are satisfied, you can go on to glory.  You can stay here until you are satisfied.  If you're not satisfied that you have fully completed your course on the earth that God has given you, stay here until you have.  Don't let sickness evict you from your body before you finish your work on earth!

See also:

Is there an appointed time for each person to die?


Can I get healed of injuries...
Can I get healed of injuries from accidents as well as diseases?

Of course you can!  Jesus took not only your sicknesses, but also your pains (Isaiah 53:4).  God is the Lord your Physician, regardless of the cause of your bodily trouble.  Any physician will treat both sicknesses and injuries!  Peter declares that you were physically healed in 1 Peter 2:24.  That is a blanket statement that healing is yours, regardless of the cause of the need for it.  Jesus healed the maimed as well as the sick.  (Sickness itself maims people, but some people can be maimed without sickness being involved.)  In Luke 22:50-51, Jesus restored an ear that Peter cut off with a sword; this was certainly unrelated to any sickness.  Therefore, the answer to this question is clearly YES.


Is there a difference between...disease and ...symptoms...
Is there a difference between having a disease and "just having the symptoms" of it?

Initially, there can be.  When you feel the first symptoms of an illness, you can rebuke it right away and command it to leave in the name of Jesus.  In that case, you may have had some symptoms, but you did not have the illness, and you will not have it.  On the other hand, if you accept the illness and say, "Oh, no, I guess I am coming down with something," you will indeed have the illness and the symptoms!

Once you are physically sick, there is little point making a distinction.  For practical purposes, if you have the symptoms, you have the illness.  If you want to get into fine detail, once you believe that you receive healing, there is a sense in which you don't "have" the illness because you no longer acknowledge its right to continue in your body, even though the symptoms may remain for a while.  The healing you received on the inside is working its way out, just as the curse on the fig tree started invisibly and then started to manifest on the outside.  The tree was as good as dead when Jesus cursed it, but it took some time for the "symptoms" of life to disappear.

As far as your public life is concerned, there is little to be gained by trying to theologize to the unsaved:  "I don't have a cold.  I just have the symptoms of a cold."  You will get a cold reaction from them.  They will think you are weird, and they will be right.

There is another angle to cover here, too.  After you receive your healing and it manifests in your body, there may be a time when the devil attempts to get you to take your sickness back.  You may feel a twinge and say, "Oh, no, I guess I was never really healed after all!"  That is just what the devil wants you to say, since it authorizes him to put the disease back on you again.  Instead, stand against it and refuse to take it back.  You have authority over it.  This may happen a few times, but if you will continue resisting the devil, he will have to quit.  At this point, you may have had symptoms, but you have not allowed the actual disease to come back into your body.


Can I leave my sick child in the church nursery...
Can I leave my sick child in the church nursery because "By Jesus' stripes he was healed?"

If the church has any sense, it already has a policy against this.  This may be an inconvenience to you, but it would be an inconvenience to everyone else if you brought little Sneezie in and got the other kids sick.

Unless your child's healing has manifested completely, in which case there is no question anyway, your child is considered sick for purposes of contagion.  Do not protest that your child was "healed by the stripes of Jesus."  When that manifests, the nursery workers will be happy to take him in.  Until then, forget it.  If your child is physically sick, he may make others physically sick, too!

And please, do the workers a favor and don't try to clean him up and hand him off between coughs and sneezes and make a run for the sanctuary before the workers figure out what's going on.  I worked in our church nursery for several years and never liked it when people did that.


Can I lay hands on myself for my own healing?

Sure.  Jesus said that you would lay hands on the sick in his name and they would recover.  If you are sick, you can lay hands on yourself and expect yourself to recover.  This is not a standard practice (we don't know of anyone in the Bible who really did this), but there is nothing wrong with it.  You can use this as a way of believing that you receive your healing according to Mark 11:24 at a certain place and time.

You have authority over sickness in other people's bodies when they allow you to lay hands on them in the name of Jesus.  It would be silly to think that you could get everyone else healed but not yourself.  Not only do you have authority over sickness in your body, you have complete control over your faith.  You won't have to worry that you're not in agreement with yourself or that you're resisting the anointing!

Lest this sound like you are setting up some kind of feedback loop in your body, it is important to understand that the rivers of living water come out of your spirit, not your body.  If you lay hands on yourself, the power of God will go through your spirit and into your body.

Since healing belongs to you anyway under the New Covenant, there is nothing wrong with receiving it this way.  Of course, you could receive it equally well without laying hands on yourself by following Mark 11:24.


Can we pray and believe for the healing anointing...
Can we pray and believe for the healing anointing to manifest?

Definitely, and you should!

We cannot tell God when and how to move through the manifestations of the Spirit found in 1 Cor 12:8-11, but we can pray and expect to see these manifestations in our services.  The Holy Spirit may manifest himself differently during different services.  The emphasis in a given service could be on teaching, evangelism, giving, repentance, consecration, healing, prayer, worship, or many other things.  If we consistently ask for "gifts of healings" and "working of miracles," we should expect that they will manifest consistently, though not in the same way in every service.

Although the Holy Spirit moves through the gifts as he wills, he moves where there is a desire for him to move.  Otherwise, Paul wasted his time telling the Corinthians to "covet earnestly" the best gifts (1 Cor 12:31) and to "desire spiritual gifts" (1 Cor 14:1).  If it's all up to God, what difference does it make?  But you know and I know that there are some churches where the Holy Spirit just seems to hang out and others where the Holy Spirit never manifests himself.  The difference is that he is wanted and welcome in some places, and not welcome or even recognized in other places.  You wouldn't expect him to be a regular at a church that makes fun of the Holy Spirit manifestations going on across town at a better church.

Thank God, no one told the believers in Acts that they should sit back and just see what the Holy Spirit wants to do instead of praying.  Read Acts 4:29-33.  The believers asked God for healings, signs and wonders -- and got them!  If they prayed for that successfully, so can we.  We have the same covenant that they had!  Go for it!

There is a key other than prayer to seeing signs and wonders.  Mark 16:20 says that God confirmed the Word with signs following.  Part of the preparation for signs and wonders is the proper preaching of the Word.  If we would present the Word better and more boldly, we would see more signs and wonders, since they confirm the Word that is preached.  Of course, this assumes that you are preaching the Word -- something that God can confirm -- instead of traditions of men and your personal opinions.


Is it right to get in a second healing line for the same...
Is it right to get in a second healing line for the same condition?

Yes.

Mark 8:22-25

We have the above example in Scripture of a man who was ministered to twice by Jesus himself.  Although this was apparently all at one time, Jesus laid hands on him twice for the same condition, and this was not sin.  He was partially healed the first time and completely healed the second time.  Jesus did not refuse to pray for him again, so we should not refuse to pray for people again, either.

It does not hurt to get another "dose" of the healing anointing!

It has been suggested that getting in a second healing line for the same condition only proves that you were not in faith the first time.  Well, if you weren't in faith the first time, you'd better get in line again!  However, you can get in line again even if you are standing in faith, having believed that you received when hands were laid on you the first time.  The idea here is not to "believe you receive" a second time, which is unnecessary, but simply to let more of the anointing flow into your body.

There can be some time between the point when you "believe you receive" and the time that your healing completely manifests in your body.  During this time, if there is an altar call for the sick, you qualify to get in it, even though you are standing in faith.  Although it is your confession that you are "healed by the stripes of Jesus," you can get in line if your body is still sick.  (You don't have to get in line; it's up to you.)  As long as you understand why you are up there, you are not "negating your first prayer" by going up again, nor are you "confessing" that you are not healed by going up.  Altar calls for healing are for anyone with bodily sickness at the time.  If we got really "spiritual" about it, we could say that everyone was already healed by the stripes of Jesus, so nobody should get in line!  Technically, everyone could receive without a healing line.  But not everyone does.

There is a problem if you are getting in your seventy-fifth prayer line for the same thing.  If you find yourself getting in healing lines all the time and never receiving, the best thing you can do is to build your faith by studying the Scriptures about healing.  If you continue to build your faith, you will get to the point where you will be ready to receive your healing.  Sometimes it is better to sit out a while and build your faith.  Otherwise, you can get used to going up and not receiving anything.


Would God heal an unbeliever?

Sure!  No one that Jesus healed in the gospels was born again!  No one who got healed in the entire Old Testament was born again!  God healed them when they were unbelievers (by New Testament standards), and God's mercy to the unsaved has surely not diminished under our better covenant today.

In fact, the primary reason that God uses gifts of healings, working of miracles and special faith (see 1 Cor 12:8-11) is to demonstrate his goodness and power to unbelievers!  A believer can receive healing through faith and does not technically need any of these gifts to be in operation, although God will use these gifts to heal believers, too.  God will sometimes heal an ornery unbeliever through these manifestations of the spirit -- don't get jealous!  God is showing his goodness and mercy to him.  (Remember, you can get healed by faith, so God hasn't left you out or preferred the unbeliever over you.)

You can share Jesus with unbelievers and lay hands on them for healing, expecting this sign to follow and confirm the Word (see Mark 16:20).  They may or may not get saved, but they will have a good reason to when they see the "goodness of God that leads men to repentance" (Romans 2:4).  This is surely a more effective method of evangelism than threatening people with stories about 666 and the mark of the beast and how if they don't get saved, they'll be left behind when the Church is caught up with Jesus in the clouds, and how they'll fry in the lake of fire which is the second death.

One exception is the hardened sinner who wants nothing to do with God.  Unless he opens his heart to receive, God will not heal him, since God does not force his will on anyone.  You cannot ask God to heal such a person as a "sign" if he demands that you do so.  (See the question on that topic.)  A person may need to repent of bitterness or unforgiveness before he can receive his healing.  (This can be true of believers also!)  Jesus could not heal the unbelievers at Nazareth who were hostile toward him, and you will not be able to do more than he did with such people.

Check out the nobleman in John 4:46-53.  He did not "believe" in the sense of accepting who Jesus was until AFTER he believed for a miracle for his son!  So it is possible for an unbeliever to believe for a healing without accepting Christ!  (I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, though.)


Must we fast and pray to make certain demons leave?

Yes.

But not for the reason you might think.

Jesus said, "This kind goeth out but by prayer and fasting."  What was he talking about?

Matthew 17:14-21

If we're not careful, we'll get the idea that this particular demon was a really tough one that required special measures to get rid of.  Then we'll proclaim a fast-a-thon "against" the demons (I've seen this done!), pray endlessly to "come against" them, and do many other ineffective things.  Note that Jesus did not schedule a prayer marathon or go on a fast to get rid of the demon.  He used his authority and spoke to it, and it left.  We have no indication that he even knew about the situation before the man approached him.  There wasn't time to pray and fast then.  Therefore, Jesus could not possibly have meant what some say he did -- that if you come across a really bad demon, you have to fast and pray "against" it until it comes out.  If anything, this scripture proves the opposite!

There is no question as to why the demon did not leave when the disciples tried to cast it out.  Matthew, who wrote the most complete account of this incident, recorded Jesus' direct answer to the question "Why could not we cast him out?"  That answer was, "Because of your unbelief:  for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.  Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting."

Jesus made faith the entire issue.  He did not say, "This is a really bad demon that you don't have enough power to cast out unless you pray and fast to get that power."  That would have been a lie.  The disciples did have the power and authority to cast that demon out.  In Matthew 10:1, we read that Jesus had already given them "power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."  Luke makes it even clearer.  The story of the demonized boy is in Luke 9.  At the beginning of Luke 9, Jesus gave them "power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases."  If they had power and authority over all devils, they had power and authority over the one in that boy.  It was not a power issue; it was a faith issue.  They had the ability to do it, but their unbelief prevented them from doing it.

I am not trivializing the fact that some situations are worse than others.  A man who needs to be healed of a cold is in a different place than a quadriplegic.  The same promises apply to both, but you can use less faith to be healed of something minor.  I have precedent for this reasoning.  At Nazareth, where faith was at a premium and unbelief was the norm, people got healed of a few (apparently minor) problems, but no one got a major miracle.  The disciples had success casting out devils elsewhere, but had trouble in this case.  They could have done so if they had believed Jesus' words.

Jesus said to cast out devils, not fast out devils.  He never once prayed one of those modern, ineffective, "Devil, I come against you" prayers.  Demons don't care if you "come against" them as long as you don't cast them out, as Jesus said to do.  You don't harangue them, you don't "come against" them, you command them to leave in the name of Jesus!  You don't have to scream at them about the blood of Jesus.  You don't even have to be loud.  You just have to use your authority in faith.  Jesus said that in his name we would cast out devils.  We have a right to make them leave in the name of Jesus.

So what about prayer and fasting?  Why would this kind of demon not leave unless you prayed and fasted?  The answer is obvious from the passage once you put religious tradition aside.  Unbelief was the problem.  Prayer and fasting was the antidote.  What Jesus was saying was, "Unless you spend time praying and fasting, you won't overcome your unbelief and use your faith as you should."

Don't misunderstand; faith does not come by prayer and fasting.  Faith comes by hearing God's Word.  Prayer and fasting will not produce faith, but they will increase your sensitivity to the things of the Spirit.  If you are not simply dieting, God will speak to you when you fast about areas of your life that need to change.  You'll find out if you've been leaving any doors open to the devil.  Prayer and fasting put your flesh under and let your spirit dominate.  If you want to walk in great faith, you must let your spirit dominate your flesh.  Then you'll be inclined to act on faith in God instead of on outward circumstances.

You will not overcome some circumstances unless you pray and fast.  But be sure that neither praying nor fasting changes God's mind about anything, and neither one gives you additional power.  They couldn't give you more power when you already have all the power you need!  It is a case of training yourself to use what is yours.


If God wants people healed, why doesn't he heal them?

In his mind, he did.  He declares that you were healed by the stripes of Jesus (1 Peter 2:24).  Anyone can receive healing just as anyone can be saved from his sins.  God has made provision for everyone's healing.

This question is in the same category as:

"If God wants people saved, why doesn't he save them?"

A legal reason that God doesn't just heal people is that Satan is the current manager of this world, even though God is the owner of it all.  God cannot simply barge in on the scene and do things.  He legally must wait until some person on the earth prays, at which point he can legally move in answer to that prayer.

God treats healing the same way he treats salvation from sins.  Anyone can have it, but you only get it when you ask.  If you ask not, you'll have not (James 4:2).

This is one reason it is so important to follow Jesus' commission to teach men all that he taught, and not stop at the "salvation from sin" aspect of the gospel.  If anyone is properly instructed concerning God's New Testament healing covenant, he can be healed.  In the same way, anyone who is taught about forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ can be born again.  It's God's will, but people must hear and respond in faith to the gospel.  The same pattern applies for both forgiveness and healing.


If I fall over, should I try to get up...?
If I fall over, should I try to get up as soon as possible?

No.

If the power of God knocked you on the floor, it stands to reason that God wants you on the floor!  Preoccupation with getting up will interfere with your ability to receive from the anointing.

There is no need to try to be "macho" and prove that you can get up as soon as possible.  In almost every case, you can get up if you really want to.  In some instances, you can be pasted to the floor by the power of God and unable to move, much less get up.  (This has only happened to me once.)  Or you may find yourself falling over again if you try to get up and walk back to your seat.

Unless you are being asked to get up, it is a good idea to soak in the anointing on the floor.  If an usher or another person in authority tells you to get up, you are obligated to get up if you can.  In places where there is limited space, ushers are sometimes told to clear the floor to make room for more people.  If the line will just be continued out in the hallway or somewhere else, this is unnecessary.  If the front of the room is filling up with bodies, it can be a good idea to have prayer lines in the hall, on the platform, or in the room after you move some chairs around quickly.  People won't feel rushed, and the line won't get bottlenecked when there is no more carpet real estate for people to occupy down front.

The best time to get up is when you feel the anointing subside or lift off you.  There is usually a definite time when you sense this.  You can attempt to get up before then because you assume that you are helping the ushers by clearing more space, but this will do more harm than good if you are still wobbly and an usher has to be diverted to follow you back to your seat.  Once the anointing has lifted, there is no reason to continue to consume floor space that might be needed by someone else.

Of course, I am assuming in this answer that you were truly toppled by the anointing, and that you did not just fall because it is the cultural thing to do these days.  In that case, you might as well get right up, since it wasn't God's idea for you to be down in the first place.  The same applies if (God forbid) there isn't any tangible anointing present.


Can I command a scoffer to be healed...?
Can I command a scoffer to be healed as a sign to him?

No.

Jesus never did miracles for scoffers, and a servant is not above his master.  On many occasions, he performed miracles and healings in front of scoffers, but the scoffers themselves never got healed.  A prime example of this is found in Luke 5:17-26.  The power of the Lord was present to heal the scoffers (the Pharisees and doctors of the law), yet not even one of them got healed as far as we know!  A man who was let down through the roof was the only one who got healed.

Consider the cases in the New Testament where someone asked for a sign:

Matthew 12:38-40:

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Matthew 16:1-4:

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.

And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day:  for the sky is red and lowring.  O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.  And he left them, and departed.

Luke 11:16, 29-30:

And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

[Jesus did not perform any sign to answer their request.]

And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation:  they seek a sign, and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

John 6:30-31:

They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee?  what dost thou work?

Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

[Jesus did not honor this request but again spoke of himself.]

Luke 23:8-9:

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad:  for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

Jesus was unwilling then to perform signs and miracles just to satisfy the curiosity of scoffers.  Since he has not changed, we can assume that he would be equally unwilling to do so today.

The fact is, Jesus has already performed large numbers of signs and wonders, many of which are documented in the Bible.  If anyone wants to "see" a miracle, he needs only turn to the Bible.  It is unfair to ask Jesus to do one more sign just because someone doesn't believe the Bible accounts, to say nothing of the many documented healings that have taken place in our generation.

Jesus was moved with compassion, not a desire to put on a circus act, when he healed the sick.  He will not stage a sideshow for the benefit of someone who is hostile to the gospel.

It wouldn't do any good anyway; the scoffer would find some way to explain away the miracle.  "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead" (Luke 16:31).  Jesus did rise from the dead, and the scoffer still doesn't believe, confirming this verse!

I have known people who have had a miracle performed right under their noses who have not received the Lord.  Miracles are nice for getting the attention of sinners, but they must make their own choice concerning Jesus.  Unfortunately, some stick with their preconceived ideas in spite of an obvious miracle.

The bottom line is that a sign or a miracle does not convert an unbeliever.  He is converted when he hears the good news of his salvation and acts on it.  People may think that they need to see a miracle, when what they really need to do is give heed to the Word of God.


Can we believe for a dead person to be raised?

On quite a few occasions in Scripture, a dead person was brought back to life.  Thus, it is natural to wonder about this.  After all, there is that command that Jesus gave his disciples to "raise the dead," and if we're promised long life, it might seem logical that the dead person should come back to live it out.

We can expect in general that there will be dead people raised today.  However, you cannot say in any specific case that God has an obligation to resurrect a certain dead person.  In other words, there are no Bible promises you can "claim" that obligate God to bring a dead person back to life.

A lot more Christians have made fools of themselves trying to bring back dead people than have ever raised someone from the dead.  Probably emotion has a lot to do with this.  If someone has suddenly lost a loved one, surely that person wants the loved one to be raised from the dead and hopes for a miracle.

However, raising the dead would fall under the category of "faith" as found in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11.  It requires the gifts of the Spirit in operation to call back someone's spirit into his body.  This kind of faith is not the general faith that you can use as a believer, but a special faith for something that is otherwise impossible to believe for.  There will probably have to be a simultaneous working of a miracle and/or healing.  Otherwise, the person would just drop dead again after being raised!  The gifts of the Spirit move as God wills, not as we will.  It is up to God when and where he wants to raise a dead person.

Even then, there is another problem.  Your faith cannot override someone else's will.  If the person to be raised from the dead does not want to live, the person will just die again and you wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

If the person has been dead for any significant length of time, he has spent some time in glory.  (A departed Christian goes immediately into the presence of the Lord.  "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8).  Once people get a glimpse of what heaven is like, they can lose their motivation to continue living on the earth!  You can't do anything once they realize that departing and being with Christ is far better, and they decide that they don't ever want to come back here.  Even Paul had trouble deciding what he wanted to do at one point.  Philippians 1:22-24:  "But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour:  yet what I should choose I wot [make known] not.  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."

One consistent pattern is that the dead people who were raised in Scripture were not aged folks who had lived out their lives.  A Christian who had run his race would not be motivated to come back.  A younger person might have more motivation.

Now what about the command to raise the dead in Matthew 10:8?  It is certain that Jesus was not telling them to go to the local cemetery and "raise up" a congregation.  The raising of certain dead people was to be a sign to people that Jesus was who he said he was.  The Great Commission includes a blanket statement about healing the sick, but does not include one on raising the dead.  In other occasions when Jesus sent people out, he did not include a command to raise the dead, although there was always a command to heal the sick.  The authority given to them in Matthew 10:1 did not include the raising of the dead, but it did include the healing of the sick.

Therefore, we can lay hands on the sick in faith, with or without feeling any urge to do so.  We cannot lay hands on the dead in faith without a special directive from the Holy Spirit.  Obviously, the person won't get any deader if you lay hands on him anyway, but you do risk potential embarrassment in front of unbelievers.

As for God's promise of long life, two things apply.  First, the person may have been engaging in practices that can lead to premature death, both in the natural and in the spiritual realm.  No one who died from his own foolishness was ever raised from the dead in the Bible.  Second, it was the person's responsibility to believe for long life.  You can't "believe you receive" on behalf of another person.  Therefore, claiming Psalm 91 and similar Scriptures on the dead person's behalf is futile.

Because the gifts of the Spirit are for today, there will be dead people raised in our day.  These gifts operate as the Spirit wills, not as we will, so we cannot "make" the Holy Spirit raise a particular individual from the dead.  If he moves on someone to pray a person back to life, thank God!

However, if we could all believe for any dead person to be raised, everyone could live on earth forever, because we'd just raise you from the dead when you die.  When you died again, we'd just raise you again, and so on.  We clearly do not have the right to live on the earth in this body forever, so there cannot be a blanket promise in Scripture that says that you can always raise the dead!


Should we anoint the sick with oil...?
Should we anoint the sick with oil when we lay hands on them?

If the sick person has called you to come visit him, and you are one of the elders of the church, and the sick person is a born-again Christian believer, yes.  This is explicitly commanded in James 5:14-16.

There is one account in Mark 6:12-13 where the disciples anointed the sick with oil and they were healed.  It is not stated elsewhere that oil was used when praying for the sick.  Therefore, this would seem to be a matter of preference for the preacher.

Many ministers anoint the sick with oil.  Some churches expect this of any minister who prays for the sick.  While not required by Scripture, there is certainly nothing wrong with this practice.  The oil symbolizes the anointing, the Holy Spirit, and consecration to God.  It's not a sin to use oil, and no minister should hesitate to honor the local church's custom of using oil if that is expected.  It's definitely not an issue that's worth fussing about with anyone.

If you are being prayed for and the minister does not anoint you with oil, nothing is wrong, and that is not a reason to think that the prayer is any less effective.  Oil is not required in situations other than the one in James 5.


What if someone doesn't want to be healed?

You cannot force healing on someone who doesn't want to be healed.  You cannot override another person's will with your faith.  Some people don't want to be healed.

Some people would rather have people feel sorry for them, pamper them, and generally dote over them, than be healed.  Some people would rather have something to crab about than be healed.  Some people would rather get their disability payments from the government or the insurance company than be healed and have to work for a living.  Some people are just tired of life and want to die.  It is sad, but you can do nothing to force healing on them.

Some people who have been near death have caught a glimpse of the glory that awaits them.  Surely heaven must be an indescribably wonderful place, for people who get a peek at it can lose their will to continue living here.  Once they see where they're going and compare it to what they have here, especially if they are in constant pain, they may want to "check out."  You can do nothing about it.  There is even one story of a famous minister who raised his wife from the dead.  The wife was upset because she did not want to come back.  He had to let her die again!

The only way to deal with people who do not want to be healed is to love them, pray for them on your own, and try to tell them the gospel concerning healing.  You can let them know that God loves them so much that he does not want them to suffer with illness.  But if a person does not want prayer for healing, you are wasting your time and probably annoying the person as well.

Don't write a person off just because he doesn't want prayer right now.  The person may decide later that he wants you to pray for him after all.  Unfortunately, he will just have to stay sick for now.  If the person wants to die, God will respect that decision, even though it may not be what you want.


What if someone wants healing but doesn't want Jesus?

The person will have to remain sick unless God, in a sovereign act of mercy, moves through the gifts of the Spirit.  Just as the new birth is available only through Jesus, divine healing is available only through Jesus.  Divine healing and forgiveness of sins were part of the same atonement.  It's a package deal.  Asking for healing while rejecting the Healer is like telling the mailman that you want your mail but you don't want him to deliver it to you.  It's like saying you want your refrigerator fixed but you don't want the repairman to enter your house.

Witch doctors and pagan "healers" in some countries make a good living from people who want healing but don't want Jesus.  Unfortunately, you end up with a lot more than "healing" (which you can bet will be temporary); you get demonic oppression along with the package.  Satan doesn't hand out free gifts; there is always a hidden price tag.  He would love to heal you a few times if it means that he can keep you under his control.

There is no point casting a devil out and leaving a clean house for seven more to enter.  If someone wants deliverance, he needs the Deliverer.  If he needs healing, he needs the Healer.  Divine healing and deliverance are only available through the name of Jesus.  If someone rejects him, he is denying Jesus the right to work in his body.  How can he work in your body if you don't want him there?  He will only go where he is welcomed; he does not force himself on anyone.

No one has a right to healing while rejecting the Healer.


Should we ask demons their names...?
Should we ask demons their names before casting them out?

Definitely NOT!  Demons lie anyway, so an unclean spirit might lie and say it's a spirit of divination.  This appears to be the case in Mark 1:23-26, where a solitary demon implied that there was more than one of him.  Jesus said to cast out demons, not have conversations with demons.  Neither Jesus nor his followers ever asked an evil spirit for his name, or any other information, in the New Testament.  On many occasions, Jesus told demons to shut up.

This idea of asking demons their names comes from a very sloppy reading of Luke 8:28-30:

When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God Most High?  I beseech thee, torment me not.

(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.  For oftentimes it had caught him:  and he was kept bound with chains and fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name?  And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

This last verse proves that Jesus could not have been speaking to the demon.  After Jesus asked him (the man) his name, he (the man, and the person asked the question) said, Legion, because many devils were entered into him.  If Jesus had been asking the devil, this would have to read:  The devil said, Legion, because many devils were entered into the devil.  This would be a new doctrine -- that a demon could be demon-possessed!

The demon is referred to as it.

The man is referred to as him.

"For oftentimes it had caught him..."

"And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name?"

Jesus was not asking the demon his name.  Jesus was asking the man, "What is thy name?"  He said "Legion" because many devils were in him and one of them was talking through the man.

The man cried out in verse 28, and it was obviously a demon talking through him.  The demoniac had no way of knowing that Jesus was the Son of God Most High.

If Jesus were talking to the demon, Jesus would have asked it the question.  This would be inconsistent with every other New Testament encounter with a demon.

We can learn two things from this.  First, don't ask demons questions.  Second, attempt to talk to the person, not the demon.


Why can't I get healed?

You CAN get healed!

This very question is rigged against you.  It is like asking, "Yes or No:  Have you stopped cheating on your wife?"  The question itself is unfair.  You lose if you answer it at all.  In this case, it assumes that for some reason you cannot get healed.  That is a lie.

You can do things that will interfere with receiving your healing.  That doesn't mean that you can't get healed.  It just means that you won't get healed as long as you hold on to unforgiveness or refuse to obey the known will of God.  See Mistakes that keep your healing away for a list of things that can interfere with your ability to receive the healing that God is freely offering you.

I asked this horrible question for years.  It seemed like everyone else "got it" and I just couldn't seem to grasp what the Bible said about healing so that it would become a reality in my life.  I believed a lie that for some strange unknown reason I just couldn't get healed.  Thank God, I found out that it was a lie and I could get healed.  The devil would love you to believe that there is some special reason that you can't get healed.

God's promises are for whosoever, and whosoever includes you.

If you will hear the Word of God on the subject of healing, take time to reflect on it, act on it, and honestly seek God, you can get healed.  You are not a special exception.  God does not engage in personal favoritism or personal animosity toward anyone (Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 3:25).

If you are having trouble receiving your healing, ask the Holy Spirit to help you see where you are missing it.  God didn't leave you here to figure everything out by yourself!


Why do people fall over when they are prayed for?

A person can fall over in a healing line for several reasons:

1.	The person just expected to fall over anyway.  (Very common, whether we want to admit it or not.)

2.	The minister shoved the person over.

3.	The person wanted the cute usher behind her to catch her.

4.	The person was tired and wanted to take a little nap on the floor.

5.	The person stood there with his eyes shut and hands up for 5 minutes and got dizzy.

6.	The person got himself emotionally worked up.

7.	The anointing was so strong that the person could not physically stand up.

8.	The anointing made the person shaky, and while the person could have prevented falling, he felt that it would be easier to receive from God on the floor.

Of course, we will spend most of our time discussing the legitimate reasons for falling.  In case you didn't figure this out, these are (7) and (8) above.

It has become somewhat of a cultural thing at healing services that people are just expected to fall over.  The author has observed with some (but not excessive) amusement that some people turn around to see if an usher is there before they "collapse under the power."  This is generally a sign that it is not the anointing.

Actually, the ushers are there primarily for the people who fall in the flesh (see reasons 1-5).  The author was knocked onto a concrete floor once with no ill effects and no "catcher" when it really was the anointing.  But if it isn't the anointing, better have some ushers handy, because some people will fall anyway!  Unfortunately, people can and do get hurt in healing lines!  It is the author's personal conviction (which he admits he cannot prove) that when the Holy Ghost knocks everyone down, no one gets hurt.  The problem is that even if the Holy Ghost knocked you over, that 250-pound guy next to you might decide to keel over in the flesh at an inopportune moment.  Hence the need for sharp, alert ushers during prayer lines!

Aside from theatrics on the part of the preacher or the people in the line, there is plenty of Scripture to support the idea of people falling when the power of God comes on them.  In some cases, it is simply being "blown away" by the power of God, in others, men were moved with a strong reverential fear of God.

"Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?  They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus saith unto them, I am he.  And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.  As soon then as he said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground." -- John 18:4-6.

"And behold, there was a great earthquake:  for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:  And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men." -- Matthew 28:2-4.

"And as he [Saul, who became Paul] journeyed, he came near Damascus:  and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?  And he said, Who art thou, Lord?  And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:  it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man:  but they led him by the hand, and brought him unto Damascus.  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink." -- Acts 9:3-9.

"While he [Peter] yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them:  and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.  And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.  And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, be not afraid." -- Matthew 17:5-7.

"And when I saw him [Jesus], I fell at his feet as dead."  Rev 1:17

"And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.  And he [God] said to Abram,  Know of a surety..."  -- Genesis 12:12-13  This could not speak of a regular sleep, because God spoke to Abram while he was in his "deep sleep," which was evidently some kind of trance.

"And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights:  I did neither eat bread, nor drink water..." -- Deut 9:18.  "Thus I fell down before the Lord forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first..." -- Deut 9:25.  This is one of the most amazing cases of the power of God moving on someone.  Moses did not eat or drink for forty days while under the power of God.  That obviously had to be God!

"This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.  And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.  And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.  And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet..." -- Ezekiel 1:28-2:2.  Here we have a case of God picking someone up after he fell down!  That would be interesting to see, wouldn't it?

"Then I arose, and went forth into the plain:  and, behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, as the glory which I saw by the river of Chebar:  and I fell on my face.  Then the spirit entered into me, and set me upon my feet..." -- Ezekiel 3:23-24.  Here's another case of someone falling before the glory of God and having God stand him up again!

"And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city:  and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face." -- Ezekiel 43:3.

"And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.  So he came near where I stood:  and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face:  but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man:  for at the time of the end shall be the vision.  Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground:  but he touched me, and set me upright." -- Daniel 8:16-18.

"And I Daniel alone saw the vision:  for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.  Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me:  for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.  Yet heard I the voice of his words:  and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.  And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.  And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright:  for unto thee am I now sent.  And when he had spoken this word unto me,  I stood trembling."  -- Daniel 10:7-11

"And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.  And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips:  then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.  For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord?  for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me."  -- Daniel 10:15-17

Peter "fell into a trance" in Acts 10:10.  The Greek word for fell there denotes the trance coming on him, and does not mean that he literally fell down.  However, the voice said "Arise" three times during the vision, and the Holy Spirit told him to "Arise" after it was over ("Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing:  for I have sent them" -- Acts 10:20).  This would seem to indicate that Peter was not upright at the time.  It is possible that he will have been prostrate, although he could have been sitting also.  We know for sure only that he was praying ("I was in the city of Joppa praying:  and in a trance I saw a vision..." -- Acts 11:5).

Saul may not have been immediately knocked over by the power of God, but he was certainly affected by it in 1 Samuel 23:24:  "And he [Saul] went thither to Naioth in Ramah:  and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and he prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.  And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night."

Note that shaking under the power is recorded in many of these instances as well as falling.  Thus, it is normal for people to shake, even if they do not fall, when they encounter the power of God.

If you find yourself shaking, it is not wrong to go down on the floor voluntarily, even if you could stay up if you wanted to.  If the anointing is heavy on you, you may find it easier to receive from God on the floor.  Then at least you don't have to be concerned with trying to stay on your feet.  However, I would advise against just going down on the floor because you think it's the thing to do when you haven't felt any tangible anointing on you.  Falling won't help you receive anything -- you're either in faith or you're not at that point.  Falling over may just make it harder for the ushers and others involved with the service.  Also, falling in the flesh will break contact between you and the minister out of whom the anointing is being transmitted into you, and it can short-circuit what God wanted to do through the anointing.

I am by no means saying that most of the people who fall over these days do so because the power of God overwhelms them.  I am simply saying that it is Scriptural for this to happen at times.  However, please notice that in none of the cases listed in Scripture was the person expecting to fall over.  In general, people make much too big a deal over falling over or not falling over.  It is really not important.  The idea is to get healed.  Jesus promised that the sick would recover when hands were laid on them.  He never said they would fall over, and it doesn't matter.  It is their recovery that is promised, so it is their recovery that matters.


Is it a sin to go to the doctor or take medicine?

NO!

Just because God declares himself to be The Lord Your Physician (Ex. 15:26) does not mean that it is a sin to seek human help.  Sadly, some so-called faith people (who were not really in faith) have died before their time because they would not seek medical assistance when they needed it.

Some people have attempted to use 2 Chronicles 16:12 as proof that God is against doctors.  ("And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceedingly great: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.")  This verse does not say that God is against doctors.  Asa was already failing to trust in God, looking to the Syrians for help in war.  The issue is not that Asa saw a doctor but that he did not seek the Lord to heal him, which he obviously could have done in the light of Exodus 15:26 and other Scriptures.  God's general complaint with Asa was failure to seek him, as the context of this verse makes clear.  The doctors per se were not the issue.  (It has been suggested that the doctors may have been Egyptian sorcerers, but we have no proof of that.)

Luke was a doctor (Col 4:14) and no one told him that his calling was sinful.  Jesus said that the sick need a physician (Matt 9:12, Mark 2:17, Luke 5:31).  Doctors and medicine are not wrong.  They are on God's side and he is on theirs.  God wants you to get well, and the doctor wants you to get well.  There is agreement there.

It is not doctors but ignorant religious Christians who will fight you on healing.  No doctor in his right mind would sit there and tell you that your illness was the will of God for some reason, yet there are preachers who would!  While the doctor is trying to heal you, the ignorant preacher will pray that you have "patience to endure the suffering which God has seen fit to lay on you" instead of laying hands on you for your recovery as he is plainly commanded to do in Scripture.  If you are sick, you would be well advised to avoid anyone who calls himself a minister of the gospel who does not believe that it is the will of God to heal you.

Some people suppose that they are putting God on the spot, or somehow honoring him, by not going to a doctor or taking medicine.  Neither is true.  God is under no obligation to honor anything but faith.  Just because you shun medical assistance or medicine does not mean that you are in faith.  It may simply mean that you are being an idiot.  This kind of thing brings a reproach on the teaching of divine healing in general, because scoffers love to point out cases of people who shun medical help and die.  If you've believed you've received your healing, and are so sure that you will stake anything on it, great.  If you have any doubts, you had better get whatever natural help is available to you.  Don't gamble with your life.

If you are in faith, your use of medicine will not prevent that healing from manifesting.  You have not turned your back on God or stopped trusting him just because you take a pill.  Don't get all bound up over that.  Just make sure that you maintain your stand of faith.

Also, there can be some time between the time you believe that you receive your healing and the manifestation of that healing.  During this time, it is a good idea to take medicine to relieve the symptoms.  If anything, it will make your stand of faith easier.  Having your body screaming at you in pain because you won't take a pill for it may seem like "macho faith" (and go ahead, if that's what you want to do), but you may find that it's nicer not to suffer unnecessarily in the meantime.

Your use of medicine or doctors does not dishonor God in the least.  If you are trusting him for your healing, it will manifest in your body anyway, and God will still get the glory for your healing.  After all, in most cases, the medicines available cannot cure your condition anyway; they can simply relieve some of the suffering until you really get healed.

So, if you don't want to be the next discussion item on a tabloid TV show, it would be wise of you to get medical help if you need it.  It isn't a sin.


Matthew  9:12
Matthew 9:12:

But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.


Mark  2:17
Mark 2:17:

When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick:  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.


Luke  5:31
Luke 5:31:

And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.


Colossians 4:14
Colossians 4:14:

Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.


Should I expect to fall over or resist falling over...?
Should I expect to fall over or resist falling over when I am prayed for?

Neither!

The idea is that someone will lay hands on you (the sick) so that you will recover (Mark 16:18).  Falling over has nothing to do with it.  I would prefer that you stayed on your feet and recovered after hands were laid on you to having you fall over and stay sick.  Both are quite possible and happen all the time.

Some people just expect to fall over, and down they go whether it's the anointing or not.  (Thank God for ushers.)  You should NOT go up expecting to go down, even if a lot of people are falling over.  You should be expecting that you will recover because hands are being laid on you in obedience to Jesus' instructions.  You should focus on receiving healing.  Whether or not you fall is irrelevant.

Because your focus is on receiving healing from God, you should not be trying NOT to fall over, either.  Some people brace themselves as if they are just daring God or the preacher to knock them down.  That is the wrong focus, and it will hinder you from receiving your healing.

A long time ago, a well-known healing evangelist prayed for me.  To my chagrin, this evangelist began pushing me over in a rather blatant way.  In this case, it was not the anointing, it was the definitely the evangelist.  (Some preachers do push, you know.)  I took great offense to this.  I refused to be pushed down, even though everyone else was falling.  The evangelist proceeded to push me halfway across the platform, all the while seemingly trying to push me over.  I locked my legs and would not go down.  Finally, the evangelist gave up.  I was proud of myself at the time for not falling when it wasn't the anointing, but you know what?  I was way too upset to even think about receiving my healing, and I walked out of the meeting the same problem I came in with.  Meanwhile, plenty of people who were obviously pushed over were healed of their ailments!  I felt self-righteous but sick afterwards.

Many years later, I had the opportunity to be prayed for by the same evangelist when I had a more dire physical condition.  Fortunately, I had learned my lesson by then!  I allowed the evangelist to push me over, since that again seemed to be the norm.  The anointing was not responsible for my fall; the evangelist was.  But once I got on the floor, the anointing hit me like a truck.  I couldn't get up for a long time, but when I did, most of the symptoms were gone, and the remaining ones left within a day or two.

I believe that another principle applies here.  "Touch not God's anointed, and do his prophets no harm" (Psalm 115:15).  You will not secure any kind of blessing for yourself by making a scene over the fact that he is pushing you.  The fact is that many anointed ministers do this, and if you want to receive from their anointing, you will have to cooperate with them.  Locking your legs and being defiant will not help you in the long run.  Remember that you are receiving from GOD and the man is only a messenger of the anointing.  Keep your eyes on your Healer.

Please note that I am in no way defending the practice of shoving the sick over.  Jesus said that you would lay hands on them, and I do not believe he meant that there should be 100 pounds of pressure behind your hands when you do so.  However, ministers are people too and they are growing just like you are.  If you will cooperate with the minister, you will not only have a better chance of getting healed, but also you won't look foolish when you protest being shoved over and the man who just prayed for you never touched you.  (This happens too!)

I have maintained for years that we should consider having two lines at the end of a service.  The first line would be for people who want to get healed.  The second line would be for people who want to fall over.  The minister could lay hands on everyone in the first line and say, "Be healed in the name of Jesus!"  Then he could shove everyone in the second line as hard as he could and say, "Fall over in the name of ME!"  (You could not do this in Jesus' name because he never pushed anyone down.)  I have yet to see this put into practice, and maybe it's just as well.

Go up expecting to receive your healing, and get it.  Don't let your mind get distracted by thoughts of whether you will or will not fall over.  Falling or not falling does not matter -- receiving your healing does.  Focus on receiving your healing.

Related Topics:

Why do people fall over when they are prayed for?

Beware:  Wrong motives for getting in healing lines


Is there an appointed time for each person to die?

No.  When and how you die is more up to you than it is up to God.  The only definite thing is that you will die unless Jesus returns before you get old enough to die.

I have amassed a parade of Scriptures that prove that it is mainly up to you.  You can do things that will shorten your life on the earth, and you can do things that will lengthen your stay here.  You obviously cannot stay here forever, but you can decide when you're ready to go.

This topic is dedicated to all those who have been fed the lie that when God decides it's time for you to die, that's just it, and there's nothing you can do.  This lie is usually brought forth by preachers doing the funeral of someone who is dead before his time.  "Well, the Lord saw fit to call him home."  (Baloney.)  This often leads to even more stupid statements, such as, "Obviously his work on earth was finished" or the classic idiocy, "God wanted another little angel to sing in his choir."  Aside from the fact that the person's actual work on earth is by definition finished, a person's death does not indicate that the person even started the work that God had intended for him, much less finished it.  (Failure to even start what God wanted may even be why he died so young!).  And God has plenty of angels in his choir, thank you, and people don't become angels when they die anyway -- they become as the angels (Matthew 22:30, Mark 12:25).

The confusion probably starts with a misunderstanding of Hebrews 9:27:  "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"  This verse does not state that there is a specific appointed day and hour when you are supposed to die.  It only states that it is appointed for you once to die and then face judgment.  (The idea of reincarnation is totally at odds with Scripture.)

The apostle Paul had a choice of whether he wanted to stay on the earth to help the Church or die and be with the Lord:  "But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to be with Christ; which is far better:  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you." (Philippians 1:22-24).  Paul was deciding what he should choose.  He had a choice.

You should definitely not die before you are 70 to 80 years old, and that is definitely not an upper limit.  Consider Psalm 90:10:  "The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."  The context of this verse is the wrath poured upon Israel because of their sins!  Moses was bemoaning the short lives people were having.  (Moses himself lived to be 120.)  You should surely live at least as long as the disobedient Israelites!

To the man who makes God his refuge and habitation, God says, "With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation" (Psalm 91:16).  This promise is not made to anyone who does not meet this requirement.  It is instructive to read all of Psalm 91 and see all the life-shortening tragedies from which God has promised to deliver you.

God repeatedly states that hearing his words prolongs your life, and scorning them shortens it.  Here's proof, and this is by no means a comprehensive list of verses:

Keeping the Lord's commandments prolongs your days --  Deuteronomy 5:33, Deuteronomy 6:2, Deuteronomy 11:8-9, 1 Kings 3:14

Laying up God's Word in your heart multiplies your days -- Deuteronomy 11:18-21

God's law adds length of days to you --  Proverbs 3:1-2

Length of days in is wisdom's right hand -- Proverbs 3:16

Receive God's saying and the years of your life will be many -- Proverbs 4:10

The fear of the Lord makes you live longer -- Proverbs 9:11

But wickedness shortens your life -- Proverbs 10:27

Not keeping God's commandments can lead to death -- Proverbs 19:16

Honoring your father and mother lengthens your life -- Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Ephesians 6:1-3

Speaking evil with your tongue keeps you from living a long life, but avoiding evil with your tongue gives you long life -- Psalm 34:11-14, 1 Peter 3:10-11

Wickedness and foolishness make you die before your time -- Ecclesiastes 7:17

Psalm 55:23:

But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction:  bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

If it is possible to lengthen your days or shorten your days, there is no set time at which you must die.  It is you, not God, who lengthens or shortens your days based on the decisions you make about God and his Word.

Yes, there are sinners who live to a great age, but we can assume that they would have lived even longer if they did the things that "multiply your days."

The fact that Ecclesiastes 3:2 says that there is a time to die does not mean that you cannot move when your time to die is!

See also:

How many years should we expect to live?


Matthew 22:30
Matthew 22:30:

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.


Mark 12:25
Mark 12:25:

For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.


Can I believe and receive a healing for someone else?

Not in the sense that you can believe and receive your own healing in Mark 11:24.

The only exceptions found in Scripture are for members of your household, generally children.  God does not expect an infant to believe and implement Mark 11:24.  In such a case, you can pray in faith and God will heal your child.

Also, you can lay hands on a sick person and expect him to recover if you have preached the gospel to that person.  (Remember that signs and wonders follow the preaching of the Word.)  You do not have to preach the whole New Testament to the person, but you need to explain what you are doing so that he can consent to it.  God will honor your faith in this case even if the other person is not completely sure about it.  You will find that this works better with unbelievers than with fellow Christians who know the Bible and should believe for their own healings.  God expects more from believers.

You cannot attribute anyone's death to a lack of faith on someone else's part.  Ultimately, your faith only works for you; the other person's faith needs to work for him.

Receiving a healing for someone else in a prayer line

With this exception, you cannot believe and receive for someone else.  Many well-meaning people come up in healing lines and ask if they can receive a healing for a loved one.  Barring a manifestation of the gift of faith (1 Cor 12:9) for that particular circumstance, this does not work.  In a service where there is a tangible healing anointing, the person receiving the healing must be brought into physical contact with that anointing.  Often being in the service is sufficient, but if the person needing healing is not present, there is one Scriptural way to get the anointing to the person.  In Acts 19:11-12, people had Paul wear cloth items that were then taken to the sick.  The tangible anointing on Paul went into those items and was thus transported to the person who needed the healing.

The use of "prayer cloths" is thus justified, if there is a tangible healing anointing in manifestation.  This practice was not done all the time, and you would not just do it "in faith" when no healing anointing is present.  (I suppose that one exception would be if you were sure that God wanted you to lay hands on a cloth at that particular moment, even though nothing seemed to be happening at the time.  The anointing to do this would manifest as you obeyed him.)

Why you generally can't believe you receive something for someone else

Mark 11:24

Jesus said to believe that YOU receive what YOU desire when YOU pray, not to believe that SOMEONE ELSE receives what you desire him to have when you pray.

You cannot override someone else's will, even if his will is contrary to God's will in the matter.  If you could, we would all believe we receive everyone else's salvation, and the whole world would get saved.  But it is clear from Scripture that not all men will receive salvation.

With the exceptions already noted, there is no Scriptural precedent for believing something and receiving it for someone else.

Some people might point to Acts 16:31 ("And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house") as an example of receiving something for someone else, but this is not justified by the context.  In this case, the jailer's house believed after they were all preached to (verse 32-34).  The jailer's faith did not save the others in his family; their individual faith did.

Further proof that Acts 16:31 is not a blanket promise for "household salvation" may be found in 1 Cor 7:15-16:

But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart.  A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.  For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband?  or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

If Acts 16:31 meant what it is commonly thought to mean (a guarantee of household salvation), 1 Cor 7:15-16 would have to be rewritten to say, "Wife (or husband), you know that your faith guarantees the salvation of your spouse.  Believe your spouse into the kingdom and your spouse will have to get saved!"  But that is not what Paul said.  You cannot make someone else get saved, even your spouse, just by "believing for their salvation."

In fact, the common catch phrase that we should "stop using our faith for health and money and start using it for souls" is mistaken because you cannot receive someone else's salvation the way you can receive health and money for yourself.  You would instead use your faith that God would send laborers to the person, would convict the person, etc., but you could not force the person to make the right decision by using your faith.  Please know that I am in no way de-emphasizing soulwinning; Jesus came primarily to save lost humanity and the church's #1 mission is to reach the lost!  I am simply saying that "faith" as shown in Mark 11:24 does not apply in the case of someone else.

I don't want to throw cold water on the hopes of anyone who is "standing in the gap" for a loved one.  However, in many cases a believer is put under unnecessary condemnation by those who feel that if he "just believed hard enough," the problems with the family member would disappear, and this is not the case.  Of course, I am not justifying acting like a jerk around the family member and turning him off to the gospel, either.

Jesus' teaching:  Get your own faith

Jesus taught that everyone has to get his own faith.  You cannot transfer your faith to someone else, and you can't use someone else's faith.  This is clear from this parable:

Matthew 25:1-13:

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.

But the wise answered, Not so; lest there not be enough for us and you:  but go ye rather unto them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage:  and the door was shut.

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

Scriptures where someone received a healing for someone in the household:

(Note that this is the exception, not the rule, in the New Testament)

Matthew 8:5-13; Mark 7:25-30

Matthew 15:22-28

Luke 7:2-10

John 4:46-53

Intercession

Please understand that I am not minimizing the role of intercession.  It is a good thing to have people interceding for the sick, specifically that God would show them any hindrances to their healing and that God would give them a revelation of his Word concerning healing.  Intercession is a good addition to sharing God's healing covenant with the sick person, but it is not a substitute for it.  Faith comes by hearing God's Word, not by being prayed for.


Do I have to wait for a healing service to receive a healing?

No.  You can receive your healing at any time by believing that you receive it from God when you pray.  God has already provided it for you, and it's always available.  It is just like the new birth.  You don't have to wait for an evangelistic service to get saved, and you don't have to wait for a healing service to get healed.

I was saved alone in my dormitory room in college because someone had told me how to get saved.  I didn't have to wait for a "salvation service."  Likewise, once you know how to get your healing, you can receive it at any time rather than waiting for a healing service.  Wouldn't it be a bummer if you had a headache right now and you had to wait until there was a healing service to get rid of it?  You don't have to wait another minute.  You can receive your healing from God right now.

It is sometimes easier, especially with major conditions, to receive your healing in a healing service because there is a special anointing to lay hands on the sick.  "Gifts of healings" are in manifestation.  Many times God will "meet you halfway" if you are not fully in faith yet at such meetings.

Never be ashamed of going forward at a healing service if you are sick.  I say that especially for any ministers who are reading this!  Don't be caught up with what other people think of you.  Don't let the devil cheat you out of a blessing by lying to you about how people will think you're not really a faith person (even though you preach faith) because you went up in a healing line.  Isn't that better than staying sick so that we all know you weren't in faith anyway?  I preach healing but I have been in plenty of healing lines myself.  It's just easier to receive in such an environment, and if you have the opportunity, take advantage of it!


Can I "stand in proxy" for someone else in a healing line?

If the idea is to be a conduit for the tangible anointing to go into the other person, no.

There is no Bible precedent for standing and having hands laid on you on behalf of someone else.  The healing anointing is not transmitted in this way.  Actually, this disrupts the flow of the anointing in a service, because the power will not flow into you, and the minister will notice a "break" in the flow of the anointing, which can be distracting and make it harder for the next people to receive.

Part of the problem is that you cannot "believe you receive" a healing on behalf of someone else.  (See Can I believe and receive a healing for someone else?.)

Note that if "standing in proxy" is simply a means for praying the "prayer of agreement" according to Matthew 18:18-20, you can get results on that basis.  The prayer of agreement is the issue, not standing in line.  There is no Bible record of the anointing jumping to another person because someone was the "lightning rod" for it in a prayer line.  If you do pray in agreement, please understand that the person to be healed needs to be in agreement with your prayer if you expect to see results.  There are cases where people have been prayed for without their knowledge and God has indeed moved on their behalf, but this is not something that you can claim with certainty the way you could claim your own healing in agreement with someone.

There are at least three Biblical alternatives.  You should suggest these if you are the one laying hands on the sick if you can afford the time to explain them:

Have someone minister the Word and laying on of hands in person.

The best way to minister to the sick is to have a believer share the Word with them concerning healing and lay hands on them in person.  Any believer is authorized to do so; no ministerial credentials are required!  (See Mark 16:18 and James 5:16)

Anoint a cloth and have it taken to the person.

This has Biblical precedent (Acts 19:11-12), but it was not the norm.  You would only want to do this if there is a tangible anointing present.  You would not do this if you are simply laying hands on the sick in faith according to Mark 16:18.  It was not a general practice in anyone's New Testament ministry to do this all the time.

Pray the prayer of agreement on the spot -- IF the sick person knows about it and consents to it.

You can pray the "prayer of agreement" for the person's healing if the person who needs it is in agreement with that!  You will find that attempting to pray the prayer of agreement for Grandma in Montana is generally insufficient unless Grandma agrees to it and knows what's going on.  It is the author's experience that many people come for prayer looking for the minister to wave a magic wand and get Aunt Etta in Cleveland healed when Aunt Etta has never even heard the gospel.  (Aunt Etta is such a mean old grouch that no one wants to talk to her anyway; she just needs to get healed because the nursing home bills are sapping the family's finances.)  In this case, Aunt Etta needs one of the first two "personal visit" options.  Although God sometimes does respond to such prayers, the problem is that Aunt Etta won't recognize or cooperate with the healing anointing even if it does hit her.

Given the number of people who request such "long distance" prayers, it is noteworthy that there is not one single case in the New Testament of believers praying in agreement for healings long-distance for people outside the immediate household.  You cannot rule out the "gift of faith" in such cases, and someone may get healed if the minister senses the anointing to pray for a particular case.  But this is not the Scriptural norm.

The Bible pattern is not, "They shall stand in proxy for the sick" or "They shall pray for the sick from another state," but rather, "They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."  This is how Jesus and his apostles ministered as a rule, so it should be our rule as well.

You do not see a case where someone went to Jesus with a long-distance prayer request for Uncle Aristarchus in Galilee.  Jesus did not often make "house calls" on the sick.  As a believer, you can certainly make a "house call" to visit the sick, but you can't call up the local healing evangelist and ask him to come pray for Aunt Nancy.  The clear pattern is that the sick were brought to Jesus.  If you want a healing evangelist to pray for Aunt Nancy, you need to take Aunt Nancy to one of his meetings.


Why are so few people healed of the common cold...
Why are so few people healed of the common cold and the flu?

It seems strange that while the common cold and flu are almost universal ailments, so few Christians seem to walk in victory over them.  It seems that there are many more testimonies of people getting healed of drastic illnesses than getting healed of sore throats, coughs, fevers, and so on.

Part of this may be that people don't get excited reading a headline that says, "Man Healed of Runny Nose in Healing Crusade!" so the more "sensational" (but not more supernatural) healings get the headlines: "Deaf, Dumb and Blind Man Healed -- Plays Pinball in Lobby to Prove It!"  So part of it may be a publicity problem.  But part of it isn't -- many Christians, even ones healed of more dire troubles, seem to fall victim to these little annoyance tools of the devil.

This is unnecessary.  All illnesses were included in the curse for breaking the Law, and Jesus bore that curse in our place, redeeming us from having to suffer any part of it.  No Christian ever needs to get so much as a headache.  You are redeemed from that cold that all your relatives have.  You are redeemed from this year's strain of the flu that is in that person in the elevator who just sneezed on you.  It is just as much the will of God to heal you of these "minor ailments" as it is his will to heal quadriplegics of theirs.

The problem is not that the sick person does not desire to be well, but that the relatively small annoyance of putting up with the symptoms may seem to outweigh the effort required to stand in faith.  In other words, we don't want to be healed badly enough!

If you were told you had two weeks to live because you had terminal cancer, you would surely do everything in your power to hear God's promises and receive your healing.  However, our attitude with a cold is often "I can live with it."  Yes, you can live with it, but you can also live without it if you will act on the good news that Jesus was made sick in your place, and that the curse he bore covered all sickness.  The Lord your Physician is longing for you to receive the health that is rightfully yours.

Because people have a stronger desire to be healed of bigger illnesses, the result can be that they get healed of the bigger ones and then fall victim to the smaller ones.

There is no special secret healing method just for colds and the flu.  You get healed of these in exactly the same way that you get healed of any other illness.  Faith works just the same for all of them.  Just make sure you're serious (not playing around) when you pray!  "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  (James 5:16).  Stop letting the devil rip off your time with these nuisances and believe God for your healing now!


If you are sick, does that mean there is sin...?
If you are sick, does that mean there is sin in your life?

Unless you are the first person since Jesus to live in sinless perfection, there is sin in your life.  God will progressively deal with you in different areas so that you will get sin out of your life, but he won't deal with you about all of them at once.  Given that there is sin in your life, the question is really, "Is your sickness a result of the sin in your life?"

Possibly, but not necessarily.

But doesn't Acts 10:38 tell us that the devil is the source of sickness?  Yes, the devil does cause sickness, but being in sin puts you where he has some degree of authority over you.  If you willfully persist in sin, you have opened yourself up to the devil.  Also, it is hard to receive a healing from God if you are not receiving something else (correction) from God at the same time.

If you are walking uprightly before God, and you are not aware of any area where you are resisting the Holy Spirit, it is safe to assume that your sickness was not caused by sin.  Of course, in a general sense, sickness is in the world because of sin.  But you should not go on a "witch hunt" to discover some secret sin just because you are sick.  Do not let anyone condemn you into thinking something is wrong with you because you have a stomachache.  Your born-again spirit will let you know if you're in sin.

However, it would be useful to examine yourself if your walk with God has not been what it ought to be.  The Bible definitely does teach that sin can make you sick, and you can't blame the devil in such cases, even though he is the author of sickness.

Jesus attributed the condition of the man at the pool of Bethesda to sin.  The man had been there for 38 years, and after healing him, Jesus said, "Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (John 5:14).

Foolishness

Psalm 107:17-20 -- Here we are told that fools are afflicted because of their transgressions and iniquities.

There are obviously a number of ways that modern-day fools can make themselves sick.  Drugs and alcohol can lead to physical afflictions for which you have only yourself to thank.  Not dressing properly in cold weather or staying in the hot sun too long are other examples of foolishness that can lead to physical ailments.  Praise God for his mercy, because he is still willing to heal you (verse 20).  But note that this is AFTER you decide to cry out to the Lord.  Repent first.

Sexual sins

It should be self-evident that sexual sins can lead to disease.

Romans 1:27:  "And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet [just or due]."  This is not an excuse to condemn gay people with AIDS, but the fact is that homosexuality is an abomination, and there is a natural price to pay for this sin.  (God never calls it an "alternative lifestyle.")

Proverbs 5:11 tells you the end of getting involved in adultery (a more Biblical term than "indiscretion" or "affair"):  "And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed."

The devil may have invented AIDS and other venereal diseases, but you can give him an obvious open door by engaging in sexual sin.  These diseases are still part of the curse from which you are redeemed, but you should repent before asking God to heal you.  Sometimes, he will heal you first in his mercy, but you do not have the right to ask God to heal you while clinging deliberately to what you know to be sin.

Failure to have a proper regard for the Body of Christ

1 Cor 11:27-32 warns those with improper attitudes that they will be judged with sickness or even death if they refuse to judge themselves.  While it is still the devil's work, there can come a point where God will permit the devil to afflict you or even kill you to avoid having you be eternally lost.  This "chastening" (verse 32) is NEVER a normal method of God dealing with you, but is reserved only for those who harden their hearts.  No believer in right fellowship with God will be "chastened" in this manner.

Summary

Sickness can be the result of sin in your life, but it can also be part of fallen creation getting on you for no particular fault of your own.  Do not assume that just because you are sick, you are in sin.  If you are sin, you know it anyway.  If you don't know of anything you're doing wrong, you may assume that your sickness is unrelated to any specific sin.


"They shall recover" -- How long should it take?

You can get in a ditch on either side of the road on this one.

Obviously from the context (these signs shall follow them that believe), your recovery should be obviously supernatural.  You should not be sick as long as an unbeliever who did not pray.  If you were, what kind of a sign would that be?  It would be a sign that Jesus has no healing power and that you are no better off with him than you would be without him.  If you would have just recovered the same way anyway, why should anyone listen to anything you say about Jesus?  Therefore, your recovery should be notably faster than it could have been by natural means.

On the other hand, many people throw away their faith when they do not see an immediate sign of recovery after being prayed for.  Although instantaneous miracles tend to get more publicity, you will lose out on your healing most of the time if you confine God to working instantly in your body.  You inherit God's promises by faith and patience (Heb 6:12).  If all miracles were instantaneous, you would never need patience; you would only need faith.

Some of the best testimonies of healing come from people whose improvement was rather gradual (but no less supernatural).  Being healed of a terminal illness slowly surely beats dying.  You may not consider it a blessing at the time, but this practice in learning to stay in faith despite adverse circumstances is one of the most important lessons you can ever learn as a Christian.  It will not only help you receive healing, but this same principle will help you in every other area of your life.


Can Satan heal?

Satan is a spirit being who does have a certain amount of power on the earth among the unsaved.  He is able to do "lying signs and wonders" to deceive, if possible, even Christians.  Since Satan is the instigator of sickness, in some cases he can "call it off" when a person goes to a witch doctor or Spiritualist "healer."  However, he is not all-powerful like God, so he cannot always help the sick person.

The witches of Egypt were able to duplicate some impressive demonstrations by Moses and Aaron.  (You can read these accounts in the early chapters of Exodus.)  They turned rods into snakes after Aaron's rod turned into a snake.  (The Hebrew word for snake does not denote some cute little garter snake, either.  It was some kind of land and sea monster, possibly a crocodile.)  Yes, Aaron's snake ate their snakes, but you can see that the Egyptian witches, with the help of the devil, were able to do "signs and wonders."

The Egyptian witches duplicated the first two plagues that Moses pronounced.  They were unable to duplicate the last eight.  Satan's power is limited and does not begin to compare with God's power.  Also, his specialty is destruction, not creation.  The magicians copied the plagues, but did not copy their removal.  Pharaoh had to go to Moses to get rid of the plagues.

Since some ailments are described in the New Testament as being demon-induced, and demons are under Satan's control, clearly Satan could order one of his own to leave a person alone for a season to work a "miraculous healing."  However, Satan has no compassion for people and does this only to ensnare people in his false cults.  This provides profitable repeat business for witch doctors, since people who use them are bound to get sick again and have to go back, and the more the people submit to the devil, the more the devil can use sickness in their lives to control them.

The author used to be involved in the occult and noted that many leading occult practitioners paid a lot of lip service to God.  Some teach that God gives "you" this power.  But change the topic to Jesus Christ, and that is another story.  All leading occultists agree that Jesus was not God in the flesh.  This should come as no surprise, since 1 John 4:1-4 gives us this "litmus test."  Spirits that are not of God may talk on and on of how wonderful God is and how wonderful heaven is, but they will not confess Jesus Christ.  If you wonder who is doing the healing, find out what the person in charge says about Jesus Christ.  If the person does not teach that he was God in the flesh, stay as far away as possible, even if the group calls itself "Christian."  To save yourself some trouble, let me point out that Mormons, Christian Scientists and Spiritualists incorporate miraculous metaphysical healing into their religions, and all three of these are false cults that lead their adherents straight to hell while appearing "Christian" on the surface.  Their healing testimonies prove only that Satan does have limited power to heal.

Satan's ability to do signs and wonders proves that you cannot certify a ministry as credible just because signs and wonders follow it.  Consider these passages:

Matthew 24:24:

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mark 13:22:

For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

2 Thessalonians 2:8-9:

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

Revelation 13:13-14:

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast...

Revelation 14:14:

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles...

Revelation 18:23:

...for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

This should be ample warning that God is not in a ministry just because signs and wonders follow it.  Some signs and wonders can be demonic, and others can even be mere sleight of hand or other trickery.  (I have heard of at least two ministers who had quite a following until it was shown that their "signs" were phony.  I'm sure there are more.  I was even at a non-Christian meeting where "plants" in the audience gave "testimonies"; don't think that an unscrupulous minister could not have his own "plants.")

Healings are not mentioned explicitly in these signs and wonders, but I think the Scriptures above are ample proof that Satan can do "miraculous" healings when it suits his purposes.

For more on this topic, see How can I know that it's God and not the devil doing the healing?.


Can I "plant a seed" toward by healing by giving...?
Can I "plant a seed" toward my healing by giving to a minister who sends a letter begging for cash?

No.

Healing is free; you don't have to buy it.  Jesus already bought it for you.

But what about the testimonies of people who gave $1000 and got a major healing miracle for themselves or a loved one?  Are these testimonies just lies, or is there something to them?  And if there is something to them, why not give toward that ministry to get the same results?

While there may be testimonies of people who gave money and got healed, consider that the Lord may have laid it on the person's heart to give that amount.  When the person gave the money in obedience to the Lord, God rewarded the person with other blessings.  However, if God has not nudged you toward giving to that ministry, you will not be giving under the same conditions and you won't get the same results.  This is why it is foolish for any minister to publish testimonies like this and leave the impression that the same result would happen to anyone who gave.  I think it would be more likely that the Lord would lead you to throw such a letter in the trash (or the recycling bin) than to give money to such a ministry.

The problem with all such letters is that they cheapen the work that Jesus did on the cross for you.  You do not have to buy a miracle.  Jesus already bought your miracle for you!  It's paid for in full.  All you have to do is believe the gospel!

While generosity can assist you in receiving healing (see Healing and giving), it is not the primary way to procure it.  The "price" you pay (if you want to call it that) is faith, not cash.

Healing is no less free than salvation from hell, since it is part of the same atonement.  Given this truth, consider what you would think of the following letter from Brother Bagit's ministry asking you to plant a seed toward your salvation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the desk of:  Ananias Bagit Ministries' Secular Fund-Raising Organization

PLANT A SEED TODAY FOR YOUR SALVATION!

Are you unsaved?  Guido McRosenkrantz was, and he gave $50,000 to Bagit Ministries last year.  Today Guido has a full knowledge of salvation and is on his way to heaven instead of hell.

I want you, my dear non-brother (yet), to experience the same blessing that Guido did.  [This section has been underlined in blue and run through with a yellow highlighter, although you can't see it on the screen.]

Everything in the kingdom of God works by the seed-time and harvest principle.  If you want a harvest of salvation from hell in your life, why not take this time to plant your best seed into Bagit Ministries.  Then sit back and expect a miracle of salvation to fall from heaven upon your life.  I'll be personally praying for your particular prayer requests as well as those of the other 150,000 people who respond to this letter.

Forget your pastor and his building fund for now and plant your best seed into Bagit Ministries.  I'll even send you a tax-receipt letter and add you to my mailing list so that you can get these letters every month.  In fact, I'll even sell my mailing list to similarly minded ministers so that you can be blessed by their mail also.

Ananias Bagit

Ananias Bagit

Founder, Ananias Bagit Ministries

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Brother Bagit:

Please pray a special prayer for my miracle of salvation.  Enclosed is my best seed of:

(   )  $50,000       (   ) $ 100,000       (   ) $500,000      (   ) $1,000,000     (   ) Other: __________

I would also like to order (_____) sets of your latest, most important ever, 6-tape series, "God Wants ME to Prosper!" @ $150.00 per set.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Of course, you would know immediately that this was a bogus offer.  After all, if Mr. Bagit were primarily interested in your salvation, he would share the scriptures with you about it so that you could receive it for yourself.  It is no different with healing, since it is simply the physical side of the salvation that Jesus purchased for you.

Although sowing and reaping is an eternal principle, you do not plant soybeans in a field and then harvest corn from it.  Planting money into a ministry would result in a financial return to you, not a healing return.

I personally refuse to support ministries that spend the majority of their correspondence ink asking for money.  I would just as soon see them go under, particularly if they are going to send out letters where the teaching (if any) always culminates in a money appeal for their ministry in particular.  I would rather support programs at my local church and ministries that place their emphasis on helping people instead of raising money.

You're free to do what you want with your money.  But I urge you not to use it to "buy" something that's already free.


What is "inner healing," and do I need it?

The problem with this term is that it is used in different ways by different groups, and it can mean anything from something completely Biblical to something not only unscriptural but dangerous.

Unscriptural and dangerous "inner healing" practices

Let's start with the negative kind.  This is the sort where someone asks you to go back deep into your past to try to find old hurts.  Supposedly, you then face these hurts and get healed of them.  In some cases, you end up with new hurts that weren't even there before, or else your old hurts seem to hurt more.  This kind of "healing" is actually junk that has crept into the Church from modern psychology.

This completely disobeys Philippians 3:13-14:

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

In fact, precisely the problem with many Christians is that they are hung up on their past so that they do not press forward and do anything useful.  They need to heed Paul's advice and quit dwelling on the past and start setting their mind toward accomplishing things in God's kingdom.  If they would just obey these verses, they would not have time to get snared by their past.

You cannot dwell on that harm that people have done to you.  To do so is to walk in unforgiveness.  If you are carrying ill will toward someone who hurt you in the past, you need to decide to forgive that person, asking God's help in doing so.  That's all.  Having done that, you just forget it.  Quit dwelling on it.  You don't need to get healed, you need to decide to forgive.

Get on with your life!  In so doing, you will find that the hurts of the past start waning.

God is the Healer of your emotions as well as your body, as proved elsewhere in this book.  Trust him as your Healer in the areas where you are still hurting on the inside.

Biblical "inner healing"

"The Lord raiseth up them that are bowed down" (Psalm 146:8, see also 145:14)

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3)

Part of the anointing on Jesus (Luke 4:18-9) was "to heal the brokenhearted" and "to set at liberty them that are bruised."  Jesus is willing to do this for you.  He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8) and therefore still anointed to do it.

We do not see "soul healings" during the healing crusades done by Jesus or the apostles.  The illnesses healed were physical or mental.

So where does this leave you if you feel hurt and in need of emotional healing?  Is such healing not available to you?

On the contrary.  It is certainly available to you, but not through the same means (laying on of hands, anointing with oil, and so on).  Praying for emotional hurts the way you would pray for a physical healing is like using a saw to drive a nail.  You are using a useful tool for the wrong purpose.

If you need to be comforted, God will comfort you.  He is called "the God of all comfort, who comforteth us in all our tribulation" (2 Cor 1:3-4).  He comforts those who are cast down (2 Cor 7:6).  Acts speaks of walking in the "comfort of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 9:31).

People who are hurt desperately need a revelation of God's love and compassion for them.  They also need to see some flesh on God's love from other members of the Body of Christ.  Don't just tell them to "believe God for emotional healing" and go your merry way!

God cares about every part of you, spirit, soul and body.  If you have emotional needs, he longs to meet them along with your physical needs.


Acts  9:31
Acts 9:31:

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.


Can I get healed of alcoholism, drug addiction, lust...
Can I get healed of alcoholism, drug addiction, lust and homosexuality?

No!

You can get healed of the effects of these, but you cannot get healed of these things themselves.

Why not?  They are not diseases!  They are SINS!!!

You get healed of a disease.  You repent of sin.  Once you repent of sin, you open the door for God to heal you of the physical consequences of your sin.  He is perfectly willing to do so, but he would be wasting your time and his if you are going to keep sinning and making yourself ill.

I am not saying that God will not free you from these bondages.  He will!  But the principle here is not how to be healed of a disease, and the answer is not simply reading healing Scriptures.  The Scriptures you need are those that discuss your dominion over sin.  These are every bit as important as "Healing Scriptures" and are the key to breaking the stronghold of sin in your life.  You must deal with the sin problem as well as the physical results.  Your redemption gives you authority over both.

A disease can come on you without you being personally responsible for it.  Alcoholism, drug addiction, lust and homosexuality cannot come on you without your conscious choice.  You chose to get bombed.  You chose to get high.  You chose to lust.  You chose to have ungodly relations with members of the same sex.  It was never an accident.  It was solely your choice.  And because you chose to sin in this way, the only solution is for you to choose not to sin in this way from now on.  Only then do you open the door for God's deliverance.

If you are an alcoholic, you are sinning and need to repent.  God forbids alcohol-induced drunkenness (Ephesians 5:18).  You are violating his holy commandment every time you get drunk.  Do not attempt to hide behind some excuse that you have a disease of some kind.  You are simply indulging in a work of the flesh (listed among such in Galatians 5:19-21).  You cannot be healed of the works of the flesh.  You must repent of them and live above them by choosing to walk in the Spirit so that you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

Witchcraft is also a work of the flesh in Gal 5:21, and included in the Biblical definition of witchcraft is drug use.  Lust and other sexual sins are also listed in Gal. 5:21 (adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness).

Jesus never healed a single person of any of the works of the flesh, and neither did any of the apostles.  There is no precedent for being "healed" of them.

This flies in the face of everything that modern counselors and magazine articles have to say on the subject.  You do not need to get "healed" by a twelve-step plan, even a so-called Christian twelve-step plan.  The Biblical one-step plan is simple:  REPENT!  Don't let society coddle you with its error that every sinner is just a sick person with a "disability" that needs to be "healed."  Unfortunately, we have a habit of renaming sin so that it doesn't seem like sin anymore.  It is "politically incorrect" (big deal) to say that the sodomite is engaging in an abomination (Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13) instead of an "alternative lifestyle."  (It is an alternative to godliness, that's for sure.)  But he is, and he needs to repent.  The drug addict or pornography addict is not "disabled" (regardless of silly U.S. court cases over this) -- he is "bound by sin!"  A sin by any other name is still a sin!

There is no need to look for a gene that makes you sin.  Mankind inherited a sinful nature from Adam, so it was genetic, in that sense.  But that doesn't excuse it!  If it did, God would not judge it and send people to hell for sinning.  If you are born-again, your spirit does not have a sin nature in it.  It is only your mind and body that can lead you into sin if you let them.

Once you have dealt with the root of the issue by repenting of your sin, you can pray in faith for God to heal you of the physical consequences of your sinful choice.  Alcohol and other drugs do produce physical dependencies; lust and homosexuality can produce mental dependencies.  But God can and will heal you of all of these self-inflicted problems if you will allow him to.  First you must repent and submit to God.  There is no temptation that you cannot overcome with God's help (1 Cor 10:13).  This leaves you no excuse to continue in your sin.

Also, people tend to engage in these things to fill a hole in their lives.  You need to open yourself up to the love of God and let God fill that hole in your life.  He will do a much better job than a bottle or a joint.  Ask God to give you a revelation of his love for you (Ephesians 3:18-19).

Drug and booze addictions are part of the power of darkness from which you were delivered when you were saved (Col 1:12-14).  In Christ, the statement, "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic" is not true, and no Christian should let this statement escape his lips.  Instead, say, "Once an alcoholic, but now free indeed in Christ, delivered from alcoholism and all the other tools of bondage of the devil!"

Once you realize that you are in sin and need to repent, and that you are not simply sick and in need of healing from a disease, you are most of the way toward being able to be rid of the sin as well as the physical consequences of your sin.

Please understand that these sins are just as much atoned for by the blood of Jesus as any others.  You get forgiven for them just as quickly as you do when you repent from more socially acceptable sins like gossip or complaining.  It is not a "big deal" to God to forgive you from these.  Jesus' blood atoned for these sins, and Jesus was made physically sick in your place as part of the curse for these sins.  Once you have repented, there is no need for you to continue to bear a curse that Jesus bore for sins that Jesus also bore for you.  "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed"  (John 8:36).


1 Corinthians 10:13
1 Corinthians 10:13:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:  but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.


Galatians 5:19-21
Galatians 5:19-21:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:  of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.


Ephesians 3:18-19
Ephesians 3:18-19:

[That you] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.


Are women redeemed from labor pains?

Since Jesus bore our pains (Isaiah 53:4), you might wonder whether women have been redeemed from labor pains.  The answer is no.  Jesus' bearing of the curse in the Law did not cover labor pains, because labor pains are not listed in the curse of the Law!  They are part of the curse on the earth for sin found in Genesis 3:16-19:

"Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception, and in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children, and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast harkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it:  cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it thou wast taken:  for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."

We can see that this curse not only includes labor pains for women, but also hard work for a living for men and physical death for both sexes.  The question now, is, did Jesus redeem us from this curse?  The answer is obviously no in the cases of men working for a living and physical death.  Men still have to work for a living (or at least they are supposed to, even if they live in a welfare state).  You will still die physically unless Jesus returns before the end of your natural life.  Jesus did not bear these curses and did not redeem us from bearing these curses in our natural lives on earth.

There is no mention of weeds (thorns and thistles) in the garden before sin.  Obviously, we have not been redeemed from weeds, either.

Therefore, we should conclude that women have not been redeemed from labor pains, because they are part of the same curse as hard work, physical death and weeds!

Although women cannot expect to give birth pain-free, they are redeemed from complications, miscarriages (Exodus 23:25-26) and death while giving birth (I Timothy 2:15).  However, the assumption is unjustified that if they just had enough faith, they would feel no pain during delivery.  It is important to distinguish the general curse on the earth in Genesis 3 from the curse of the Law in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and elsewhere.


Should we wait until we sense the anointing to lay hands...
Should we wait until we sense the anointing to lay hands on the sick?

That depends upon the context.  Mark 16:15-18 does not say that you have to wait to sense the anointing.  You can lay hands on the sick in faith in the name of Jesus and expect them to recover.  There is no mention of waiting for the anointing in James 5:14-16 because the prayer is offered in faith according to God's promise.  There is no indication that the apostles did anything special before ministering to the sick.

It is unnecessary to sense the anointing.  You are anointed to lay hands on the sick and bring deliverance to the captives.  You may not always feel like you are, but you still are.  That is why you don't have to wait for some kind of physical sensation that the anointing is present.  You simply believe that you are anointed by God to lay hands on the sick on the basis of his Word.

That much being said, if you are ministering from the pulpit, you should be sensitive to the Spirit.  There will be a greater anointing if you lay hands on the sick at a time when he directs than if you just go ahead and do it yourself.  If you lay hands on the sick when the healing anointing is specifically present (i.e., the Spirit wants to use you in "gifts of healings"), you will likely see greater results than if you just lay hands on people in faith.  The reason is that some people are not in faith and will not be healed if it is simply a faith transaction, whereas when it comes to the gifts of the Spirit, people who are not in faith at all can be healed.  However, it is never a sin to lay hands on the sick since Jesus gave you the authority to do so.


Who can lay hands on the sick in Mark 16...?
Who can lay hands on the sick in Mark 16, apostles or all believers?

All believers.  Jesus said that these signs shall follow them that believe, not just them that preach so that others believe.

Stephen was not an apostle, but he did signs and wonders.  Philip held no ministry office as we think of one today when he started a citywide revival in Samaria.

God did not confirm the apostles.  He confirmed the Word that they preached with signs following.  Since his Word is the same today, we should expect God to confirm it with signs following today.

There is no record of any apostle being poisoned in the book of Acts.  This is a promise that has been found true by preachers in our day, but none of the apostles fulfilled it as far as we know.  This is further evidence that the "signs" part of the Great Commission would be for all believers, including you today, not just for the apostles.

See Mark 16:15-18 and Mark 16:20.


Objections overruled!

God wouldn't heal Paul's thorn in the flesh

Job was a godly man, yet God let him get sick

Paul told Timothy to drink wine instead of believing God for healing

Paul left Trophimus at Miletum sick instead of healing him

If you could always get healed, you would live forever, and God says you won't

Isaiah 53:4 (Matthew 8:17) was fulfilled in Jesus' earth ministry and cannot be claimed as a promise by Christians today

The man in John 9 was born blind, and that was God's will

By Jesus' stripes we were spiritually, not physically, healed

Paul first preached at Galatia due to a physical infirmity

Jesus healed and did miracles to prove his deity

Healing and miracles are not for this current dispensation

If we have this faith and authority, we should go empty hospitals

We cannot demand healing from God because God is sovereign

God works all things for good (Romans 8:28); this includes sickness

Sickness can be the chastening of the Lord

The doctrine of faith healing sends many to early graves because they don't take medicine when they need it

It's up to God -- God will heal me if he wants to

Jesus redeemed us from disease, but the fulfillment of that won't come until we get glorified bodies

Our bodies are not yet redeemed, so we are still subject to sickness

If we are subject to death, we are subject to sickness

Many do not get healed after prayer is made for their healing

Many who are "in faith" for their healing die anyway

I tried that faith stuff, and it didn't work

Some who get healed at healing crusades don't keep their healing

Our bodies wear out.  Even some healing ministers wear glasses!

Groaning as our outward man perishes is part of this life (2 Cor 4:16-5:4)

David said that it was GOOD that he was afflicted; so it can be with us

So-and-so had a vision where Jesus said that a relative who died in the prime of life was called home by God and had finished his course

Saying, "I am healed" when you are actually sick is lying, and therefore sin

Laying hands on the sick is not part of the Great Commission

God does great miracles only during crucial times in history

Healing will not be available UNIVERSALLY until the Millennium

God meets your spiritual needs, not your physical needs

Sickness can be proof of God's special favor

Sickness is one "cross" we must bear

Sickness, while unpleasant, is used by God to build character

God uses sickness to draw us closer to himself

God gets glory from our patient endurance of sickness

God uses so-and-so powerfully because she was paralyzed when she was young

God only heals some at healing crusades, thus proving it is not his will to heal all

Jesus didn't heal everyone in his earthly ministry; he left many sick at the Pool of Bethesda

Jesus did only what he saw the Father do.  He only saw the Father heal ONE person at the Pool of Bethesda.

Jesus told a Greek woman NO when she came for deliverance for her daughter

All Christians are clearly told that they will suffer in this life

God sometimes heals you only after he has let you suffer a while (1 Peter 5:10)

Long life is not a New Testament blessing

James said to say, "If the Lord will, we shall live."  This proves that we cannot claim long life.

Healing is a side issue that does not deserve to be emphasized so much

We need to fulfill what is left of Christ's sufferings in the earth (Col 1:24)

Disease viruses are part of God's creation and are therefore good, even though we often don't think so when we catch them

As many doctors can tell you, many people make themselves sick -- it has nothing to do with the devil

To preach that Jesus COULD NOT do miracles at Nazareth is to deny his deity and God's sovereignty.  Therefore, the only reason he could not would be that people did not bring the sick.

Mark 16:9-20 was not in some early manuscripts

God's healing covenant in the Law of Moses was only for the Jews

Gal 3:13 means that Christ redeemed us from the law, which was a curse, not the "curse" in Deuteronomy 28

The curse of the Law was given to Israel, not to us.  We cannot be redeemed from it because we were never under it.

Gal 3:13's "curse" speaks of spiritual death, not sickness or poverty

Greats of faith were stoned, sawn asunder, slain, destitute, afflicted and tormented.  Therefore, we can be too, even if we have great faith like theirs.

Heb 11:39 proves that you can have faith and NOT receive the promises

We know that God did not heal Paul, because he said that he bore marks in his body (Gal 6:17)

God heals in his own way in his own time

It wasn't God's time to heal the beggar at the gate Beautiful in Jesus' ministry; he had to wait for Peter and John

Jesus literally said to "keep on asking."  Therefore, we should bug God like the widow in Jesus' parable.

We cannot say that we can do the acts that the apostles did, because we cannot write Scripture, and they did

God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.  We'll never know why God lets some people stay sick.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous

Just as we will never have victory over sin in this life, we will never have victory over sickness

We are promised tribulation in this world

We are supposed to glory in tribulations and count them all joy (Romans 5:3, James 1:2-4)

You should not try to hurry out of trials (like sickness), because they are more precious than gold (1 Peter 1:7)

It rains on the just as well as the unjust (Matthew 5:45)

God creates dumb, deaf and blind people (Exodus 4:11)

The LORD stopped Sarah from having children (Genesis 16:2)

God afflicted Jacob with a hip problem (Genesis 32:25, 31)

You can't say that God never puts sickness on the righteous.  He killed David's child.

Rather than claiming healing, we should just have "the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego"

We should, like Paul, learn to be content in every situation

We are supposed to thank God for everything, which would include sickness (1 Thess 5:18)

Lazarus was sick for the glory of God (John 11:4)

God does not heal all because he didn't heal Isaac or Jacob of bad eyesight

God creates both the day of prosperity and the day of adversity (Ecclesiastes 7:14)

The earth is under a curse because of Adam, so sickness will continue until Jesus returns

Jesus bore our sorrows and griefs, not our sicknesses and pains, on the cross

Only part of Isaiah 53 refers to the Atonement, not the healing part

If healing is in Christ's atonement, sick people must be unsaved

We don't have to keep getting saved like we have to keep getting healed, so healing can't be in the Atonement

Healing is a secondary benefit of the Atonement, not a primary one

Jesus could not have borne both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia on the cross

Jesus could not have borne female-specific illnesses in his own body on the cross

We cannot expect to heal as Jesus did because we are not the Son of God

We cannot heal as Jesus did because he had the Spirit without measure, while we have the Spirit given by measure

Christ's healings were mostly instantaneous; we cannot claim to be able to do his works when we have so few instantaneous miracles

If we really had authority over sickness, we would not need GIFTS OF HEALING

Only some receive GIFTS OF HEALING; this proves that healing is a gift bestowed as God wills

Christ's disciples were told to heal EVERYONE.  No one does this today, so we cannot say we have the same authority they did.

Getting "healed by faith" is too difficult

Preaching divine healing shipwrecks the faith of many

Jesus turned down requests to stay and heal more

It's not always God's will to heal -- he didn't heal many at Nazareth

Some "faith healers" have been exposed as money-grubbing charlatans

Some healing ministers and their families have gotten sick

I've seen "healing ministers" push people down and it was no more God than it was Santa Claus

So-and-so who preaches healing got his doctrine from so-and-so, who got his doctrine from so-and-so, who was into cult theology

Divine healing is practiced by false cults

The "word of faith" movement is a cult

This teaching encourages people to have faith in their faith instead of faith in God, and is therefore cultish

To demand that God use supernatural instead of natural means to heal you is to hold God hostage

God is not a vending machine

Some people have been "healed" in crusades of illnesses that were purely psychosomatic anyway

"Faith healing" is simply mind over matter.  Unbelievers can and do get healed just by having a positive mental attitude, and it has nothing to do with Jesus.

"Faith healers" call attention to man and thus rob the Lord of due glory

Faith is simply trust in God, not a force that you use to change things yourself

Faith is a gift from God, not something you work up yourself

To say that you received your healing by your faith glorifies you instead of God

We should use our faith for souls rather than selfishly seeking our own healing

You imply that if anyone is sick, he is in sin

The doctrine of faith healing puts the sick under condemnation

The doctrine of faith healing is cruel to parents who have lost children to illness

You can have greater peace by accepting your illness than by struggling to get healed

God told Hezekiah to use medicine (a poultice of figs)

Elisha did miracles, yet died of an illness

Epaphroditus worked closely with Paul, yet was sick unto death

Stephen was full of faith and power, but died anyway

Jonah was brought to the point of death so that he would learn obedience

3 John 2 is a greeting and cannot be claimed as a promise

Psalm 103:3 is a parallelism for forgiven sins and does not mean that God heals all physical diseases

Romans 8:11 refers to the resurrection, not this life

1 Cor 6:19-20 is about avoiding fornication and should not be used as a healing proof-text

Anointing with oil in James is intended to be medicinal

James' command on what to do with the sick proves that we CAN get sick

James' command makes it clear that we should expect to be sick, then healed, then sick, then healed, not always healthy

James 5 in context speaks of a believer who has sinned and spiritual healing

James' command was for the dispersed Jews, not all Christians throughout time

Jesus said it is better to enter heaven with one eye or hand than to go to hell

"Claiming" your healing is an arrogant attempt to twist God's arm

Saying that healing depends on you creates a new gospel of works

Sometimes God wants you to witness to someone in the hospital

God sometimes leads faithful saints into "wilderness experiences"

God uses sickness to "break" us

God can lead others to salvation through the pain and death of a saint

God sometimes heals crybaby Christians who bug him enough just as he gave Israel a king when they kept bugging him -- even though it wasn't his perfect will

Only some people have the "gift of faith" to believe for healing

Today doctors have replaced the ancient practice of faith healing

Sometimes God's path for your healing is through a doctor rather than the supernatural

God creates evil (Isaiah 45:7), kills, and wounds (Deut 32:39)

Demons were only a superstitious way of explaining illness long ago

God clearly SENT plagues in the Old Testament.  We cannot say that God never makes people sick, because he obviously did.

Like any loving parent, God sometimes has to tell his children NO for their own good

Sometimes God says, "Yes," sometimes he says, "No," and sometimes he says, "Wait" when you ask for healing

God can and did "play favorites" with healing; Jesus was only sent to the Jews, and Gentiles were excluded from God's healing covenant

If God could even refuse to answer Jesus' prayer (Matthew 26:39, 42), he can refuse to answer yours

Before we pray for a healing in faith, we must pray to see if it is God's will in this case

God only answers prayer when you ask something that is his will

Jesus said to say, "Thy will be done," instead of demanding healing

We should pray, "If it be thy will" concerning our healing


Objection:  If healing is in Christ's atonement, sick people...
Objection:  If healing is in Christ's atonement, sick people must be unsaved

The argument here is that if healing and forgiveness were really purchased together at Calvary as one package, you would have to be healed the moment you are born again.  Therefore, supposedly, anyone who is sick must be unsaved, because he has not received God's package deal of salvation.

This ignores the fact that Paul said in Philippians 2:12 to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."  This does not mean that you are saved by works or that you work for salvation.  It is a gift.  Paul did not say to "work for" your salvation; he said to "work out" your salvation!  However, if you instantly walked in the reality of all of it, Paul would not have told you to "work out" your salvation.  Everything you need is provided, but you have to work it out.  The blessings of God do not fall on you automatically just because you are born again.  You will have to put some work into studying the Bible and discovering what is yours in Christ.  If you want a quick overview, check out the discussion about who you are and what you have in this book.

The chastisement of your peace was laid upon Jesus.  Isaiah mentions that just before he says that you are healed by Jesus' stripes.  You have a right to constant peace because of what Jesus did on the cross for you.  Do you conclude that if anyone isn't at peace, he must be unsaved?  Of course not.  Yet that is the same argument made by this objection concerning healing.  By this logic, you would have to walk in constant peace if peace and forgiveness are part of the same package.

Peace and healing were both purchased for you by the same atonement that bought your forgiveness.  As you grow in God, you should walk in increasing peace and healing.

You also have the love of God shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit when you born again, but it does not manifest itself automatically.  You have to renew your mind to what you have inside you before you will act on it consistently.  If you make a mean comment about your boss, does that mean you are unsaved?  No, it just means that you did not take advantage of your covenant right to walk in God's kind of love.

When you think about it, Jesus Christ has already provided everything you need in this life through his sacrifice for you.  Throughout your life, you will learn to walk in more and more of his provision.  It is a process, not an instant thing that happens the minute you are born again.  The more you renew your mind to what you have in Christ, the more of your inheritance you will walk in.


Philippians 2:12
Philippians 2:12:

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.


Objection:  Preaching divine healing shipwrecks the faith...
Objection:  Preaching divine healing shipwrecks the faith of many

This objection usually goes something like this:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE DOCTRINE OF "FAITH HEALING" SHIPWRECKS YOUR FAITH       by Lorelei Felsen

John and Mary were good Christians who believed their pastor's teaching on "receiving healing by faith."  When Mary got sick with cancer, the church encouraged her to believe that she was healed by Jesus' stripes.  She did all the right things and got medical help, but the doctors couldn't treat her.  She died.  John was devastated.  He reasoned that since the faith he was taught for healing didn't work, the faith he was taught for anything else didn't really work either.  He reasoned that he must not really be saved, and he couldn't believe the Bible or trust preachers anymore.  He went back into the world and ended up running a strip club.  John was just one of many whose faith was shipwrecked by the doctrine of faith healing.

Peter's son was paralyzed in a car accident.  The heartless faith people tried to tell him that it was his fault for not believing Psalm 91.  Then they condemned them both for not believing in healing.  There was no compassion, only judgment.  Some members of the church started avoiding Peter because they were embarrassed to be around "faith that wasn't working."  Noting their obvious lack of love, Peter and his son left the church.  For a while, they avoided church altogether.  They now attend a traditional liturgical church that teaches that you're saved when you're sprinkled as an infant.  They are still not serving God in any meaningful capacity today.  The doctrine of faith healing shipwrecked their faith.

Get away from the doctrine of faith healing before it sinks your boat, too.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is ironic that people say that teaching faith shipwrecks faith, when the only reference to "faith" in conjunction with "shipwrecks" is in 1 Timothy 1:19:  "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck."  In other words, they did not hold to their faith or failed to live right, and they shipwrecked their faith.

But regardless of the words used, there are people out there writing books and articles like the one above.  It usually boils down to two cases, both of which I included.  The first is the man who "tries" faith healing and is disillusioned with Christianity in general when it "doesn't work," and the second is the man who is mistreated at a "faith church" and stops believing in faith and church altogether.

The first-case scenarios always try to impress you that the people did everything "by the book" and still got nothing.  I don't know why the person died and neither do you.  The writer wants you to assume that the only possible explanation is that the doctrine of faith healing is flawed and that the person did everything right.  (I heard of a book that insists that a couple did everything exactly as they were told by a certain (named) faith teacher, but lost their child by refusing medical help.  That's silly, since the faith teacher in question does not teach avoiding medical help.  If they didn't listen closely when it came to that, they probably weren't listening too well to the rest of what he said.)

However, an argument from experience is useless when you're discussing doctrine.  I could tell you how God healed me supernaturally of an untreatable condition in my left eye that was ruining my eyesight.  I simply believed I received when I prayed, and then I held fast to my confession for two weeks until my healing suddenly manifested.  My testimony could be used to "prove" that the doctrine of faith healing works.  Testimonies of all kinds can be used to make opposing points.  Why did it work for me and not for Mary?  I don't know, but I'm not going to stop believing I receive when I pray just because Mary didn't receive anything.  Why should I stop doing something that's working?  If you want to discuss doctrine, discuss Scripture, not experience.

There are true stories like the one above.  Plenty of people have left churches over this very thing.  I can understand why this happens, but what are we supposed to do -- undermine everyone else's faith by preaching that healing is not for all today?  This would lead to a lot more unnecessary premature deaths.  Dare we take sides against Jesus when he said we could believe we receive when we pray and have what we prayed for?  The case of the disciples who could not cast the demon out of a boy does not prove that they could not have done so.  Jesus said they could have done it and then did so himself.  The failure of his "top guys" to believe in their authority did not negate the fact that they had that authority.

The second-case scenario could be found in some variation in any denomination.  There are bad apples in every bushel, and I'm sure that there are "faith churches from hell" that point fingers and condemn people.  As long as there are immature believers, such things will happen, and there will always be immature believers as long as people continue to get saved!  Some pastors are immature, too.  Not all churches get started with a divine mandate from God!  Some churches start because someone in another church got offended, split the church, and dragged some of the members out to start his own new church.  You'll certainly find immature pastors at those places!  Some ministers out there don't have any compassion.  I've met some!  It is always sad to hear the outcomes of people's experiences with such churches and people.

No one with any brains is going to go up to someone with an injured child and say, "This wouldn't have happened if you just believed Psalm 91, you know.  Why don't you just believe God for his healing -- don't you have any faith?"  The good "faith churches" (and there are plenty of them, regardless of the picture the opposers paint) do demonstrate compassion for the sick and injured.  They not only provide spiritual support and encourage these people in faith, but they also provide natural assistance as well.  The people who are embarrassed to be with anyone who stays sick more than a day after praying are those who are themselves insecure in what they believe.

If you have any acquaintances who relate stories to you like the ones above, I would not rush to any conclusions unless you check the church out personally.  For some reason, people like to rush to the side of a person with a sad story of emotional abuse by a church.  There is often another side to the story, and you won't get it from them!  We live in a victim-oriented society where most people just automatically take sides with an individual against an organization.  Sometimes the church did abuse people emotionally, and sometimes the person who left just had an attitude problem!  From what I have seen, a lot more people leave churches for the second reason than for the first.

The fact that there are sad stories like these should warn those of us who do believe in divine healing to make sure that our faith is working by love.  We do need to guard against being so lopsided on faith that we neglect love and compassion and mercy, and we become like the Pharisees that Jesus rebuked!  It is your responsibility to make sure that you stay balanced instead of spiritually one-sided.  Your pastor is responsible for feeding you a balanced diet, too, but the buck stops with you.  Don't just listen to one preacher's tapes or read one author's books.  Read the Bible -- all of it, not just the parts that faith teachers quote.

In closing, let me say that there have been plenty of "faith churches" that have been ruined, not by any problem with the teaching, but by sin!  (This is true of other types of churches, too.  It is not exclusive to "faith churches.")  They taught faith for healing, but did not live faith as far as their dominion over sin was concerned.  Remember -- a man's moral failure does not invalidate his teaching.  You get doctrine from Scripture, not from the moral track records of people espousing different doctrines.  You cannot reach a conclusion about a church's doctrine just because some of its people act like morons.


Objection:  Jesus said it is better to enter heaven...
Objection:  Jesus said it is better to enter heaven with one eye or hand than to go to hell

Yes, he did say that, and it's certainly true!  But you don't have to choose between the two options!

Matthew 5:29-30:

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee:  for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee:  for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

This has nothing to do with sickness coming on you.  It is a statement about the awfulness of hell and an exhortation to avoid offenses at all costs.  Hell is so bad that you would be better living with one eye or hand than to go there.  However, it is even better to have two eyes and two hands and go to heaven than to have one eye and one hand and go there.

Please understand that the Jews to whom this was addressed were not new creatures in Christ.  They were under the Law of Moses and were still sinners by nature.  As a New Testament believer, you are not a sinner by nature.  You are created after God in righteousness and true holiness (Eph 4:24).  You do not have to resort to some drastic measure to stop sinning.  You simply need to walk in the Spirit so that you do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:16).

Nobody in the New Testament literally maimed himself to stop sinning, so you shouldn't either.  But unless you do, the statements about having one eye or one hand do not apply to you.  They most certainly do not apply to people who have lost an eye or hand in an accident or were born with only one good eye or hand.  Yes, it's better to have one good eye or hand than to go to hell, but that isn't what Jesus meant here.  He was stressing the drastic lengths you should go to in order to avoid temptation.  (For example, if you can't handle the temptation to watch the sleaze channel at a hotel, you could ask them to disconnect it from your room.)  So don't accept your sickness and say, "Better to be sick and go to heaven than to be well and go to hell."  You would be right, but it is even better -- and GOD'S WILL -- for you to be WELL and go to heaven, and not go there before you live a full life!


Ephesians 5:24
Ephesians 4:24:

And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.


Objection:  God can and did "play favorites"...
Objection:  God can and did "play favorites" with healing; Jesus was only sent to the Jews, and Gentiles were excluded from God's healing covenant

The idea here is that God does not treat everyone equally, therefore we cannot expect everyone to be healed.  Indeed, he did not make a covenant with the Gentiles, and Jesus said he was sent to the Jews.  This was obvious when he told a Gentile woman that healing was not rightfully hers because she was not a Jew.  He said that it was not right to throw the children's bread (healing) to dogs.  She got deliverance for her daughter anyway through faith, but Gentile healings were a rare exception in Jesus' ministry.

This is a moot point today because there is no difference in Christ between a Jew and a Gentile.  Healing is available for all.  The natives of Melita were not Jews, but all of them got healed.  Paul did great signs and wonders among the Gentiles.  It is true that God did treat certain classes of people differently in the past.  However, Christ broke down the "middle wall of partition" between those classes.  Everyone is now on the same basis with God, including you.

Jesus never turned anyone away who came to him for healing.  Thus, you cannot prove from Scripture that Jesus Christ would ever "play favorites" among those who come to him for healing today.

The reason God cannot play favorites with healing is that Jesus Christ bore OUR sicknesses and OUR pains at Calvary.  It is the same reason that God cannot play favorites with forgiveness of sins, because Jesus was wounded for OUR transgressions at Calvary.  God cannot deny to any man that which is already legally his in Christ.


Objection:  Just as we will never have victory...
Objection:  Just as we will never have victory over sin in this life, we will never have victory over sickness

We will not have final victory over sin in the sense that we will never sin in this life.  We will not have final victory over sickness in the sense that we cannot get sick in this life.  However, we can enjoy victory over both sin and sickness in this life, and it is up to us.

Victory over sin is totally available to you now, and if you don't walk in it, it's not God's fault.  God says that you are freed from sin.  If you want to see quite a few references to this, look in Who you are and what you have for some Scriptures that prove beyond a doubt that you have victory over sin now.  Sin is to have no dominion over you!

Therefore, this objection has a flawed premise, namely, that it is impossible to have victory over sin on an everyday basis in this life.  God's Word disagrees.

There is a good parallel between sins and sicknesses.  God always makes sure there is a way of escape so that you don't have to sin.  Likewise, God has provided healing for your body.  Both freedom from sin and freedom from sickness are absolute in God's eyes; the problem is that we do not appropriate these benefits as fully as we should.  1 Peter 2:24 says that you are both DEAD TO SINS and HEALED.  Does the fact that you still sin mean that you are not legally dead to sins?  NO!  You still are, as far as God is concerned.  Does the fact that you still get sick prove that you are not legally healed?  NO!  You still are, as far as God is concerned.

Final victory over both, meaning that neither will be a problem to you, is not yours in this life.  However, victory is available to you now over both, despite the fact that sin and sickness are both rampant in this world.


Objection:  You imply that if anyone is sick, he is in sin

Sickness came as a result of sin, but the fact that you get the flu does not mean that there is sin in your life right now.  The fact is, those who teach divine healing responsibly do NOT go around accusing sick people of being in sin, although this is true more often than you might think.  (For example, some people need to forgive someone of a wrong before they get healed.)  You cannot conclude that just because someone is sick, he "deserves" it because of some sin in his life.  This is another objection to something that no one really teaches, as far as I know!

I would hope that you would not take anything in this book as proof that if you are sick, it is your fault because of sin in your life.  I would further hope that you would not interpret me as saying, "It's your fault because you lack faith!"  Surely you would not tell an unbeliever, "It's your own fault you're unsaved!  It's because of sin, you know.  It's your fault for not having faith in Jesus Christ!"  Salvation from sin is GOOD NEWS and so is healing.  It should be presented that way.  The apostles did not get multitudes healed by condemning them for their lack of faith.  Instead, they cured the problem by preaching the Word of God by which faith comes, so that faith rose in the hearts of the hearers.  That is still the way to do it today.

This is discussed under the question, If you are sick, does that mean there is sin in your life?  I refer you there for further comments.


Objection:  You can't say that God never puts sickness...
Objection:  You can't say that God never puts sickness on the righteous.  He killed David's child.

David's child was conceived out of wedlock.  The child was in no position to do anything righteous or unrighteous.  The blessing or curse on younger children depends on the parents.  Sin WAS the issue, as is made clear in the passage (2 Sam 12:13-18).  (See Notes on 2 Samuel 12:13-18 for some additional thoughts.)  Therefore, this passage cannot be used to prove that sickness comes on the righteous for some unrelated, "sovereign" reason.

For proof that YOUR righteousness blesses your children, see God's blessing on your kids.

For proof that YOUR sins curse your children, see Breaking generational curses.

The fact that an infant died because of his father's unrighteousness does not constitute proof that God will afflict a righteous person with sickness.


Objection:  God uses so-and-so powerfully because she was paralyzed…
Objection:  God uses so-and-so powerfully because she was paralyzed when she was young

God does not use her because she is paralyzed.  God uses her because she is available.  God will use anyone who is available.  God will use anyone in any condition who is available to him, but that doesnt prove that he wants the person to stay in that condition.

God can use people who don't believe that he wants to heal them.  Such people may have many good things to say about other topics, and you could miss out on a blessing by avoiding their writings completely because of their opinions about healing.  Of course, it is unlikely that God would be able to use them to help others to receive healing.

You will have to give a person like this credit for not going through life angry with God because of what happened.  Such a person can testify of the grace of God.  However, the person could be a more dramatic example of the grace of God out of the wheelchair!  Think of the impact the healing of such a person would have!

You must reject anyone's claim that God sent an accident that resulted in paralysis, particularly if the accident was the person's fault to begin with.  God does not cause accidents.  If you are away from God, out from under his covenant of protection, you are in a place where you have no guarantee of safety.  The devil has a certain right to harm you if you're operating in his kingdom.  You may look back at your accident and say that you got blessed because of it, but God would rather than you had heeded his words instead of getting hurt and then turning to him in desperation.

Suppose for a minute that God "used" the accident and paralysis to "chastise" this person or to draw her closer to himself.  Indeed, she may have found God or been drawn closer to him through the experience.  However, she would have a right to expect to be healed after repenting.  Do you keep spanking your children when they're not doing anything wrong?  God would not continue to "chastise" someone who had already learned the lesson.  Even in the extreme case where someone is "handed over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh," once the person repents, Satan cannot continue beating up his flesh.

People who raise this objection usually dare me, "Go tell so-and-so that she could be healed!"  If you're so-and-so, this book is designed to show you that you can be healed, and you can take it as my message to you.  However, the objectors' idea is really, "Go to her in a nasty, argumentative way and tell her that her own lack of faith is keeping her paralyzed."  That is just as stupid as saying, "Go tell a sinner in a nasty, argumentative way that his lack of faith in Christ is keeping him from eternal life."  Would you share Christ that way?  I hope not.  You would present the gospel as good news.  The good news for the sinner is that he can be delivered from sin and have eternal life.  The good news for the sick person is that he can be healed through faith in Jesus Christ.  Who says you have to be nasty about it?  Some sinners don't want to hear the truth.  What do you do?  You back down and just love them.  Likewise, if someone does not want to hear about divine healing, you have to back down and just love him, too.  Getting in strife with people over divine healing is unlikely to get them healed.  Some people have made up their minds.  Unless they become open to healing, the power of God will never heal them.  That does not make them bad people.  They may have a positive influence in the Body of Christ in another area about which they know more.

There is a danger in testimonies that God broke someone's neck or burned someone's body or did some other cruel and hideous thing.  Such testimonies misrepresent God's character.  God does not do these things, and if you preach that he does, you risk driving people away from him instead of toward him.  Would you be interested in a God who might want to do things like that to you to "help" you?  If you were a sinner, you might figure you would be more comfortable staying away from a God like that.

I am not personally against so-and-so or anyone else with an opinion quoted or paraphrased in this book.  However, when someone is brought up frequently by those who don't believe in divine healing, we need to respond.  We need to be just as bold as the critics are, without resorting to the tactics that some of them use.  For example, we should not ridicule other preachers by name, quote passages of their books and tapes out of context, continue to quote old statements that they have publicly recanted, and bring up details of their personal lives that are nobody's business.

So here is the correct answer to those who ask, "Do you say that SO-AND-SO could be healed if she believed God wanted to heal her?"  YES, she could be healed if she would believe the Bible on the subject of healing.  God wants to heal her.  He provided her healing at Calvary.  She could read God's healing covenant and receive faith to be healed.  She could get out of her wheelchair and join many others who were confined to wheelchairs before being healed by the power of God.  One of the most famous faith teachers today was also paralyzed when he was young, but he believed God and received his healing.  Today his teachings are helping many others receive their healing.  God does not love that man any more than he loves the woman in question.

It is ludicrous to think that such a person is "proof" that believing and receiving by faith does not work.  You can't work a principle that you don't believe in.  I would not be proof that a diet aid doesn't work if I never used that diet aid according to the instructions because I didn't believe that it would work for me.

I have no intention of calling up anyone and arguing about divine healing.  I imagine that anyone who claims that God caused a disaster for a higher purpose would probably agree with me on more things than we would disagree on.  It is possible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace without agreeing on every doctrinal issue, including divine healing.

It is superficially true that God uses the woman in question because she was paralyzed when she was young.  She did not turn to God until she was paralyzed, and the fact that she turned to God has enabled her to be used today.  Perhaps she would not have turned to God if she did not have her accident.  Still, that does not prove that God wanted the accident to happen.  Many have turned to God without suffering terrible accidents first.  God does not send terrible accidents to draw men to repentance.  His goodness draws men to repentance (Romans 2:4).  In fact, God has already told us in the book of Revelation that when he does send terrible tragedies upon the earth, many men will still not repent.

I suppose that if you thought that God wanted to paralyze you, you would be a hypocrite if you asked God to undo what you think is his work in your body.  However, it would be better to learn the truth and let the anointing destroy that yoke of bondage in your life!


Objection:  God afflicted Jacob with a hip problem
Objection:  God afflicted Jacob with a hip problem (Genesis 32:25, 31)

Genesis 32:24-31:

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh.  And he said, I will not let you go, except thou bless me.

And he said unto him, What is thy name?  And he said, Jacob.

And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:  for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name.  And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?  And he blessed him there.

And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel:  for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted [limped] upon his thigh.

Unless you have had an experience of wrestling with God as Jacob did, you can't blame your hip problem on God.  There is no indication that this was a permanent condition that afflicted Jacob (Israel) for the rest of his life.  He was only limping that morning as far as we know.

This situation was a special test for Jacob.  Jacob proved that he was determined to have the blessing of God on his life at any cost.  This was a special case and not one that you can use to prove that God sends hip problems to people today.  If you think you're another Jacob, please describe exactly what blessings you have wrestled God for.  Otherwise, get hip to the fact that God didn't cause your problem.

This is similar to the testing of Abraham, Jacob's grandfather.  God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on an altar.  Does this mean that you should attempt to slay your child unless an angel stops you?  I hope you don't think so.  Jacob's hip situation was a special, one-time case.  Jesus' healings were ongoing events throughout his earthly ministry.  Do you want to extrapolate your theology from a one-time case or from the norm?

Don't blame osteoporosis on God!  If you haven't been wrestling with God lately, you may safely assume that your hip problem is just another physical problem that Jesus bore for you as your substitute.


Objection:  The LORD stopped Sarah from having children...
Objection:  The LORD stopped Sarah from having children (Genesis 16:2)

This unbearable objection (actually quoted to me by an anti-healing person) blames God for leaving Sarah (named Sarai at the time) childless.  Consider the situation and the immediate context:

Genesis 15:4:

And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

Genesis 16:2:  (This is the verse in question)

And Sarai [later renamed Sarah] said unto Abram [later renamed Abraham], Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing:  I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her.  And Abram hearkened unto the voice of Sarai.

I don't know how anyone could take Sarai's advice as proof that God keeps people childless on purpose.  There is no indication that this is even a true statement.  Yes, it is true that Sarai said it, but what Sarai said was not true, although it is truly quoted in the Bible!  Listen to the rest of her advice -- it ran totally counter to the promise of God, and created problems that last to this day!  Abram and Sarai were in unbelief at the time.  Abram had believed God, but then he and Sarah conspired to help God fulfill his plan because of impatience and doubt.  Sarai joins Eve and Job's wife among the Scripture hit parade of wives who gave their husbands bad advice.

Sarai should have understood what is obvious to any reader of Genesis.  The Lord was not her problem; he was her solution.  The Lord is the one made her able to have a child in her old age.  Sarai just didn't believe it.  Taking her unbelief as doctrine is a mistake similar to the one made by taking certain of Job's statements as doctrine, an issue that is covered elsewhere.


Objection:  God creates dumb, deaf and blind people
Objection:  God creates dumb, deaf and blind people (Exodus 4:11)

Exodus 4:10-12:

And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant:  but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth?  or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or seeing, or the blind?  have not I the LORD?

Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

This verse is taken by some to mean that God intentionally creates some people dumb, deaf or blind, in an argument similar to the one raised about the man blind from birth in John 9:1-7.  It is curious that if this conclusion is true, Jesus undid the works of God by healing the dumb, deaf and the blind throughout his ministry.  If God created these people that way on purpose, Jesus was undoing, not doing, the works of God.  Therefore, these things cannot be the works of God.

Examine the verse in its context and you'll find that God was saying that he would help Moses overcome his slowness of tongue.  He did not just say, "That's right, Moses, I created you to be a lousy speaker on purpose, but I still called you to deliver Israel.  Ha ha.  Deal with it."

Yes, but doesn't it explicitly say that God makes people dumb, deaf and blind?  No, it doesn't.  This verse does not say that God purposes to create some people with birth defects!  God simply said that he was everyone's Creator, including the dumb, deaf and blind.  God's point was that with him, all things are possible.  Since he is the Creator of man's mouth, he can make the poor speaker eloquent.

I admit that this is a difficult passage, but it surely does not set aside the healing covenant that God made later with Moses.  The people as of the time of Exodus 4 did not yet have a healing covenant with God, and the dumb, deaf and blind had no guarantee of healing from God.  This did not come until Exodus 15.  God at that point made clear to Moses how he would deal with the dumb, deaf and blind if they would keep his covenant.  God is definitely the healer of the dumb, deaf and blind today.


Objection:  God creates...the day of adversity
Objection:  God creates both the day of prosperity and the day of adversity (Ecclesiastes 7:14)

Ecclesiastes 7:14:

In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider:  God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.

Consider the context of the book of Ecclesiastes before using this verse as a proof-text that God gave you stomach cancer.  The entire book's theme is the vanity of life apart from God.  Time and chance happen to everyone; good and bad things happen to everyone.  God allows this to happen to those who are not walking in covenant with him.  God has no obligation to send only days of prosperity to those who do not walk with him.  God leaves you on your own in life if that's what you choose.

This does not invalidate Deuteronomy 28, which promises prosperity to those who serve God and poverty to those who don't among his people.  God did not promise days of prosperity and days of adversity to good and bad alike in that chapter.

Besides, this verse isn't even talking about sickness.  It could be used as an objection to prosperity teaching (and be refuted), but it is definitely off the subject of healing.


Objection:  This teaching encourages...faith in their faith
Objection:  This teaching encourages people to have faith in their faith instead of faith in God, and is therefore cultish

Who exactly encourages you to have faith in your faith instead of faith in God?  Oh, I know, it must be this teacher:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JUST HAVE FAITH IN YOUR FAITH	by Fibian Duhh

You don't need God!  All you need is faith.  Just have faith and then have faith in your faith.  That's right, brother, just live any old way and use God to get what you want out of life.  Rather than serving God, make God serve you by using faith.  Now you run the show and call the shots because you are sovereign and God reports to you.  Use faith like the metaphysical cults do and get what's coming to you!  Be your own god and forget about the will of God.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have never heard any faith teacher say these things.  I have never heard any faith teacher even remotely imply something like that.  I would agree that if someone is teaching you that your faith should be in yourself or in your faith, that is cultish teaching.  This is another example of knocking down a straw man instead of addressing a real issue.  It is all too common for opponents of healing to set up an argument like the one above and then shoot holes in it.  If you want to shoot holes in an argument like that, I'll join you!  The trouble is that statements like the ones above misrepresent real faith teaching.  Those statements would repulse anyone who loves God.

The faith teachers I listen to all stress consecration to the will of God and do not teach that you can live any old way and use faith to get what you want.  They do not teach, nor do I, that your faith should rest in your ability to have faith!  If I were you, I would not get the doctrines of famous faith teachers by reading the slander books that are written against them every year.  Go read for yourself from their own books what they are saying, and you will find that they teach nothing like the words in the article above.

Faith always rests on the Bible.  It is not a free-floating attempt to convince yourself of something mentally.  The metaphysical cults stress mind techniques, but Christianity does not.  You renew your mind with God's Word and you believe in your heart, not your mind.  You can believe and receive in your heart even if there is doubt in your mind as long as you act and speak based on your faith and not your doubts.

Like Abraham, you believe that God is faithful to perform what he promised.  You are trusting God, not your faith, to make it happen.  Your faith is the vehicle, but God is the one making it happen.  Just because your car gets you to a service where God is moving does not mean that you worship the car.  But the fact remains that without that car, you would not get to the service and experience the move of God.  Your faith would be worthless if God did not honor his promises.  God, not your faith, gets the glory for the results.  However, without faith, you would get no results.

If you had no faith for salvation, you would not be saved.  We don't glorify you for having faith or make a big deal out of your faith in this matter.  Why should it be different with healing?  If you are healed by faith, we won't make a big deal out of you and your faith.  Just as with forgiveness, if God weren't offering something, you would have no basis for faith and no ability of your own to bring it to pass.

When you believe for healing, you do not believe in your own ability to have faith.  You believe that God has paid the price to heal your body and is offering healing to you now.  You then receive what he is offering you by faith when you pray, before you feel any differently.  You are not receiving from your faith; you are receiving from God through faith in his Word.

There is a limited sense in which we could talk about having "faith in your faith," but it really boils down to having confidence that Jesus' instructions for receiving from God work.  In other words, you have confidence that faith works.  Your faith itself, however, is in God and in his Word.  (Really, God and his Word are inseparable, so faith in God is by necessity faith in his Word and vice versa.)  I've never really met anyone who teaches that you should have faith in your faith instead of having faith in God, so this objection is an objection to nothing.


Objection:  God...didn't heal Isaac or Jacob of bad eyesight
Objection:  God does not heal all because he didn't heal Isaac or Jacob of bad eyesight

This objects to a statement that no one with any brains would make anyway:  "God heals all."  God doesn't heal all, and he doesn't save all, either.  Those who come to him in faith to receive forgiveness of sins get saved.  Those who come to him in faith to receive healing get healed.

Isaac and Jacob did not ask God to heal their eyesight, nor would they have had a real basis for faith.  God's covenant of healing was not explicitly stated until Exodus 15:25-26, where God made his covenant through Moses, a man who kept good eyesight throughout his life!  (Why not major on Moses's eyesight instead of Isaac's or Jacob's?)  They had no promise of healing to believe because they lived before any such promise was made.

Isaac's eyes and Jacob's eyes do not contradict the statement that God will heal ALL those who come to him for it in faith.  No one, including you, can produce a statement from the Bible where God turned away one of his people who came to him in faith for healing.

You could name some other people in Scripture who were not healed, too, but you cannot prove in any of these cases that it was the will of God for them to stay sick.  Would you base your conduct on that of Ananias, Sapphira, Judas or Jezebel?  Their conduct is written in the Bible.  Just because it is recorded does not mean that it was God's will.  The point is that you cannot make doctrine out of verses that simply state historical facts.  You make doctrine out of verses that are intended as doctrine, such as the verse in Exodus cited above.  From that verse, God's intention regarding healing is clear.  Anyone's failure to appropriate it does not change the will of God in the matter.


Objection:  We don't have to keep getting saved...
Objection:  We don't have to keep getting saved like we have to keep getting healed, so healing can't be in the Atonement

There are two problems with this objection.  The first is that you can lose your salvation.  If you can't, James 5:19-20 means nothing:  "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins."  Also, 1 Tim 4:1 says, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils...."  Paul talked about young widows who would "[have] damnation, because they have cast off their first faith"  and exhorted the Corinthians to "examine themselves" to see if they be in the faith or reprobates in whom Christ no longer dwells (2 Cor 13:5)!  I could quote many other passages here, particularly Hebrews 6:4-6, Hebrews 10:29 and 2 Peter 2:20-21, which you should read if you're still not convinced.  Because it is possible to lose your salvation, this entire argument is based on a faulty foundation, and it is therefore invalid.

The second problem is that while the new birth happens in an instant, appropriating the benefits that became legally yours through the new birth will take you a lifetime.  Just because you are born again does mean that you walk in constant peace all day.  But why shouldn't you?  That's just as much part of the Atonement as forgiveness and healing, for the chastisement of your peace was laid upon Jesus Christ.  Can any serious Bible student argue that peace was not provided in the Atonement because we do not always walk in it?  If we cannot use this logic with peace, we cannot use it with healing, either.  The fact that you don't walk in health all the time doesn't mean that it wasn't provided for you in the Atonement.

In one sense, salvation is instant, but in another sense, you must "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).


2 Corinthians 13:5
2 Corinthians 13:5:

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?


Hebrews  6: 4-6
Hebrews 6:4-6:

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.


Hebrews 10:29
Hebrews 10:29:

Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?


2 Peter 2:20-21
2 Peter 2:20-21:

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.


Objection:  Healing will not be available UNIVERSALLY...
Objection:  Healing will not be available UNIVERSALLY until the Millennium

To say that healing is not available universally today is to contradict the Scriptures that state that God is "no respector of persons," in other words, that he does not play favorites.  God would be playing favorites if he would grant healing to some but not others who were in the same circumstances and walking in the same light.  Of course, the man with no faith in the healing Scriptures will not be healed while a man who believes them will be healed.  This has no more to do with playing favorites than the fact that many men will burn in hell while others go to heaven.  Heaven is available to all, but not all will go there because not all men believe the gospel and receive Christ.  The man who believes is saved, the man who does not believe is damned.

During the Millennium, things will be much better than they are now, and they will be even better in heaven and on the new earth.  The fact that all will be healed on the new earth does not mean that this blessing isn't available now.  In heaven, God's will is done.  God's will is healing.  Today, God's will is not always done because man and sin have messed things up.  (If God's will were always done on earth, no one would die unsaved.)  But all who believe today can have healing.  The fact that we will have it better and easier later is no reason not to believe for all our covenant blessings now.

Healing was available universally during Christ's ministry.  Not all the sick people on earth at the time were healed, but healing was certainly available.  Even some outsiders to Judaism came and were healed, although they had no technical right to do so because Christ had not yet died for their sicknesses.  Those who heard that Jesus of Nazareth was the Anointed One came and were healed, and Jesus never made an exception of anyone.  There were surely those like the ones at the Pool of Bethesda who did not know who Jesus was and were not healed by him.  Probably some of the crowd around the woman with the issue of blood needed healing.  All we know for sure is that woman believed based on the reports of others and her faith made her whole.  When people were enlightened about Jesus' ministry, they came and were healed.  It is the same today.

Since Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, it is illogical that he would grant healing to whoever came for it then but refuse to do so now, but then be willing to do it again during the Millennium.  Healing will be so prevalent in the Millennium because Satan will be bound during that time.  Men will be able to know the truth without his hindrance.  Part of this truth is that Jesus bore our sicknesses and carried our pains, and with his stripes, we are healed.

Peter was not in the Millennium when all the sick who came for healing were healed in Jerusalem.  Paul was not in the Millennium when all the sick people on the island of Melita came and were healed.  The Holy Spirit did not make any exceptions for these people.  This objection has its real roots in other objections that are covered separately, the main objection being that healing is not for all today.


Objection:  We cannot say that we can do the acts...
Objection:  We cannot say that we can do the acts that the apostles did, because we cannot write Scripture, and they did

The apostles indeed did certain things that we cannot do today.  We should not even try to do them.  There are no more apostles who lay the foundation of Christian doctrine through their writings.  No one today can add or subtract from the words written in the Bible.  There has been no opening in the ranks of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb since Matthias was chosen to replace Judas.  (I'll leave it to others to argue over whether casting lots was the proper way to do this.)

Let's examine this objection in detail.  Only a few of the apostles wrote Scripture.  Most did not.  (There are people called apostles in Scripture who were not among the twelve original ones.  Paul mentions Andronicus and Junia as being noteworthy apostles in Romans 16:7, and Scripture never says what they did.  There are no "epistles of Andronicus" or "letters of Junia" in Scripture.)  Mark and Luke did not call themselves apostles and they did write Scripture.  No one claims that we should write Scripture today.  We claim only that we can do the works that Jesus did in healing the sick.  When we talk about the acts of the apostles, we do not refer to writing Scripture, because not all of them wrote Scripture!

Jesus said that we would do the works he did.  His works were primarily preaching, teaching and healing.  Jesus did not say that those who believed in him would write Scripture, but he did say that those who believed would lay hands on the sick and they would recover.  He did not say that only apostles would do it.  Philip was not an apostle but got many paralyzed people healed in Samaria.  Stephen was not an apostle but did great signs and wonders among the people and saw an open vision of heaven.  Ananias was not an apostle but he laid hands on Paul and spoke prophetically to him.  You don't have to be an apostle to do these works.

We have the same Holy Spirit that Philip, Stephen and Ananias had.  We have the same Holy Spirit that Paul, Peter, James and John had.  We have the same Holy Spirit that Jesus of Nazareth had!  We can do the works that they did because we have the same Spirit they had.  He has not changed or lost his power.  We don't have some wimpy, weak, watered-down version of the Holy Spirit!  We have the same Spirit by whom Jesus and his followers did all of his mighty works.  So let's start expecting to do what they did!


Objection:  To preach that Jesus COULD NOT do miracles...
Objection:  To preach that Jesus COULD NOT do miracles at Nazareth is to deny his deity and God's sovereignty.  Therefore, the only reason he could not would be that people did not bring the sick.

Boy, do people ever get mad when you preach that the Son of God COULD NOT do miracles at Nazareth.  "He's God; He can do anything!  He's sovereign!  You have just denied the deity of Jesus Christ!"  You will be called an unbeliever and a heretic for teaching this.  (I have.)  This is strange because God himself teaches this, and he is not an unbeliever, and he believes in the deity of Jesus Christ!

Of course, Mark 6:1-6 plainly states that Jesus could do no mighty work there.  Matthew 13:54-58 states that he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.  We'll let Matthew and Mark fight over exactly what constitutes a mighty work, but it's plain that mighty works could not be done at Nazareth because of the people's unbelief.

That would seem to be plain enough, but someone took me to task on this and said that these passages do not prove that unbelief can stop God from doing miracles.  The objector said that because they did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, they did not bring the sick.  Therefore, the reason that Jesus did not heal the sick at Nazareth is that they were never brought to him in the first place.  If they had been brought to him, he would have healed them.  In other words, there were no sick people present whom Jesus did not heal.

Of course, unbelief could have stopped them from bringing the sick to Jesus, and this would be at least a partial explanation.  However, the assertion that there could not be a sick person present whom Jesus would not heal is not true, since there is other Scripture to support that this could happen.  Luke 5:17-26 records that the power of the Lord was present to heal them -- the religious leaders -- and yet there is no indication that they got healed.  As far as we know, only the paralytic got healed.  The Pharisees were too busy complaining and getting offended to get healed.  So, we have just proved that the sick could be in Jesus' presence and not be healed because they did not believe.

(Some people like to argue that Jesus did not heal them all if this were true, but it is definitely true that Jesus healed everyone who came to him for healing.  He never turned down anyone.  He healed all who came to him; others stayed sick, like many at the Pool of Bethesda, because they were not seeking healing from Jesus.)

When the father of the demon-possessed boy asked Jesus to help him, Jesus told the man that all things are possible to him who believes -- putting the responsibility for believing on the man.  (See Mark 9:17-29.)  This shows that the man could have continued to doubt and that the boy could consequently have stayed demon-possessed.

Only one man at the Pool of Bethesda was healed in John 5:2-19.  In other places, where all believed, all came and all were healed.  In this case, the others did not believe.  They stayed sick, even though Jesus Christ himself was there.  If they would have believed, they could have been healed, too.  Instead, they stayed sick, apparently not knowing who Jesus was or what he was anointed to do for them.

Repeatedly in Scripture, we see that God himself is limited by what we can believe he will do.  Can man limit a sovereign God?  YES -- because he has limited himself to operating according to his Word.  God was just as sovereign when Peter walked on water and when he started to sink.  It nothing to do with God and everything to do with Peter's faith and doubt.  It was God's will for Peter to walk all the way to Jesus, and Jesus rebuked him for doubting.  God's power let Peter override gravity, but it only operated when there was faith, and stopped operating when there was doubt.  In this sense, God's power to let Peter walk on water was definitely limited by Peter's faith.

Another Scripture that comes to mind is "They turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 78:41), but the Hebrew word for limited used here is indistinguishable from the Hebrew word for grieved, so I would not offer this as a conclusive proof-text.

God will save anyone who will confess Christ as his Lord.  But his power to save is limited to those who will believe his promises and his statements about his Son.  God is still sovereign, but his saving power cannot operate in a man who will not believe.  Why should it be any different for physical healing, which is the physical side of salvation?  Where there is faith, there will be the power of God.  Where there is unbelief, as at Nazareth, the power of God is stopped in its tracks.  God has chosen to operate by making promises and then fulfilling them when we believe, thus loosing his power on the earth.

There is no power shortage on this earth, nor is there a deity shortage or sovereignty shortage on God's part.  The reason we do not see more healings is that there is a faith shortage.


Objection:  ...the fulfillment won't come until we get...
Objection:  Jesus redeemed us from disease, but the fulfillment of that won't come until we get glorified bodies

At least the objector admits that Jesus did redeem us from disease, which is clear to everyone who checks out the Hebrew in Isaiah 53.  What should also be clear to anyone who reads Isaiah 53 is that Jesus bore our diseases in our place as our substitute.  Surely he has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains.  You won't be able to have sicknesses or pains in your glorified body.  There will be no diseases that he could take away from you then.  The only time you can experience "your sicknesses" and "your pains" is in this present life!  These, then, are the very sicknesses and pains that Jesus bore in our place as our substitute.

It is clear from Matthew 8:16-17 that the present-day healing of the sick is what fulfills Isaiah's prophecy of healing, not our future healing.  If this redemption were only for the future, there would be no way the multitudes could have received healing from Jesus Christ in this lifetime.

The fact that healing is a present-day ordinance in James 5:14-16 should serve as proof that healing is for this life, not just the next one.  Actually, there are countless promises cited in this book that are meaningless if healing is relegated to glory.

Since we are redeemed from sin and the effects of it in this life, there is no reason to think that God would require us to bear any part of the punishment for it, including sickness.  You cannot separate healing and forgiveness, as is made clear elsewhere in this book.

Walking in divine health is like living victoriously over the flesh.  Your FINAL victory over the flesh will coincide with your FINAL victory over sickness -- when you get a new, immortal body.  In this life, I don't know anyone who always walks in victory over the flesh, but that doesn't mean that Paul lied when he said in Romans that we are not debtors to the flesh to do after the flesh.  We don't have to ever do a single work of the flesh for the rest of our lives.  We have the victory NOW.  "Sin shall have no dominion over you" is a promise for now, not later.  We can always overcome sin.  Likewise, we can always overcome sickness because we are healed by the stripes of Jesus.  Many people will not enjoy the victory in this life, even though it was provided in Christ.  It may be that all of us fall short of what we could have in both areas.  But this does not prove that we cannot walk in the Spirit and walk in health now.  God says that we can.


Objection:  Christ's disciples were told to heal EVERYONE...
Objection:  Christ's disciples were told to heal EVERYONE.  No one does this today, so we cannot say we have the same authority they did.

This objection's foundation is faulty.  If you read carefully, you'll see that Jesus did not say that his disciples could heal EVERYONE.  This would not make sense, since a servant is not greater than his master, and Jesus could not do miracles at Nazareth.  Jesus taught that his disciples would have similar experiences.  Let's look at this passage carefully:

Luke 10:8-11:

And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, [Now here follow the instructions on what to do in cities that receive you] eat such things as are set before you:

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, [Here follow the instructions on what to do in cities that receive you not] go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,

Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you:  notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

The disciples were told that they could heal in the cities that received them.  In the cities that did not receive them, they were not told to heal anybody.  To receive healing from Jesus Christ, you need to receive Jesus Christ.  When you reject the messenger sent to preach Jesus Christ to you, you are rejecting Jesus Christ himself, since the gospel is about him.  When you reject Jesus Christ, you reject his benefits, including healing.

Jesus did not say that his disciples could heal everyone, everywhere.  Those who were open to Jesus himself could be healed; those who were closed could not be healed.  They disciples had the same authority Jesus had over all sicknesses, but it would only work where they were received.

Jesus said that we would lay hands on the sick and they would recover.  This is a sign to follow the preaching of the gospel.  If no one stays around and wants to listen to you preach the gospel, there is nothing for God to confirm.  Things really haven't changed.

Furthermore, Stephen was not an apostle and was not with Jesus, but did great signs and wonders among the people in Acts.  Philip was not an apostle and was not with Jesus, but went to Samaria and got many people healed.  (There was an apostle named Philip, but the apostles asked to have deacons appointed to free them up to pray and study.  The Philip who went to Samaria was one of these deacons.)  Paul was not one of the ones commissioned in the verses in Luke above, yet he had wonderful healings in his ministry.

In light of the Great Commission, if we do not see the same results today, the fault is ours, not God's.  It is just like when the disciples could not cast out the demon after Jesus authorized them to do it.  The problem was not what Jesus said they could do.  The problem was the disciples' unbelief.  If we do not see results today as we should, we are the ones who must change.

However, you can hear many testimonies of men who have gone to the far corners of the world and conducted marvellous healing campaigns that were no doubt similar to the ones put on by the original apostles.  It is too late to tell these men that they can't do it today -- they've already done it.  Just because you haven't done it doesn't mean that it can't be done.


Objection:  Healing is a secondary benefit of the Atonement...
Objection:  Healing is a secondary benefit of the Atonement, not a primary one

This is modern theological language that is absent from the Bible.  It's also an absurd objection, because even if healing is only a secondary benefit, why not take advantage of the secondary benefit as well as the primary one?  Why not obey Psalm 103:2-3 and "Forget not all his benefits:  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases?"  The only way a "secondary" benefit could not be for you would be if it were not for everyone.

No class of benefit from an atonement in Scripture was limited to only certain covenant people.  The Passover, which symbolized Christ, produced universal healing in Israel so that there was not one feeble person among their tribes.  Anyone could look at the bronze serpent, which symbolized Christ, and be forgiven and healed.  On many occasions in the Old Testament, the people sinned and a plague broke out, but when atonement was made, the plague was stopped.  Everyone was then free from getting it, not just some of the people.  When Hezekiah kept the Passover (the symbol of Christ), God healed the people, not just "some of" the people.

Matthew 8:16-17 makes it clear that Jesus healed all the sick people because of his coming atonement, which was for all.  (This is borne out elsewhere in this book.)  Therefore, he could not leave anyone out of a blessing that was secured for all mankind.

This objection is nothing but a lame way to say that healing is not really for everyone.  If it's not for everyone, it can't be part of Christ's atonement at all, since what Christ secured was for all.  It was either in his atonement or it wasn't, but it couldn't "sort of" be in his atonement and "sort of" not be in his atonement.  If it were "sort of" in his atonement, no one would have a basis for faith, because no one would know if he could get this "secondary" benefit or not.  If you want to be healed, you must realize that healing was purchased for you by the same atonement that made the new birth available to you.


Objection:  God uses sickness to "break" us

This is similar to many other objections, but the distinguishing feature of this one is the incorrect but oft-quoted assumption that God can only use broken vessels.  Therefore (supposedly) God allows sickness to "break" us so that we will be broken vessels that God can use.  Give me a break!

First, God cannot use "broken" vessels any more than you can use a "broken" car to get to work.  God needs vessels that are not "broken" to get the gospel out!  How can you do that while you're laid up sick?  You could get the gospel out much more easily if you were well.  Besides, many people die from their illnesses, so that is proof in and of itself that the purpose of the sickness was not to "break" the person to make him more suitable for the Master's service later on.

If you backslide or get proud, God does not have to break you.  The devil is out there already waiting to bust your face, and when you get on his territory (out of God's will), he will be happy to "break" you.  However, this is the devil's work, not God's.  In 1 Cor 5:1-5, a man had to be handed over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh so that his spirit would be saved.  Paul did not say that God would use sickness to break the person.  It would be Satan, not God, who would be destroying the flesh.  Please note that this case applies to an unrepentant, sinning believer, not an obedient one.

Yes, in a sense, it can be good that you get sick if you are out of the will of God.  Your illness can serve as a wake-up call so that you stop backsliding.  But this is never God's best, and never his perfect will for you.  His will is for you to present your body a living sacrifice to him.  God does not "break" what is presented and consecrated to him.

God says that you are delivered from the devil's kingdom and moved into Jesus Christ's kingdom.  God would be unjust to place a consecrated believer into the hands of the enemy whose kingdom Christ delivered you from -- for any reason.  Why would God need to use the devil to perfect you when you have God's Word, which by itself is able to perfect you?  "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."  (2 Tim 3:16-17).  God's New Testament plan is to reprove you and correct you through his Word, not through sickness.  Since his Word can do it, there should be no need for sickness to do it.

You can talk about a broken body helping you serve God better -- as long as it's Jesus Christ's body you're talking about!  Jesus' body was broken for you in your place.  His body was broken so that yours could stay well!


Objection:  Psalm 103:3 is a parallelism for forgiven sins...
Objection:  Psalm 103:3 is a parallelism for forgiven sins and does not mean that God heals all physical diseases

A man wrote emphatically that Hebrew poetry is full of "parallelisms" where the last half of the verse echoes the first half rather than expressing an independent thought.  Therefore (he said), Psalm 103:3's statement about healing of diseases does not mean physical diseases, it means spiritual diseases, because the author was just saying that God forgives your sins in two different ways.

The statement about Hebrew poetry is generally correct, but it most certainly does not apply in the context of Psalm 103:3.  Although the same objector also said that "Forget not all his benefits" was a parallelism for "Bless the Lord, O my soul" in verse 2, I don't see it -- do you?  This is another aspect of Hebrew poetry.  The second phrase can add to and build on the first phrase, rather than merely restating it in different words.  Of course, Psalms abounds with stanzas that are not poetic in either sense.  I think the person got so deep into Hebrew study that he got parallelized.

You basically have to have a predisposition to explain away healing to avoid the immediate context of Psalm 103:3:  "Forget not all his benefits...Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."  You really have to overspiritualize things to claim that the good things are spiritual and that your youth is spiritual.  No, God's benefits include physical ones -- including the ones listed in this Psalm.

The word "diseases" unquestionably refers to real diseases in the Hebrew; the objection is that this is a metaphor in this verse.  I find it interesting that the same people who argue that "thorn in the flesh" must be taken literally instead of as a figure of speech then turn around and say that anything that promises healing is a metaphor.

If you want to wipe this objection away in your mind, just click through all the Old Testament healing promises God made and figure out if you think he meant "spiritual sicknesses" in them.  (What are spiritual sicknesses, anyway?  Can anyone name one?  Paul lists works of the flesh, but these are just that -- works of the flesh, not sicknesses, regardless of what the 12-step people try to tell you.)


Objection:  Saying that healing...creates a gospel of works
Objection:  Saying that healing depends on you creates a new gospel of works

This objection came from someone who didn't like a statement I made that you don't qualify for the health and protection in Psalm 91 unless you meet the conditions of Psalm 91.  The person went on to tell me that I was advocating a new gospel of works.  Actually, most of God's promises are conditional and are based somewhat on your works!  See God's promises have conditions for ample proof of this.

God does want works from you -- works of faith.  Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God.  Almost everything depends on you anyway.  You don't get saved until you do something -- believing that God raised Jesus from the dead and declaring him Lord.  Based on this objection, the entire gospel is a gospel of works because your salvation depends on something you do!

If you want to do the works of God, Jesus told you how to do it:  "Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6:28-29).  The works of God are done by faith, not by human effort.  We are not talking about the kind of works that make you earn or deserve something.  The works of God are done by believing God's promises and acting on them.

You are not working for your healing.  You are not doing anything to get God to heal you.  You are not making a "deal" with God as so many desperate people in magazine articles have done (e.g., "God, if you just heal me, I'll never touch a drop of alcohol again.").  You are not twisting God's arm.  You are doing nothing to establish your own merit for healing in God's eyes.

All you are doing is receiving a gift.  God has provided the gift and you are accepting it.  That is the only "work" you need to do.  You are just taking something that God has been freely offering to you all along.  This is not "works"; it is simply the humility to accept a gift on God's terms without having to do any work for it.

You don't need to work for something that Jesus Christ has already paid for.  All you do is receive it as a gift.  It is 100% because of what Jesus did and 0% because of what you've done.  Far from being a gospel that exalts the works of man, the true gospel exalts the finished work of Jesus Christ.


Objection:  God sometimes heals crybaby Christians...
Objection:  God sometimes heals crybaby Christians who bug him enough just as he gave Israel a king when they kept bugging him -- even though it wasn't his perfect will

The person who came up with this one should at least get an award for creativity.  (He certainly doesn't get one for Biblical correctness.)  The premise is that sometimes it isn't God's will to heal you because he is working something in you, teaching you something, or some other such nonsense.  God did certain things in Scripture that weren't best for the people just because they bugged him enough, including giving Israel a king and giving the people quail in the wilderness (which was also cited by the objector).  Therefore, the conclusion is that some "faith" Christians are such crybabies about their healing that God just gives it to them anyway, even though their Father's perfect will was for them to be molded and shaped through their sickness experience.

I suppose if you wanted to take it one step further, you could claim that this was exactly how the Syrophonecian woman got healing for her daughter or the blind man who kept crying out got his.  (We'll deal with them below.)

Of course, the necessary basis for this objection is that it was God's perfect will for you to be sick, and there are other objection replies that adequately cover this false notion.  To say that you are a crybaby because you want your body healed is nothing more than reeking spiritual pride on the part of whoever says it.  The person is saying, "I'm such a mature Christian that I accept sickness and let it roll over my body without a fight.  You are an immature crybaby because you want healing."

If this objection is true, let's find somewhere in the New Testament where someone got healed because of constantly pestering God.  The Syrophonecian woman did not get healing for her daughter because of her persistence alone.  Jesus told her that she had great faith just before he said, "Be it unto thee even as thou wilt."  The key to this woman's answered request was her faith, not her persistence.  The persistence was the result of her faith in action, not a replacement for faith.  Therefore, you cannot say that this woman received anything by persistence alone.  Also, notice that Jesus didn't even mention God's will -- she received what she willed through faith!

Where else did someone keep bugging Jesus for healing?  The blind man who cried out only needed to get Jesus' attention for a short moment and got his healing.  He kept crying so that Jesus would hear him as he passed by, not because he kept bugging him.  So you can't count him.

Apart from these two cases, which really don't apply, you can't find anyone who "bugged" Jesus for a healing that was not the will of God and got it anyway.  There is no Bible basis for this objection.

If you look at the teaching of Jesus, you'll find that he said not to use vain repetitions when you pray.  (He taught using faith, not bugging God.)  Here he warns against "bugging" God with the same thing over and over.  Why should you?  God is perfectly willing for you to receive the healing his own son paid for.  Although I heard a story once about someone who claimed she got saved because she bugged God about it enough, that is nonsense.  You don't get saved by bugging God.  You get saved through faith.  Healing and God's other blessings work the same way.  You believe that Christ has already made what you need available to you, and you receive it by faith when you pray.  There is no need to "bug" God.

I suppose there are people who "bug" God for healing today (because they don't know any better) and God does heal them just because he's merciful.  Or the other thing that can happen is that the person finally shuts up (like Job) because he's so tired of praying and praying and praying for healing, and God finally has a chance to get through to him and minister healing.

The real reason for this objection

This objection is a last-ditch effort by people who oppose healing but aren't living in a cave and avoiding hearing any of the wonderful testimonies of miraculous healing through the name of Jesus Christ in the earth today.  They cannot deny the authenticity of the miracles, so they must "explain away" why those people got healed and yet still make it seem like God does not want to heal all.


Objection:  ...God sometimes has to tell his children NO...
Objection:  Like any loving parent, God sometimes has to tell his children NO for their own good

God never says NO to his own promises.  He can't.  He has already promised to heal all your diseases.  He declares you legally healed in your body by the stripes of Jesus.  If he were to say NO to a request for healing, he would be a covenant-breaker and a liar like Satan.

2 Cor 1:18-20:

But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

God does not say yea to some and nay to others, or yea some of the time and nay the rest of the time.  That is just religious nonsense.  Whoever says that sometimes God says Yes, sometimes God says No and sometimes God says Wait when you ask for something he already promised doesn't know God very well.  God is covenant-bound to heal you when you come to him in faith.

Paul told us that Jesus Christ is not a mixture of yes and no!  Look in the gospels and see where God or Jesus ever said NO to a request for healing.  (The case of the Syrophonecian woman is covered in another objection, and she got what she came for anyway.)  You'll see that those who came to him were healed.  They were never sent away with a NO.  We know that Jesus always did the will of God and said what God wanted him to say.  Therefore, we know that God himself would never say NO to a request for healing.  Since neither Jesus nor God can change (proved elsewhere in this book), neither could possibly say NO today to a request for healing made in faith.

Whoever makes this objection is assuming that sickness is somehow good and that God would say NO because he knows that we would be better off sick.  IMPOSSIBLE.  In no case in the New Testament did God or Jesus tell people that they were better off sick.  (If you've been misinstructed that Paul begged God to heal him and was told NO, read the objection about Paul's Thorn and be delivered from that nonsense.)  When sickness is "the oppression of the devil" and "bondage" and "a curse," how can it possibly make you better off?  The devil has nothing that will make you better off.

If someone is not healed, it is not because God said NO to his healing.  It is most likely because the person did not meet the qualification of asking in faith without wavering.  That is God's standard for asking.  If you waver, you must not think that you will receive anything from God (James 1:5-8).  A good way to waver is to think that God sometimes has to tell his children NO for their own good!  To avoid wavering, feed on what the Word says about healing.  Then you won't believe silly objections like this one.

God IS a loving parent, and that is precisely why he is always willing to heal.  If you had the power to heal your child, would you withhold his healing because you felt that he would learn valuable lessons while sick?  No, you wouldn't, and if you say you would, you're a hypocrite and a liar.  If you've ever given your child medicine to relieve his suffering, you have just proved that you would do what you can to take away your child's suffering.  You would not withhold your medicine to "teach" him something, and the thought probably never crossed your mind.  Now do you think that God, who has the best medicine of all to give you (his Word that he sent to heal you), would be meaner than you are?  Are you a better parent than God is?  No, you're not.  God never tells his children NO when they ask for healing -- precisely because he is a loving parent!


Objection:  Sometimes God says, "Yes," sometimes he says, "No,"…
Objection:  Sometimes God says, "Yes," sometimes he says, "No," and sometimes he says, "Wait" when you ask for healing

This gets passed from generation to generation in Sunday school classes around the world, at least at "word of unbelief" churches.  I suppose this is their explanation of why some people's prayers are not answered.  In a way, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy.  If you believe this foolish saying, God will ignore your prayer for healing unless he makes an exception for you in his mercy.

You see, faith is God's condition for receiving healing.  James said that if you waver, you must not expect to receive anything (James 1:5-8).  If you think that God might say, "Yes," he might say "No," and he might say "Wait," you are by definition wavering.  Therefore, you must expect that your prayer will accomplish nothing other than the displacement of a few molecules in the air around you.

Jesus never told anyone "No," and he never told anyone "Wait."  He was the will of God in action.  God worked through him.  Therefore, God never said "No" or "Wait."  Since God and Jesus do not change, they will never tell you either "No" or "Wait" if you come to them believing.

The root problem with this objection is subtle.  This objection is based on the premise that healing is something that you request from God rather than something that you receive from God.  If you believe this objection, you must be asking him to do it for you and awaiting his response.  You have already broken the rule that Jesus established for receiving from God in prayer.  He said that you would have whatever you believe you receive when you pray.  If you make healing a request, you are not believing that you receive anything when you pray.  You are forwarding the matter to God for his action.  You will be disappointed because you did follow Jesus' instructions.

Study the cases where Jesus said that people's faith had made them well.  (See According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you!)  You will find that these people did not come to Jesus on a request basis.  They came with the definite purpose of receiving healing from him.

There is a world of difference between God arbitrarily saying "No" and God not answering a prayer that was presented in unbelief.  When the disciples failed to cast a demon out of a boy, God was not refusing to deliver the boy.  The disciples were simply not in faith.  Jesus said that they could not cast it out because of their unbelief, not because God said, "No."  Really, it was not something that they were to ask God about anyway.  They were supposed to take the authority that they already had over the demon.

That brings up an interesting point.  Jesus talked about speaking to physical objects.  You can speak to your sickness by the authority of Jesus Christ and make it leave your body.  God could not possibly say "Yes," "No," or "Wait" because you are technically not even praying!  You are just taking advantage of your covenant rights in Christ.

Why do people believe this Yes/No/Wait nonsense?  Perhaps it makes a convenient reason why some people's prayers are not answered.  There are indeed reasons why prayer goes unanswered, but we should consider the Biblical reasons why this is so.

Prayer is unanswered when it is prayed in unbelief.  The passage in James proves this.

Prayer is unanswered when it is prayed with a wrong motive.  James also spoke about people who "ask, and receive not" because they "ask amiss, that they may consume it on [their] lusts."

Prayer is unanswered when it is not in line with your covenant.  God would say "No" to a request to be able to marry your friend's wife or to keep the tax man from noticing where you cheated on your tax return.

Prayer is unanswered when you refuse to repent of known sin.  If your heart condemns you, you do not have confidence before God.

Prayer is unanswered when you get into strife with your spouse or into many of the other traps cited in the Mistakes section of this book.

However, prayer for healing could NEVER be unanswered because God chose to say, "No" or even, "Wait."  There is no precedent for this in Scripture.  If God would not definitely heal you, Jesus bore your sicknesses and carried your pains for nothing.

I tell you boldly that if you cling to this Yes/No/Wait junk, you can forget about receiving healing from God.  You cannot possibly pray the prayer of faith to a God who arbitrarily refuses to heal some and delays the healing of others for some mysterious reason known only to himself.

It would be better if only untrained Sunday school teachers made this objection.  It is unfortunate that people with seminary degrees and high positions sometimes quote this as gospel, too.  (Some liberal seminaries today do more harm than good.  Like the Wizard of Oz, they dont give you a brain, but they give you a diploma.)  Although this Yes/No/Wait cliché is nowhere in the Bible, people hear it from teachers they respect and quote it as if it were part of a fifth gospel or something.  (The Gospel of Thomas, perhaps?)  I hope that you never parrot this religious tradition of men that has robbed so many people of their healing.


Objection:  You can have greater peace by accepting...
Objection:  You can have greater peace by accepting your illness than by struggling to get healed

Not Biblically.  By a worldly definition of peace, you can have greater peace resigning yourself to your sickness.  It's less work.  You don't have to apply faith.  In fact, you don't have to do anything that any old sinner couldn't do, because you're going to stay sick just like any old sinner would.

If peace is defined as the absence of struggle, you can have greater peace by disobeying the Great Commission.  No one will make fun of you for preaching the gospel.  No one will argue with you about whether or not Jesus is really the only way to heaven.  Ah, such peace.  Really, this is just avoidance of conflict, not peace.  It is taking the path of least resistance, not peace.  It is being lulled to sleep.  It is apathy.

You can experience God's peace while you are in the middle of a major trial.  The more you walk in faith, the more you will walk in the real kind of peace, even though your earthly problems may multiply.  The peace Jesus gives you the world and its situations cannot take away.

The Bible does not teach achieving peace by avoiding conflict.  As a Christian, you are in conflict daily.  Paul protested to the Corinthians who were taking it easy, "I die daily!"  He was talking about mortifying the flesh.  This takes work and effort on your part.  Peace is not the avoidance of work.  Paul said, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?  So run, that ye may obtain." (1 Cor 9:24).  Paul knew peace, but Paul knew how to "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14).  No one said it would be easy all the time.  You have to apply effort to grow in God.  It doesn't just happen.  Champions for God get that way because they resolve in their hearts to become champions for God.

You can have less struggle by accepting your illness.  You can just stay sick.  In fact, anyone has the right to do so, and none of us who believes in healing can force you to do otherwise.  You have the right not to believe God's promises and the right not to receive healing.  You don't have to apply yourself in the Word of Truth and meditate on its promises.  But the catch is, you don't get healed.  If that's what you want, you might as well hit X right now and stop reading.

This being said, if believing God is a struggle for you, you need to hear more of his Word on a regular basis.  You will find that faith comes automatically when you meditate on God's Word all the time.  At that point, faith ceases to be a struggle and becomes natural.  It takes effort to get to that place.  But when you get there, you will find that you have peace while you are still believing for a healing you have not seen yet.  You won't be struggling.  The problem with the person making this objection is that he has obviously never been to this place in God and probably doesn't realize that there is such a place.


Objection:  God...leads...saints into "wilderness experiences"
Objection:  God sometimes leads faithful saints into "wilderness experiences"

Quite true; we all know that the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, where he was to fast and be tempted by Satan.  However, let's keep "wilderness experiences" in the context of the original one.  Jesus was weak and hungry from fasting, but not sick.  It is Biblically baseless to say that your sickness is a wilderness experience.  Jesus was not sick in his.

God does sometimes lead you into difficult situations.  You may encounter all kinds of temptations.  But notice what God did not do to Jesus -- he did not for a minute make him subject to Satan.  Acts 10:38 says that sickness is oppression of the devil.  Jesus was not oppressed by the devil; he was victorious over the devil.  The devil could tempt him but could not dominate him.  If you are sick, the devil is dominating your body to the degree that you are sick.  That is not what happened to Jesus.

God cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).  God will not relinquish his care for a faithful saint and hand him over to Satan.  He can't legally do that, because you have been delivered from Satan's dominion and put under the authority of God's Son.  Having delivered you from Satan's dominion, is he going to put you back under it temporarily to test you or teach you something?  No way.  God can train you himself.  He doesn't need to enlist Satan's help to perfect that which concerns you.


Objection:  Faith is a gift from God, not...
Objection:  Faith is a gift from God, not something you work up yourself

Two true statements, one false implication.

Yes, faith is a gift from God, and Paul states so in Ephesians 2:8-9.  But God tells us how faith comes in Romans 10:17 -- by (continuously) hearing the Word of God.  The faith that comes is indeed a gift from God, but God tells you exactly how to get this gift.  If you won't hear his Word, it isn't God's fault that you're stuck in unbelief.  It is up to you to hear God's Word so that faith will come and grow in your life.  Don't just sit around thinking that God is going to drop faith on you.

It is correct that you don't "work up" faith yourself.  It is a treadmill of frustration to try to "work up" faith instead of getting it the natural way by meditating on Scripture.

Jesus told a parable about a sower, and the lesson was that God's Word is the same but it bears fruit differently according to the ground it's planted in.  The idea is to be good ground in which the Word can grow and produce a harvest.  Jesus warned that if you don't have ears to hear his Word, even what you have (or think you have) will be taken from you.

Faith is not a gift that lands on you out of the sky.  You didn't get faith to be saved that way, did you?  No, you got faith to be saved when someone shared God's Word with you concerning salvation.  You follow the same pattern to receive healing and other gospel benefits.


Objection:  The doctrine of faith healing is cruel to parents...
Objection:  The doctrine of faith healing is cruel to parents who have lost children to illness

This is similar to saying that the doctrine of salvation from hell is cruel to parents whose children have died without Christ and gone to suffer eternally in the lake of fire.  The truth is not always comforting, but it beats lies.  It beats saying that God kills little children or that God lets sinners go scot-free if they're good enough, although either comment may temporarily soothe a grieving person.  Ultimately, there is no soothing, because the person ends up with a compromised God whose word can no longer be trusted.  Anyone who believes these disgusting falsehoods may open the door for Satan to do more damage.  If you are going to cling to the idea that God took your child home for some sovereign reason, you might as well forget trying to believe for healing for the rest of your life.  Your prayers will always be tainted with ifs because you will never know the will of God.  You'll never know if he's going to make another "sovereign exception."  Maybe he's going to "take" you or another relative next!  Believing that God can fail to keep his Word and is to blame for your tragedies will strip you of your faith for anything.  If you can't trust God, you can't pray and KNOW that you have received from him.

Please hear the truth.  God did not "take" that child.  Satan, operating through one of his works (sickness), killed that child.  God was not to blame.

Neither I nor any faith preacher I know advocates saying to grieving parents at a funeral, "This wouldn't have happened if you had had enough faith!"  Do that and you will give divine healing a bad name.  The Bible says to grieve with those who grieve, not preach at those who grieve and make them feel bad.  However, it does not say to water down the gospel to comfort those who grieve.  Healing was available, and the child did not need to die.

Let me repeat that as boldly as I can:  THE CHILD DID NOT NEED TO DIE.  HE COULD HAVE BEEN HEALED.  THE PARENTS COULD HAVE BELIEVED FOR HIS HEALING.  For those who have dared me to make that statement, I just made it!  Don't go and preach it in people's faces at funerals, but it is still the truth and you cannot compromise it.  See the discussion, Descent into Stupidity for what happens if you go the other way and compromise God's Word to soothe the grieving parents.

I should clarify that I refer to young children in this discussion.  When children get older, they need to believe for their own healing, and you cannot believe and receive it for them.  When they are young, your faith can receive for them.  Jesus exhorted the father of the demonized boy to believe, not the boy himself.

You will have to decide for yourself what Jesus meant when he said that you can believe you receive what you desire when you pray and get it.  If this statement's obvious meaning is true, we should all be doing it.  If you don't think that we can all do it, you will have to find an alternative explanation for Mark 11:24.  If you don't believe that Jesus meant that we could receive from God in faith when we pray, you must tell us what he really meant.  The trouble is, I can't figure out what else his plain words could possibly mean.  If you can't figure out another meaning, you must accept his words and reject any words that contradict them, including those of people who say that nothing could have been done about the child.

I am not saying that parents who lost a child were in a position where they could have prayed in faith to avoid the tragedy.  The fact is, most people are nowhere near that point in their faith because they haven't developed their faith.  They did not refuse to do something that they should have done.  It was a case of inability to do it.  However, if they had developed their faith, they could have done something.  If you preach anything else, you may soothe the parents but contradict the words of Jesus!  The fact that the disciples could not deliver a demon-possessed boy did not mean that they could not have done it.  Jesus said explicitly that they could have done it!

People will accuse you of "blaming" people for the death of children.  Some people like to twist your words and accuse you of things.  (They did it to Jesus, they did it to Paul, and they'll do it to you if you preach divine healing.  Get used to it.)  I am not accusing or blaming people for anything.  If someone has not had the time to study the Word and meditate upon its healing promises, how could he believe for something major like that?  It would be like "blaming" a second grader for not being able to do calculus.  It is not a moral issue.  It is an issue of growing in the faith, and that takes time.  You have to grow spiritually just as you have to grow naturally before you are ready to do some things.  Few people operate in the kind of faith it would have taken to save the child.  If you don't even believe God to be healed of headaches, don't be so sure that you would have believed for that child's healing yourself!

So in one sense, there may not have been anything they could have done.  In a more general sense, however, if the parents had gotten saved sooner and learned the Word sooner, they could have developed their faith more and done something.  If this is not true, we must conclude that God's promises are unreliable because there are unpredictable exceptions.  I would never want to accuse God of being unreliable.  I will never preach that not all things are possible to him who believes.  I would rather upset a few people if necessary than upset the Holy Ghost by contradicting Jesus.

Opponents of divine healing will get in your face about how poor little Betsy Lou died.  (I don't know any Betsy Lou's who have died, or any that haven't for that matter, so I'm not picking on anyone in particular.)  They dare you to say that Betsy Lou could have been healed.  You might as well tell them the truth -- little Betsy Lou could have been healed!  If they have the right to bring up a particular name to try to intimidate you, you have a right to bring up the name in response.  They will call you heartless for doing it, of course, while saying nothing about their heartlessness in dragging Betsy Lou into what should be a doctrinal discussion anyway, not a statement of someone's experience.  Experience never proves doctrine.  If you want to talk experience, I know more than one person who has raised a child from the dead!  These people have never told me that the doctrine of divine healing is cruel to parents!  In fact, not preaching divine healing is cruel to parents with sick children.  They need to hear the good news about healing!

I have received a number of angry letters from people asking me (tempting me is perhaps more accurate) to tell the grieving relatives that the problem was their lack of faith.  Of course, I am not going to write such letters.  What I and anyone else with any sense will do is continue to preach the "word of faith" by which faith for healing and other gospel benefits comes.  Eventually, people who hear it and believe it may realize that an earlier tragedy in their life was avoidable.  I will most certainly not side in with Satan and accuse God of causing or wanting a tragedy to happen.

Now that I know Jesus, I realize that my teenage years were wasted.  I did not know Christ.  (No one told me how to be born again, even though I live in the supposedly gospel-saturated United States.)  My teenage years could have been far better if I had known the truth then, but I can't have those years back.  This is a similar experience to that of a bereaved parent hearing the gospel of healing and his authority in Christ and realizing that his child could have been healed.  You can't do anything about the past, but you can do something about the future.  I am not wasting any more years.  You do not have to lose another child to sickness.

No one came up to me and said, "You could have avoided all those bad experiences if you had just had faith" -- although that would have been a true statement!  People preached the truth to me, I believed it, and I am now enjoying the benefits.  Once I heard the truth, I figured the rest out on my own without anyone trying to make me feel bad about it.  Yes, I could have had better.  But the Bible says to forget those things that are behind and to reach forth to those things that are before -- toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  (See Philippians 3:13-14.)

The Bible contains accounts of those who received healing from the Lord on behalf of their young children.  (There is no record of anyone receiving anything for a grown-up child; it's up to adults to believe for themselves.  In one exceptional case, someone got a healing for a household servant who was probably not a child.)  In the one case where there was a failure to receive (the demonized boy that the disciples failed to help), Jesus said that unbelief was the problem.  Then he healed the boy!  This shows the danger of using experience to prove doctrine.  Today's doubt-mongers would surely have publicized the disciples' failure to deliver the boy and cited it as proof that it is not God's will to heal or deliver all.  Jesus settled the issue of God's will conclusively when he delivered the boy.

You gain nothing by condemning yourself or others for lack of faith.  Such behavior only pleases Satan.  However, preaching the GOOD NEWS that anyone can be healed through the name of Jesus Christ is not condemnation, even if it means that people realize that they could have lived better and that a child did not need to die.  We're all growing.  Ten years from now, you will recognize situations that you could have handled better today if only you were more grounded in the Word.  That's part of life.  Instead of condemning yourself for where you've been, rejoice in the fact that you can grow and live better in the future than you have been living so far.


Philippians 3:13-14
Philippians 3:13-14:

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.


Objection:  ...he didn't heal many at Nazareth
Objection:  It's not always God's will to heal -- he didn't heal many at Nazareth

Every now and then, someone embarrasses himself with an objection like this one.  Saying this proves only failure to read Matthew 13:54-58.  Mark 6:1-6 tells the story without explicitly citing the reason, but it's silly to use a story as an objection until you've read all the accounts of it.  Matthew is clear:  "And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief."  There is nothing further to say.  Matthew declared that the people's unbelief, not God's unwillingness to heal, stopped the miracles from happening at Nazareth.  (If you think it was God's will for the people at Nazareth to be full of unbelief, you should probably switch to a different religion, like Christianity.)


Objection:  (Paul said that he bore marks in his body)
Objection:  We know that God did not heal Paul, because he said that he bore marks in his body (Gal 6:17)

The idea here is that God had completely healed Paul, he would no longer be bearing marks in his body.  After all, if he were completely healed, the marks would be gone, and his skin would be like that of the models on the lotion ads on TV, right?

Gal 6:17:

From henceforth let no man trouble me:  for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

Where did Paul get his marks?  Plenty of them probably came from Galatia, where he was stoned and left for dead.  Paul is writing to these people.  This adds additional insight into the infirmities of the flesh that he discussed earlier in Galatians.  They were inflicted by men who persecuted him for preaching the gospel.  Even then, God kept healing Paul so that he could go and preach other places.

So why didn't God heal Paul and give him perfect skin with no marks left in it?  I don't know; ask God when you get to heaven if you want.  Whatever these marks were, they surely didn't stop Paul from preaching the gospel, as a serious illness would have done.  Of course, you can't even tie this in to colds and flus because these marks were from persecution, not from diseases.

If it weren't for God's healing power working in Paul's life, he wouldn't have had marks at all -- he would have been dead at Galatia and that would have been it.  Paul may have had some scars left, but nothing serious enough to stop his preaching.  I personally have a scar from an operation in the third grade, and I don't plan to pray that God will remove it -- I have better things to do (like writing this).  Paul's physical infirmity at Galatia was stated to be "at the first," implying that it did not continue.  He spoke of a trial that was in his flesh, not one that he still had when he wrote Galatians.  Paul's healing says a lot more about what is available to us than the scars that may have been left by his beatings and stonings.  Besides, there is reason to think that Paul considered bearing these external marks to be an honor.


Objection:  ...We should go empty hospitals
Objection:  If we have this faith and authority, we should go empty hospitals

Jesus didn't.  He left all but one sick at the Pool of Bethesda.  A servant is not greater than his master.  Yet Jesus had all the faith and authority you could hope for.

If we have authority over sickness, why can't we go empty hospitals?  Actually, we can, but not the way that the objectors think.  We cannot just go from room to room raising up one person after another.

Jesus did prolific healing miracles, but the people he healed came to him or were brought to him by their friends.  He did not go to the local infirmaries and heal all that were sick there.  They had to go to him!  Consider all the Scriptures in the New Testament where they brought the sick to be healed by Jesus, Peter, Paul, etc..  That is the New Testament pattern.  People need to go where the gospel is being preached.

Of course, you can preach the gospel to someone who is in the hospital, including the healing part.  If the person believes the gospel, he can rise up healed.  However, a little thirty-second dissertation on healing is not going to do the job in most cases.  People need more time to soak up the Word concerning healing.  The most important thing is for the person himself to develop faith to be healed, since your faith receives for you, not for someone else.  God may heal someone in answer to your prayers, but the person needs faith of his own to keep his healing and repel sickness in the future.  Only continual hearing of the Word will bring this faith.

It takes time for people's faith to grow.  People need teaching.  That is why Jesus not only healed, but preached and taught everywhere he went.  At Nazareth, where they would not receive his healing ministry, he had no alternative other than to go around teaching the people.  You can't just walk in the hospital and wave a magic wand and cure everyone instantly.

Now if you could get everyone in the hospital to hear good teaching on healing for long enough, you could probably get most of them out.  (Not everyone wants to be healed, and not everyone wants Jesus, who is the Healer, and healing is a package deal.  If you want to serve a dead philosopher or one of the 300 million Hindu gods, you aren't a candidate to receive healing until you are open to the gospel.)

People ARE being released from hospitals after being healed by the power of God.  As more people realize their privilege of receiving healing from the Lord their Physician, we should expect to see more of this.

A close relative of this objection, not worth covering separately, is:  "If healing is for all, you should go empty hospitals."  This is the equivalent of saying, "If eternal life is for all, you should get everyone you preach to saved."  That makes no sense at all in the light of Mark 4, where it is clear that the Word will fall on different kinds of ground and produce different results.  It is our job to spread the good news of eternal life and healing, and it is largely up to the people who hear it what happens.

If someone objects that those who preach that healing is for all should be emptying hospitals, you can retort that if that person really believes that salvation is for all, he should go empty crack houses in the nearest slum!  Can't all the drug addicts receive eternal life?  Yes, if they hear and believe the gospel.  But every individual is at a different place.  That is why you can't just go into a crack house and get everyone saved in a day, and that is why you can't just go into a hospital and get everyone healed in a day.  Some people are in a position to receive right away and some are not.

The fact that you cannot get all the drug addicts downtown saved tonight does not prove that they could not all receive forgiveness and eternal life.  The fact that you cannot get all the sick people in the local hospital healed tonight does not prove that they could not all receive healing from God.  Like most objections, this one falls apart when you apply it to the receiving of eternal life.


Objection:  Christ's healings were mostly instantaneous...
Objection:  Christ's healings were mostly instantaneous; we cannot claim to be able to do his works when we have so few instantaneous miracles

Jesus said that if we believe on him, we will do the works that he did and greater.  If we are not doing his works, the problem is not with Jesus or God; it is with us.  Our collective failure to do the works of Christ is not God's fault.  This objection must have been written by someone who has not been to any overseas healing crusades in places where they don't listen to ignorant radio programs that attack healing ministers.  Go to some countries and preach healing and you'll see plenty of instantaneous miracles.  I've gone and I've seen them.  So have some of my friends.  Perhaps if we are not seeing signs and wonders confirm the gospel, either we are not going anywhere or what we are preaching is not really the whole gospel and God cannot confirm it.

The people who raise objections like this probably never see instantaneous miracles at their own churches, and if their teaching consists of objections like this, it is not hard to understand why.

Of course, the works of Jesus were not simply miracles.  They also included preaching and teaching.  Jesus taught at Nazareth where he could do no mighty work.  Many of us today have to teach at modern-day Nazareths until people drop their traditions of men and believe the truth about healing.  A servant is not above his master.  You are not going to get Capernaum results in a place where the people have Nazareth faith.

Another problem with this objection is that the New Testament teaches that something you receive by faith now may manifest later.  It is not always instant.  If it were, there would be no need for patience; faith alone would inherit the promises rather than faith and patience.

Jesus himself did not guarantee the instant manifestation of what you receive by faith.  In fact, he taught the opposite.  Mark 11:23-24 makes it plain that first you believe that you receive and then later you see it.  Remember the context of these verses.  Jesus cursed a fig tree.  It began to wither from the roots immediately, but there was no outward manifestation right away.  By the yardstick used in this objection, Jesus himself was a failure because what he spoke in faith did not fully manifest for a full day.  I do not believe that Jesus was a failure because of that.

Do not get all worked up over not seeing an instant healing.  There were cases in Jesus' ministry where the healing was not immediate:

In Mark 8:22-25, a blind man received a partial healing and had to be prayed for again to receive a total healing.

In Luke 17:12-19, ten lepers were healed not instantly but "as they went" in faith to show themselves to the priests so that their healings could be confirmed.

In John 4:46-53, the boy "began to amend" (as opposed to receiving an instantaneous miracle) when Jesus spoke in faith.

In John 9:1-7, the blind man was not healed instantly when Jesus ministered to him, but was healed as he obeyed Jesus' instructions to go and wash in the pool of Sent.

At least this objection admits that some healing miracles do occur.  (Unless you live in a cave, you have heard about such miracles, too.)  The gripe is that there are not more instant miracles.  I submit to you that unbelief has polluted much of the land the way it did at Nazareth.  With all the books and radio programs produced against receiving healing by faith, teaching traditions of men instead of the gospel concerning healing, it is amazing that anyone gets healed in some places!  Where there was such unbelief, not even Jesus himself could do miracles.  A servant is not greater than his master.  If Jesus could not do miracles in the face of unbelief, we cannot do them either.  Where there is unbelief, there needs to be teaching of the Word to replace the unbelief with faith so that people can receive.

Let's thank God for the instantaneous and more gradual healings that take place, and let's work to bring our experience up to the Bible standard, rather than excusing ourselves by lowering the Bible standard.  We should be seeing more instant miracles today.  If I can have anything to do with it, I would like as many people as possible to find out the truth about divine healing so that they will cease to act like the folks at Nazareth and start acting like the ones in Capernaum.


Objection:  Faith is simply trust in God, not a force...
Objection:  Faith is simply trust in God, not a force that you use to change things yourself

The many people who object along this line would have us believe that faith is trusting and loving God and accepting whatever happens cheerfully.  They tell us that you cannot use faith to change physical circumstances yourself and that you must simply trust God to change things for you.  Then they tell us how egotistical it is to try to take control over things ourselves.

This sounds spiritual and even consecrated, but it's hogwash.  Jesus plainly taught that your faith can change physical circumstances, and that it's up to you to use it, not God.

Matthew 21:18-22, Mark 11:23-24 and Luke 17:5-6 are clear teachings that you can speak to a mountain or a tree (a physical thing) and it must obey you.  Jesus did not teach that you should simply trust and love God and accept a mountain.  He did not say that you must trust God to move a mountain for you.  There is no mention here of God doing anything for you other than giving you the faith to move the mountain.  You must speak to the mountain.  You must speak to the tree.  God does not do it for you.  The mountain or the tree won't move until you move it with faith-filled words out of your mouth.

You can complain to God about the mountain and nothing will happen.  You can accept the mountain's presence and think you're being humble.  You can love God with all your heart and mind and still stay defeated.  You can ask God to do something about your circumstances, but he's already told you what to do about them.  They will not change until you speak to them yourself.  Scripture tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue.  We know that this is true, because with your mouth you make confession unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10).  If you do not do this, you are damned.  It is up to you, not God, to confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead.  Until you do this, you are not saved, no matter how good your works or intentions are.  You must speak God's Word if you want something to change.

When Peter walked on the water and then started to sink, the Lord talked about the smallness of his faith.  Peter's faith allowed him to walk on water as Jesus did.  Peter's faith (in Jesus' command to come) was responsible for this miracle, and Peter's doubt caused him to start sinking.  If it were all up to God, Peter would have walked the whole way to Jesus without sinking.

Jesus rebuked his disciples for their unbelief when they could not cast out a devil in Matthew 17:14-21 and Mark 9:17-29.  Jesus had explicitly given them power and authority to cast out all devils (not just "little" ones) before this incident occurred.  They had the power; they just didn't use it because of their unbelief.  The Lord expected them to do it with their faith.  He told them what they could do if they had faith as a mustard seed.

Note in particular that the father of the demonized boy asked Jesus to help if he could do anything.  Jesus immediately put the responsibility on the man and said that all things were possible to him if he would believe.  The same is true for you.

In multiple cases, Jesus told a sick person that his or her faith had made him well.  (See According to YOUR FAITH be it done unto you for a complete list of such cases.)  He did not attribute it to his own faith, but to the faith of the person who came.  Thus, the responsibility for receiving the healing was on the person, not on Jesus himself.

James stated very bluntly that if you waver and are double-minded, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord (James 1:5-8).  He said that you must ask in faith.  That is your responsibility.  You have God's Word, by which faith comes, and it is your responsibility to read it, believe it, and act on it.  There is a world of difference between asking in faith and just resigning yourself to whatever happens and believing that it's God will and "trusting" him.  This is not real trust at all, as religious as this may sound, because if you trusted God, you would trust his words in the Scriptures listed above.  If you don't trust Jesus' words, you do not trust Jesus.  If you do not trust God's words, you do not trust God.

God has given you the privilege of speaking his Word to circumstances.  In case it seems egotistical to think that you and not God are the one changing things, you should realize that there is a partnership involved.  It's your mouth, but it's God's Word.  There is nothing puffed up about using God's Word to move mountains.  You have the easy part -- speaking.  God's Word has the inherent power to take care of the mountain for you once you speak it.  When you bring God's Word on the scene, you bring God himself on the scene.  To this extent, it is God doing the work, and God gets the glory, not you.

I once lifted hundreds of pounds of music equipment at once at our church's loading dock.  It was easy.  I pressed the UP button and the lift lifted it up.  (We have a really cool loading dock.)  If I had not pressed the UP button, the equipment would have stayed where it was.  I had to do something.  But you are probably not glorifying me for my strength.  I don't expect any offers to star in a violence movie because of this feat.  The lift did the work; I just had to press the button.  This is a good analogy of the partnership involved between you and God when you speak his Word.  The Word does the work, but it can't do anything until it comes out of your mouth.  No one should think that you're a big shot because you just had the good sense to put something to work that is far more powerful than you are by yourself.  God gets the glory, but there's nothing to get glory over until you press the button by speaking God's Word to your situation.


Objection:  So-and-so had a vision...
Objection:  So-and-so had a vision where Jesus said that a relative who died in the prime of life was called home by God and had finished his course

So?  Sun Myung Moon and Joseph Smith claim that they had visions from God, too.  It surely wasn't God talking to them because their "revelations" contradict the Bible.  Are you going to believe someone because he said he had a vision?

I've heard this objection, and you probably have, too.  Let me state as plainly as I can -- that vision was not from God and that person did not see the Lord Jesus Christ.  Jesus did not tell that person that the prematurely dead relative had finished his course.  The person may have been under a lot of psychological pressure and the vision was a fabrication of his mind, not a real vision given by the Holy Spirit.  Or it could have been a vision sent from Satan, who likes to masquerade as an angel of light.  Satan can give people visions.  Just because you are a Christian and you have a spiritual vision does not mean that you heard from God.  New Agers and other cultists have visions.  If you smoke or snort the right thing, you'll have plenty of visions, too.  I have never had a vision of the Lord, but if I did, I would not attempt to convince you that anything I said was true on that basis.  The only basis I can legitimately use is Scripture.  Otherwise, I could see one thing and you could see another thing, and we'd all be confused.

Anyone who dies in the prime of life (other than a martyr; this is covered elsewhere) was not called home by God and did not finish the course that God intended for him.  Period.  If you want to compromise your faith for healing because of someone's alleged vision, that is your loss.  It was God's will for the person to live a satisfied life of at least 70-80 years and to be healed and prosperous.  God wanted to heal all that person's diseases.  Jesus purchased healing for that person so that he would not have to die in the prime of life.  For one reason or another, usually lack of instruction on healing, the person did not receive it.

If you want to fight over someone's nice "comforting" vision, that is your privilege.  It will also be your privilege to be sick yourself or encourage others to accept a premature and unnecessary death when you believe such nonsense is really from God.  You must draw the line with Scripture and reject anything that is inconsistent with the healing Scriptures quoted throughout these discussions.  Don't be moved by anyone's vision, no matter whose it is.  Only the Word should move you when it comes to doctrinal matters.


Objection:  1 Cor 6-19-20...[is not] a healing proof-text
Objection:  1 Cor 6:19-20 is about avoiding fornication and should not be used as a healing proof-text

I agree that the main theme of the latter part of 1 Cor 6 is avoiding fornication.  At least 4 verses specifically mention this.  But there are also at least 4 verses dealing with God's ownership and redemption of your physical body.  The main reason to avoid fornication is this truth that our bodies have been bought with a price (v. 20) and are members of Christ (v. 15).  We must avoid fornication because Christ himself assumed legal ownership of our bodies when we were born again.  We also see that the Lord is for the body (v. 13), not neutral or uncaring about it or against it.

If the Lord is for the body (which he is), how can we conclude that he might want the body that he is "for" to be sick?  God is for your body, not against it.  Why would God want a member of Christ to be sick?  Why would he want "the temple of the Holy Ghost" (v. 19) to be in disrepair?  He was very particular about his Old Testament temple being in order.  He surely wants his New Testament temple in order, too.

Consider the fact in v. 13 that the body is for the Lord.  If your body is wasting away with a debilitating illness, you can't use it for the Lord.  You cannot go on mission trips.  You cannot go preach the gospel or even serve at your local church to build up the body of Christ.  Given that our bodies are to be used for the Lord, what use would it be to God if that body could not be used in his service?  What a waste.

In v. 20, Paul tells us to glorify God with our bodies.  How much glory does God, who calls himself The Lord Who Heals You, get, if you get sick and stay that way, or even die?  Is that any way to glorify God with your body?  Apply this test:  Will anyone look at your sick or dying (or dead) body and begin to give glory to God because of it?  No one but a nut or an unbelief-book author would do that.  No, the Gospels plainly state that Christ's glory was manifested when he did miracles, not by people staying sick and dying.  The glory of God was manifested when Lazarus was raised from the dead, not through his sickness and death.

Read Healing and God's glory for more discussion about exactly how God is glorified in people's bodies.  You will see that it is healing and health that glorify him, not sickness.


Objection:  [Some illnesses are psychosomatic]
Objection:  Some people have been "healed" in crusades of illnesses that were purely psychosomatic anyway

Agreed!  So rejoice with the person who got healed instead of being a pickle-puss about it!  Who cares what the cause is?  If the person is healed through Jesus Christ, thank God for it.  Jesus is the Healer of the total person, not just the body.

Of course, the point of this objection is that the people in question could have been healed without Jesus Christ if they simply made some mental adjustments.  Therefore, they could have just as easily been healed through therapy.  To some extent, this is correct, although that would not justify going to an antichrist group for healing.  Some diseases are unmistakably linked to mental problems, and perhaps a psychologist would have helped them get rid of it.  But in the service, it was Jesus, not a mental doctor, who set them free, so he should get the glory for it.  Jesus and his anointing can do more for you in five seconds than a well-trained doctor might be able to do in five years.  Jesus also charges far less.

Medical science seems to think that the link between the mind and the body is some great modern discovery.  It's old news.  The Bible contains many statements along these lines.  (For example, the fact that a merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.)  Some people literally get sick because of their bitterness and unforgiveness.  Once they repent of these sins (yes, they're sins, regardless of what others did to poor little them), they can be healed.

The real bottom line of this objection is that the healings are not "real," and can be duplicated without Jesus Christ.  This may or may not be true in some cases, but try explaining people getting raised from the dead.  You aren't going to "psych" a dead person back to life, are you?  Too many healings can be explained as nothing other than a miracle performed by the resurrected Christ through his Church.  The cases recorded in Scripture are like that.  Even if a doctor might have helped some of them, Jesus did not use psychology or natural medical knowledge to help people -- he used the anointing he had from God!  How many psychologists are prepared to cast out a demon?  Yet if they don't, they may never solve the problem.  The people in Jesus' day surely sought medical help, too, and if they had been cured by other means, they would not have needed Jesus to heal them.


Objection:  Jesus could not have borne female-specific illnesses...
Objection:  Jesus could not have borne female-specific illnesses in his own body on the cross

Jesus may not have literally borne cancer of the ovaries, but that is nit-picking.  He most certainly bore cancer, and his bearing of cancer redeems you from it wherever it might manifest in your body, including your female-specific parts if you're a woman.

Jesus bore the "curse of the law" that includes female-specific illnesses.  (According to Deut 28:61, all illnesses, which would include female problems, were part of the curse for breaking the Law.)  His healing mercy was extended to the woman with the issue of blood, and his earthly ministry was authorized by his coming atonement.  (He both healed and forgave sins on this basis).  Therefore, female problems were covered in his atonement.

This is an objection to the idea that Jesus carried our diseases.  How could he have carried a woman's diseases?  Well, for that matter, how could he have borne your illnesses when you weren't even born until a couple millennia later?  You don't have to understand how he did it, you just have to believe that he did it.  He was made sick in your place, as your substitute, so that you do not have to be sick today.  You could raise a similar objection that the Trinity is logically impossible, yet it is still real despite any logical objection.

This kind of objection would never be raised by a woman needing healing, anyway.  It's only a tool for smart-alecks who ask questions like, "If God is omnipotent, can he make a stone so big that he can't move it?"  Scripture is clear that the physical suffering of Christ was intended to relieve our physical suffering.  If you have a female-specific problem, be assured that Jesus is as willing to heal you as he was the woman with the issue of blood, and his atonement covers your condition.


Objection:  We cannot demand healing...God is sovereign
Objection:  We cannot demand healing from God because God is sovereign

God's sovereignty is often used as an excuse not to receive healing from him.  Worse, it often becomes a pathetic catchall for everything bad that happens.  I don't know if you've seen things like the following, but I've seen enough along these lines that it almost makes me sick!  (If it did make me sick, of course, I would believe God for my healing rather than "trusting in his sovereign will in the matter.")

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OUR GREAT SOVEREIGN GOD	By Kay Lastima

Oh, how I love God and his will for me, even when I don't understand it.  I just trust in his sovereignty, because he knows what is best for me.  Even sickness, which seems to be of no value, is part of his sovereign plan.  I know this because of my favorite verse, Romans 8:28.  God heals those whom he chooses to heal in his sovereignty.  If he chooses to have me suffer, I will gladly submit to his loving sovereign will.  I know that Psalm 115:3 says that God has done whatever he has pleased; therefore, sickness must please him when he permits it.  I know that when Jesus opens and shuts doors, man is powerless to do anything about it because Revelation 3:7 says so; therefore no one can resist God's will.  I know that God works everything after the counsel of his own will because Ephesians 1:11 says so.  After all, Lamentations 3:37-38 says, "Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?  Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?"  Therefore, I gladly receive evil from my sovereign Father.  I love our great sovereign God and will never fuss with him over the circumstances that he sovereignly permits to befall me.  My aunt lost her baby in his sovereign will.  My brother-in-law died a painful death from pancreatic cancer in his sovereign will.  My brother went bankrupt and lost his business, and his wife ran off with the guy who rides the back of the trash truck.  God had a sovereign reason for all this.  He controls everything, so I will never question his will or attempt to boss my sovereign God around.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you think this is exaggerated, you should read some of the things people say about God's sovereignty.  (Well, actually, you shouldn't read them.)  They write whole books that are an elaboration of the paragraph above.

If God is really that sovereign, why pray?  Why did Jesus spend so much time teaching on faith and prayer if we are just to accept everything as God's sovereign will anyway?  It would be a waste of time to bring any petition before a God who just does what he wants anyway.  But watch the news tonight and you'll see that the will of God does not automatically get done in the lives of sinners or saints.

If you believe that the will of God just automatically gets done, consider that 2 Peter 3:9 and 1 Tim 2:3-4 (among other places) say that God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  Not all men get saved or come to a knowledge of the truth, so the will of God is not done in their lives.  Therefore, the will of God does not automatically get done.  God is willing to heal all diseases, too, but that will is not automatically done.  The ones who get saved are the ones who believe for it.  The ones who are healed supernaturally are the ones who believe for it.  The principle is the same.

The argument in the paragraph above is so airtight that the only way the objectors can argue with it is to say that Jesus had a "limited atonement," i.e., that he died for only the sins of "the elect" and not everyone.  Then it could still be true that God's will always gets done, because he only was willing to save some people and not all.  That is actually their response when you bring this up!  They will tell you that 2 Peter 3:9 "in context" was written to people who were saved, who must be in "the elect," and that God is not in fact willing to save all men because Jesus did not die for all men.  This concept, known as predestination or Calvinism, does not agree with John the Baptists's declaration that the Lamb of God takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).  It certainly does not agree with John's statement in 1 John 2:2:  "And he is the propitiation for our sins:  and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."  The idea that Jesus did not die for all men is not even held by a majority of those who do not believe in divine healing, for what should be obvious reasons.  It would make God a respector of persons, which he declares multiple times that he is not, and it would make all the precious promises addressed to "whosoever" (John 3:16, for example!) meaningless.  It leads to the inevitable logical conclusion that free will does not really exist in regard to salvation, since no one can resist God's will.  (Because this is the logical extension, most who teach "predestination" do teach that no one can resist God's will.)  So much for choosing life or death yourself.  This also paints God in a bad light, since it means that he damns many who have no chance to ever be saved; they are in effect damned from the womb.

If you think you are sick because that is God's predestined good will for your life, you might want to ask yourself how all of the sick people in Jesus' day (as well as all the sick people on the streets of Jerusalem and the island of Melita) managed to get out of God's predestined good will for their lives -- with help from Jesus and the apostles!  Otherwise, you must believe that it was God's good will to heal everyone who came for it back then, but that it is not God's will to do so today.  Now you are saying that God has changed and his healing mercies are no longer new every morning.  You are saying that he was moved with compassion back then, but that God no longer extends this compassion to the sick today.  This opens up a number of unanswerable problems, such as the fact that God does not change, and that Jesus said it was expedient that he go away so that he could send the Holy Spirit to enable us to do his works in his name, and the fact that he is our merciful High Priest today.  Surely his mercy has not decreased.  You also would have to defend the position that we are somehow in a different dispensation even though it is the same Church Age.  (This is covered elsewhere in more detail.)

God does indeed do as he pleases (Psalm 115:3), but the devil does things that do NOT please God, and the Son of God was manifest to destroy the devil's works (1 John 3:8).  This verse proves that things happen that are the will of Satan and not the will of God.  For example, billions of people will end up in hell.  That isn't God's will.  The idea that just because something happens, it's God's will, is ludicrous.  Just wait until you get sick next time and see if you really think it's God's will.

The context of Ephesians 1:11 is that God predestinated us to have an inheritance in Christ.  This general statement does not apply to all the minor incidents of life.  Not all incidents are God's will, because the sicknesses in the people Jesus healed were obviously not God's will -- the healing Jesus gave them was God's will.

Yes, there are verses such as the one about opening and shutting doors.  In the grand scheme of things, God's will cannot be thwarted.  There will be judgment upon the earth, Jesus will come back, there will be a new heaven and new earth, and the devil and his angels will burn in the lake of fire.  Nothing can stop that.  However, these verses cannot apply to a sick person!  I have heard people quote this and other verses as proof that God just does what he wants on the earth.  If you think the will of God is always done on the earth, pick up today's newspaper and consider how much the will of Satan is getting done instead.

The use of the Lamentations passage is lamentable, since the context of God sending evil is clear from the very next verse (3:39):  "Wherefore doth a living man complain, a man for the punishment of his sins?"  God is talking about sending evil to the sinner, not the righteous man!  It has nothing to do with a righteous man receiving evil from the Lord!

Thank God, Jesus did not have this hyper-religious attitude.  If he had, when the storm arose and the boat started filling with water and the disciples woke up Jesus, he would have said, "Let's just trust God's sovereign will in the matter.  If we sink and drown, that's his will.  I will not speak to circumstances or boss my sovereign God around."

Can you picture his response to the father of the demonized boy?  Instead of exhorting him to believe, he would have said, "Just leave the matter up to our sovereign God.  It might be his sovereign will for your boy to remain demon-possessed."

Thank God, James did not have this hyper-religious attitude.  If he had, he would have said, "Is any among you sick?  Let him sing praises to his supersovereign God and leave the matter in his hands."

The Bible is full of people who prayed and changed things.  Israel would have been destroyed if Moses had not stood in the gap.  Thank God, Moses did not just say, "Okay, Sovereign I AM, you said that you would destroy them in an instant, so let your sovereign will be done."  God extended Hezekiah's life 15 years after a prophet of God prophesied his immediate death -- because of Hezekiah's prayer!

You cannot read the Bible much without seeing numerous instances of prayer changing not only things but also changing how God was going to deal with a group of people.  God would have spared Sodom for the sake of 10 righteous people just because of Abraham's prayer!  This is totally contrary to the whole idea of a "sovereign God" who is little more than the Greek mythological Fates sitting up there determining who gets lucky and who gets the shaft today.

God is not actually sovereign in the sense that he can do everything.  There are things God himself cannot do!  He cannot change.  He cannot lie.  He cannot alter the word that has gone forth from his lips.  He has exalted his word above his name.  God is literally bound by his promises.  For God to refuse to keep just one promise to one person who has met its conditions would give Satan the right to order God to leave his throne.

God has bound himself to honor "by whose stripes you were healed."  He has bound himself to honor "I am the Lord your Physician."  He has bound himself to "forgive all your sins and heal all your diseases."  God is no longer "sovereign" in such matters because he cannot break his promises.  This is the main point that the "sovereignty" crowd misses.

"The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's:  but the earth hath he given to the children of men." -- Psalm 115:16.  (That is in the same Psalm whose third verse is part of this objection!)  Man has authority here.  That is why God needs us to pray, to authorize him to move in the earth.  This idea bothers people because it's easier not to pray and just think that God will run everything the way he wants.  I have even had barrages of Scripture quoted at me that supposedly indicate that God can do, and does do, whatever he wants in the earth.  While his ultimate will (the judgments of Revelation, the renewal of the earth, the Millennium, etc.) will be done regardless of men's wishes, many aspects of this present life have been left to man.  This is why God does not stop the abortions and other murders, wars, corruption in government, and so on.  If God truly does his will in the minutest details on earth, he is sadistic, allowing women to be battered, children to be abandoned, and men to become slaves of lust and chemicals.  No, God gives man free will to choose good or evil.  You cannot blame your cold on God's sovereign will.  Besides, if you think it's God's will, quit taking that medicine to get out of his will, and just suffer your sovereignly sent sickness.


2 Peter 3:9
2 Peter 3:9:

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.


John  3:16
John 3:16:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


1 Timothy 2: 3-4
1 Timothy 2:3-4:

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to a knowledge of the truth.


Objection:  Healing is a side issue...
Objection:  Healing is a side issue that does not deserve to be emphasized so much

Every time Jesus Christ commissioned anyone to preach the gospel, he also told him to heal the sick.  Gospel preaching is to have signs and wonders following.  The last verse in Mark (Mark 16:20) tells us that.  The word Amen means so be it.  They preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word with signs following.  So be it!  That is how it is supposed to be!

In Acts 14:7-10, Paul preached "the gospel" (what God calls the gospel, not what most men today call the gospel, which covers only the new birth) to a man and that man received faith to be healed.  He had never walked a step in his life, but by listening to the gospel, faith to be healed came.  Healing was obviously part of the gospel that Paul preached.  Paul, as you probably know, did mighty signs and wonders of healing.  Paul himself had to be healed on numerous occasions just to be able to continue ministering after being abused in various cities.

Laying hands on the sick should be taught to everyone!  You probably think I'm off the deep end for saying that, but actually, you are off the deep end if you don't say it, because you are out of agreement with what God says the basics are:

Hebrews 6:1-2

The doctrine of laying on of hands is one of the six fundamental doctrines of Christ!  It's right in there with faith and eternal judgment.  I would not call anything that is a fundamental doctrine of Christ a side issue.  Receiving healing from the laying on of hands is an easy way to get healed, and should be taught to new believers.  As they grow in faith, they can learn to receive healing without the laying on of hands, but they have to start somewhere.

Miraculous healings have resulted in entire cities turning to God.  It wasn't a side issue to the people in those cities.  Read about the crowds that came to Jesus, Peter and Paul because of the healings that occurred.  No evangelist should be without this alleged "side-issue" working in his ministry.  It will multiply his effectiveness.

The only people who think healing should be a side issue are people who don't really think that healing should be discussed at all, or at least not preached as a covenant right.  I would hate to see one of the three foundations of Jesus Christ's ministry (preaching, teaching and healing) be yanked out of our gospel preaching as a "side issue."

The fact that so many Christians get just as sick as the heathen in the world is proof to me that we need to preach healing a lot more, not less!


Objection:  Getting healed...is too difficult
Objection:  Getting "healed by faith" is too difficult

Take that one up with God...it's his program!

How serious are you?

What are you willing to do to build your faith to get healed?  Most people would take a miracle drug religiously if they were certain that it would cure them if they took it long enough.  God's word is medicine -- health to all your flesh.  But like natural medicine, it's no good to you on the shelf!  You have to get it inside you before you get any results.  You must take it diligently, not just "try" it once or twice.  Imagine how the doctor would glare at you if you told him that you "tried" the pills he prescribed once or twice and then quit because they didn't seem to be helping.

Under the Old Covenant, God told Joshua to meditate (think on and speak to himself) the Word day and night.  People were commanded to write the Word everywhere where they would see it.  The blessings of God did not just happen.  Even in Deuteronomy, being debt-free and being blessed in your storehouses (bank accounts today) was contingent upon listening to God and obeying his commands.  Why should we have to be any less committed or fervent today?

For some reason, certain Christians think that they can just coast along and then claim healing for anything when the need arises.  It doesn't work that way, folks, even under the New Covenant!  If you are unwilling to take the time to read the Word and think about it and say it out of your mouth, your faith will be too weak to accomplish much.  Under what conditions did Jesus say you would ask what you will and it would be done for you?  There were conditions, you know.  He said it would happen if you abide in him and his words abide in you.  You have to abide in Christ and give his Word a prominent place in your life to satisfy this condition.  Otherwise, you don't qualify!

So you may think some of us are nuts when we go to bed at night listening to healing Scripture tapes, or play them while ironing clothes or cooking supper.  You may think we are nuts when we play tapes in the car to build our faith instead of just vegging out or listening to worldly music.  You may think we're extreme because we post verses around the house.  You may think that's nuts, but when it comes time to get healed, guess what?  You will be the one with the two-bit virus that everyone else is getting and we will be the ones who rebuke it and get rid of it.  We have a saying in the computer business:  "Garbage In, Garbage Out."  It works just as well the other way -- Word In, Word Out.  Put the Word in and it will come out when the pressure is on.  Put worldly garbage in and that's all that will come out when pressure comes.

Someone objected to me that I was preaching works by talking this way.  Yes, you must do certain works to build yourself up in the Lord.  You can't do God's part and God won't do your part.  He has given you his Word, but it's up to you to do something with it.  The person was upset because it sounded like you could take credit for your healing.  Well, Jesus gave credit to people!  He said that their faith had made them whole.  If their faith could make them whole, my faith can make me whole.  I'm not boasting in myself.  It was God's idea and he put the laws into motion.  But I have to do something myself.  If I sit around watching TV and neglecting prayer and the Word, I will have myself to thank when I get sick and stay sick.  If I regularly take in the Word that is health to all my flesh, I will have greater health in my body because of what I did.  I didn't bear my illnesses on the cross; Jesus did that.  But my actions do indeed affect my health, and so do yours.  You can't just say it's all up to God.

How badly do you want to be healed?  Demonstrate it by pursuing the Word and prayer with that amount of dedication, and you will conclude that healing is not quite so hard after all!

Walking in love is difficult, too -- but still God's will

Here is an elaboration of this objection as it is usually presented:

"Do you know anyone who walks in health 100% of the time?  No, you don't, and neither do I.  See, that proves that walking in health is just too difficult and God can't really expect that of us.  To preach walking in health all the time sets the standard too high.  Since no one ever does it all the time, walking in health must not be the will of God in every case."

Let's extend this bad argument to the area of walking in love:

"Do you know anyone who walks in love 100% of the time?  No, you don't, and neither do I.  See, that proves that walking in love is just too difficult and God can't really expect that of us.  To preach walking in love all the time sets the standard too high.  Since no one ever does it all the time, walking in love must not be the will of God in every case."

Get the idea?  No one said that everything in your Christian walk would come easily, whether health or walking in love.  Yet, substitute the word health for the word love in the paragraph above, which applies exactly the same illogic, and most people swallow it.  You would be laughed out of any Christian event for preaching the paragraph on love, but they might give you your own radio show if you preached the paragraph with health substituted for love.  (This assumes that your local Christian radio station is not already overrun with people who preach this.)

The Bible is full of sayings that are not easy for your flesh to accept.  Denying yourself, taking up your cross, dying daily, being crucified with Christ -- just because it challenges you every day of your life does not mean that it isn't God's Word!

You have the love of God shed abroad in your heart even if you never walk in the fullness of it.  You were healed by the stripes of Jesus and possess healing as part of your inheritance in Christ whether or not you ever walk in the fullness of it.

Is God unfair?

God has a right to expect faith from believers.  Is it too much to believe that God can and will heal your sick body?  Even under a worse covenant based upon worse promises, look at the faith that God demanded from men who weren't even born again!  He expected that the Israelites would believe that they could go possess Canaan and kill off the giants in the land.  Two of the spies believed it and the other ten let the natural impossibilities mean more to them than what God said.  God was furious with the ten and they died of sickness as punishment for their unbelief.  Was God being unfair?  If you want to be the clay telling the potter that he's unfair, that's your privilege -- and risk.  God is just.  He has a right to demand that people believe his words.

God expected Joshua to believe that God would deliver the fortress of Jericho to Israel.  That's a more impossible mission than you'd even make a movie about!  God expected the singers to go ahead of Jehoshaphat's army into a battlefield!  What would you do under those circumstances?  Protest that God was expecting too much of you?  Is God unfair?  No.  God has a right to expect that you will believe and act on his words, no matter how much they may contradict natural circumstances.  That is not asking too much.  Is your sickness as difficult or as hopeless as the situations just mentioned?  I doubt it.  God has a right to expect you to believe that he is who he says he is -- the Lord who Heals You.  God still places a high premium on faith.  If you don't walk in faith, you don't please God.  It doesn't matter how "good" you are.  Hebrews 11:6 tells us something that really is impossible -- pleasing God without faith!  If you want to please God more, walk in faith more!

You can either be like the Israelites in the wilderness, complaining that God has asked something too hard from you, or you can be like Joshua and Caleb, believe God's words, and possess what God has promised you.


Objection:  Groaning...is part of this life
Objection:  Groaning as our outward man perishes is part of this life (2 Cor 4:16-5:4)

2 Cor 4:16-5:4:

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:  for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened:  not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

First, the context of this passage involves Paul's suffering for the gospel, which consisted of persecutions, beatings, and so on, but not persistent sickness.  (Paul's body was afflicted by the physical abuse, but there is no record of Paul having a virus, cancer, or any such thing.)  This is clear from the verses immediately preceding the passage above:

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed;

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  [Far from implying that physical sickness is normal, Paul is testifying that every time his body was abused for the gospel's sake, the life of Jesus made itself manifest and healed him.]

For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake [this must mean persecution again; having AIDS or cancer is not dying for Jesus' sake!], that the life also of Jesus might be manifest in our mortal flesh.  [Again, this is a testimony to God's healing power, not his supposed ability to make you sick.]

So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

[Then follows the original passage shown above.]

Paul's talk about his outward man perishing is tied to his "light affliction," which did not consist of contracting viruses.  Getting a cold does not "work for you a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" -- it is just a nuisance.  Paul is not talking about illness here.

We are not redeemed from aging.  You could make an argument that the outward man perishing is speaks of the natural (under Adam's curse) aging process, although that would be difficult to prove in the context.  Even then, the fact that you age does not mean that you have to get sick; this is covered in other discussions and objection replies.  If God heals all your diseases, that includes diseases caused by breakdowns in body parts.  God wants your body to work properly until you go home to heaven.  You will age and you will not be ready to try out for your local football team at the age of 90, but you don't have to be sick.

The groaning here has nothing to do with groaning in pain because you have appendicitis or something.  Paul did not have any regular diseases as far as we know, and he groaned.  The groaning here is due to the desire for something better, for eternal bodies in our eternal home.  The same idea is expressed in Romans 8, where we groan within ourselves, waiting for the redemption of our body.  (This is speaking of the full redemption in the sense of having a new body.  This does not prove that our current body is not redeemed from illness, any more than Paul's later statement in Romans 13:11 that salvation is nearer now than when we first believed proves that salvation is not for this present life.)

The groaning of our spirits has more to do with the fact that we are stuck with unregenerate flesh for the rest of our earth walk.  Our flesh is not born again, and will constantly lead us into trouble unless we make a point of walking in the Spirit so that we do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  This is a battle you will fight every day.  Can you see why your spirit wants to be free from this?

You might make an argument that the passage in question has to do with aging, but you cannot prove that the passage has anything to do with getting sick.  Sickness is never mentioned either in the passage or in its context.  Therefore, you cannot use this passage to prove that you should have to groan with sickness as your outer man perishes!


Objection:  Jesus said to say, "Thy will be done," instead of…
Objection:  Jesus said to say, "Thy will be done," instead of demanding healing

Jesus said to say, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven."  We know that saints in heaven are not sick, because there is no crying and no pain there.  The will of God is done in heaven.  Therefore, the will of God cannot be sickness.  If it were, some of the saints in heaven would still get sick.

This prayer is sometimes misinterpreted to mean that we just throw up our hands and say, "Lord, I don't know your will concerning this test and trial, so I'll just ask that your will be done here."  Pray that and I can just about guarantee you that the will of Satan will be done in your body.  Satan will exploit your ignorance of the will of God in the matter and leave you sick, thinking it's God's will!

Of course, the person who said this believes that sickness is the will of God on earth but not in heaven.  That is exactly what Jesus contradicts in the very passage he cited!  We are to pray that the will of God be done on earth just as it is in heaven.  God does not have one will in heaven and another here.

If you've seen Jesus, you've seen the Father.  Jesus was God's will in action.  He healed those who were oppressed of the devil (not of God).  Satan is the Sickener.  Jesus is the Healer.  It should be obvious to anyone with half a bit of sense that the will of God is healing, not sickness.  We don't have to wonder about it.  Read the rest of this book if you still have doubts.  God has made it clear that he is your Physician who heals all your diseases.  The Word of God will make faith come and make doubt leave.

The sense in which we are to pray, "Thy will be done" is first to know God's will and then pray that it be done!  You do not question God's will when you pray.  To do so is to waver and be tossed about like ocean waves in the wind, and you must not think you will receive anything from the Lord then, according to James 1:5-8.

Jesus never told his followers to question the will of God in prayer.  His only use of an "if" was when he was consecrating himself to the will of God in the garden.  That should be your only use of "if" also.  When it comes to receiving something from God, you first find out that God has promised it to you.  Then you believe that you receive that promise when you pray.

You don't demand healing of God, anyway.  If you're going to demand it of someone, demand it of the devil, who is ultimately responsible for sickness.  There is no need to "boss God around" on the matter; he is perfectly willing to heal you right now and always has been willing.  You just might have found out about it now, just as you once found out about the new birth that had always been available to you.  Pray in the name of Jesus and receive what God has already decided to give you.  God isn't withholding your healing from you!

A further sub-objection has been made that it is inconsistent to pray, "Thy will be done on earth -- healing -- as it is in heaven," because God's will in heaven is having Jesus rule mankind from his throne, surrounded by cherubim, and this will not happen on the earth in this age.  To this I reply:  Jesus did not set up a throne on earth, surrounded by cherubim, during his earthly ministry, and he did not pray for that to happen.  However, he did heal the sick and commissioned his followers to do the same.  Jesus said that he always did the will of the Father, and the healing part of the will of the Father was being done on earth during this age.  Since Jesus did the will of God, and Jesus healed the sick in this age, it is the will of God to heal the sick in this age.  The bit with the cherubim is not for this age.  Let us all pray that the known will of God -- divine health -- be done on earth in this age, as it is in heaven!


Objection:  If we really had authority over sickness...
Objection:  If we really had authority over sickness, we would not need GIFTS OF HEALING

This objection demonstrates the common fallacy the gifts of healing (literally healings) were given to the Church as God's means of healing his children.  That is not true!  God sent his Word (Jesus Christ) and healed his people.  The primary way that the child of God should receive healing is by believing he receives what he desires (healing) when he prays (Mark 11:24).

You cannot find one passage in the New Testament where a born-again believer is exhorted to go to a healing service to get healed!  It is not a sin to do so, but it is not God's best, either.  If you need to go, go!  I have done so myself.  But God has a better way.  We are to believe that by Jesus' bruise we have been healed and that we are redeemed from the curse of the Law, which includes all sickness and disease.

Many miracles took place in the New Testament that did not depend on the faith of the person receiving.  Let's face it; Dorcas and Eutychus were not raised from the dead by their own faith!  Especially when the gospel is preached somewhere for the first time, God will do signs and wonders to confirm his Word.  The people involved are often in no place to receive healing by faith, but God heals them through the gifts of healings.  The mature believer can still receive a miracle by faith (Galatians 3:5-6).  Jesus performed miracles as signs and wonders but also taught people how to receive miracles for themselves.  It is not God's will for a believer to have to be healed by gifts of healings, which are more evangelistic tools than God's healing method for believers.

The people who point to the signs that followed the gospel as being apostolic confirmations of the gospel are partially correct.  Signs and wonders do follow certain ministry gifts more than they would follow the layperson.  These ministry gifts should be operating in the same full capacity today.  If people then needed proof of the resurrection, surely they do today.

As believers, we do not need gifts of healings to get healed.  We can believe for and receive our healing by faith.  If we are having trouble, the gifts of healings may then get involved so that we can get healed anyway even if we are not in faith.  But the fact that there are gifts of healings in no way denies our authority over sickness.  These gifts simply provide an alternate means of getting healed when faith is not present to do the job.

Finally, this objection falls apart for another reason.  You have authority over sickness in your own body, and when you receive healing by faith, no one can stop you.  On the other hand, when you want to take authority over sickness in someone else's body, that person's will and faith are involved.  You cannot just say that you should drive sickness out of everyone because you have authority over it.  Jesus did not tell people to heal the sick without telling them to preach the gospel also.  It is up to the person you are praying for to believe with you.  If the person will not believe, the only way that person will be healed is through the gifts of healings.  That is why we need gifts of healings even though we have authority over sickness.


Objection:  Only some receive GIFTS OF HEALING...
Objection:  Only some receive GIFTS OF HEALING; this proves that healing is a gift bestowed as God wills

This objection is based on a misunderstanding of 1 Cor 12:8-11 and 1 Cor 12:28-30.  The objector reasons that gifts of healing are healings that are bestowed on individuals as gifts.  That is not true, as is clear from the context.  These passages talk about spiritual gifts that are used for the benefit of others in the body, not for one's own benefit.  In other words, gifts of healings are graces to be used in ministering healing to others.  It has nothing to do with receiving a healing for yourself.  The healings may be gifts to the people who receive them, but they are not gifts to the person operating in the gifts of healings.

Consider especially 1 Cor 12:28-30.  God has set in the church apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, governments, and diversities of tongues.  These all speak of people flowing in ministry gifts and not of things you receive from God during a service.  Just as God has anointed some to be teachers, God has anointed some to flow in miracles and gifts of healings.

Now consider 1 Cor 12:8-11, especially the part about "to another the gifts of healing [literally healings]."  If the gifts of healings were healings that take place during a service, they would be given to others (plural), not another (singular).  This passage speaks of a person being used to minister healings (in the plural) to others in the service.

1 Cor 14:12 tells us that the gifts are for the edifying of the church.  They are to bless others.  They are not blessings that you receive for yourself.  "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church."

Some people are spontaneously healed in services.  I have seen people all over the room healed without the laying on of hands.  However, "gifts of healings" would not refer to healings that are received in such a way, although perhaps you could say that the minister flowed in them.


Objection:  Greats of faith were stoned, sawn asunder...
Objection:  Greats of faith were stoned, sawn asunder, slain, destitute, afflicted and tormented.  Therefore, we can be too, even if we have great faith like theirs.

This objection is based on Hebrews 11:35-38, which in context appears below in the passage Hebrews 11:32-40:

And what shall I more say?  for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Women received their dead raised to life again:  and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

[Okay, stop here.  Tradition seizes upon the people who were killed and ignores the people who did something with their faith.  However, note that these people did not accept deliverance.  It seems that deliverance as in the first part of this passage was available to them and they knew it, but they chose to die, anticipating a better resurrection.  This is another case of people choosing to die.]

And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

[Consider Paul, who had all of the above.  We are redeemed from sickness but not from persecution for the gospel's sake.]

They were stoned , they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword:  they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

This set of verses has also been used to preach that poverty is godly.  But consider why they were poor.  They were refugees, persecuted for the sake of the Word of God.  This has absolutely nothing to do with a believer in a civilized country where the gospel can be preached.  It cannot be used as an excuse for a believer not undergoing persecution and exile to be poor and sick.

By the way, please notice that sickness is not mentioned once in this list of sufferings for the sake of the Word of God.  Healing is mentioned here, though -- the dead who were raised to life again had to be healed or they would have dropped dead again immediately.

Therefore, you simply can't use this passage to claim that faith for healing doesn't work.  Well, a couple of people have tried to use it for that, but they're wrong.  One person wrote that the fact that they were "afflicted" proves that they were sick.  But the word translated "afflicted" (Strong's #2346) means to crowd, literally or figuratively, and is translated afflict, narrow, throng, suffer tribulation and trouble.  It has nothing to do with sickness.  (It amazes me that people make statements like this without even bothering to look up the word in a concordance.)

The people who had "great faith" in the New Testament were those who believed that Jesus would heal the sick.  He expressed exasperation when his disciples did not exercise faith in their authority over sickness and Satan.  He told people that their faith had made them well.  If you can have great faith and still stay oppressed, Jesus surely didn't know that!  Where people stayed sick (Nazareth), Jesus marvelled at their unbelief, not their faith!

Jesus in his teaching clearly puts the responsibility on us to receive what God has promised.  It is already provided and it is up to us to believe that we receive it when we pray.


Objection:  Heb 11:39 proves that we can have faith...
Objection:  Heb 11:39 proves that you can have faith and NOT receive the promises

Hebrews 11:39:

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

Also, Hebrews 11:13 could also be quoted as part of this objection:  "These all died in faith, not having received the promises...."

Hebrews 11:39 is talking about the greats of faith not being able to partake of the New Covenant.  It has nothing to do with having faith for something that God has promised and not receiving it.  Also, the greats of faith did receive promises, just not the promise of the New Covenant.  After reading Hebrews 11:39, check out verses 40 and 33!

Hebrews 11:40:

God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:33:

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

"The promise" in verse 39 is clearly our New Covenant, because it involves US (verse 40).  The greats of faith obtained the promises through faith that were theirs to obtain under the Old Covenant.  They could not partake of the promise of the New Covenant because the blood of Jesus had not yet ratified it!

The promise they did not receive in verse 13 had to do with their eternal dwelling place.  We too will die without having yet lived in this promise.  This is borne out by the text which follows the part quoted:  "But having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:  wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:  for he hath prepared for them a city."  The context is clearly not earthly promises of the kind we can receive here in this life by faith.

By the way, the objection as it stands is actually a true statement.  You can be in faith and not receive the promises.  The writer of Hebrews stated that we inherit the promises through faith and patience (Heb 6:12).  He surely did not contradict himself in Chapter 11.  You can also be in faith but walk in unforgiveness or strife with your spouse and not have your prayers answered.  The Bible teaches that there are hindrances to faith and that faith works by love.  You can have faith, but if you don't walk in love, your faith won't work!

It is possible to believe something in your heart and not receive it, and there is Scripture for that.  You must not only believe it, you must say it.  If you're unwilling to tell someone else, you don't really believe it in the first place.  Faith without corresponding action is dead, and the main corresponding action of faith is words that agree with what you believe in your heart.  Jesus said that the mountain or the tree would move when you speak to it, not when you simply believe something.  The crippled man whom Paul commanded to stand upright on his feet had faith to be healed but was not healed until he did the corresponding action of standing up.

So yes, you can have faith and not receive the promises!  But that's not the real objection.  The idea of the objection is that you can have faith and still be unable to receive the promises, and that is ridiculous.  This is saying that you can have faith that cannot work, which is the opposite of what Jesus taught.  When people failed to receive something, he attributed it to lack of faith.  If he did, why can't we?  Better to admit we need to grow in faith than to water down the Bible to match our experience.


Objection:  Jonah was brought to the point of death...
Objection:  Jonah was brought to the point of death so that he would learn obedience

You cannot use the story of a disobedient man's punishment to justify the idea that a righteous Christian should have to be brought to the point of death to learn obedience.  It proves nothing.  The Christian is to learn from the Scriptures, not from hard knocks in life.  However, even the Christian who does not walk with God becomes subject to punishment in this life and even premature death, as noted in many other places in this book.  Do you intend to be such a knucklehead that you have to almost die to learn obedience?  Why not just obey in the first place and skip the trouble?

Jonah was called to the ministry and ran from his calling.  He almost died as a result, but God in his mercy spared his life.  Jonah did apparently learn something from the experience.  It changed his attitude toward preaching at Nineveh at least somewhat!

One key lesson from the book of Jonah is that you cannot run anywhere on earth to escape the call of God on your life.  You could pay for it with your life!  The gifts and callings of God are without repentance.  If you know that you are called to the ministry, "woe are you" if you do not preach the gospel!  You are entrusted with something sacred and are accountable for that.  If you walk in disobedience to that call, you have no right to claim divine healing, divine protection, or anything else.  You will not be able to receive from God in one area while turning your back on him in other areas.  Once you repent and consecrate yourself to God, you are immediately a candidate for healing.

So, don't be in the position of having to learn obedience the hard way!  It was not the will of God for Jonah to refuse God's calling any more than it was his will for Judas to betray Jesus.  God foreknew the choices of both men, but they were still the wrong choices.  When you take your life into your own hands, you take it out of God's hands.  You then become responsible for your security and success.  God's protection does not apply to you because you are not dwelling in the secret place of the Almighty.  See Psalm 91, which has wonderful but conditional promises for protection.  Learn the conditions and don't claim the protection if you aren't meeting the conditions.


Objection:  James' command was for the dispersed Jews...
Objection:  James' command was for the dispersed Jews, not all Christians throughout time

Isn't it ironic that the people who quote James 1:2-4 about falling into diverse trials never stop to think whether that applies to you?  (That passage gets quoted a lot by unbelief teachers.)  Yet the statement has been made that James was just talking to the Jews about praying for the sick.  If so, why read the book of James anyway?  Why does one part apply and not another?

If James was just to the "twelve tribes scattered abroad," as it is addressed, then Paul's letter to the Galatians only applied to the Galatians, the letter to the Romans only applied to the Romans, only Timothy had to be gentle instead of quarrelsome, only the Philippians could trust God to supply all their needs, only Gaius should prosper and be in health, only the Ephesians sat with Christ in the heavenlies, and so on.  What an absurd notion!

No one would preach this ridiculous objection unless he were looking to a way to explain why James's clear command to the sick to be prayed for and raised up does not apply today.  The only way around this clear command of Scripture is to say it was only for some, not all.  If you apply this illogic, you can conclude that almost nothing in the whole Bible applies to you personally.  That is not rightly dividing the word of truth.  Of course, if this objection's logic were true, only Timothy would have to rightly divide the word of truth, so the objector wouldn't have to do so -- which is good, since he didn't.


Objection:  James said to say, "If the Lord will..."
Objection:  James said to say, "If the Lord will, we shall live."  This proves that we cannot claim long life

James also said that you should weep and howl.  When I read objections like this, I don't know whether to weep or to howl!

Read this in context:

James 4:13-16:

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

But now, ye rejoice in your boastings:  all such boasting is evil.

If you are self-willed and conceited, this passage applies to you.  If you aren't, it is not telling you what to do because it is not addressed to you.

Two verses later James says to howl and weep for the miseries that are coming upon you.  Is that proper conduct for all Christians?  No, it only applies to the rich oppressors described in the context.  God does not want his children howling and weeping for the miseries that are coming upon them!  Likewise, it is the evil boasters (verse 13, verse 16) to whom the verses in between (14 and 15) apply.  James is giving commands to two groups of people who are out of God's will.  If you don't think you should howl and weep with the rich oppressors, why classify yourself with the self-willed people who have no guarantee of long life in their present condition?  (God's promises of long life are always tied to serving him, and self-willed people do not qualify.)

You don't have to wonder if the Lord is willing to give you a long life if you are serving him; there are many promises covered in this book elsewhere that make this clear.  In fact, to serve God fervently but then say, "I don't know if God wants me to continue living or not" would accuse God of being able to break his promises.

In the larger context, James said in the next chapter that the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and that we are to pray for each other's healing.  We KNOW that it is the Lord's will for you to be healed, not to die of an illness, based on that next chapter.  James definitely does not counsel the Christian to question the will of God for his healing.  The only IF is that IF you have committed sins, you will be forgiven when the elders come and anoint you and pray over you.  No IF is involved with the healing.  Therefore, you cannot make James 4:14-15 say that you should die of an illness and not have long life.

The other ways out of here would be an accident (or murder, or suicide) or martyrdom.  Anti-faith teachers love to harp on martyrs as proof that we can't be assured of long lives.  (See the objection about Stephen for an exposition on this.)  So what about accidents?  Jesus talked about some accidents.  He talked about accidental poisoning and snakebites.  You are guaranteed preservation in such cases in Jesus' name.  He also said that we would tread on snakes and scorpions and over ALL the power of the enemy, and NOTHING should be any means hurt us.  Psalm 91 covers accidents when it says that no evil shall befall the man who abides in God and that God will satisfy that man with long life.  Thattakes care of accidents and getting murdered (as opposed to martyred).  As far as suicide goes, just don't kill yourself and you won't leave that way, either.

It is true that your life appears "for a little time" in the overall scheme of time, but even 120 years would be a little time by God's standards.  You cannot say that "for a little time" in the verse promises even an ungodly boaster a short life, let alone a godly Christian.  Since a thousand years is as a day to him, 120 years would be as 2 hours, 52 minutes and 48 seconds using the same standard.  Okay, I'm being a little overmathematical, but you get the point.  [I like math, and I cringe when Christians make mathematically incorrect statements.  For example, some preachers say that there are over 30,000 promises in the Bible.  There are actually only 31,101 verses in the entire Bible, and they are certainly not all promises.  The New Testament has only 7,957 verses.  Also, some preachers say that Paul wrote half (some even say two-thirds) of the New Testament.  Paul actually wrote only 24.04% of the 180,551 words and 25.55% of the 7,957 verses in the King James New Testament.  (I pulled those totals out of a popular Pentecostal reference Bible.  The total from the individual books' word counts was 180,551 words, but the total for the New Testament was stated as 180,552 words.  I did not feel like counting the words in the New Testament myself to see which was right.)  Of course, these numbers are slightly misleading because Paul did not write in King James English, and this count includes the little italicized words that were added for clarity to the English translation.  If you think that he wrote Hebrews, the numbers jump to 27.90% of the words and 29.36% of the verses, which is still less than a third of the New Testament.  I'll only go along with you if you say that Paul wrote half of the books in the New Testament (13, or 14 including Hebrews, out of 27).  End of mathematical digression.]

James' point is that life is a gift from God.  The boasters should recognize that God gives their very life, instead of boasting in themselves.  It is not a blanket statement of unbelief telling all Christians that they should ask God every year if it is his will for them to live another year!  It is only the people who turn away from God who are in danger of not living another year except for God's mercy.  If you aren't one of these proud boasters, you don't have to pray every New Year's Eve to see if God wants you to live another year or not.


Objection:  Our bodies wear out...
Objection:  Our bodies wear out.  Even some healing ministers wear glasses!

I am always amused by this objection because I wear glasses myself.  (I do not intend to wear contact lenses just to make myself look more like a faith man!  I sometimes preach without them in the tropics when I get sweaty since I can see quite well without them anyway.)  Supposedly, if I were in faith, I would not be wearing glasses, and my wearing of glasses "proves" that I don't really believe what I'm preaching.

Yes, our bodies do wear out.  God does renew your youth like the eagle's, but clearly, you are not going to have the endurance of a teenager when you are 95 years old.  That does not mean that you have to be sick.  However, our bodies are mortal and will not last forever.  You are not guaranteed an infinite lifespan on this earth in your mortal (subject to death) body.

Have I just admitted that sickness is for all, then?  No.  God still "heals all your diseases" throughout your life on earth.  You can't stay here forever, but while you're here, God wants you to be in health.

I know for a fact that God heals bad eyesight.  It often comes down to a question of desire.  If your eyesight gets bad enough, you will want to be healed.  If it's a minor nuisance that glasses can fix, it will probably not be high on your "faith agenda."

But if our bodies will eventually break down, is it not inevitable that some body parts will fail, thus bringing on some kind of "sickness?"  Let's consider that Jesus healed every sickness and every disease among the people.  This would include any "disease" caused by the failure of a body part (such as diabetes).  Among the thousands, there were surely some in this category.  If you sampled thousands of sick people today, you would find at least some who have such a condition.

Even if something like that happens to you, you have a right to be healed.  If Jesus healed every disease, which would include old-age-related diseases, he surely does the same today.  To say otherwise is to put an age limit on God's promises to heal all your diseases and take sickness away from you.  There is no age limit on this in the Bible, so why add one?

Every disease is part of the "curse of the law" found in the law of Moses.  Paul said that we are redeemed from that curse.  Therefore, since we are redeemed from every disease, we are redeemed from "old-age" diseases.  As a lawyer would say, these diseases are "including, but not limited to" Alzheimer's Disease, senility and dementia in general, kidney failure, incontinence, feebleness, osteoporosis and arthritis.  If it's an illness of any kind, you are legally redeemed from it, no matter how old you are.

Consider the two million or so Jews who went out into the desert with "none feeble among their tribes."  Can you imagine two million people in one geographical area where no one was feeble or crippled because of old age?  It happened under a worse covenant that was based upon worse promises than your covenant.  You should expect better under our better covenant today.  It is a tradition of man that makes void the Word of God that you have to be decrepit and senile for a season before you die.  Tell that to Moses when you see him; he was fine at the age of 120.  No one had to carry him around in a sedan chair!  Tell that to Caleb when you see him.  He was 80 or so when he wanted to go conquer more giants!  This was under the Old Covenant!  Don't let modern tradition and man's thoughts talk you out of God's best.

Mortality is part of the curse on the earth in Genesis 3, and we are not redeemed from that curse yet.

Sickness is part of the curse of the law in Deuteronomy 28, Leviticus 26, and elsewhere.  We are redeemed from the curse of the law according to Galatians 3:13.

Therefore, we are not redeemed from death (mortality), but we are redeemed from sickness.  You have to die, but you don't have to be sick before you die.  See the answer to the objection about never dying if we're always healed for more insight on this subject.


Objection:  ...We should expect to be sick, healed, (etc)
Objection:  James' command makes it clear that we should expect to be sick, then healed, then sick, then healed, not always healthy

An objector wrote that because James wrote instructions for the sick, we should all expect to be sick, then healed, then sick, then healed, as part of normal life, rather than expecting to live in "divine health."

The objection does carry a little weight in light of James 5:16, where believers are told that they can pray for each other to be healed.  If we don't get sick, why should we pray for each other to be healed?  It is clear, therefore, as the objector says, that we may get sick.  It is equally clear that it is not the will of God for us to be sick, because you are supposed to get healed when you are prayed for.  Remember that James 5:16 also talks about confessing sin.  I think it is a fair statement that you are going to sin, and so am I.  That does not make sin the will of God.  You can sin, get forgiven, sin, get forgiven, etc., throughout your life, just as you can get sick, then healed, then sick, then healed, and so on.  That does not make sickness the will of God for you any more than sin is the will of God for you.  Thank God, there are instructions on what to do if you do sin, notably in 1 John 1:9.  That doesn't mean that you have to sin.  Sin is a deliberate choice to be out of the will of God.  You don't have to get sick, either, but there are instructions on what to do if you do get sick.

Note that James 5:14-16 mainly refers to an invalid.  James is talking about someone who is so sick he cannot go to church on his own.  He has to call for the elders, not go to the elders.  The elders are to pray over him (implying that he is bedfast) and the prayer of faith will raise him up (also implying that he is bedfast).  These are instructions for the seriously ill.  This is also clear from the fact that James said that this was what to do if there were any among you in this condition.  You would probably not find a congregation of more than a handful of people today where someone did not have some kind of problem, but not necessarily the kind of problem James is talking about.

It is clearly not God's will for all of us to be critically ill, bedfast and unable to go to church, then to get healed when the elders come, then to lapse back into a helpless state, then to get healed when the elders come again, and so on.  The poor elders!  I would not want to be an elder in a church that considers this normal!

So any objection must be drawn on the grounds of the verse about praying one for another that we may be healed.  James immediately exhorts us about the power of prayer.  He encourages the reader to believe that his prayer (for healing, in context) will avail much, not be useless.  The will of God -- healing -- is absolutely clear in James 5.  Were this not God's will, you could not pray "the prayer of faith" anyway, because there would be no basis for faith, since faith only comes by hearing God's Word.  Therefore, God's Word MUST guarantee healing for there to be a prayer of faith in the first place.  Do you see that?

Just as it is God's will for us not to sin, it is God's will for us not to be sick.  This is clear from many Scripture passages quoted in this book.  God wants you to prosper and be in health, not simply get healed (3 John 2).  There is no indication that Gaius was sick.  It is God's explicit will for no plague to come nigh your dwelling (see Psalm 91), let alone get in your body and require you to be healed.

Jesus, our perfect example, did not sin and did not get sick.  That should be our goal.  If we fall short of this, we should pick ourselves up and keep pressing toward the goal.  Rather than considering our bodies or the sick bodies of others who do not believe in healing, we should consider Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Even this objection itself shoots itself in the foot as an argument against divine healing, because it assumes that you will get healed periodically, which still beats staying sick or dying.


Objection:  You should not try to hurry out of trials...
Objection:  You should not try to hurry out of trials (like sickness), because they are more precious than gold (1 Peter 1:7)

This objection sounds good until you read 1 Peter 1:7 carefully in context:

1 Peter 1:6-7:

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

The Greek word used for temptations here does cover more than temptation to sin, and can more generally apply to a trial of a different nature.  What is being tried here?  Peter tells you -- it is your faith that is being tried.  Thus, it is clear that the correct thing for you to do is to stand in faith, since it is your faith that is on trial.  You aren't on trial -- your faith is.  Will you or won't you pass the test and stand in faith?  If anything, this exhortation should encourage you to use your faith to get out of the trial, not sit there thinking that your trial is more precious than gold.

This implies the opposite of what people use this verse to say.  People think that trials are sent by God to teach them something.  But God does not use bad things to try your faith.  First, he already knows if you have faith or not.  Second, the way he proves your faith is through your obedience to him.  Abraham proved his faith when he obeyed God and offered Isaac.  It is the devil who tries your faith with bad things.  You are not a threat to him except for your faith in God's Word.  He wants you to stop trusting God's promises.  Then you will be useless and no problem to him.

The word of in the phrase of gold seems to be a King James quirk; some other translations simply say "much more precious than gold."  This makes more sense from the Greek word order of the passage, which is as follows:  "In which you exult, a little yet if needful it is grieving by manifold trials, that the proving of you of the faith, much more precious than gold of perishing, through fire yet being proved, may be found to praise and honor and glory at revelation of Jesus."  (I think you can see why the English translators don't just translate word for word in sequence.  Text like this would discourage anyone from reading the Bible at all!)

What is more precious than gold?  Your faith!  It is your faith, not the trial, that is more precious than gold!  If you think that the trial and not your faith is more precious than gold, you must also agree that the trial, not your faith, will be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Christ.  Many in Scripture are commended for their faith, but no trial is ever praised or glorified or honored, and surely none will be glorified or honored at the appearing of Christ.  It is the faith you use in the trial that is found praiseworthy.

If you really get down to it, there is no way that the trial is the subject as opposed to faith because of the phrase "though it be tried with fire."  If you can stand some tight analysis for one paragraph, here is my proof:

The phrase cannot describe the trial itself because a trial cannot be tried with fire!  Thus, if you think if this whole verse is talking about the trial instead of faith, you must conclude that the phrase "though it be tried with fire" describes the gold, since it cannot describe the trial or (so you think) the faith.  Now you have another problem.  Gold does not perish in a fire; it is purified.  Gold only perishes in that it along with all other elements will melt in the coming day when the earth is renewed.  So, this phrase can't be talking about how gold perishes.  Therefore, it must just be talking about how gold itself is tried by fire by men.  This word "tried" can be translated "proved," but definitely not "purified."  The Greek word definitely does not mean "purified."  Men do not use fire to "prove" gold; they use it to purify it.  So this phrase doesn't make sense if it's talking about the gold, either.  The one thing that makes sense is that this phrase is talking about your faith, which can be "tried with fire" and then "found unto praise and honor and glory."  Since gold will definitely not be found to praise and honor and glory (it's just pavement in heaven), faith fits better into the context that gold when you consider the last phrase of the verse that comes after "though it be tried with fire."

Thus, Peter said that your faith is more precious than perishing gold and that it will be tried with fire.  The only sense that the trial will be found to praise and honor is that you overcame it with your faith!

Trials are a good chance for you to locate your faith.  But they don't come from God!  Want proof?  There won't be any in heaven where God is and the devil isn't!  That should show you where they come from.


Objection:  God words all things for good...
Objection:  God works all things for good (Romans 8:28); this includes sickness

The title of this objection is a misquotation of Romans 8:28.  Did you notice that?  The verse actually says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  This verse does not say what almost everyone thinks it says.  It does not say that God purposefully works bad things for our good.  It says nothing at all about bad things.  Read the verse!  Do you see anything there about bad things such as sickness?  NO.  That is what someone read into the verse and everyone jumped on the bandwagon and said that this verse is talking about tragedies.  Instead, this is a definite statement that things work together for good for us.  There is no mention that these "things" include sickness and other attacks.  What is really said here is that all things will work for you, not against you, if you are serving God.

God is not using your sickness for good.  Satan is using it for bad.

It is true that God can turn around bad things for good, even though that is not the subject of Romans 8:28.  But that does not mean that God deliberately uses bad things for your good as part of his plan.  God will simply turn things around for his glory even if the things were not from him to begin with.  This is what he did with Joseph.  He was thrown in a pit and sold into slavery, his death faked by his brothers.  God used that for good.  Was it good?  No.  Potiphar's wife framed Joseph.  God used that for good.  Was it good?  No.  Joseph was in jail and someone who was supposed to help him forgot him.  That wasn't good, either, but Joseph ended up delivering his family and being second in command in Egypt next to Pharaoh.  The path of Joseph's life led to power in Egypt and the salvation of Israel, but that does not mean that the things that happened were good.  It means that God brought good out of it.

I've heard the stories about people who went to the hospital and witnessed to someone.  (There's a whole objection reply devoted to that one.)  It doesn't mean that sickness was good or from God; it just means that God took something bad and made some good come out of it.

The objection can be extended to say that sickness is covered here because verse 26 says that the Spirit helps our infirmities and we groan.  But if you insist on interpreting "infirmities" as illnesses, you have just come up with another good proof text for divine healing!  It says that the Spirit helps our infirmities, not that he gives us our infirmities.  Actually, the word helps means take hold together with against.  He helps us get rid of them.  The groaning is a spiritual thing having to do with intercession.  To say otherwise does violence to the meaning of the verse:  "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:  but the Spirit itself [himself] maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."  Really, in context, this verse is about the Holy Spirit helping us pray and certainly has nothing to do with God wanting us sick.  Therefore, to claim sickness as a context for verse 28 is ludicrous.

Then, consider verse 29, where Paul says that we were predestined to be conformed to Christ's image.  Jesus Christ was not sick, so sickness cannot conform you to his image.  The "for" at the beginning of the verse makes it a continuation of verse 28, so it makes no sense to claim that verse 28 could be talking about sickness.

Now let me ask you something.  Do you honestly believe that dying prematurely in horrible agony can possibly be an example of all things working to your good?  No way.  This is an example of all things working to your bad.  This is an example of not getting the victory in this life.  This is an example of things not working out to your good as far as this world is concerned.  Of course, not even sickness can rob the Christian of his ultimate victory over sickness.  Every sick Christian will be completely healed when he dies and will never get sick again!  People in heaven do not get sick.  People with redeemed bodies on the new earth will be sickness-proof!  If you're a Christian, you win ultimately.  However, you do not have to lose in this life.  You are to triumph in Christ and be always led in victory.  Dying in terrible pain does not represent victory in this life.  You get the final victory; you end up where the devil can't touch you and sickness can't touch you.  You'll never suffer again.  But you lived beneath your privileges in this life.

Someone once cited Romans 8:28 as a proof text that terminal illness can be a gift from God.  I kid you not.  If dying prematurely is your idea of things working together for good, perhaps you should refer to the section on mental illness for help.  No one but a religiously brainwashed Christian would ever consider it good to be taken from this world early, unable to do any further work for the Master.  (Actually, there is one other class of person that would say that this is good -- the devil and his demons!)

Yes, God can bring good out of bad things.  He can bring good out of your sickness.  But that proves absolutely nothing.  It certainly does not prove that it was the will of God for you to be sick in the first place or that the sickness was in any way part of his plan for you.


Objection:  ...(Jesus) only saw the Father heal ONE...
Objection:  Jesus did only what he saw the Father do.  He only saw the Father heal ONE person at the Pool of Bethesda.

Jesus ministered as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit.  He was God, but he stripped himself of his divine privileges and lived under the same limitations we have.  He healed many through the gifts of the Spirit, whereas many others were healed through their faith when they came to Jesus.  This latter part is undeniable given the times that Jesus told people that their faith had healed them.  (If most modern preachers were around, they would have boycotted Jesus' meetings and encourarged others to do the same.  They would have considered it an invitation to spiritual pride to tell someone that his faith, rather than Jesus himself, did something.  But reading the Bible, it is unquestionable that the individuals' faith in Jesus was responsible for many healings.)

The man at the Pool of Bethesda was obviously not in faith.  He was healed through a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, just as unbelievers today are sometimes healed in services with no faith of their own in operation.  We cannot control the manifestations of the Spirit in individual cases, and neither could Jesus.  If he could, he would have had an unfair advantage over the rest of us.

The Holy Spirit only manifested himself for this one person.  It is common today for one or two people to be healed supernaturally in a service with no faith in operation.  I have heard people say that they were healed even though they were not expecting anything to happen.  This is how the Holy Spirit often operates when it comes to so-called gifts of the Spirit.  But what people miss is that anyone can get healed through faith in God's Word without ANY special manifestation of the Spirit.  If the others at the pool were in faith, they could have been healed, also.

The objector who brought this up continued that once the others at the pool saw this divine healing, they surely would have asked Jesus to heal them, and he surely turned them down.  There is NO evidence for this.  I can prove to you that just because one person gets healed does not mean that anyone else will want or get anything.  In the famous incident where a paralytic was let down into a room through the roof, only that one man got healed.  Yet Luke records that the power of the Lord was present to heal them -- them meaning the religious leaders who were present.  The power was present, but only one person got healed.  Every sick religious leader could have been healed, but not a single one of them got anything, even after seeing a miracle happen right in front of their religion-blinded eyes.  No one else asked for healing.  The others who could have been healed but weren't simply thought that they had seen something strange.  That proves that when one man received healing from Jesus Christ, other sick people who saw it would not necessarily ask to be healed.  Also, remember that Jesus healed this man when he saw their faith (the faith of the man and his friends), and this kind of faith was obviously lacking in the religious leaders.

The others at the pool may have thought that they had seen something strange, but they did not approach Jesus.  Like the man, they were probably still trusting in their healing shrine to do the work, not Jesus.

As far as Jesus seeing the Father heal only one person, clearly Jesus offered healing to all who would believe, and that is what he saw the Father doing.  It was not his Father's fault (or his) when people did not receive healing from him.  Did Jesus see the Father only healing the paralytic?  The power was there to heal the others, after all.  They just didn't receive it.  Jesus was anointed, but the people at the pool did not recognize this.

Jesus did not turn down those who came to him for healing.  He did not necessarily go around healing people who did not ask, although there are exceptional cases such as this incident where he did.  The rule was for people to come to him to be healed.  He never told anyone who came, "Sorry, but I just don't see the Father healing you."  Jesus never made anyone sick for some spiritual reason, as the religionists of our day maintain that God does now.  This objection should be neatly turned on its head.  The mass healings that Jesus did were what he saw the Father doing.  Going around healing those who were oppressed of the devil was an expression of what Jesus saw the Father doing.  If Jesus always did what the Father wanted, and he always healed people in his earthly ministry, and never made anyone sick, what can be conclude about what he saw the Father doing?  The opposite of what this objection says!


Objection:  Some healing ministers...have gotten sick
Objection:  Some healing ministers and their families have gotten sick

Let's get it straight.  Some healing ministers have gotten more than sick; they have dropped dead of illness.  I can think of at least one internationally known healing minister who died because of illness, and our friends who object to healing can probably cite some more.

You cannot base doctrine on a man's experience.  You base it solely on the Word of God.  Any other basis is insufficient.  Your favorite preachers still preach holiness in conduct even though they sin sometimes, don't they?  Are we going to throw out the whole idea of holy living because of their mistakes?

When it comes to family members, everyone is responsible for believing for his own healing.  Just because someone's wife gets sick does not mean that the preacher is preaching untruth or is not in faith.  You can believe and receive for yourself.  Whether or not your relatives do so is between them and God.  It is not a reflection on you.

One objector wrote that healing ministers are modern-day Pharisees, heaping a yoke upon us which even they themselves cannot lift.  I would beware of such generalizations, because there are healing ministers out there who don't get sick.  The healing objectors only make a big deal out of the ones who DO.  Most healing ministers out there can give you their personal testimony of healings in their own bodies through faith in the very gospel they are preaching.  They can tell you first-hand that it works.

When healing ministers (at least ones who know what they're talking about) are attacked physically and don't receive their healing right away, most of them will admit that they got out of the will of God in one area or another.  They were healed when they made the necessary corrections.  Such things do happen.

Rather than making a big deal out of healing ministers who get sick, why not make a bigger deal of the ones who receive divine healing through faith?  Why broadcast the failures instead of the successes?  If you kept pointing sinners to preachers who fail morally, they would be led away from developing faith to be saved.  If you keep pointing the sick to preachers who fail to receive their healing, they will be led away from developing faith to be healed.  That would be a shame.

If you are going to throw out doctrine because of the personal failings of the man preaching it, do not ever read the book of Psalms again, because much of it was written by a known adulterer and murderer.  And rip the book of Proverbs out of your Bible while you're at it, because the man who wrote most of it didn't follow his own advice and ended up turning from God!  Then there's Moses, who failed God by hitting a rock when God said to speak to it, and failed to enter the promised land because of that.  Besides, we all know that Moses was a murderer; that's why he fled Egypt.  I guess we should throw out the first five books of the Bible, too.

Then get rid of First and Second Peter, because Peter sided with the Judiazers and Paul had to set him straight.  Besides, Peter seemed to blow it every time he turned around in Jesus' ministry anyway.  And forget the gospel of John, his three epistles and Revelation, because he forsook the Lord along with the rest of them when Jesus was led away to be crucified.

By now, you should get the point.  If we aren't going to throw out the doctrine that God spoke through men in the Bible because of their personal failings, why should we throw out God's doctrine when it comes through other fallible men?  The only question is, is it in the Bible or isn't it?  The fact that some people get sick has nothing to do with it.  You don't know anyone who doesn't sin.  You still believe in victory over sin, don't you?


Objection:  Only part of Isaiah 53 refers to the Atonement...
Objection:  Only part of Isaiah 53 refers to the Atonement, not the healing part

One objector wrote that only the part of Isaiah 53 dealing with salvation from sin refers to the Atonement.  In his opinion, the healing part of Isaiah 53 does not refer to the Atonement.  His alleged proof was that the prophecy about healing was fulfilled in Jesus' ministry, not his atonement, and that we still experience sorrow today.  Therefore, because we experience sorrows, we have not yet entered into the full redemption that Isaiah promised us.

There is a separate reply to the objection about Isaiah's prophecy of healing being fulfilled in Jesus' ministry before his crucifixion.  There is a related objection about Jesus bearing our sorrows instead of our sicknesses.  The reply to that objection conclusively proves that Isaiah was talking about sicknesses, not emotional sorrows as we think of them.  Yes, we experience sorrow, but that wasn't what Isaiah was talking about, as Matthew proves by his quote of the verse in question.  (Hebrew fans will find even more conclusive proof in the aforementioned objection reply.)

Once you see this, there is another point that disproves this particular objection.  The word for "borne" in Isaiah 53:4, referring to sickness, is the same Hebrew word used for "bare" in Isaiah 53:12.  It is Strong's word #5375, nasa.  An easy way to remember this word is that NASA in the U.S. sends up rockets that take things away from the earth.  That is not how this Hebrew word was derived, of course, but there is a similarity in meaning.  In both cases, Jesus Christ bore something to take it away from us.  In Isaiah 53:4, he has surely borne our sicknesses.  In Isaiah 53:12, he bare the sin of many.  It's the same Hebrew word.  How can anyone claim that it means one thing in verse 4 and another thing in verse 12?  Did Jesus bare our sins to redeem us from them?  Yes!  Did he bare our sicknesses to redeem us from them?  Yes!  We cannot make the same word mean one thing in verse 4 and another thing in verse 12 just because we don't want to believe that healing was provided in the Atonement.

It is through his "bearing of the sin of many" that we are made righteous and holy before God.  (We are not sinners saved by grace; we are righteous and holy new creations in Christ.  The old sin nature has passed away completely.  You have only the flesh to deal with, which is physical, not spiritual like the old sin nature was.)  It is through his "stripes" (literally bruise) that we are healed.  Note that stripes refers to the physical damage done to Christ's body, NOT to the actual whipping itself.  We are not healed by his whipping any more than we are saved by the wood on the cross where he hung.  We are saved by his bearing of our sins in his own body on the tree, and healed by his bearing of our physical torments.  Both of these blessed thoughts are conveyed in 1 Peter 2:24.  By his stripes (bruise), you were healed.

It makes no sense to try to compartmentalize the great Atonement chapter of the Bible and say that only part of it applies to us.  The very people who fuss about us taking things supposedly out of context are the very ones ripping apart this chapter into at least two pieces.  The wounds and the sin-bearing are tied together.  Surely he has borne our sicknesses, and carried our pains, yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and with his stripes, we are healed.  It pleased the Lord to bruise him.

Note the use of the word yet, which ties together Isaiah 53:4.  He bore our sicknesses and carried our pains, yet we considered him smitten of God.  In other words, we saw his physical suffering, but he was bearing our sicknesses and pains.

So, we see that Jesus was bruised for our iniquities, and by his bruise, we are healed.  If that doesn't prove that healing was part of the atonement made for our iniquities, I don't know what does.  (In an effort to be scholarly, let me point out that the two Hebrew words for bruised and bruise are not the same word; one refers to the breaking or bruising; the other to the physical bruise mark.  The word used for bruised implies more than the simple giving of a black-and-blue, but a more general breaking of something that causes it to crumble.  This is consistent with Jesus' statement that his body was broken for you.)  Either you can believe both or you can believe neither, but I can't see how any unbiased person could conclude that the bruise for our iniquities is distinct from the bruise that healed us.


Objection:  God can (save) others through pain...
Objection:  God can lead others to salvation through the pain and death of a saint

This statement is true.  It is also true that God can lead even more to salvation through the removal of pain and healing of a saint!

I do not try to minimize the fact that God can and does get glory from the patient bearing of sickness even unto death, at least to the degree that it beats having someone gripe and complain and blame God for it all.  I imagine that the peace experienced by a sick Christian has led others to the Savior.  Let's face it; even a sick Christian has reason to have joy unspeakable and full of glory that a well unbeliever cannot have.  So I will admit that there may be a very few people saved as a result.

The objector and I part ways over the issue of it being the will of God to lead others to himself in this way.  It isn't.  There is no Bible basis for believing that.  You cannot read of any cases where people were won to God in the New Testament by the "pain and death" of a saint.  None.  There weren't any.  The whole cities won to Christ were won because of the healing of the sick, not the suffering of the sick!  There was great joy in Samaria when the sick were healed, and the people gave heed to Philip when they saw the miracles that he did.  All those who were in Lydda and Saron turned to the Lord when a crippled man was healed.  Many in Joppa believed in the Lord because someone was raised from the dead, not because someone died with supernatural peace.  All the sick people on an entire island came and were healed when one man was healed.

The gospel pattern for advertising salvation is through healings and miracles, not the patient suffering of sickness or peaceful acceptance of death.  That's the only kind of advertising God used in the Bible.  It is a man-made fiction that God wants to do otherwise today.

Do you think people would cause traffic jams rushing to your city to see a man patiently endure terminal illness?  Do you think the community would stand up and take notice because someone died with the peace of God?  Some people might be affected, but you won't see Bible-scale revivals resulting from patiently enduring sickness.  You will not attract hordes of sick people who ask you to pray so that they can resign themselves to sickness as you did.  Revivals in the Bible were fueled by healing miracles, not resignation to the works of the devil.

One person mentioned his willingness to be a witness of God's grace "if God blessed him with a terminal illness."  (No kidding.  He really said that.)  I offered to agree with him in prayer that he would get terminally ill and die.  (No kidding.  I really said that.)  He did not seem interested.  Gee, why would he want to turn away anything that is really a blessing from God?

I am not saying that God cannot use the sick for his glory.  God will use anything he can get his hands on for his glory, and he would rather get some glory than no glory.  However, you can never blame God for sickness or premature death by saying that it was for someone's salvation.  What really happened is that the devil got in and stole someone's life through sickness, and God happened to work something bad for good.  God used the awful things that happened to Joseph for his good, too, but you cannot construct a theology from that saying that God wanted Joseph to be betrayed, framed and forgotten by his friends and family.


Jesus turned down requests to stay and heal more
Objection:  Jesus turned down requests to stay and heal more

An objector wrote that Jesus refused to heal more people in a certain city on one occasion.  There is no such statement in the Bible.  When I asked the gentleman for proof, he cited Luke 4:42-43:  "And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place:  and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.  And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also:  for therefore am I sent."

There is no mention of anyone needing healing who was turned down.  Besides, if other people wanted to be healed, they could just follow him to wherever else he was going, as happened on several occasions.  Jesus was simply saying that he needed to preach in other cities.  Wouldn't you want such an anointed preacher to stay in town?  Of course!

The person said that because healing was a trademark of Jesus' ministry (at least he admitted that much), it must be implicit that they wanted him to heal more people in that city.  That makes no sense in light of the many passages where people brought the sick out into the desert where Jesus was.  If there had been more sick people in the city, the people could have simply brought the sick with them into the desert where he was in these verses and they would have been healed!

The one place in the Bible where Jesus did turn someone down who wanted a healing (for her daughter) is discussed in another objection reply.  Note that in that case, the person still got it, so it makes a very weak objection.  In fact, it makes no objection at all when you understand the context.


Objection:  God only answers prayer when you...
Objection:  God only answers prayer when you ask something that is his will

Really?  That's interesting.  It would be nice if prayer were so safe.  Actually, you can harm yourself by praying incorrectly or for the wrong thing.  No built-in safety valve always stops you from hurting yourself.  Prayer is like electricity.  Electricity will fry you if you misuse it, but if you use it properly, it allows you read answers to healing objections on a computer.

Moses was supposed to be God's spokesman for Israel.  But Moses prayed that God would use Aaron instead.  This angered God, but God answered Moses' prayer and let Aaron do it even though that was not his will.

Israel cried out for a king in the Old Testament.  That was not God's will.  Yet God finally answered the people's prayer, even though the king they got (Saul) did them more harm than good.  God answered a prayer that was prayed against his will and people suffered for it.

The complaining Israelites in the desert cried out for meat.  That was not the will of God, either.  God wanted them to be satisfied with manna, but noooooo...they wanted something else.  God gave it to them, but they ended up dying right away, too.  But God did hear and answer the prayer, even though the people asked contrary to his will.

Abraham asked God to bless Ishmael, even though Ishmael himself was not part of the will of God for the earth.  Although Ishmael could not inherit the blessing of Abraham, God answered Abraham's prayer and blessed Ishmael anyway.  This led to more problems on the earth than Abraham could ever have imagined.

Perhaps the most out-of-the-will-of-God prayer you could ever pray is for God to go away.  Yet he will honor that prayer!  If you don't want his help, you won't get it.  He won't force it on you.

Jesus said that if you abide in him and his words abide in you, you will ask what you will and it will be done for you.  Make sure you really want what you ask for!

When it comes to healing, you can know that it is God's will.  His will is written down for all to read in the Bible.  The particular verses having to do with healing are all referenced in this book, so you have no excuse for not knowing the will of God in the matter.  I just wanted to answer the objection on its own grounds and prove it false with witnesses from Scripture.

Have you ever missed God and asked him to bless something that you were doing that was not his will for you?  God to an extent will do that because you ask for it.  You can be totally out of the will of God and pray for blessings from God -- and get at least some of them because God is merciful.  Now take healing.  God's perfect will is for you to receive your healing by faith.  Say that you are not prepared to do that.  You pray instead for God to give the surgeon wisdom to operate on you without doing the kinds of things that trigger malpractice suits.  That isn't God's highest and best, but if you can believe for it, God will honor and answer that prayer.  It sure beats dying.


Objection:  Jesus told a Greek woman NO...
Objection:  Jesus told a Greek woman NO when she came for deliverance for her daughter

Matthew 15:22-28

Mark 7:25-30

Someone dragged this story up in a discussion where I was making the point that Jesus never turned away anyone who wanted healing.  What about this woman?  Jesus and the disciples turned her away.

It is curious that anyone would use this as an anti-healing argument, because the lady in fact did get what she wanted, which Jesus attributed to her great faith.  However, examine the basis on which Jesus denied her attention.  The woman was not an Israelite, and Jesus was sent by God to preach to the Israelites.  Jesus did not want to operate outside his calling.  He was not called to go to Gentile lands with the gospel.  (If you're called of God and you have any smarts, you won't try to go do something outside your calling, either.)

Jesus was not being rude and was not calling her a dog in a derogatory way.  He was not saying, "Hit the road, Fido!"  He was simply talking about the "children" of Israel who had a right to bread and the "dogs" who were outside this covenant.  The woman was outside the Old Covenant, being a Greek.  The promise of healing was not made to her; it was made to the Jews.  (Before you get off on that one, please realize that we are the true Jews now according to Paul, and we do get the blessings they had.  This woman came to Jesus before the Church Age.  She did not have a covenant right to healing.)  Yet Jesus spoke in faith and the woman believed she received at that moment, and her daughter was healed.

There is no reason anyone under the New Covenant could be told NO for the same reason this woman was told NO, because we are all able to partake of the New Covenant.  It is not just for the Jews.  Therefore, it is senseless to use this passage to say that Jesus could turn someone away or say NO to someone who wants healing today.

Far from being an anti-healing passage (there really aren't any), this passage teaches a valuable lesson.  Healing is called "the children's bread."  It is something that they have a right to.  Now that you are a child of God, healing is your bread, too.  Jesus told the Greek woman that healing was something that the Israelites had a right to.  Surely, a blood-bought believer under our new and better covenant, established upon better promises, has a right to the same!  You are not a Gentile outside the covenant as this woman was.  You are a covenant child of God.  Healing is part of what your Father gives you because you are in his family.


Objection:  ...Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego
Objection:  Rather than claiming healing, we should just have "the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego"

This line of reasoning has been published by at least one well-known minister and is widely quoted.  This stems from a misreading of the text in Daniel 3, as we will see shortly.  The argument goes like this:  "The three Hebrew boys did not know whether or not God would deliver them.  They were just consecrated to God whether he delivered them or not.  They didn't care if they got delivered, they just wanted to please God.  Therefore, we should have the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego for our healing.  If God delivers us, fine.  If not, we'll just accept it."

This religious foolishness is ironic because in the story in question, God miraculously delivered the boys!  He did not leave them to die.  But that's not the main problem.  The boys never did question God's ability to deliver them.  They explicitly said that he would.  Read the passage carefully:

Daniel 3:14-18:

Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well:  but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

If it be so [Stop right here -- this is where people misinterpret it.  If what be so?  Religious tradition says that this means, "If it be so that God shall deliver us out of your hands."  But that is not what they meant.  They meant if it be so that they were going to be thrown into the fiery furnace.  That is obvious from the rest of the sentence.], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  [There you have the real faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.  They said that God would deliver them, and he did.]

But if not [This goes along with "If it be so" above and still refers to whether or not the king would really throw them into the fiery furnace.  They did not allow for the possibility that God would not deliver them.  They just said that he is able and he will.  They were definite about that.], be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

So let's summarize what they said.  They said, "If you throw us into the furnace, God will deliver us.  If you don't, we still won't serve your gods."  They got thrown into the furnace, and what happened was exactly what they said would happen.  God delivered them.  Their faith got them through it.  Therefore, I agree that we should have the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego!  We should believe for our deliverance, we should be willing to say so before men, and act on our faith without wavering.

I imagine that those who promote the objection would be mad that I said that their faith did it as opposed to the sovereignty of God.  Well, this will probably make them madder, but in Hebrews 11 -- in the "hall of faith" -- we see those who "through faith...quenched the violence of fire" (Hebrews 11:33-34) among the greats of faith.  This could refer to Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, and if so, it is another proof that they were in faith.  The feat right before it was "stopping the mouths of lions," which was also in the book of Daniel.  I am aware that Moses also quenched the violence of fire in Numbers 11:1-2.  However, Moses was mentioned separately among the greats of faith, and this feat was not mentioned in the part specifically pertaining to Moses.  It would seem most likely, although I would not die at the stake to defend this, that Hebrews is referring to the three Hebrew boys.  They obviously were in faith (you can tell by their words!) and did a great thing, and it would be no surprise to have them mentioned in Hebrews 11.


Numbers 11:1-2
Numbers 11:1-2:

And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD:  and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.

And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.


Objection:  If we are subject to death, we are...
Objection:  If we are subject to death, we are subject to sickness

This argument is usually stated something like this:  "Death comes by sickness, therefore, since you are subject to death, you have to be subject to sickness.  Otherwise you would never die.  You die from sickness.  If you're subject to dying of a sickness, you must be subject to sickness in general.  Physical death came into the world by sin.  Therefore, sin has made your body subject to sickness."

Jesus did not prevent anyone from having to die eventually.  He did remove sickness from people.  Since he has not changed, we should expect today that he will not prevent anyone from having to die eventually, but he will remove sickness from people.  In other words, you are subject to death, but you do NOT have to be subject to sickness.

The false notion that you must die from an illness is covered in another objection answer.  This objection goes a different direction.  Sin is linked to death.  This seems obvious, since Romans 5:12 plainly states it:  "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."  The problem occurs if you stop reading right there and miss the conclusion that Paul makes.  Romans 5 goes on to talk about Christ giving us a free gift that is superior to this law that is in the earth.  Verse 17:  "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."  Verse 21:  "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord."

The point is not that we are subject to sickness because of death passing upon sinners.  Actually, Paul said the opposite, that Christ has set us free from this.  You could hardly reign in life while sick.

Paul goes on to say that sin shall have no dominion over us (Romans 6:12).  There is such a thing as the law of sin and death at work in the earth today, but we are free from it.  Romans 8:2:  "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."  Also, notice the work of the Holy Spirit in our mortal bodies:  "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Christ from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [make alive] your mortal [subject to death] bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you" (Romans 8:11).

So although we are subject to death, we are promised the Spirit's quickening power in our bodies as long as we are on this earth.  Christ set us free from "the law of sin and death" that would otherwise make us subject to sickness of every kind.

We all have to die so that the mortal can put on immortality.  You would not want to live forever on this earth in its current condition, anyway.  There is an inward groaning in the believer, a desire to put on the new spiritual body that will not be subject to death.  We are not redeemed from dying.  But nowhere does God say that we must die from an illness.  Go ahead and look for a Scripture that says that we must get sick before we die.  There isn't any.  That is just natural human reasoning apart from the Word of God.  It is possible to "give up the ghost" when you are ready, as some in the Bible did.  I suppose that there will always be some "medical" reason you die, even if you do just decide to go home to be with the Lord.  Your heart will obviously stop beating, and that may be ruled the "cause of death."  There is probably no box on any form for the person who just decided to go home to be with Jesus and chose to die.

There is no age limitation on the health wish in 3 John 2.  Peter did not say that you "were healed" until you got to a certain age, after which that doesn't apply to you anymore.  Jesus carried OUR sicknesses and OUR diseases, and OUR diseases means YOUR diseases as long as you live on this earth.  God still promises to be "The Lord who Heals You" and the one who "forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases" and stops any plague from coming nigh your dwelling.  God's promises have no expiration date!

Another argument is the practical one, "We all do get sick, you know!"  Well, we all sin, too, even though sin should have no dominion over us.  So you haven't proved anything with that argument.  For an exception to both cases, consider Jesus Christ.  He was made fully human.  He could have chosen to sin, but he didn't.  (There would be no point in the devil tempting him to sin if he could not have done so.)  Jesus lived his entire life as a human being without sinning.  Therefore, it is possible for a human being to not sin, especially when the One who never sinned once in his life lives inside us.  Jesus also lived his entire life without being physically sick (except when he carried OUR diseases at the end).  Therefore, it is possible for a human being to live sickness-free in this life, especially when the One who was never sick lives inside us.

Jesus did not get into the "law of sin and death" until he took our sin upon himself.  He then ransomed us from that principle.  Sickness and sin go together.  When sin is forgiven, healing is the natural result.  Our sins are forgiven, so we should walk in health.


Objection:  James 5...speaks of a believer who has sinned
Objection:  James 5 in context speaks of a believer who has sinned and spiritual healing

This is a half-truth.  James 5 says that if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven.  This clearly implies that the sick person may or may not be sick because of sin.  Because this IF is in there, you cannot assume that the context must be a sinning believer.

This objection got going because someone thought that "The prayer of faith shall save the sick" means that the sick person will be forgiven from sins (saved) instead of healed.  The very context disproves this, since the Lord will "raise up" the person.  This does not mean that he will levitate a forgiven sinner -- it clearly means that he will raise the sick person up from his sickbed.  Besides, the word save is used in Luke 18:42 of healing from blindness ("Thy faith hath saved thee").  In fact, this Greek word sozo (Strong's #4982) is also used about a dozen other times in contexts that unmistakably refer to physical healing.  (See the topic, Saved! for a list of them.)

This objection carries no weight, because even if the person has sinned, God will heal him anyway because of his obedience to honor the Lord's command to call for the elders.  So, what are we proving?  James says that if you did sin or if you didn't sin, God would heal you in either case, and the prayer of faith by the elders would raise you up in either case.  Thank God, you can be healed!  God, through James, says so!

Of course, a study of the New Testament scriptures on healing will prove to you that there is no such thing as spiritual healing anyway.  Your spirit is born again, not healed, when you receive Jesus Christ, and from that point on, your spirit does not need to be healed!  It's already created after the image of God in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24).

Finally, James says that we should confess our sins to one another and pray for one another that we may be healed.  We can pray for one another's healing just as the elders can pray for healing.  The fact that God commands prayer is proof that he is willing to answer the prayer.  God never tells you to pray and then refuses to answer the prayer he said to pray.  God would have to be locked up in a mental ward if he operated like that.

You can see the goodness and forbearance of God in operation here.  Even if you have sinned against him and gotten sick as a result, God will still heal you when you follow these instructions.  God is truly merciful and quick to forgive!


Objection:  James' command...proves that we CAN get sick
Objection:  James' command on what to do with the sick proves that we CAN get sick

By this reasoning, the book of 1 John proves that we CAN sin, because it contains instructions on what to do if you sin.  That does not prove that you HAVE TO sin.  The argument carries no more weight when you apply it to healing.

Yes, believers do get sick sometimes.  Thank God, James gives us a command (that is just as mandatory as baptism, communion, the Great Commission, or any other command in the New Testament) that prayer should be made for the healing of the sick.  Failure to do this is disobedience, and James already talked about it being sin to know what to do and not do it.

Note, however, that James said what to do IF there is any sick among you, implying that there need not be any sick among you!.  No one needs to be sick, but if someone gets seriously ill and can't make it to church, James commands that the prayer of faith be made for the person's healing.  The fact that the prayer of faith can be prayed is proof that healing is in the Word.  Since faith comes by hearing the Word, there would be no basis for praying the prayer of faith if healing were not covered by God's promises.  For those who can make it to church, James says we can all pray for one another's healing.

This is as good a proof that healing is for all as you will find anywhere in the Bible.  God wants prayer for healing to be made.  God would be unjust to insist that a prayer be made that he would not answer!  If he commands prayer for something, that means that he is willing to answer that prayer when it is made.  Thus, we know that God must be willing to heal all.  Otherwise, prayer for healing would not be encouraged among all believers.

Paul's admonition in 1 Cor 5 not to even eat with any so-called brother who is a homosexual or other sex offender, a railer, etc., proves that you can sin in these ways.  Like James, Paul tells you what to do.  That doesn't mean that he considers the situation to be the will of God!  He is just telling you what to do in a situation that is NOT the will of God.

It amazes me that religious people harp on the "you can get sick" part and fail to harp on the "if you get sick God will heal you" part.  James said that the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.  Why not major on that?  You don't HAVE TO get sick.  You CAN get sick, just as you can sin, but you CAN get healed, too!


Objection:  It rains on the just...
Objection:  It rains on the just as well as the unjust (Matthew 5:45)

If bad Scripture interpretation is a crime, this objection should be a felony.  The idea is that rain falls on the just and the unjust, therefore everyone has to suffer.  I suppose this gives rise to the popular, but unscriptural, saying, "Into every life some rain must fall."  This completely ignores the context of Matthew 5:45 and makes it say the opposite of what it actually says.

To farmers back then, rain was a blessing.  They were more concerned about their crops than whether you would get wet at a football game.

Jesus was talking about God's goodness:  "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:  for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:44-45).

You can't possibly read this whole passage and think that it means that God sends you sickness even though you are just.  The sun rising on the evil and the good is a poetic parallel to the rain falling on the just and on the unjust.  It shows God's goodness to men whether they are good or not.  When you read about God's goodness, you should realize all the more that he does not want you to suffer with sickness.  Jesus did not say that rain must fall into your life; he said that God sends rain to you, and if God sends something, it is good, not evil.

As with many objections, this one is a subtle misquotation of Scripture, although it's a popular saying among Christians.  Some have even extended the saying to:  "It rains on the just and the unjust, but the just have an umbrella," which does just as much violence to the verse as using it as a healing objection.  The verse does not tell you that it rains but that God sends rain, which is completely different!  When God sends you something, you won't want an umbrella to avoid it.


Objection:  We should...be content in every situation
Objection:  We should, like Paul, learn to be content in every situation

Agreed.  You can be content while sick, knowing that you believe that you have received your healing.  Then you have no reason to worry, because you know that you will not stay sick.

However, this is usually meant by objectors to mean, "We should just lie down and accept whatever comes and be content with whatever happens to us."  If that is your idea of contentment, you and the apostle Paul have some very different idea of what contentment is.  If Paul wanted Timothy to be content with his frequent illnesses, he would not have given him advice to try to prevent them.  If Paul were content to just stay in jail, he would not have implored believers to pray for this release so that he could preach the gospel again.  He could be content while in jail, but not content with the idea of staying in jail.  There is a difference.

Paul went around healing people and doing signs and wonders.  He did not tell the sick to be content in their situation; he laid his hands on them and healed them!  If there was anyone whom God wanted to stay contently sick on the island of Melita, Paul got him out of the will of God by healing him!  Paul did not tell the crippled man in Acts 14 to be content with his lameness; he told him to get up!  Why, when no one in the New Testament ever told to be content with sickness, do we preach this to men today?  (If you think Paul was sick, read the first objection about his "thorn in the flesh" and learn the truth.)

How ridiculous it is, with the Great Commission still in force, to think that God wants us out of commission and that we should be content with that!  How can you be content being sick, knowing the work that needs to be done on the earth today?  Ultimately, the one reason we are needed on this earth is to preach the gospel to the lost.  We must be against anything that could hinder us from this divine mandate.  Since sickness interferes with our ability to fulfill the Great Commission, we must not be content to stay sick.  If you're content to be sick and unable to preach the gospel, you're either a selfish pig or deceived by bad teaching.  (Maybe both.)  People who are out there going to hell need you.  You can be content as far as having the peace of God goes while sick, but you must not be content to stay in that condition indefinitely.

Do not think for a moment that your endurance of sickness pleases God.  Faith pleases God -- if you don't have faith, you aren't pleasing God (Hebrews 11:6).  This doesn't mean that you're a toad if you're sick; it just means that you would please God more by exercising faith to be healed.  And make no mistake -- the faith talked about in Hebrews 11 is faith that changed things and moved people to action, not just some vague worship of God.

You can have joy and peace while sick, because these things come out of your spirit, not your body.  Your spirit is not sick.  Only your body gets diseases.  However, to sit and assume that sickness is the will of God is to ignore practically the entire ministry of Jesus Christ.  Jesus told no one, "Be content with your sickness."  He is surely not saying that today.  It would help the sick immensely if other men would not say things like that to them, robbing them of whatever faith they may have had for their healing to begin with.


Objection:  Jesus literally said to "keep on asking"...
Objection:  Jesus literally said to "keep on asking."  Therefore, we should bug God like the widow in Jesus' parable.

This is based on a misunderstanding of passages in Matthew 7 and Luke 11.  It is usually based upon a study of the Greek verb tenses used, and the conclusion is that Jesus said to "Keep on asking," "Keep on seeking," and "Keep on knocking."  I would assume that this is true, but that does not mean that you should use vain repetitions as the heathen do when you pray!  Jesus already told his disciples not to use vain repetitions earlier in his discourse, so surely he was not contradicting himself!

Jesus said to keep on asking, but he did not say to keep on asking about the same thing over and over!  He said not to do that.  You should keep asking for different things and keep receiving different things.  You should seek more things to find and knock on more doors so that they will be opened to you.  After all, Jesus said that it would be given you when you asked.  If you have to pray again for the same thing, Jesus lied.  You would only have to pray again for the same thing if God were not willing to give you what you asked for the first time.  Jesus said that God is willing to give you good things and the Holy Spirit.  That was the point.  Just as you wouldn't give your children something bad when they ask for something good, your heavenly Father gives you something good when you ask for something good.  Ask and you shall receive.

In Luke 11, the statements about asking, seeking and knocking are preceded by an example of a friend going to another at midnight brashly and getting what he wants.  This is about boldness in prayer, not about God withholding anything from you.  God doesn't spend any "down time" in bed anyway, so you can't relate the friend in the house to God.  The point is that you should be bold when you ask God for things.

Now let's talk about that parable of the widow in Luke 18.  A widow goes to an unjust judge who fears not God nor regards man.  He is called unjust a second time.  Why is he unjust?  Because he won't do what he should for the widow.  That is not a picture of God, who is never unjust.  You cannot say that God is the unjust judge in this parable.  The unjust judge had to be badgered into doing something and moved slowly.  Jesus said that God would avenge his elect speedily.  So, this says that God is speedy, not slow, when it comes to answering prayers.

Furthermore, this is not talking about the prayer of faith.  There are many different kinds of prayer in the Bible, and the prayer of faith is only one of them.  That isn't the subject here.  In the cases of the widow and the believers who are praying here, they are not out to receive something offered by God.  They are looking for justice against an adversary.  (You can't take things into your own hands against an adversary; Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.)  That is a completely different situation than someone looking to receive something from God.  God is not giving anything to the believers here.  He is avenging them.  This is most likely a reference to the prayers of persecuted believers.  You cannot just "believe-and-receive" away persecution.  That is why Paul could not pray away his "thorn in the flesh."

Paul said that anyone who wants to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  If you are not being persecuted, you are not living godly in Christ Jesus, because all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2 Tim 2:12).  Maybe you need to be bolder about your faith if this is the case.  A persecuted believer may pray for justice from God.  No doubt, this was happening in many countries that used to outlaw Christianity but now embrace it more than many "Christian" countries do.  The point, according to Luke, is that men should always pray and not lose heart.  Don't stop praying because of persecution.


Objection:  Gal 3:13's "curse" speaks of spiritual death...
Objection:  Gal 3:13's "curse" speaks of spiritual death, not sickness or poverty

Someone once objected that I should read Galatians 3:13 in context to see that it really talks about spiritual death, not temporal troubles.  So I read it in context and learned exactly the opposite.

Gal 3:10 says that as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.  What curse?  "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law to do them."  Paul quotes Deuteronomy 27:26, the last verse in Chapter 27.  This is the verse right before Deuteronomy 28, which expounds on the "curse."  The curse for what?  For not observing to do everything in the Law (Deut 28:15)!  Thus, the "curse" referred to in Gal 3:10, in context, must refer to the "curse" of Deuteronomy 28, which lists many ailments and covers "every sickness and every plague that is not written in the book of this law," which definitely covers whatever is wrong with you.

It is scarcely conceivable that Paul could be talking about one curse in verse 10 and be talking about another curse in verse 13.  If you don't think he's talking about the same curse when he says that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, you are the one who is not reading Gal 3:13 in context!

Furthermore, the curse is composed almost entirely of physical, temporal problems, not spiritual ones.  It is funny that "spiritual death" is not even mentioned here, but sickness, poverty, confusion and defeat are mentioned a lot.  (The reason spiritual death is not mentioned is that everyone under the Old Covenant was spiritually dead anyway.  They could not be born again.  Thus, they did not need a curse to become spiritually dead -- they already were!  I have heard it said that the curse was poverty, sickness and spiritual death, but I can only see the first two when I read it myself.  I have not found any verse in the curse that deals with spiritual death as such.)  These are things that Jesus Christ gave his life to redeem you from.  He was cursed so that you don't have to bear even one of the things mentioned in the curse of Deut 28.


Objection:  The curse of the Law was given to Israel...
Objection:  The curse of the Law was given to Israel, not to us.  We cannot be redeemed from it because we were never under it.

It is true that Gentiles were never under the Law of Moses and never had the curse addressed to them.

However, we are redeemed from everything in that curse.  The book of Galatians was clearly addressed to the churches of Galatia, not ex-Jews.  Paul said that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, not that he has redeemed them, or just the Jews.  Therefore, although the curse never applied to us, the redemption from the curse and all it contains does apply to us.  Verse 14 continues the thought:  "That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ...."  We were not under the Abrahamic covenant until we were in Christ, where the promise made to Abraham's seed (Christ) now covers us because we are in Christ.  The blessing that wasn't ours became ours in Christ.  The redemption from the curse's contents was not ours until we were joined to Christ.  Even though we were never Jews under the Old Covenant, the blessings and deliverance promised to the Jews have become ours because we are in Christ.


Objection:  It wasn't God's time to heal the beggar...
Objection:  It wasn't God's time to heal the beggar at the gate Beautiful in Jesus' ministry; he had to wait for Peter and John

This oft-quoted objection states that Jesus went past this man many times in his ministry and did not heal him, but he was healed only when Peter and John showed up.  First, you don't have any proof that Jesus ever walked past this man.  Even if you could prove he walked past this man, that would still prove nothing.  Jesus healed all those who came to him.  If this man never appealed to Jesus for his healing, he would not have the right to expect to get it.  He would be in the same position as the many at the Pool of Bethesda who were not healed because they did not come to Jesus to be healed.

The power of the Lord was present to heal the religious big shots in a house, but only one man (a paralytic who was in faith along with his friends who brought him) was healed.  The others were too busy complaining about Jesus to receive from the healing power that was there.  They were not healed.  They did not even ask to be healed, even though they needed it.  (The power would not have been there to heal them if they did not need healing!)

Read the stories of the multitudes who were healed and you can see that they were always "brought to Jesus" or "came to Jesus."  Jesus did not just walk around randomly healing people.  This is why you can't just go clean out a hospital.  People need to be expecting to receive something or you will be wasting your time going there.

The man at the gate was healed by a manifestation of the Spirit, as was the man at the Pool of Bethesda.  You can get healed by a manifestation of the Spirit, but you have no guarantee of this.  You can always get healed through faith in Christ's atonement, which included provision for your physical healing.  It is better to be one of those to whom Jesus can say, "Your faith has healed you," rather than one of those at the Pool of Bethesda who doesn't know the will of God in the matter, despite the Bible.

Okay, so why did God see fit to heal the man then and not earlier?  We don't know, but we do what the reason wasn't.  It wasn't because it was only God's will for him to be healed later.  Any person in Jesus' ministry or after could have been healed by believing God's promises and statements in the Old Testament relative to sickness and healing ("I am the Lord your Physician," "I will take away all sickness," "No plague shall come near your house," "Who heals all your diseases," etc. -- see the Old Testament portion of this book for a lengthy list.)

If we are going to argue that the man had to wait for it to be God's will to heal him, we must also conclude that it was not God's will for Saul of Tarsus to be saved until the day that he had a divine appointment.  We know that this cannot be true, because God wills that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4).  Your salvation had nothing to do with the timing of God, either.  God would rather that you had grown up as a Christian rather than wasting years of your life learning how to sin and then having to unlearn your bad habits.  The best testimony of all is that of someone who serves God and never strays.  It may not make you a popular conference speaker, although maybe it should.  People get excited that a former blaspheming atheist like me got saved, but the man who has been faithful to God all his life has a better testimony than I do.

God tells you exactly when his perfect timing is for your salvation and your healing.  Now is the accepted time.  Now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2).  So, if you have been waiting on God to determine his timing for your healing or your salvation (which includes healing), now you know it.  God's time to receive any of his promises is now.  He is not making you wait.  You are making him wait.  You can pray and receive your healing now if you want to.


Objection:  God meets your spiritual needs...
Objection:  God meets your spiritual needs, not your physical needs

How different "religious" teaching is from that actually found in the Bible!  No one who spends a serious amount of time in the Word of God could ever make such a silly statement.  It amazes me how many people will believe something like this just because someone says it.

Consider Philippians 4:19, where Paul told a giving church that God would supply all their needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  He was clearly talking about physical needs -- money in particular.  He devoted much of 2 Cor 8 and 9 to God's meeting of your financial needs.  In 3 John 2, we see that God wants us to prosper (physically) and to be in health (physically) even as our souls prosper.

Jesus said that God would meet your physical needs in Matthew 6.  There is no way to spiritualize food and clothing.

The blessings for keeping the Law and the curses for not keeping the Law (see Deut 28, Lev 26) are almost all physical in nature.  Yes, you will suffer spiritually by being out of the will of God, but you will also suffer physically.  Likewise, you will be blessed spiritually for walking with God, and blessed physically as well.  These chapters mean nothing if not that.

The multitudes healed in Jesus' ministry were taken care of physically!  Jesus always did what pleased God, so it pleases God to heal you and to meet your physical needs.  Jesus met physical needs when he turned water into wine, multiplied bread and fishes, stopped a storm, and told Peter to get money from a fish.  In fact, because of his compassion, we see that Jesus went everywhere meeting people's physical needs, most notably, needs for healing.  Since he has not changed and that will of God (which Jesus always did) has not changed, it is still the will of God to care for all of your physical needs.

It is a religious slander of God's character to say that God is only interested in your spiritual needs.  Aren't you interested in the physical needs as well as the spiritual needs of your children?  Your heavenly Father is even more interested in your physical needs!


Objection:  To say that you received...glorifies you...
Objection:  To say that you received your healing by your faith glorifies you instead of God

All right then, does the fact that you received salvation from hell by your faith mean that you get the glory for your salvation instead of God?  Do people start shouting "Glory to you" when you give your testimony?  Of course not.

Jesus said that if abide in him and his words abide in you, you will ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you.  Herein is your Father glorified, that you bear much fruit (John 14:7-8).  Jesus called asking and receiving from God fruit-bearing.  He said that this glorifies God.  If you think it glorifies you, you are arguing with Jesus over this point.

Then there's John 14:13:  " And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."  When you ask for something to be done in the name of Jesus and he does it, the Father is glorified in the Son.  Not you.  That is what Jesus said about the matter.

If you dig down, you'll find out that anyone who makes an objection like this doesn't really understand healing, or has had the unfortunate experience of meeting a Christian egomaniac.  Sure, some people may set bad examples.  Don't let them determine your doctrine.  A person making this objection probably believes that faith twists God's arm to get him to do something for you that he wasn't willing to do anyway.  That is not the case with healing.  Healing has been purchased for you, and God has purchased your body.  Your faith does not force God to do anything; your faith simply receives from God something that he already had his hands out offering you!

Jesus told some people that their faith had healed them.  Jesus was surely not glorifying the individuals.

When you get a Christmas present from your sister, does everyone glorify you because you received it?  No.  If anything, they might "glorify" your sister for being so generous.  No one would glorify you for simply receiving what she gave you.  Therefore, there is no reason to think that glory should go to you just because you receive a gift from God.  Instead, people will give glory to God for his goodness toward you.


Objection:  God is not a vending machine

Seriously now, when is the last time you actually read a statement by a respected teacher that said he was?  I have yet to see in print anything like the following:  "God is a vending machine.  Just put in your healing formulas and get healing out."  Of course God is not a vending machine.  But he is bound by his covenant with you.  If you ask for your healing (which Jesus paid for so that you could have it), God is obligated by his covenant to give it to you, because God cannot break his Word.  It is because God bases his dealings with man on covenant, not because he is a machine.

The only reason people make this objection is that they do not understand that healing is a covenant right.  They think that you are demanding something from God when you pray for healing.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  You are not demanding anything.  You are receiving something.  You demand something that is not yet offered to you.  You receive something that is already offered to you.  Jesus made healing available to you by bearing your sicknesses in his body (Matthew 8:17).  There is no need for you to bear something that he bore for you.  He suffered sickness so that you do not have to suffer sickness.

The truth is that God is far better than a vending machine.  A vending machine does not care whether you get a candy bar out.  It just gives you one if you pay for it and hit the right button(s).  (That is, if you can ever get the dollar-bill grabber to take your dollar instead of spitting it back out at you 10 times in a row.)  God, on the other hand, wants to see you get your healing.  He gave you his Spirit so that you could know the things that are freely given to you by God (1 Cor 2:12).  God does not want you to be in the dark about any of your covenant rights.  He is actively involved in trying to help you understand his way of receiving healing by faith.  He wants you to prosper and be in health (3 John 2).


Objection:  To demand that God use supernatural...
Objection:  To demand that God use supernatural instead of natural means to heal you is to hold God hostage

The idea here is that you hold God hostage when you refuse to take medicine in order to "force" God to heal you by supernatural means.  Supposedly, God may want to use medicine to heal you.

It is a fact that God will use medicine as the means for most people's healing, because they will never take the time to develop their faith in God's Word.  It isn't his best, and it is not his preferred means, but it does beat staying sick.  As pointed out elsewhere in this book, it is no sin to take medicine.

You can't actually hold God hostage by refusing to take medicine.  Either you are in faith or you aren't.  If you refuse to take medicine because you think that forces God to heal you supernaturally, you may get a total healing...when you go home to be with the Lord!  I would agree with this objection inasmuch as it is wrong to think that you can hold God hostage.  If you aren't in faith, you won't receive healing from God, regardless of whether or not you take your medicine.

However, you are not holding God hostage when you receive your healing from him the Bible way.  To hold God hostage would be to force God to do something for you.  You do not need to force God to do anything for you as far as healing is concerned.  In fact, God is not going to do anything for you as far as healing is concerned!  God has already done all that he is going to do about healing your body.  He had his Son's body torn up for you so that your body does not need to be torn up by sickness.  That's not a promise; that's a fact.

If a billionaire just gave you a check for seven million dollars as a gift, would it be necessary to kidnap him and hold him hostage to get that seven million dollars?  No.  You would just deposit your check.  It is the same with healing.  God has already given it to you.  Just receive it.  You don't need to hold God hostage.


Objection:  We are supposed to thank God...
Objection:  We are supposed to thank God for everything, which would include sickness (1 Thess 5:18)

"In everything give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." -- 1 Thess 5:18.

Paul did not say to give thanks for everything.  He said to give thanks in everything.  You cannot thank God for everything because not everything comes from God!  Sickness comes from the devil.  You can't thank God for something that comes from the devil!  But you can thank God in everything.  Why can you thank God in sickness?  Because you know that by Jesus' stripes, you were healed (1 Peter 2:24)!  You know that God is your Physician (Exodus 15:25-26).  You know that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).  You know that you always have the victory in Christ (1 Cor 15:57, 2 Cor 2:14).  So thank God for these things!

Books have been written suggesting that you thank God for everything, but they are out of balance.  Thank God for the victory, not for something that he didn't send your way in the first place.  Don't even thank God for the "privilege" of enduring sickness!  Thank God that you don't have to endure it.  Rather than asking for grace to live with it, thank God that you can live without it!  Thank God that you always have the victory in Christ!  Keep thanking God for all that he gives you, but never thank God for something that comes from the devil.  That is just bad manners.  Would you like it if someone thanked you for giving him a cold when you didn't give him the cold?  Why should God like it any better than you would?


Objection:  We are supposed to glory in tribulations...
Objection:  We are supposed to glory in tribulations and count them all joy (Romans 5:3, James 1:2-4)

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also:  knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope." -- Romans 5:3-4.

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." -- James 1:2-4.

First, tribulation refers to persecution, not sickness.  See the reply to We are promised tribulation in this world for proof.

This objection reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the place that trials play in the life of the believer.  God does not send trials to us.  Living in the world with a bunch of sinners and the devil guarantees us trials.  These trials are temporary.  They will not exist in heaven, where only the will of God is done.  Therefore, they are not from God.

Be careful how you read these verses.  Paul did not say that we glory because of our tribulations.  He said that we glory in them.  You can be in a test and still give glory to God.  In fact, you should give glory to God in a test because he is the one who will bring you out of it!

Notice that James calls trials "the trying of your faith."  It is your faith that is on trial.  Your faith is the victory that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).  You win, as long as you persevere.  Notice that the perfect work of patience is that you become perfect and entire, wanting (lacking) nothing.  In other words, if you stay in faith, you will lack nothing.  This is a far cry from the idea that you should be robbed by the devil and take it "patiently," since then you would end up imperfect and un-entire, wanting something, namely, your healing!

Besides, James could not have been talking about being sick here.  James made his position clear on what to do if you are sick (James 5:14-16).  He was surely not contradicting himself in the same book!

Being in a trial does not produce joy.  James did not tell you to be joyful because you're in a trial.  You won't have joy unless you know something.  That something to know is that you are developing patience, which along with faith lets you inherit the promises of God (Heb 6:12).  You can rejoice because you will inherit the promises of God!  You don't rejoice because the devil is stealing from you and you aren't receiving the promises.  Patience is a tool used to receive the promises, not a tool used to endure never receiving the promises!

The reason Paul could glory in his tribulations was that he knew that God would deliver him out of all of them.  He was trusting in God, not in himself.  Paul was delivered from everything that happened to him.  He was not saying that you should rejoice simply because you're having tribulations.  You rejoice because you know that God is getting you out of them!  You develop experience watching God deliver you.  Then, when you encounter a similar test in the future, you have a prior experience under your belt of being in the same mess and having God deliver you.  That gives you hope.


Objection:  God uses sickness to draw us closer...
Objection:  God uses sickness to draw us closer to himself

No way.  There is not one single place in the Bible where God ever used sickness to draw someone who was walking in the light closer to himself.  If you believe this objection, look in the Bible for proof of it.  You won't find it.  God uses sickness for chastisement and judgment in some cases, as pointed out in some of the discussions in this book.  He does not use it on his obedient children.  He cannot possibly use sickness to draw you closer to himself, as we will prove below in all kinds of different ways.  This religious-sounding junk about God using sickness is just another dead tradition of men that robs people of their rightful inheritance in Christ.  It sounds reasonable only until you find out what the Bible really says.

How you draw near to God

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you."  -- James 4:8

"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by the which we draw nigh unto God." -- Hebrews 7:19.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." -- Hebrews 4:16.

"For through him we both [Jews and Gentiles] have access by one Spirit unto the Father." -- Ephesians 2:18.

"In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." -- Ephesians 3:12.

It is up to you to seek God.  It is up to you to draw near to God.  God does not do anything to force you to draw near to him.  He didn't force you to do it when you were unsaved, and he won't do so now.  If you get sick and consequently turn to God, it means only that you put yourself in the devil's territory and wised up later.  God did not put the sickness on you to draw you near.  He never forces you to draw near to him.  He has provided the means for you to draw near, and leaves it up to you to do it.

This should be clear from the verses above.  James did not say, "Let God draw you nigh to himself."  The book of Hebrews does not say, "Let God draw you boldly to his throne of grace."  YOU choose to draw near to God or you choose not to.

How God draws people

The goodness of God leads men to repentance (Romans 2:4).  God does not use calamity to draw men to himself; he uses good things.  Think of all the people in Acts who were brought to Jesus by seeing the goodness of God through healing.  It was not God making people sick that drew the masses!  They were drawn when God healed people!

Jesus, the Healer, is drawing men to himself today.  "And I, if I be lifted up [the word here also means exalted] from the earth, will draw all men unto me.  This he said, signifying what death he should die." -- John 12:32-33.  We use this verse to describe men being drawn to Jesus if we "lift him up" and "exalt" him in praise and worship, but that isn't what he said!  He was talking about his death and his exaltation to the right hand of God.  Therefore, Jesus does not just draw men to himself if we praise and worship him.  Since he has been lifted up from the earth, he is in the continuous process of drawing all men unto himself, worship or no worship!  (There is a principle that God inhabits the praises of his people and will move in an atmosphere of corporate worship, but John 12:32 is not the verse to use to prove it.)  So Jesus, not sickness, draws men to God today.

Think how ridiculous it would be that God would heal a sinner to draw the sinner to himself, but after the sinner became a saint, God would turn around and use sickness as the method for drawing the saint unto himself.  Is God more gracious to his obedient children than to those who hate him?  No!

God is the Healer, not the Sickener

Another problem with this objection is that it assumes that God is putting sickness on people.  But if you've seen Jesus, you've seen the Father (John 14:9).  Jesus went around healing those who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38).  God is our Physician (Exodus 15:25-26), not our Sickener.  Therefore, you've seen God's will in the matter.  If Jesus never put sickness on people to draw them closer to God, God will never do it either.  Have you ever been to an earthly physician who deliberately made you sick?  How much less will the Great Physician do that to you!  If God sometimes healed you and sometimes made you sick, he would at best be the Not-So-Great Physician.


Romans  2: 4
Romans 2:4:

Or despiseth thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?


John 14: 9
John 14:9:

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?  he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?


Objection:  Long life is not a New Testament blessing

Ephesians 6:1-3 is in the New Testament.  Although it refers to an Old Testament blessing, it is explicitly carried over into the New Covenant.  Therefore, long life is a New Testament blessing, and this objection is wrong.

Also, bear in mind that you have not been redeemed from the blessings of the Old Testament; you have been redeemed from the curses!  The curses do not apply because they belonged to the wicked, and you have been made holy by the blood of Jesus.  The blessings belonged to the righteous, and Jesus has made you righteous.

Furthermore, if long life were available under a worse covenant based upon worse promises, surely it is available under a better covenant based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6).


Hebrews  8:6
Hebrews 8:6:

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.


Objection:  ...People make themselves sick...
Objection:  As many doctors can tell you, many people make themselves sick -- it has nothing to do with the devil

This is true, but does not negate that the devil is still the ultimate author of sickness.  I'm sure this will make the heavier ones among you angry, but I don't know any thin people who suffered massive heart attacks in middle age or had multiple bypass surgery.  I suppose there are some, but I don't know of any.  I knew a Christian smoker who died of cancer.  If you violate certain natural laws, you will make yourself sick and have yourself to thank for your condition.  If you do not keep your flesh under (i.e., you let your temple of the Holy Ghost turn into a cathedral of the Holy Ghost), you will suffer the natural consequences of being overweight.  No one says that you can't make yourself sick.  Many Christians do unhealthy things.  But this does not negate that healing is available to all.  In some cases, there may be physical things you need to change (i.e., your diet) to stop the problems from recurring.  You are warned in Proverbs not to eat too many sweets so that you don't make yourself sick.  Believing in healing can coexist with believing in common sense.  You don't leave your brains at the altar when you get saved!

Other sicknesses are caused by sins that are not explicitly physical, like worrying.  Yes, worry is a sin because God says not to do it.  This is true even though worry is a socially acceptable sin.  Preachers who commit adultery make the tabloids, but preachers who worry don't.  (When was the last time you saw a headline, "Famous Evangelist's Dirty Secret Out:  He Worries About His Finances?")  Yet worry is just as much a sin as adultery is, and you can get sick from either one!

It is true that it is not the devil's fault if you make yourself sick by worrying or harboring bitterness or jealousy.  It is your fault.  Sin is always your fault because it is your choice.  The Bible does teach that you can make yourself sick.

On the other hand, plenty of sicknesses are not caused by poor stewardship of your body or moral failure.  Colds do not indicate moral weaknesses!  Job was righteous, but the devil made him sick.  Jesus said that a woman whom Satan had bound for 18 years ought to be healed.  Jesus healed all who were oppressed of the devil.  Since the New Testament describes sickness as bondage to the devil and oppression of the devil (literally, being under the power of the devil), we should agree with that.

If I were to put a rock on the accelerator of my car and let it crash into your house, I'll bet you wouldn't say this:  "I'm not mad at Steve for ruining my house, because it was the car that did it.  I'm mad at the car, not Steve."  Yet that is exactly what you are doing when you say, "I'm not blaming the devil for my sickness.  It's just a virus that's going around."  Yes, the virus may be the immediate cause, but that virus was invented by the devil to make people sick.  It was not part of God's original creation, which he declared good.  (There's another objection reply devoted to that topic, in case you have any doubts about that.)

Power over sickness and disease in the New Testament has always gone along with power over the devil.  We shall cast out devils and lay hands on the sick.  Jesus gave his disciples power over all sickness and over all devils.  This power is over two different aspects of the work of the same devil, who is out to steal, kill and destroy.

In conclusion, the New Testament is quite clear that sickness is the work of the devil.  To say otherwise, you would have to question the authority of Scripture, which is beyond this program's scope.  (I am happy to answer any objections on Scriptural grounds, but you will have to argue with someone else if you do not believe that the Bible is true.)


Objection:  Jesus healed...to prove his deity
Objection:  Jesus healed and did miracles to prove his deity

This is a half-truth.  Some of Jesus' miracles are called signs, implying that they were proofs of his claim to deity.  While that was part of the purpose for his healings, it was certainly not the sole purpose.  Even one healing of a blind man could have established that.  Jesus healed primarily because God wanted to heal the people!  He said that he always did what pleased God, so God was pleased to heal those people.

Jesus was moved with compassion, not desire to prove his deity

Jesus did not put on a circus.  He told many that he healed not to tell anyone what had happened.  If his motive were proving his deity, he would have said, "Go tell everyone to come to my next service -- I just proved that I'm God!"

Jesus' motive for healing the sick was compassion.  Yes, the miracles did prove something, but his motivation was not publicity.  At times, he wanted to be alone and get some rest.  But because of his compassion, he healed the sick who came to him anyway.

Jesus walked on water, turned water into wine, multiplied food, and did many other signs that had nothing to do with healing.  Even one such event would have been sufficient to establish his credentials.  Jesus did not need to continue to heal the sick everywhere to prove something.  Healing "all who were sick" on a few occasions would be enough to prove that God was backing his claims of deity.  Jesus was continually doing this throughout his ministry.  When the sick came to him, he healed them, even when he was tired and must not have felt like ministering to the sick.

Many who came were healed by their own faith

Jesus told many people, "According to your faith be it done unto you."  Many came to touch him and receive healing.  It was their faith, not Jesus' faith, that produced the results.  It was Jesus' power coupled with their faith.  This still works today.

Jesus did not minister as deity

The power was not resident on Jesus because of his deity.  (See the answer to the objection, We cannot expect to heal as Jesus did because we are not the Son of God for a complete proof of this.)  Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit just as any other human minister would have to be anointed.  Before he was anointed, he could not do miracles.

Since Jesus ministered as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit, his ministry is an example for ministers today.  That is why we can do the works that he did, as he promised that we would.

Did Jesus prove he was not deity at Nazareth?

If Jesus did his works to prove his deity, he proved that he was not deity when he went to Nazareth.  His inability to do miracles there (Scripture says he could not do them) would represent a failure to prove his deity.  See the answer to the objection that we cannot do what Jesus did because we are not the Son of God for more on this matter.

Don't people still need proof today?

Were the people of the apostles' time any different from those in our time?  If the people then needed proof that Jesus was God in the flesh, why shouldn't God be continuing to prove Jesus' deity today?  God's gospel plan has always included confirmation of the preached word with signs following.  This is one reason miracles still happen today.

This objection slanders God's character

What kind of God would do special healing miracles at a certain point in time for certain individuals in a certain country just to show off his power, but would then refuse to use that same unchanging omnipotence on behalf of sick people in other lands at other times?  He would be nothing more than an egotist who wanted to show off but had no real concern for the suffering of people.  To hear some talk, God is that way.  They believe that God would make people sick and then heal them to show off his power.  Be honest, would you make your children sick and then heal them to show off your power to their friends?  No, you wouldn't.  God is nicer than you are, so why would you accuse him of mean acts that not even you would do?


Objection:  God only heals some at healing crusades...
Objection:  God only heals some at healing crusades, thus proving it is not his will to heal all

It is undeniable that at most healing services, some sick people are healed while others are not.  However, this does not prove anything about the will of God.  If we take this argument to its logical conclusion, we must conclude that it is not God's will to save all, because God saves only some people at evangelistic meetings, while others leave the service unsaved.

At either kind of service, some people will respond in faith and others will not.  Healing and salvation are available to everyone in the service.  They are available to everyone outside the service, too.  Their availability is based on what Jesus did, not the fact that a special service is going on.  At evangelistic services, the people are simply told what is already available to them.  At healing services, the people are also told what is already available to them.  The service is not the issue; it is just a place where the good news can be proclaimed and people can receive something that Jesus has already provided for them.

The one point where the parallel between evangelistic meetings and healing meetings breaks down is that some people get healed by the gifts of the Spirit without any faith, while no one gets saved without any faith.  Thus, some people may leave healed who were not expecting anything.

God is still in the signs-and-wonders business.  He does miracles as a sign to unbelievers.  He expects more of believers.  That is why you may notice more anointing when you lay hands on an unbeliever than when you lay hands on a believer!  God doesn't expect much from the unbeliever, but the believers are supposed to believe his Word.

Healings that take place without the recipient's faith are signs.  Perhaps the most important sign is to the person himself, who can "taste and see that the Lord is good."  Healing is proof of God's mercy and compassion.

How absurd, though, to think that God would be less willing to heal an obedient child than a sinner!  It is not that God won't heal the obedient child; he just uses different means.  His primary means is to have faith rise in the heart of the believer when he finds out that healing belongs to him as part of his covenant with God.  He is not obligated to perform the healing in a miraculous or spectacular way.

You are on very thin ice any time that you attempt to prove doctrine from experience.  You never look at the results of any meeting to determine the will of God in a matter.  Your only reliable source of information concerning God's will is the Bible.  Nothing else ever "proves" anything!


Objection:  God heals in his own way in his own time

When is God's time to heal?  "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:2).  This age is the "day that the LORD has made," as found in Psalm 118:22-24:  "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  This is the LORD'S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.  This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."  This does not refer to this chronological 24-hour day, although that is the traditional misinterpretation of this verse.  (A similar often-misinterpreted verse concerns God being worthy to be praised from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same.  This is an idiom for "from the east to the west," so this verse is not a statement that God is not as worthy to be praised at night.)

Since this entire age is the day of salvation, you can receive salvation at any time during this "day."  Anyone who wants to can be born again right now because of the finished work of Jesus.  There is no need to wait for a special day because this entire age is that special day.  Likewise, anyone who wants healing can have it at any time, precisely because now is the day of salvation.  (The Greek words for  "salvation" and "saved" as used in the New Testament encompass deliverance, health, help, safety, rescue, victory, and other things, and they are so translated in various places.  See the discussion, Saved!

There are many ways to receive healing (as documented elsewhere in this book), but it is not true that sometimes God's way has to be a doctor.  It may work out that way in practice because we are not at a point of being able to believe for a complete recovery on our own.  That does not mean that such a method is unavailable to us.  "It was God's will that he be healed by medicine" is at best a half-truth.  God's way of healing is clear throughout the Bible.


Objection:  Sickness...is used...to build character
Objection:  Sickness, while unpleasant, is used by God to build character

What kind of character could God be building through sickness?  Patience?  Humility?  Longsuffering?  Consecration?  Love?  Let's look at some of these and see if it is Biblical for God to use sickness to produce these traits in your life.  Then we'll consider God's plan for growth in the life of a Christian and see if sickness qualifies as part of that plan.

Patience?

Patience is not just laying back and accepting whatever happens, throwing up your hands, and saying, "Oh well, the will of the Lord be done."  It is an active force, which along with faith, will cause you to inherit the promises of God.  Patience consists of refusing to back down until you get your answer.

Hebrews 10:35-36 says that you need patience so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.  Hebrews 6:12 tells us that through faith and patience we inherit the promises.  Once you have received something by faith, it is time for patience to work.

Stop and think about this for a minute.  Patience cannot be the grace to resign yourself to pain and suffering.  If it were, it would not be a tool by which you could receive the promises of God.  Instead, it would be a tool used while NOT receiving the promises of God!

You only use patience when you are in faith.  If you are not in faith, you are not in real patience.  You are in resignation -- to defeat.

Humility?

Do not confuse humility with humiliation.  Being unable to care for yourself or work productively during the day because of illness is more humiliating than humbling.  It does nothing to make you more humble.

It is not humble to accept illness, which Jesus Christ has redeemed you from.  It is humble to accept his sacrifice for your healing, without leaning on any of your own merits.  You didn't deserve it, but he gave it to you in his mercy.  If you are truly humble, you will accept his healing on his terms.

It is not God's job to make you humble.  It is your job.  You are commanded to humble yourself in the sight of the Lord (James 4:10) and to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God (1 Peter 5:6).  Jesus said that he that shall humble himself shall be exalted (Matthew 23:12, Luke 14:11, Luke 18:14).  You are nowhere commanded to ask God to humble you.  God does not make you humble any more than he makes you walk in love.  It is your job to choose to walk in love, and it is your job to choose to be humble.

Therefore, God could not possibly use sickness to "make you humble."  The devil will use sickness to try to humiliate you.

Longsuffering?

Longsuffering does not refer to suffering a long time from a disease.  God is longsuffering toward us (2 Peter 3:9).  If longsuffering refers to suffering from an illness, God could not be longsuffering or even shortsuffering.  God is not suffering at all and He is not sick, either.

Longsuffering is listed as a fruit of the Spirit, not a fruit of sickness, in Galatians 5:22.  God is able to develop this in you by his Spirit without the use of bodily affliction.  As you can see elsewhere in this book, sickness is not the work of God anyway -- it is the work of Satan.

God wants you to develop this fruit.  But you are mistaken to think that he will develop it through something that is the work of the devil.

Consecration?

The idea is to be consecrated before you get sick.  If you fail to live a consecrated life, you may open the door to the devil to make you sick.  This is true even under the New Covenant.  You may "learn" consecration in this way by suffering the penalty of being unconsecrated.  But it is never the will of God for you to learn consecration this way.  His way is for you to voluntarily present your body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).  You choose to be consecrated.  Although you can learn the valuable lesson that serving God pays better than not serving God, having the devil beat you up is never the will of God for your life.

The idea that you should "humbly" submit to the will of God (meaning sickness) because you are consecrated shows only ignorance of God's healing covenant.  If you are truly consecrated to God, you should desire good health at all times, as God desires for you (3 John 2), so that you can serve him to the fullest.

Love?

It is important to maintain your love walk even when your body is in pain, and it is surely more difficult to do so then.  But this does not mean that God wants you sick to give you "love practice," any more than it is his will for others to rail on you just so that you can develop your love walk.  Love is a fruit of the Spirit, not a fruit of sickness.  You develop your love walk by believing what the Bible says about the love of God within you.  If you don't develop your love walk the Bible way, it will probably deteriorate when you get sick, to the regret of everyone around you.

God's plan for your growth

What about other areas?  What is God's plan for your growth?  Let's see.

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2).  It is God's Word, not a trial, that produces growth.  A trial simply shows you how much you have grown!  You are responsible for your growth as a Christian, not God.  You are commanded to "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).  If it's a command, it's up to you to do it, not God.

Mark 4 makes clear that a harvest in your life is the result of planting the seed of God's Word and making sure that you are good ground for it.  It is the Word, not your flesh or personality, that will produce the 30-, 60- or 100-fold return in your life.

According to Ephesians 4:11-16, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are given so that, speaking the truth in love, we may grow up into Christ in all things.  So another vehicle God uses for your growth is ministry gifts in the Body of Christ.  That is why people who refuse to be pastored remain babies.  They are refusing one of the means God uses to produce growth in our lives.

Here's a Scripture that some might think applies to God taking things away from you, but it really means the opposite.  John 15:2-3:  "Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:  and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."  The word purgeth and the word clean in these verses come from the same Greek root word.  You can verify this with a concordance.  In other words, every branch that bears fruit, he cleans so that it can bear more fruit.  (I first noticed this reading my Spanish Bible, where the words for he will clean and clean are used in these verses.)  How does God clean you?  Through his Word!  Therefore, this passage represents additional proof that God uses his Word, not sickness or troubles, to cause you to produce more fruit, (i.e., love, patience, longsuffering, and so on).

In no Scripture does God ever say that he produces growth in the life of a believer through sickness.  It is true that you will grow by learning to resist sickness and take authority over it, but the sickness is still the work of the devil, never God's will.

What does sickness really teach you?

The only thing sickness will teach you is that it is a drag to be sick and better to be well.  Be honest enough to admit that the last time you got sick and spent half the night throwing up in the toilet, you did not learn one single lesson about Christian character or anything else.  You were inconvenienced and annoyed and maybe embarrassed, and you just wanted to be well.  You learned nothing spiritual at all.  You know that full well, so don't try to tell us that sickness is used by God to teach us lessons unless you can cite the lessons God supposedly taught you through your experience.  You simply found out what God says -- sickness is a curse!


Objection:  Elisha...died of an illness
Objection:  Elisha did miracles, yet died of an illness

"Now Elisha was fallen sick of the sickness whereof he died..." -- 2 Kings 13:14.

Let's do a little Bible arithmetic.  (If you hate math, feel free to skip this paragraph.)  Elisha was called during the reign of Ahab.  Let's assume that he was 20 years old at the time; he was obviously grown up already.  Ahab ruled for 22 years (1 Kings 16:19).  We know that Elisha's call could not have been closer than 3 years to either end of his reign because of the drought before Elisha's call and the three warless years after it.  Assume for the sake of argument that Elisha was called in the 11th year of his reign (we'll split the difference).  Ahab's son Ahaziah replaced him and reigned for 2 years (1 Kings 22:51).  Jehoram succeeded Ahaziah and reigned for 12 years (2 Kings 3:1).  His replacement, Jehu, reigned for 28 years (2 Kings 10:36).  His replacement, Jehoahaz, reigned for 17 years (2 Kings 13:1).  His replacement, Jehoash, reigned for 16 years.  Elisha talked with Jehoash, so he was still alive then.  If we split this down the middle and assume that this talk happened in the eighth year, we would estimate Elisha's age at his death as 20+11+2+12+28+17+8 years.  Just so that you don't have to activate the Windows calculator, that adds up to 98 years old, assuming that he died fairly soon after he got sick.  For that time, that was a stupendously long life.  Perhaps if you dig a little deeper than I did, you could narrow down Elisha's age a little bit more.  Let's compute the bare minimum.  Say that he was 15 years old when he was called, and that he was called 3 years from the end of Ahab's reign, and that he and Jehoash talked right after he became king.  He age at death would still be 15+3+11+2+12+28+17+0 years, or 88.  That is the minimum.

So Elisha outlived his contemporaries and had to be 90-ish when he died.  That's not bad!

It is unscholarly to claim that Elisha's illness proves that healing is not available to all.  Elisha indeed died of an illness even though he was used to bring healing to others.  What does this prove?  If you look at Elisha's life, it proves that obedience will keep you alive a good long time!

At this point, Elisha may simply have wanted to go on to his reward rather than be healed.  When you get to be that age, you don't have to stay here if you don't want to.  You can believe for healing, but someone who is ready to die may not have much incentive to do so.  Elisha was certainly old enough to have a right to do that without it being a blemish on healing ministry.  If anything, we can prove that Elisha got to reap what he sowed in terms of health in his body.

There is no record that Elisha asked to be healed.  Therefore, you cannot use Elisha to "prove" that God may refuse a request for healing!  To prove that, you would have to come up with a couple of cases in the Bible where someone actually asked God for healing and was denied.  Have fun looking.

In fact, let's turn this objection on its head.  Elisha lived with such an anointing in him that a man was raised from the dead when his body touched Elisha's bones after he died.  Therefore, this anointing was in him throughout his life after Elijah was taken up.  This makes a good case for the statement that the anointing lengthens your life!

It is true that some ministers who held healing crusades have died of illnesses before their time.  That was not God's will, but it has happened.  This does not prove that the message they preach was untrue, any more than the gospel is untrue just because some famous preacher shacks up with his girlfriend.  As repeatedly stated here, you get doctrine from the Word, not people's experiences!


Objection:  Epaphroditus…was sick unto death
Objection:  Epaphroditus worked closely with Paul, yet was sick unto death

Philippians 2:25-30

It is amusing that people would use the case of a man who was raised from his deathbed by the power of God as an objection to divine healing.  The objection is that if people could just receive healing by faith, Epaphroditus should have just done it.  It is also sometimes added that if Paul really had authority over sickness, he should have healed Epaphroditus right away.

Consider why Epaphroditus was sick.  He was sick "for the work of Christ," ministering to Paul's needs, trying to supply the Philippians lack of service toward Paul.  In other words, he was making the mistake of trying to do someone else's job as well as his own because it wasn't getting done.  While this seems noble, it can also be the path to exhaustion in the ministry.  Jesus' yoke is easy and his burden is light.  He is not an Egyptian taskmaster who drives people to the point of despair.  In ministry, you need to be led by the Spirit, not led by every need you see.  You will always see more needs than you can possibly meet yourself.  It's not your job to try to solve every problem in the world.

Natural laws still apply to Christians.  If you overwork yourself, even in the ministry, you will wear your body down and become susceptible to illness.  Likewise, if you eat a hot fudge sundae every night, you will eventually get sick, and it would have nothing to do with any failure of God's healing covenant.  It is a natural law that you will have various problems in your body if you weigh so much that you practically need a fork-lift to get you out of bed.

Now consider Epaphroditus's attitude toward his illness.  Paul obviously didn't teach him that it was something good.  Epaphroditus was heavy in heart because he knew that word of his sickness had gotten back to Philippi.  Paul was sending Epaphroditus back so that everyone could rejoice in his healing!

Although Epaphroditus may have overworked himself trying to help Paul, God was merciful to him and healed him.  If you are seeking God's kingdom first, God will overlook some of your faults and have mercy on you, as long as you don't deliberately try to live on mercy.

The fact that his healing was attributed to God's mercy proves that his healing was supernatural.  So why didn't Paul just "instantly" heal him?  Jesus never promised that all sick people would recover instantly when we lay hands on them.  He promised only that they would recover.  Why didn't Epaphroditus just pray and instantly receive his healing?  There can be a time between the point that you "believe that you receive" and the point that your healing fully manifests in your body.

If it were God's will for Epaphroditus to be sick, he would not have healed him!  If you are "sick unto death" as Epaphroditus was, you should take comfort from the fact that Jesus is your merciful high priest.  He can show you mercy just as he showed Epaphroditus mercy, even if you brought on your sickness yourself.  Far from being a real objection, the story of Epaphroditus is one more proof that God wants his people to be healthy.


Objection:  Some who get healed...don't keep (it)...
Objection:  Some who get healed at healing crusades don't keep their healing

The church's responsibility

When I attended a certain church, there was a special healing service at a church across the street.  This church did not teach healing by God's standard (i.e., it was provided for all by Jesus Christ).  They allowed healing to take place by the gifts of the Spirit, but they did not teach that healing was a covenant right.

There was a stir because a blind woman prayed for at the healing service at the other church instantly received her sight.  Many of us, including me, were surprised, because we knew that this church was hardly a bastion of faith.  Aside from the gifts of the Spirit, you would never get healed there.  Some people at my church believed that healing was provided in Christ's atonement, but we had never seen a blind person healed.  Thank God for his mercy.

According to the witnesses, this lady left the service saying, "I can't believe that this happened to me!  I really can't believe that this happened!"  Unfortunately, that was true, because three days later she went blind again and (as far as I know) never recovered her sight.

Was this the minister's fault?  The Church's fault?  At least indirectly, yes!  The woman had no idea how to keep her healing.  That is why it is so crucial that any ministry of healing be based on the Bible, not the gifts of the Spirit.  Otherwise, you may get thousands of people healed, only to have them lose their healing soon afterward.  What good is that?  Then people come up with this "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" attitude and make objections like the one being discussed here.  Worse yet, they can become hardened to healing in general and be harder to reach next time!

Unfortunately, there are many "healing ministries" that do not provide sufficient instruction from the Word.  The Bible pattern is to preach the Word and let the signs and wonders confirm it.  The Word comes first; the signs and wonders come second.  Although I saw people get healed at a service where the minister said, "Remember, God heals in his own time in his own way," that was definitely the mercy of God in action!  There was no basis for faith preached, although there was a good basis for unbelief.  God moved in spite of it.

Your responsibility

What some people miss is that you can be healed by the gifts of the Spirit without exercising any faith at all.  Unbelievers have been known to get healed in healing services, and sometimes it seems that God favors them over those who have been "walking the walk" all their lives.  (God expects less of them and meets them where they are.)  However, even if you get healed with no faith of your own, you still need faith to keep what you got.  Hence the need for proper instruction.

This is exactly what the religious world does not want to hear.  This elicits comments such as, "If God really did the healing, it would be permanent!  Guess it wasn't God!"  Yet Jesus told the man at the Pool of Bethesda to go and sin no more, lest a worse thing befall him.  Jesus admitted the possibility that the man could get sick again.  Saul was refreshed and "made well" when David ministered to him in music.  Yet Saul continually got sick again.  This cycle in his life continued because of his lack of consecration to God.  David ministered to him under the anointing, and as long as the anointing got on Saul, he was fine.  But since Saul never changed on the inside, he slid right back once he was away from the anointing.  God kept making him well, but Saul never managed to stay that way.  So much for the idea, "If God did it, it would be permanent."

The anointing is a great painkiller, among other things.  You can feel better while you are around the anointing, but if you don't take hold of it for yourself, you will feel bad again when you leave the service, and have Saul's kind of experience.

I can understand why some people object to the fact that people lose their healings.  They point to the ministry of Jesus in the gospels and ministry of the apostles in Acts and point out that there is no record that anyone in those times lost his healing.  This is cited as further proof that the miracles that happen today are not genuine, because the "genuine" miracles then were permanent, while ours today are temporary.  That is sheer nonsense, of course, because there are plenty of permanent miracles going on today where people have kept their healing.  If we were as diligent to magnify cases where people kept their healing, rather than magnifying failures, more people would have hope for their own healing.

Is being born again any less miraculous than a healing?  Yet there are warnings all over the New Testament against falling away, as well as citings of individuals who did in fact deny the faith and apostasize.  Does this mean that being born again is not genuine?  Yes, there are surely many cases of people who turned back to the world, who once responded to an altar call or said a prayer but were never really born again to begin with.  But if it were impossible not to lose your salvation, there would not be so many references to this in the epistles.  The point is that you can have something miraculous and lose it later.  Just because you lose something doesn't mean it wasn't genuine.

Peter walked on water.  He was operating in the supernatural.  Then he lost it when he let the outward situation mean more to him than Jesus' command.  Did an act of God let Peter walk on water?  Yes!  But Peter lost it.  It was God, but it wasn't permanent.  If Peter could get something by faith and lose it later through unbelief, so can you.

Further proof of this is found in the parable of the sower in Mark 4.  Four classes of people received the Word.  Only one class of people got permanent results.  Some of the others got temporary results, but then lost what they had.  What they had was a genuine work of God, but they lost it because they were not "good ground."  Jesus warned that if you do not have ears to hear, even what you have will be taken away from you.  This fact alone contradicts the theology that God's gifts, once received, cannot be lost.  Also notice that you can lose out even though there is nothing wrong with the Word or with the preacher!  You can miss out despite the fact that the Word that was planted was genuine.

It is your responsibility, not God's, to make sure that your ground is good.  You are the one who must guard the Word that is sown in your heart.  God will not do this for you.  God told Israel to break up its fallow ground (Jer 4:3, Hosea 10:12), which shows that this was the people's responsibility, not God's.

If everything God gives you is permanent, Jesus' command to the church at Thyatira in Rev 2:25 is meaningless.  He said, "But that which ye have already hold fast till I come."  If God's work were permanent, they would not have had to hold fast to it.

Jesus told the man who was healed at the Pool of Bethesda, "Behold, thou are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee."  Jesus plainly told the man that if he persisted in sin, he could end up even worse than he was and lose his healing.  Jesus didn't say exactly what would be worse than being crippled for 38 years, but it would certainly not be good!  It was up to the man whether such a worse thing would come upon him.  Jesus did not say that God had anything to do with it.  If the man chose to sin, he would lose his healing or get something worse.

Some parallels

If we are going to use people who lose their healing as an excuse that healing is not for all today, we should also raise the following complaints:

"Walking in love doesn't work.  Some people go to services where they preach the love walk.  They walk in love for a couple of days, but then they start acting mean again.  Walking in love was just for the time of the apostles, not now."

"Tithing doesn't work.  I know people who heard a message on tithing two weeks ago.  At first, it looked like it was working, but then they got extra bills.  So they stopped once they realized it didn't work."

"Bobby Backslider said he was a Christian, but now he's back in the world doing drugs again.  The doctrine of regeneration was obviously only for the early church."

Doctrine from experience?

People's failures can never be used to prove or disprove doctrinal points.  It is only the Bible, not men's experiences, that is profitable for doctrine (2 Tim 3:16).  The fact that some fail to keep the promises of God does not negate them.  Mathematically, 75% of the "ground" in Mark 4 got no lasting results.  Should we pay more attention to the 75% that got no results or the 25% that bore fruit 30 to 100 times over?  The Word was still genuine and of God even though the success rate was only 25%.  I would not consider this arithmetically binding, but perhaps we should be extremely pleased if we get a 25% permanent success rate in healing services!  Remember, it was not the quality of the Word that was the issue; it was the ground that received it.  This is still true today.  And it is also true that it is up to the individuals involved to be the good ground to receive the Word.

If Mark 4 is any indication, there will always be people who receive and then lose their healings.  Like the poor, these people will always be with us.  Rather than following and broadcasting their failures, find out what the people did who kept their healing and follow them!


Objection:  Laying hands on the sick is not part...
Objection:  Laying hands on the sick is not part of the Great Commission

This flies in the face of the fact that Mark 16:15-18 was one continuous discourse by Jesus.  "Go ye into all the world..." was part of the same speech as, "They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."  Also, the reason to go and teach all nations was that Jesus has been given all power in heaven and in earth (Matthew 28:18).  Anyone who says you can divide that down the middle must be making some other erroneous assumption, such as healing not being for this dispensation or Mark 16:9-20 not being in some early manuscripts.  These are covered adequately elsewhere.

The apostles certainly thought laying hands on the sick was part of the Great Commission.  They went out and did it, to which many New Testament healing Scriptures in this book can attest.  In fact, it was so important to go out with this power that Jesus said not to go out until they got it!  We have no Biblical basis for reversing this today and thinking that Jesus now wants us to go out with no power.

A slam-dunk refutation to this silly objection is that fact that James 5:14-16 is binding on the church today.  Hands are to be laid on the sick within the church.  It is part of New Testament doctrine.  James 5 did not pass away with the last apostle!  If any church obeys James 5, hands will be laid on the sick and they will recover today.  James 5 is part of the same New Testament as Mark 16 and Matthew 28, and it will be in effect just as long!


Objection:  Isaiah 53:4 (Matthew 8:17) was fulfilled...
Objection:  Isaiah 53:4 (Matthew 8:17) was fulfilled in Jesus' earth ministry and cannot be claimed as a promise by Christians today

I respect this objection even though it isn't true.  Unlike many of the silly objections put forth today, this one at least shows some diligence to study the Word.

There are two obvious problems with saying that this verse was fulfilled:  (1) If it was fulfilled, doesn't it mean that it was fulfilled here and not during Christ's atonement on the cross?  (2) If Christ's atonement involved suffering for us, how could this have been accomplished in his ministry before that happened?  These are perfectly legitimate issues, and the answers may not be immediately obvious.  However, once you see the answers, you'll wonder how you missed them.  Some people who say they know Greek claim that the verb tense in Matthew 8:17 proves that the fulfillment was completed at that moment.  That is also disproved below.

Christ took away sicknesses on the basis of his future atonement

If we object to Christ's healing of the sick based on his future atonement, we should also object to his forgiving of sins, which was also based on the same future atonement.  He stated that he had authority on earth to forgive sins.  (See Luke 5:17-26 and its accompanying notes.)  In fact, in this passage, he proved his authority to forgive sins by removing one of the curses for sins -- physical sickness!  Jesus himself cited the healing as proof of his authority to forgive.

No one can dispute that Jesus forgave sins during his earthly ministry.  Given that he could (based on his future atonement), he had an equal right to remove part of the punishment for sin (sickness) along with the sin.  Since sickness is one of the punishments for sin, when sin is forgiven, sickness should be healed.

Anyone who would argue that God's chronology was mixed up will have to take this matter up with God himself, in whose eyes Jesus was "the lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Revelation 13:8).  That Jesus would succeed in his mission and fulfill his role as our sacrifice was already known to God from the beginning.  Because of this, mere symbols of Christ produced physical healings in the Old Testament -- even though he had not yet atoned for sins at Calvary by our time line!  In effect, the people who were healed in the Old Testament by symbols of Christ were healed on credit.  Since God already foreknew that Christ would die for all and bear mankind's diseases, Christ's credit was good!

The bronze serpent and the Passover were symbols of Christ before Christ's Atonement, and they brought physical healing to the people, so much that when they came out of Egypt there was not a single feeble person among all the tribes of Israel.  This is probably the most notable mass healing in the history of mankind.  Where since then has God simultaneously taken away all feebleness from 2 million people?  When Hezekiah honored the Passover, God healed the people.  When anyone looked intently at the bronze serpent that was lifted up on a pole (symbolizing Christ), he was both forgiven and healed.  Yet this was based on a symbol of Christ's future atonement.  So yes, it was possible to receive healing based on a future Atonement!  If mere symbols of Christ could bring physical healing, how much more Christ himself in person -- unless you want to suggest that the symbols of Christ were more powerful than the Christ that they symbolized!  If you could get healed by the symbols of Christ and not by Christ himself, God is guilty of false advertising.  He presented healing in the "promos" but then gave you only spiritual salvation without physical healing in the real product.  God would not do such a thing.

As proved in the discussion Healing and atonement, when atonement was made for the people in the Old Testament, healing was then available to all who were atoned for.  Plagues were stopped in their entirety -- everyone was healed.  Why should the final atonement to end all atonements result in the healing of some and not all?  If all could be healed during atonements in the Old Testament, surely Christ's atonement has made healing available to all in our day.

But how could he "bear" the diseases of the multitude?

Now we have the issue of how Jesus could have borne sickness as a substitute early in his ministry.  Actually, he didn't.  This happened only on the cross.  Jesus was never sick until he was laden with the sin of the world.  It is impossible to say that Jesus bore anyone's sickness while he was in Capernaum healing the multitudes.  He was not sick himself at the time, yet he would have had to be sick himself if the prophecy were fulfilled in its entirety that night, because that is the clear context of Isaiah's statements.  Isaiah said that he would surely bear our sickness and carry our pains, but we would consider him smitten of God and afflicted.  This is all stated in one sentence.  No one considered Jesus to be smitten of God and afflicted that night in Capernaum.  Therefore, the prophecy was not fulfilled in any final sense that night.  The healings confirmed that he would bear our sicknesses when he was smitten of God and afflicted.

A little study into the Hebrew word used for borne in Isaiah 53:4 shows that the word can be used in the sense of taking something away, not just enduring it.  In other words, Jesus did not simply bear our sickness himself.  He bore it, and by so doing, took it away from us.

Some objectors say that the fulfillment in the original text points to a one-time fulfillment.  I agree completely; but the one time was Calvary, not Capernaum.

So how could his healing of all that were sick in Matthew 8 "fulfill" the prophecy that he would personally bear sicknesses for us as our substitute?  Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 8 because Christ healed all the people on the basis of the Atonement Isaiah prophesied about.  The people were healed because of what Christ would do on the cross.  The fact that the people could all be healed was confirmation that Christ's coming atonement would cover everyone.  We're not talking about going through time warps to make this happen.  You can get a better understanding of what Matthew meant when you study his use of the phrase "that it might be fulfilled."  You will find that it does not mean "this is over and done with, fulfilled in its entirety on the spot."  I will now prove this to you by citing every case where Matthew used the phrase.  Then I will make the point from a Greek perspective.

Matthew's use of the phrase that it might be fulfilled

Let's look at some of the places where Matthew uses the word fulfilled and notice how he uses it.

Matthew's use of the phrase "that it might be fulfilled" speaks of actions that will set up a future fulfillment, or ongoing fulfillment of a prophecy, with only one exception.  This phrase does not necessarily mean that a prophecy was at that moment fulfilled once and for all.  Matthew's use of "that it might be fulfilled" applies to cases where a prophecy now must surely be fulfilled in the future, even though it has not technically happened yet.  If the prophecy was actually completed, Matthew used the phrase "was fulfilled" instead.

Matthew 1:20-23:

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:  for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:  for he shall save his people from their sins.

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

At this time, Jesus was not yet born or named, but Matthew uses the phrase that it might be fulfilled because this action set up the future fulfillment of this prophecy.  It was not over and done with at the time; it happened in the future.

Matthew 2:14-15:

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.

And was there until the death of Herod:  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Jesus went into Egypt, not out of it, here.  Yet Matthew uses the phrase that it might be fulfilled because it assured the future fulfillment of this prophecy.  It was not completed at that point.

Matthew 2:16-18:

Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,

In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.

In this passage, the event fulfilling the prophecy is over.  Matthew says "then was fulfilled" instead of "that it might be fulfilled."  Matthew was specific enough to distinguish between prophecies that were fulfilled once and for all and those that were not.

Matthew 2:23:

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth:  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

At this point, no one was fulfilling the prophecy by calling Jesus a Nazarene.  But when Jesus moved to a place that would later result in his being called a Nazarene, Matthew uses the phrase, that it might be fulfilled.

Matthew 4:13-17:

And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent:  for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Jesus had not started preaching when he moved to Capernaum, but this is the point where Matthew uses the phrase that it might be fulfilled.  It had not happened yet, but Jesus' move to the area set up a certain future fulfillment of the prophecy.

Matthew 12:15-21:

But when Jesus knew it [that the Pharisees were plotting a council against him], he withdrew himself from thence:  and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;

And charged them that they should not make him known:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased:  I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment into victory.

And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

Matthew used the phrase that it might be fulfilled to describe a prophecy that was fulfilled at the time, but which continues to be fulfilled today.  (Gentiles are still trusting in his name today.)  You could not say that this prophecy was finished by the events that took place.

Matthew 13:13-14:

Therefore I speak to them in parables:  because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

This does not point to any future event, but describes something that was considered fulfilled then.  (As we will see later, this prophecy was also consider fulfilled later in Acts 28.)  Matthew used the word fulfilled instead of the phrase that it might be fulfilled.

Matthew 13:34-35:

All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.

Jesus was doing what the prophet said, but continued to do so.  It was not over at that point.  Matthew used the phrase that it might be fulfilled to describe this situation.

Matthew 21:1-7:

And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her:  loose them, and bring them unto me.

And if any man say ought [anything] unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them.

And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

(Since this program file is tightly compressed, I am assuming that this passage will make it past any on-line services' cuss-screening routines.)

Matthew used the phrase that it might be fulfilled again to describe a situation that set up the fulfillment of the prophecy, but did not complete it.  Jesus could not sit on the donkey before it was brought to him!

Matthew 26:54-56

But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me?  I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.  Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

At this point, there were plenty of scriptures about to be fulfilled, but they were not fulfilled yet.  The acts leading up to the crucifixion were done to set up their fulfillment.

Matthew 27:7-10:

And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.

Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;

And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

This prophecy referred to an act that was fulfilled in its entirety when it was quoted.  Matthew used the word fulfilled instead of the phrase that it might be fulfilled.

Matthew 27:35

And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots:  that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

This is the one place where the phrase that it might be fulfilled refers to an event that seems to have just been fulfilled, and will not have an ongoing fulfillment.

Now consider again Matthew 8:16-17:

When the even [evening] 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:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Isaiah's prophecy stated clearly in its context that Jesus took our infirmities and our sicknesses, not just the ones of the people that evening.  The final fulfillment of this took place on the cross, as is clear from its context in Isaiah.  Everyone acknowledges that everything else in Isaiah 53 refers to the atonement at Calvary.  You cannot justify taking half of one sentence and saying that it refers to one night in Capernaum while the rest of the chapter, and indeed the rest of the same sentence refer to Christ's atonement on the cross!

The fact that Jesus continued to minister healing to multitudes of sick people shows that this prophecy could not have been fulfilled in its final sense on the evening of Matthew 8:16-17.  If it were fulfilled in a final sense, Jesus would not have healed any more sick people after this.  Therefore, we must reject the argument that this scripture was finally fulfilled on that day and does not apply to the cross.  Because the Messiah did take away illnesses, you could think of it as a partial fulfillment of the prophecy, but certainly not a final fulfillment.

In Acts, we see that Jesus continued to remove diseases from people through his Church; his acts in the gospels were only what he "began" to do and teach (Acts 1:1).

Multiple fulfillments of prophecy

Although I would contend that Matthew 8:17 is a confirmation of Calvary, there is another aspect we can consider for those who want to think that Isaiah 53:4 was fulfilled that night in Capernaum.  Many Scriptures have a dual fulfillment; they are fulfilled in a partial sense at one time and in a more complete sense later.  Even prophecies that are stated to be fulfilled at a certain time can still have application past that point!  This is no speculative argument, but one that I will prove from Scripture.

Hosea 11:1 says that God called his son out of Egypt, and in the context, he is obviously talking about Israel.  So this was already fulfilled and was history, and not prophecy, except that Matthew 2:14-15 (cited above) says that Jesus' stay in Egypt fulfilled this prophecy.  So there was a former and a latter fulfillment of the same prophecy.

Isaiah 6:9-10 says:  "And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, and perceive not.  Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed."  In Matthew 13:14, Jesus said that in the people's inability to hear and understand was fulfilled the Isaiah's prophecy.  (This passage is quoted above.)  However John 12:40 also quotes this prophecy as being fulfilled, and it seems obvious that this prophecy had an ongoing fulfillment during Jesus' ministry.  Then at almost the very end of the book of Acts, Paul says this (Acts 28:25-27):  "Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esiais the prophet unto our fathers, saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:  For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them."  This proves that a prophecy in Isaiah that Matthew said was fulfilled could continue to be fulfilled after that point.

Matthew 13:34-35, quoted above, says Jesus spoke in parables that a prophecy might be fulfilled.  Yet he continued to fulfill that prophecy by speaking in parables after that point.

In Zechariah 12:10, God says, "They shall look upon me whom they have pierced."  John 19:37, speaking of Jesus' side being pierced, said that it was done to fulfill the scripture, "They shall look on him whom they pierced."  Revelation 1:7 then says, "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him..."  So this will be fulfilled in another, more complete, sense in the future when Jews everywhere see Jesus Christ appear in the clouds.  Likewise, what was specific to those in Capernaum (healing) later became available universally.

Matthew 12:15-21, also quoted above, indicates that "in his name shall the Gentiles trust" was fulfilled during Jesus' earth ministry, but there is surely a more complete and ongoing fulfillment in this day as millions upon millions of Gentiles put their trust in Jesus Christ.  It was not "completed" in Matthew 12!

Joel prophesied that God would pour out his Spirit upon all flesh.  Peter said in Acts 2 that the apparent drunkenness and supernatural linguistic ability of the apostles was what was spoken by the prophet Joel.  However, there is no question that God continues to pour out his Spirit today, especially since Peter said that this promise was for all believers later in Acts 2.  Of course, Jesus continued to baptize with the Holy Spirit throughout Acts, and continues to do so today.

Psalm 22 may well have described David's condition at the time, but any serious student of Scripture realizes that this psalm was also a prophetic foretelling of Christ's sufferings at Calvary.

In light of these verses, which I do not claim to be a complete list of dual-fulfillment or continuing-fulfillment prophecies, it is not Biblically accurate to claim that a prophecy which is "fulfilled" at a certain point in time cannot have either a fulfillment at a later specific point in time or an ongoing fulfillment over time.  Since these prophecies were not "one-shot deals," it is presumptuous to conclude that Matthew 8:17 could not have a later and more complete application.  Jesus continued to remove sicknesses from the people after Capernaum, and did it for all men once and for all at Calvary.

Jesus stated in Luke 4, "This day is this scripture (regarding his anointing to preach, heal, etc.) fulfilled in your ears."  If we use similar logic to this objection, Jesus was only anointed on that day, which is obviously not true.  Although that day witnessed a fulfillment of this prophecy, the fulfillment was obviously ongoing.  In fact, this prophecy is still being fulfilled today through his Body, the Church.

The Aorist and Errorists

Now what about those intimidating arguments about the Greek verb tense in Matthew 8:17?  The people who make it claim to know Greek, and since you probably don't, you are just supposed to back down and take their word for it.

The argument usually states that the Isaiah's prophecy was completely fulfilled that evening because the Aorist tense of "fulfill" is used in the verse, and that the Aorist tense indicates momentary completed action in the past tense.  That is an oversimplification.  In general, only the indicative form of the Aorist almost definitely describes a momentary past completed action.  The other forms of the Aorist are not time-definite and can in some cases even be used to describe a future action.  The form used in Matthew 8:17 is the first Aorist passive subjunctive, which is the same form used in the other passages where the phrase that it might be fulfilled appears.  The Aorist passive subjunctive can indicate future action that is guaranteed to happen.  This is the case in John 13:31-2:  "Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.  If God be glorified in him..."  The tense of glorified in all three cases is the Aorist passive subjunctive -- the same form used in Matthew 8:17.  The momentary event referred to here have not yet happened, but as far as Jesus was concerned, it was as good as done.  The idea of a future action being guaranteed to happen by current events is borne out by the other passages above.  In God's eyes, the actions were as good as done, even though they had not happened yet by our time line.

If these Greek scholars are right about the Aorist always describing momentary past action, we must believe the following, because the verses quoted in the previous section use the Aorist passive subjunctive of "to fulfill" in the Greek -- exactly the same word used in Matthew 8:17:

--	Mary completed the act of bringing forth and naming her son when the angel stood before her telling her that she would conceive.

--	God completed the act of calling Jesus out of Egypt as soon as he got there.

--	People called Jesus a Nazarene as soon as he arrived at Nazareth, many years before his ministry began.

--	The people of Zabulon and Nephthalim saw the light as soon as Jesus arrived there.

--	The Gentiles trusted in Jesus during his earthly ministry, and he "sent for judgment into victory" during his earthly ministry.

--	Jesus sat on the donkey before it was brought to him.

--	All the prophetic Scriptures about Jesus were completely fulfilled when he was arrested in the garden.

Some Greek grammar sources indicate that the subjunctive Aorist is time-indefinite, but you should be able to figure this out from the English arguments above.  Therefore, anyone who says that the Aorist passive subjunctive must refer to momentary completed action is an Errorist.

Conclusion

While I respect people who make this objection (probably the best one of the bunch), the evidence is clear that it is false.  Jesus' removal of sickness that evening was a confirmation of Isaiah's prophecy being fulfilled during his future Atonement, just as his forgiving of sins during his ministry was proof of his future Atonement.  The Atonement was Jesus' basis for continuing to heal the sick, in further confirmation of this prophecy.


Acts  1:1
Acts 1:1:

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,


Objection:  God does great miracles only during...
Objection:  God does great miracles only during crucial times in history

Those promoting this idea point to the fact that there were a lot of miracles when Israel came out of Egypt.  There were a lot of miracles at the time of Elijah and Elisha.  There were miracles during the Babylonian captivity.  There were a lot of miracles surrounding the ministry of Jesus, including the ones done by the apostles.  The conclusion is that miracles in history are "clustered" around crucial moments and do not happen continually.  Therefore, you are not supposed to believe that God would do miracles today.  It is sometimes added that we do not need miracles today.

Even if you agree with this position, that would be a case for, not against, miracles in our day.  Since Jesus is to return soon (the Scriptural signs of the "last days" are all around us), is this not a crucial period of history as well?  Is this any less notable than the other times mentioned above?  If this objection is true, that is precisely why we should be seeing a profusion of miracles in our day.

But of course the proponents of this "cluster" theory declare that there are no real miracles going on today or in any recent time.  I don't know where these people have been hiding, for there seems to be no shortage of them.

It is true that the Middle Ages seemed to lack miracles, but being born again was at an all-time low then, too.  Was this because God's saving power is reserved for specific periods of history?  No, it has always been available.  The problem was that knowledge of the Scriptures that are "able to make you wise unto salvation" was at a low, and that is why more people were not saved.

The fact that miracles did not occur then does not mean that they could not have occurred.  There was little knowledge about God's miracle-working power.  It was a matter of human ignorance, not the will of God.

The argument itself is rather thin because it is difficult to define why God specifically chose the time of Elijah and Elisha.  What great event was going on then?  Why then and not during the reign of earlier or later kings?  The reason given by one proponent of this theory is that Israel and Judah were at a critical stage in their relationship with God.  But this was surely true in many earlier and many later instances.

Besides, there were other miracles throughout the Bible.  The miraculous victories in Canaan took place a generation after the miracles in Exodus.  Gideon and Samson did miracles in their own generations.  What about Sarah being able to conceive?  What about Jehoshaphat's miraculous victory?  What about Hezekiah's sundial that went backwards?  What about David stealing Saul's sword while the army was miraculously put into a deep sleep?  What about the mighty outpouring in Solomon's temple?  What about the fact that miracles happened from the time Jesus entered the ministry through the last chapter of Acts?

It is demonstrable that there are indeed "clusters" of miracles at certain times, although miracles have always been part of man's history.  This is largely because when Israel strayed from the Lord, miracles were at a premium, and Israel did a lot of straying!  The miracles were done by those who clung to the Lord, not the apostates.

It astounds me that anyone can read the papers (or his on-line news service) and say that we do not need miracles today.  Don't the people everywhere dying with AIDS need miracles?  Don't those with birth defects need miracles?  Don't the insane in our asylums need miracles?

It is a senseless retort that we don't need miracles today because we don't need proof of Christ's divinity now that we have the Bible.  Don't sinners today need every bit as much tangible proof of the resurrection as sinners in the days of the apostles?  Overall, people in the world are not very convinced!  Did God, who is "no respector of persons," give men of old a better chance to see his power than he is willing to give us?

Since many of the miracles were done on the medically hopeless, does it make sense to you that God would heal the incurable in past times, but would not heal the incurable, or even the curable, today?  Was he doing it just to make a point about Jesus?  Should the terminally ill person wish that he were born in the first century so that we would have had a chance to be healed miraculously?  I would rather that this thought perish than the sick perish!

Fortunately, the gift of "working of miracles" is still for today.  (The argument that the perfect has come [meaning the Bible] and spiritually gifts ended with the last apostle is proved untrue elsewhere in this book.)  And as long as this gift is in operation, there will be miracles in operation!  In fact, even without a spiritual gift in operation, your faith can receive a miracle for yourself.  Read Galatians 3:5-6.

The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power (1 Cor 4:19).  To say that we have the word without the power today is to say that the kingdom of God is not for today.

God and Jesus have not changed.  If we are not seeing miracles, it is because we have changed.  If we have, let us change back and conform to the Bible standard rather than explaining it away with weak arguments.


Objection:  We cannot expect to heal as Jesus did...
Objection:  We cannot expect to heal as Jesus did because we are not the Son of God

This objection assumes that Jesus healed people because he was God.  That is utterly false.  Jesus was God, but he was required to walk the earth as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit, subject to every human limitation.  I will prove this to you from Scripture.

Jesus did no miracle before the Holy Spirit came upon him in the river Jordan.  He was just as much God for the first three decades of his life, when he surely encountered a variety of human needs.  Yet he never did any miracle or healed anyone during that time.  His first miracle was at Cana of Galilee after he was anointed in Jordan (John 2:11).

Was it that he had no compassion until he was thirty years old?  No!  He was not able to do miracles until he was baptized with the Holy Spirit.

If Jesus healed as God, he could have healed anyone at any time.  But he could not heal the sick at Nazareth.  The Bible does not say that he would not, meaning that he chose not to.  It says that he could not, meaning that he was not able to!  Jesus was unable to heal more than a few sick folks at Nazareth.  Read Matthew 13:54-58, and Mark 6:1-6.  Unbelief and hostility toward his ministry were so rampant at Nazareth that the crowd tried to kill him the first time he preached there!  (See Luke 4:16-30 for the account of this.)

It was not a power issue; it was a congregation issue.  In Luke 5:17-26, the power of the Lord was present to heal the religious leaders who were there.  Yet only a man let down through the roof received healing, even though the power was there to heal them all.  If Jesus ministered as God, he could have waved a wand (figuratively speaking) and made them get healed.  But he was limited to the same conditions the rest of us have.  If the people reject the gospel message, they reject the power that goes with it.  People who could have been healed can miss out, and there is nothing we can do.  The servant is not above his master.  If Jesus couldn't do anything about it, neither can we.

If Jesus healed as God, there were certain works he did during his ministry that no one else could ever do.  Yet he said plainly that we would do the same works he did (John 14:12-14), and even greater works!  Since we are not God, you must not have to be a member of the Trinity to do those works!  Therefore, Jesus did not have to do them as deity.

Eph 1:23 states that the church is Jesus' body, "the fulness of him that filleth all in all."  If we cannot do the works that Jesus did in person, we are not his fullness.  We can only function in the fullness of Christ if we can do what he did.  Remember that Christ's works on earth were only the beginning of "all that Jesus began both to do and teach" (Acts 1:1).  He continues to do and teach through his Church today, and we should be doing and teaching what he did and taught.  If we cannot heal the sick, we are the partiality of him that filleth all in all.

Many who were healed in Jesus' ministry were healed by their faith.  Given that faith has not passed away (you would not be born again without it), people can be healed today.  It is not an issue of who is doing the preaching.  God's Word works the same no matter who preaches it.

Bear in mind that although Jesus walked on water, so did Peter, and Peter was not the Son of God!  He simply believed the words of the Son of God, as you can.

Proof that Jesus ministered as a man, not as God

Jesus was "made a little lower than the angels" (Hebrews 2:9).  As God, he ruled the angels, but as a man, he had to assume a lower place.

Jesus became strong in spirit (Luke 2:40).  Jesus grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52).  If he walked the earth as God, he would have been omniscient, and it would have been impossible for him to "grow in wisdom," and he would not have "become" strong in spirit.  God is already sufficiently strong in spirit.

This is consistent with Isaiah 7:14-16, where Immanuel, born of a virgin, would learn to refuse the evil and choose the good.  This would be impossible if he had been born omniscient.  He would not have needed the Spirit's anointing if he ministered as an omnipotent God.  Yet in Luke 4:18-19, quoting Isaiah 61:1-2, Jesus said that the Spirit anointed him.  This fulfilled Isaiah's statement in Isaiah 11:2:  "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him [the Branch], the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.  And he shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD...."

We know that Jesus was not omniscient as a man because he had to ask who touched his clothes in Mark 5:30 and did not know when he was coming back in Mark 13:32.

Jesus was able to be tempted just as we are.  The devil tempted him in the wilderness for forty days (Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13).  "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin"  (Hebrews 4:15).  That Scripture should be a tremendous encouragement to you if you are struggling with an area of sin in your life!  Jesus, who now lives inside you, faced that temptation and overcame it.  He obviously knows how to overcome it, and he will help you overcome it.

Hebrews 2:16-17:

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

If Jesus ministered in ways that you never could, he was not made like unto his brethren in all things, but only in some things.

If Jesus ministered as God, there would have been no need for him to pray!  Why pray to seek God's will if you already know everything?  He would not have found a solitary place to pray (Mark 1:35), stayed up all night praying before choosing his disciples (Luke 6:12), or prayed in the garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:41, 44).  In particular, he would not have to deal with his flesh that was weak and did not want to be tortured and crucified.

Philippians 2:7 says that Jesus "emptied himself [literal Greek rendition of "made himself of no reputation"], and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men."  He emptied himself of any advantage he had as God.  He was still God when he walked the earth, but he was not allowed to take advantage of that fact during his walk here.  He had to be under our limitations.

Jesus said that the Son could do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do (John 5:19).

God had to anoint Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power (Acts 10:38).  If he ministered as God, this would have been unnecessary.  He could have just done whatever he wanted anyway with his infinite anointing.

If he did it, you can do it

Now that we have established that Jesus ministered as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit, we should consider that the same Holy Spirit who anointed Jesus is now in us.  That is why we can do the works of Christ.

His disciples healed, but they were not the Son of God

The Twelve were not the Son of God, but they healed the sick everywhere.  Peter was not the Son of God, but people got healed when his very shadow passed over them.  Paul was not the Son of God, but when even handkerchiefs and aprons were taken from his body to the sick, they were healed.  Every sick person on the island of Melita was healed through Paul.  Philip was not the Son of God, but he got many lame people healed in Samaria.  Stephen was not the Son of God, but he did great signs and wonders among the people.  The disciples whom Christ commissioned healed in his name, but they were not the Son of God themselves.  Therefore, it is not necessary to be the Son of God to perform healing miracles, and therefore, Christ's miracles did not have to be done on the basis of his being the Son of God.  He did what he did through the "finger of God" -- the Holy Spirit, who is the same Holy Spirit who indwells believers today.

He said to do it!

Jesus' clear command was that we were to lay hands on the sick as he did.  Signs and wonders are to follow the preaching of the gospel.  The preaching of the gospel is still for today, so signs to confirm the gospel are still for today as well.

This is why Jesus said that it was expedient that he go away so that the Holy Spirit would come.  Now we can be everywhere doing the works that he did through the same Spirit.  If this were not so, it would not have been expedient for him to go away, and the sick would be better off if he were still on the earth!


Isaiah  7:14-16
Isaiah 7:14-16:

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.

For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.


Objection:  We...have the Spirit given by measure
Objection:  We cannot heal as Jesus did because he had the Spirit without measure, while we have the Spirit given by measure

In the verse used to prove this, the King James translators added a couple of words that are not in the original Greek.  The verse taken as-is without the embellishment actually tells us the opposite of what most people think it says:

John 3:34:

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God:  for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

The Greek says simply that God does not give the Spirit by measure.  "Unto him" was an idea that the translators added and so admitted by italicizing the words.

Since when is the Holy Spirit divisible?  You either have the Holy Spirit or you don't.  The fact is that the same Holy Spirit that worked through Jesus works through you if you are born again and baptized with the Holy Spirit.  You do not have some watered-down Holy Spirit Lite.  You have the same Spirit that did miracles through Jesus Christ and raised him from the dead!  God wants you to walk full of the Spirit, not half-full or full only to a measure.

The conclusion you would reach from the misinterpretation of this verse is that we could perhaps collectively do the works of Jesus as a body, but not individually.  Yet Jesus definitely applied this individually in John 14:12-14.  He said, "He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he [not ye!] do also."  This does mean that you will do them all the time and go into healing ministry, but it definitely means that you can do the works he did.

Another wrong conclusion would be that Jesus healed all because he flowed in the gifts of healings without measure, but no individual minister today can expect to see all healed.  That flies in the face of the Bible records of Peter getting all healed in Jerusalem and Paul getting all healed on the island of Melita.  These men, supposedly (per the objection), had the Spirit only by measure, yet had the same results Jesus did!  When you see what John 3:34 really says, it makes sense.  They had the Spirit given to them just as Jesus had the Spirit given to him, so they had the same results.

When Jesus sent his disciples out to preach, he gave them authority over all diseases.  He did not delegate authority over certain diseases to certain disciples.  They all had authority over all of them.

Jesus did not promise that everyone would be called to a healing ministry like his, but he did promise that a sign that follows them that believe is that they will lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.  God uses certain people to minister healing a lot because he called them to that ministry.  However, God can still work healings and miracles through you.  Stephen was a deacon whose job involved only natural responsibilities.  Yet he did great signs and wonders without an ordination because he was full of faith, power, and the Holy Spirit.

Not all will flow in the gifts of healings or working of miracles, but all who believe have the right to lay hands on the sick and expect them to recover.  Not all will be called to have a ministry majoring on healing, but all have the right to do the works of Jesus, including healing the sick.  You can see some marvellous results simply by laying hands on the sick in faith, without any special manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit.


Objection:  We should use our faith for souls...
Objection:  We should use our faith for souls rather than selfishly seeking our own healing

In the general sense, why not do both?  Why do one to the exclusion of the other?  Wouldn't you be in a better position to evangelize lost souls if you're healed than if you're sick?  Wouldn't the lost be more likely to want to know Jesus if they saw him miraculously heal your body?

In a strictly technical sense, you can't use your faith for souls anyway, even though many people use that phrase.  You can only use your faith to meet your own needs.  That is why God gave it to you.  You can apply Mark 11:24 and believe that you receive your healing.  But you cannot believe that your receive someone else's healing for him.  You also cannot "believe someone into the kingdom."  If we could do that, we would "believe" everyone in and there would be no more sinners.  Then the outpouring of the wrath of God in the book of Revelation could not take place.

The Bible pattern is to share the Word of God with others so that they can enjoy the benefits that you enjoy, rather than having you "believe" those benefits onto them.

Your faith cannot cross the line of someone else's free will.  Everyone is free to choose life or choose death.  God gave the Israelites that choice (Deut 30:19-20).  God will honor your choice to go to hell if you don't want Jesus in your life.  You cannot even "claim" a family member using Acts 16:31.  (Proof of this is contained in the answer to the question, Can I believe and receive a healing for someone else?)

You can believe that God will send laborers to a lost person.  You can bind the devil from operating in his life and ask God to open his eyes to the truth.  You can believe that the Holy Spirit will convict him that he is in sin outside of Christ, and eternally lost without him.  But you cannot "receive" the person's salvation by faith.  Some people will get saved when laborers are sent and their eyes are opened to know the truth.  Some will not.  You can believe for things to happen but you cannot "believe and receive" another person's salvation the way you can believe and receive the answers to your own needs.

It isn't selfish to seek healing when God says it is already yours!  It will please God when you receive healing by faith.  And if you really understand what faith is, you know that you can't really use it for souls in the sense that you can use it for your own healing.

Besides, you will not "drain" your faith by using it for healing.  Instead, you will build it and be in a better position to believe that God will send laborers to sinners and convict them.


Objection:  Many who are "in faith"...die anyway
Objection:  Many who are "in faith" for their healing die anyway

Trivially, all of those who are in faith for their healing die anyway -- sooner or later!  You just don't have to be sick before you die.

A correct restatement of this objection is, "Many who say they are in faith for their healing die anyway."  The sad fact is that most people have no idea what being in faith really means.  They may be better Christians than a faith-filled person with no love walk, but if they do not understand faith, they cannot get "in faith."  It is a presumptuous statement to say that you know that someone else was in faith.  Are you telling God and the rest of us that faith doesn't work?  That would be news to God and to Jesus.  Do you know claim to know the whole story?

Faith works.  If you are in faith, you get healed.  If you die, you are not in faith or you have let some other hindrance (such as unforgiveness) in.  That's blunt, that's direct, and that offends a lot of people.  It's still the truth.  We sometimes compromise the gospel just to soothe people who have suffered a loss (or whose relatives have).  We assure them that the baby dying was God's will.  We assure them that the young father who died, leaving his widow to care for four small children, was supposed to die because it was his time.  When we do this, we are no better than the scoundrel who preaches at a funeral that the sinner with the good works is surely in glory now.  (This won't offend the unsaved relatives.)  I'm no diplomat (I'm sure you've noticed), but you must come up with something else to say, or you are guilty of denying the gospel.  This would probably send dozens more people to hell when they believe that they can be religious but unsaved like Uncle Henry and still go to heaven based on good works!  I wouldn't want that blood on my hands!  Likewise, you are setting the stage for unbelief and sooner funerals for more people by preaching at a funeral that an untimely death was the will of God.  I'm no pastor, and I don't know what to say, but I can sure tell you what NOT to say!  You can't deny the gospel to spare people's feelings!  You just have to pray for nice, wise, diplomatic words that don't contradict what your Lord taught.

People get all bent out of shape and say things like, "Well, there was never a finer Christian than Aunt Glarda.  If anyone had faith, Aunt Glarda did.  She was into that faith stuff.  She had all the right faith tapes.  She said she was in faith according to their teaching.  But she's dead.  So there.  It didn't work for Aunt Glarda, and it really doesn't work for anyone anyway.  People just want to believe that faith stuff because they're looking for an easy way out."

I witnessed to a relative on many occasions, and as far as I know, he died and went to hell.  Should I then stop preaching the gospel because "it didn't work for him?"

People get scared by people who have stories about those who "tried it and failed."  If only the church world would be so quick to broadcast successes in divine healing as it is to broadcast failures!  I have talked to people who have "tried" to get baptized with the Holy Spirit and failed.  Do we stop believing in the Spirit baptism because they failed?  No!  Once these people are instructed from the Scriptures, they can get baptized with the Holy Spirit, too.

Are there people who say that they have "tried it and failed" for one reason or another?  Yes.  Are there people who would insist that they were in faith for their healing who died anyway?  Yes.  Some people "tried" to stay out of adultery and failed.  Some people "tried" to walk in love and failed.

People all over the world can testify that faith for healing works.  You can find people who say it doesn't, and I can find people who know it does and are living proof of it.  You cannot base your doctrine on anyone's success or failure.  You can base it only on the Word of God.  Does God say it's so, or doesn't he?  You have to be convinced for yourself.  Once you are, you won't care if "a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand."  You will know that you can walk in health.


Objection:  I tried that faith stuff, and it didn't work

Other people have tried that faith stuff, and it did work.  They are up from their deathbeds, out of their wheelchairs, off of their crutches, healed of their allergies, and free from their tumors.  Their blind eyes now see and their deaf ears now hear.  Their incurable and terminal illnesses have vanished without a trace.  It's too late to convince them that faith doesn't work.

No one with any sense could take this objection seriously.  Mature Christians know that you only prove doctrine through the Bible, not through people's experiences.  For every sad-sack sickness saga you can relate, I could recite a glorious healing testimony.  We could go back and forth for a month and still be no closer to proving anything.  After all, there are healing testimonies in some cults, too.  Can you see the futility of determining doctrine from experience?

If you want to convince us that faith doesn't work, you must prove it from the Bible.  You must find a way to explain away all the healing miracles in the New Testament, especially the ones that Jesus attributed to people's faith.  You must prove that Jesus was wrong when he said that "whosoever" can speak to physical things and receive by faith.  You must prove that there is some reason why your faith cannot make you whole today, when the faith of many in the Gospels made them whole back then.  You will have to explain away all of Jesus' teachings on faith.

Should we accept Jesus' word that if you have faith as a mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible to you, or your word that even if you have great faith, healing can be impossible to you?  Should we accept Jesus' word that anyone can move mountains with his faith, or your word that this faith stuff doesn't work for everyone?  Do we take Jesus' word that all things are possible to him who believes, or your word that some things are impossible to him who believes?  Do we take Jesus' word that with God, all things are possible, or your word that with God, not all things are possible?

If you really tried that faith stuff, that means that you knew from Scripture that God wants you to be in health.  If you were really in faith, you must have had Scripture to back you up.  Real faith can only come from hearing God's Word on a subject.  So now, if you claim that faith doesn't work, you must somehow prove that those Scriptures don't really promise you what you were sure that they promised you.  Otherwise, we'll have to conclude that faith does work, but you weren't really in faith.  Or perhaps you knew some things about faith, but you were in unforgiveness, or you were walking out of love, or you allowed some other hindrance to creep in.

If you are willing to admit that faith does work, you can read this book and hear the Word about healing.  Then you can really get in faith and receive your healing.  If you claim to have a Scriptural reason why healing is not for all, you can go back to the objections list and click your pet reason why healing is not for all today.  Then you can see why your pet reason is wrong.  If you are willing to admit that you are wrong, God is ready to heal you.  Then you can testify to others, "I tried that faith stuff, and it works!  Let me tell you how you can do it, too!"


It's up to God -- God will heal me if he wants to
Objection:  It's up to God -- God will heal me if he wants to

Not only does he want to, but also as far as he is concerned, he did (1 Peter 2:24)!  Healing is available on the same basis as salvation from hell -- it is a gift from Jesus Christ.  He paid for it, and he offers it now to anyone who wants it.

Receiving healing is your responsibility

Would you tell an unsaved person, "It's up to God -- God will save you if he wants to," rather than telling him how to receive salvation by faith?  Were you born again because God made a decision to save you?  God made the decision to save you before he sent Jesus.  You are the one who made the decision, not God.  It was not up to God; it was up to you.  Jesus already did everything he needs to do about your salvation.  He did not need to do anything else -- it was your move.  God did not save you until you did something about it.

God's other blessings are available to you on the same basis.  He has already given you all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4)!  It is up to you to receive them.

God made the decision to heal you before he sent Jesus.  You are the one who makes the decision, not God.  It is not up to God; it is up to you.  Jesus already did everything he needs to do about your healing.  He does not need to do anything else -- it is your move.  God will not heal you until you do something about it.

Doubt or faith:  It's up to you!

When Peter walked on water in Matthew 14:28-31, the wind, the waves and the command of Jesus were the same when he walked as when he sank.  The difference had nothing to do with God or Jesus.  It had nothing to do with the circumstances.  It had only to do with Peter's faith (at first) and doubt (as he considered the circumstances more than the word of his Lord).  It was up to Peter, not Jesus, whether he walked on the water or started to sink in it.  (Thank God, this story also shows the mercy of God when our faith is not what it ought to be.  If you have not developed faith for healing as you should, you can still call out for mercy!  Peter did and got it.  You can, too.)

God wants you to be healed

To say that God will heal you if he wants to is to question his will for your healing.  It is the same as saying, "I do not know whether or not it is the will of God to heal me.  I have not taken the time to read his Word and find out."

Jesus said that if you saw him, you saw the Father.  He went everywhere healing the sick.  He did not please himself, but always pleased his Father.  Therefore, God's will was healing for all of the sick who came to him.

The leper was the only person who ever questioned Jesus' will to heal.  Jesus' answer was, "I will."  Read Matthew 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-45 and Luke 5:12-15.  The Bible says that God is no respector of persons; he does not play favorites (Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9, and Colossians 3:25).  If it was his will to heal the leper, it is his will to heal you.

Jesus bore your sicknesses and pains (Isaiah 53:4).  There would be no point in that unless it were his will that you should receive what he provided for you.  He surely didn't intend to suffer for nothing.

"It's up to God" at best demonstrates lack of instruction.  At worst, it is a religious cop-out to avoid having to develop your faith or assume personal responsibility for your healing.


Matthew 14:28-31
Matthew 14:28-31:

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

And he said, Come.  And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?


Objection:  The "word of faith" movement is a cult

Those who enjoy tearing down other Christian ministries with statements like this should examine the Scriptural criteria for cult status.  How do you know if a group is a cult?  The Biblical test for this is in 1 John 4:1-4.

According to this, anyone declaring that Jesus Christ "came in the flesh" is of God.  In other words, they believe that Jesus Christ pre-existed with God and was made flesh.  For this to be true, Jesus Christ must have been God in the flesh.  Anyone who does not believe this, no matter how sincere, is not a real Christian.  Anyone who teaches that Jesus is not God is a cult teacher.  Anyone who denies that Jesus came in the flesh (i.e., was fully human like us as well as being God) is also a cult teacher.  This would include anyone who denies the virgin birth.

Some of the slicker cults are aware of this Scriptural test and have figured out a way to sidestep it.  They will agree with you for purposes of argument that Jesus is God so that they can say they pass the test in 1 John 4.  Their unspoken footnote (which they will have to admit if you press them) is that they believe that you are equally as much God, and that you can become just like God, and even that God was once like you.  This is still cult teaching -- if Jesus and God are not on a higher level than you are, they fail the test.

I do not defend every practice done by every "word of faith" church.  I know some "word of faith" churches that have gone off the deep end.  But even then, most if not all the people involved were born again.  Also, if we wanted to have an embarrassment match (which we should not), I'm sure that the word of faith people could point to humiliating episodes at churches in any other denomination.  You can be born again and get into error.  (The fact that there are countless healing critics out there attests to this.)  You can have the right doctrine and fail morally, too, and this happens all too often.  A church can become so wacky that it could be injurious to attend it, but even that does not make it a cult.

I have not yet heard any "word of faith" teacher who denies that Jesus was fully God and fully human.  If anyone ever did so, I would stop listening to him.

The main reason I point this out is that this objection is used as a scare tactic to keep people away from teaching on divine healing.  If people are convinced that a group is a cult, they will stay away.  I have seen certain teachers' quotations snipped out of context and turned on their heads in books that promote unbelief.  This is not fair, and "touching God's anointed" is dangerous.  Of course, there are plenty of anointed people who do not associate themselves with "word of faith" churches; I am not saying that anyone has a monopoly on the anointing.

The fact is that faith in God's Word is essential for salvation, and has never been a "movement" per se.  The "word of faith movement" would better be described as a teaching revival of certain truths.  Whether you agree with "word of faith" teaching or not, as long as the teacher believers that Jesus was fully God and fully man, the teacher is not a cult leader.  You cannot class "faith" people with Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Moonies, Christian Scientists, Freemasons, and other such Christ-denying groups.


Objection:  So-and-so who preaches healing...
Objection:  So-and-so who preaches healing got his doctrine from so-and-so, who got his doctrine from so-and-so, who was into cult theology

There is no shortage of books that personally attack certain ministers who preach faith and healing.  A common, but meaningless, objection says that "word of faith" theology, including healing, has its roots in cult teachings.

First, some cults have a more accurate position on certain subjects than some mainline churches!  I read a book from a cult once that demonstrated more knowledge of God's will to heal and prosper his servants than most Christian denominations exhibit.  Of course, you should not join a cult for that reason!  They will still lead you straight to hell.  They teach some truths that are found in the Bible, but not the ones that will save your soul.

Second, the only question you need to ask is whether someone's theology lines up with the Bible as a whole.  If it does, it is irrelevant which false cults might also correctly interpret the same Scriptures.  The fact that some false cults believe in healing does not mean that we cannot believe in healing.  (You will find their application of healing is not Christian if you dig into it in detail.)

Third, it makes no difference from whom someone learns a doctrinal point.  The only question is whether it is right or wrong.  It does not matter who else teaches it.  Any false cult teaches part of the truth along with its heresies.  Otherwise, it would have no appeal to any rational person.  I was acquainted with a teacher in the Unification "Church" (cult) a long time ago.  He told me some truths on "spirit, soul and body" that were not only correct but also new to me at the time.  I never joined his cult, but there was some meat there to put the poison on.

You don't trace someone's past influences to see if things be so.  You do what the Bereans did -- search the Scriptures to see if they be so (Acts 17:11)!  They are either so or they aren't.  Find out from the Bible!


Objection:  Some "faith healers" have been exposed...
Objection:  Some "faith healers" have been exposed as money-grubbing charlatans

So what?  That doesn't prove that "faith healing" doesn't work.  It only proves that there is sin on the earth today.  Yes, I heard the story about the guy with the little speaker in his ear and the person in the back room who read him the healing cards.  Yes, I heard the one about the guy who read people's names from their Bibles before services and then "supernaturally" announced them in the service.  Yes, I heard the one about the lady who used sleight-of-hand to make miracles seem to happen.  I'm not an eyewitness to any of these so I can't vouch for the stories.  I really don't care if they find out that there are 2,000 fake healing ministers and their names and faces all appear on your favorite tabloid TV show.  That still does not prove that there are not real ones out there, any more than the fact that there are fake home alarm companies out there proves that there are no real home alarm companies.

I suppose that some people have attended healing services only to find out that the minister was exposed as a fake.  I can understand their disappointment.  If this is you, please do not abandon the idea of divine healing over it.  I heard of a singer who used to travel around the country giving altar calls at his concerts.  He went out and smoked pot after his services were over.  (That's marijuana, for readers in countries where this American slang term hasn't caught on.)  He was not even saved until he got in his own altar call for salvation one night.  People responded and got saved because he preached the Word, even though he was a sinner.  Likewise, people can get genuinely healed by the power of God even at meetings run by pious frauds.

There have been preachers whose personal lifestyles left much to be desired who have been mightily used of God in healing services, at least for a while.  It is the message, not the messenger, that sets people free!  The Word is still the Word even if it is preached in pretense, which Paul said that it sometimes is (Philippians 1:18).  Paul rejoiced in this, no doubt because he knew that the Word would bear fruit even if the preacher were a fruitcake.  God confirms his Word; he doesn't confirm the preacher.  God's gospel is still his power unto salvation, no matter who is sharing it.  Corn doesn't care who plants it -- it grows anyway!

A long time ago, I felt led of the Lord to attend a party where there would be a lot of drunks.  (This happened just this one time.  And I didn't get drunk, either.)  I shared the gospel with a young man who, as it turns out, was thinking of killing himself.  He got so drunk he couldn't walk straight, but he heard every word I said.  I figured this out after he started sharing the gospel with his drunken buddies.  He did just as good a job as I could have done, except that they listened to him when they wouldn't listen to me.  They asked him if he had followed the instructions himself, and he said no, but he was going to.  There was a good anointing in there, and it was on a drunk preaching to drunks!  (As I recall, he did get saved another day and did not kill himself.)  The Word is anointed, no matter who preaches it!

The very fact that fakes can preach the Bible and get away with it is testimony to the power of God's Word.  It proves that the power is in the Word and not in the preacher.  God's Word will work for you if you believe it and act on it, no matter where you hear it.  Don't let stories sour you on ministers.  Plenty of preachers don't get in the scandal sheets because they don't do anything wrong!  They are not all money-grubbing charlatans.  I'm not making any money off you through this program, am I?


Philippians 1:18
Philippians 1:18:

What then?  notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.


Objection:  God sometimes (lets) you suffer a while
Objection:  God sometimes heals you only after he has let you suffer a while (1 Peter 5:10)

It is amazing that anyone would quote this as a proof text that God is unwilling to heal you right away in all cases.  As with many objections, a look at the context quickly unravels this argument and a quick trip to a concordance runs what is left through the shredder.

1 Peter 5:8-10:

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

What afflictions is Peter talking about?

The "afflictions" you suffer here are from Satan, who is out to destroy you.  The suffering is from temptations and persecutions, not sicknesses.  The afflictions accomplished in your brethren around the world must be from Satan, because we are told to resist him (personally) steadfast in the faith.  Note that our faith is what gives us the victory over him.  However, Satan won't just give up the first time you resist him; he'll be back.  You will suffer temptations, as even Christ himself had to do, and you will have to actively resist Satan.

The word "afflictions" (Strong's #3804) is elsewhere translated as shown below in the New Testament:

"But call to remembrance the former days, in which after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used." -- Hebrews 10:32-33.  Does sickness fit here?  Nope.  If they were sick, they would not have been referred to as "them that were so used."

"Persecutions, afflictions, which came to me at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured:  but out of them all the Lord delivered me" -- 2 Timothy 3:11.  Again, this is clearly persecution and not sickness.  (Paul did have some physical trouble because of his stoning at Lystra, as mentioned elsewhere, but this proves nothing since the Lord healed him.)

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." -- Romans 8:18.

"For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.  And whether we be afflicted [this is a different word that means to crowd, literally or figuratively -- it is translated afflict, narrow, throng, suffer tribulation and trouble, never sickness or anything of the sort], it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:  or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." -- 2 Cor 1:5-7.

"That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death" -- Philippians 3:10.  Do you suppose that Paul was expressing his prayer that he would get sick?  No, that would not be one of Christ's sufferings that he could partake of, since Christ was only sick during his atonement, and no man can add to the finished work he did at Calvary.  After all, Paul wanted to know the power of his resurrection, and that resurrection power healed Christ's body and raised it from the dead.

"Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is left behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church" -- Colossians 1:24.  This Scripture has been used as the basis for a different healing objection that is covered elsewhere.  But just look at this verse -- would you rejoice in someone's sickness?  No.  Could your sickness be suffering for you or for his body's sake, which is the church?  Does the Church benefit from your asthma?  No.  Could you have arthritis for Christ's Body's sake?  No.  So forget that idea.

"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons into glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." -- Hebrews 2:10.

"Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." -- 1 Peter 1:11.

"But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:  on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." -- 1 Peter 4:13-14.

"For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." -- Romans 7:5.

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." -- Galatians 5:24.

"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:" -- 1 Peter 5:1.  [We'll come back to this verse below.]

Conclusion:  The afflictions Peter is talking about are persecutions, not sicknesses.

When does God strengthen you?

It is also a very questionable reading of this verse to say that God will perfect, stablish, strengthen and settle you after you have suffered a while.  That is how most people read it, but it could equally be taken to say (in English or Greek):  "God, who has called you unto his eternal glory after you have suffered a while, will himself perfect, stablish, strengthen and settle you."  In context, this would almost have to be what Peter meant.  In other words, the "after you have suffered a while" clause belongs with "has called you into his eternal glory" as opposed to the part about God perfecting and establishing you.

See 1 Peter 5:1 cited above.  Peter is talking about the glory that shall be revealed.  Then in verse 4, "And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."  Then in verse 10 he tells us that he has called us into his eternal glory after we have suffered a while.  The suffering in this context refers to our entire life on earth, not temporary suffering from some illness.

It does violence to dozens of Scriptures to claim that God will let you suffer a while and only then will he get around to strengthening you.  He declares repeatedly that he IS your strength and that he will strengthen you.  The Bible is full of promises about God's strength being imparted to you.  For a long list of them, see the article on Weakness.  It would be totally inconsistent with God's nature to refuse to strengthen you even for a minute.  God strengthened Paul in his weaknesses and declared that his grace was sufficient for him.  So his grace is not going to be insufficient for you!

Study that Weakness article and you will have to conclude that God does not want you weak.  He wants you to be strong, not in yourself, but in him.  To keep these promises, God could not delay strengthening you for some arbitrary amount of time just to make you suffer.

Quit suffering from illness thinking that's it's God's will!

God wants to strengthen and establish you, not leave you sick.  If you've been taught to patiently suffer sickness until God gets around to strengthening you, you now know better.  It should now be clear to you that Peter was talking about Satan and persecution, not sickness.

See also:

Suffering


Objection:  All Christians...will suffer in this life
Objection:  All Christians are clearly told that they will suffer in this life

Yes, that is true.  But they are never told that they have to suffer sickness!  The suffering talked about for the New Testament believer is always persecution, not disease.  You cannot find one Scripture in the Bible promising a righteous child of God who walks in the light that he will have to get sick in this life.  You will find plenty that tell you that you don't have to get sick!  Preachers sometimes use certain verses in First Peter to prove that we have to suffer sickness, despite the fact that Peter did not mention sickness as a suffering.  Peter said that you were healed by Jesus' stripes!  First Peter deals in great detail with suffering persecution as a Christian, and that kind of suffering is the clear and obvious context for all statements made about suffering in that book.

All who want to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution, but nowhere do we read that all who want to live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer sickness.  Suffering persecution is real and no amount of faith makes you exempt from it.  Sickness is another matter.  So yes, you will suffer in this life.  But don't suffer something you don't have to suffer!

See the discussion, Suffering for more proof of this.  Also see the specific objection based on 1 Peter 5:10.


Objection:  Disease viruses are part of God's creation...
Objection:  Disease viruses are part of God's creation and are therefore good, even though we often don't think so when we catch them

No, disease viruses are not part of God's creation that he declared to be good.  You will not find viruses in Genesis 1 and 2.  Diseases are mentioned only after Adam fell.  Further proof that disease is not part of God's original good creation is that fact that there will be no more pain in the renewed earth that we will inhabit forever.  (Yes, technically, you don't live in heaven eternally, you live on the renewed earth.  This isn't worth splitting hairs over with people who talk about heaven in a generic sense.)  The former things will have passed away!

If sickness were part of God's perfect creation, it would exist eternally in the new earth where only the will of God is done.  But it won't.  Therefore, you must conclude that sickness was not included in the "good" things in Genesis.

God declared everything he made good.  You don't have to go through mental gymnastics trying to convince yourself that disease germs are somehow "good."  They aren't.  They're bad.  Any right-thinking person can attest to that.  However, someone actually tried to get me to believe this ludicrous theory about viruses in creation.  It was too corny to forget!  However, you may feel free to forget it.

The Bible says that death came by sin.  Therefore, fatal diseases could not have been around before Adam fell, because Adam could not have died before he sinned.

Note to you really technical people:  I am aware that Genesis 1 and 2 describe the recreation of a judged earth and not the original creation of the earth, as implied in the title of this objection.  I am aware that God did not originally create the earth empty (literal translation of in vain in Isaiah 45:18), that God told man to replenish the earth (Gen 1:28), that 2 Peter 3:5-7 describes a chaotic event that destroyed both the heavens and the earth, and not just the earth as Noah's flood did, that Satan's fall to earth described by Jesus did not happen since Gen 1:2, and so on.  You folks who wonder about dinosaur bones might want to study this out further, as this is definitely beyond the scope of this book.


Objection:  "Faith healing" is simply mind over matter...
Objection:  "Faith healing" is simply mind over matter.  Unbelievers can and do get healed just by having a positive mental attitude, and it has nothing to do with Jesus.

Here is a half-truth.  It is true that some unbelievers can and do get healed just by having a positive mental attitude, and it does have nothing to do with Jesus.  Given that having a negative mental attitude can make you sick (a fact attested to by Scripture), it should come as no surprise that a positive attitude can make you well -- sometimes.  However, the doctrine of divine healing has nothing to do with a mere positive attitude.  You should have a positive attitude toward your healing, but there is more to it than that.  Divine healing is not received with your mind or with your attitude.  You receive it with your spirit.  Recall that 1 Thess 5:23 says that you consist of a spirit, soul and body.  You can do mental things to promote healing in your body, just as you can do physical things (changing your diet, for example).  These things are good, but they are not what "faith healing," if you want to use that term, is about.

People get the mistaken idea that you just have to believe hard enough that you are healed and you will be healed.  Trying to believe something with no basis for it is frustrating.  As a Christian, you are called to put your faith in God and his Word.  You count him faithful who promised, as Abraham did.  You are not trying to fool yourself into thinking you are healed when you are actually sick.  You are putting a spiritual practice into operation that overrides natural conditions like sickness.

You are commanded to renew your mind with the Word (Romans 12:2), but this is not brainwashing, mind-control, or "mind over matter."  You are simply casting out thoughts that do not line up with the Bible and replacing them with ones that do.  Then your mind will side with your spirit instead of against your spirit when you pray in faith.

The fact that some unbeliever got healed using only mental methods does not mean that divine healing is mental.  It is not.  Furthermore, having a positive attitude will not necessarily stop you from dying of a fatal disease, but believing God will!  If you're so smart and you've got it figured out that this is mind over matter, let's see you go get some cripples healed using mind over matter.  We'll use the gospel instead, and we'll see who gets more people healed.

Finally, Mark 11:23-4 will work for "whosoever" works it, not necessarily believers only.  If an unbeliever gets a hold of this principle, he can use it to get what he wants even if he is unsaved.  There are testimonies of unbelievers doing exactly that.  It won't save them from hell, but it will work for them because they count as "whosoever."


Objection:  God clearly SENT plagues in the Old Testament...
Objection:  God clearly SENT plagues in the Old Testament.  We cannot say that God never makes people sick, because he obviously did.

Agreed!  God did make people sick in the Old Testament, and he judges people with sickness in the New Testament as well.  This point is brought out in the eye-opening discussion, Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament.

I will not argue with anyone who says that God made people sick.  It is a little too thin to simply say that God "allowed the devil" to do certain things.  At the very least, you must admit that he was actively involved in the process.  He promised to send all kinds of sicknesses if Israel did not keep the Law of Moses (see Deuteronomy 28:15-68 and Leviticus 26:14-39).

However, God does not make righteous people sick.  Sickness in both Testaments is described as a judgment.  Righteous people have no business being judged with judgment!  The only way you can heap judgment on yourself is if you do not "judge yourself" concerning your conduct.  See 1 Cor 11:27-32.

So while God has had an active part in making people sick, it has always been the sinful, disobedient and ungodly who were the recipients.  (Job, a righteous man, was afflicted by the devil, not God, as clearly stated in that book.)  This does not (or should not!) describe you!  As long as you are not in prolonged, deliberate sin, no judgment of any kind will fall on you as a believer.  Thus, the question of whether God ever made anyone sick is irrelevant to you, because God will never make you sick.  Never!

The alleged reasons God makes righteous people sick are all garbage.  God does not put sickness on you to teach you; he gave you his Word and his Spirit to teach you.  God does not put sickness on you to humble you; you are told to humble yourself, not let God humble you!  God does not put sickness on you to teach you patience; patience is a fruit of the Spirit.  These other wacky reasons are covered in replies to other objections in this book.


Objection:  "Faith healers"...rob the Lord of due glory
Objection:  "Faith healers" call attention to man and thus rob the Lord of due glory

This is like saying that every preacher who proclaims the new birth robs the Lord of due glory because people pay attention to him.  Of course they pay attention to him!  Paul said that they wouldn't hear without a preacher.  Preaching of the Word has always been part of God's plan.  It is the only way men get saved.  Angels are not allowed to preach the gospel to the unsaved.  The angel who visited Cornelius could not tell him how to be born again.  He could only tell him to send for a human preacher who could explain the plan of salvation to him.

A reputable preacher of the healing portion of the gospel will always give out the Word of God so that people can believe on their own, rather than depending on him.  He does not want people to feel that they must attend his next miracle rally the next time they get sick.  He wants them to know how to appropriate healing for themselves without a healing service.

Despite this, there are always some wags out there who feel that it robs the Lord of glory when a man is used as the instrument for transmitting the healing anointing.  I suppose that they must be especially mad at Jesus, then.  By their standard, he robbed God of glory every chance he could get.  He did not simply say, "Believe God!" (although he did teach that), but he also laid hands on the multitudes.  At times, the multitudes were the ones laying hands on him to receive from the anointing that was on him (Acts 10:38).  He definitely got a lot of attention, too.

It amazes me that otherwise sensible Christians are offended at "assembly line healings" at healing rallies and say, "The Lord should be allowed to do the healing."  Again, I suppose that the person who said this would have been very offended at Jesus' ministry, where it is obvious that rapid-fire healings were occurring.  God's anointing had to be strong enough so that the needs of multitudes could be met in a single evening.  Jesus did not just sit back and lead everyone in worship and say, "Well, let's allow the Lord to do the healing."  There are cases where this can work when the Spirit directs it, but it is not the Biblical norm.  Paul did not sit back on Melita and wait for the Lord to do the healing.  Furthermore, Jesus told you to actively lay hands on the sick, not wait for the Lord to do the healing!  It is tragic that those Christians who are not doing the works commanded by Jesus are the first to criticize those who actually do them!

Of course, the objectors are upset that many of those prayed for do not receive their healing.  But surely, more people get healed through such ministers than through those who object to them.  If we are still learning and we have not arrived, I would rather see 5% of the people get miraculously healed in one night while we do our best to obey God rather than see 0% of the people healed because we give up in frustration because of those who are not healed.

If you want to mock healing preachers today for their lack of results, trade places with them for a day or so and see how many people you get healed in the same circumstances.  You would quickly stop saying, "If he were really anointed, they'd all get healed."

When it comes to the issue of Jesus getting glory, the objectors would surely say that it was different with him because he is a member of the Trinity and should get glory anyway.  But Jesus did not minister and live as a member of the Trinity (although he was), he ministered solely according to human limitations.  (See the related objection replies for an elaboration on this.)  He also said that he did not seek his own glory (John 8:50).

In Matthew 15:30-31, the multitude glorified the God of Israel, not the preacher (Jesus), for all the miracles that were done.  People also glorified God in Mark 2:2-12.  The man who was healed when Jesus saw his faith and the faith of his friends glorified God, not himself or the preacher (Luke 5:17-26).  In Luke 13:11-16, the woman who had been sick for 18 years glorified God, not the preacher, when she got healed.  In Luke 17:12-19, a leper who was healed glorified God, not the preacher, with a loud voice.  In Luke 18:35-43, a blind man who was healed gave glory to God, not the preacher, and all the people gave praise to God, not the preacher.

Jesus' example therefore proves that it is possible to be used in big healing crusades without seeking your own glory, and thus robbing God of the glory due him.  Since Jesus did it, so can we.

If any healing minister out there does not run his ministry reputably, he may indeed attempt to steal God's glory.  (That is a good way to die young.)  I am not defending all healing ministers out there.  Even if one of them blows it and calls excessive attention to himself instead of Jesus, that does not negate that is possible to preach and minister healing without stealing any of God's glory, as in Jesus' example.

The truth of the matter is that God is glorified when either laymen or preachers minister healing.  According to Jesus' words in John 15:7-8, God is glorified when you ask what you will and have it done unto you.  Far from robbing God of glory, healing gives God glory because it demonstrates both his power and his compassion on the earth today.

Besides, did you know that some of God's glory belongs to us now as the Church?  Jesus said, "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them" (John 17:22).  Jesus washed us with water by the word so that he could present a glorious church to himself (Eph 5:26-27).  Whom he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:30).  "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord"  (2 Cor 3:18).  The apostles were referred to as "the glory of Christ" (2 Cor 8:23).  God has called us to glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3).  I think you get the point.  We are not unworthy little worms crawling on the earth.  We are the glorious Church!  There is a certain glory that we should walk in!

Healings and miracles done in the name of Jesus glorify God.  To preach healing and lay hands on the sick does not rob God of glory; it gives him additional glory in the earth.  Let's give him all the glory we can!


Objection:  Sickness is one "cross" we must bear

Whoever says this has never taken the time, as the Bereans did, to look into the Word "to see if these things be so."  Even a cursory reading of the passages where Jesus said to take up your cross will reveal that he could not possibly have been talking about sickness.  For the sake of completeness, all "cross-references" where Jesus talked about a cross in the life of a believer are listed below.

Luke 14:25-33:

And there went great multitudes with him:  and he turned, and said unto them,

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 16:24-25:

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:  and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Mark 8:34-35:

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

Matthew 10:37-39:

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me:  and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

He that findeth his life shall lose it:  and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Mark 10:21:

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest:  go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:  and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Luke 9:23-24:

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it:  but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

From these passages, a few things should be obvious.

First, Jesus never used cross in the plural.  You are to take up your cross (singular).  Therefore, sickness cannot be one cross you must bear.  Either sickness is the only cross you must bear, or it is not the cross you must bear.

Second, Jesus said to take up your cross.  It is a voluntary act on your part.  Jesus never said that he would lay a cross on you.  In every case above, you choose to pick it up.  A cross therefore cannot be something that falls on you by accident or without your consent, as sickness would.  It certainly cannot be something that God lays on you to bear.  If sickness is your cross, Jesus was saying, "Make yourself sick!"  This would be a strange statement indeed coming from someone who often healed every sick person in large crowds.

Third, Jesus said that you must take up your cross daily (Luke 9:23 above).  If your cross is sickness, then Jesus said, "Make yourself sick daily!"  Even the most hardened skeptic must admit that he did not mean that.

Fourth, Jesus said to follow him after taking up your cross.  Sickness cannot be a cross, because it prevents you from following him, at least from being "fruitful in every good work" (Colossians 1:10).  How can you do the works of Christ when you are in bed needing someone else to do the works of Christ to you so that you can be productive again?

Fifth, there is no mention either here or anywhere else in the Bible that sickness can be a cross.  Religionists who nullify the Word of God with their "traditions of men" came up with this idea of sickness as a cross out of their heads, with no Biblical support at all.

Sixth, it is obvious in every passage what the cross you take up is.  It is preferring God's will for your life to your own will.  It is enduring hardship and persecution for the sake of the gospel.  It is following him when it is not convenient or pleasant to do so, in spite of what your family or others say about you.  It is denying yourself and following Jesus Christ.

Therefore, sickness cannot possibly be a "cross" that you must bear!  I think I've gotten my point across.


Objection:  Lazarus was sick for the glory of God (John 11:4)

In Luke 11:4, Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."  You should be able to stop reading right there and figure out what Jesus meant when he said this.  Did anyone at Bethany look at Lazarus' sick condition and start glorifying God before Jesus showed up?  No!  Did God get any glory out of Lazarus being sick?  No!  Actually, if you read this carefully, Lazarus had already been dead two days when Jesus made this statement.  Jesus stayed where he was two days before going to Bethany, where Lazarus had been dead four days when he got there.  So when Jesus made this statement about Lazarus' sickness, he wasn't even sick anymore -- he was dead!  Jesus never said that anyone's current illness was "for the glory of God."

Are we to assume that God made Lazarus sick just so that Jesus could put on a circus sideshow and raise him up to prove something?  We can't assume that, because Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), not the works of God!  If God makes you sick so he can show off your healing, he is truly a zero-sum God, because he has only left you back where he found you.  You are no better off than where you started.  This is a horrible and unbiblical picture of your heavenly Father!

When was the glory of God manifested?  When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead!  Jesus told Martha that if she would believe, she would see the glory of God.  So watching Lazarus be sick and die, she could not have been seeing the glory of God, because she hadn't seen his glory yet!  Therefore, his sick condition and death did not bring God any glory at all.  Then Jesus raised Lazarus and God was glorified.

The only sickness that was "for the glory of God" was completely healed, for Lazarus lived quite a while after he was raised from the dead.  You are not sick for the glory of God, and neither is anyone else.  God did not make you sick to show off your healing later.  God gets no glory from your sickness; he gets glory from your healing.  Why not cooperate with him for your healing and bring him some glory right now?


Objection:  The earth is under a curse...
Objection:  The earth is under a curse because of Adam, so sickness will continue until Jesus returns

This statement by itself is true.  Since death came into the world by sin (Romans 5:12), nothing that causes death (for example, sickness) could have been in the world before Adam fell.  Sickness came in with Adam's transgression.  Now that Satan has been allowed (by Adam's treason) to become "the god of this world" (2 Cor 4:4), corruption and sickness will be part of life on this planet until the earth is renovated and Satan is banished forever.

The implication that we will have to put up with sickness because it is on the earth is not true.  There are two major curses in the Bible.  There is the "curse on the earth" for Adam's sin in Genesis 3 and there is the "curse for breaking the Law" in Deuteronomy 28, Leviticus 26, and a few other places.  These curses do not overlap.  They cover completely different things.

We are not redeemed from the curse on the earth.  Men still have to work for a living and women still have labor pains.  However, God does not mention sickness as part of the curse on the earth.  That is good, because we are stuck with this curse for the rest of our lives.

We are redeemed from the curse for breaking the Law, as Galatians 3:10-14 makes clear.  Sickness, in fact, every sickness (Deut 28:61), is part of the curse for breaking the Law.  Since we are redeemed from this curse, we do not have to bear anything contained in that curse, including diseases.

The fact is, sickness will continue until Jesus returns (and beyond into a couple of other prophetic periods before the eternal new earth is set up).  But you don't have to be one of the people who gets it!  Just as the Israelites in Egypt were exempt when the whole land was cursed, you are exempt from sickness even if it is everywhere else in the land.

Jesus also said that evil men would wax worse and worse before he returned.  That does not mean that you have to wax worse and worse.  (Wax is an old word meaning "become"; he was not talking about doing a lousy job on your kitchen floor or your car.)  There will be sin on the earth, too, but that doesn't mean that you have to be doing any of it.


Objection:  Jesus could not have borne (contradictory ailments)...
Objection:  Jesus could not have borne both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia on the cross

Since these are two mutually exclusive physical conditions, the idea is that Jesus could not have borne both at the same time.  (You either have too little blood sugar or too much blood sugar, not both.)  Therefore (supposedly) Jesus could not have borne all of "our" diseases on the cross.  This is somewhere up there with debating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, because he could have experienced both conditions at different times while on the cross.

If you're going to make objections like this, why stop there?  Ask yourself how Jesus could have borne the sins of all the billions of people in the world at the same time.  I don't know how he carried all of our sins and all of our sicknesses, but God says he did.  He does not even ask you to understand it; he simply asks you to believe it.

Yes, your head may give you fits when you start trying to "understand" the Trinity, the new birth, Christ's substitution, and other matters we accept as articles of faith.  The important thing is that God has made declarations about these matters, and we should believe him.

Also, there is a risk when people raise objections like this ("What about dinosaurs?  Where did Cain get his wife?").  You can end up battling in a no man's land of murk.  I am willing to answer any and all objections to healing that are based on debates over what God said in the Bible.  I consider it beyond the scope of this book to convince anyone that the Bible is the infallible Word of God.  I will only show those who already accept this that their Bible teaches that healing for our bodies was in Christ's atonement.  To say that you do not really believe that Jesus bore our sicknesses is to say that you do not believe the literal translation of Isaiah 53:4 (discussed elsewhere).  If you want to debate "logical" reasons why the Bible is supposedly untrue, you will have to find someone else to argue with.

If you have hypoglycemia, Jesus bore it for you.  If you have hyperglycemia, Jesus bore it for you.  You don't have to understand how this could be possible to be healed.  All you have to do is believe it.  Surely he bore YOUR diseases and carried YOUR pains.  That would include your hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia if you have either.  You can believe that because God says so.


Objection:  ...Faith healing sends many to early graves...
Objection:  The doctrine of faith healing sends many to early graves because they don't take medicine when they need it

Wrong.  The doctrine of faith healing keeps people out of early graves!  Lack of wisdom sends people to their graves prematurely.  Failure to use common sense sends people to their graves prematurely.  Nothing is wrong with the doctrine.

Let your doctor tell you when you don't need to take your medicine anymore.  You don't need to be afraid of going to the doctor.  He can verify that you are healed.  If you think he will find that you are not, you are not really in faith to begin with.  It's pointless to fear doctors.  They are on God's side, after all, when it comes to your healing.  You just have to ignore any of their statements that nothing can be done, because you know a higher law than the physical laws on which earthly medicine is based.

You can't even necessarily stop taking medicine based on feelings.  For example, if you have high blood pressure, you may not "feel" like you need to take medicine.  You may have no good way of knowing if you need the medicine or not without a medical exam.  You could stop taking the medication, feel fine for a while, and then have a heart attack because it turns out that you weren't in faith for your healing.

The fact is that people have died, saying that they were "in faith" (obviously, they were not) and therefore they would not take their medicine because "by Jesus' stripes, they were healed."  The press loves to latch onto these cases and parade them to make sure that we all know how "evil" the doctrine of faith healing is.  Now and then, a scare book or scare story comes out about parents who lost a child because they believed "faith teachers."  This is supposed to make the rest of us avoid faith teaching and believing in healing.  These people never understood faith or healing in the first place.  The proof is that they distorted the teachings they heard to say that "faith teachers" are against doctors, which they are not.  The prominent faith teachers of our day are unanimous in their support of the use of doctors.  If the people in the scare book were that careless in hearing what these teachers said about doctors, it should come as no surprise that they messed up what they heard on faith and healing.

Yeah, but what about the people who believe all the right things and die anyway?  Paul talked about some such people in Corinth, and the Mistakes section of this book shows that you can believe the right things about divine healing but not be healed for completely different reasons that have nothing to do with your healing doctrine.

Throwing your medicine away does absolutely nothing toward your healing.  You are either in faith or you are not.  Throwing away medicine does not twist God's arm and make him heal you.  It does not necessarily honor him, either.  If you get healed, it will be because you believed God, not because you did or did not throw away your medicine.

If we could get this through to people, they would not do stupid things and die while learning faith.  I hope that I have gotten the message through to you.


Objection:  Jesus didn't heal everyone in his earthly ministry...
Objection:  Jesus didn't heal everyone in his earthly ministry; he left many sick at the Pool of Bethesda

Yes, Jesus did leave the rest of the sick people there.  The man who was healed was healed by a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, not his own faith.  The man argued a good case for staying sick, in fact!

Why didn't Jesus heal all the other sick people at this infirmary?  The gifts of the Spirit were not in manifestation to do so.  Remember that Jesus ministered as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit, not as God.  He could not heal the others unless the Holy Spirit moved in a special way.

This does not prove that God did not want to heal the others.  No one else at the pool asked for healing!  No one else believed that Jesus would heal him.  Almost all the people who got healed in Jesus' ministry heard about him, believed in him, and came to him or were brought to him to receive their healing.  Jesus did not go around looking for people to heal.  They came to him.

This is why you can't just go through a hospital and raise up every person in succession.  Every person there could be healed if he heard God's Word and believed it.  But a servant is not above his master, and you will not do what Jesus himself could not do.

Rather than making a big deal about the fact that there were people at this pool who did not get healed, we should make a big deal about the fact that multitudes did get healed when they came to Jesus for healing!  Jesus turned no one away who came to be healed.

Jesus could not do miracles at Nazareth, either, and it is safe to say that there must have been those who needed them.  Jesus had to leave them without healing them because of their unbelief.  Jesus did not heal the religious leaders when the power of the Lord was present to heal them, either.  So, no, Jesus did not heal everyone.  He did heal everyone who came to him in faith.  It is the same today.  Jesus heals all who come to him in faith, but many today are not healed because they do not come to him in faith.  This does not prove that God and Jesus do not want everyone well.

A variant of this objection simply states that sometimes Jesus healed "all" and sometimes he did not heal "all" but only healed "many."  I thought you would enjoy the following statistics from the gospels.  The incident counts are open to interpretation, but you will get the general idea.  Multiple citations of the same incident are counted as separate incidents.

Times Jesus healed ALL who came to him	16

Times Jesus healed MANY but we know from the context that it was ALL	  1

Times Jesus healed FEW or NONE present	  4

Times Jesus healed an individual who was present	 45

Times Jesus healed an individual who was not present	3

Unclear how many healed	1

We know that in the cases where few or none were healed, no one came to Jesus in faith.  All who came in faith were healed.

As you can see, the claim that "many" were healed instead of "all" on any kind of regular basis does not stand up to scrutiny.  It sounds good until you count the incidents for yourself.  Jesus went about healing all who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38), so Peter said that all, not many or some, was the rule.  Peter should have known; he spent 3 years walking with Jesus.


Objection:  If you could always get healed, you...
Objection:  If you could always get healed, you would live forever, and God says you won't

I have probably heard as many objections along the line of "If you were redeemed from sickness, you would never die" as I have about Paul's thorn, Job's trials, Timothy's stomach and Trophimus!  This has become a very popular objection.

God did not promise you eternal life in a mortal body.  He did promise you long, sickness-free life in your mortal body.  Read Exodus 23:25-26.  Here in the same promise, God said that he would  take sickness away from you and that he would fulfill "the number of your days."  He did not promise that you would live forever, but he did promise that as long as you are here fulfilling your days, he would take sickness away from you.

You must realize the difference between the curse on the earth in Genesis 3 and the curse for breaking the Law in Deuteronomy 28.  You are redeemed from the curse of the Law (so says Gal 3:13), but not the curse on the earth.  You still have to work hard for a living, women still have labor pains -- and you still die ("return to dust").  You are not redeemed from that.  The curse of the Law, from which you ARE redeemed, covers all sicknesses, including every one you can think of that isn't mentioned explicitly (Deut 28:61).  Therefore, you must DIE, but you redeemed from ALL SICKNESSES and ALL DISEASES until you die.

You current body will not last forever.  You will die at some point unless Jesus returns soon.  However, you do not need to be evicted from your body by sickness!  God's promise of healing lasts for your entire life, and your entire life should be satisfying.  What good is long life if it isn't satisfying?  See Psalm 91.  Life spent laid up in a sickbed with a wasting disease is surely not satisfying.

It is not true that only sickness or martyrdom will end your life.  Moses simply went up on a mountain, following God's command.  God told him to die there, and he did!  "And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died:  his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated."  (Exodus 34:7)  God took Moses; he was not sick before he died!

Others simply "gave up the ghost" after living a long life:

Genesis 25:8:

Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 25:17:

And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty seven years:  and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.

Genesis 35:28-29:

And the days of Isaac were an hundred and fourscore years [180].

And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days:  and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

Genesis 49:33:

And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

Jesus himself "yielded up the ghost" (Matthew 27:50), or "gave up the ghost" (Mark 15:37, 39, Luke 23:46, John 19:30).

Stephen, when he was being martyred, asked the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit (Acts 7:59).

The preferred way to die is to "give up the ghost" after a long, satisfying life.

If an Old Covenant man could experience this, why not a New Covenant man?  Even the much-cited Job lived 140 years after his trial and no mention is made of any illness in his life after his trial, which apparently lasted less than a year.  (See Job 7:3, Job 42:16-17.)

Paul said that he had the choice of whether or not he wanted to die!  He said, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour:  yet what I shall choose I wot not.  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."  This is how the Christian should die!  You choose to depart and be with Christ.  This beats being forced to depart and be with Christ by an illness.  God can simply "take your breath" that keeps you alive and let you die.  Consider these Scriptures:

"And [God] breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." -- Genesis 2:7.

"[God] in whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind."  -- Job 12:10.

"If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; all flesh shall perish together, and man shall return again unto dust." -- Job 34:14-15.

"He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:" -- Isaiah 42:5.

"And the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified." -- Daniel 5:23.

"Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;" -- Acts 17:25.

Although this verse applies to animals in context, you can see that God can take away your breath and have you die:

"Thou hidest thy face, they [animals] are troubled:  thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust." -- Psalm 104:29.

Think for a minute about the idea that you have to get sick to die.  If that is true, it means that there comes a certain time when the Lord Jesus Christ says to you, "I won't heal your illness.  You need to die from it now."  If you are going to claim that he would say such a thing, you need to find somewhere in the Bible where he said it.  Find one place where the Lord Jesus Christ told a sick person, "Sorry, you're too old.  You're supposed to die now.  I won't heal you."  Surely there were some aged people in the multitudes who brought "all" the sick people to Christ to be healed.  If he did not leave the elderly sick to die then, he does not want to do so now, either.

Instead, Scripture is plain that Jesus healed all types of sickness.  This would include any old-age-related sicknesses, including incurable and terminal ones.

Someone once said that sickness is God's way of making us want to die and go on to the afterlife.  No, that's the devil's way of making you want to die and go on to the afterlife.  The devil wants you out of here and into the afterlife, and sickness is one of his tools.  You are no threat to him in the afterlife.  No Christian needs to let any work of the devil decide when he leaves the earth.  You are redeemed from Satan's authority.  You are now under the authority of God's Son.  You and God can decide when you want to leave.  Don't allow the devil to make that choice for you.

See the discussion, Don't get sick when you get old for related ideas.


Job 42:16-17
Job 42:16-17:

After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his son's sons, even four generations.

So Job died, being old and full of days.


Objection:  God told Hezekiah to use medicine...
Objection:  God told Hezekiah to use medicine (a poultice of figs)

If figs could have cured Hezekiah of his terminal illness, it figures that he would have tried using figs sooner.  If figs could heal fatal diseases, there would be great worldwide demand for them in hospitals, and fig-producing countries would have organized a cartel by now to boost fig prices.  No one today puts lumps of figs on boils to cure fatal illnesses.

If it were common knowledge that figs cure terminal illnesses, Hezekiah would not have been left to die in the first place.  Someone in the palace would have applied the figs then, not after God decided to extend Hezekiah's life 15 years.  The figs were applied in obedience to the Lord only after Hezekiah's prayer was heard.

We can debate whether the figs may have helped the boil, but they surely did not save Hezekiah's life.  Hezekiah himself said that the Lord healed him (2 Kings 20:8), not the figs.  That is plain enough.  Anything else is a figment of someone's imagination.


Objection:  "Claiming" your healing is...arrogant...
Objection:  "Claiming" your healing is an arrogant attempt to twist God's arm

Then shame on you for "making" God renew your spirit and let you into heaven, which he did when you claimed the forgiveness that was available to you.  God did not do a new sacrificial work for you.  You just claimed something that was waiting for you.  You arm-twister, you.

There is nothing arrogant about receiving something that is already yours as far as God is concerned.  Peter writes that your healing is in the past tense (1 Peter 2:24).  In God's eyes, it is rightfully yours because you are a Christian.  You are simply receiving something that God has already decided to give you.

Suppose I walk into my bank.  I tell the teller that I want to withdraw some money from my account.  Then the teller says, "You're mighty arrogant, aren't you?  Trying to twist my arm?"  The tellers don't say that at my bank!  They were a little bit like that at my former bank.  The ATM had a better personality than they did.  They acted inconvenienced that a customer would appear at their windows, but even they never called me arrogant or accused me of arm-twisting when I made a withdrawal.  I was simply getting what was already mine.

Why do you think God provided healing for you by the stripes of Jesus?  So that you could sit there and act fake-o-humble and stay sick?  Of course not!  Jesus was not wasting his time when he was lashed!  His body was torn up so that your body would not have to be torn up.  He has deposited healing into your heavenly bank account.  You have the right to make a withdrawal at any time.  That's why God put it there!

You aren't twisting God's arm because you aren't even asking God to make a decision.  He made the decision to heal you before he sent Jesus to bear the curse written in the law (which includes all diseases).  You are not asking God to do anything.  You really aren't as much claiming a promise as you are acting on a fact.  1 Peter 2:24 does not promise anything.  It is a statement of a historical fact concerning your healing.  You are acting on the facts of your covenant, not asking God to do something special for you.  God already did all he needs to do.  Healing is in your account waiting for you to make a withdrawal.

God is faithful to his Word.  You don't have to "twist his arm" to get him to honor it!


Objection:  Sickness can be the chastening of the Lord

This is a correct statement, as proved by 1 Cor 11:27-32, where God allowed unruly believers to get sick because they did not reverence the Lord's Supper.  Sickness can be outright punishment for the ungodly and disobedient.  See the discussion Sickness as chastening and judgment in the New Testament for vivid details.

The problem is when we apply this to believers who are walking in the light.  The usual "proof text" that God sends sickness as chastening on regular believers is the passage below, which we must examine critically to see if this is really what it is saying:

Hebrews 12:5-13:

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence:  shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:  nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

The usual conclusion reached here is that chastening must refer to bodily affliction, since the last two verses refer to physical problems.  Also, the word scourging refers to physical punishment.  If this is so, all of us should expect to get sick as part of God's divine training.  In that case, God is using something from which he says we are redeemed to train us.  He is putting something on us that Jesus already bore for us in our place.  This is ridiculous, but we should answer this objection on its own territory, which is the passage quoted above.  The hinge issue is what chastening refers to here.

First, we are not to faint at his chastening or when we are rebuked.  Rebuke is a verbal warning, not a physical punishment.  God rebukes us through his Word.  In fact, the same Greek word for chastening above is translated instruction in 2 Tim 3:16 ("All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for...instruction in righteousness").  Paul did not say that Scripture was profitable to make you sick.  The same Greek word is translated nurture in Ephesians 6:4:  "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath:  but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."  Paul was not telling the Ephesians, "Fathers, make your children sick to teach them lessons."  Yes, chastening refers to training, which can include punishment (and is used as such in some Scriptures), but it does not imply sickness.

James gave instructions on what to do if (!) any (!) among you is sick!  Thus, chastening cannot be sickness, because according to the verses above, we are all partakers of God's chastisement.  If sickness is God's normal method of chastisement for a believer, James could well have said, "Is any among you not sick?"  According to the passage, God chastens everyone that he loves, and if he doesn't chasten you, you aren't really a believer.  If chastening is sickness, we have a new theology -- if you don't get sick, you aren't saved!  In fact, you might be healthier serving the devil, since there are unbelievers who live normal lives and do not get seriously ill.  Should we persuade them to get saved by telling them that our wonderful God will make them sick because he loves them, and they can enjoy poorer health so that they can learn God's ways?  Yeah, right.  Just see how many people want Jesus if you tell them that!

You know that you are supposed to discipline your children.  Would you put cancer on your child to punish him for talking back to you?  Would you kill your child with AIDS because he didn't do his homework last night?  That would be considered child abuse, not nurture, discipline or instruction.  God is not a child abuser.

The fact that the last two verses of the passage refer to healing has led people to conclude that God is talking about getting healed of the sickness with which you were chastened.  This is clearly not the case when talking about hands hanging down and feeble knees being strengthened.  This verse is quoted from Isaiah 35:3-6, where it clearly refers to fear, not illness.  The hanging hands and feeble knees are due to fear, not sickness.  This goes along with the exhortation at the beginning of this passage to not faint when God rebukes you.  In other words, do not get into a fretful kind of fear of God just because he corrects you.  Pick yourself up and run your race!

As for the verse about lame feet, there is no clear indication that this is literal.  It would seem not to be, given that most of Hebrews 12 is exhortation to continue running the race (Heb 12:1)  God is not exhorting you to literally run in the next 5K race in your town, although that would not be a sin.  It would seem to me that the allegory has continued into the verse about the lame feet, and that God is still talking about running the race set before you, as he is elsewhere in the chapter.  The immediate context is that you make straight paths for your feet, which would be an unusual way of getting literally healed.  The idea is that you walk the straight path so that what is weak (lame) will not get even worse by running on a crooked path that you should not be on.  Your lame legs (allegorically) will be healed as you run on the straight path instead of the wrong path.

It is sad that any sick person could use these verses as an excuse to go on a "witch hunt" for "secret sins" when he knows of none, thinking that sickness is God's punishment on him.  These verses say that God rebukes you and corrects you with his chastisement.  When God chastises you, he tells you where you're off and tells you what to do!  He doesn't dump a disease on you for no apparent reason.  Why should God use the devil's trash when he has his Word to rebuke and correct you?

Besides, we all know that unbelievers catch the same diseases that are going around at church.  There is nothing special or godly about them.  They are not God's method of training you.  The only lessons I have learned from getting a cold are that I don't like colds and that I need to be more diligent in believing God's healing covenant!

If you say that God uses sickness to chastise you, you should tell us exactly what sins you are being chastised for when you are sick.  At the first sign of a sore throat, please explain to us exactly what God is speaking to you about through it.  No decent earthly father would "scourge" his child without explaining what it was punishment for.  God would not "punish" you without telling you why.  So cite to us your sin and the lesson you learned, or quit saying that God uses sickness to chastise you.

The explicitly stated results of God's chastening are the peaceable fruit of righteousness and being a partaker of God's holiness!  Was that the result the last time you got a stuffy nose?  Did having to breath through your mouth and use up boxes of tissues and keep your spouse awake half the night make you holy and give you the peaceable fruit of righteousness?  If what you're going through doesn't produce these results, it definitely isn't the chastening of the Lord, because the chastening of the Lord produces these results!

God tells us how he really reproves us -- and he doesn't use sickness to do it:

2 Timothy 3:16-17:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

God wants us to grow by reading his Word (1 Peter 2:2), not by getting sick!

God uses his Word to correct the obedient believer.  If you have to get sick before you learn your lessons, it is because you are not paying attention to the Word.  God wants to train you with Scripture to make you ready for every good work.


1 Peter 2:2
1 Peter 2:2:

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.


Objection:  God gets glory from our patient endurance...
Objection:  God gets glory from our patient endurance of sickness

I partially agree with this statement!  God does get some glory from the fact that you don't turn into a mean old crab when you're not feeling well.  Your ability to continue to walk in love and kindness while sick can have a positive influence on unbelievers and be a witness to them of the grace of God.  I think we come down too hard on sick people who don't believe in healing when we say that God gets no glory from your patience while sick.  It is possible that an unbeliever can see the difference between the way you handle illness and how an unbeliever handles illness and be positively influenced for Christ.  God can get a limited amount of glory from that.

However, God would get far more glory if you were healed!  Then the unbelievers could really see the all-sufficient grace of God at work in your life.  That is definitely the will of God.

There is no virtue in patiently enduring something from which Jesus redeemed you.  It is never the will of God for you to touch the lost with your patience while sick instead of getting healed.  If you are not in a position yet to receive your healing through divine means, be the best witness you can while sick.  But don't ever tell anyone that God wanted you to be sick to display you as an example of patience to unbelievers.  That's not his best for you, and you'll just turn people away from God because they don't want to serve a God who would make them sick, too.

The Bible cites examples of whole cities being turned to the Lord because people got healed of diseases instead of patiently enduring them.  The Bible cites no cases of cities or even one single individual won to the Lord by watching someone else's patient endurance of sickness.  Getting healed influences far more people for Christ than patiently staying sick.


Objection:  Sometimes God wants you to witness...
Objection:  Sometimes God wants you to witness to someone in the hospital

Yes, sometimes he does.  After all, God favors visiting the sick (Matthew 25:36) and even says you do so unto Jesus when you do it.  So go witness to someone in the hospital.  He does not want you to do so as a patient, however.  God wants his Church to have patience, not patients, and practicing "hospitality" has nothing to do with going to the hospital.

Yeah, but doesn't God sometimes "let you" get sick so that you can reach a certain person in the hospital?  No.  You are a better witness healed than you are sick.  You have a better chance of having someone else let you lay hands on him if you are not sick yourself!  It is never the will of God for you to get sick so that you can witness to someone.  That stupid lie is simply a tool of Satan to convince you that you should put up with his attempts to steal, kill and destroy your body rather than resisting sickness as you should.

Now God can and does use sick Christians to win other people to the Lord in the hospital.  That's good, but that isn't God's best.  Think of what a better witness it is to get healed by the power of God and get out of the hospital!  That will bring more glory to God than telling people that you are suffering from a sickness that God gave you so that you would meet someone.

Do not get under condemnation over going to the hospital.  It does not mean that you are "anti-faith."  It may be the smartest thing you ever did.  But please, do not embarrass the Body of Christ with some religious fabrication that God racked you with pain, made you unable to provide for your family's needs, and made you a burden to others because he wanted you to "witness" to your roommate in the hospital.  If you think God is like that, you need to get better acquainted with him through his Word.  You are not in a good position to fulfill the Great Commission when you yourself are out of commission.  What unbeliever will want Jesus if you say that God made you sick to witness to him?  If I were the unbeliever, I would stay as far away from Jesus as possible so that God would not make me sick to witness to someone in the future.


Objection:  David said that (affiction was good)...
Objection:  David said that it was GOOD that he was afflicted; so it can be with us

I will try to state fairly this line of reasoning:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IT IS GOOD FOR YOU TO GET SICK                                                       by Dolores N. Ferma

David said, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes" (Psalm 119:71).  He said, "Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I have kept thy word" (Psalm 119:67).  Where did these afflictions come from?  God sent them in his love.  "I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me" (Psalm 119:75).  David spent much of Psalm 38 enumerating his physical distresses, which he attributed to God ("thine arrows" in Psalm 38:2) and his sin (Psalm 38:3).  David learned the valuable lesson that it is a good thing to endure afflictions from God so that you stop sinning.  Surely, the stopping of sin will be far more beneficial than the temporary "loathsome disease" and "lack of soundness in your flesh" (Psalm 38:7).  Therefore, when sickness comes, you should seek to find what lesson God is teaching you, and what sin he is revealing to you.  You will grow far more than a person who complains that healing is his "covenant right" and protests the very thing (affliction) that David said was good.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The problem with this objection is that there is enough truth in it to make it attractive as an anti-healing argument.  David did say these things, after all, and they are just as much part of the Scriptures as John 3:16.  Unquestionably, it was good that David was afflicted.  Through physical suffering, David faced his sin and repented of it.  He was better off because of it.  That does not mean that you have to learn your lessons the way that he did, though.  It is far better to stay out of sin and not have to learn things the hard way.

What about Psalm 38, where it appears that God sent the sickness to David because of his sin?  The idea that only the devil makes people sick conflicts with some Scripture passages where illness is God's judgment for sin.  You can't read Deuteronomy 28:15-68 without seeing that clearly!  Even if the devil is in intermediary in the affair, the fact is that God is behind it, and he speaks often of sending pestilence to judge sin in the Old Testament.

The afflictions and sicknesses David endured were clearly the result of sin, and he says so himself.  Therefore, you cannot possibly use these verses (or others like them) to make a case that a believer with an up-to-date relationship with God should ever experience illness.  It should be obvious that sickness as a judgment is a minority case under our covenant because most (but not all) people healed in Jesus' ministry did not need to be spoken to about sin in their lives.  (The man in John 5:2-19 was told to sin no more lest a worse thing come upon him.)

Sickness can indeed serve as a wake-up call, and it is better to receive this kind of wake-up call than to stay on the road to forsaking the faith.  This is really the mercy of God in action.

The problem is the unwarranted conclusion reached at the end.  This conclusion is that all sickness is God's judgment for sin.  That is simply not true.  Acts 10:38 could never have been written the way it was if all sickness were God's judgment.  Yes, even under the New Covenant there is still a judgment for sin for the unrepentant (see Revelation 2:22-23 for a graphic example.)  The fact that this does happen does not mean that all sickness is God's judgment.

If you are born again, and there is sin in your life, you know it.  You don't need to wait for a sickness to find out and repent.  And if you do get sick, you should take authority over the sickness and command it to leave your body in the name of Jesus!  Don't go on a "witch hunt" for some awful secret sin if you don't know of any.  That's the devil's game to keep you sick.  God gave you his Word and his Spirit to teach you; he does not need to use the devil's crud.

Also, affliction itself is not good, and David never said it was!  He said that the result of his affliction was good, but he never once said that affliction itself was good.  (You would have to be an idiot or a modern theologian to reach that conclusion.)  Read those verses carefully!

If you are not in known sin, there is no reason that you should be sick, and you should resist the sickness rather than embracing it and seeing what you can "learn" from it.  You are not in David's position, and NO good would come out of your affliction.


Objection:  Gal 3:13 means Christ...
Objection:  Gal 3:13 means that Christ redeemed us from the law, which was a curse, not the "curse" in Deuteronomy 28

The objection is that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law" means that he redeemed us from the law itself, which was a curse, not the curse contained in the law itself.

God does not share this awful opinion of his Old Testament law:

Romans 7:12:

Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Romans 7:16:

If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

Galatians 3:24:

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Psalm 119:72:

The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

God never refers to his law as a curse.  If it's good, it can't be a curse!  No, the Old Testament law was good; we just have something better.  Gal 3:13 cannot possibly be saying that we today were redeemed from the law itself, especially because we were never under the Law of Moses to begin with!  However, we are redeemed from the specific curses for disobedience mentioned in that law.


Objection:  Demons were only a superstitious...
Objection:  Demons were only a superstitious way of explaining illness long ago

According to those who say this, we are supposed to believe that medical science has explained away epilepsy and other disorders, and ruled out the possibility of demonic activity.

If demons are only a superstition, please explain how 2,000 pigs near the madman of Gadara suddenly ran down a steep hill into the sea and drowned themselves (see Mark 5:2-20) when the demons left the madman and entered them.  Either demons are more than a superstition, or they had some very superstitious pigs in that region.

If demons are only a superstition, how did one demon-possessed man in Ephesus overcome seven men, strip them naked, and wound them?  This was not one of those violence movies where the hero does this kind of thing every two minutes.  It was evidently such a strange occurrence that it made an impact on everyone in the city!  You may read the account in Acts 19:13-17.

If demons are only a superstition, how did the madman of Gadara manage to break the chains and fetters that bound him?  I'm sure they didn't use plastic toy ones on such a dangerous man.  Surely the fetters and chains were no more superstitious than the pigs.

If you've ever met a truly demonized person, you would know better than to say that demons are a mere superstition.  It's one thing to meet someone who is mean and think that he is full of the devil.  It's quite another to offer to pray for a lady and suddenly have "her" say, "You can't cast me out!  You don't have enough experience!"  (This happened to me once.)  If you want to meet some real demon-possessed people, try traveling overseas a bit.  Look at their faces when the demons manifest through them and see if you think that demons are just superstition.  Then watch them change completely when the demons are cast out in the name of Jesus and see what you think.

Demons talked to Jesus.  I have never heard an illness speak in articulate words.  Have you?

Demons exist.  One of the signs in the Great Commission that is to follow believers is that we shall cast out devils in Jesus' name (see Mark 16:15-18).  This was true then and is true now.  If you think demons are just a superstition, you are accusing Jesus of being superstitious.  You didn't mean to do that, did you?


Acts 19:13-17
Acts 19:13-17:

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.


Objection:  Romans 8:11 refers to the resurrection...
Objection:  Romans 8:11 refers to the resurrection, not this life

No, it doesn't.  Read the verse in context.  Paul is talking about this current life, not about the future resurrection of the saints.

Romans 8:10-13:

And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:  but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Here Paul tells us that the Spirit will give life to our mortal bodies and empower us to mortify the deeds of the body.  Notice that all of these verses speak of this present life, not a future event.

Think of the power that raised Jesus' dead body and completely healed him.  Paul is telling us that the same Spirit who did that will also work in your living, but mortal, body today.  The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is at work in you!

Paul could not have been talking about the resurrection, because you will not have a mortal (subject to death) body then -- you will have a dead one (assuming Christ's return tarries)!  The Greek word used for mortal (Strong's #2349) is only translated mortal or mortality, never dead.  The word means subject to death, not already dead.  The only time when you will have a body that is subject to death is in this life!  Therefore, Paul must be talking about this life.

Perhaps the confusion arises because it is the same Greek word used in the following verses:  "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal should have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." -- 1 Cor 15:53-54.  Substituting dead in this verse does not work.  Paul was talking about the living being changed in the twinkling of an eye as well as the dead being raised in the two verses before this passage (51 and 52):  "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:  for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."  The emphasis is on us -- "this mortal" -- being changed, not dead saints being raised.

In case you're not convinced yet, here are the other three places in the New Testament where the same Greek word for mortal found in Romans 8:11 is found:

"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof" -- Romans 6:12.

"For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." -- 2 Cor 4:11.

"For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened:  not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality [in Greek, literally, "the mortal"] might be swallowed up of life." -- 2 Cor 5:4.

Paul could not have told you to keep sin from reigning in your dead body.  He was not saying that the life of Jesus was manifest in his dead flesh.  If Paul were dead, his flesh could not be groaning to be swallowed up of life.  Of course, if Paul were dead, he could not have written any of these verses!  The word clearly means mortal, and not dead.  Therefore, it means mortal, not dead, in Romans 8:11.  Of course, you can figure that out if you just read it in English.  It says mortal, not dead.

Thus, Romans 8:11 is not a resurrection promise, but a glorious promise for this present age.  The Spirit who gave life to Christ's dead body will also give life to your mortal body in this life.  Since the same Spirit will change your entire body in the twinkling of an eye, surely he can change the sick part of your body just as easily!


Objection:  Job was a godly man, yet God let him get sick

I am being charitable in my statement of this objection, and at least giving the objector credit for realizing that it was not God who made Job sick.  Some people think this, but only because they have not read the explicit statement that the devil, not God, made Job sick (Job 2:4-7).  God was the one who healed Job (Job 42:10), thus undoing the devil's work in Job's life.

From this, we should learn that it is the devil who makes people sick and God who heals them, not the other way around.

You don't need to avoid the book of Job for fear that hearing this part of the Word of God will take away your faith.  Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and the Word produces faith, including the book of Job!  You don't have to worry that reading Job will get you into unbelief.

Let's examine the typical arguments that say you could be another Job:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

JOB:  YOUR EXAMPLE OF PATIENT SUFFERING              by Prof. Kranken Heitlieber

Job was a perfect and upright man who feared God and eschewed evil (Job 1:1).  God 's plan was to have Job be sick to prove his character and teach him lessons.  So perfect Job got sick as a dog.  You name it, he had it.  Job humbly and lovingly resigned himself to the will of God, saying, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked I shall return thither:  the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly (Job 1:21-22).  After all, the Word of God tells us that Job's siblings and acquaintances "comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him" (Job 42:11), and we know that Job spoke of the Lord the thing that was right (Job 42:8).

Rather than pestering God for healing as some so-called faith Christians do today, Job humbly accepted that the LORD had taken everything away from him, despite his perfect walk with him.  If Job's statement were wrong, he would have been sinning, so Job must have been right.  Although our flesh rebels at the thought, it was the perfect will of God for his life that his animals and servants should be killed and kidnapped, all of his children killed, and his body tortured with a lingering, wasting illness.  The will of God can be mysterious to us at times, but he has a purpose for bad things, and he works all these things to our good (Rom 8:28).  We must accept that God brings calamity into our lives for a higher purpose.

Job said, "What?  shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?  In all this did not Job sin with his lips" (Job 2:10).  Job understood the precious lesson that God gives us both good things and bad things.  You, like Job, must learn to contentedly receive evil from the hand of God.  Since Job was not sinning when he said this, we know that this is a correct statement that bears the same force as any other doctrinal verse in the Bible.  We can receive evil from God.  Job did not try to undo the will of God in his life, but suffered patiently, realizing the great truth we see elsewhere that there is "a time to weep... a time to mourn...a time to lose" (Eccl. 3:4, 6).

Job proved that he was not just serving God for the money, as some shallow Christians do today.  Satan thought he was, but Job proved otherwise with his patient endurance.  He was willing to serve God no matter what God brought on him.  Here we find some of the most touching, beautiful words in the entire Bible, and my personal favorite verse, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him" (Job 13:15).

So next time you're sick, remember that you could be another Job.  Endure your trial with patient, satisfied resignation to the perfect will of God, as Job did, rather than presumptuously bossing him around, telling him to heal you.  Job resisted that temptation, and so should you.  Receive evil from God cheerfully when the Lord who giveth and taketh away taketh away from you.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This really does a job on Job!

Job was wrong

We know that it was Satan, not God, who was responsible for all of Job's calamities.  "So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown" (Job 2:7).  Job was obviously wrong about it because he said that we receive evil from the Lord, not from Satan.  So how could he not be sinning or making foolish charges against God?  Because he didn't know any better!  He had no way to know that the devil had made him sick.  People back then were unaware of the existence of a personal adversary, and they tended to attribute everything to God.  Job had no way to know God's true character.  Sin is not imputed where there is no law (Romans 5:13), so God wasn't upset.  Job could not have known what was really going on, so God did not consider Job's charges foolish.

It is a fact that Job said the words that he did about the Lord hathing taken away and his hathing received evil from God.  But these words were not the truth.  Right before he said that the Lord taketh away, he said that he would return naked to his mother's womb.  Job couldn't possibly return naked to his mother's womb!  It is true that Job said that, but that doesn't make it true.

Now what do we say about Job 42:11, where "the LORD" brought evil on Job, when earlier it was clearly stated to be the work of the devil?  We can learn a valuable lesson here in interpreting all the Old Testament passages about "the LORD" bringing evil on people.  We can see that the Lord was permitting the devil to do certain things, but not doing them himself, and we should keep this in mind where we see this expression used elsewhere.  (This topic is covered under another objection reply.)

Thus far, Job had not made any railing, unfair accusations against God.  Job was wrong, but he was not accusing God of wrongdoing.  However, as you continue in the book of Job, Job makes more and more foolish and untrue accusations against God.  For these, God rebuked him (Job 38:1-41:34), and Job had to repent (Job 42:1-6).  Basically, Job ranted against God for all the things that God supposedly did to him, and finally God got tired of the slander and told Job to shut up!  God said, and Job had to admit, that Job had "darkened counsel without knowledge" (Job 38:2, 42:3).  Job said that he had "uttered that I understood not, things too wonderful for me, that I knew not...Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:3, 6).  Once Job repented of his false accusations against God, God healed him!

Now the funny part (not in the humorous sense, though) is that JOB admitted that the things he said were wrong, GOD said that the things Job said were wrong, but many CHRISTIANS want you to believe that these statements of Job are RIGHT:  "The LORD giveth, and the LORD taketh away...Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?...For he breaketh me in a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause...the Almighty (hath) vexed my soul."

The objectors usually stress the statements at the beginning of Job that say that he was perfect and upright, that he feared God and eschewed evil.  However, Job did have to repent at the end of the book for speaking things about God that were not right.  The fact that Job lived a morally pure life does not mean that his theology was correct.  If Job were right about everything, he would not have had to repent of his ignorant babblings.

By the way, Job 1 should prove to you that damages from lightning and windstorms are not "acts of God," no matter what your insurance company says.

Satan's diminishing rights

Of course, we must now meet the next objection, which is, "Yeah, but God allowed it!  Maybe he didn't do it, but he explicitly allowed Satan to make Job sick."

Obviously he did.  Based on Job 1:10, it appears that at some point God had put a hedge around Job, and it is implied that the devil could not get at him because of it.  Why did God choose to remove the hedge of protection?  Is this not tantamount to committing these acts himself, leading us back to Prof. Heitlieb's argument that God did them?  After all, God seemed to grant Satan permission to do evil to Job.

I should point out that Satan is hardly an authoritative source of any kind of information.  The fact that he said there was a hedge still up does not prove that there was.  God, in fact, said that all Job had was in Satan's hand.  This is usually interpreted to say that God handed Job over to Satan, but it could just as well mean that Job had already put himself in Satan's hands and torn down his own hedge through fear, and Satan didn't realize that yet, since his knowledge is limited.  We'll deal with the fear issue in the next section.

Job was not under a covenant with God that excluded Satan from afflicting him.  The promises of protection had not yet been given to man.  Thus, Satan had a legal right to ask to afflict Job.  When you think about it, Satan still has the legal right to try to afflict you.  Unlike Job, however, you have a covenant you can stand on to make Satan flee.  Job did not have any promise he could claim to keep Satan away.  He did not have a healing covenant with God like you do.

Lest you think this is a thin argument, consider that God allowed the Egyptians to afflict Israel with cruel servitude for many generations.  The Law of Moses (in Deuteronomy 28) specifically says that you do not have to be slaves of another nation if you serve the Lord.  However, that law had not yet been given, so the Israelites in Egypt could not claim any promise to be delivered right away.  The only promise that was theirs to claim was that at some point God would visit them and bring them back to their own land.

Also consider that you could not be born again under the Old Covenant.  No matter how much faith you had, this promise simply wasn't available to you then.  You could not live in New Covenant rights and privileges under the Old Covenant.  Likewise, you could not walk in the blessings of the Law of Moses under the Old Covenant before the Law of Moses was given.  Job had neither the New Covenant nor the Law of Moses to stand on.

Satan was "allowed" to afflict Israel in Egypt.  He had a right to do it then.  Once God gave his Law through Moses, Satan's rights were restricted.  He could only bring Israel into bondage if Israel forsook the Lord.  If Israel walked with God, God's promise was that they could not be brought into subjection like that again.

Over time, as God gave additional promises, Satan's rights diminished.  Under the New Covenant, he has no legal right to dominate you in any area.

Job's fear

A spiritual principle here carries over into the New Testament.  Job said, "For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me" (Job 3:25).

We can see that Job walked in constant fear by his constant "just-in-case-they-sinned" offerings for his children mentioned in Job 1:5.  This was not normal behavior for any other person in the Old Testament.  Job was blessed and rich, but he had a fear problem.  In fact, he didn't just say that the thing he feared had come upon him.  He said the that thing he greatly feared had come upon him.  Therefore, it is plain from this verse that Job was in great fear.  The fact is, just as faith authorizes God to move, fear (which is really faith running in reverse gear) authorizes the devil to move.  Even today, if you walk in fear, the Lord will allow the devil to do certain things to you.  The devil has a legal right to do things when you authorize it with your faith in him (fear).  Job did not understand this principle, and like many today who are equally ignorant of such matters, he blamed God for everything that happened.

How could you describe Job's attitude other than extreme fear?  He offered his sacrifices in case his relatives had done anything wrong, without even knowing for sure that they were doing anything wrong!  In modern parlance, Job was a worrywart.

I believe that this is another reason why God had to allow Satan to do certain things to Job.  There is a difference between God allowing something and God instigating something.

I would ask you to consider this:  Even in the New Testament, fear can take you out of the blessings of God.  We can see this in the incident where Peter walked on water until he allowed himself to get into fear.  Did God "allow" Peter to sink?  Up to a point he did, and then Jesus bailed him out of trouble.  Was it God's will for Peter to falter?  No.  Peter's fear lost the blessing of being able to walk on water.

Do you see the parallel?  If Peter could be blessed by God supernaturally and lose it through fear, why is it unreasonable to conclude that Job could lose his God-given blessings through fear?  The storm was no doubt sent by Satan to wipe them all out.  Peter was unaffected by it until he went from faith into fear.

Critics say that the fear factor in Job's case is overrated.  Perhaps it is.  Job's case really has more to do with the fact that Job did not have a healing covenant than the fact that he was afraid.  Still, God tells us that Job was afraid, and fear does gives Satan certain latitude.

Job is commended for his patience, not for his faith

Job is not listed in Hebrews 11 with those of great faith.  Job's patience is no laughing matter; he did not give up when he had lost everything, his body was in tatters, his wife told him to curse God and die, and his wonderful friends accused him of all kinds of wrong things he had never done.  His patience truly was extraordinary.  Let's give the guy a break; he didn't have a basis for faith based on the Law of Moses, let alone the New Covenant.  He may not have known what was going on, but he still honored God most of the time.

We should not belittle the patience of those who are unenlightened concerning their redemptive right to be healed.  I'm sure that many good people are terribly sick, yet exhibit more patience than most Christians who know that healing was in Christ's atonement.  Let Job be a lesson that God will honor the patience of the unenlightened.  Yes, God would get much more glory if they got healed and rose from their sickbeds.  However, we should admit that God does get some degree of glory from sick saints who manifest the fruit of the Spirit.  Of course, the fruit of the Spirit glorifies God, not the sickness!  But it sure beats having them fuss and complain all day, as so many sick people do.  It isn't God's best, but it isn't the devil's worst, either.  Even if the devil seems to win by robbing them of their lives, they get completely healed when the die and go to heaven anyway!  That beats being in perfect health and spending eternity in the lake of fire, doesn't it?

Job's sickness was temporary, and God healed him

It is not stated exactly how long Job was sick, but it appears to have been less than a year.  Job talked of possessing months of vanity, not years (Job 7:3).  It may seem like forever as you trudge through the chapters of ignorant poetic ramblings from Job's comforters.  (But aren't these Bible verses, too?  Yes, it is a fact that the statements were made, but God himself said that Job's so-called comforters had committed folly, and not spoken of him that which is right (Job 42:8), so while those words were said, they are not necessarily reliable sources of doctrine.)

It appears that Job was sick for less than 1% of this life (discussed below) and we know that God healed Job.  So you have no excuse for saying that someone who died of cancer was another Job.  The real Job was healed and was not sick for years on end.  If you stay sick or die, you are not another Job.

Why did God say that Job said what was right?

God said that Job said what was right in Job 42:8.  Why did God rebuke him and why did Job repent if that was so?  The point is that Job was right in comparison to his foolish friends, not that everything he said was true.  God said that Job had darkened counsel by words without knowledge (Job 38:2), so he was not agreeing with everything Job said.  But Job did not engage in personal slander of his friends the way his friends slandered him.  Job's speaking was right and theirs was wrong in that sense.  Job's comforters were much farther off the mark than Job was.

Also, read the entire book of Job and you will find that Job never asked God to heal him!  He thought that God was responsible for his illness.  He moaned a lot about it, but he never actually prayed for his healing.  While that may be excusable for someone in Job's time, it would not be so today.

Here we have the earliest statement of a Bible principle:  Satan sickens.  God heals.

Why you cannot be "Job II" under the New Covenant

Job did not have the New Covenant, which was the first and only covenant to give its adherents direct power over the devil himself.  The giants of faith in the Old Testament could not command the devil to stop doing anything.  Job could not have spoken to Satan himself.  But you can!

Since we know that Satan is the author of sickness, and we know that we have authority over him, we can command him to take his hands off our bodies.  Job couldn't do that, so he wasn't expected to do it.  But as a New Testament believer, you do not have to sit there and let the devil beat you up!  The devil must bow his knee when you command him to leave in the name of Jesus.

Jesus gave his followers power over all devils and all sicknesses.  Job did not have this power.

Job did not know the Mediator ("daysman").  We know that there is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:5).  Job seemed to know that if he had had one, he would not have been sick so long:

Job 16:21:

O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

Job 9:32-35:

For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.

Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me:

Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

Job 19:25:

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.

Although we would want to be careful about using any of Elihu's arguments as doctrinal proof texts, some of his words indicated that he understood the concept that atonement could remove sickness.  Amazing insight for someone of the day!  Read Job 33:19-25.

Under the New Covenant, we have the ransom Elihu talked about in Jesus Christ!  Thus, we should expect to be delivered from going down to the pit, for we have found a ransom.  Our flesh should be fresher than a child's.  We should return to the days of our youth.  In other words, we should be healed!

How do you read Job?

If you get the idea from Job that God is a meanie who will tear apart your life to test you, you are reading Job incorrectly.  Thus saith the Lord.  That's not just my opinion -- it's God's opinion.  Here is what the Lord thus saiths in James 5:11:  "Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."  You are supposed to see God's pity and tender mercy when you read Job.  Otherwise, you have not read it the way the Holy Spirit wants you to read it!  The context here is that Job (along with the prophets that James has just mentioned) was an example of patience in suffering affliction.  And he was an example of patience.  And God, in his pity and mercy, forgave Job for the bitter statements he made about him while he was in pain.

I will throw in my personal testimony that I was healed of lifelong allergy problems after reading the book of Job!  Once I saw who was doing what, I realized that God would undo the devil's works in my body, as he did for Job.  I also realized when Job spoke of a redeemer that I knew my redeemer!  Job believed that if he could just meet his redeemer, he would be free from his illness.  I had met my redeemer, and realized that I should therefore be free from my illness.  I know the very Redeemer of whom Job had only a fleeting glimpse.

I'm not suggesting that you sit and read the entire book of Job to a terminally ill person, but the fact is that faith comes by hearing all the Word of God!  If you think that reading Job takes away your faith, you are reading Job incorrectly.  Remember that Job's trial was a matter of months, not years.

The time to weep

There is a time to weep, mourn and lose.  Everyone you know will die unless Jesus returns soon, and you will no doubt weep and mourn when you lose friends and relatives.  But you do not have to be robbed by the devil.  You do not have to lose a single thing that God provided for you in Christ.  It is NEVER the time to lose in the sense of not having the victory, because God always gives you the victory and you can reign in life.  (See You win for a lot more proof of that.)

A good use for the book of Job

Knowing that Satan afflicted Job, you can list Job's ailments and know that they are the works of the devil, over which New Testament believers have authority.  Satan does not have the right to afflict you with any of these things:  Sore boils from head to toe (2:7), tossings to and fro at night (7:4), broken skin (7:5, 30:18), wearisome nights (7:3), nightmares (7:14), breaking in general (9:17), multiplied wounds (9:17), difficulty breathing (9:18), emaciation (10:10-11, 16:8, 19:20), biting yourself (13:14), weariness (16:7), unnatural wrinkles (16:8), dim eyesight from sorrow (17:7), bad breath from your illness (17:1, 19:17), skin worms (19:26), shaking (21:6), faintheartedness (23:16), pain in bones at night (30:17), bowels boiling [probably inflammation or diarrhea] (30:27), blackened skin (30:30), and fever (30:30).  If you experience these things, you know their source, and you can take authority over him!

Use Job as an encouragement rather than an objection!

Why is it that the people who make a big deal about the fact that Job got sick do not make a bigger deal out of the fact that God healed Job completely, and that there is no record of him ever getting sick again for the rest of his life (Job 42:10-17)?  Anyone who thinks he is another Job should prepare to get completely healed and blessed with twice what he had before (Job 42:10)!  Also, prepare to live another 140 years after you get healed, as Job did (Job 42:16-17).  If you do not get healed and get twice what you lost, you are not another Job.  If you stay sick more than a year, you are not another Job.  If you experience this kind of trial for more than 1% of your life, you are not another Job.  The real Job got healed.  Expecting to have to patiently endure sickness forever is contrary to the book of Job!  God healed Job!


Job  7:3
Job 7:3:

So I am made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.


Job 38:2
Job 38:2:

[God's answer to Job] Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?


Job 42: 8
Job 42:8:

Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you:  for him will I accept:  lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.


Objection:  God works in mysterious ways…
Objection:  God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.  We'll never know why he lets some people stay sick.

Proverbs 32:1:

For God worketh in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform, and cleanliness is next to godliness.

The verse above isn't in the Bible.  People quote this "mysterious ways" stuff as if it were Scriptural, and is isn't.  God's ways are not mysterious.  If he wanted them to be mysterious, he wouldn't have taken 66 books in the Bible to explain them to us!  His ways are higher than our ways, but he tells us what they are!

If you have been exposed to this religious "mysterious ways" junk, you will have to renew your mind with God's thoughts on the matter.  Otherwise, you will not be able to pray in faith for your healing, because you'll still be thinking how Aunt Sally told you that God works in mysterious ways, and that you can never figure him out.

God is not mysterious, and his ways are no secret.  Any literate person can find out what they are and cooperate with them.  God's way of healing is to give you his Word on the matter, and for you to believe it.  The fact that God wants his people healthy is one of the most clearly documented facts in the Bible for those who take the time to study it.

In Psalm 103:1-5, one of God's benefits is that he heals all your diseases.  How hard is that to understand?  In Exodus 15:26, he says that he is the Lord who heals you (or the Lord your Physician).  How mysterious is that?  James made it clear that "any sick" among us is supposed to be healed (James 5:14-16).  You don't have to be a nuclear physicist to understand that, do you?  Jesus said that we could lay hands on the sick and that they would recover (Mark 16:18).  You would have to try hard to misinterpret that statement.

It is not God, but eggheaded men, who make the will of God difficult to understand.  Some men have taken the simple gospel and made it seem like you need as many degrees as they have to completely understand it.  How did the common folk in the New Testament get healed without any such education?  Nothing is wrong with education, and you should be encouraged to get all you need.  Just don't "educate" yourself with doctrines of men that contradict the Bible.

God explains for you why some people stay sick.  Some are under judgment because they do not judge themselves.  (There is a whole discussion of judgment in this book.)  Some are in unbelief.  The people at Nazareth did not receive miracles because of their unbelief.  The disciples failed to deliver a demon-possessed boy because of their unbelief.  Other hindrances, such as unforgiveness, are discussed both in the Bible and in this book.  Most people don't know that healing is their covenant right, so they can't act on God's Word in faith.

You should not be quick to try to judge why someone else stays sick.  Only God really knows the person's heart.  You can deal with the hindrances in your own life.  The reasons that people stay sick are not mysteries, but the reason that a certain person stays sick can be a mystery to you.  You can't be sure which reason applies.  Therefore, it is true that we'll never know why some people stay sick.  However, it is definitely not because God is "letting" them stay sick, and it is definitely not because God is just being mysterious.

Saying that God "lets" people stay sick is no more intelligent than saying that God "lets" people stay unsaved in his mysterious ways.  God "lets" you stay certain ways because he will not violate your will.  The fact that God allows you to be sick (or unsaved for that matter) does not make it part of his mysterious will for your life.  God "lets" a lot of things happen in this world that are contrary to his will.  You cannot assume that just because something happens, it is the will of God.

People do not stay sick because God "lets" them stay sick.  People stay sick because they fail to receive the healing that God has already provided for them in Christ.

Jesus never told anyone to stay sick because it was part of God's mysterious will for his life.  If he never told anyone that he had to stay sick then, he will never tell anyone that he has to stay sick now.  Jesus did not "let" anyone stay sick who came to him in faith.

Read through the list of Scriptures in both Testaments in this program.  You will discover that God's will for your healing is no mystery at all.  He wants to heal you!


Objection:  Our bodies are not yet redeemed...
Objection:  Our bodies are not yet redeemed, so we are still subject to sickness

Well, tell the Apostle Paul that.  He said Jesus purchased your body in 1 Cor 6:19-20.  He said that your body was a member of Christ in 1 Cor 6:15.  Your body is still mortal (subject to death), and it is subject to sickness in the sense that you can get sick, but you don't have to stay sick.  You are redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13), which includes every sickness and every disease (Deut 28:61).

But doesn't Romans 8:23 say that we are waiting for the redemption of our bodies?  (This is a favorite verse for the anti-healing crowd.)  Not when you read it in context!  The context is that the creation will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  This is not a current event, but a future one, where our bodies will be changed from mortal to immortal.  This "redemption" of the body is a completely separate event from the purchase of your existing mortal body by the blood of Jesus, as proved by 1 Cor 6:19-20.  The Holy Spirit will quicken (give life to) your mortal body throughout this life (Romans 8:11), and you will get an immortal body after that in the time spoken of by this passage in Romans.

In case there are any doubts in your mind about Romans 8:23, let's dissect the verse itself.

"And not only they [the whole creation], but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves..."

Are we groaning because we need the latest 12-hour relief pills?  No, read this in context with Romans 8:26, where the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.  This is referring to praying in the Spirit, not to being sick.  Groaning is also referred to as something all creation does in verse 22, and all creation is certainly not sick.  The Spirit helps your infirmities; he doesn't give them to you!  We groan because we want to have our bodies changed into immortality so that we can get on with our eternal lives with our new bodies.  This is our hope that we wait for with patience (verses 24-25).

Consider that this very verse thus far states a plain case for physical healing.  Paul said that we have the "firstfruits" of the Spirit.  We don't have everything we'll have in heaven, but we have the firstfruits, or a down payment, of what we will have.  "Firstfruits" in Scripture are the beginning of a larger collection, and are made up of the same substance as the coming larger collection.  (For example, we are told to honor God with the firstfruits of our substance.)  So Paul is saying clearly that we don't have everything we're going to have later, but we have a sample now of what we're going to have later, through the Spirit.

When we receive new bodies, healing will be unnecessary because we will never be sick.  We will be in eternal good health.  However, we can enjoy the "firstfruits" of our salvation on this earth and receive healing when we are sick.  The Spirit himself is the down payment of what we will have eternally.

The fact that we have the "firstfruits" of our eternal reward now points toward, not away from, the fact that we can have physical healing now.

"Waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."

Here, the adoption is equivalent to the redemption of our body.  If you follow the objector's logic, you might conclude that we do not have the Spirit of adoption yet, but we have to wait for it.  Of course, verse 15 of the same chapter just said that we had received the Spirit of adoption.  The fact that there is a certain adoption we are waiting for does not mean that we are not adopted as God's sons now.  The fact that there is a redemption we are waiting for does not mean that we are not redeemed from sickness now.

Because Romans 8:23 clearly refers to the change of our bodies from mortality to immortality, it cannot be used to disprove our redemption from sickness.  This verse is not talking about sickness.  You will have a body that cannot get sick in the future, but that does not prove that the body you have now needs to be sick.  In fact, when you back up a dozen verses to verse 11, Paul is clearly saying that the Holy Spirit will quicken your mortal body.  That must refer to this lifetime!

You will have to wait for the "redemption" of your body referred to in Romans 8:23.  You do not have to wait at all to receive the healing of your mortal body.  The fact that you have to live in a mortal body for now does not prove that you have to live in a sick one!


Objection:  God wouldn't heal Paul's thorn in the flesh

This is the granddaddy of all objections to divine healing.  The whole objection generally goes like this:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PAUL'S THORN IN THE FLESH:  SICKNESS                          by Dr. David Duntz, PhD, DoD

The church fathers agreed that Paul's thorn was a disease.  God gave Paul a disease so that he would not get puffed up in pride.  Paul called this his thorn in the flesh.  We know it wasn't a spiritual thing because Paul specifically said that this thorn was "in the flesh."  This was what he meant when he said that he preached in Galatia because of an illness, which he plainly said in Galatians 4:13.  We can safely assume that this was a painful eye disease, because Paul talked about what an awful trial was in his flesh (Gal 4:14) and that the Galatians would have plucked their eyes out and given them to him (Gal 4:16).  This disease ruined Paul's vision so that he had to write in big letters (Gal 6:11).  In fact, he had Tertius write down Romans for him (Rom 16:22)!  His outer man was truly perishing (2 Cor 4:16).  No wonder Paul took a doctor (Luke) with him (Acts 20:6, 20:13, etc., Col 4:14)!  His bodily presence was weak (2 Cor 10:10).  Paul begged God three times to take away this disease, but God told Paul that he was better off being sick, because God's strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9).  Moreover, the Greek word used for weakness in this verse is the same word translated sickness in John 11:4, diseases in Acts 28:9, and infirmity or infirmities meaning sickness in Matthew 8:17 (that verse so often quoted by faith-maniacs), Luke 5:15, Luke 8:2, Luke 13:11, Luke 13:12, John 5:5, and one of my favorite verses, 1 Tim 5:23!  So we know that Paul meant sickness.  Sickness is even on Paul's list of sufferings in 2 Cor 11:23-27, despite what the faith teachers say.  Paul listed painfulness as one of his afflictions!  Having studied Greek extensively in seminary, I know that one of the leading Greek lexicons says that the term "messenger of Satan" can be used figuratively of an illness.  Then Paul said that he would glory in this sickness so that the power of Christ might rest upon him (2 Cor 12:9).  Furthermore, he even said that he took pleasure in being sick (2 Cor 12:10).  You can plainly see that Paul could not plainly see.  If the great apostle Paul took pleasure in his sickness, so should you.  When God chooses not to remove your sickness, you should rejoice in your weakness, knowing that you are strong in God.  God will give you "sufficient grace" (2 Cor 12:9) to deal with your illness, and you can even, with Paul, take pleasure in your sickness.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The argument above is very convincing if you don't bother studying out the Scriptures carefully.  It sounds so Biblical that many fine Christians have swallowed this dogma, to their own hurt.  There are plenty of Scripture references, right?  So what if there is nowhere else in the Bible where God was unwilling to heal someone who was right with him?  Maybe this is the exception we've been looking for that busts the idea of divine healing conclusively.  Maybe we should believe Dr. Duntz, stay sick, and write him nice testimony letters.  ("Dr. David -- I was on the verge of believing God and getting healed when I read your wonderful book.  I want you to know that I have given up on being healed and am determined to glory in my sickness just like Paul.  Thank you so much.  Love, Steve")

This is a very important objection, so I have devoted a disproportionate amount of electronic space to it.  If you believe this reasoning about Paul's thorn, you will have doubts in your mind even as you read Scriptures about healing.  Your faith will be hindered until you settle in your heart that the "Paul's thorn" argument for accepting sickness is unscriptural nonsense.

The argument sounds rock solid, but it's full of holes.  Once you see what Paul really said, you will never again struggle with doubts that either Paul or you could ever have a disease that God would not heal.

I will keep referring to the main "proof text" used, which is 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:  for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake:  for when I am weak, then I am strong.

What was Paul's thorn in the flesh?

Paul states in unmistakable terms exactly what his "thorn in the flesh" was.  His thorn in the flesh was the messenger of Satan.  It would be impossible to refer to a sickness as a messenger.  Yet, to believe in the Paul's-thorn-was-sickness deception, you must consider sickness to be that "messenger."  The only "out" here would be an Isaiah 53:4-type problem where the translators picked the wrong word.  Was messenger really the right word to use here?  Let's see.

The Greek word translated messenger in 2 Cor 10:7, angelos, appears 186 times in the New Testament.  (There is at least one case where a derivative is used; I'm only counting the main word.)  In 179 of these cases, it is translated angel.  In 7 cases, it is translated messenger.  It is never translated as anything else.

Out of these 186 cases, there is not one single case where the context could apply to something other than a sentient being.  Just so you don't have to take my word for it, I have included in this program every passage in the New Testament where this word was used.  I defy you or anyone else on the planet to prove that a disease, or a tool, or any other thing could be described by the word angel or messenger in ANY of these verses.  Go ahead and try.

Click here on "Messenger" of Satan defined if you want to see these passages.  I would encourage you to browse through them a little even if you don't think I'm lying.  It will reinforce the point to you that this messenger was a living being, not a thing or a disease.

But what about Dr. Duntz's Greek lexicon?  It is true that one of the leading Greek lexicons states that the term "messenger of Satan" can be used symbolically of an illness.  However, this work compares the usage of words in the New Testament to other early Christian literature to get clearer insights into them.  Guess what?  It can't produce a single other Greek work that uses the phrase "messenger of Satan" to refer to an illness.  The only reference it cites is 2 Corinthians 12!  What happened here, lamentably, is that the author started with an incorrect conclusion, and then said that the Greek words must mean what this dead tradition of men says it does.  (Of course, that's not quite how he put it.)  I used to wonder why people who go to seminaries and study Greek could ever reach the silly conclusions they do and be so out of harmony with the Bible and God's character.  Now I know why.  They read books like this and just accept them as gospel truth, figuring that the scholars who wrote them must have known what they were doing.  Please do your own mini-Greek study by clicking on the topic in the previous paragraph and draw your own unbiased conclusions about what "messenger" means.  The famous Greek lexicon is just plain wrong on this point.  You can't just assume a traditional conclusion and then say, "The Greek says it."

Just to point out to you how "clear" this Greek scholar's book is on Paul's thorn in the flesh, it lists the conditions which scholars have come up with as possibilities for Paul's "disease":  Epilepsy, hysteria, periodic depressions, headaches, severe eye trouble, malaria, leprosy and a speech impediment.  That's just crystal clear, isn't it?  Even the "scholars" who think it was an illness can't even agree on what it was.  It doesn't sound like they have any convincing proof; otherwise, there wouldn't be so many silly theories.  (I think eye trouble is the current favorite.)

Paul sought the Lord that it would depart from him, not that he would be healed of it.  Anyone who says Paul prayed to be healed is reading something into this passage that is simply not there.  God said that his strength was made perfect in weakness, not in sickness.  And since we know that the thorn was a messenger of Satan, we know from the context that Paul prayed that the angelic messenger of Satan would depart from him.  The word depart is the same Greek word used in Acts 12:10 to describe the fact that an angel (same word translated messenger in 2 Cor 12:7) departed from Peter.  Why should angel and depart mean one thing in 2 Cor 12:7 and another thing in Acts 12:10?

Paul said that in his infirmities, the power of Christ would rest upon him.  We know that the power of Christ heals the sick; you can find many New Testament references to power coming out of Jesus and healing the sick.  It is hard to picture an eye disease lasting very long in someone on whom the power of Christ rests!

As far as I'm concerned, we have already killed the idea that Paul's thorn was sickness.  But let's just beat it into the ground from some other angles, since so many people are caught up with it.

Thorns in the flesh in Scripture

There are three places in the Bible other than 2 Corinthians 12 where there is a figurative "thorn in the flesh."  (There is also a case in Proverbs 26:9 comparing a literal thorn going into the hand of a drunkard to a parable in the mouth of fools.)  Read these and you will see that in these cases, the "thorns" are sentient beings and not diseases or any other things, including literal thorns:

Numbers 33:55:

But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell.

Joshua 23:13:

Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

Judges 2:3:

Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.

If we are going to say that Paul's thorn was literally "in his flesh," we should also take these statements literally.  The only problem with this reasoning is that the inhabitants of the land were giants, and it would be difficult to fit them into your sides, much less your eyes.

No, "thorns in your sides" and "thorns in your eyes" are obviously figures of speech used to describe living beings (in this case the Canaanites), not diseases.  Paul is saying that this messenger of Satan was irritating, not that it was literally "in his flesh."  A modern-day equivalent would be, "People who make dead, traditional statements about Paul's thorn and fight you on healing can be a pain in the neck."  This does not mean that you experience neck pain whenever you meet such a person.  It is a figurative expression, although not a very nice one, just as "thorn in the flesh" is a figurative expression.

If you take in and flesh literally, you must conclude that Paul had a demon, because he would have a messenger of Satan in his body.  That is clearly not the case, because the messenger buffeted him, which is act that must take place from the outside, never the inside.  (More on this shortly.)

People have made a big deal about the words in and flesh, but if that is fair, I demand an equal right to make a big deal about the words thorn and the!

If you're going to take flesh literally, it seems to me that you must also take thorn literally.  This would explain Paul's thorn:  Paul's thorn in the flesh was a thorn in the flesh!  He sat down in a briar patch or leaned against a cactus somewhere and got a thorn in his flesh.  He couldn't get rid of it, and God wouldn't remove it for him.  Timothy couldn't help him because he didn't have any tweezers with him.  Sound reasonable?  No, that would hardly be "the messenger of Satan."

Paul did not say that he had a thorn in his flesh.  He said it was a thorn in the flesh.  Therefore, you cannot take the word flesh as proof that the "thorn" was "in" Paul's flesh.  If you were sick, would you way, "I have a pain in the stomach," or "The head hurts?"  No, you would refer to "my stomach" and "my head," wouldn't you?  Why should you assume that a "thorn in the flesh" means a "thorn in my flesh" when that isn't what Paul said?

Paul said that Epaphroditus and Trophimus were sick, but he never attributes that to a thorn in the flesh.  When Paul meant sick, he said sick; he didn't couch it in spiritual terms.  He never used either "thorn in the flesh" or "the messenger of Satan" to refer to anyone else's sickness.

What Paul's thorn did to him

Paul said that the messenger (angel) of Satan was sent to buffet him.  The Greek word used (Strong's #2852, kolaphizo) means "to rap with the fist" (by implication, dealing repeated blows).  This is consistent with Paul's experience, as he was frequently beaten up and tortured in various ways for preaching the gospel.  The idea is that this demonic being was behind the incidents where crowds were stirred up to stone Paul, and when mobs traveled from city to city to harm him physically.  You would not say that a disease "buffets" someone, since by definition buffeting takes place from the outside, not the inside.  Have you ever heard someone say, "This eye disease is really buffeting me?  My uncle is being buffeted with cancer."  Of course not.  Here are the other places in the New Testament where this same Greek word is used:

"Then they did spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands" -- Matthew 26:67.

"And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say to him, Prophesy:  and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands" -- Mark 14:65.

"Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace" -- 1 Cor 4:11.

"For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently?  but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." -- 1 Peter 2:20.

Buffeting in the New Testament clearly relates to being abused for preaching the gospel, not being sick.

Paul's infirmities

Paul explicitly enumerates his "infirmities."  This word can and does refer to bodily sickness in the New Testament, but it is also used to describe weakness that does not necessarily have to do with sickness.  Let's look at what Paul said in context so that we can debunk the notion that Paul was glorying in and taking pleasure in his diseases.

Paul lists his trials, which do NOT include illnesses, in 2 Cor 11:23-27.  If this thorn in the flesh were a terrible illness that he had begged God to take away, surely he would have listed it among his sufferings.  He mentions just about everything else you can think of, but there is no reference to illness.

But what about painfulness, which is included in his list of sufferings?  Couldn't that be from a sickness?  No, it couldn't.  The word translated painfulness is Strong's #3449, defined as toil or sadness (by implication).  It does not mean physical pain.  This should be clear from the other places where the same Greek word was used in the New Testament (word itself italicized below):

"For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail:  for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God." -- 1 Thess 2:9.

"Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:" -- 2 Thess 3:8.

The word simply does not mean physical pain, illness or sickness.  No way.  Forget it.

Now let's see how he continues in 2 Cor 11:28-33:

Beside those things that are without [Paul said all those trials came from the outside.  A disease would come from the inside!], that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Who is weak, and I am not weak?  who is offended, and I burn not?

If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:

And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

Here Paul is glorying in his infirmities.  His example is how he had to be let out of a city in a basket.  It does not say that Paul was a basket case; it says he was lowered in a basket.  He went through a window, not through this year's flu strain.  He is referring to his human weakness and inability, not a disease.

From the context in verse 10 (infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions and distresses), it would seem that Paul's problems were coming from the outside, not the inside, and that they were related to preaching the gospel.  Paul had just spent a good deal of space enumerating his suffering for the gospel in Chapter 11, and he nowhere mentioned sickness.

It is a fact that the same Greek word Paul used for weakness (Strong's #769) is translated sickness in John 11:4, diseases in Acts 28:9 and infirmity or infirmities in a few others.  (Dr. Duntz mentioned them all, of course.)  But this does not prove that Paul was talking about sickness, because that word, and others derived from the same root, are actually translated weak (or a related word) more often than sick (or a related word).  I have included a table of their usage in the next section to prove this.  You may refer to Strong's Concordance to verify my claims.  Moral:  Don't base your convictions on someone's interpretation of Greek until you study it out for yourself!  Dr. Duntz's Greek argument sounded pretty impressive until you read this, didn't it?

But what about Paul in Galatia?

Paul was stoned and left for dead at Lystra, Galatia.  The disciples gathered around him, and he got up!  However, we can assume that his body was in less than perfect shape after such an incident.  Paul does indeed say that he preached in Galatia at the first "through infirmity of the flesh."  But he never mentioned preaching through "infirmity of the flesh" anywhere else, including Galatia when he returned there later.  This proves that God healed Paul of whatever physical problem he had in Galatia the first time.

Another proof is in Gal 4:14:  "And the temptation which was in my flesh...."  If it was in his flesh, it was not still in his flesh when he wrote this letter, so Paul was not having eye trouble or any other kind of trouble when he wrote to the Galatians.  Thus, his problem could not have been a chronic, ongoing thing throughout his ministry as his "thorn in the flesh" was.

Also, it is going out on of a limb to claim that Paul said he preached because of a disease.  The word infirmity is also used to denote weakness or incapacity not related to disease, and Paul was probably weak after his stoning.  One would suspect this shade of meaning because Paul said that he preached through infirmity of the flesh, not through an infirmity of the flesh.  In fact, the word through used here does not often indicate a causal relationship, although there are some verses where it does.  Paul did not say that he preached because of infirmity of the flesh, although "infirmity of the flesh" is something he went "through" in Galatia.  You can't make an open-and-shut case out of the Greek words in this verse, but you should be aware that there are other shades of meaning that would be consistent with usage elsewhere in the New Testament.  In other words, Paul may well have been saying, "I preached to you in weakness," not "I preached to you because of weakness."

The Greek word translated infirmity is also used in the verses below.  It is used to describe illnesses in other places, but the point is that it can refer to weakness instead of illness:

"For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity..." -- Heb 7:28.  Surely there was no law requiring high priests to be sick, since there was one requiring them not to be sick (Leviticus 21:16-23)!

"For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:  Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity." -- Heb 5:1-2.  This did not mean that all high priests had to have high fevers.

"We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak..." -- Rom 15:1.  (This word is closely related, but not identical, to the main Greek word in question.)  Paul was not saying that we should bear weak Christians' colds for them!

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." -- Heb 4:15.  Jesus is touched with our inability to stay out of sin without God's help, having been human himself.

"The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities :  for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:  but the Spirit itself [himself] maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" -- Rom 8:26.  The Spirit helps us with our inability to pray right, not our sicknesses, although he will help you overcome your sicknesses by leading you into the truth about healing.

"I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh:  for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness." -- Rom 6:19.  Paul did not speak as he did because of the sickness of their flesh.

Here is a count of how many times this and related Greek words are translated certain ways.  The words in question are Strong's #769 through #772 -- astheneia, astheneo, asthenema, and asthenes.

Weak, weaker, weakness	35

Feeble	1

Without strength	1

-----

TOTAL "WEAK"	37

Sick, sickness	26

Impotent	3

Diseases, diseased	2

-----

TOTAL "SICK"	31

TOTAL INFIRM, INFIRMITIES

(Only 7 of these clearly signify sickness)	18

Therefore, although the word could mean sickness, you cannot prove that Paul meant sickness.  He could simply have been saying that he preached in weakness.

What does "exalted above measure" mean?

This phrase, used twice in 2 Corinthians 12:7, could be taken two ways.  Either way, it leads to another argument against your sickness being Paul's thorn in the flesh.  I personally believe that there is only one correct way to interpret the phrase.  It comes from a Greek compound word that literally means, "over-lifted."  Some have interpreted it to mean that Satan did not want Paul's ministry to be exalted, while others have interpreted it to mean that God did not want Paul to become conceited.

The ambiguity comes from Paul's use of the passive phrase, "There was given to me a thorn in the flesh," together with the reason, "lest I be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations."  Was Satan trying to stop Paul's ministry from being exalted, or was God permitting Satan to buffet Paul to prevent him from becoming conceited because he knew so much?  I don't think you can prove either interpretation from the Greek word alone.  However, given what the balance of Scripture says about humility, it would be inconsistent for this passage to say that God wanted Paul to be buffeted so that he would stay humble.  God tells us to humble ourselves.  He never says to let him humble us.  He never even offers to humble us!  Surely God is a better parent than you are.  Would you physically abuse your children to keep them humble?

The Scriptural perspective on both humility and exaltation is found in these verses:

1 Peter 5:6:

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

Luke 14:11 and Luke 18:14:

He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

James 4:10:

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

God wants you to be exalted as long as you do things his way!  "Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land" (Psalm 37:24).  Therefore, we must conclude that God wanted Paul to be exalted in that sense.  It would be Satan, not God, who would not want Paul's ministry to be exalted.  Surely you cannot think that God wants to put preachers in jail.  God did miracles to get preachers out of jail!  Jesus said that it was Satan, not God, who would throw some believers into prison in Revelation 2:10.

Thus, the only consistent interpretation of this word is similar to the King James rendering, exalted above measure, where exaltation is a positive thing, not a negative thing.

However, if you still insist on interpreting it the other way, it makes an equally compelling argument why you do not have a "thorn in the flesh."  If Paul needed it to stay humble despite his great revelations, you must have great revelations to qualify for a thorn in the flesh.  Have you had any great revelations?  I doubt it.  If you really had the revelations that Paul did, you would be out doing what Paul did.  Like Paul, you would be getting healed yourself and going out and getting lots of other people healed!

Who gave Paul his thorn in the flesh?

It was Satan's idea, not God's, to give Paul a thorn in the flesh.  Satan was the one who sent Paul's thorn in the flesh, as is clear from Paul's words.  Satan certainly did not send it to keep Paul humble!  Why would Satan do something to help keep Paul out of pride?  He would have wanted Paul to get into pride!

Paul did not beg the Lord three times to remove something that he thought the Lord had put on him.  Paul begged the Lord that it would depart from him.  There is a difference!  It is true that God allowed it.  He does allow persecutions on the earth.  You are not redeemed from persecution for righteousness' sake; you are guaranteed it!  But if Paul were convinced that his thorn were from God, he would not have asked God to have it depart from him.  Would you want anything that is of God to depart from you, given that all good things come from God?

This leads to another question.  If Satan gave Paul his thorn, and Paul taught that we reign in life, seated with Jesus in the heavenlies far above Satan, why didn't Paul take authority over Satan and make him stop the persecution?  Again, the servant is not above his master.  Jesus was persecuted.  He did not "believe away" or "confess away" his persecution.  God protected him from those who wanted to kill him, but Jesus did not make the devil stop sending people to criticize and harass him and even try to kill him.  The devil has a right to be here, and God will permit people to speak their minds even when their minds are full of garbage.

The bottom line is that God's grace was sufficient for Paul.  God's grace allowed Paul to finish his course with joy.  God's grace enabled Paul to fulfill his ministry despite what Satan did through his messenger.  You should expect God's grace to be sufficient for you, too.  If sickness cuts you down in mid-life, you cannot finish your course, and you have not partaken of this grace that is sufficient to give you victory in every trial.  Paul had more trials than many of us put together, yet because of the grace that was sufficient for him, he was able to report in the same book (in 2 Corinthians 2:14) that God always caused him to triumph in Christ!  God's grace was always greater than Satan's attacks, so Paul lived in victory.  He did not go through life defeated by a "thorn in the flesh," so neither should you.

Paul preached healing!

We know that Paul preached that healing was available because of the account in Acts 14:7-10.  Paul did not heal the man.  The man received faith to be healed listening to Paul preach the gospel, and Paul just told him to act on his faith.  Since faith comes by hearing God's Word, Paul must have preached healing to the man.  It was not Paul's doctrine at Lystra that sickness is a thorn in the flesh to be patiently endured.  So it was certainly not his doctrine later.

Paul did not tell the multitudes who were healed when handkerchiefs were brought from his body that sickness was a thorn in the flesh.  He did not tell all the sick people on the island in Acts 28 that they had to endure sickness as a thorn in the flesh -- he got them all healed.  You can be sure that Paul's doctrine did not include being sick to stay humble.  How would these people have been healed if Paul told them that he himself was sick for some purpose?  That would not build faith in anyone.  The minute you tell someone that God makes exceptions to healing (wrong), people will assume that they are in that exceptional category.  The flesh will receive unbelief more readily than truth, and if you give people an excuse, they will generally take it.

Would the same Paul who taught that healing was in the Atonement, that the same price paid at Calvary bought both our body and our Spirit, and that our body belongs to God (1 Cor 6:19-20), believe that his own body was exempt from this?  Would the same Paul who said that the Lord was for the body (1 Cor 6:13) conclude that the Lord was against his own body?

Paul preached that sickness can be judgment for sin

Paul talked about homosexuals receiving just recompense in their bodies for their sin in Romans 1.  Illness is obviously implied but not stated.  So Paul's theology is that sickness is a curse, not a normal part of Christian life.  Paul said that many in Corinth were weak and sickly and many were prematurely dead because of bad attitudes toward the things of God and the body of Christ.  We must conclude that Paul taught, along with the rest of Scripture, that sickness is a curse and a consequence of sin, not a normal part of Christian life.  He said the Corinthians were sick and dying for a cause -- because of their sin.  Paul was not mistreating his brothers and sisters in the Lord or treating the Lord's ordinances lightly.  He had no cause to be weak, sick, or prematurely dead.  If Paul were sick, how would the Corinthians (to whom he wrote 1 and 2 Corinthians!) take him seriously when he said they were sick for a reason?  They would have wondered what Paul did to get sick himself!

A pipe carrying water gets wet!

When you are used as a channel of blessing to others, that very blessing will manifest in your life.  It is inconsistent with the gospel that everyone else would be healed, but that the man "sowing" healing would have to remain sick and not "reap" healing himself!  This would contradict Galatians 6:7 ("Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap") and Ephesians 6:8 ("Whatsoever good any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord"), to say nothing of  2 Timothy 2:6 ("The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits") and Deuteronomy 25:4 ("Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn").  According to this principle, if you are providing benefits for others, you are entitled to enjoy some of that harvest yourself.  Paul, laboring in God's harvest and bringing healing to multitudes, could not be excluded from being healed himself because of this principle.  As some like to say, a pipe carrying water gets wet!

What about all those Scriptures proving that Paul had an eye disease?

What Scriptures?  There is not a single verse in the Bible that proves that Paul had an eye disease.  And there are many good reasons to believe he didn't.  This is a myth that arose from making unwarranted conclusions from a few verses.

Gal 6:11:

Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

From the Greek words for large and letter, this could either mean, "See what big print I used" or "See what a long letter I wrote to you."  The latter would seem to fit the context better, although you cannot conclusively prove one translation or another by reading the Greek.  At least one Greek manuscript has letters in the plural, and at least one puts it in the singular.  It appears that the King James Version was translated from one that put it in the singular.  (This raises an important point to consider when people tell you that the original Greek says something.  There are different Greek versions in circulation based on different manuscripts, just as there are different English editions.)

The Greek word for letter can mean either a letter of the alphabet or a letter written to someone.  It is used both ways in the New Testament, so there is no conclusive proof either way based on this word.  The word for how large is also inconclusive given its other New Testament use in Hebrews 7:4, where it talks about how great Melchisedec was.  Based on the words alone, "how large a letter" could mean either how long the epistle was or how large the letters were.  Of course, if you use certain Greek manuscripts, you would have to go with the second option.  It is beyond the scope of this book to get into why certain manuscripts have been preferred over others.  (I have read Greek "proofs" that the word for large must refer to the epistle and not the letters, but I am not convinced.  Size is the issue whether it is the size of the epistle or the size of the letters.  Perhaps you Greek experts out there can make a case proving that Paul meant the size of the letters.  I can't prove it, and I'm not going to parrot someone else's argument that I cannot prove myself.)

One commentator points out that all Greek writing of the day was fairly large, and if Paul had to write any larger than that, he would probably have been blind.  I was not around then and cannot vouch for that, but it is an interesting point.

I would not claim conclusive proof either way, but I would lean toward the "long letter to the Galatians" interpretation because it can fit into the context in a way that the "big letters" interpretation cannot.  In the verses that follow, Paul compares himself to the fake apostles who just want to make a show in the flesh.  You could read the "long letter" interpretation in context to mean, "Look how much I care for you , as shown by the effort I put into writing you this long letter myself with my own hand.  Some preachers don't care about your well-being at all, but just want to glory in your flesh."  That would at least flow into the next verses, while I can't find a reasonable way that "Look at the big letters I used when I handwrote this letter" would flow into the next verses.

If you want to weigh this one yourself, the next verses are:  "As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.  For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I unto the world."

I am not claiming conclusive proof for either interpretation; I don't believe that there is firm proof either way.  Given that this is the case, opponents of healing cannot use this as a "proof text" that Paul used big letters.  I believe that the evidence leans the other way.

Even if Paul did use big letters, that still does not prove that he did so because he had an eye problem!

Now what about the fact that Paul dictated letters (as he dictated Romans to Tertius)?  That does not prove that he could not see straight.  If the chairman of a big corporation dictates a letter to his secretary, is that proof that he can't see straight?  It is probable that Paul dictated most of his letters, given Gal 6:11 above.  He may have had to.  Paul spent a lot of time in jail.  I don't know how jailers then felt about giving Paul a pen and paper to write notes to his friends, but it is possible that the jailers did not want Paul to write escape plans or use a pen as a weapon to make an escape.

But what about Gal 4:15, where the Galatians would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to Paul?  This is possibly nothing more than a simple statement of affection.  Even if Paul had temporary eye trouble at the first from his stoning (also very possible), he surely did not keep it.  Since the trouble Paul had in Galatia was only "at the first" and not ongoing, we know that this definitely could not have been a lingering eye problem that was a "thorn in the flesh" to Paul.

But why did Paul take Doctor Luke with him?  To help him preach the gospel, of course.  Luke may have been a doctor, but his authorship of Luke and the book of Acts demonstrates that he was no mere hired nurse to take care of Paul's medical problems!

What about Paul talking about the outward man perishing?  He means that our bodies are mortal.  We will all die eventually unless Jesus comes back soon.  Paul could not have meant that a disease was killing him before he could finish his course for God, because Paul did finish his course.  Although the Bible does not state it explicitly, historical tradition is that Paul was martyred.  He did not die of any kind of illness.

What about his bodily presence being weak?  Paul was simply saying that he was accused of not being much of a Hollywood act when he was ministering; his appearance and speech were unimpressive.  See the next section for a good rebuttal of the idea that Paul was physically weak.

If Paul had eye trouble, why did he "set his eyes on" the sorcerer in Acts 13 while saying something fairly lengthy?  How could he "stedfastly behold" the man at Lystra?  Why would the man at Lystra get faith to be healed looking at someone who was suffering from a terrible eye disease?  For that matter, why would anyone else in Paul's ministry receive faith to be healed while listening to a man with an obvious, chronic problem?

If Paul's eyes were so bad, then why, near the end of his life, did he ask Timothy to bring him books and parchments?  I don't imagine that they had special large-print editions of everything back then.  Paul would not have asked for things that he couldn't read!

If Paul's eyes were bad, wouldn't it be ironic that he was used to heal all the sick people on an island, but had to stay sick himself?  (The Greek word translated others in the phrase, "Others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed," means the remaining ones in Greek, not simply some other people.)  Why would people throng to a visibly sick man and expect healing?  If they saw Publius well and Paul sick, they probably would have figured they had a 50/50 chance of being healed.  Also notice that Paul didn't tell anyone to keep his illness because it was a thorn in the flesh.  They all were healed.

The anointing on Paul was so strong at Ephesus that handkerchiefs that had touched his body caused diseases to depart from those they touched (Acts 19:11-12).  So it would be doubtful that an illness would have survived in Paul's body.  Besides, if he had an eye infection or some other obvious disease, the people would have avoided touching anything that had touched Paul, rather than touching others with items that had been on Paul's body!  In fact, people should have been bringing anointed cloths to HIM if he had a disease.  Of course, Paul could simply have taken one of the anointed cloths and laid it on himself if he were sick!

If Paul were sick, he could not have said to Agrippa, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains" (Acts 26:29).  It is obvious that Paul did not want anyone sick, as he kept getting the sick healed in his ministry.  If Paul were chronically ill, he would have had to tell Agrippa, "I wish you were all like me, except for these chains and this darned disease that God won't take away because it's my thorn in the flesh."

If Paul was sick, why did he tell the Romans, "And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ" (Romans 15:29)?  It was common knowledge that Paul brought healing when he preached the gospel and that this was part of the gospel of Christ.  When Christ himself came and preached the gospel, healing was a notable part of it.  In fact, the Bible pattern is that this part of the gospel should attract the attention of sinners.  If Paul were sick, he would not be coming in the fulness of the gospel as it was known then.  How sad that anyone today could think that "the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ" does not include physical healing now as it did then!

The Bible does not even insinuate that the apostle Paul had an incurable eye disease, or any other ongoing disease, for that matter.

Compare your health to Paul's!

If you think Paul was sick, read 2 Corinthians and compare what his body endured to what you think you could endure.  He walked all over the map to preach the gospel.  He was often poorly clothed, poorly fed and cold during his journeys.  He was often sleepless and fasting.  He was lashed 39 times on 5 different occasions, beaten with rods 3 times, stoned and left for dead once, and shipwrecked 3 times.  This man was amazing!  How do you think you would have held up under these circumstances?  Would people today who think they have to endure a thorn in the flesh be able to keep up with Paul in his travels, and "faint not" (2 Cor 4:1)?  Why do people think they have to live with their illness instead of expecting that "the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our body...the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor 4:10-11), as Paul did?

If anything, Paul's physical survival despite these tortures and problems is a testimony to the ability of the Holy Spirit to "quicken our mortal body," as Paul wrote (Romans 8:11).

Paul told Timothy that he had finished his course (2 Tim 4:7), so his "thorn" did not shorten his life.  How could Paul have labored more abundantly than the other alleged apostles at Corinth (2 Cor 11:23) if he was such a sick, weak man?  Paul worked day and night in secular labor to pay for his preaching expenses at Thessalonica (2 Thess 3:8), and then preached on top of that!  Not bad for someone who was likely stoned to death and raised to life at Lystra!  He says in 1 Cor 15:32 that he fought with beasts at Ephesus.  (It does not seem that this would refer to people, since the disciples would not let Paul into the theater when there was an uproar, and there is no account in Acts 19 that Paul actually got into fights with anyone at Ephesus; he avoided fights with men there.)  How would you like to fight with wild animals while in perfect health?

Can you see the utter stupidity of thinking that cancer that confines you to a sickbed in pain could possibly be your "thorn in the flesh?"  Would you be able to live as Paul did with his thorn in the flesh?  No!  Then what you have is not what Paul called his thorn in the flesh!  If you cannot "labor abundantly" as Paul did for the Gospel's sake, your condition has nothing on earth to do with Paul's thorn, since Paul's thorn didn't stop him from finishing his course and doing everything God wanted him to do.

Strength in weakness

Does God make you strong while he makes you weak with sickness?  Is God some kind of schizoid wacko who makes you weak so that his strength can make you strong in your weakness?  That's confusing, isn't it?

The fact that God strengthened Paul in his weakness should show you that God is into strengthening his saints, not weakening them.  It was the people who beat Paul who weakened him, not God.  God is our strength, not our weakness!  If you don't believe that, check out the section on Weakness to see a huge list of Scriptures about God being your strength!

Paul rejoiced because of the strength of God that manifested itself in his weakness.  How can anyone who has nothing but weakness in his body think that he is in Paul's condition?  If God's strength is not manifesting itself in you, you aren't like Paul.  Paul was made strong in his weakness.  This is yet more proof that God is the Healer and not the Sickener.  If you aren't made strong in your weakness, you certainly aren't in Paul's position.

Sufficient, not insufficient, grace

God said that his grace was sufficient for Paul.  How can people stay sick and think that that they have Paul's thorn in the flesh?  They must think that God's grace is insufficient for their healing.  God kept Paul alive until he had accomplished all that God wanted him to do.  God healed Paul every time his persecutors beat him up.  Compare this to alleged "thorns in the flesh" that cut good men down in the prime of life, leaving the will of God in their lives largely undone.

If the church fathers believed Paul's thorn was a disease, they were wrong

Many great historical church figures did not know about the baptism of the Holy Spirit or many other things that we take for granted today.  We can admire them for the work they did.  But the only valid test of doctrine is Scripture itself, not the opinions of church leaders.  It does not matter if all great figures in church history believed that Paul's thorn was an illness.  If they did, they were wrong.  Paul said it was a messenger of Satan, not an illness.  Luther and Calvin, to name two, did not believe that Paul's thorn was a sickness, so it is an overgeneralization to say that "all" historical teachers taught that.

Paul's thorn didn't stop anyone else from getting healed through his ministry

As a famous healing minister asked a long time ago, if Paul's thorn in the flesh didn't stop anyone from getting healed in his ministry, why should it stop anyone TODAY from being healed?  Think about it.  Given Paul's success in healing the sick, he couldn't possibly have been preaching the "God wouldn't heal me," "Put-up-with-your-sickness-through-God's-strength" version of 2 Cor 12:7-10 cited so often by critics of divine healing.  If Paul really believed himself what unenlightened Christians say today, that God lets some people be sick as a thorn in the flesh, Paul surely would have made some exceptions instead of healing all the sick people on the island of Melita.  Paul did not practice what some people accuse him of saying in 2 Cor 12:7-10.

Summary

God didn't heal Paul's thorn in the flesh because it was not an illness!  It was an angel of Satan sent to get Paul beaten up everywhere he went.  Although we are redeemed from sickness, we are not redeemed from persecution for the gospel's sake.  If you are being tortured for your faith, we might listen to you talk about a thorn in the flesh buffeting you.  If you are simply sick, your condition has nothing to do with what Paul was discussing.  Sickness is not, and never has been, a "thorn in the flesh" that God will not remove!  God could not legally require you to endure something that Jesus bore for you and redeemed you from!


Revelation  2:10
Revelation 2:10:

Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days:  be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.


"Messenger" of Satan defined

If we are to believe that Paul's thorn in the flesh was an illness, we must believe that the word messenger in the phrase, "the messenger of Satan sent to buffet me" refers to a disease or a thing, not a person.  Since the Greek word used for messenger (Strong's #32, angelos) appears often in the New Testament, let's look at all the places in the New Testament where this same Greek word is used, and see what conclusion we reach.  I have underlined the word into which angelos was translated in each verse below.  I have left out one case where a related word that means angelic was translated "as the angels."  The summary statistics are shown at the end.

By the way, if you ever want to do a study on angels in the New Testament, here is a good place to start!

"But while he [Joseph] thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream..." -- Matthew 1:20.

"Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him" -- Matthew 1:24.

"Behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother..."  -- Matthew 2:13.

"But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother..." -- Matthew 2:19-20.

"He shall give his angels charge concerning thee..." -- Matthew 4:6.

"Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him." -- Matthew 4:11.

"But what went ye out to see?  A prophet?  yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.  For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee." -- Matthew 11:9-10.

"The harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels." -- Matthew 13:39.

"The Son of man shall send forth his angels..." -- Matthew 13:41.

"The angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just" -- Matthew 13:49.

"For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels..." -- Matthew 16:27.

"That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven" -- Matthew 18:10.

"For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." -- Matthew 22:30.

"And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect..." -- Matthew 24:31.

"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven..." -- Matthew 24:36.

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him..." -- Matthew 25:31.

"Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" -- Matthew 25:41.

"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" -- Matthew 26:53.

"And behold, there was a great earthquake, for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it." -- Matthew 28:2.

"And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye..." -- Matthew 28:5.

"As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.  The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."  -- Mark 1:2-3.

"And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him." -- Mark 1:13.

"Of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." -- Mark 8:38.

"They neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven." -- Mark 12:25.

"And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather the elect from the four winds..." -- Mark 13:27.

"But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven..." -- Mark 13:32.

"And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.  And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias..." -- Luke 1:11-13.

"And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this?  for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.  And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel..." -- Luke 1:18-19.

"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God..." -- Luke 1:26.

"And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured..." -- Luke 1:28.

"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary..."  -- Luke 1:30.

"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?  And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee..." -- Luke 1:34-35.

"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.  And the angel departed from her." -- Luke 1:38.

"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:  and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not..." -- Luke 2:9-10.

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God..." -- Luke 2:13.

"As the angels were gone away from them into heaven..." -- Luke 2:15.

"His name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb" -- Luke 2:21.

"He shall give his angels charge over thee..." -- Luke 4:10.

"And when the messengers of John [who asked if Jesus was the Messiah or if they should look for another (v.19)] were departed..." -- Luke 7:24.

"But what went ye out to see?  A prophet?  Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.  This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee." -- Luke 7:26-27.

"Of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels." -- Luke 9:26.

"And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before his face:  and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him." -- Luke 9:51-52.

"Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:  But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God." -- Luke 12:8-9.

"There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." -- Luke 15:10.

"The beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom..." -- Luke 16:22.

"Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me:  nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him." -- Luke 22:42-43.

"Saying, that they had also had a vision of angels, which said that he was alive." -- Luke 24:23.

"Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." -- John 1:51.

"For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water:  whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." -- John 5:4.

"The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered:  others said, An angel spake to him." -- John 12:29.

"And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain." -- John 20:12.

"But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth..." -- Acts 5:19.

"And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly at him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel" -- Acts 6:15.

"There appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush." -- Acts 7:30.

"The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush" -- Acts 7:35.

"This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers..." -- Acts 7:38.

"Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it." -- Acts 7:53

"And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south..." -- Acts 8:26.

"He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God, coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius." -- Acts 10:3.

"And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius departed..." -- Acts 10:7.

"Cornelius...was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of  thee." -- Acts 10:22.

"And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said into him, Send men to Joppa..." -- Acts 11:13.

"And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon  him, and a light shined in the prison:  and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly.  And his chains fell off from his hands.  And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself...and he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision...and forthwith the angel departed from him.  And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod..." -- Acts 12:7-11.

"Then said they, it is his angel." -- Acts 12:15.

"And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory…" -- Acts 12:23.

"For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit..." -- Acts 23:8.

"We find no evil in this man, but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God." -- Acts 23:9.

"For there stood by me this night an angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not..." -- Acts 27:23-24.

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers..." -- Romans 8:38.

"We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." -- 1 Cor 4:9.

"Know ye not that we shall judge angels?" -- 1 Cor 6:3.

"For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels." -- 1 Cor 11:10.

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels..." -- 1 Cor 13:1.

"And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." -- 2 Cor 11:14.

"There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me..." -- 2 Cor 12:7.

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel..." -- Gal 1:8.

"And it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." -- Gal 3:19.

"And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus." -- Gal 4:14.

"Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels..." -- Col 2:18.

"When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels" -- 2 Thess 1:7.

"Justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles..." -- 1 Tim 3:16.

"I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things..." -- 1 Tim 5:21.

"Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.  For unto which of the angels said he at any time..." -- Heb 1:4-5.

"And let all the angels of God worship him.  And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits..." -- Heb 1:6-7.

"But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand..." -- Heb 1:13.

"For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast..." -- Heb 2:2.

"For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come..." -- Heb 2:5.

"Thou madest him a little lower than the angels..." -- Heb 2:7.

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death..." -- Heb 2:9.

"For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham." -- Heb 2:16.

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels" -- Heb 12:22.

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:  for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." -- Heb 13:2.

"Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?" -- James 2:25.

"Which things the angels desire to look into" -- 1 Peter 1:12.

"Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him." -- 1 Peter 3:22.

"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell..." -- 2 Peter 2:4.

"Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord." -- 2 Peter 2:11.

"And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation..." -- Jude 6.

"And he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John" -- Rev 1:1.

"The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches..." -- Rev 1:20.

"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write..." -- Rev 2:1.

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write..." -- Rev 2:8.

"And unto the angel of the church Pergamos write..." -- Rev 2:12.

"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write..." -- Rev 2:18.

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write..." -- Rev 3:1.

"But I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." -- Rev 3:5.

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write..." -- Rev 3:7.

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write..." -- Rev 3:14.

"And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy..." -- Rev 5:2.

"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne..." -- Rev 5:11.

"I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth..." -- Rev 7:1.

"And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God:  and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea" -- Rev 7:2.

"And all the angels stood round about the throne..." -- Rev 7:11.

"And I saw the seven angels that stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer..." -- Rev 8:2-3.

"And the smoke...ascended up before God out of the angel's hand."  -- Rev 8:4.

"And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar..." -- Rev 8:5.

"And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound." -- Rev 8:6.

"The first angel sounded, and there followed hail..." -- Rev 8:7.

"And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea..." -- Rev 8:8.

"And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven..." -- Rev 8:10.

"And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten..." -- Rev 8:12.

"And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" -- Rev 8:13.

"And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth..." -- Rev 9:1.

"And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon..." -- Rev 9:11.

"And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.  And the four angels were loosed..." -- Rev 9:13-15.

"And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud:  and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire" -- Rev 10:1.

"And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven" -- Rev 10:5.

"But in the days of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound..." -- Rev 10:7.

"Go, and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.  And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book..." -- Rev 10:8-9.

"And I took the little book out of the angel's hand..." -- Rev 10:10.

"And the angel stood, saying, Rise..." -- Rev 11:1.

"And the seventh angel sounded..." -- Rev 11:15.

"And there was war in heaven:  Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels" -- Rev 12:7.

"He [Satan] was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." -- Rev 12:9.

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel..." -- Rev 14:6.

"And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen..." -- Rev 14:8.

"And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast..." -- Rev 14:9.

"And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb" -- Rev 14:10.

"And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice..." -- Rev 14:15.

"And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire..." -- Rev 14:17-18.

"And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth..." -- Rev 14:19.

"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God." -- Rev 15:1.

"And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues..." -- Rev 15:6.

"And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials..." -- Rev 15:7.

"And no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled." -- Rev 15:8.

"And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways..." -- Rev 16:1.

"And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea..." -- Rev 16:3.

"And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers..." -- Rev 16:4.

"And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous..." -- Rev 16:5.

"And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun..." -- Rev 16:8.

"And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast..." -- Rev 16:10.

"And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates..." -- Rev 16:12.

"And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air..." -- Rev 16:17.

"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials..." -- Rev 17:1.

"And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel..." -- Rev 17:7.

"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power..." -- Rev 18:1.

"And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence..." -- Rev 18:21.

"And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying..." -- Rev 19:17.

"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key..." -- Rev 20:1.

"And there came unto me one of the angels which had the seven vials..." -- Rev 21:9.

"And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels..." -- Rev 21:12.

"According to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel." -- Rev 21:17.

"The Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done." -- Rev 22:6.

"I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel which shewed me these things." -- Rev 22:8.

"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things..." -- Rev 22:16.

Summary statistics:

Number of cases where angelos was translated angel, angels, angel's	179

Number of cases where angelos was translated messenger, messengers	7

Total number of times the word angelos is used in the New Testament	186

Total number of cases where the word angelos is clearly referring to a

sentient being, and definitely not a thing or disease	186

Total number of cases where the word angelos could conceivably refer to

a disease or any other object that is not a sentient being	0

This should be proof to even the most stubborn healing critic that Paul's thorn in the flesh, a messenger (angelos) of Satan, was a sentient being, not a disease.


Objection:  Paul first preached at Galatia due to...
Objection:  Paul first preached at Galatia due to a physical infirmity

Paul was stoned and left for dead at Lystra, Galatia.  (According to a map in the back of one of my Bibles,  Lystra was part of Galatia, along with Derbe and Iconium.)  If you had just been stoned and left for dead at Lystra, you might have an "infirmity of the flesh," too!  Paul continued to preach immediately despite what had happened.  It was only "at the first."  Obviously, God healed Paul and he went on to other places.  Much later, on his second missionary journey, Paul returned to Galatia.  We can assume that Paul no longer considered this "at the first" and that he was healed by then.  After all, he talked about "the trial that was in my flesh" when he wrote to the Galatians, not "the trial that I have been carrying around in my flesh that God calls my thorn in the flesh!"

In fairness, we should look at this entire passage, because critics often cite it in relation to Paul's thorn in the flesh:

Galatians 4:13-15:

Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel to you at the first.

Any my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Where is then the blessedness ye spake of?  for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

This has been used to "prove" that Paul had an eye disease, but these verses do not prove that.  First, the expression, "would have plucked out your own eyes" is possibly a statement of affection that is not to be taken literally.  Second, it is possible that some of the rocks thrown at him in Lystra did injure Paul's eyes, but that is quite a different story from getting a disease somewhere.  And at any rate, this trial did not continue, so Paul obviously got healed even if he was having eye trouble.

Since Paul never mentions sickness or disease of any kind in his list of trials in 2 Cor 11:23-27, and practically every other kind of trial imaginable is listed there, we must conclude that Paul was not having a problem with some terrible disease.

This is proof, as cited in the Paul's thorn in the flesh answer, that whatever this problem was could not have been Paul's "thorn in the flesh."  Paul could not get rid of his "thorn in the flesh," but he obviously got rid of whatever condition this was.  Obviously, God healed Paul of whatever infirmity he had "at the first," because he never mentioned preaching anywhere else at any time "through infirmity of the flesh."

Another hint to the nature of Paul's infirmity is found in Gal 6:17 -- Paul bore in his body the marks of the Lord Jesus.  These marks were from his ill treatment, not from chicken pox or some other disease.

Thus, this verse can be used as a healing scripture, not as a "sickening scripture" the way some would use it.  If God healed Paul of his infirmity, you know he desires to do the same for you.

See the Paul's Thorn reply for an elaboration on this answer.


Objection:  Anointing with oil in James is...medicinal
Objection:  Anointing with oil in James is intended to be medicinal

This is another one of those go-read-your-Bible-for-crying-out-loud objections.

Someone based this on the (supposed) fact that the word for anoint means to smear or rub in, and that in effect the sick person was to be given a massage with oil.  This word can be demonstrated to be used in a different context in the Greek Septuagint (where it does mean anoint as we would do it as opposed to smearing all over in one instance).  However, I don't consider it necessary to prove that, given the obvious English in the passage in James.

James 5:15 plainly states, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick."  It is praying in faith, not oil, that does the job.  Then we see, "The Lord shall raise him up."  James did not say that the oil massage would raise the person up -- it is the Lord's doing, not the oil's doing.  This should be obvious to anyone with any sense who is not reading through religion-colored goggles.

Since James 5:14-16 covers instructions for "any sick," does it make sense that putting oil on any sick person, even an incurable one, would heal him?  If you really believe that, go out to some hospital that will let a kook like you in, and try smearing oil all over everyone and see if they get up healed.  If oil could cure incurable diseases, sinners would already be selling it to patients at a 900% markup and collecting the money from the insurance companies.  Everyone would be buying oil instead of oat bran, melatonin, or whatever the latest fad is.  Since James' instructions are for "any" sick, not just the sick with curable conditions, you would have to prove that an oil massage can cure an otherwise incurable ailment.

James was not advocating aromatherapy.  It was the prayer of faith, not the oil, that got the job done.


Objection:  Healing and miracles are not for this current...
Objection:  Healing and miracles are not for this current dispensation

This requires a belief that we are in a different "dispensation" than the early Church.  Yet in that time, there have been no new covenants, no new doctrines, and no change in the way that God deals with men.  We are in the same "dispensation" now as the people in the book of Acts, whether we take advantage of it or not.  The Bible nowhere indicates that miracles would cease "when the last apostle died," as is commonly said today.

Those who make this argument claim that God changed the way he dealt with men after the last apostle died.  Supposedly, the signs and wonders were to convince men that Jesus was the Messiah, but now we supposedly don't need these proofs because we have the New Testament.  The hobbyhorse verse quoted in connection with this is 1 Cor 13:8-10:  "Charity never faileth:  but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when the perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away."  This is often used to explain away the gifts of the Spirit (technically the manifestations of the Spirit) for our day.

Well, let's see what else will happen when the perfect comes.  See verse 12:  "For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face:  now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."  Do you know everything now?  Is everything clear to you?  If so, I'd like to meet you, because I've never met anyone who knows as well as God knows him.  If we do not know even as we also are known, the perfect has not come yet.  And if the perfect has not yet come, prophecies, tongues, words of knowledge, miracles, healings, and so on, are still for us today.

Also, please note Paul's words in verse 12:  "Now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known."  Paul said he would know fully when the perfect had come!  (He was known perfectly by God, so to know even as he was known means to know perfectly.)  Although Paul wrote a little under a third of the New Testament, even he did not know perfectly!  If Paul's writings of the New Testament were the "perfect" coming, Paul should have known most things, if not everything, since he wrote so much of it!  So Paul was saying that even he knew imperfectly.

Since Paul said that he would know fully when the perfect came in verse 12, we cannot set the date of the "perfect" coming with the settling of the New Testament canon, which did not take place during Paul's lifetime!  That alone proves that Paul could not have meant the completion of the New Testament and agreement upon its constituent books.  Paul had to have been referring to a future time in glory and not his present lifetime.  That should completely settle this matter right there!

The fact that Paul did not know fully doesn't mean that anything he wrote is wrong.  It just means that there are things that he didn't know that we won't know until the perfect comes.  Paul talks of a man who went to heaven and heard things that it is not lawful for a man to utter.  We don't know what things these are, so we can't know perfectly in this lifetime.  If we could, we would know these things that are not lawful for a man to utter, too.  But how can you know them if no one can say them?

A man with some Greek skills stated that Paul could not have been talking about Christ's coming because "the perfect" is a neuter construction instead of a masculine one.  He said that if Christ had been the subject, a masculine construction would have been used.  I agree with that, but disagree that Christ is the subject.  The subject is "the perfect" or perfect things, not Christ himself, and "the perfect" would also be correctly written as a neuter construction in Greek.  You cannot prove any distinction from it.  You can tell that to anyone who gets Greeky on you about these verses.

It is nowhere stated in the Bible that anything would change when the last apostle died.  That is a pure fabrication of men, the sort that the Pharisees made up, that makes the Word of God void by man's tradition.

To say that divine healing is not for today is to slice the Great Commission in half.  The Great Commission becomes only "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."  The part about "They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" becomes the Great Omission.  This means that Jesus wants you to preach to the unsaved under tougher conditions than the apostles, since you won't have any signs following you.  It takes more faith to believe that the Great Commission could be bisected than it does to believe for healing!

If divine healing is not for today, how will you explain the many documented healings that are still going on today?  Incurable diseases are still being healed through faith in Jesus Christ.  How are these sick being healed if this is not available today?  How are they getting from God something that he no longer offers in this dispensation?

It is just plain wrong to assert that miracles stopped with the last apostle.  There are accounts of large numbers of healings and people being raised from the dead from the time of Christ up through the 400's, and from the 1700's on.  They did not stop with the last apostle.  The history books alone disprove this claim.  Besides, the last apostle isn't dead yet, because God is still commissioning apostles today, although not in the sense of the 12 original apostles of the Lamb, a group to which even the miracle-working Paul did not belong.  (If you don't believe that, read Ephesians 4:11 and the verses that follow and see the purpose of apostles and other ministry gifts.  Since their goals have not been accomplished yet, they are still necessary.  Paul mentions other apostles who were not part of the original 12 either.  There are still apostles today!)

I read a secular historian's account of the things that happened during the Great Awakening here in New England.  Everywhere, people were contracting a new "disease" called "the jerks" -- shaking uncontrollably and usually falling over when the gospel was preached with power by heaven-commissioned evangelists.  This historian noted that the most violent opponents of the gospel were often the first to contract this condition!  Psychologists invented explanations for it, but it was the power of God!

To say that healing is not for our day is to accuse both God and Jesus of changing -- something neither can do (Malachi 3:6, Heb:13:8, James 1:17).  God has always been willing to heal his people, and Jesus did only the will of God on the earth.  If they have not changed, their ability and willingness to heal have not changed.

Many of the healings in the New Testament occurred because of a person's faith, not because of the gifts of the Spirit.  For proof, read the discussion, According to YOUR FAITH be it unto you!  Gal 3:5-6 says that God does miracles through the hearing of faith.  If healing and miracles are not for today, we must conclude that faith is not for today, since faith produces healing and miracles.

Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 that men could cast out devils and do works in his name without even knowing him personally!  There is no indication that this statement applies only to a certain generation back then.

The claim that we are in a different, harder-to-be-healed-in dispensation is the raving of ivory-tower theologians who don't read their Bibles.  You will not find one Scripture to support this absurd idea.


Objection:  Today doctors have replaced...faith healing
Objection:  Today doctors have replaced the ancient practice of faith healing

This can't be so.  People in the Bible were healed of incurable diseases, but doctors cannot cure you of incurable diseases.  To say that doctors replace divine healing today is to say that God does not heal incurable diseases anymore today.  It is to say that God, who himself declares that he heals all diseases (see Psalm 103:1-5 and elsewhere) now uses only human vessels who cannot and do not heal all diseases.

This is equivalent to saying that we are in a different dispensation now than the Church in Acts, which clearly believed in divine healing.  (See the objection on that topic.)  But there has been no event to change our covenant since then.

This also rules out the ordinance of healing in James 5:14-16, which is just as much a command as the ordinances of baptism and communion.  We are still commanded to pray for one another's healing.  This was not just for the early church any more than baptism and communion were just for the early church.

Most of the people cited in Scripture (lame, lepers, blind, deaf, the woman with the issue of blood, etc.) were medically incurable.  If Jesus is unwilling to heal the incurable today, he has changed, yet Hebrews 13:8 assures us that he has not changed.

It is lamentable that this objection is true in a certain way.  Men now seek medical help almost exclusively and hardly any pray to receive healing from God.  So this objection is true in a practical sense, but not in a doctrinal sense.  The problem is with us, not with God.  This is even true in most Christian circles today, including churches that teach faith and healing!


Objection:  Sometimes God's path for your healing....
Objection:  Sometimes God's path for your healing is through a doctor rather than the supernatural

This is a true statement at face value, but the usual implication is false.  Sometimes God will lead you to go to the doctor, take medicine, or have an operation.  However, that is NOT because his perfect path for your healing is through medicine in this case.  It is NOT because God is unwilling to heal you supernaturally.  God will lead you to doctors in cases where he knows you are not in a position to believe for a supernatural healing.  If you are not ready to stand in faith for healing, I would send you to a doctor, too!

A modern, watered-down gospel says that sometimes God will refuse to heal you supernaturally because he wants you to use a doctor instead.  I can see how a doctor might like this version, but it has no foundation in the real gospel.  You cannot find anywhere in the New Testament where Jesus or one of his followers refused to heal someone and referred him to a doctor for his healing.  Jesus didn't tell the woman with the issue of blood to take out a loan so that she could see more doctors after her money was gone.  Paul didn't turn away sick people on Melita and tell Dr. Luke to write out prescriptions for them.  God operated through Peter, but not in a medical sense.

Since Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, he must deal with people the same way today that he did 2,000 years ago.  He never told anyone then, "I won't heal you supernaturally.  See a doctor!"  Therefore, he never tells anyone that now. Some people think he does, but they don't know the Jesus of the Bible when it comes to healing.  If you want to know Jesus, read about him in the Bible.  If you want to know what Jesus will do for you, read what he did for others in the Bible.  That is the only way to know.  You can't know God through experience; you have to know him through his Word.

Before you believe something, get chapter and verse on it.  You won't find any chapter or verse for this idea!  Be as noble as the Bereans and search the Scriptures to see if what they said on that Christian TV show is so or not.

God cannot refuse to heal you supernaturally because as far as he is concerned, he already did!  1 Peter 2:24 is in the past tense.  Supernatural healing is legally yours.  God cannot arbitrarily refuse to honor his healing covenant with you.

Having said this, I am in favor of doctors.  They want you well, and so does God.  Medical science is a blessing.  Through it, some people can learn how not to get sick in the first place.  If you are sick, doctors can give you wise counsel about how to hasten your healing through natural means, or at least not make your condition worse.  Paul gave Timothy natural advice to avoid sickness, so God is all in favor of such advice.  Just don't conclude that God makes exceptions to his supernatural healing covenant.  He doesn't!


Objection:  3 John 2 is a greeting and cannot be claimed...
Objection:  3 John 2 is a greeting and cannot be claimed as a promise

3 John 2

If God wished above all things for Gaius to be in health and prosper, and did not wish above all things that you be in health and prosper, he is a "respector of persons" who plays favorites.  We know from various verses that God does not do this (Romans 2:11, Ephesians 6:9, Colossians 3:25).  His will for Gaius is equally his will for you -- that you be in health and prosper, even as your soul prospers.

If it is not the will of God for men to be in health and prosper, John sinned by writing this wish in his letter.  It would be wrong to use something as a greeting that was not the will of God.

In fact, the use of this as a greeting, if indeed you think that's all it is, shows that John considered health and prosperity, not sickness and poverty, to be blessings.  If he were convinced that sickness is a blessing in disguise, as some teach today, he would have written, "Beloved, I hope you get sick really soon so that God can add to your spiritual depth and teach you things, and you can spend all your money on doctors so that you can experience the additional blessing of poverty."

Although part of the New Testament consists of letters written to others, they are in the New Testament canon because they apply to the Church as a whole.  The fact that the letters were written to individual churches and individuals does not mean that they applied only to the recipient(s) of the letters!  If that were true, it would wipe out the New Testament epistles completely, as well as the first part of Revelation.  And since Luke penned his gospel account and Acts for someone named Theophilus, we would have to throw out those books, too.

So let's see.  If we can't apply statements made to certain people in the Bible ourselves:

--	Only Nicodemus needed to be born again.

--	Only the Ephesians should have a revelation of the power and love of God.

--	God would only meet the Philippians' needs, not yours.

--	Only the dispersed Jews should anoint the sick.  (Believe it or not, someone actually said this.)

--	Only the church at Laodicea needs to repent from lukewarmness.

--	Only the disciples present with Jesus can speak in tongues and lay hands on the sick so they recover.

--	Only Timothy needed to stir up the gift within him.

And so on.

It's strictly an opinion that 3 John 2 is "only" a greeting, anyway.  But given the other arguments above, I don't think it matters.


Objection:  We are promised tribulation in this world

John 16:33:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation:  but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

If we are going to throw around verse fragments to fight the message of healing, we should at least be scholarly enough to (1) finish the verse and (2) look up the word on which we build a castle in a concordance.

A partial answer to this objection is found by simply completing the verse.  Jesus has overcome the tribulation that you will face in this world.

So are you supposed to lie in your sickbed, rejoicing that Jesus has overcome the world, while having to suffer your tribulation of sickness?

No way.  The tribulation Jesus spoke of refers to persecution for the gospel's sake, not sickness.  The Greek word used here for tribulation (Strong's #2347) is translated tribulation or tribulations in 20 other verses, and in none of these is the context physical sickness.  Jesus' prophecy concerning tribulations in the form of persecution was obviously fulfilled.  The word used refers to literal and figurative pressure, not sickness.

The word is also translated anguish in one verse (John 16:21) describing a woman giving birth.  This still does not refer to sickness; pregnancy and childbirth are not illnesses, despite the way your medical insurance company might treat them!

It is translated burdened in 2 Corinthians 8:13:  "For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened."  This is obviously not speaking of disease.

It is translated persecution in Acts 11:19:  "Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen..."  Be assured that no plague broke out because of Stephen.

It is translated trouble in 1 Cor 7:28 (married couples will have trouble in the flesh), 2 Cor 1:4 ("Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble...") and 2 Cor 1:8 ("For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia...").  In none of these cases does this word refer to disease.

Jesus promised you persecution.  He promised it in other verses, too, and so did other New Testament writers.  But neither Jesus nor any other New Testament writer ever promised that you would have sickness in this world.

James gives instructions on what to do if, not when, any among you is sick.  The very question "Is any sick among you?" shows that it is not the norm for the Christian to be sick.  James then gives instructions so that the sick Christians will be healed.  See James 5:14-16.


Objection:  Jesus bore our sorrows and griefs...
Objection:  Jesus bore our sorrows and griefs, not our sicknesses and pains, on the cross

Good grief!  Someone hasn't spent any time with a concordance.

Most Bibles published today have a margin note that the literal translations of the Hebrew words used for "sorrows" and "griefs" in Isaiah 53:4 are "sicknesses" and "pains."  Therefore, the correct translation of that verse is, "Surely he hath borne our sicknesses, and carried our pains."

This is an obvious conclusion to anyone who takes the time to study it out.  It is not a way of trying to make this verse say something it does not say or rewrite the Bible.

You do not need a concordance to figure out that Isaiah 53:4 should be translated as shown above.  Simply read Matthew 8:16-17!  Do you suppose the Holy Spirit could interpret his prophecy correctly?  Matthew plainly says that Isaiah said that Jesus "took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses."  The fulfillment of this prophecy is cited at an event where Jesus healed all that were sick!  So there is absolutely no question that Isaiah was talking about illnesses here.  "Healing" people of sorrows and griefs as we normally define them would not have been fulfilled by the healing of the sick.

In the case of griefs, it is utterly ridiculous to maintain that Jesus redeemed us from all forms of grief, because the Holy Spirit himself can be grieved, as shown by Ephesians 4:30:  "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."  Peter tells us that we will have to endure grief, even after Jesus' atonement, in 1 Peter 2:19:  "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully."  Peter says a few verses later that you were healed, but he makes it clear that Jesus did not relieve you of all griefs in this life!  Therefore, the word griefs in Isaiah 53:4 cannot refer to this kind of grief.

If you're convinced already that this objection is corny (and you should be), you can stop reading here.  If you think you need more proof, here are some facts to save you some study time and/or the price of a good concordance:

Griefs defined

Let's look at the other places where the same Hebrew word (Strong's #2483) translated griefs in Isaiah 53:4 is used in the Old Testament:

"And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee." -- Deuteronomy 7:15.

"Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed." -- Deuteronomy 28:61.

"The son of the woman, the mistress of the house fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him" -- 1 Kings 17:17.

"And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick:  and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover from this disease." -- 2 Kings 1:2.

"Shall I recover of this disease?" -- 2 Kings 8:8.

"Shall I recover of this disease?" -- 2 Kings 8:9.

"Now Elisha was fallen sick of the sickness whereof he died..." -- 2 Kings 13:14.

"And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great:  yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians." -- 2 Chronicles 16:12.

"And thou shalt have great sickness by disease of thy bowels, until thy bowels fall out by reason of the sickness day by day...the LORD smote him with an incurable disease...his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness"  -- 2 Chronicles 21:15, 18, 19.

"By the great force of my disease is my garment changed:  it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat." -- Job 30:18.

"For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease:  and there is no soundness in my flesh." -- Psalm 38:7.

"The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing:  thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness." -- Psalm 41:3.

"All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness." -- Ecclesiastes 5:17.

"And it is an evil disease" -- Ecclesiastes 6:2.

"Why should ye be stricken any more?  ye will revolt more and more:  the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.  From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores:  they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment." -- Isaiah 1:5-6.

"The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:" -- Isaiah 38:9.

"He will cut me off with pining sickness" -- Isaiah 38:12.

"When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb:  yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound."  -- Hosea 5:13.

Want more?  Good!  The Hebrew word translated griefs in Isaiah 53:4 is derived from another Hebrew word (Strong's #2470), which is translated sick in 34 verses in the Old Testament!  Feel free to buy a concordance and look them up for yourself, as I think I have listed enough verses here to rest my case.

This is no attempt to rewrite the Bible, but simply an attempt to point out where the King James translators should have used clearer words to express what the Hebrew words were saying.  My Reina-Valera Spanish Bible (a standard among Spanish-speakers), which was translated directly from the Hebrew and Greek, states explicitly in Isaiah 53:4 that he bore our sicknesses (enfermedades) and pains (dolores).  This underscores the point that the no one is attempting to rewrite the original Hebrew.

Based on the other places in the Old Testament that the word is used, it is indisputable that Jesus bore our sicknesses at Calvary.

Many different words are translated grief outside of Isaiah 53.  The word grief appears 22 times in the Old Testament outside of Isaiah 53.  In only two of these cases is the same Hebrew word that Isaiah used in Isaiah 53:4 used to express the word grief:

"As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness:  violence and spoil is in her; before me continually is grief and wounds." -- Jeremiah 6:7

"Woe is me for my hurt!  my wound is grievous:  but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it." -- Jeremiah 10:13

Other Hebrew words are used to express emotional grief.  The one in Isaiah 53:4 is the one used above to describe physical grief, and it is never used to describe purely emotional grief.

Sorrows defined

Now let's look at the other word, the one used for sorrows in Isaiah 53:4.  This is Strong's Hebrew word #4341, which is also used in the verses below.  In the interest of fairness, I have listed it everywhere I could find it, not just the places that might seem to help my case:

"If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:  Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief..." -- 2 Chronicles 7:28-29.

"He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain" -- Job 33:19.  (The second "pain" is actually implicit from the first and was added by the translators.)

"For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me" -- Psalm 38:17.

"For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded" -- Psalm 69:26.

"For in much wisdom is much grief:  and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow" -- Ecclesiastes 1:18.

"All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity:  because thy sins were increased.  Why criest thou for thine affliction?  thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity..." -- Jeremiah 30:14-15.

"Thou didst say, Woe is me now!  for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest." -- Jeremiah 45:3.

"Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed:  howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed." -- Jeremiah 51:8.

"Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by?  behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger" -- Lamentations 1:12.

"The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment:  hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow:  my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity" -- Lamentations 1:18.

Like the English word pain, this particular Hebrew word appears to be used to refer to both physical and emotional pain, as is clear from both uses in the verses shown above.  This word is not as clear-cut as the word for griefs, which always means physical sickness in Scripture.  I am not saying that the word used for sorrows always means physical pain; I am simply proving that the word is in fact used to describe physical pain in some places and emotional pain in others.

Since it can go either way, which way should it be interpreted?  Again, we must side with the Holy Spirit in translating it to refer to physical disease, as proved by Matthew 8:17.  Also, this would be consistent with the context of bearing sicknesses, as proved by the word used for griefs a few words earlier.

See the discussion, Isaiah's Prophecy of Redemption for even more discussion of this topic.


Objection:  Many are the afflictions of the righteous

Psalm 34:19:

Many are the afflictions of the righteous:  but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

This verse says the exact opposite of what some people use it to say -- as long as you finish it!   This is even clearer when you read the surrounding verses:  Psalm 34:17-20.  To use this as an argument to stay sick proves only that you like to yank phrases out of their context.

This is actually a healing Scripture, not a sickening Scripture.  God promises to deliver the righteous out of all of their troubles.  He did not add a little footnote to indicate that all somehow excludes physical disease.  (He has another Psalm that proves that all does include diseases -- see Psalm 103:1-5.)

Since sickness is a trouble, and God has promised to deliver you from all your troubles, you may thank whoever quotes this for pointing you to another proof that God wants you healed!


Objection:  Sickness can be proof of God's special favor

I really wish that Christians would stop buying books at the Christian bookstore that make such inane statements.  Why people buy books that help them be sick is beyond me.  Why people write such books is even further beyond me, unless they misunderstand what the demonized boy's father meant when he said, "Help mine unbelief!"

The premise behind this is that God has a special purpose for sickness and suffering, and that maybe you have your condition because God knows that you are so spiritually advanced now that you are ready for this great challenge.  This goes right along with the asinine, "God gives special children (referring to those with birth defects or retarded) to special parents."  The truth is, there are plenty of wretched sinners out there with the same condition you have and whose kids have the same conditions yours have, and they've never so much as lifted a finger to please God.  Not only won't they learn a thing from it, they'll just be ornery and mean and mad at God for "letting" it happen.

The righteous should increase in favor with God and man, as Jesus did (Luke 2:52).  Given this, Jesus did the parents of the man born blind a great disservice by healing their "special" child if you accept this silly "God's special favor" argument.  Imagine the heartbreak for the parents to find out that aren't so "special" anymore and that now they have less special favor from God.  Wouldn't you be disappointed if your child got miraculously healed and neither the child nor you were "special" or had "special favor" anymore?  Hah!  You'd be dancing in the street, and you know it!

If you really believe that sickness is proof of God's special favor, you should cough on all your family and friends so that they can enjoy this special favor, too.  Of course, you should not take medicine, since that might relieve your suffering and lessen your favor.  And I assume that you would never go to the doctor or the hospital to try to escape this "special favor."  Indeed, if you believe that sickness is the work of God, then you, your doctor, your pharmacy, the hospital, your insurance company, etc., are sinning because you are all conspiring to undo the work of God in your life.

If sickness is from God, and God made all things good, you should pray to be sick when you are well.

If God gives his children sickness as a love token, surely you should find at least one place where Jesus, moved with love and compassion, made multitudes sick.  Then more multitudes should have come forward to receive this wonderful gift, and we should have passages like this in our Bibles:

Hezekiah 15:7-12:

And multitudes came from every quarter to be made sick by the Lord.  They laid the well at his feet, and as many as touched him had to be carried away in beds and stretchers.  And the Pharisees as well as the disciples wondered, saying, "We sure never saw it like this before!"

And Jesus found a man with 20/20 vision in both of his eyes, who had never been blind, and said, "Be blind!"  Immediately, the man was unable to see, and glorified the God of Israel for counting him worthy and mature enough to endure this proof of God's special favor.

And a man who could walk approached Jesus in the crowd and touched his robe.  Immediately he became differently abled, and rejoiced in the great lessons God would teach him through his condition.

And a leper worshipped, and said, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean!"  And Jesus said, "I won't.  Although I can, it isn't my will.  Stay sick and glorify the Lord!"  Immediately, to prove his special favor,  the man came down with AIDS to go along with his leprosy, and learned many a great lesson before dying prematurely in great agony.

And Jesus commissioned the disciples, saying, "These signs shall follow you.  You shall lay hands on the well in my name and they shall become sick."

But among the Gentiles, no one got saved, because verily, no one wanted anything to do with a God or the disciples of a God who makes people sick and declares it a blessing.

But we know that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8).  If he did not make anyone sick to help him grow during his earthly ministry, he is not doing it today.  If his only act was healing then, that is his only act now.

If sickness is the work of God, Jesus was a big-time sinner, because he went everywhere un-doing the works of God.  Surely, if there were a special category of those whom God wants sick, Jesus would have encountered at least one such person in his travels.  I won't hold my breath while you look for one in the Gospels.

No, Jesus declared that he only did his Father's works.  His Father's works never consisted of sickening the well.  Therefore, the works of God today are not sickening the well, either.  You are mistaken if you think that God wants you to be sick for a reason.  Jesus never told anyone who came to him for healing, "Stay sick.  God has a reason.  You have special favor."  Jesus has not changed.  The Church has changed.

It is true that if you are sick, God will show you mercy.  His primary mercy is healing you so that you won't have to endure the sickness any more!


Objection:  God's healing covenant...was only for Jews
Objection:  God's healing covenant in the Law of Moses was only for the Jews

This argument falls apart for several reasons.

God declared who he IS, not just what he would do

Anyone who has read Malachi 3:6 or James 1:17 knows that God does not change.  Therefore, whatever he was, he still is.

God did not just promise to take sickness away, although he did that on several occasions.  He declared in Exodus 15:25-26 that he is the Lord your Physician (the Lord that Healeth Thee).  This goes beyond a promise to do something and declares something about the nature of God himself.  Since God cannot change, if he was the Lord your Physician, he still is the Lord your Physician today.  God is the great I AM, not the great I WAS.

It is strange that everyone agrees that God's other Old Testament covenant names still apply today.  I have yet to see anything in print disputing that God is still all of the following today, even though these were all Old Covenant titles for God.  The fact that he still is all of these things today is borne out by New Testament Scriptures.  Here are some, but certainly not all, of them:

The Lord our Banner of Victory  (2 Cor. 2:14)

The Lord our Righteousness  (1 Cor 1:30)

The Lord our Peace  (John 14:27)

The Lord our Shepherd  (John 10:11)

The Lord whose Provision Shall Be Seen  (Philippians 4:19)

The Lord is Present  (Matthew 28:20)

Since God still IS all of these things, it is inconsistent and illogical to single out the one title "The Lord That Healeth Thee" and say that it was only for Jews and does not apply today.

God's Old Covenant promises are yea and Amen in Christ

2 Corinthians 1:20:

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Matthew 5:17:

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:  I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Jesus did not destroy the wonderful promises God made under the Old Covenant.  He fulfilled the sacrifices so that we do not need to sacrifice animals today (Heb 10:11-14 and elsewhere)  He redeemed us from the curse for not keeping all the Law, found in Deuteronomy 28, Leviticus 26, and elsewhere (Gal 3:13).  He made it unnecessary to observe the Jewish rituals and ordinances found in the Law (Col. 2:14-17).  But nowhere is it stated that Jesus abolished the promises of God.  God's promises are yea and Amen in Christ, not done away with in Christ.

No serious student of Scripture can dispute that a Gentile convert under the New Covenant can still receive Old Covenant blessings.  Galatians 3 settles this issue:

"So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham" -- Gal 3:9.

"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:  for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." -- Gal 3:13-14.  (Note that "the promise of the Spirit" refers to the promises the Holy Spirit made, not to the baptism of the Spirit, which Abraham did not have.)

"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." -- Gal 3:29.

Much of Galatians 3 covers the subtle point that Christ is the real recipient of the blessings of Abraham, and they are yours because you are "in Christ."  This is why you can't "break" the New Covenant; you can only step out from its blessings.

Ephesians 2:12-13 makes it clear that you are a partaker of the promises to the Jews, saying that you were (not are) a stranger to the covenants of promise!  "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."  The blood of Christ has made you a partaker of the wonderful promises made to the Jews.  You are not a stranger to them.

The New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant

Hebrews 8:6

How could anyone believe Hebrews 8:6 and then say that God's healing covenant was only for the Jews?  This means that under a better covenant, established upon better promises, God is not as willing to heal today as he was under the Law.

Hebrews 11 lists the greats of faith in the Old Covenant and ends with the words, "God having provided something better for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."

If Jesus brought us out of the Old Covenant where any sick person could be healed, and into a New Covenant where some people just have to stay sick, a sick person would be better off (as far as his health is concerned) if Jesus Christ had not come yet!  The coming of Christ would rob some sick people of their healing!

How ironic that Jesus Christ, who went everywhere doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, would by his final sacrifice make this universal healing unavailable to us.  This would mean that it was inexpedient that he went away, because you could be healed if he were still around physically.  Of course, Jesus said that it was expedient that he go away (John 16:7), so what is available now cannot be worse than what was available during his earthly ministry.  The same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus now empowers believers to do the same works in his name.

The New Testament is also a healing covenant

Even if we threw out our Old Testaments, you could find plenty of covenant promises to heal the sick in the New Testament.  Jesus said that we would lay hands on the sick in his name and they would recover  (see Mark 16:15-18).  There are clear instructions that if (!) there are "any sick" among you, they are to be prayed for in faith so that they will be healed (James 5:14-16).  Peter declares that we were healed by the stripes of Jesus (1 Peter 2:24).  Paul declares that our bodies are the property of God, bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20).

Even if the Old Covenant promises of healing were only for the Jews, there are plenty of New Covenant promises of healing.  So there is no way that you can say that healing was only for the Jews, unless you're just plain ignorant, or want to make a lot of money selling this year's "Why God Won't Heal You" book in Christian bookstores.


Philippians 4:19
Philippians 4:19:

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.


Matthew 28:20
Matthew 28:20:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.


1 Corinthians  1:30
1 Corinthians 1:30:

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:


John 10:11
John 10:11:

I am the good shepherd:  the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.


John 14:27
John 14:27:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.


Objection:  Paul left Trophimus at Miletum sick...
Objection:  Paul left Trophimus at Miletum sick instead of healing him

2 Timothy 4:20:

Erastus abode at Corinth:  but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.

I suppose that we are to ignore the multitudes of people who were healed in the New Testament and build a doctrine on this one snippet of Scripture, where no doctrine is being put forth, but a simple experience is related.  This is truly letting the tail wag the dog.

People have used this as proof that the righteous must suffer illness, when we are not even told why Trophimus the Ephesian was sick, let alone whether or not God healed him later.  As a gospel worker with Paul (Acts 20:4, 21:29), he may well have had the problem that Epaphroditus did in Philippians 2:25-30 and have been suffering from overwork in the ministry.  (Some ministers today also fall into this trap.)  It is also entirely possible that Trophimus was recovering from a beating or other abuse he got for preaching the gospel.  We don't know why Trophimus was sick, but Paul definitely did not say that it was the will of God for him to be that way.

Given the conditions under which the apostles had to minister, to say nothing of their beatings, it is truly amazing that more of them were not left somewhere sick.  The fact that Trophimus is the exception should highlight the rule.  God continued to restore his workers to health when they needed it.

Of course, some people just assume that if Trophimus was sick, that must have been the will of God.  Following this logic, it must have been the will of God for the Corinthians to be carnal, for the Colossians to be legalistic, for Alexander the Coppersmith to do Paul much harm, and for Demas to love this world and forsake Paul.  It must have been God's will for Judas to betray Christ and hang himself, too, and for David to commit adultery, and so on.  After all, the Bible records these historical incidents, too.  The fact that history was recorded honestly does not mean that God's will was being done.  Paul made no doctrinal statement about Trophimus.  This was not teaching, only a statement of fact.  You cannot use a mere statement of fact as a teaching.  If you can say that the verse about Trophimus proves that God does not want to heal all, I can say that the verse about Demas proves that God does not want all to continue obeying and serving him instead of loving this present world.

If you want to know Paul's doctrine, you should look at verses such as 1 Cor 6:19-20, where Paul clearly states that your body and your spirit were both bought with the same price.  He clearly lived out this doctrine as special miracles were done by his hands in Asia and he healed the sick on the island of Melita, to cite only two cases.

The other half of the objection is that Paul should have healed Trophimus the way he healed everyone else.  There is certainly reason to suspect that Paul would have prayed for Trophimus.  Why did Trophimus fail to receive his healing right away?  We don't know.  There are many reasons people can fail to receive their healing; see the Mistakes section.  Given that several other of Paul's fellow workers lost their zeal for the Lord and deserted him or failed to stick up for him when he was greatly withstood by Alexander the Coppersmith (2 Tim 4:15-16), and that this account is a few verses away from the Trophimus verse, it is possible that Trophimus for some reason was not walking in the light, either.  You cannot simply lay hands on a person who fails to do the known will of God even if you believe that it is the will of God for the person to be healed.

If it is fair to blame Paul for Trophimus not walking in the light of his healing, we must also blame Paul for the failures of Demas and John Mark to continue with him in the ministry.  Neither is fair to Paul.  We don't have authority over human wills, and neither did Paul.  It is no more reasonable to say that God wanted Trophimus sick for some reason than to say that God wanted Demas to forsake Paul for some reason.  No one can prove that Trophimus stayed sick a long time, either.  This is truly a paper-thin verse on which to build an anti-healing doctrine.

Yet people build a castle on this verse.  "Paul had a healing ministry but couldn't heal Trophimus!"  Watch out!  Paul's Lord could not heal the sick at Nazareth, either.  This proves nothing other the people's unbelief, which is stated as the reason for their failure to receive healing.  The fact that Jesus left many sick at Nazareth does not prove that God wanted them sick and was unwilling to heal them supernaturally.  Therefore, the fact that Paul left Trophimus sick at Miletum does not  prove that God wanted Trophimus sick and was unwilling to heal him supernaturally.

It is also possible that Paul prayed for Trophimus and that Trophimus followed Jesus' instructions to "believe that he received" when he prayed, but his healing had not yet manifested in his body, just as the tree that Jesus cursed did not appear dead on the outside right away.  We can't prove whether or not this is true.  The eight words about Trophimus's condition are not enough to prove anything.

Why build a doctrine on one exceptional case, where we are never told why the man was sick, or if he remained that way?  Wouldn't it make more sense to build a doctrine on the rule rather than the exception?  Rather than groping for some silly excuse to stay sick, build your doctrine on the crowds of people in the New Testament who were healed and the statements made by the Lord and his disciples under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit!  No Scripture says that you cannot be healed, but plenty of them that say that you can be healed.  Base your doctrine and your believing on them!


Objection:  Only some people have the "gift of faith"...
Objection:  Only some people have the "gift of faith" to believe for healing

This is no more intelligent than saying that only some people have the "gift of faith" to get saved.  Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17), and anyone who hears the word of God can have faith.

This objection is simply a misunderstanding of the "gift of faith" in 1 Corinthians 12:9, which does not refer to the general faith that every believer has.  It refers to faith for something specific that would be impossible to believe for by only believing the Bible.  This is clear because this gift is only worked through "some," whereas God has given to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:3).  Similarly, the gift of "the word of knowledge" involves having knowledge that would otherwise be impossible to have (not doctrinal knowledge); all believers know the Word of God by reading it!  Also, the gift of "the word of wisdom" involves obtaining a piece of God's wisdom that you couldn't get just by reading the Word.  Any believer can ask for practical wisdom for a specific situation and get it (James 1:5).  Christ has been made wisdom to us (1 Cor 1:30).

So, while not everyone operates in the manifestation of the Spirit known as the "gift of faith," all believers can operate in faith in God's promises.

To say that you need "the gift of faith" to believe for healing is tantamount to saying that there is no promise in the Bible you could believe to receive healing.  If healing can be obtained through Bible promises, you do not need "the gift of faith" to get it.  You can just believe and act on the Word.

But doesn't Romans 12:3 say that every believer has a different measure of faith?  No, it doesn't.  Read it carefully:  "According as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."  The Greek word metron used for measure implies a fixed amount, and God has given to every man the measure, not a different measure of faith.  God does not play favorites.

But don't we know that some people can believe God more easily than others?  Yes, we do know that.  The Christians who spend the time to read God's Word can believe more easily than those who don't.  It is not up to God how much faith you have and use.  It is up to you.

Faith is definitely a gift (Ephesians 2:8), but the kind referred to in that verse is "saving faith" that gets you into God's family, not "the gift of faith" in 1 Corinthians 12:9.  All believers receive the first kind (Eph 2:8, Romans 12:3), but not all believers will flow in the second kind.

The fact the healing is promised universally (as you can see elsewhere in this program) proves that anyone can have it, not just some who operate in special faith of some kind.


Objection:  If God could even refuse to answer Jesus' prayer...
Objection:  If God could even refuse to answer Jesus' prayer (Matthew 26:39, 42), he can refuse to answer yours

Look at what Jesus prayed and you'll see that this is not a case of Jesus praying for something and having God refuse to answer him.

Matthew 26:39, 42:

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:  nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

He went away again the second time and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Throughout this prayer, Jesus was submitted to the will of God in the matter.  His spirit was willing, but his flesh was weak.  Jesus was not praying contrary to God's will or getting God to change his mind about anything.  God in fact did answer the prayer, since verse 42 shows that Jesus understood what God's answer was -- there was no alternative to the sufferings he was about to endure.

This prayer of consecration is the one place in the Bible where Jesus prayed an if-it-be-thy-will prayer.  Therefore, we should conclude that a prayer of consecration is the one time that you should ever pray an if-it-be-thy-will prayer.  Thus, it would be proper to pray, "Lord, I'm willing to go to Africa if it's your will, even though I don't want to go there," but it would be improper to pray, "Lord, heal my body if it be thy will," since God has already made his will clear concerning healing.

Tradition says that God sometimes refuses to answer prayer for reasons known only to himself.  Jesus, on the other hand, promised results when you pray in faith.  The most common reason for unanswered prayer is unbelief concerning God's will to heal.  Thus, we should not be singing songs with stupid lines like, "Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer."  I did not make up that phrase; it's in the hymnbooks of two denominations I used to attend a long time ago.  The one good thing about that line is that it is self-fulfilling.  God will not answer an ignorant prayer to have future prayers go unanswered, so you at least get the satisfaction (?) of praying an unanswered prayer about praying unanswered prayers!  Songs like that belong in the dumpster, not in hymnbooks.


Objection:  Before we pray for a healing in faith...
Objection:  Before we pray for a healing in faith, we must pray to see if it is God's will in this case

The core of this argument is usually based on 1 John 5:14-15.  The logic is that we should pray to find out if healing is his will in this particular case, so that if it is, we can pray in faith, knowing that we will have what we ask.

The problem is that this assumes that there is no other way to know the will of God for healing other than looking for a direct personal revelation from the Holy Spirit.  This would mean that it would be impossible to get faith from the Word of God to be healed, because if that were possible, you would not need to pray about God's will in the matter.

Would you pray about God's will about someone getting saved?  Would  you refuse to pray a prayer of salvation with someone until you get a direct revelation from the Holy Spirit that he wants to save that particular person?  Of course not.  You know God's will in the matter, and you would not hesitate to pray with the person.  You would be certain that if the person has met God's conditions, he will be saved.

Likewise, you should study God's Word until you know God's will in the matter of healing.  Once you know that healing is his will, you can use 1 John 5:14-15 properly and know that you have the petition that you desired of him.

It is impossible to pray in faith unless you know Scriptures that promise you what you desire.  Otherwise, your faith would have no basis, and you would be praying based on your feelings, not your faith.

However, James 5 clearly states that elders of the Church are to pray "the prayer of faith" that will raise up a sick person.  Nowhere does it say that the elders should pray for a personal inner witness as to the will of God in the matter.  "Any sick" who call for the elders are to be prayed for in faith.  If there were a need to seek a personal revelation on the matter, James would have said so.  If there were any exceptions, James would have mentioned that also.

The very fact that it is possible to pray "the prayer of faith" for the sick is proof in and of itself that healing can be obtained through faith in the Word of God.

This argument is also ruined by the fact that there is not one New Testament case out of all the crowds of people who were healed where the preacher stopped and prayed to ascertain the will of God for a particular individual.

4 John 2:5-9:

And multitudes came to Jesus, and sought to touch him.  And as each one came, Jesus prayed for five minutes to get a direct inner witness of whether or not God wanted to heal each individual.  This is why there were so many hungry people to feed, for verily, the healing lines took many days to finish.

Then he sent out his disciples, giving them power over all diseases and all demons.  However, he saith unto them, "This power will only work after you pray to see if God wants to heal the particular person.  It may not be God's will to heal some even though the power is there to heal all of them of all their diseases."

But Paul went to an island, and healed all the sick people on it.  And the Lord appeared to him in a vision and rebuked him, saying, "Hey, Paul, you didn't check with me first before you healed those people.  Don't you know that you're supposed to pray to determine the will of God for each individual?"

If this seems hokey, it is no hokier than the objection being raised.  Were this objection true, we would surely see many real Scripture passages that read as the ones above.

The only reason people raise this objection is that they have not taken the time to study the Word on healing.  If they did, they would know that God is able and willing to heal anyone who comes to him in faith.


Objection:  Many do not get healing after prayer is made...
Objection:  Many do not get healed after prayer is made for their healing

You cannot base your doctrine on other people's successes or failures!

Many people have the gospel preached to them.  Many reject the message and go to hell anyway.  Should we therefore conclude that the doctrine of salvation from hell is wrong because many do not receive it?  It is equally senseless to conclude that the doctrine of divine healing is wrong because many do not receive it.

The disciples' failure to heal the demonized boy in Matthew 17:14-21 did not prove that healing isn't for all.  It proved only their unbelief.  Jesus himself said it was because of their unbelief.  We don't like to hear that, but if this was the case then, we must suspect that many healings today do not happen because of our unbelief.

Jesus promised that some would receive and some wouldn't, and explained the consequences of both courses (Mark 16:16).

There are many reasons why people do not receive their healing after being prayed for.  See the area, Mistakes that keep your healing away.

You don't need to take your Bible to the local dump just because Uncle Phil died without receiving his healing.  You wouldn't throw your Bible in the trash just because Aunt Mary never believed the gospel and died and went to hell.

The failure of some to receive healing no more disproves the universal availability of healing any more than the failure of some to repent and believe the gospel disproves the universal availability of forgiveness.

Rather than explaining away our lack of results by tampering with "the faith as it was once delivered," we should strive to bring our experience in line with the Bible.  If we are not seeing people healed as we would like, we need to bring our experience up to the Bible's standards, rather than trying to bring the Bible's standards down to our experience.

Besides, what about the people who do get healed after prayer is made for their healing?  How are they getting it?  If you say that the failure of some to receive proves that healing is not for all, what special trick did the healed ones use to get it?  (Answer:  Faith!)


Objection:  By Jesus' stripes we were spiritually, not physically, healed

The Greek word healed (iaomai) in 1 Peter 2:24

According to Strong's concordance, the word iaomai (used in 1 Peter 2:24) is the word from which the Greek word for physician (iatros) is derived.  (Iaomai is Strong's word #2390, iatros is #2395; you are invited to look these up for yourself.)  See if you think this word (iaomai) could possibly mean spiritual healing in these New Testament verses where it is used:

"But speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed" -- Matthew 8:8.

"His servant was healed in the selfsame hour -- Matthew 8:13.

"And besought him, that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death" -- John 4:47.

"She [the woman with the issue of blood] was healed of that plague" -- Mark 5:29.

"The power of the Lord was present to heal them" -- Luke 5:17.

"Which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases" -- Luke 6:17.

"There went virtue out of him, and healed them all" -- Luke 6:19.

"But say in a word, and my servant shall be healed" -- Luke 7:7.

"Certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities" -- Luke 8:2.

"How she [the woman with the issue of blood] was healed immediately" -- Luke 8:47.

"And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick" -- Luke 9:2.

"And healed them that had need of healing" -- Luke 9:11.

"And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father" -- Luke 9:42.

"And one of them [the ten lepers], when he saw that he was healed..." -- Luke 17:15.

"He touched his ear, and healed him" -- Luke 22:51.

"And besought him that he would come down, and heal his son:  for he was at the point of death" -- John 4:47.

"And he that was healed [the cripple (differently abled person) at the pool of Bethesda] wist not who it was..." -- John 5:13.

"And the lame man which was healed held Peter and John" -- Acts 3:11.

"Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed" -- Acts 9:34.

"And healing all that were oppressed of the devil" -- Acts 10:38.

"Laid his hands on him and healed him" -- Acts 28:8.

"Lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed" -- Hebrews 12:13.

"And pray one for another, that ye may be healed" -- James 5:16 (in a passage telling what to do if there is "any sick among you").

A related word, also derived from iaomai, is used in 1 Cor 12:9, 28 and 30 when speaking of gift(s) of healing (iama, Strong's word #2386).

There are a few places in the New Testament where the word could possibly (but not conclusively) be said to apply to a more general kind of healing.  To be fair, I will list them:

"He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted" -- Luke 4:18.

"For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." -- Matthew 13:15.

"He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them." -- John 12:40.

However, this handful of verses is used unfairly by opponents of healing to attempt to prove that "healed" does not "always" involve physical healing.  The fact is that God is the total healer of his people, and he wants you healed in every area of your life.  Although heal could be construed in more general terms in these verses, this does not mean that heal is exclusive of physical healing.  I would protest that the people of Bible times did not make a big distinction between different "kinds" of healing, and that God's healing in these verses is "including, but not limited to" physical healing.  God also "heals" emotional hurts and other areas of your life, but there is no basis for saying that God's healing promised in these verses does not include physical healing.

1 Peter 2:24 is the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:4-5, which also speaks of physical healing

The word Isaiah used for healed can be used literally or figuratively, as the English word can.  In the vast majority of cases, it obviously refers to physical healing.  (I'll let you verify this yourself in your favorite concordance.)  In the context in Isaiah 53, Jesus bore our sicknesses and our pains (see elsewhere in this book for proof that this is the correct translation of the Hebrew) and was wounded and bruised for us.  Since the context is physical distress, we should conclude that the healing talked about here is also physical.  Otherwise, he would not be substituting for us by bearing sickness.

You were not spiritually healed by Jesus' stripes anyway!

Another reason that the "healed spiritually" argument is pathetic is that you were NOT healed spiritually by Jesus' stripes.  The sinner's spirit is not healed.  When you are born again, you receive a new spirit and become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17, Gal 5:15) -- the old passes away and all things become new (2 Cor 5:17)!  This is speaking of your spirit, since obviously you keep the same soul and body you had before you were born again.

Jesus told Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again" (John 3:7).  In verse 6, he explained, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."  In other words, the first birth is a natural birth, but the second birth is a spiritual birth.  Your spirit is born of the Holy Spirit when you are born again.  Your spirit is not "healed" -- a new spirit is born inside you, replacing the old, sinful one.

Read what Ezekiel prophesied that God would do:

Ezekiel 11:19-20:

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them:  and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 36:26-27:

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

When you are born again, your spirit is not healed -- you get a new spirit.  It's the difference between having an old beat-up car and having someone "heal" it so that it rides like a newer car, versus trading in your beat-up car for a brand-new, fancy one!

Even the argument that Peter simply meant that we were reconciled to God falls apart when you consider that this work was done on the cross by the shedding of Jesus' blood.  The shedding of blood was required to atone for sin, and Jesus' death on the cross was sufficient to reconcile you to God.  The stripes were laid on Jesus before he went to the cross; this was a separate event.  His body was broken so that he would bear the curse in the Law of Moses, which included physical sickness and agony.  Jesus not only atoned for your sins, but also bore the curse as your substitute to free you from the penalty for sin in this earth, of which sickness is a part (see Deuteronomy 28).

Peter believed in, taught and practiced physical healing

There is no question that Peter believed that healing was part of the gospel; his shadow alone brought healing to the masses (Acts 5:15-16) and he was used in notable miracles of healing.  Of course, he had been there in person when Jesus said that his disciples would lay hands on the sick in his name and they would recover.  God used him during Jesus' ministry to bring healing where he preached the gospel.

In Acts 3:1-16 and Acts 4:7-10, Peter (with John) got a crippled beggar healed and attributed the act to faith in the name of Jesus Christ and to Jesus Christ personally.

In Acts 4:29-33, the apostles, including Peter, clearly knowing that miracles and healings are the will of God, prayed for them.

In Acts 5:12-16, people were healed when even Peter's shadow fell on them.  The people of Jerusalem laid the sick in the streets so that they would be healed through the anointing that was on Peter!

In Acts 9:32-35, Peter raised up a man who had been paralyzed for eight years, attributing the healing to Jesus Christ.

In Acts 9:36-42, Peter raised Tabitha from the dead.

In Acts 10:38, Peter preached how Jesus Christ healed all who were oppressed of the devil.  This was Peter's doctrine on the matter.

It should be indisputable that Peter believed in, taught, and practiced physical healing through Jesus Christ.  It should not be a surprise that Peter would include a statement about "by his stripes (bruise) you were healed;" Peter obviously understood that healing was part of the gospel of Christ.

Does the word for in 1 Peter 2:25 prove that the context is not physical healing?

One of the more "scholarly" objectors I've read argued that the use of the word "for" in 1 Peter 2:25 proves that the rest of that verse logically connects with 1 Peter 2:24.  This supposedly proves that Peter was not talking about physical healing, but was referring to Isaiah's prophecy about sheep going astray.

It is correct that Isaiah's statement, "By his stripes we are healed," is immediately followed by the statement about how we like sheep have gone astray.  However, Isaiah was talking about physical healing, as shown by the way the Matthew quotes the verses immediately preceding the one in question.  He said that Jesus bore our sicknesses and carried our pains.  This speaks of physical healing, not spiritual healing.  That is the context in Isaiah 53.

The objector said that the word for indicates that the "healing" Peter talked about was returning "unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."  It would appear from reading this passage that the returning would more likely correspond to the part of 1 Peter 2:24 about being dead to sins and living unto righteousness, not to the somewhat parenthetical reference to physical healing.

If Peter were talking about spiritual redemption when he quoted Isaiah, it would be the only place where the bruise of Christ is said to redeem us spiritually.  Elsewhere his blood is said to redeem us spiritually.  His bruise redeemed us physically.

Conclusion

Even with no knowledge of Greek or Hebrew, you now have definite proof that Peter could not possibly have been saying that you were "spiritually healed" by the stripes of Jesus in 1 Peter 2:24.


Objection:  (Faith teaching) puts the sick under condemnation
Objection:  The doctrine of faith healing puts the sick under condemnation

The premise of this objection is that sick people who would otherwise be content are made to feel guilty about being sick because "if they just had enough faith they'd be healed."

This would be a valid objection if the sick person could not get healed.  Indeed, it would be a cruel insult to tell such a person that something is wrong with him because he is sick ,if there is really nothing he can do about it.

However, God gave us his promises about healing so that the sick could be HEALED, not so that they could get under condemnation about being sick!  It is NEVER the will of God for a sick person to feel under condemnation for being sick.  It is the will of God for the sick person to be healed!

The gospel is GOOD NEWS.  Good news to the sinner isn't that he's condemned to hell in his current state, but that Jesus has provided the way for him to go to heaven instead.  Good news to the sick man isn't that he is living below his covenant rights unnecessarily, but that Jesus has provided the way for him to be free of his sickness.

While Jesus did from time to time express exasperation about the lack of faith he found on the earth, we do not see him condemning sick people for being sick.  Some Christians may do so, but they are walking out of love.  If Jesus did not criticize the sick, we should not do so either.  Jesus was moved with compassion, not condemnation, when he ministered to the sick.  That is the model for us.

However, the fact that some Christians share the message in the wrong spirit does not negate the message.  Some Christians attempt to "condemn" people into the kingdom, too.  The new birth is not invalidated just because some people do not use any wisdom when sharing it.  Even Paul said that many preached Christ from impure motives, so this problem is not new.

Just as a younger believer might attempt to ARGUE people into the kingdom, immature believers may share the good news about healing in an argumentative or belligerent manner.  The result of this may be that the sick person feels condemned, but that is not because the message is flawed.

It should be noted that carnal believers who do not wish to build themselves up in faith always look for excuses why they should remain in their current condition rather than change.  It's easier.  There is no shortage of carnality in the church today.  Surely there are many who would rather question God's provision for healing than exercise faith and receive the promise, which involves effort on their part.  Such people are often the ones screaming, "Condemnation!"  If they would simply take the time to read the Bible for themselves on the subject of healing, they could get healed instead of angry.


Objection:  Mark 16:9-20 was not in some early manuscripts

Occasionally, those prone to discrediting the ministry of lying on of hands fuss over this point.  However, the removal of Mark 16:9-20 from the Bible would not change the New Testament's teaching on any of its contents.  Thus, this is somewhat of a useless argument against healing ministry.

It should be noted that the vast majority of old texts DO include these verses.  The retort to this is that the "most reliable" manuscripts do not.  An argument over this is well beyond the scope of this program, but suffice it to say that most scholars through the ages have seen no need to cut Mark 16:9-20 out of their Bibles.

But suppose that Mark 16 ended at verse 8.  So what?

Matthew and Luke both record the commissioning of believers to preach everywhere.

Admonitions that only believers make heaven are throughout the New Testament.

There are many accounts of believers speaking in new tongues as Jesus said they would.  (See Acts 2:4, Acts 10:46, Acts 19:6 and 1 Cor 14, for starters.)  Paul expressed his wish (and God's) that all would speak in tongues.  So the fact that believers would speak in tongues can be derived apart from Mark 16.

Paul's experience with the snake in Acts 28:3-6 confirms Jesus' words concerning snakes.  Besides, God was already healing people of snakebites in the Old Testament -- see Numbers 21:5-9.

James 5:16 COMMANDS believers to pray for each other's healing.

There are plenty of passages in Acts where the gospel was preached with signs following.

God's promises of divine protection and long life in Psalm 91 would cover poisoning as well as fatal snakebites, which if successful, would lead to short life.  This would constitute evil befalling the one who abides in the secret place of the Most High, which God promised would not happen in Ps. 91:10.

Jesus commissioned his disciples to preach and heal the sick during his earthly ministry.  Laying hands on the sick was not new in Mark 16; the disciples already had experience doing that!  See Matthew 10 and Luke 9 and 10 for proof of this.  Note especially that the power was given when they were sent out to preach.

Luke records the Ascension twice -- once in his gospel and once in Acts.

Acts 1:8 summarizes what Jesus said would happen.  His followers would share his gospel all over the world in the power of the Spirit.  The rest of the book of Acts demonstrates believers going into the world, preaching the gospel, and having it confirmed with signs following.  You don't need Mark 16:20 to verify that this happened.

Since God's principle is that by two or three witnesses every word should be established (2 Cor 13:1), yanking out only one section of Scripture (Mark 16) cannot invalidate any principle.  Everything in Mark 16 can be derived elsewhere.

Rather than fussing about some verses that weren't in a couple of early manuscripts, why not weigh the entire Bible's teaching on the subject of healing.  There is no shortage of teaching on it, as the list of Scriptures in this program should demonstrate.


Objection:  Saying, "I am healed"...is lying...
Objection:  Saying, "I am healed" when you are actually sick is lying, and therefore sin

What comes to mind with this objection is a person hoarsely croaking to his colleagues at work between coughs and wheezes, "I am healed.  Kachhh.  I am not sick anymore.  Achooo.  I do not have a cold."  Because people are trained (at decent churches anyway) to speak God's Word, the objection is that such people are being trained to lie and look ridiculous in front of the world.  The world surely does not understand the spiritual principle of speaking truth that is not yet outwardly apparent.  Yes, if you are not careful, you will look silly and the world will laugh at you.

First, it is never a lie to speak God's Word.  God does declare that you were healed (past tense), so if you were healed, you are healed by Jesus' stripes.  You are simply agreeing with God.  That is completely proper.  Jesus gave Peter his name when he was still flaky; he was hardly a rock at the time.  God called Gideon a mighty man of valor when he was still hiding in fear.  This should be no surprise, since Romans 4:17 says that God calls those things which be not as though they were.  If God can call those things which be not as though they were, so can his children, who are being changed into his image.

You can be between the point that you believe that you have received your healing and the point that it has manifested itself in your body.  In other words, you are in the condition the fig tree was in between the time that Jesus cursed it and it began to wither away from the roots and the time that the disciples could see outwardly that the tree was dead.

However, it actually is lying to say, "I am fine.  Nothing is wrong with me.  I am not coughing or acchhh-chhh-chhh stuffed up."  In other words, it is not a lie to say that you are healed by the stripes of Jesus or that you have received your healing from the Lord.  It is a lie to say that you don't have symptoms left in your body when in fact you do.

Given that you are healed by the stripes of Jesus, but unbelievers don't understand how faith works, what DO you say?  How can you avoid looking silly or lying without denying with your mouth that God's healing power is already at work in your body?

You are not denying the reality of the symptoms.  What you are denying is their right to continue in your body.  There is no point in trying to make distinctions between having an illness and having the symptoms of an illness.  As far as your body is concerned, you have the illness.  However, you recognize that the illness is subject to the Word of God and the name of Jesus and must leave.

It is always true that you are legally healed by Jesus' sacrifice.  To say this is to agree with God.  You can receive your healing by faith, and you would not be lying to say that you have received your healing.

I generally wouldn't get involved in deep theological conversations with unbelievers over this.  You have no obligation to tell all your co-workers that you are healed by the stripes of Jesus while you are still coughing.  Wait until the healing manifests, and then you can tell them how you got it.  Saying, "I am healed" may be true theologically, but unless you are prepared to share your theology with others, you would indeed look like you are just denying your sickness if all you say is, "I am healed."  You could say instead, "I am standing on God's Word for my healing."  Then again, you have no real obligation to say anything.

One more thing:  Don't just say something because it is the "faith" thing to say.  If you aren't in faith and you go around telling people you've received your healing by faith, and then you stay sick, you will only sour the people on faith.


Objection:  I've seen "healing ministers" push people..."
Objection:  I've seen "healing ministers" push people down and it was no more God than it was Santa Claus

I've seen this too.  And frankly, it stinks.  There is no record that Jesus ever pushed anyone over.  Jesus said that his disciples would "lay hands on the sick," not "shove the sick over like tenpins."

However, I've seen plenty of cases where people fell over when the minister did not even touch them with enough force to make them unsteady.  The rest was the work of the Holy Spirit.  It is Biblical for people to fall over when the anointing hits them.  It is not Biblical for a minister to make it look like it's the anointing when he's just shoving people down.  Some ministers are good at subtly throwing people off-balance to get them to fall without it being obvious.  I've been shoved plenty myself.  But that doesn't mean that the real thing doesn't happen.

In some of these cases, people have complained about how hard the minister "shoved so-and-so down," when anyone near the scene at the time could tell that this was not the case.  Beware of being too quick to criticize God's servants.

I don't stop using my driver's license because some people make fake ones.  The fact that there are frauds in healing ministry should not stop you from attending healing services.  (You might want to check out the speaker before you go, of course.)  If there were no REAL healing services, the frauds would never make it, because all such meetings would be frauds and people would figure that out quickly.

I've also seen preachers lean on people for money in inappropriate ways.  This does not make taking up offerings a sin!  It just means that some preachers are greedy or use no wisdom when taking up offerings.

Any REAL objection to healing ministry must be founded on Scripture.  You cannot derive doctrine from people's actions.  Either something is Biblical or it's not.  Inappropriate behavior by a minister does not invalidate God's promises of healing and his use of gifts of the Spirit.

Finally, some truly anointed ministers just like to push people.  They have valid ministries and miracles follow them.  They're just pushy in the prayer line.  I don't condone this, but the person is not necessarily a false minister just because he pushes people when he lays hands on them.


Objection:  The man in John 9 was born blind...
Objection:  The man in John 9 was born blind, and that was God's will

John 9:1-7

Jesus declared, "The works of God should be manifest in him" (verse 3).  He then proceeded to do "the works of God" by anointing the man, who followed Jesus' instructions and was healed.

What was "the work of God" in this man's life?  His healing.  His blindness was not referred to as the work of God.

The objection here is that God made the man blind so that Jesus could heal him.  This does not make the least bit of sense, but neither do most objections to healing ministry.  The idea that God would cause someone to be blind for years just so that he could do a miracle in his life to show off his power is an insult to him.  Jesus was motivated by compassion, not desire to show off power, as evidenced by the fact that he told many of the healed people not to tell anyone what had happened.  He healed people because God wants to heal people, not because he wanted to show off.

Since Jesus declared that healing was "the work of God" in this man's life, it is preposterous to think that "the work of God" earlier in his life was making him be born blind.  Jesus did not attribute this to God (read the verses carefully!) and neither should we.  God does not have two wills concerning healing.  He is "The Lord our Physician" but not "The Lord our Sickener."

This is first and foremost another account of Jesus healing someone, and it is silly to try to use it as an excuse why God "wants" some people to be born with birth defects.  Even the ignorant folks who lay the lie on us that children with birth defects are "God's special children" given to "special parents" should have to admit from these verses that God wants to heal birth defects.  He does not simply want to give everyone in the family special grace to deal with the birth defects!

Also, notice a possible grammatical problem with verse 3.  Taken alone, this does not make a rational sentence:  "Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."  You would expect a comma, not a period, at the end of this phrase, followed by an explanation of what Jesus would do.  If you continue to verse 4, this fits.  "But that the works of God should be manifest in him, I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work."  It is likely that the Greek text (which was not punctuated at all) was simply mispunctuated by the translators here, and that verse 3 should end with a comma.  I have been told that there are at least three published translations that punctuate it the second way.  Of course, you should ask whether it is just the English text where the order is ambiguous or the original Greek text as well.  The ambiguity is identical in both languages; I checked this one out myself with a Greek interlinear Bible.

However, I am not fond of making points exclusively with Greek punctuation issues.  I maintain that there is enough in this passage to overcome any objection without having to resort to discussions of Greek punctuation.  The works of God were healing.  The works of God today to anyone with birth defects should be healing also.  That was the will of God then and that is the will of God now.

Even if Jesus meant that the man was born blind so that the works of God would be manifest in him, this would have to be taken in the same light as his comment two chapters later that Lazarus' sickness was for the glory of God.  He did not say that God made Lazarus sick, nor did he say that God made the man be born blind.  If you believe that God did it, you are reading something into these verses that is not there.  God was glorified when the works of God (healing) were manifested in their lives.  That is the point.  Jesus did not attribute their original problems to God.

In fact, Jesus would have to be undoing the works of God to heal anyone that God had made sick.  Jesus said that he was doing the works of God, not undoing the works of God!  The Son of God was manifest to destroy the works of the devil, not the works of God!  The fact that Jesus destroyed the work of sickness in these lives and others should be proof enough to you that sickness is the work of the devil, not God.

If that's not enough, read Acts 10:38.  Jesus healed those who were oppressed of the devil, not oppressed of God!  Sickness is attributed to the devil.


Objection:  We should pray, "If it be thy will"…
Objection:  We should pray, "If it be thy will" concerning our healing

Believers are nowhere instructed to pray this faithless phrase regarding their healing.  The only time Jesus prayed this way was when he was facing his imminent crucifixion, and he was not using this phrase to pray for healing.  He was consecrating himself to the will of God even though it was not what his mortal body wanted to go through.

There is a time and place for believers to pray, "If it be thy will," and it is when they are consecrating themselves to God's service as Jesus was.

However, Jesus gave explicit instructions about how to receive things from God by faith, and praying this phrase is definitely not part of the program.

This phrase has a nice religious ring of humility to it, yet it is actually an unwitting slap in God's face.  To pray, "If it be thy will" concerning healing is to express either ignorance or unbelief of God's clear promises on the subject.  There is nothing humble about that.

Study God's Word concerning healing (which this program will help you do), and you will conclude that it IS God's will to heal you IN EVERY INSTANCE.  Then you won't use the phrase, "If it be thy will" because you'll KNOW God's will is for you to be healed!


Objection:  Divine healing is practiced by false cults

Although some mind science cults profess belief in divine healing, real healing through the word of God has nothing to do with their practices.  Many sects today profess a belief in supernatural healing, including some Satanic covens.  However, the fact that there are false healing cults does not mean that the real thing doesn't exist, any more than the presence of counterfeit money means that real money doesn't exist.

Real healing through Jesus Christ is NOT mind over matter.  It is using God's promises to change matter, but your trust and faith are in God's ability to perform what he has promised, as in Abraham's example:

Romans 4:20-21:

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was also able to perform.

Mind science cults stress YOUR so-called ability to heal yourself with your own mind.  While having a positive attitude is definitely helpful, faith is a lot more than a positive attitude.  It trusts God to fulfill the promises he made concerning your health as a believer.  It makes the impossible possible.

And no, the doctrine of divine healing is not equivalent to "Christian Science," which is neither Christian nor scientific.  Although this cult believes in healing through non-medicinal means, what its practitioners believe has nothing to do with what informed Christians believe.

Just to disillusion anyone who thinks that Christian healing has anything to do with so-called Christian Science, here are some quotes from recognized standard Christian Science literature.  Any true Christian can immediately recognize and reject these as non-Christian cult teaching:

"Jesus was the offspring of Mary's self-conscious communion with God."

"The dual personality (Christ Jesus) continued until the ascension, when Jesus disappeared, while Christ continues to exist in the eternal order of Divine Science taking away the sins of the world."

"His disciples believed Jesus to be dead, while he was in the sepulchre, whereas he was alive."

"Here also is found the cardinal point in Christian Science, that matter and evil (including all inharmony, sin, disease, and death) are UNREAL."

"Man is incapable of sin, sickness, and death."

"Sin, sickness, and death must be deemed as devoid of reality as they are of good."

"Evil is unreal."

"The only reality of sin, sickness, or death is the awful fact that unrealities seem real to human, erring belief, until God strips off their disguise."

"Death is an illusion, the lie of life in matter; the unreal and untrue."

"The way to escape the misery of sin is to cease sinning.  There is no other way."

"Sin makes its own hell, and goodness its own heaven."

As you can see, Christian Scientists, despite their apparent fondness for "supernatural healing," deny the virgin birth, the death and resurrection of Christ, the reality of sin, sickness and death, eternal judgment and atonement for sins.  Do yourself a favor and stay away from their Reading Rooms.  Read what is on your monitor now instead of the Christian Science Monitor.  Divine healing has nothing to do with so-called Christian Science, which will lead you directly to hell.

An interesting observation on Mark 11:23-24

Did you ever notice that Mark 11:24 is for the believer, because prayer is involved, but Mark 11:23 is for "whosoever?"  In other words, anyone, even an unbeliever, can practice Mark 11:23.  The fact that you believe and practice the principle in Mark 11:23 does not necessarily mean that you are a Christian!  Jesus said that many would do wonderful works in his name and yet not be Christians!  Think about it:  The people who received healing from Jesus during his ministry were all unbelievers in the sense of not being born again!

Some cults have picked up on this truth and taught it, perhaps better than many Christian churches have.  The fact is, Mark 11:23 can work for "whosoever," including people in false cults.  That is no excuse to join a cult, but it certainly means that you can do it.  In fact, people "have what they say" more than they realize, even if they do not identify with any religion!  Just as gravity works for believer and unbeliever alike, there are spiritual principles that work for believer and unbeliever alike.


Objection:  We need to fulfill what is left of Christ's sufferings...
Objection:  We need to fulfill what is left of Christ's sufferings in the earth (Col 1:24)

It stretches my imagination that anyone could really think that you need to be sick to finish the sufferings of Christ on the earth.  Ironically, this objection came from a book that was supposedly written in favor of healing!  It was a pitiful attempt to explain why some people remain sick.  I suppose some anti-healing people might use it, too, but if all healing books were full of statements like this, we would not need anti-healing books.

The objection comes from mangling the meaning of Colossians 1:24:

"Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church."

Paul was referring to the repeated beatings he received for preaching the gospel.  He could not possibly have been referring to normal sicknesses.  See the reply to the objection about Paul's thorn in the flesh if you are not convinced.

Christ was only sick at Calvary and no man can share in his atoning sufferings

Jesus was never sick during his preaching ministry.  So being sick could not be one of Christ's sufferings in the ministry.

Jesus was "made sick" (see Isaiah's Prophecy of Redemption for notes) on the cross.  That was the only time he was sick, and he was not bearing his own sicknesses anyway.  He was bearing our sicknesses!  No other man can take the sicknesses of another in an atoning way.  No other man needs to.  Since Jesus already bore your sicknesses, there is no need for you to bear them, and there was no need for the apostle Paul to bear them, either.  There is no evidence that Paul was ever infirm except as a result of his beatings.  Neither Paul nor you could join in Christ's atoning sufferings.

Paul's physical sufferings were from beatings, not sickness

Paul first preached in Galatia because of a physical "infirmity."  Lystra (part of Galatia) was where Paul was stoned and left for dead.  The believers (who obviously believed in divine healing), prayed and raised Paul up.

This "infirmity" was not caused by catching some illness.  Paul lists his many sufferings for Christ in 2 Cor 11:23-27, where illness is noticeably absent.

An illness could not benefit the Body of Christ, yet Paul's sufferings did

Have you ever heard of an illness helping the Body of Christ?  When one member suffers, all suffer (1 Cor 12:26).  This does not say, "When one suffers, all are built up."

Paul said that he suffered for the sake of Christ's Body, the Church.  Therefore, his suffering had to benefit others.  That is because his suffering came from being beaten for preaching the gospel, not the current year's flu strain.  Paul was willing to get beaten up all the time because it advanced the Church.  Simply getting sick does not advance the Church at all.  It is a drag on the Body because it forces you and often others to give up otherwise productive time to care for your illness.

Paul said that his sufferings were for you [the Church].  Just getting sick with some disease would have hurt the Church, not helped it, since it would have hindered Paul from getting the gospel out.

Do you rejoice at someone's sickness?

Paul also said that they rejoiced in his suffering for them.  Is anyone rejoicing because you are sick?  No, other than Satan and maybe a few modern Pharisees who don't want you to get healed.  However, Jesus said to rejoice when men revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for his sake, so there is Scripture for rejoicing in persecution.  Recall how Peter and John rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer shame for Jesus' name.  Jesus never said to rejoice because you're sick; he removed sicknesses rather than throwing a rejoicing fit in front of the sick because they were sick.

See also:

Suffering


2 Corinthians 11:23-27
2 Corinthians 11:23-27:

Are they ministers of Christ?  (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

Of the Jews I five times received I forty stripes save one.

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.


Objection:  Paul told Timothy to drink wine...
Objection:  Paul told Timothy to drink wine instead of believing God for healing

1 Timothy 5:23

Here we have several apparent problems:  Paul told Timothy to use natural means to treat his stomach, and apparently, Timothy was often sick.  Also, Paul didn't just "heal him," as some people say he could have done if healing were for all.  The objector usually adds that Paul did not tell Timothy to believe for his healing or to speak to his body, believe that he received his healing, or anything else we might tell people to do today.

The water could indeed have been the cause of Timothy's trouble given Paul's exhortation to not drink it.  (Some translations say "Drink no longer only water" instead of "Drink no longer water," but this is an interpretation since the word only does not appear in the original Greek text.)  I don't know whether this variety of wine was alcoholic or not; I'll let others debate that.  However, he was assuredly not telling Timothy to go around all day with a buzz.

Many places on the earth today are known to have bad water, and people often get sick when they travel there if they drink it.  This is not a curse that comes on them for sinning.  The water just happens to have certain microorganisms in it.  Instead of telling people to drink up and believe God, better counsel would be:  "Drink something other than water.  If you drink this water, you'll have frequent health problems!"  Why get sick and believe God for healing when you can avoid the sickness in the first place?  Why have recurring health problems like Timothy did if they're avoidable through natural means?  The last time I went to such a place, I just avoided the water.

So what about Paul not exhorting Timothy to believe for his healing?  Remember that this is the same Paul who wrote that our bodies were paid for, that the Lord is for the body, that we always triumph in Christ, that we reign in this life, that every knee bows when the name of Jesus is spoken, and that all things are under Christ's feet (and thus under ours).  This same Paul described sickness at Corinth as a judgment for carnality, not the will of God.  This is the same Paul who preached and had a man receive "faith to be healed" listening to his gospel.  Paul must have preached healing for this man to have gotten faith from listening to him, since faith comes by hearing God's Word.

This is the same Paul through whom special miracles were done, so that cloths that had touched him were taken to the sick, and they recovered.  This same Paul healed all the sick people on the island in Acts 28.  This same Paul raised a man from the dead.  This same Paul chided so-called "apostles" who had no power.  Paul said that the kingdom of God is not only in word, but also in power.  Paul said that he had fully preached the gospel after saying that signs and wonders were done.  He obviously considered Holy Ghost miracle power to be a normal part of the preaching of the gospel.

We know that healing was the norm in these days because James gave instructions on what to do IF there is any sick among you.  The very word IF implies that there doesn't need to be any sick among you.  Paul taught in this setting.  It was not like it is today, where James might have had to ask, "Is any among you well?"

So there is no way that you can say that Paul did not believe in healing.  How could he not, when his body was abused frequently, and he always went on to the next place and preached some more!  He was stoned and left for dead in Galatia, yet got up and went back to town the very next day after the believers prayed for him.  Although this obviously caused a physical trial for him (Gal 4:13), this trial was only "at the first," and then Paul was back to normal again!

Of course, the objection is based on the "fact" that Paul did not tell Timothy that he had any power to do anything about it.  That is a somewhat dubious proposition, since Paul did tell Timothy that God had given him the Spirit of power (2 Tim 1:7).  He also made a promise (which mothers should believe today) that God will preserve the physical life of the godly mother in childbirth (1 Tim 2:15).  That is a health promise, and it's in the same book as the verse about Timothy's stomach!  Paul also told Timothy in the same book that men (this would include Timothy) should pray without doubting (1 Tim 2:8).  Therefore, you cannot truthfully say that Paul never said anything to Timothy about health or faith.

Paul was a father in the faith to Timothy, so Timothy had to know Paul's teachings on healing.  Paul told Timothy to have nothing to do with fables and genealogies, but to minister "godly edifying which is in faith" (1 Tim 1:4).  You should further note that there is no reference to Timothy's ailments in 2 Timothy.  So for all you know Timothy took Paul's advice from 1 Timothy and didn't have any more trouble!  We know that Timothy was able to travel and minister the gospel, so whatever it was could not have been hindering him from doing that.  Contrast that with people in the hospital, able to do little or nothing about world evangelism, thinking that this verse about Timothy's stomach proves that they have no alternative.

Whatever was wrong with Timothy, it could not have been very serious.  Timothy was still able to preach and minister to his congregation.  He was not bedridden.  I suspect that Paul would be appalled if he could see how far some people have run with this one verse about ailments that could not have been major.

Paul told Timothy that Scripture makes you perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.  How could you be perfect and furnished unto all good works if you were out of circulation because of illness?  Keeping you healthy is part of what Scripture will do.  Anyone even in the Old Testament could have known that from Proverbs 4:20-22.

It is surely a wrong assumption that Paul told Timothy to use wine instead of believing God for healing.  Given the ministerial track record of the apostle Paul, it seems unlikely that Paul would never have counseled him to believe God for his healing.  You can't prove an argument from silence either way.  However, given Timothy's apparent trouble staying healthy, Paul gave him some natural advice.  It is a good thing for Christians to do what they can in the natural to stay healthy.  That is not unspiritual.  Bodily exercise does profit a little (as Paul also told Timothy in 1 Tim 4:8, although here the point is that exercising yourself unto godliness is far more important).  You don't throw common sense out the window just because you're saved.

You can just read the verse in question (1 Tim 5:23) and realize that Timothy was not constantly sick.  Paul did not tell him to drink wine because of his illness.  He said to do it because of his frequent illnesses.  If you just stayed sick, that would be an illness, not illnesses in the plural.  To have illnesses, you must first have an illness and then be healthy and then get another illness.  Timothy could not have been ill all the time.  Paul said the opposite.  He gave Timothy some advice about what to do about the fact that he seemed to keep getting sick again after recovering from his sicknesses.  Perhaps there was a water problem there, and Timothy needed to stop drinking it because it was making him sick.  Yes, it was apparently a chronically recurring condition, but Paul tried to rid Timothy of it.  He definitely did not tell Timothy, "Just accept that it isn't God's will for you to be healed of this," as many today would think.

Since Timothy had recurring illnesses, for all you know Timothy did use his faith when he got sick to get rid of the illnesses, and Paul was just trying to help Timothy not get sick in the first place!

This verse is a good answer to all who wonder if taking medicine is okay.  It surely is if Paul told Timothy to use natural means to help him get healed.  Why not do all you can to be in the health that is the known will of God (3 John 2)?

This is not the only time that Scripture refers to eating habits and health.  Proverbs 25:16 gives us some natural advice against making yourself sick by pigging out on sweets:  "Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it."  (Side note:  Solomon did not say not to eat sweets at all; he just said to do so in moderation.)  You need to respect natural laws concerning eating to stay healthy.  As any doctor can tell you, you can make yourself sick without any help from the devil simply by eating poorly.  On the other end, do not become like some "health food nut" Christians who are busier promoting the gospel of brown rice, unbleached sugar and tofu than the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!  This was not Jesus' message and is not our message.  Paul even warned Timothy about people who commanded others to "abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:  For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."  (1 Timothy 4:3-5).

You should see the Biblical balance of neither eating unhealthily nor getting preoccupied with food.

So why didn't Paul just "heal" Timothy?  If healing was for Timothy, why did Paul give him natural advice instead of just laying hands on him and healing him?  The answer to this question is obvious from 1 Timothy itself.  Paul was writing from Macedonia to a man in Ephesus.  Get out your map and you'll see that Macedonia is not exactly around the corner from Ephesus!  A personal visit to Timothy would have required a very long trip.  Paul couldn't lay hands on a man in Ephesus from Macedonia!  If Paul were anywhere near Timothy, he could have just gone and visited him instead of writing him a long letter!  That is the simple reason why Paul did not just "heal" him when he wrote 1 Timothy.

Anyone using this verse "against" healing should note that Paul's advice to Timothy was explicitly so that Timothy would be healed.  Paul did not say that Timothy's "often infirmities" were his cross to bear and that he should accept them.  As always, Paul's view on illness was that it was something to be avoided, not accepted.  This should be your view as well.

Acts 27:33-34 shows us another case where Paul gave people natural advice for their health.

The objector usually adds something about how Paul didn't tell Timothy to "stand in faith" for his stomach.  Paul did tell Timothy to follow after faith (1 Tim 6:11), to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Tim 6:12) and to "hold faith" (1 Tim 1:19).  He was exhorted to be an example in faith (1 Tim 4:12).  He stressed the importance of "unfeigned faith" (1 Tim 1:5), avoiding foolishness that was not the godly edifying which is in faith (1 Tim 1:4), and that men were to pray without doubting (1 Tim 2:8)!

Think about it -- today, many use this one stomach verse to justify praying while doubting -- doubting God's willingness to answer the petition for healing, figuring that in his sovereignty, God may make an exception like he supposedly did for Timothy!  Funny, that's NOT how Paul told Timothy that prayer should be done!

Of course, since the faith exhortations were not in the context of Timothy's stomach, some people will consider them irrelevant to the subject.  But actually, there is no real context to the verse about Timothy's stomach.  The surrounding verses are totally unrelated.

Since Timothy was in church leadership, he was obligated to pray for the sick himself (James 5:14-16) since he would be in the class of "elder" described by James.  God did not have one standard for Timothy's church and another for other churches, so Timothy had to believe in and practice the laying on of hands for healing himself.


1 Timothy 2: 8
1 Timothy 2:8:

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath or doubting.


1 Timothy 5:23
1 Timothy 5:23:

Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.


Objection:  Stephen was full of faith and power, but died anyway

Could Stephen have used his faith to live a long life and not be martyred?

Stephen, a deacon full of faith and power, was stoned to death for preaching the gospel in Acts 7.  Unlike Paul, who was prayed back by his friends, Stephen died and was not raised up.  Why didn't Stephen believe God's promises about being satisfied with long life and health instead of dying?

Stephen was not missing God; he was so "in the Spirit" that he saw Jesus in the opened heavens, standing at the right hand of God!  Stephen was the first Christian martyr.  He did not die of sickness; he was murdered.  If being murdered for your faith is inconsistent with God's long-life promises, Jesus missed it as well, since he was also murdered for his faith in the prime of life!  (We know that Jesus always did the will of God.)

Evidently God was pleased that Stephen would glorify him by dying for his faith.  When attempts were made to kill Jesus before it was time for him to die, he was protected.  No one could kill Paul before he finished his course, either.  Then he was apparently martyred as well.  This does not negate God's general promise of long life.  But God does ask people to give their lives for the gospel.

A Christian has not missed God because he dies as a martyr while preaching the gospel.  Jesus said in Revelation 2:13:  "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is:  and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth."  Antipas was a faithful martyr, implying that he was in God's will when he died.  Jesus spoke of the martyr's death by which Peter would glorify God in John 21:18-19.  If it were not the will of God for Peter to die that way, it would not have glorified God.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:9 that men would "deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you:  and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake."  Here he makes it obvious that there will be martyrs as well as those who are tortured for their faith but not killed.

While getting into such situations could mean you missed God, you could get into these situations while in the center of God's plan for your life.  If having faith meant that you could believe away persecution, Paul didn't have much faith.  He was getting beaten up all the time and thrown in icky dungeon cells all the time for preaching the gospel.  Jesus had already told Paul that he would suffer for preaching, and Peter spoke at length in his letters on the subject of suffering obediently as a Christian.  But the suffering talked about was not suffering from cancer or heart disease -- it was strictly persecution for righteousness' sake.

Stephen was obviously content to go home and be with the Lord because he asked Jesus to receive his spirit.  Paul did not do this when he was stoned, but the time came when he willingly gave up his life.

Stephen did not miss God, and the fact that God does call some to be martyrs in no way invalidates his promises and statements about healing.  Even if you die for the faith, God wants you to be healthy until you do so!


John 21:18-19
John 21:18-19:

Verify, verily, I say unto thee, when thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest:  but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.  And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.


Objection:  God creates evil, kills and wounds
Objection:  God creates evil (Isaiah 45:7), kills, and wounds (Deut 32:39)

Yes, God does say that he creates evil in Isaiah 45:7:  "I form the light and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things."  And he does say that he kills and wounds in Deuteronomy 32:39:  "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me:  I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand."  Then there's Lamentations 3:38:  "Out of the mouth of the most High proceedeth not evil and good?"  People sometimes quote other verses to give the impression that God has a part in every bad thing that happens.

Or how about Genesis 38:7 and 10:  "And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him...And the thing which (Onan) did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also."

Why stop there?  After all, there is a New Testament passage where Jesus himself says that he will kill someone!  No, I'm not joking -- I refer to Revelation 2:22-23, which you should click and read, since it may bend your theology a little!

Now, also in our more merciful covenant, we also find in Acts 12:21-23:  "And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost."

Haven't we been taught that God is good and the devil is bad, and that only the devil kills?  What is going on here?

Although some would hasten to make an argument here that God solely "permits the devil to do the killing," that is not going to satisfy many people who read these verses.  Frankly, it does not satisfy me either.  It is obvious that God can kill people and has killed huge numbers of people!  Think of the armies that opposed Israel, for example.  God killed them.  Even if you want to say that he "allowed" Satan to do the dirty work, God certainly commissioned it in these cases.

Having determined that, we should now determine exactly whom he kills, wounds and creates evil for.  Very simple -- his enemies!  God never kills his own people who are walking in the light.  The people killed in these passages were all wicked people who set themselves against God.

God helped David kill Goliath!  He killed Korah and his company of traitors.  What about those other battles where even hundreds of thousands of enemies were killed by the Lord?  What about the Red Sea where God killed an army of Egyptian soldiers?  Of course God kills people!  Anyone reading the Old Testament in particular cannot escape this fact.  But the people who were killed were almost always his enemies.  We'll return to the almost part shortly.

You cannot take any of these verses and derive a doctrine that God is going to wound you, make you sick, and kill you -- not if you're a Christian walking in the light!  There's no precedent for God afflicting his own people as long as they walk with him.  God killed only Israel's enemies as long as Israel walked in the light.  He could not kill his covenant people when they abode in him.  He had promised to satisfy them with long life!

Now, I said almost above.  God's people sometimes died, but only if they did something wrong.  The offenses may have seemed minor to man, but the mistreatment of holy things is major to God.  Nadab, Abihu and Uzzah learned this lesson the hard way -- they died for failure to respect the holy things of God.

"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.  And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD."  -- Leviticus 10:1-2

"And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God." -- 2 Samuel 6:6-7.

God takes his holy things seriously.  Let Nadab, Abihu and Uzzah stand as warnings to anyone under even our New Covenant who would play games with the things of God or attempt to enter a ministry to which he is not called!

Of course, we have the example of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-11 to warn us against playing games with God or with his servants:  We have a similar warning in 1 Cor 11:27-32.

So what can we conclude from all this?  God does in fact kill, but he is not going to kill YOU -- unless of course you decide that you want to make yourself his enemy.


Find Scriptures where YOUR...
Find Scriptures about YOUR condition

Illness Index:

AIDS

Arthritis

Bad breath (chronic)

Birth defects

Blindness

Blurred vision

Boils

Breathing difficulties

Broken bones

Brokenheartedness

Burning

Cancer

Chronic Illnesses

Consumption

Deafness

Demon possession

Depression

Diarrhea

Dumbness

Exhaustion

Fever

Foot trouble

Hemorrhaging

Infertility

Inflammation

Injuries

Insanity

Insomnia

Itching

Lameness

Leprosy

Lice

Mental illnesses

Miscarriages

Nonviability

Paralysis

Poisoning

Severing

Shaking

Shortness

Skin disorders

Snakebites

Sores

Speech impediments

Stomach disorders

Swelling

Tumors

Tuberculosis

Venereal diseases

Weakness

Withering

Worms

Anything else not listed here


Arthritis

Although not mentioned by name, this would seem to be a similar case to the "bowed over" woman that Jesus healed in Luke 13:11-16.


Bad breath (chronic)

Job's ailments, which the devil gave him, caused him to have chronic bad breath.  He said that his breath was corrupt and that it was offensive to his wife.  God healed Job of this condition.  If you have a chronic bad breath problem because of a disease, you can expect God to heal you of Satan's work just as he healed Job.

On the other hand, if your bad breath comes from just having eaten a bowlful of Texas chili or something, you obviously don't need to claim a healing.  You need some breath mints, breath spray, mouthwash or something similar.  Other people's bad breath could be "healed" through proper use of a toothbrush.  Let's not get over-spiritual about this, but realize that if you have bad breath for the reason Job did, you can expect God to heal you.


Birth defects

The man born blind in John 9:1-7 was healed through Jesus' ministry.  He declared the healing of the man with this birth defect to be "the works of God."  If that was the work of God then, healing birth defects is the work of God now.  Of course, having a birth defect does not mean that you or your parents are sinful; Jesus explicitly said that the blind man's birth defect was not his fault or his parents' fault.

The beggar at the gate called Beautiful who was healed in Acts 3:1-16 had been lame from his mother's womb.

The man in Acts 14:7-10 was a cripple from his mother's womb.  He heard the gospel, which produced faith to be healed, and rose up healed.  This is proof that the gospel itself is sufficient to cure birth defects without any special manifestation of the Spirit when the afflicted person exercises faith in the gospel message.

Being hunchbacked was cause to be excluded from certain temple service in Lev 21:16-23.  God said that it would profane his sanctuary to have such a person approach the altar.  Of course, under the New Covenant, the blood of Jesus gives everyone the right to approach God.  But if God did not want such a condition in his temple back then, why should he want it in his temple now, when you are his temple?

There is nothing "special" about birth defects, and you are not one of "God's special children," born to "special parents" if you have a birth defect.  These platitudes are just unbelieving words of false comfort spoken by those who do not believe that God heals all your diseases, as he declares that he does.  It is clear from the Scriptures above that Jesus Christ heals birth defects.

Let no man with a birth defect accuse God by saying, "Well, God made me this way!"  That wasn't what Jesus had to say on the matter.  God did not make you that way.  You inherited a condition that stems back to sin and the fall of man and is abnormal.  Healing is available to you today.  God is into removing birth defects, not handing them out!


Blindness

Blindness is one of the most frequently healed problems in Scripture in terms of specific references!  We are the ones who make it a big deal, not God.  (Yes, I am aware that if your problem is blindness, you are not reading this for yourself on the screen.)

Although the restoring of sight to the blind can be considered a miracle, it is unnecessary for the gifts of healings or the gift of working of miracles to be in operation for a blind man to see.  The blind man can simply hear and act on the Word of God, and receive his sight through his own faith, as some did in some of the passages listed below.

Deut 28:15-68 cites blindness and failing of eyes explicitly as part of the curse for breaking the Law.  According to Galatians 3:13, you are redeemed from this curse.  "The burning ague [fever] that shall consume the eyes" is listed among the curses for breaking the Law in Leviticus 26:14-39.  (Some illnesses are known to cause blindness.  You are explicitly redeemed from such illnesses.)

2 Kings 6:18-20 tells how God made an entire army blind and then restored their sight.  If he can do this to an entire army, surely it is no big deal for him to do it to one person!

In Matthew 9:27-30, two blind men are healed by their faith.

In Matthew 11:4-5 and Luke 7:20-23, Jesus cites the fact that the blind are seeing as a proof that he is the Messiah who was to come.

In Matthew 12:22, Jesus heals a blind man who is also deaf and dumb (speechless).  In this case, an evil spirit was responsible for the condition.

In Matthew 15:30-31, Jesus heals all who are blind in a large crowd.

In Matthew 20:30-34, two more blind men are healed.

In Matthew 21:14, an unspecified number of blind people come to Jesus in the temple and are healed.

In Mark 8:22-25, Jesus ministers to a blind man.  The man gets part of his vision.  Jesus continues to minister to him and he receives all of his vision.

In Mark 10:46-52, Blind Bartimaeus is made whole by his faith.

In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus declares that recovery of sight to the blind is part of what he was anointed to preach.  This can be taken figuratively, but it also happened literally throughout his ministry.

In Luke 7:20-23, Jesus heals many blind people and declares this to be one proof that he is the Messiah.

In Luke 18:35-43, a certain blind man near Jericho is healed because of his faith.

John 5:2-19 describes the Pool of Bethesda, where many sick people, explicitly including blind people, went to be healed.  When the angel troubled the water, whoever got in the pool first was healed, so if a blind person got in, the blind person would be healed.

In John 9:1-7, Jesus ministers to a man who was born blind.  When he obeys Jesus' instructions to go wash in the pool of Sent, he receives his sight.

In John 11:1-44, which deals with the raising of Lazarus, there is a reference to the fact that Jesus opened the eyes of the blind.

In Acts 13:6-12, blindness is called upon a man who was opposing the gospel as judgment.  God never made any obedient person blind for any reason.  Blindness here as well as in the curse of the Law is clearly a judgment, which does not belong to anyone who has been washed clean by the blood of Jesus.

You don't even have to lose your eyesight when you get old.  Moses didn't (Deut 34:7).

In Isaiah 29:18 and Isaiah 35:3-6 we see that Christ will take away blindness when he comes to reign on the earth.  Where Jesus has his way, blindness leaves.


Deuteronomy 34:7
Deuteronomy 34:7:

And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died:  his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.


Blurred vision

Since God is willing and able to heal total blindness, surely he is able to heal partial blindness or blurred vision from cataracts, glaucoma or other eye conditions.

Moses lived to a ripe old age without losing his vision (Deut 34:7).  In Mark 8:22-25, Jesus ministered to a blind man.  The man got part of his vision and at that point had blurred vision.  Jesus continued to minister to the man, and he was completely healed.

The curse in Deut 28:15-68 from which you are redeemed (Gal 3:13) includes "failing of eyes."  Having an illness (in this case a fever) that "consumes your eyes" is also declared a curse for disobedience in Leviticus 26:14-39.  You do not deserve any curse because of your righteousness in Christ.

In Lev 21:16-23, a man with a "blemish in his eye" was not permitted to approach God's holy altar.  This shows God's disapproval of such a condition and that he wants those who serve him to be free from such a condition.  It does not mean that you are a moral failure because you have an eye problem.  It does mean that God does not want such conditions in his holy temple, and you are his temple under the New Covenant.  (Don't worry; you can approach God like anyone else; the blood of Jesus takes care of that under the New Covenant.)

Believing you receive when you pray for healing of an eye condition gives you a special chance to literally "walk by faith, not by sight."  It is possible, and you can do it.  In the meantime, you might consider configuring your computer to run in VGA mode instead of Super VGA mode so that you can have an easier time reading this book (and anything else on it).


Boils

The word translated botch twice in the Law's curse in Deut 28:15-68 refers to boils or sores (covered separately).  This could include skin disorders (covered separately) as well as ulcers.  Any abnormal breaking forth of an open wound would be covered here.  Jesus Christ was given open wounds on his body during his atonement for your healing.  You do not have to have open sores in your body.  Satan is the author of such, as demonstrated by Job 2:4-7.  Satan gave Job his boils; God healed Job of his boils!

God specifically calls a "sore botch that cannot be healed" in the knees and legs a curse.  He also calls sores all over your body ("from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head") a curse.

God can keep boils away from his people!  Remember that one of Moses' ten plagues on Egypt was boils, which came upon the Egyptians, but not upon the Israelites (Exodus 9:8-11).  If he could do that for his people then, surely he can do so today under our better covenant established upon better promises.  Since boils are explicitly called a plague, and God says that no plague comes near the house of the man who abides in him (see Psalm 91), we can claim redemption from this plague today.


Breathing difficulties

Job appears to have had difficulty breathing, given his statement in Job 9:18 that God would not suffer him to take his breath.  Of course, this was a false accusation, because Job 2:4-7 makes it clear that Satan, not God, gave Job his problems.  Thus, Satan gave Job trouble breathing.  God restored his breathing and healed him, for we know from Job 42:16-17 that God completely healed Job of all his afflictions.  Neither Satan nor God has changed in nature.  Breathing difficulties are still Satan's work, and healing them is still God's work.


Broken bones

Psalm 34:17-20 ends with a promise that the righteous keeps all his bones, and that not one of them is broken.  If one of your bones is broken, expect God to honor his promise and heal your broken bone.

In Lev 21:16-23, a man with a broken foot or a broken hand was not permitted to approach God's holy altar.  This shows God's disapproval of such conditions and that he wants those who serve him to be whole in their bones.  It does not mean that you are a moral failure because you have a broken bone!  It does mean that God does not want such conditions in his holy temple, and you are his temple under the New Covenant.  (Don't worry; you can approach God like anyone else; the blood of Jesus takes care of that under the New Covenant.)


Brokenheartedness

God is the emotional healer of his people as well as their physical healer.  Jesus declared that he was anointed to heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18-19), so he surely is today, since he has not changed (Heb 13:8).  This is consistent with Psalm 147:3, 2 Cor 7:6 and 2 Cor 1:3-4 and other scriptures.  The Psalmist asked God to "heal his soul" in Psalm 41:4.

See the discussion, To heal the brokenhearted for further thoughts on this theme.


Burning

The burning referred to in Deut 28:15-68 refers to a burning fever.  This is a curse and you are redeemed from it (Gal 3:10-14).


Chronic Illnesses

Any illness is part of the curse of the Law in Deut 28:15-68.  Verse 61 includes "Every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this Law."  However, God even mentions chronic illnesses specifically in this passage.  He mentions "the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed," "a sore botch that cannot be healed," and in general, "great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sicknesses, and of long continuance."

Rather than resigning yourself to accept a chronic condition just because you've had it a long time, or your doctor says you can't get rid of it, believe that you are redeemed from chronic, long-lasting conditions!  It doesn't matter how long you've had it.  God heals all your diseases (see Psalm 103:1-5), not just your short-term ones!


Consumption
Consumption (Tuberculosis)

This is a disease involving the wasting away of tissue.  The Hebrew word here means roughly "emaciation."  God declares this to be part of the curse for breaking the Law in Deuteronomy 28:15-68, a curse from which Christ has redeemed us (Gal 3:10-14).  It is also listed among the curses for breaking God's covenant in Leviticus 26:14-39.  Why should a penalty for breaking the Law reside in a Christian, who is righteous as far as the Law is concerned because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ?  It shouldn't.  One of the most famous healing evangelists in history was healed from this disease before he started his ministry.

"Emaciation" is listed three times as one of Job's trials that Satan gave him.  Satan gave it to him and God healed him.  If God would heal Job of this, surely he is willing to heal you!


Deafness

In Isaiah 29:18 and Isaiah 35:3-6 we see that Christ will take away deafness when he comes to reign on the earth.  Where Jesus is Lord, deafness leaves.

In Matthew 11:4-5 and Luke 7:20-23, the fact that the deaf are hearing is cited as a proof that Jesus is the promised Messiah.

In Matthew 12:22, Jesus heals a deaf man who is also blind and dumb (speechless).  In this case, an evil spirit was responsible for the condition.

In Mark 7:32-37, Jesus heals a man who is deaf and has a speech impediment.  There is no record that any demon was involved, since Jesus did not cast out any demon from the man.

In Mark 9:17-29, Jesus heals a boy who is deaf because of the working of an evil spirit.


Demon possession

You won't see much true demon possession in highly developed countries; most "demonic" problems come from people who live in the flesh and yield themselves to sin.  People who are truly demon-possessed in such countries would generally be locked up in an asylum.

Jesus delivers the demon-possessed.  There are many Scriptures about this.  He explicitly gave his followers authority over all demons.

In Matthew 4:23-24, Jesus heals those who are possessed with devils.

In Matthew 8:16-17, Jesus casts devils out of the many demon-possessed people who are brought to him.

In Matthew 8:28-32, Jesus casts devils out of two demon-possessed men.  In Mark 5:2-20 and Luke 8:27-39, we find an expanded account of one of these men.

In Matthew 10:1, Mark 3:14-15, Mark 6:7 and Luke 9:1-2, Jesus gives his disciples power to cast out unclean spirits.  In Matthew 10:7-8, he commands them to cast out devils.  We know that they did this in Mark 6:12-13 and Luke 10:17-20.

In Matthew 15:22-28 and Mark 7:25-30, a Canaanite woman asks Jesus to deliver her demon-possessed daughter.  Jesus tells her that she has great faith and merely speaks a word and the daughter is healed.

In Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:17-29 and Luke 9:38-42, a devil caused a young boy to fall into fire and water.  The disciples could not cast it out because of their unbelief.  Jesus arrives on the scene and casts the devil out, and the boy is cured.

In Mark 1:23-26, Jesus casts an unclean spirit out of a man.  Luke 4:33-36 appears to recount the same incident.

In Mark 1:32-34, Jesus casts out many devils and does not permit them to speak.

In Mark 1:39, Jesus casts out devils throughout Galilee.

In Mark 9:38-39 and Luke 9:49-50, a man who is not even an official disciple of Jesus casts out devils in Jesus' name.

In Mark 16:15-18, Jesus says that casting out devils in his name will be a sign to follow believers as they preach the gospel to everyone.

In Luke 4:40-41, Jesus casts demons out of many people.

In Luke 6:17-19, all those who are "vexed with unclean spirits" are healed.

In Luke 7:20-23, Jesus heals many of evil spirits.

In Luke 8:2, women whom Jesus healed of evil spirits (one of them had seven) follow Jesus.  We see here that a person can have more than one demon.  Also, the text says that people were "healed" of evil spirits.  The healing that is yours includes deliverance from evil spirits.

In Luke 11:14, casting out a "dumb spirit" enables a man to speak.

In Luke 11:20, Jesus says that he casts out devils with "the finger of God" (an apparent reference to the Holy Spirit.)  Jesus did all his miracles as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit.  He did them by the "finger of God" and not by his innate deity.  He was just as divine for the first three decades of his life, but he cast out no demons until the Holy Spirit came upon him in the Jordan.

In Luke 13:11-16, Jesus heals a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years.

In Acts 5:12-16, people bring those "vexed with unclean spirits" from cities all around, and they are all healed.

In Acts 16:16-18, Paul casts out a fortune-telling demon from a girl.

In Acts 19:11-12, demons come out when handkerchiefs and aprons that touched Paul's body are brought to the possessed.


Depression

This is covered in a general sense in the section on mental illnesses.  However, there are some points about depression that are worth mentioning separately.

"Sorrow of mind" is called a curse in Deut 28:15-68, a curse from which you are specifically redeemed (Gal 3:10-14).  Job's eyes were dim from sorrow, a condition that Satan gave him, and from which God healed him.

If you suffer from depression, it is vital that you develop the habit of praising God.  Read what Jesus was anointed to do for you, prophesied by Isaiah hundreds of years in advance:  "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives [this would include captives of depression], and the opening of the prison to them that are bound [depression is a form of bondage];  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."

If you are always feeling "heavy," you need to praise God to get that heaviness off you.  You also need to declare depression to be a curse and resist it.  The devil wants you to be depressed all the time, and he will do what he can to keep you that way.  You must actively resist his thoughts of hopelessness and gloom.  Don't just dwell on whatever negative thought pops into your head.  Your weapons are mighty through God to pull down strongholds, and they are able to take every thought captive.  In Christ, you have the goods to defeat depression.

I am aware that sometimes physical problems bring on depression, but Jesus is the healer of your physical problems as well the healer of your mental problems.  You don't have to know which is the cause to believe God for you healing!  You are redeemed from depression.  You do not have to be depressed.

I am not saying that something is wrong because you have emotions.  We all have emotions.  It is not wrong to experience emotions, but it is wrong to let those emotions control you.  If you are not praising God because you don't feel like it, you are letting your emotions mean more to you than the Word of God, which lists enough reasons to praise God to keep you busy praising him for a long time.


Diarrhea

Job spoke of his "bowels boiling" as one of his afflictions (which Satan gave him).  I cannot prove that this means diarrhea, but it would seem to be an appropriate explanation.  Whatever made Job's bowels boil, God healed him.  You should expect God to heal you, too.

Of course, diarrhea is definitely included under "every sickness, and every plague," which is part of the curse for breaking the Law (Deut 28:61) and from which you are redeemed (Gal 3:13).

If you are traveling, you may be able to avoid this condition by not drinking the local water.  This would seem to be more rational than going ahead and drinking it and then claiming your healing from diarrhea.  I believe that this advice is consistent with Paul's natural advice to Timothy about not drinking the water at Ephesus.


Deuteronomy 28:61
Deuteronomy 28:61:

Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.


Dumbness

In Scripture, dumbness means inability to speak, not stupidity.  (If we could just lay hands on people and stop them from being dumb in the modern sense, there might be fewer people objecting to divine healing!)

In Matthew 9:32-33, a spirit is responsible for a man's dumbness.  When Jesus casts the devil out, the man is able to speak.

In Matthew 12:22, Jesus heals a dumb man who is also blind and deaf.  In this case, an evil spirit was responsible for the condition.

In Matthew 15:30-31, Jesus heals all who are dumb in a large crowd.

In Mark 7:32-37, a man who has a speech impediment is categorized as "dumb" even though he could apparently speak somewhat.  Jesus heals him.  No demon is mentioned as being involved.

In Mark 9:17-29, Jesus heals a boy who is dumb because of the working of an evil spirit.

In Luke 11:14, Jesus casts out a spirit, enabling a dumb person to speak.

In Isaiah 35:3-6 we see that Christ will take away dumbness when he comes to reign on the earth.  Where Jesus is Lord, dumbness leaves.


Exhaustion

No one says that you can deliberately overwork your body and then "claim" healing from the exhaustion that you brought on yourself.  However, in Philippians 2:25-30, Epaphroditus allowed himself to get exhausted in the ministry, and God in his mercy healed him when he was at the point of death.

Don't believe the Christian cliché that it is better to burn out for God than to burn out for the world or the devil.  Jesus' yoke is easy and his burden is light.  If you think his instructions are burning you out, you've missed it somewhere.  God does not burn out anyone.  Unwise Christians burn themselves out.


Fever

Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:30-31, and Luke 4:38-39 contain accounts where Jesus instantly heals Peter's mother-in-law of a fever.  (Luke describes it as a great fever.)

Deut 28:15-68 lists fever explicitly as a curse for breaking the Law.  Jesus has redeemed you from that curse (Gal 3:10-14).  Lev 26:14-39 also declares fever a result of breaking God's covenant, although here it is called the "burning ague."  The same Hebrew word translated "burning ague" in Leviticus is translated "fever" in Deuteronomy.  Another word, "burning," signifies fever in this passage as well.

Got a really bad fever?  You'll be glad to know that a nobleman's son had a deadly fever in John 4:46-53, and Jesus simply spoke words.  The nobleman believed Jesus' words, and the fever left the son at that moment.  Mere words drove out a deadly fever!  Thank God, your words can drive out a deadly fever, too.

Acts 28:8-9 describes how the father of Publius, who had a fever, was healed when a believer (Paul) laid hands on him.

Job 30:30 says that Job had a fever, and we know that Job's physical trials were caused by the devil.  Thus, fever is something that the devil, not God, causes.  The Son of God was made manifest to destroy the works of the devil.


Foot trouble

2 Chronicles 16:12 tells of Asa, who did not get healed of his foot trouble.  He sought medical help but did not seek the Lord's help.  Seeking medical help is not wrong, but God has a complaint with those who seek medical help without seeking his help.  If you have foot trouble, don't make Asa's mistake and just see doctors without trusting God for your healing.


Hemorrhaging

In Matthew 9:18-25, Mark 5:22-43 and Luke 8:41-56, a woman with "an issue of blood" is healed by her faith.

In Acts 28:8-9, the father of Publius is healed of a "bloody flux."


Infertility

Though this is not often preached, infertility (inability to have children) is one of the most-discussed problems in Scripture.  God has proved again and again that he heals those who cannot have children.  To think he wouldn't do it for you is a misconception that is almost inconceivable.

In Psalm 113:9, God declares that he makes the barren woman become the joyful mother of children.

In Genesis 20:17-18, Abimelech's household is unable to bear children as a curse for the impropriety of having Sarah stay there.  Thus, God declares barrenness to be a curse.  When things are made right, God opens their wombs.

In Genesis 21:1-2, Sarah, who is way too old to have children and is childless, bears a son when God intervenes.  A reminder of this is found in Hebrews 11:11.

In Genesis 25:21, God graciously answers Isaac's prayer and grants his barren wife twins.  If he would honor Isaac's prayer under the Old Covenant, surely he would honor yours.

In Genesis 30:22-23, Rachel is made able to bear children after a long time of being jealous of Leah.

In Exodus 23:25-26, God promises obedient Israel that there would not only be no sickness among them, but also no barrenness or miscarriages!  Surely his blessings have not decreased under our new and better covenant.

In Deuteronomy 7:12-15, God promises to bless the fruit of your womb (children), so there must be some to bless.  He then said that there would be no childless male or female among you or your animals, and that he would take all sickness away.

In Deuteronomy 28, God pronounces a blessing on the fruit of your body (your children).  This would be impossible if you could not have kids!

In Judges 13:2-3, 24, a certain woman is barren, and God gives her Samson.

In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah cannot bear children.  She prays to the Lord, and the Lord gives her Samuel.  Hannah then praises God, in the midst of which she talks about the barren woman bearing seven children (1 Samuel 2:5).

In 2 Kings 4:12-17, a Shunammite woman is blessed with a child after taking care of the prophet of God.

Proverbs 30:16 lists the following things that are never satisfied:  The grave, the barren womb, the earth that is not filled with water, and the fire that never says it is enough.  Thus, the implication is that the barren womb cries out for children.

In Luke 1, Elisabeth was barren, and God gave her John the Baptist.  Isn't it interesting how many heroes of faith could never have even been born without God's intervention!

In Leviticus 20:20-21, dying childless is a curse for incest.  If God considers barrenness a curse, so should we!  It is possible that the childless death would be soon due to execution; this is not quite clear.  "And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness:  they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.  And if a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing:  he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless."

Psalm 127:3-5:

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:  and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them:  they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

If you had to be childless, all of the almost innumerable blessings on your children would be meaningless.  For example:

Psalm 128:3-4:

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house:  thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.

It is clearly the will of God that you be able to have children.  (I hope it is superfluous to point out that it is also the will of God that you be married first!)  If you are unable to do so, you have the right to be healed in your body so that you can!  That is part of your covenant with God.


Inflammation

The word used for inflammation in the curse of Deut 28:15-68 means a burning fever.  You are redeemed from this as well as the rest of the Deuteronomy curse by Christ's sacrifice (Gal 3:10-14).


Injuries

Thank God, Jesus' healing mercy extends not only to the sick but also to those who have been in accidents.  Don't let anyone who has been in an accident convince you that it was God's will or that God is unwilling to heal injuries from accidents, even if the person if famous for being in a self-inflicted accident and blames it on God.

In Matthew 15:30-31, Jesus heals all the maimed people in a large crowd.

In Luke 22:50-51, Jesus heals a man whose ear Peter just hacked off with a sword.

In Acts, God repeatedly heals Paul when he is injured by persecutors.  This is the only reason Paul can continue in his ministry and finish his course.


Insanity

God's healing covenant covers mental as well as physical illnesses.  Indeed, in many cases it is hard to draw the line.  Fortunately, you don't need to draw any line -- it's all covered!

In Matthew 4:23-24, Jesus heals those that are "lunatick" (insane).

Many people are insane because they are possessed by demons.  See the Demon Possession section for Scriptures.

See Mental Ilnesses for a more general discussion of mental illnesses.


Insomnia

Psalm 127:2 says that God gives his beloved sleep.

Proverbs 3:21-24 says that your sleep will be sweet if you keep sound wisdom and discretion.

Ecclesiastes 5:12 says that the sleep of a laboring man is sweet.  The rich who are consumed with their wealth, by contrast, do not sleep well.  To sleep well, make sure you're working for a living and don't be consumed with worry about money, which Jesus forbade in Matthew 6.25-34.

If you want to worry, forget about sleeping.  If you want to sleep, forget about worrying.  Worry is a sin.  Repent of it and you'll sleep better.  Cast your care on the Lord, because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).  If you fail to do this, "claiming" these other sleep Scriptures will not work.

If God could cause Adam (Gen 2:21), Abraham (Gen 15:12), Saul's entire army (1 Sam 26:12) and Daniel (Dan 8:18, Dan 10:9) to fall into a deep sleep, and cause Jeremiah to have sweet sleep (Jer 31:26), surely he is able to make you sleep well.

It was Satan, not God, responsible for making Job "toss to and fro unto the dawning of the day" (Job 7:4), for causing wearisome nights and scaring him with dreams and terrifying him with visions while he slept (Job 7:13-14), and causing pain in his bones at night (Job 30:17).  You have authority over Satan.

Rather than counting sheep, count yourself one of God's sheep and believe that he will help you sleep!


Genesis  2:21
Genesis 2:21:

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept:  and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;


Genesis 15:12
Genesis 15:12:

And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.


1 Samuel 16:12
1 Samuel 26:12:

So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they got them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked:  for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.


Jeremiah 31:26
Jeremiah 31:26:

Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.


Daniel  8:18
Daniel 8:18:

Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground:  but he touched me, and set me upright.


Daniel 10:9
Daniel 10:9:

Yet heard I the voice of his words:  and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.


Matthew  6:25-34
Matthew 6:25-34:

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.  Is not the life more than meat, and the body more than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air:  for they sow not, neither do they reap, neither do they gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Therefore, take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow:  for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.  Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.


Itching

Part of the curse in Deuteronomy 28:15-68 is "the itch whereof thou canst not be healed."  God thus declares chronic itching to be a curse, and we know from Gal 3:10-14 that we are redeemed from the curse found in the Law.  Therefore, Christ has redeemed you from itching and you have the right to receive healing from it.  Also, the "scab" referred to in the same verse as the itch in the Deuteronomy curse passage above appears to refer to a form of itching as well, in the form of something that itches.


Lameness

Matthew 11:4-5 and Luke 7:20-23 state that the lame walking is a proof that Jesus was the Messiah who was to come.

Matthew 15:30-31 records that Jesus healed many lame people.

In Matthew 21:14, Jesus heals an unspecified number of lame people in the temple.

In John 5:2-19, a man who cannot walk because of an infirmity he has suffered for 38 years is healed.

Acts 3:1-16 has the famous account of the lame man at the gate called Beautiful who got up and walked when Peter told him to do so in the name of Jesus.

Acts 8:5-8 tells how Philip healed many who were lame and paralyzed in Samaria when he preached Christ there.  Recall that Philip was not an ordained minister at the time; he had served in the physical aspects of the ministry at Jerusalem!  This shows that such healings are not just done by apostles!  Philip was not called an evangelist until later.

Acts 14:7-10 tells how a lame man at Lystra got healed.  He heard Paul preach the gospel (the real thing, not the modern watered-down, powerless version) and from that got faith to be healed and rose up whole.  Any believer can do this, too.  You can preach the gospel and expect the lame to be healed.  (This beats making lame excuses about this not being for today.  Those who claim that the lame can't be healed today don't have a leg to stand on.)  This verse is proof that no special anointing need be present for a lame person to be healed.  The lame can be healed by simply believing the gospel.

Isaiah 35:3-6 says that when God comes to Israel, the lame will leap like a deer.

If you are lame because of fear, both Isaiah 35:3-6 and Hebrews 12:12-13 tell you that you can be healed.  (Some people do get physically weak because they are in such great fear.)

See also Paralysis, which is an extreme form of lameness.


Leprosy
Leprosy (This is also referenced under Skin Disorders)

In 2 Kings 5:1-14, Naaman the Syrian gets healed of leprosy by obeying Elisha's God-given instructions.  Jesus refers to this in Luke 4:27.  In 2 Kings 5:27, leprosy is supernaturally given to Gehazi as judgment for sin.  In 2 Chronicles 26:16-21 and 2 Kings 15:5, Uzziah (Azariah) is stricken with leprosy as a judgment for intruding into a priestly function he was not allowed to perform.  Nothing that is a judgment for sin has any right to exist in a believer's body, since he has been justified by the blood of Jesus and stands sin-free in God's sight.

In Matthew 8:2-4, Mark 1:40-45, and Luke 5:12-15, a leper worships Jesus and questions his will to heal him.  Jesus says that it is his will, and heals him.  The leprosy leaves immediately.

In Luke 17:12-19, ten lepers at once are healed when they obey Jesus' command to go show themselves to the priests to demonstrate their healing.  (They are healed as they go.)

In Matthew 10:7-8, part of Jesus' command to the disciples whom he commissioned to preach is explicitly, "Cleanse the lepers."

In Matthew 11:4-5 and Luke 7:20-23, the fact that lepers are being cleansed is cited as proof that Jesus is the Messiah who was to come.

In Numbers 12:1-15, Miriam was struck with leprosy as judgment for having a complaining, mutinous attitude toward the God-appointed leader (Moses).

In Exodus 4:6-7, the supernatural giving and removing of leprosy is a sign for Moses to use.  This is not a traditional healing Scripture, since God did not heal a condition that Moses lived with, but it does prove God's ability to heal leprosy instantly.

We know that Satan gave Job his troubles, which included broken skin (Job 7:5, Job 30:18) and skin worms (Job 19:26).  Since Satan caused these things then, we know that he (and not God) is the cause of this now.  Under the New Covenant, you have authority over Satan.

Even Job's crummy counselor in Job 33:19-25 understood the concept of atonement bringing healing of leprosy, the result being, "His flesh shall be fresher than a child's:  he shall return to the days of his youth."


Lice

God can keep lice away from his people!  Remember that one of Moses' ten plagues on Egypt was lice, which came upon the Egyptians, but not upon the Israelites.  (See Exodus 8:16-17.  This plague is also referred to in Psalm 105:31: "He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.")  Lice are not a blessing.  If God could keep his people lice-free when everyone else was getting them, surely he can do so today.  Since lice are explicitly called a plague, and God says that no plague comes near the house of the man who abides in him (see Psalm 91), surely we can claim redemption from this plague today.


Mental illnesses

God's healing covenant covers mental illnesses as well as physical ones.  It is often hard to draw the line between them.  Fortunately, you don't have to.  If it's an illness, Jesus is able and willing to heal it.

The Insanity and Demon possession sections cover various ailments that would be referred to as mental illnesses today.  God's healing mercies are also extended to other mental illnesses that do not fit into either of these categories.  See the answer to the question, Are we redeemed from mental as well as physical illness? for a discussion of these.

Madness (or craziness) is specifically mentioned twice as a curse in Deut 28:15-68, a curse from which you are redeemed (Gal 3:10-14).  (In Deuteronomy, we read that the Lord will smite you with madness, and you will be mad for the sight of your eyes which you shall see, as part of the curse for failure to keep the Law.)  Those who come against Jerusalem in the future will be smitten with this.  Zechariah 12:4: "In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness (same word used in Deut. 28 in the original language):  and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness."

Another mental problem, "astonishment of heart," is specifically enumerated as a curse and is found in Deuteronomy as well as Zechariah in the passages cited above.

Groping at noonday as the blind gropes in darkness is surely not a normal mental state, but it is also listed as part of the Deuteronomy curse.  So are "a trembling heart" (chronic anxiety), having your life hanging before you, fearing night and day, having no assurance of your life, and always wishing it were later because you're so miserable now.  In the case of anxiety, God gives instructions on not being anxious -- make your requests known to God with thanksgiving.  Cast your cares on him because he cares for you.

Also listed as a curse for breaking the Law in Lev 26:14-39 are terror, sorrow of heart caused by chronic sickness, running when no one is chasing you, faintness of heart, paranoia (running because of the sound of a shaking leaf), and "pining away."

It was Satan, not God, who was responsible for Job's tossing to and fro and night, having wearisome nights, biting himself, having "dim eyes for sorrow" and faintheartedness.  God healed Job of all of these conditions.

There is no question, based on the Scriptures above, that God considers mental illness a curse just as much as he considers physical illness a curse!  You are healed of mental illness by Jesus' stripes.


Miscarriages

In Exodus 23:25-26, God promised no miscarriages to those who serve him, a promise that every pregnant Christian woman should claim personally.


Nonviability

This cannot possibly be YOUR condition, because dead men do not read or need Healing for Windows.  However, in the interest of completeness, here is a list of Scriptures about the raising of the dead:

In Matthew 9:18-25, Mark 5:22-43 and Luke 8:41-56, Jesus raises the ruler Jairus's daughter from the dead.

In Matthew 10:7-8, Jesus tells his disciples at that particular time to raise the dead.

In Matthew 27:52-53, many saints rise from the dead and appear to many in the city.

In Luke 7:12-16, Jesus interrupts (and ends, we can assume) a funeral for a young man by raising him from the dead.

In John 11:1-44, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.

In Acts 9:36-42, Peter raises Tabitha from the dead.

In Acts 14:19-20, Paul is raised up by the disciples after being stoned and dragged out of the city, supposedly dead.  It is debatable whether Paul was actually dead, but he must have at least looked dead if the people who stoned him dragged his body out of the city assuming it was dead.

In Acts 20:9-12, Paul raises Eutychus from the dead after he falls asleep, falls in this case being very literal!

In Revelation 11:9-11, the two prophets are miraculously raised from the dead.

In Matthew 11:4-5, Luke 7:20-23, Jesus cites the raising of the dead as a proof that he is the Messiah.

In 2 Kings 4:18-37, Elisha raises the Shunammite woman's son from the dead.

In 2 Kings 13:20-21, Elisha's bones are sufficient to raise a man from the dead when Elisha himself is dead!

In Hebrews 11:35, we read that women received their dead raised to life again in the Old Covenant.  No specific instance is mentioned.

And of course, lest we forget, Jesus Christ himself was raised from the dead.


Paralysis

Note:  Paralysis is generally called "the palsy" in Scripture.

As far as God is concerned, paralysis is simply another curse from which you are redeemed.  Modern man thinks of someone getting out of a wheelchair as a big deal to be publicized.  However, it is no harder for God Almighty to heal paralysis than it is for him to heal a headache.  The issue is not what he can do, nor what he is willing to do, but what we can believe that he will do (see Mark 9:17-29).  If you are paralyzed now, read what Jesus did do.  Then realize that he is the same today and will do today what he did then.

Matthew 4:23-24 tells how all sick people, including those who were paralyzed, were brought to Jesus and were healed.

In Matthew 8:5-13, Jesus heals a paralyzed servant through the mere speaking of faith-filled words.  Jesus never visits the servant or lays hands on him in person.

In Matthew 9:2-8, Mark 2:2-12 and Luke 5:17-26, a paralyzed man is let down through a roof by his friends.  When Jesus sees their faith, including the faith of the paralyzed man, he declares his sins forgiven, and then (as a natural consequence and proof of his being forgiven) commands him to get up, which he does.

In Acts 8:5-8, many paralyzed people in Samaria are healed through Philip's ministry.

In Acts 9:32-35, Aeneus, paralyzed for eight years, is healed by Jesus Christ through the ministry of Peter.

Jesus Christ is the same today!  He heals paralysis today!


Poisoning

In Mark 16:15-18, Jesus said that believers would not be harmed by drinking poison, and that this would be a sign to follow believers as they preached the gospel to everyone.

Please note that this is not a basis to accept a challenge from scoffers to drink Drano in their presence.  This refers to accidental poisoning.  A challenge to drink Drano is no different that Satan's challenge to Jesus to jump off a high building and claim Psalm 91.  Jesus would have died, and that was Satan's goal.  Don't fall for the same temptation or your life and ministry will instantly go down the drain.


Severing

In Luke 22:50-51, Jesus restores a man's ear that Peter has cut off with a sword.  This is not too hard for God.


Shaking

Shaking was one of Job's afflictions that Satan gave him, and from which God healed him.  If God would heal Job's shaking, you should expect him to heal yours as well.


Shortness

Bet you're surprised to see this listed in the illness index!  Before you get offended at this heading, I am not talking about people who are just shorter than average.  (I am definitely in this category and I see no need for healing.  Besides, I fit better into coach airline seats and I can buy smaller, cheaper cars and still be comfortable, and I spend less on food than the basketball-playing crowd does.)  I cannot name a specific height above which you are just short and below which you are abnormally short and have a physical problem.  You will have to decide this for yourself if you are short.

Some people are dwarfs because of a medical condition or illness, and we are redeemed from illnesses of all kinds.  In Lev 21:16-23, dwarfs were not permitted to approach God's altar.  It wasn't because they couldn't reach up and handle the sacrifices; it was because God considered this an abnormal condition, which along with several other abnormal conditions, disqualified you from certain service in God's temple.  God was not just being mean and telling Moses, "Don't want no short people 'round here."  He considered deformities in his priests to profane his sanctuary.  If you have a problem with this, you will have to take it up with God, since it's his Law.  Of course, under the New Covenant, the blood of Jesus allows people of all heights to approach God.

It would be easier to rebuke a condition that is stopping the growth of a child than to suddenly expect a middle-aged "vertically challenged" man to grow miraculously in height.  However, nothing is too hard for God.  Many people have had certain parts of their bodies lengthened that were abnormally short (I've seen it happen), so it should not be too much of a stretch to assume that God could do this for all of you if you wanted him to.  Even if it is a genetic problem, people have been healed of other genetic conditions such as mongolism (Down's Syndrome), so why should you keep yours?  Just be aware that people who must overcome serious genetic problems sometimes must stand in faith and speak God's Word over themselves for a long time.  This requires extreme commitment and tenacity.  However, with God nothing shall be impossible, and nothing means nothing.


Snakebites

In Mark 16:15-18, Jesus says in effect that serpents will not harm believers, and that this will be a sign to follow believers as they preach the gospel to everyone.

In Acts 28:3-6 there is a confirmation of this when Paul is bitten by a deadly snake and suffers no ill effects.

In Numbers 21:5-9, a symbol of the crucified Christ is raised up, and anyone bitten by a deadly snake can look at that symbol of Christ and live.  If you could be healed of a snakebite by looking at a symbol of Christ, surely Christ himself is willing to heal you of snakebites.

No one has the right to tempt God by deliberately handling snakes, but if a poisonous snake bites you, Jesus promises you immunity as a believer.


Sores

Deut 28:15-68 lists a "sore botch" in the knees and legs, and head to toe, as part of the curse for breaking the Law.  Christ redeemed you from this curse (Gal 3:10-14).

Job 2:4-7 tells us where sores come from.  Satan smote Job with boils all over his body.  We have authority over Satan.

In 2 Chron 7:28-30, Solomon asks God to hear all prayers offered because of sores and sicknesses.

Revelation 16:1-2 and Revelation 16:10-11 both speak of terrible sores coming on men as part of the wrath of God on the earth.  It is absolutely clear that sores are a curse for sin in both Testaments.

See Boils for related Scriptures and comments.


Galatians 3:13
Galatians 3:13:

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:


Speech impediments

In Mark 7:32-37, Jesus heals a man who had "an impediment in his speech."  See also Dumbness.


Stomach disorders

The only actual mention of a stomach problem is in 1 Tim 5:23, where Paul tells Timothy to change what he drinks for his stomach's sake.  This does NOT mean that God is unwilling to heal stomach troubles.  Ulcers could also be considered to be covered under boils or sores, both of which are explicitly part of the curse for breaking the Law, from which you are redeemed.  Any stomach illness is included in Deut 28:61, which says that every sickness not enumerated is included in the curse for breaking the Law as well.  For more on Paul's advice to Timothy, see Objection:  Paul told Timothy to drink wine instead of believing God for healing.  Paul's natural advice can keep you out of stomach trouble in parts of the world today.

Just because you have claimed your healing does not mean that it is a good idea to go eat the spiciest Mexican food you can find before your healing has manifested itself.  Faith does not set aside common sense.  Once your healing has manifested itself, you can eat what you want.


Swelling

In Luke 14:1-6, a man is healed of "the dropsy," defined in the dictionary as "pathological accumulation of diluted lymph in body tissues and cavities."


Tumors
Tumors  (also referenced under Cancer)

A word translated "emerods" several times in the Old Testament refers to tumors or abnormal swellings.  These are specifically part of the curse for breaking the Law in Deut 28:15-68, a curse from which Christ has redeemed you (Gal 3:10-14).  You do not have to have any abnormal growths, swelling or tumors in your body because you are freed from this curse.

A fatal, incurable condition in the "bowels" was given to a wicked king of Israel as judgment for his sin.  We cannot be sure if this was cancer, but the description in 2 Chronicles 21:12-19 sounds like a fair description of colon cancer or a similar ailment.  One thing is for sure.  Anything that is a judgment does not belong in your body, because Christ redeemed you from God's wrath.

When the Philistines swiped the Ark of the Covenant, they were smitten with tumors in their secret parts.  This was a curse for profaning the holy things of God.  (Only duly appointed priests were authorized to handle the Ark of the Covenant under the Law of Moses.)  God made a deal with them that he would heal them if they would return it properly with a trespass offering.  See 1 Samuel 5:1-6:5 if you want to know the rest of the story.  There is no reason why God would want something in you that was a judgment for evil in the Old Testament.  You are the righteousness of God in Christ, so you do not deserve things that are judgments.  God was even willing to extend his healing mercy to the Philistines to heal their tumors if they showed him respect.  How much more should his healing mercy be extended to his child who already respects him!


Venereal diseases
Venereal diseases  (Also referenced under AIDS)

Romans 1:26-27 alludes to venereal diseases (this would include AIDS) as being just recompense for the sin that caused it.  I'm sure someone would love to point out here that some people get AIDS from blood transfusions or inheritance through no fault of their own.  If that's you, this verse doesn't apply to you.  The fact is, most people get AIDS and other venereal diseases from immorality, and they have only themselves to thank for their condition.  God does not give people AIDS; Satan invented diseases.  The passage above does not say that God gave people venereal diseases.  But venereal diseases are out there, and if you sin sexually, you set yourself up to receive them in your body.  Don't kid yourself or let your government or secular school fool you:  The only "safe sex" is NO sex until you are married and then sex only with your spouse from then on.

Proverbs contains warnings about the physical consequences of sexual sin.  Proverbs 5:8-11:  "Remove thy way far from her [the strange woman], and come not nigh the door of her house:  Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:  Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth:  and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; and thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed."  Proverbs 6:32-33:  "But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding:  he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.  A wound and dishonor will he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away."  Proverbs 7:22-23, 26: "He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; Till a dart strike his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life...For she hath cast down many wounded:  yea, many strong men have been slain by her."

Because these diseases are sin-related, you need to repent of the lifestyle that gave you the disease in the first place.  If you are engaging in homosexual acts, procuring services from prostitutes, committing adultery (that's the Biblical term for what man calls "having an affair"), or using illegal intravenous drugs, you are sinning and need to repent.  These are not "personal choices" -- they are SIN.  They are not "diseases" -- they are SIN.  They are not "alternative lifestyles" -- they are SIN.  They are not environmentally determined inevitable outcomes of your poor upbringing -- they are SIN.  You must take full responsibility for your sin.  You can't blame your mother, your father, society, politicians, or anyone else.  You made a choice to sin and you are solely responsible for that choice in the eyes of God.

Until you repent of the sin that brought your condition on you, you are in no position to receive healing from God for it.  God in his mercy may heal you in a service, but you are don't have a right to "claim" deliverance from the devil's works in your body while you continue to practice the devil's works with your body!  You are tempting Christ by asking God to heal you so that you can go out and sin longer and more comfortably.

King David made his share of mistakes and apparently had some form of VD himself.  This sin was not what made him "a man after God's own heart," but David owned up to it and took responsibility himself, as he needed to, and repented.  That is what you need to do.

Psalm 38:3-18:

There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.

For mine iniquities are gone over mine head:  as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.

I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease:  and there is no soundness in my flesh.

I am feeble and sore broken:  I have roared for reason of the disquietness of my heart.

Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.

My heart panteth, my strength faileth me:  as for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me.

My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

They also that seek after my life lay snares for me:  and they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long.

But I, as a deaf man, heard not; and I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth.

Thus I was as a man that heareth not, and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

For in thee, O LORD, do I hope:  thou wilt hear, O LORD my God.

For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me:  when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.

For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.

For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.

Given that David lived a long time after his gross sin with Bathsheba, it is a fair assumption that God healed King David when he declared his iniquity and was sorry for his sin.  This may be what David referred to in Psalm 30:2-3.

The good news for those who have diseases that are their own fault is found in Psalm 107:17-20.  When fools are afflicted because of their sin, they can cry out to God for mercy, and he will send his word and heal them, and deliver them from their destructions.  However, Jesus' advice to the man at the Pool of Bethesda is still appropriate:  Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.


Weakness

Weakness can be physical or emotional.  These tend to work together.  If you're weak emotionally, it is a natural consequence to feel weak physically.  Fortunately, God is willing and able to strengthen you in your weakness.

Weakness is a curse that you should not have

A general weakness or run-down feeling cannot possibly be God's will for you because it is cited explicitly as a consequence for sin in 1 Cor 11:30.  Paul said that many were weak and sickly (and even dead) among the Corinthians because of their failure to walk in love toward the Church and recognize the body of Christ in communion.  This can have two applications.  The most obvious, and the main point in the context, is that those who choose not to walk in love toward the body of Christ can get weak and sick and die as a consequence.  Another application is that by making light of communion, they were failing to recognize the significance of the broken bread.  They were just pigging out on it as natural food, but that bread represented the body of Christ that was broken for their physical healing.  Failure to recognize the healing portion of the atonement can also leave you sick and weak, not realizing that you don't have to be that way.

General physical weakness was considered a curse in the Old Testament as well.  Part of the curse for breaking the Law is found in Deuteronomy 28:32:  "And there shall be no might in thine hand."  God does not want you to bear something that he declares to be a curse and declares you to be redeemed from in Gal 3:13.

This should not be confused with our weakness in our flesh to accomplish anything for God apart from the Holy Spirit.  Even Jesus said that his flesh was weak in this regard, and you will deal with this until your dying day.  This discussion is about physical lethargy, not about weakness in terms of inability to produce.  (Most references to weakness in the New Testament refer to the latter.)

Your faith can make you strong

Although this advice in context was offered to Israel's enemies, it is still worth noting:  "Let the weak say, I am strong" (Joel 3:10).  That is a good starting point if you have been feeling weak all the time.  Start saying that you are strong instead of reinforcing your problem by continually complaining about how weak you feel.

Hebrews 11:34 says that by faith, men out of weakness were made strong.  If they could become strong instead of weak through faith, so can you.  God did this even for Old Testament people:  "They that stumbled are girded with strength" (1 Samuel 2:4).

How will you get this faith to be strong?  By reading and believing what God says about strength:

God is your strength

God declared himself to be "The Strength of Israel" (1 Sam 15:29).  "The Lord is my strength and song" -- Exodus 15:2.  "God is my strength and power:  and he maketh my way perfect" -- 2 Samuel 22:33.  "I will love thee, O LORD my strength.  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength..." -- Psalm 18:1-2.  "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." -- Psalm 19:14.  "But be not far from me, O LORD:  O my strength, haste thee to help me." -- Psalm 22:19.  "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" -- Psalm 27:1.

We're not done with this theme yet!  "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him,  and I am helped:  therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.  The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed."  -- Psalm 28:7-8.  "Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me:  for thou art my strength" -- Psalm 31:4.  "But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD:  he is their strength in the time of trouble." -- Psalm 37:39.  "For thou art the God of my strength..." -- Psalm 43:2.  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." -- Psalm 46:1.

Read on:  "Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing:  for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy." -- Psalm 59:17.  "My flesh and my heart faileth:  but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever." -- Psalm 73:26.  "Sing aloud unto God our strength:  make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob." -- Psalm 81:1.  "The LORD is my strength and my song, and is become my salvation." -- Psalm 118:14.  "Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight" -- Psalm 144:1.

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid:  for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." -- Isaiah 12:2.  "Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hath not been mindful of the rock of thy strength..." -- Isaiah 17:10.  "For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall." -- Isaiah 25:4.  "And my God shall be my strength" -- Isaiah 49:5.  "O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction..." -- Jeremiah 16:19.  "But the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel." -- Joel 3:16.  "The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places." -- Habakkuk 3:19.

God gives you strength

"He [Israel] hath as it were the strength of an unicorn" -- Numbers 23:22, also Numbers 24:8.  "For thou hast girded me with strength to battle:  them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me." -- 2 Samuel 22:40.  "And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me" -- Ezra 7:28.  "It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.  He maketh my feet like hind's feet, and setteth me upon my high places."  -- Psalm 18:32-33.  "The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;" -- Psalm 20:1-2.  "The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD..." -- Psalm 21:1.  "The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace." -- Psalm 29:11.

"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." -- Psalm 31:24.  "In God is my salvation and my glory:  the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God." -- Psalm 62:7.  "Thy God hath commanded thy strength:  strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us."  -- Psalm 68:28.  "Oh, God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places:  the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people.  Blessed be God." -- Psalm 68:35.  "I will go in the strength of the LORD God" -- Psalm 71:16.

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee...they go from strength to strength" -- Psalm 84:5, 7.  "My soul melteth for heaviness:  strengthen thou me according unto thy word." -- Psalm 119:28.  "In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul." -- Psalm 138:3.  "Trust ye in the LORD forever:  for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength" -- Isaiah 26:4.  "Fear thou not; for I am with thee:  be not dismayed,; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." -- Isaiah 41:10.  "Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength" -- Isaiah 45:24.

God's strength undoes physical weaknesses as well as other kinds of weaknesses.  In Acts 3:1-16, the crippled man's feet and anklebones received strength.  Jesus' name, through faith in his name, made that man strong.  In Hebrews 11:11, Sarah's faith gave her the strength to conceive a child.  In Psalm 41:1-3, God says that he will strengthen the sick giver upon his sickbed.  Perhaps most notably, Romans 8:11 declares that the Spirit of God will quicken (impart life to) your mortal body.  This clearly refers to physical strength.  It is part of the Holy Spirit's job to impart strength and health into your body!  This makes sense, since he is called the spirit of might in Isaiah 11:2.

Isaiah 35:3-6 and Hebrews 12:12-13 also talk about being strengthened physically.

God wants you to have inner spiritual strength as well, as prayed by Paul in Ephesians 3:16:  "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man...."  Paul also prayed that believers would be "strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power" (Col 1:11).

God can even send angels to strengthen you!

Jesus Christ himself was strengthened by an angel:  "And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him" --Luke 22:43.  We also know that the angels ministered to him in the wilderness:  "Then the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him." -- Matthew 4:11.  An angel physically strengthened Daniel, also:  "For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord?  for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.  Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me.  And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not:  peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong.  And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak, for thou hast strengthened me." -- Daniel 10:17-19.  The Lord himself stood by Paul and strengthened him when all of his workers forsook him (2 Tim 4:17).  Paul said that he "could do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

Put on God's strength

God's strength does not just drop on you automatically.  You must choose to walk in it.  "Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD" -- Isaiah 51:9.  "Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion" -- Isaiah 52:1.  "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might" -- Ephesians 6:10.

Fellowshipping with God and praising him charges you with his strength

Fellowshipping with God physically strengthens the weak -- read Isaiah 40:29-31!  Also, "Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually" -- 1 Chronicles 16:11.  "Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place." -- 1 Chronicles 16:27.  "Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all." -- 2 Chronicles 29:12.  "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.  Wait on the LORD:  be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart:  wait, I say, upon the LORD." -- Psalm 27:13-14.  "Seek the LORD, and his strength:  seek his face evermore." -- Psalm 105:4.  "For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength:  and ye would not." -- Isaiah 30:15.  "Keep silence before me, O islands, and let the people renew their strength" -- Isaiah 42:1.

As part of your fellowship with God, rejoice in him!  It is no great secret that depressed people feel weaker than joyful people do.  Nehemiah 8:10 declares, "The joy of the Lord is your strength."  If your strength level is down, check out your joy level.  Perhaps you could stand to spend more time rejoicing in God's presence.  Don't underestimate how praise can charge you up physically!  Psalm 8:2 says, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength," and Jesus clarified what this strength was:  "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise" (Matthew 21:16).

Rely on God to strengthen you rather than just trying to strengthen yourself.  Trying to do it yourself is not the way to go:  "The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him:  Lo, this is the man who made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness." -- Psalm 52:6-7.

Walking in God's ways strengthens you

"I [wisdom] am understanding; I have strength." -- Prov 8:14.  "The way of the LORD is strength to the upright" -- Prov 10:29.  "A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength." -- Prov 24:5.  "Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city" -- Ecclesiastes 7:19.  If you want strength, walk in God's wisdom.

You don't have to be helplessly weak just because you're old

If you think you have to become debilitated because you're getting old, look at Moses -- he didn't become decrepit (Deut 34:7).  Then look what Caleb declared when he was 85 years old and asked to be given a difficult mountain full of giants:  "As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me:  as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in." (Joshua 14:11).  There were surely old people in Israel when they ate the Passover and fled Egypt, but God says, "There was not one feeble person among their tribes" (Psalm 105:37).

Being strong is a choice

God commanded Israel on many occasions to be strong and of good courage.  Paul wrote to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might (Eph 6:10).  A command implies a choice; you can choose to either be strong or not be strong.  Of course, Paul didn't say to be strong in yourself; he said to be strong in the Lord.

Conclusion

If you're weak, start saying that you are strong and that God is your strength.  Believe that God strengthens you.  Believer that the Holy Spirit imparts life to your mortal body.  Fellowship with God, thus exchanging your strength for his strength.  Walk in God's wisdom.  Say that weakness is part of the curse of the Law and a punishment for sin.  Say that you are redeemed from it.


Withering

In Matthew 12:10-13, Mark 3:1-5 and Luke 6:6-10, Jesus heals a man who has a withered hand.

In John 5:2-19, we see that God would send an angel to heal withered people in an unusual way at the Pool of Bethesda.

In 1 Kings 13:4-6, King Jeroboam's normal hand was struck useless because he tried to hurt the prophet of God.  This was a judgment from God.  He was healed when the prophet, at Jeroboam's request, prayed for him.  You should not have a condition that God dished out as a judgment in the Old Testament!  (Jesus was condemned in your place; you do not have to face the judgments for your sin if you are in Christ.)


Worms

Satan gave Job worms and God healed Job of them.  You should expect the same God who healed Job to heal you, too.

In Acts 12:21-23, Herod is smitten with worms and dies shortly thereafter as a judgment for robbing God of his due glory.  Since worms are a judgment in Scripture, you should not have worms in your body.  You are righteous and redeemed from judgments for sin.  Christ already bore your judgment for sin in your place.


Anything else not listed here

Even if you could not find your condition in the "illness index" in this book, it is still covered by your covenant with God!  According to Deuteronomy 28:61, every sickness that is not listed explicitly in the curse of the Law is a part of that curse.  Therefore, your condition is a curse according to the Bible.  Christ has redeemed you from the curse of the Law (Gal 3:13), so you are redeemed from whatever your condition is.

The Scriptures listed below contain references to unspecified ailments:

In Matthew 4:23-24, Jesus heals all sick people who are taken to him with "divers diseases and torments."

In Matthew 8:16-17, Jesus heals all that are sick.

In Matthew 9:35, Jesus heals every sickness and every disease among the people.

In Matthew 10:1 and Mark 3:14-15, Jesus gives his disciples power to heal "all manner of sickness and all manner of disease."  Then in Matthew 10:7-8, Jesus tells them to go use this power to "heal the sick."  This is also found in Luke 9:1-2 and Luke 10:8-9, and we see that they did heal everywhere in Luke 9:6.

In Matthew 12:15, great multitudes follow Jesus and he heals them all.

In Matthew 14:14, Jesus heals the sick in a great multitude.

In Matthew 14:35-36 and Mark 6:54-56, all those who are diseased are brought to Jesus in beds and laid on the streets, and as many as touch the hem of his garment are made whole.

In Matthew 15:30-31, those with certain conditions and "many others" are thrown down at Jesus' feet, and he heals them.

In Matthew 19:2, Jesus heals great multitudes of whatever their unspecified ailments were.

In Mark 1:32-34, Jesus heals many who are sick of "divers diseases."

In Mark 3:10-12, Jesus heals many.

In Mark 6:1-6, Jesus heals a few sick people with unspecified (probably minor, since he did no mighty work there) ailments at Nazareth where there was great unbelief.

In Mark 6:12-13, the disciples anoint many who are sick with oil and heal them.

In Mark 16:15-18, Jesus says that the healing of the sick by laying on of hands in his name will be a sign to follow believers as they preach the gospel to everyone.

In Luke 4:40-41, all they that have any sick among them bring the sick to Jesus, and he lays hands on all of them and heals all of them!

In Luke 6:17-19, people come to hear and be healed.  All of them get healed!

In Luke 7:2-10, a centurion's servant has an unspecified but deadly illness.  Jesus speaks a word, the centurion believes, and the servant is healed.

In Luke 7:20-23, Jesus cures "many" of their (unspecified) infirmities and plagues.

In Luke 8:2, women whom Jesus healed of (unspecified) infirmities follow Jesus.

Luke 9:11 is another place where Jesus heals all who need healing.

John 6:2 contains an additional reference to miracles being done on those with unspecified diseases.

In Acts 5:12-16, people bring the sick from cities all around, and they are all healed.

In Acts 10:38, Peter recounts how Jesus of Nazareth healed all who were oppressed of the devil.

In Acts 19:11-12, unspecified diseases depart from the sick when handkerchiefs and aprons that have touched Paul's body are brought to them.

In Acts 28:8-9, all who are sick on the island of Melita go to Paul and get healed.  (See the notes on this verse.)

In Exodus 12:12-13, a killer plague is kept away by the blood of the Passover lamb for anyone who would obey God's command concerning it.  The Passover was a symbol of Christ.  Paul said in 1 Cor 5:7, "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."  Thus, we should expect that the blood of Christ should be just as effective in keeping sicknesses away.

In Exodus 15:25-26, God says that he will not bring the diseases of Egypt (unspecified) upon his people because he is the Lord who Heals You.

In Exodus 23:25-26, God promises to take sickness in general away from those who serve him.

In Numbers 16:44-50, an atonement stops a killer plague from killing any more people.

In Deuteronomy 7:12-15, God promises to take away all sickness from those who listen to and keep his commands, and specifically tells the people that they will not get the (unspecified) diseases of Egypt.

In 1 Samuel 16:14-23, Saul is "made well" of an unspecified condition, possibly caused by the evil spirit that tormented him after he refused to obey God.

In 2 Samuel 24:10-25 and 1 Chronicles 21:7-27, a killer plague is removed from Israel through an atonement.

In 2 Kings 20:1-7, God heals Hezekiah of an unspecified terminal illness.

In 2 Chronicles 30:18-20, God heals the people -- this would imply all the people, of whatever diseases they have, when they keep the Passover, which is a symbol of Christ.

In Psalm 41:1-3, God says that he will strengthen the generous man on his sickbed.

In Psalm 91, God promises to keep all plagues and pestilences away from the man who dwells in God.  (He said that no plague would come near your house.)

Psalm 103:1-5 contains the wonderful truth that God "heals all your diseases," not just some of them.

Psalm 107:17-20 tells how God sends his word and heals even fools who are gravely sick because of their own sin!  This is an important scripture for sufferers of venereal diseases and other lifestyle-associated illnesses.

Proverbs 4:20-22 says that God's Word is health to all your flesh, not just part of it.  Therefore, it is health (medicine) to the part of your flesh that is sick, whatever it is.


Mistakes that keep your healing away

Unforgiveness

Strife

Disobedience

Envy

Inaction

Wrong treatment of the Body of Christ

Spiritual laziness

Double-mindedness

Violating natural laws

Reading stupid books


Mistake:  Unforgiveness

You cannot pray in faith for your healing if you are holding a grudge against someone.  This violates the rules Jesus laid down for praying in faith:

Mark 11:24-26:

Therefore, I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought [anything] against any:  that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

When you walk in unforgiveness, you walk out of love.  You are judging someone else by the law instead of by grace.  Jesus said that God will judge you the same way -- and unless you're perfect, you aren't going to pass the test.  Therefore, you won't get what you're praying for.

Matthew 6:14-15:

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

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

God will allow you to be tormented physically with sickness as long as you keep unforgiveness in your heart.  You can stay up and pray all night and it won't do any good.  Unforgiveness is an insult to God because he forgave you freely.  How dare you not forgive someone else when God is willing to forgive that person!  You can allow the curse for sin back into your life this way!  If you want to judge someone else according to the law, you will be judged that way, too.  This is why Jesus warned, "Judge not, that ye not be judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:  and with that measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matthew 7:1-2).  James warned that if you keep the whole law except for violating one point of it, you are guilty of violating all of it as far as God is concerned (James 2:10).  If you want to put your relationship with God on a works basis, you have failed because you have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) just like the person you won't forgive.

Note that "judge not" means "condemn not."  It does not mean that we do not judge prophecies (which we are commanded to do -- 1 Thess 5:20-21) or that we do not judge church members for purposes of church discipline (which we are also commanded to do -- 1 Cor 5:11-13).  We do not act blindly lovey-dovey to wicked men in the church who cause divisions and are unruly; rather we mark and avoid them (Romans 16:17, 2 Thess 3:6-15) and warn them (1 Thess 5:14).  Jesus did not mean that we take no notice of sin, since we can endanger ourselves with bad company that ruins good morals (1 Cor 15:33 -- the King James word communications [homilia in Greek] in that verse refers to communications with associates, or companionship).  He was saying not to have a condemning, unforgiving attitude toward anyone, even someone in obvious sin.

Matthew 18:21-35:

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence:  and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Although you have received forgiveness of sins, you will be dealt with as an unforgiven person would if you are unwilling to forgive others.  If you will not have compassion on others and forgive them, God will withhold his healing compassion from you.  God is love, but there is a judgment side to him as well, and if you refuse to walk in love, you will end up being judged for it eventually.

Ephesians 4:32:

And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Forgiving others is a command, not an option.  You must forgive everyone, no matter what they have done to you.  There are no footnotes in any of these Scriptures that give you a way out if the injustice was bad enough, or if it was entirely the other person's fault.

Failure to walk in forgiveness will cancel whatever mountain-moving faith you may have for your healing.  Remember that "faith worketh by love" (Gal 5:6).  You cannot expect to operate in faith if you refuse to operate in love.

No offense is too great to forgive.  As a born-again believer, you have the love of God in your heart (Romans 5:5), and God's love is willing to forgive all sins.  If you will make a decision to forgive, the Holy Spirit and all of heaven will back you and help you.  If you need help, ask for it and you'll get it!  You CAN forgive others and have no excuse for not doing so.

Remember that forgiveness is an act of your will, not an emotion.  If you decide to forgive, your emotions will have to get in line eventually.  Do not wait until you feel nice gushy feelings for the person who hurt you.  You may never have those feelings!  God did not command you to have nice gushy feelings; he commanded you to forgive.

This doesn't mean that you'll have no memory of the painful incident, but it does mean that the incident will no longer affect your actions.

You have not truly forgiven a person if:

--	You continue to talk about what that person did to you.

--	You attempt to get other people to look down on that person.

--	You want other people to feel sorry for you because of what that person did to you.

--	You go through lengths to avoid meeting that person.

--	You are still figuring out how to "get even" with that person.

--	You rejoice when bad things happen to that person.

Not only can unforgiveness stop you from getting your healing, it can also cause illness in the first place!  Even secular doctors can tell you that.  You're only hurting yourself.

If you are in unforgiveness, it is quite possible that the only time you will ever get healed is after you repent of your attitude and forgive the other person.  Jesus made it clear that you will pay a high price for letting unforgiveness stay in your life.  Get rid of it now!


Mistake:  Strife

1 Peter 3:7:

Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them [wives] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

James 3:16:

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

You must strive to stay out of strife!  Okay, I'll rephrase that:  Do everything you can to avoid being in strife with anyone!  It will stop your prayers for healing (or anything else for that matter) from working.


Mistake:  Disobedience

While it is true that "The Lord is for the body" (1 Cor 6:13), it is equally true that "The body is for the Lord."  If you are not planning to use your body to follow and obey Jesus Christ, there is little point in asking for your healing.  God is not interested in helping you sin better.

God made many wonderful healing promises in the Old Covenant, but they were conditional upon obedience.  God promised sickness to the disobedient.  You are wasting your time trying to get the curse of sickness off you when you are doing the very things that produced the curse in the Old Testament.

You do not have to be perfect.  You do have to be involved with seeking and following God's plan for your life.  Otherwise, woe is unto you.  (This paraphrases Paul, who was called to preach the gospel, who said, "Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!")  This is not just for preachers.  If you are not fulfilling your part of God's plan in the earth, you are not in any place to receive anything from God.  Unfortunately, this rules out a sizable number of Christians.

It is not that God does not love you or want to heal you.  The problem is that disobedience puts you under the devil's authority.  God's wonderful protection promises in Psalm 91 are only for those abiding in him.  If you don't abide in him, and you can't say of the Lord, "He is your refuge and your fortress, your God; in him will you trust," and you don't set your love upon God, you have failed the qualifications in that Psalm.  The rest of it does not apply to you.  God does not promise to keep evil from you, deliver you from trouble, or deliver you from the pestilence if you do not meet his conditions.

Always remember that although God said "I am the Lord that healeth thee" in Exodus 15:26.  He also said this was, "If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statues."  The Israelites did not do these things.  They got into disobedience, and their bodies littered the desert.  The promise belonged to them, but they failed the conditions.

Disobedience is deadly.  If you know of any area where you are holding out on God, repent immediately.  Do not hold onto known sin in your life, and do not fail to do what he prompts you to do.  Otherwise, like the Israelites, you can have a healing covenant belong to you, yet fail to be able to partake of it.


Mistake:  Wrong treatment of the Body of Christ

1 Cor 11:27-32

There is a common sin that will keep your healing away and invite disease to make its home in your body.  This sin can literally kill you.  If you persist in it, you are promised sickness and death, not healing.  That sin is the wrong treatment of the Body of Christ.

Many at Corinth were weak and sickly, and many died for this reason.  If it could happen at Corinth, it can happen in your town and in your church!

These people had no regard for the Body of Christ and cared only about themselves.  They mistreated each other while taking communion.  That mocks God.

1 Cor 10:5-11

You can still be "destroyed by the destroyer" for murmuring and complaining under the New Covenant!  Watch out.  Do not think that just because you are under grace, you can get away with it.

If you criticize every decision your pastor makes, prepare to be sick.  If you try to steal away disciples after yourself and discredit the leaders of your church, prepare to be sick.  If you treat others with no respect at church, prepare to be sick.

If your church preaches against divine healing and you can no longer agree with the teaching there, find a church that does believe in divine healing.  Don't stay and make trouble.  Don't try to undermine the pastor's authority by secretly getting others interested in healing and setting them against the pastor.  That places you on dangerous ground, and ironically can keep healing away from you.  You can answer people's questions, but do not foment rebellion.

Many deceived people think that they are God's channel to wake up their group to the truths of God's Word concerning the new birth, Spirit baptism, healing, and so on.  Actually, they are nothing more than church-splitting tools of Satan.  If you are not in leadership, you are NOT God's tool for reformation unless the leadership is open to listen to you.  It is working against the plan of God to tithe and give offerings to a church that preaches against such truths, thus aiding and abetting their spreading of ignorance and unbelief.  You are not God's channel to wake them up.  Quit wasting your time at a dead church just because that's where Great-Grandpa went.  If you're not getting fed there, get out and go somewhere where the pastor knows the Word.  Life is too short to be wasted in a church where the pastor is not even born again.

1 Cor 3:16-17

This passage is widely misunderstood to say that if you smoke or otherwise abuse your body, God will destroy you.  But really, you are destroying yourself; God doesn't need to destroy you.  Paul is not talking about you individually; he is talking about believers collectively.  (The Greek "you" used in these verses is plural.)

Paul is warning against hurting the Body of Christ, which is collectively the temple of God.  If any man attempts to destroy Christ's body, God will destroy him.  It would be better for you be to drowned in the ocean than for you to offend one of Christ's believers (Matthew 18:6).  This is serious stuff.

Causing problems in your church can have serious consequences.  It can make you sick as well as keeping your healing away.  Don't do it.


Mistake:  Envy

Proverbs 14:30

You can literally get "jealous sick!"  Envy can cause physical breakdown in your body.  You can't expect to be healed while willfully holding onto something that God says will make you sick, any more than you could expect to be healed of lung cancer while smoking six packs a day.  There's no point in trying to get healed when you are choosing to make yourself sick.

Song of Solomon 8:6:

...jealousy is cruel as the grave:  the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

Galatians 5:19-21 (excerpted):

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;...envyings...of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

You cannot expect to receive from God while deliberately holding onto envy.  Get it out of your life -- now.  Otherwise, you will end up in a condition that no one will envy.


Inaction
Mistake:  Inaction

The man in Acts 14:7-10 had faith to be healed but was still crippled until Paul told him to get up.  When the man added action to his faith, he was healed.  Faith without works is dead.  Real faith always proves itself in corresponding action.

The main "action" is saying with your mouth to yourself and others that you have received your healing.  Saying anything else negates your prayer and ensures that you will receive nothing.  The spirit of faith says, "I believe, therefore have I spoken."


Mistake:  Spiritual laziness

This mistake is the reason that many Christians will never get healed by faith.  They aren't serious enough about God and his promises.

Jesus said, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."  This does not mean that only commandos get blessings, but it does mean that you can't sit around with a ho-hum attitude and receive God's blessings.  If you're not serious about getting healed, you might as well resign yourself to staying sick.  You can wish for something and not do anything about it.  But if you really desire something, you'll do something about getting it.

In Revelation 3:14-22, Jesus rebuked the Laodiceans for being lukewarm and urged them to be zealous and repent.  He threatened to vomit them out of his mouth if they did not do so.  (The word translated spue in the King James literally means to vomit.  It is not a nice word.)  Jesus looks with great displeasure upon lukewarmness.  If he threatened to puke the Laodiceans for it under the New Covenant, we know that he feels the same way about lukewarmness today.  Yecch.

James said that the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much (James 5:16).  He did not say that the lukewarm, half-hearted prayer of the righteous would avail anything.  He did promise that a double-minded prayer would not be answered (James 1:5-8).

If you relate to God by calling him as you would call 911 in a crisis, you will never receive God's blessings with any consistency.  When you do, it will be his mercy.  God wants you to walk with him, not use him as a quick fix when you need help.  What do you think of people who only call you when they want to get something out of you?

If you do not take the time to read the Word for yourself concerning healing, you may bounce from healing service to healing service around the country and never get healed!  God will do his part, but he will not do your part.  He gave you his Word, and it is your responsibility to read it and believe it.

Do not be lazy (slothful).  "And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."  (Hebrews 6:11-12).


Mistake:  Double-mindedness

James 1:5-8

Double-mindedness is not having made up your mind.  Therefore, you look one way and then look another way.  You think you are receiving something -- no, wait, look at the circumstances!  You think you are healed, no wait, there is still pain in your body, so maybe you aren't healed after all.

James warns you that if you are double-minded, you cannot receive anything from the Lord.  The passage starts by talking about wisdom, but the principle applies to everything.  Faith is the certainty that you have something, not the 90% probability that you have it.  The man who is in faith will look only to God and his Word to determine the truth.  You may be aware of pain in your body, but you believe that you have received your healing and you do not let go or question it just because you get a contrary feeling in your body.

Your flesh will tell you that you are being stupid, that you are not really healed, and that you had better just admit that you are not in faith.  That is why you need patience to go along with your faith.  It is possible to believe for something and then lose it by being double-minded.

Peter walked on water when Jesus called him.  This was an absolute miracle, and it was based on Peter's faith in Jesus' word, "Come!"  But then Peter got double-minded.  He looked at the circumstances and started sinking.  Did he really receive a miracle?  Yes, he actually did walk on water, and he wasn't even from New England.  (In New England, I and many others have walked on water.  It's easy when it freezes.)  Peter received something miraculous and lost it by being double-minded.  So it is possible to receive a miraculous healing and lose it through double-mindedness.

This is why it is so vitally important that you pay attention to the Scriptures about healing.  Meditate on them until they become a part of you.  That is the only way that you will prevent yourself from being double-minded.  The idea is to put so much of the Word into yourself that it becomes your natural response to adverse circumstances.  You can be sure that adverse conditions will come and that your faith will be challenged.  Choose to keep your eyes on God and his promises instead of your physical condition, no matter how disagreeable it is right now.  Your condition is subject to change, but God and his Word are not!


Mistake:  Violating natural laws

Aside from a supernatural act of the Spirit (e.g., Jesus walking on water), gravity will make things fall toward the earth.  It is a natural law.  It would be pointless to try to "believe" that you would not get killed if you jumped off a tall building.  (The devil tried and failed to tempt Jesus to do exactly that.)

Likewise, if you are going to keep destroying your body with cigarettes, alcohol, illegal drugs or other unhealthy habits, you will have a hard time getting healed of the resulting problems.  The fact that you are a Christian does not set aside natural laws concerning your treatment of your body.

You should cooperate with natural laws to promote your healing.  Paul made a suggestion to Timothy along these lines in 1 Tim 5:23.  If you're going somewhere where the water is bad, you would be smarter to avoid it if possible rather than drinking it anyway and attempting to claim Mark 16:18!  If you are obese and have heart trouble, consider that you may need to lose a good deal of weight to enjoy better health.  This does not negate the promises of God; it's just common sense.  (God said to renew your mind [Romans 12:2], not ignore your mind!)  Yes, God is merciful and God heals, but if you live on candy bars and ice cream, you create your own trouble, and it isn't either the devil or God.

You are double-minded if you continue doing things that give you the problems of which you are attempting to be healed.  Your mouth says, "I expect healing," but your actions say, "I am making myself sick."  If you run around in the winter with no coat on (assuming you don't live in the tropics), you are inviting trouble, healing covenant or no healing covenant.

You can use the natural laws that relate to your body either for yourself or against yourself.  Follow Paul's advice and use them for yourself.


Mistake:  Reading stupid books

Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God, and doubt cometh by reading stupid books written against divine healing and those who preach it.

For some unfathomable reason, books written against divine healing often top the Christian bestseller lists.  What kind of good news this is, that God might not heal you and might want you sick for a reason, is beyond me.  I suppose that the authors think that they are doing the Body of Christ a service by assuring the sick that it's okay to be sick, and that there's nothing they can do.  Not only are the arguments in these books unscriptural, but some of these authors try to dig up dirt about famous preachers who believe that healing is universally available through Christ's atonement.  This practice of "touching God's anointed" is despicable, to say nothing of personally dangerous for the authors.  It is just as out of line with God's love as the assertions in the books that God won't heal you.

It really does not matter what allegations (if any) made against healing preachers are true.  You cannot make any man the issue in a doctrinal debate.  The only way to debate doctrine is through the Word of God.  If I robbed three banks and blew up the Golden Gate Bridge (neither of which I plan to do), the truths asserted in this program would still be just as valid, because they are based on the unchanging Word of God.  Plenty of ministers who preached healing have failed morally.  There have always been moral failures among preachers; consider Samson, David, Solomon, and many others.  Solomon's failings do not stop us from using Proverbs for doctrine.  David's failings do not stop us from using Psalms for doctrine.  Let God be true and every man a liar (Romans 3:4)!

Some of these books, while attempting to tear down the Scriptural arguments of good teachers, proceed to make some of the most pathetic and inane interpretations of Scripture imaginable.  The presence of Scripture in any book (including this book) does not mean that it is in line with Scripture as a whole.  Consider the devil's careful misquotation of Psalm 91 when he tempted Jesus (Luke 4:10-11).  Many Scriptures (Job's trials, Paul's thorn, Timothy's stomach, Trophimus, etc.) are often yanked out of harmony with the Bible (and often the immediate context) to try to prove a point against healing.

Then there are the "scare" stories and books from people who SUPPOSEDLY followed "faith" teaching and let loved ones die without medical help.  All this proves is that the people never really listened to the teaching, since the prominent faith teachers of our day all agree that you should not avoid medical help while believing God for your healing.

Another category is the "I was physically brutalized by God and it brought me closer to him" book.  These pop up regularly, too.  Someone's cancer, paralysis, loss of a child, or other tragedy is presented as the will of God for some twisted reason.  You are supposed to be "blessed" reading how the person was brought closer to God, and how the person is now better off than he would have been otherwise.  In some cases, the person may be a celebrity in Christian circles among those who don't know any better.  If you would like calamity to bring you closer to God, go ahead and read this nonsense and build your faith for calamities.

Anti-healing books have probably been around as long as healing books.  They are often advertised well and found in flashy displays at lousier Christian bookstores.  (Unfortunately, they are not displayed in the Fiction section where they belong.)  If you have had the misfortune to pick up one of these books and have been unsettled by its contents, let me suggest the following:

--	Read the scripture verses from both testaments contained in this program to see what the Bible says about healing in general.

--	Reject any opposing argument based on experiences and not on the Word of God alone.

--	You will find most of the arguments that are taken from the Word of God in the Objections overruled! section of this program, as well as some others that are not taken from the Word but which are common today.  Read the Scriptural answers to these arguments.  As they say, sometimes you need to know what is written, and sometimes you need to know what is ALSO written!

It does not matter how famous or sincere the author is.  Bad doctrine is still bad doctrine.  Let me say in closing that some of the silliest statements about divine healing are made by preachers who are actually very anointed to serve the body of Christ in other areas.  As long as they stick with what they know, their books are excellent.  They only get in trouble when they start dabbling in areas where they are unlearned.  This is perhaps part of the problem.  The fact that there is a genuine Holy Spirit anointing on them in another area leads people to believe that anything they say about healing must also be true.


What this is all about

This program was written to help you receive healing in your body through faith in Jesus Christ.

Not only did Jesus redeem you from your sins, but he also redeemed you from the penalties for sin.  Through this program, you will learn that God considers sickness a curse and part of the punishment for sin.  Jesus allowed himself to be punished in your place so that you could go free.  He bore the penalty for sin himself so that you would not have to spend eternity in hell.  He also bore the curse of sickness and disease at Calvary to free you from having to suffer them in this life.

No matter who you are, and no matter what your physical problem is, Jesus Christ has already made provision for your healing.  You do not need to beg God to do something new for you.  You must simply receive God's gift of healing that Jesus made available to everyone.

The message of this program is as old as the gospel itself.  There is nothing new here; these doctrines have always been in the Bible.  If you take the time to read what the Bible says about your healing, you will realize that God is not only able, but also willing, to heal you.  You will also realize that God offers you healing right now.  You will then be able to pray in faith and receive this gift from him.

Return to Welcome Screen


How to install Healing for Windows

Summary:

Healing for Windows consists of only one file, HEALING.HLP.  You can run it from File Manager or Windows Explorer by clicking it.  You can run it directly from a diskette, but it will run faster on your hard drive.  You can get it onto your hard drive by copying it from a diskette or downloading it from the Internet at http://members.aol.com/healingwin.

Most users can stop reading right here!  If you aren't sure how to do some of these things, the step-by-step instructions below can help you.

Details:

Healing for Windows is a Windows Help file.  It runs under any version of Windows.

The instructions below tell you how to copy HEALING.HLP from a diskette to your hard drive (if you received it on a diskette) and run it from Windows.  If you want to skip all these steps, you can just run Healing for Windows directly from the diskette it came on (if you received it that way).  Performance will be slower, but not nearly as slow as browsing on the Internet.

Instructions for Windows versions that use a Start button

Click the Start button, select Programs, and then Windows Explorer.  (It goes by slightly different names in different versions of Windows.)  Find Healing for Windows in Explorer.  For example, if you are installing Healing for Windows from a diskette, click the drive icon to the left of the floppy drive which has the Healing for Windows disk.  You see a book with a question mark on the right side of the Explorer window.  Its name, Healing, appears to its right.  If you downloaded Healing for Windows from the Internet, go to the folder where you saved it to see the book icon called Healing on the right side of the Explorer window.

Drag the Healing book icon onto the Windows desktop with the mouse.  Windows will copy Healing for Windows from the diskette to the desktop.  From now on, you can run Healing for Windows by clicking its icon on the desktop.  If you want, you can add Healing for Windows to your Start menu by dragging its icon to the Start button.

Instructions for Windows versions that do not use a Start button

The easiest way to run Healing for Windows is from File Manager.  If HEALING.HLP is already on your hard drive, you can find it in File Manager and click it to run Healing for Windows.  If you received it on a diskette, use File Manager to copy it to your hard drive with the instructions below.

Start File Manager.  If you know how to do that, you may skip the rest of this paragraph.  To start File Manager, go to Program Manager if you aren't there already.  (To get to Program Manager, hold down Alt and press Tab until you see Program Manager in the middle of the screen, and then release both keys.)  If you see the File Manager icon on the screen, double-click it to start File Manager.  If you don't see it, go to the program group that contains File Manager, which is Main (unless someone moved it).  If the Main group has its own windows with icons and a scroll bar, scroll it up and down by clicking the up and down arrows until you find File Manager, and then double-click its icon.  If Main appears below a little icon on the screen, double-click the icon to display the contents of the Main program group, then find and double-click the File Manager icon.  If Main is nowhere on the screen, hit Alt and then W.  If  Main is in the numeric list, select that number to call up Main, then find and double-click the File Manager icon.  If Main is not on the numeric list, hit M to get a scroll box of all program groups, select Main from that, and find and double-click the File Manager icon.

In File Manager, click the drive icon to the left of the letter c on the row of drive icons near the top left of the screen.  You see a tree of directories on the left side of the screen.  Hit Alt, then F, then E to create a new directory.  Type C:\HEALING and press Enter.  Now find the folder icon for Healing on the left of the screen and click it.

Then click the drive icon to the left of the letter a on the row of drive icons near the top left of the screen.  (If you know it's a different letter, use that, but almost all computers sold today use the letter a to denote the main floppy drive.)  At this point, you'll see HEALING.HLP on the right.  Drag the icon next to HEALING.HLP up to the drive icon to the left of the letter c and drop it there.  Answer Yes when Windows asks you to confirm that you want to copy the file.  After the file has been copied, click the drive icon to the left of the letter c to show the contents of your hard drive again.  Press Alt, then F, then X to exit File Manager.

To set up a Program Manager icon so that you don't have to start Healing for Windows from File Manager, go to Program Manager.  Determine which group Healing for Windows should be in.  Go to that group by clicking its title bar on the screen (if it's called up) or by clicking the group's icon (if it's not called up).  (If the group you want does not appear on the screen, hit Alt and then W and follow the same procedure described in the section about copying HEALING.HLP from a diskette to call up the group.)  Hit Alt, then F, then N to select the File New option.  Select Program Item and click OK.  Type Healing for Windows in the Description box and press Tab, not Enter.  Type the same thing you would type in the previous section in the Command Line box (for example, C:\HEALING\HEALING.HLP) and press Enter twice.  You now have a question mark icon that you can click at any time to start Healing for Windows.

Notes:

If you received this program on a diskette, you can run it from there, but it will run more slowly than it would on your hard drive.  This lets you skip all the installation steps above.  It also uses no space on your hard drive, which may be handy if space is at a premium.  Here's how to do it.  If your version of Windows has a Start button, click it and select the "Run…" option.  If your version of Windows does not have a Start button, hit Alt, then F, then R.  (This is the File Run command.)  In either case, type A:HEALING.HLP in the box that appears and press Enter to run Healing for Windows.

You can install Healing for Windows onto an unlimited number of computers from one diskette.  If you use this approach, I suggest that you write-protect the diskette to avoid spreading viruses from one computer to another.

Obviously, these instructions are intended to be printed for new users who want to install Healing for Windows.  I realize that installation instructions included within the software you are trying to install do not help you install it!  I suppose that you could run Healing for Windows from your floppy drive and follow these instructions to run it from your hard drive.

You may print this section with the File Print menu option.  You may also copy it to the Windows Clipboard using the ->Clipboard button and paste it into your favorite Windows application by pressing Ctrl-V in that application.  Then you can neaten it up and File Print it from that application.


How to use Healing for Windows

Healing for Windows is a Windows Help file.  For help on using Windows Help files, press F1 at any time in Healing for Windows.  This invokes a secondary help system.  If your version of Windows uses a Start button, just hit Esc to return to Healing for Windows.  Otherwise, double-click the box in the top left corner of the window to close it and return to Healing for Windows.

See How to install Healing for Windows for information about starting this program from Windows.

Clicking text with a solid underline moves you to a new screen.  Clicking on text with a broken underline pops up a box within the current screen.  To clear the pop-up box, hit any key or click anywhere on the screen that doesn't have underlined text.  You may also click elements within the pop-up box to go to another pop-up box or another screen.  If your mouse pointer is a hand, you should point the outstretched finger, not the middle of the hand, at the element you want.

Clicking text with a broken underline in a pop-up box replaces the current pop-up box with another pop-up box.

You may exit Healing for Windows at any time by pressing Esc, clicking the Exit button, or pressing X or Alt-X.

You may back up one screen at a time by pressing B or Alt-B or by clicking the Back button.  Windows does not keep a history of pop-up boxes; so these methods take you back to the most recent full-screen topics.

You may go up and down within topics slowly by using the up and down arrow keys, or by clicking the arrows on the vertical scroll bar.

You may go up and down more quickly by using the Page Up and Page Down keys, or by clicking under or over the solid block on the vertical scroll bar.

You may go to the beginning of a topic by holding down Ctrl and pressing Home, or by dragging the solid block to the top of the vertical scroll bar.

You may go to the end of a topic by holding down Ctrl and pressing End, or by dragging the solid block to the bottom of the vertical scroll bar.

You may go a certain percentage of the way through a topic by dragging the solid block to that relative position on the vertical scroll bar.

You may return to the main Welcome Screen at any time by clicking the Contents button or by pressing C or Alt-C.

You may search for topics relating to a certain word or phrase at any time by clicking the Search button or pressing S or Alt-S.  You may use the name of a Bible book as a search word to call up a list of passages from that book that have their own screens.  Choose the word to search for from the list, or type one in.  (Only a predefined list is available; this section is not a concordance of every word used.  Versions of Windows with a Start button have a Find feature within Search that lets you build a concordance of every word.)  Then select which topic to view from the next window.  In versions of Windows with a Start button, you are sent right to the topic without going to the second window if there is only one topic that matches your search.

You may review the screens you have visited recently and choose one to revisit through a History window.  On versions of Windows with a Start button, press Alt, then O, then D to call this up.  Do not press Alt-O and then D; actually press Alt, then press O, then press D.  On versions of Windows without a Start button, simply click the History button or press T or Alt-T.  Be aware that the History window is a second window that is distinct from Healing for Windows itself.  You can close it by double-clicking the symbol in its top left corner.

You may browse forward one Bible passage, discussion item, question, objection, illness or mistake (depending upon the context) by clicking the >> button or pressing the period or > or Alt->.  If you have called up a passage through the first three options on the Welcome Screen or through the Search button, hitting > takes you to the notes on that passage, if any.  If there are no notes, hitting > takes you to the next passage in the section.

You may browse backward one Bible passage, discussion item, question, objection, illness or mistake (depending upon the context) by clicking the << button or pressing the comma or < or Alt-<.

You may copy the text of the current screen's topic into the Windows clipboard by clicking the ->Clipboard button or pressing D or Alt-D.  You may then paste the text into any Windows-compatible program that accepts pastes from the Windows Clipboard.  Depending upon the program and your Windows version, you may get extra linefeeds and other unusual results that are beyond the control of this program.  Later versions of Windows have fewer problems.  WordPad, if your version of Windows has it, is a much better destination for pastes than NotePad.

On versions of Windows with a Start button, a Print button appears that does the same thing as using the File Print option.  Please see the paragraph below for comments about printing.

The regular Windows Help menu bar is active.  You can use all of its features, including changing the font in later versions of Windows.  I do not recommend using File Print.  Although the File Print option will send the current topic to your printer, some phrases that are specially marked as hypertext links may or may not print properly on your printer.  A safer way to print out the text, albeit without the formatting, is to use the ->Clipboard button to copy the topic into the Clipboard.  Paste the text into your favorite word processor or text editor, clean it up (you'll probably have to), and print it from there.

You can't print the contents of a pop-up box with File Print.  If you want to print a passage or its notes that appear in a pop-up box, click the Search button and type the name of the Bible book into the box.  Then select the passage you want from the list.  This brings up the passage in full-screen mode, which allows you to print it.  To call up the Notes section for that passage, press > or click the >> button.  The notes now appear in full-screen mode so that you can print them.

This trick also allows you to go back to the "where discussed" part of a passage if you want to read all the discussions for it and return to the "where discussed" list using the Back button.  That way, you don't have to click through all the notes every time to bring back the "where discussed" list.

In case you are wondering why the longer passages are broken up into sections that you reach with "Continued" links, this was done so that any passage can be popped up from within any topic where it is referenced.  When you're done, you're still in the topic instead of in the Scripture passage itself.  This is more convenient when you pop up passages from articles.  It can be awkward if you are calling the passage directly from the menu in full-screen mode.  If you go to the passage directly from the menus or the Search button, you can click the >> button to see the additional sections that would be popped up by clicking "Continued."  These sections will also fill the screen instead of popping up.  This gives you the advantage of being able to go back to previous parts of the passage with the << button.  The << and >> buttons do not apply to passages that you pop up within an article.

You may use the Tab and BackTab keys to highlight a hypertext link and press Enter to go there.  This is a bit cumbersome because the screen will not scroll with you.  I don't recommend this method unless your mouse is broken.

Occasionally, Windows may split some punctuation marks after words to a new line and even break up the word LORD.  (Windows feels free to break up that word because it was built with two different fonts.  Windows does not know that the LORD is one, but you do, so don't worry about it.)  Your machine is not busted if you see some minor things like that happen.  The exact quirks you experience depend upon your screen resolution and version of Windows.

Return to Welcome Screen


Healing for Windows License Agreement

Use of this program is governed by the following legal agreement between you and Young Computing, the publisher of this program.  You may not use this program unless you agree to these terms.  Your use of this program indicates your assent to the terms of this agreement.

Summary:

1.	You can't call us for technical support.

2.	You can't use this program to make or raise money.

3.	You can't sue us.

4.	You don't own this program; you simply have a license to use it.

5.	You can't change this program's contents.

6.	This is a Massachusetts (USA) contract.

Details:

1.	You can't call us for technical support.

This program does not generate revenue to pay for technical support personnel!  If you are unfamiliar with Windows or Windows Help and this program does not answer your question in the sections How to use Healing for Windows and How to install Healing for Windows, you are responsible for finding competent assistance on your own.  We will not personally assist you in installing this program.  At our option, we may place technical information and answers to frequently asked questions on the Healing for Windows Web Site at http://members.aol.com/healingwin, but we make no guarantee that any particular advice will answer your question or solve your particular problem.

2.	You can't use this program to make or raise money.

Neither you nor any organization, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, may use this program to make a profit or raise money.  This program may not be given away as an incentive to donate any amount to any entity.  You may not create a derivative work from this program, nor incorporate this program or any portion thereof into any other work without the written consent of the author.  You may copy, print out, and otherwise distribute this program or any portion of it to anyone and everyone as long as you do not charge for doing so.  You may post this program, or any portion of it (via the Windows clipboard) onto any Web site, bulletin board, on-line service, or other electronic forum as long as doing so is consistent with that provider's terms of service.  You may copy the file onto diskettes and computer networks.  You may charge only for out-of-pocket diskette costs, paper costs, and postage to mail diskettes or paper copies, provable by actual receipts.  You may not charge for labor or allocated overhead of any kind, including use of duplicating equipment.  If you make paper copies, you may charge only for the paper or the customary and reasonable cost of getting the copies made at a copy facility in which you have no business interest.  Given these conditions, you may give this program to everyone on the earth, or off the earth for that matter.

3.	You can't sue us.

You agree not to take legal action against Young Computing or C. Stephen Young (the author of this program) for any reason whatsoever in connection with the use of or inability to use this program or its related documentation.  In no event will Young Computing or C. Stephen Young be liable to you or any other party for any damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, lost profits or revenue, lost opportunities for profit or revenue, lost savings, business interruption, damage to equipment or data, lost time, inconvenience, interruption of operations, physical injury, costs of obtaining substitute software, damage caused by computer viruses, claims by others, or any other commercial or personal damage, including, but not limited to, direct, indirect, consequential, incidental, special or other damages, pain and suffering, medical costs, funeral costs, or emotional trauma, arising from the use of, or inability to use, this software, or arising from your actions based upon the contents of this software, even if Young Computing or its agent has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

4.	You don't own this program; you simply have a license to use it.

This license gives you limited rights to use the software.  You do not become the owner of, and Young Computing retains title to, this software.  All rights not specifically granted in this license are expressly reserved by Young Computing.

5.	You can't change this program's contents.

You may not alter or remove the copyright notice.  You may not alter or reverse-engineer this program.  You may not run it through a Help-to-HTML or Help source decompiler program.  You may not change the text or any other part of this program when you copy, upload, or print this program or any portion thereof, except to neaten it up after pasting it from the Windows Clipboard into another program.

6.	This is a Massachusetts (USA) contract.

This agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States of America.  If any terms of this agreement are not valid where you are, the remaining provisions still apply.

Return to Welcome Screen