33. Divine healing - I
“Lord, heal me, if it be Thy will”, is a prayer so often heard. If the person dies, then it was “God’s will”. If he recovers, it is “God’s will”. How much faith does this kind of prayer require? Very little, and yet the Bible is a vital part played by faith.
The sick are often taught that God is “chastising” or “punishing” them, and so they believe God really does want them sick. At the one time they say “God wants me sick”, but at the same moment a doctor is called in to make them better. What kind of faith is that? You should pray for more sickness, if you honestly do feel that that is God’s will, but if you are not certain, why not be prepared to find out?
Instead of talking to God, why not let God talk to you by finding out His will from His Word?
Rom.10:17 - …..faith comes from hearing…..the Word of Christ.
1. The Old Testament shows God as Healer
For the one whose trust is in God, the promise is made in Ps. 91:10 - …..nor will any plague come near your tent.
We see, that health, not sickness, is normal for the believer. A result of seeking God in prayer and fasting is: …..your recovery will speedily spring forth….. (Is. 58: 8).
Every one that is chastening himself can expect a miracle!
In Ps.103: 2, 3 we are exhorted: Bless the Lord…..and forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals ALL your diseases…..
This same positive faith is even found in the suffering prophets, e.g. Jeremiah, who prays: Heal me, o Lord, and I will be healed (Jer.17:14).
In fact, God promised the whole nation of Israel, when they came out of Egypt, that they would enjoy health (not sickness) as long as they obeyed Him. A real insight into God’s nature is given by the words: …..I, the Lord, am your Healer (Ex.15: 26). This is a real covenant promise which God has no intention of breaking (Ps. 89: 34), while the healing of Naaman (2Kings 5) is also an indication of what God was able to do even for those outside His people.
A favourite spot in the Old Testament for the one who thinks, that God has made him sick, is the book of Job, but even here illness (which comes as the work of the devil – Job. 2: 6) is spoken of as a captivity (Job 42:10, KJV ). God delivers him from it, as he prays for his friends.
Indeed, when Israel came out of captivity from Egypt, it is recorded (Ps.105: 37), that there was …..not one feeble person among their tribes.
When the Lord tells His people…..I have wounded, and it is I Who heal…..(Deut.32: 39), He is obviously talking in the context of obedience and disobedience (see in this connection e.g. Deut. 28-32).
To those who fear His Name He promises, however, that …..the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings…..(Mal. 4: 2). God’s will for His obedient people is shown to be healing. All His words are …..life to those who find them, and health to all their whole body (Prov. 4:22). God’s will is clearly shown by these words.
2. The Gospels reveal: God’s will is healing in Christ
Jesus Christ, the living Word, perfectly reveals God’s will. If it was not God’s will to heal all, why do we read, that Jesus went through all Galilee …..healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people…..they brought to Him all who were ill, taken with various diseases and pains…..and He healed them (Matt. 4: 23, 24).
Jesus linked His work with the Old Testament revelation of God as the Healer in Matt. 8:16,17 - …..He…..healed all who were ill, in order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying: He Himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases (see also: 1Pet. 2: 24, Is. 53: 4).
There are more references, in fact, to Jesus’ healing the sick, than to His forgiving sinners; He also seems to imply that visible miracles are more demanding (Matt. 9: 5, 6); yet He never avoided the challenge to show His power.
He revealed God’s will by …..healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness (Matt. 9: 35), and the many that followed Him…..He healed them all (Matt.12:15).
Everyone who touched His garments was made perfectly whole (Matt.14: 36), and everyone on whom He laid His hands was healed (Luke 4: 40). Luke, the doctor, records: …..power was coming from Him and healing them all (Luke 6:19).
Later, in Acts 10: 38, the Word says: …..God anointed Him (Jesus) with the Holy Spirit and with power, and…..He (Jesus) went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for God was with Him. If God did not want all healed, then Jesus, surely, was disobedient in healing all…..
3. The New Testament reveals: God’s will is healing in Christ
Peter preached healing - see e.g. Acts 3: 5-16;
We find Philip preaching God’s will to heal in Samaria; when he preached Christ, so many paralysed and lame were healed, that even the local witch doctor was amazed (Acts. 8: 5-13);
How do you think, that the cripple at Lystra would have been healed if Paul (Acts 14: 9,10) had not preached this positive message?
How could James write: Is anyone among you sick?…..the Lord will raise him up….. (James 5:14,15), if he did not believe, that it is God’s will to heal?
Again, how could John …..pray, that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health….. (3John 2), if he did not know God’s will concerning healing?
This is New testament teaching.
4. Healing is the perfect will of God, applied by the Spirit
Christ reveals perfectly the will of God (Heb.10: 7). That was the reason for His coming (Jhn. 6: 38). The only time Jesus was ever asked whether it was God’s will to heal, He replied: …..I am willing; be cleansed (Mk. 1: 40, 41). When He was giving instructions to all believers (Mk.16:17,18), He promises: …..they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
Now, the Lord does not change (Mal. 3: 6) and …..there is no partiality with God (Rom. 2:11). Therefore, because of what He did when He was on earth, we should expect Him to do today!
Our bodies are made to be well - not to be sick, and normally we should be healthy. God made us like that. Sickness is the exception and healing the rule. The mere knowledge of these promises, however, will not help us, unless they are made real to us by the Holy Spirit. We must be open to His leading as to how and when we should be healed. Be sure, however, that God’s will, as revealed in His Word, is healing for you.