Healing! Big Deal?

Understanding our Redemptive Rights if we must live in Health

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God is not complete until people are free from infirmities/diseases.

What is healing?

· Healing is the process of making or becoming sound or healthy again [Dictionary]

· Healing (literally meaning to make whole - is the process of the restoration of health from an unbalanced, diseased or damaged organism. [Wikipedia]

· Healing is gift of God that comes with Salvation of our soul so that we may not perish but have everlasting life. [Femi Ade]. John 3:16, John 10:10, John 6:63, Psalm 107:20, Gal 3:13, Col 1:13, Isaiah 53:4.

Why is Healing Important?

Healing is important for so many reasons, but the ultimate reason in my opinion is the fact Jesus portrays healing as part of His Ministry [Matthew 4:23].

The good news/gospel of the Kingdom of God is not complete without the healing of the sick/oppressed.

I remember when I first talked about having a life group about Healing and someone (a believer) said I’m interested in seeing someone saved (Salvation), the person totally thought that teaching about healing or going out to heal people doesn’t include “salvation”. The truth remains that there are different circumstances/situations, chances/time/season that makes a man come to know Christ. There is no way God will heal someone who has been sick or oppressed by the devil that he won’t become a follower of Christ and suddenly believe in God [John 4:48] and desire to know more of God.

Jesus could see how devil keeps oppressing people with different plagues, sickness, demonic attacks etc. and He couldn’t have just folded his arms and watch them suffer, He always show compassion and want to set them free. That should be our mentality, there is no healing without salvation and no salvation without healing

In Matthew 10:1 Jesus commissions the 12 disciples to go out and do the Missionary work, same thing Jesus himself did in Matthew 4:23 so don’t you think we should emulate the same thing? Shouldn’t we stand up for what Jesus’s stands for? Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:16-20 tells us to go into world and teach them all that He has taught us and obey them.

The Gospel of the kingdom of God is the gospel of Grace and it must be preached. The gospel is not complete until people are free from any form of oppression of any kind. [Matthew 4:23-25, Matthew 10:1]

What are the types of healing in the Bible?

1. Spiritual Healing - is the renewal and restoration of the human spirit. This is what is talked about by Jesus when He said a person must be born again. This healing comes when a person receives forgiveness from God by accepting the forgiveness offered by God when they start a personal relationship with Jesus. [Act 10:42-44, Ephe 1:3-7, Col 1:9-14]

2. Emotional Healing or the healing of the soul – There are situations whereby a person no longer has an emotional reaction to either the sins that they have committed or the sins that have been committed against them. - King David after being confronted about his sin of adultery and setting up the death of Uriah, got honest with God and received not only spiritual healing but emotional healing. Not only was David forgiven but He also received the removal of the feelings of guilt. He was emotionally healed. [2 Samuel 11,12, Psalm 32, 51]

3. Physical Healing – God said He is the Lord that Heals us (Exodus 15:26} and it was Jesus who fulfilled the prophecy that was made concerning the coming messiah that said the Messiah would take all our sicknesses and carry all our diseases. [Matthew 8:16-17, Isaiah 53:4-5]. It was Jesus who said that one of the signs that would follow believers is that they would lay hands on the sick and they would recover. [Mark 16:17-18].

All the three points above are linked together, it is the goodness of God that leads one to repentance.

Healing and Divine Health

Both are different and I also believe Christians can enjoy divine health.

· Healing – Healing is children’s bread [Matt 15:22-29]

· Divine Health - It is God's will that we should live in divine health. [3 John 2]

Someone asked me - Why do we get sick when we have the life of God in us? My simple answer is in 2 Corinth 4:16

Therefore we do not become discouraged [spiritless, disappointed, or afraid]. Though our outer self is [progressively] wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day by day.

Revelation 21:1-5 is also a supporting answer. Unfortunately we are not living in a perfect world. We awaits the returning of Jesus Christ and the unfolding of the new heavens and new earth where the Lord will wipe away every tear from our eyes; and there will no longer be death; there will no longer be sorrow and anguish, or crying, or pain; for the former order of things has passed away and He will make all things new”

However, whilst we are here on his earth we can't fold our arms and let the devil roll us over as he wants. it is important that we claim our redemptive rights in Christ Jesus. Look into the Bible, find scriptures on healing, meditate on them and confess these words until you see your desired outcome. [James 5:14-16]

Why do People get Sick?

1. Sin – When Man (Adam) fell in Genesis 3, he lost the Blessing proclaimed [Gen 1:28] as a result of Spiritual Death. Illnesses and ailments have come about as a result of the original sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. [Rom 5:12-21]

2. Curses [Gen 3:16-19] – Thankfully, Christ has redeemed us from curses as it is written in Gal 3:13. and we have the life of God now for those who have the understanding [Psalm 133:1-3 NIV, Deut.30:19, John 10:10]

3. Devil – Act 10:38

Other examples are recorded here: According to the Bible, Why Do People Get Sick? by Don Stewart (blueletterbible.org)

Note: Death is to Curse as Blessing is to life and life is what Christ gives to us [John 10:10].

Secrets of Divine Health

1. Service to God and Humanity - [Romans 12, Exodus 23:25]

2. Believe in the Word of God in order build your faith. [Rom 10:17, Heb 11:1]

Other supporting scriptures: Mark 16:17, Jer 33:6, Prov 4:20, Exodus 15:26, Deut 7;12-15, 3 John 1:2, 1 Cor 6:19-20

3. Declaration of the Word of God: Mark 11:23,

· Faith & Power brings health [John 5:16, Act 1:8, 1 Pet 2:24, Isaiah 53:4-5

Is healing one of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit?

Absolutely Yes, 1 Corinth 12:7-11 enumerates the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit and verse points to the gift of healing. Not only does the Bible tell us these gifts are available to all believers, but also encourages to us to desire these spiritual gifts [1 Cor 14:39, 1 Cor 14:1, 1 Tim 4:14, 2 Tim 1:6] and take action by going to God in prayer and ask Him to release these gifts through us.

Understand You are not Alone

When praying for healing, it is important to understand that we do not have the power in ourselves to heal someone. God is the one who heals and the good news is that God lives in us as a believer. [Gal 2:20]

Putting it into practice: As you pray, practice the presence of Jesus, intentionally directing your affection to Him and becoming aware of His living presence in you. [Mark 16:20]

Jesus is on a look out

I believe God is on a look out for those who will show compassion to people who are in need of healing in any ways, people who will be courageous to step up and be bold to offer prayers to people in need as led by the Holy Spirit.

I also believe God also wants us to develop our faith, remember without faith it is impossible to please God [James 5:15, Heb 11:6, Matt 8:5-12, Matt 15:22-29, Mark 5:28, Rom 10:17, 1 John 5]

Putting it into practice: When you pray for healing, make sure you pray in faith and do not doubt. Pray with eager expectation and unwavering assurance that God is with you. He is listening to your prayer and will respond with a miracle. Mark 9:23

Understanding the power of declaration and command/decree when praying for healing.

It is amazing to see that most of the miracles performed by Jesus and the apostles were not the result of petition prayer but a prayer of command spoken with a spiritual authority. In the name of Jesus, we were given authority to speak to circumstances and diseases and call miracles into existence [Matt 12:13, Act 3:6-7, Act 9:34, Act 14:10]

Putting in into practice: Whenever you are praying for healing, speak to the problem in faith and give a word of command just as Jesus and His disciples did. Speak to the body part that is sick and exercise authority in the name of Jesus, commanding that part be restored to perfect health.

Cast out spirit of infirmity

On several occasions, Jesus healed the sick by expelling demonic spirits. Some of the diseases that people suffer today can be caused by direct action of the demonic spirit. The discernment of this spiritual reality will help us understand many of the afflictions that plague our society today. it is also important to remember though demons can cause disease, not all diseases are caused by demonic forces.

We live in a fallen world that is subject to natural process of degeneration. The good news is that God can heal all diseases, no matter the cause of the problem.

Putting it into practice: When we pray for the sick person, cast out the spirit of infirmity e.g. if you are praying for a deaf person, you can say “deaf spirit” I command you to leave now in Jesus Name come out! [Mark 9:25, Mark 5:8]

Petition Prayer

A petition prayer is a request addressed to God, Jesus or Holy Spirit. [Mark 10:51-52, 1 John 5:14]

Putting it in Practice: When you pray for someone in need of healing, ask the person what they need and then ask God for a miracle in the name of Jesus. Remember, always pray in faith.

Laying of hands

The laying of hands is an act of obedience to the command of Christ and a point of contact for our faith. When we lay hands on the sick, the power of the Holy Spirit and the virtue of divine healing is released to heal the sick and miracles happen! [Luke 6:19, Mark 16:18]

Putting it into practice: When you pray, lay hands on the sick person with the understanding that God gave you healing hands. Believe that power of the Holy Spirit will be released and flow to heal the sick person just like it happened to Jesus on earth. Luke 4:40

I pray God will open your heart and mind to understand the Biblical truths about divine healing. Pray for love and compassion towards the sick and above all: expect a miracle! Hebrew 13:8