Daily Friendship with God #18 Divine Healing
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Great multitudes followed Him. (Matthew 4:23-25)
When it comes to the life of Jesus one thing is certain He healed people of all kind of disease and sickness everywhere He went. The really cool thing about that is, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)
When Jesus was on earth in physical form He gave His disciples power over unclean spirits, sickness and disease. Here some cliff notes from Luke chapter 10
After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest…. (Luke 10:1-2)… “And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ (Luke 10:9).. - Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name Luke 10:17.”… “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:20 - “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19 -20) And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)
The greatest miracle of healing is that of an eternal soul being healed from sin and death. As a result of the eternal healing that comes from salvation a person’s name is written in the book of Life. In Luke 10 we learn the power and authority that Jesus gave to His followers produced the results of healing as well as power over demons that can be the source of sickness and disease.
Jesus made it clear that the outward temporal results of healing was not something to rejoice in. What He did say to rejoice in is the inward eternal deliverance that comes from knowing Him through repentance which leads to believing in the Gospel of salvation. Jesus life proved that He is all for physical healing. In conjunction to His lifestyle of healing everywhere He went the understanding of the Greek word “sozo” which is translated save or saved, will make it clear that it was and is His will to heal. The ultimate goal of Jesus is for individuals names to be written in the book of Life which is in heaven. Whenever the power to heal is present the presentation and proclamation of the Gospel is to be preached in order to bring individuals into relationship with God. From what we read in second Peter we know that
He (God) does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent (2 Peter 3:9) and believe in the Gospel. (Mark 1:15)
Because He(God) “desires/wills” all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4)
The word saved in 1 Timothy 2:4 has some very powerful meanings in its definitions as noted in the following: To save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
To save a suffering one (from perishing), That is one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, Restore to health to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue.
In this definition we see both forms of healing “To Save Keep safe and sound” and “to make well, heal”. Please note In 1 Timothy 2:4 the word for “desires/wills” has in its definition the following: to will, have in mind, intend. This means it is God’s will to “save/rescue from destruction” eternally as well as to save those suffering from disease, to make well, heal, Restore to health heal now in the temporal realm. One last thing to note about the phrase “Because He(God) desires/wills all men to be saved” in the Greek verb tense it is in a Present, Active, Infinitive. Which means at all times it is a fact that God has in His mind the intent to Save eternally as well to heal and rescue in the temporal realm.
You do not have to live on the earth for very long to realize that at times we do not see God’s will(desire, intent) done on earth as it is in heaven. Does this mean that God is unable to accomplish His will(desire, intent)? If someone decides to reject God’s invitation to receive the good news of His death for our sins, His burial, and enter into a relationship with Him based on His Resurrection then God’s will(desire) is not done. God is all powerful so He has the power to heal all humans at all times. God established a set of rules, laws or principles by which He, as well as all, must adhere to. God is sovereign which means a supreme ruler, which means He chooses to do as He desires/wills. God in His sovereignty decided to make humanity in His image and likeness. This means that all humans are like God in that they can choose to do as they desire/will, this is known as free will. Therefore in the temporal world that we live in now, a persons will, can stop God’s will from being accomplished. Sadly every day people reject God’s will to be saved both now and forever.
If someone does not get healed it is not because God was unable or unwilling to heal them. We do not know all the details of all that is happening in regards to the eternal and temporal realms as well as the free will of those that are involved. God’s manifold wisdom is at work for His eternal purposes and is working all things together for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose.
God has given us the right to be healed based on the following understanding of what Jesus accomplished:
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities
And bore our sicknesses.”( Matthew 8:16-17)
Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed (1 Peter 2:24)
Before humanity sinned there was no sickness and no one died. Sin entered the world through one man, and death came through sin. Jesus death took our sins and death and by faith in Him we can be healed. The following are some more cliff notes concerning understanding this from Acts chapter 3.
Peter and John went up together to the temple and a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple. Peter said In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So the lame man, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
Next Peter makes it clear as to how the miraculous healing occurred.
“Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? It is through faith in His name, which has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him GOD has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
This points us to Jesus as to the means by which we can be healed. It is by faith(trust) in Jesus name which means “God is salvation” that healing occurs. Jesus said to His followers:
And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:8)
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…And these signs will follow those who believe…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
(Mark 16:15b,17a,18c) Jesus also said:
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.(John 15:5)
Paul who was a follower of Jesus said
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
Take some time and ask the Holy Spirit to baptize you to overflowing with His gift of healing. Then ask Him to lead you to people that are in need of His healing power. Authentically love and care for the person He sends you to. Next pray in the powerful and authoritative Name of Jesus trusting God alone to heal whoever God sends you to. Next surrender the results to God for He is the one Who ultimately heals. Finally remain in faith(trust) ,hope(confidence) and love(concern for others) no matter what the results are.