ARE YOU SITTING OUTSIDE, OR COMING IN THROUGH THE ROOF?
Some theologians believe that God healed only when Jesus and the apostles walked the earth. This, everyone should know, is not true.
First, God healed Abimelech on account of the prayer of a righteous man, Abraham (Genesis 20:17). So, we can see here that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). The first example of healing given in the Word of God is through the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man, Abraham.
The Word of God tells us,
“Confess your faults one to another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” James 5:16.
God has been healing people for thousands of years, long before Jesus and the apostles walked the earth, and He still heals today. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" Hebrews 13:8.
Here, God pronounces a condition whereby His people can be healed,
“(God) said, If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God and will do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord that heals you” Genesis 15:26.
This promise is for all of God's people, if they will just believe it.
So far, through studying what the Word of God has to say about healing, we can determine that the effectual, fervent prayers of the righteous will move God’s hand to heal, confessing our faults and praying for one another will move God’s hand to heal, and obeying God’s will and His Word will provide healing.
Next, we see that "Moses was very meek above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3), and Moses was "faithful” before God (Numbers 12:7); therefore, when “Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech Thee,” after seven days, the Lord healed Miriam, the sister of Moses (Numbers 12:13-14). Sometimes, God doesn’t heal immediately, but it is important that we still believe and trust in His Holy Word.
If we move ahead to the New Testament and examine instances when Christ and the apostles healed folks, we will not read about any occasion when Jesus refused to heal anyone who asked Him. You can read the entire New Testament about the healings Jesus performed and you will not find an instance when Jesus said, “No, I don’t want to heal you today," or "This blessing isn't for you," or "We need a special Word from the Father first;” He never said any of that.
If we study the examples given throughout the New Testament, which was "written for our learning" (Romans 15:4), we find that for all of those whose hearts were sincere and ready to receive from God, for all of those who believed God could heal them, God provided healing. What is different today?
Today, there are physicians throughout every city, pharmacies all over the place, as well as plenty of hospitals. The world, and most of God’s people, have become accustomed to relying on all of these for healing. Most do not turn with their whole heart to God and look to Him for the healing first. It is generally the other way around. People try everything else first, then when/if they are desperate enough, they will look to God. Some trust God first, but often if they aren’t healed immediately, people are very quick to conclude that God chose not to heal them. It boils down to who you want to believe, the whole world, or God?
"God forbid; yes, let God be true,
but every man a liar, as it is written, 'That you might be justified in
your sayings and might overcome when you are judged" Romans 3:4.
The popular sayings, because of the weakness and frailties of people, are, "God chose not to heal;" "It isn't God's will to heal;" "God doesn't heal in our dispensation." They are all liars. Why? Because the Word of God says they are all liars, according to the testimonies provided in God's Holy Word. That's enough. If I don't receive healing, it's going to be my own fault. I can't try to place the blame on God, because He has already promised; He has already made the provision, according to His Holy Word:
"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 has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" Isaiah 53:5-6 (Isaiah's prophecy of the coming Savior. [My Jewish friends, who else can fulfill this prophecy and many others like it?]).
The Word of God tells us,
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations, knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience; but let patience have her perfect work, that you might be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally and upbraids not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he who waivers is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord” James 1:2-7.
After we pray for healing, do we go away doubting, or commit to believing it will come to pass according to God's Holy Word?
Jesus healed many who had only just learned who He was; they hadn’t really had any time to commit their ways to God and live a holy life before the Lord. Jesus healed many, so they would thank God and serve the Lord with their whole hearts and be saved. It was the same during the apostles' ministries, when the gospel was just being spread throughout the world. Many were healed to glorify God and convert souls.
God will do the same thing today. God knows who will have faith and believe until they receive. He also knows when doubt is present and remains in the hearts of people, “let not that man think he shall receive anything of the Lord.” The Word of God is true, it never changes, and God doesn’t lie.
Some have been blessed with the gift of healing. The Word of God tells us,
“And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” 1 Corinthians 12:28.
We see here that God has placed certain ones in the church with the “gifts of healings.” They are gifted with the constant, unwavering faith to heal. The Bible also tells us,
“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 will save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up and if he has committed any sins, they shall be forgiven him” James 5:14-15.
Sometimes we don't have any oil on hand. God is aware of
that and He doesn't withhold for that purpose. If you have oil, use it.
It demonstrates an act of faith and obedience to God's Holy Word.
We have seen some notable people throughout the church in our generation with the gifts of healing: Katherine Kuhlman, Oral Roberts, RW Schambach and there are more. My great grandmother, Emily Alice Brown, was one of them, but she was poor and she wasn't renowned. Her family and neighbors all knew where to go when they were sick though. What did these all have in common? Each of them was wholly committed to God; they lived sanctified lives, they had great faith and demonstrated no doubt in what God could do.
I will leave you with a testimony given in the Gospel of Mark:
“And there came unto Him (Jesus), bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four; and when they could not come near 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, your sins be forgiven you…I say unto you, Arise, and take up your bed and go your way into your 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 in this fashion” Mark 2:3-5, 11-12.
I dare say that if you haven’t received the Lord as your Savior, but you believe He has the power to heal your illness, if you believe Him with all of your heart and ask Him to heal you, and you intend to receive the Lord and serve Him the rest of your days, He will heal you. As Jesus said to the impotent man, who had been sick for 38 years, and lying at the pool of Bethesda, "...Behold, you are made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you" John 5:14.
I also proclaim to those of you who half-heartedly serve the Lord: If you will serve the Lord with your whole heart and surrender all to Him; If you believe Him with your whole heart, even if the entire world tells you it isn’t possible, if you deny the whole world and put all of your faith (without wavering) in the promise of God, He will heal you. How do I know this? Simply because God's Holy Word commands it.
Yes, what some say about "sickness unto death" might very well be true. It may be your time
to leave this world, and when God says it’s time, it’s time. However, because God is faithful to His Word, if you believe
with all of your heart, He will heal you, then you will die and leave this
world just the same, because God doesn't lie. He may heal you one minute and take you to glory the
next, but He is still faithful to His Word.
Are you willing to believe God, no matter what it takes, or how much time it takes? The friends of the one afflicted with palsy (paralysis) could have stayed outside and given up, but they decided it would be worth it to tear up the roof and let their loved one down to Jesus, in order to get the promise.
Sometimes a world of doubters all around you can hinder your faith and the blessings. The Word of God tells us,
"Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God..." Romans 14:22.
Sometimes, with all of the "nay sayers" around, you just
have to believe God privately, because the devil is going to use people
around you to discourage you, even some people who are Christians, but
get out of the will of God. This is exactly why Jesus healed away from those who did not believe, or even kicked them out of a sick room (Mark 8:22-25, Mark 5:38-42)
Don't think you are going to ignore God's will, live in
sin and rebellion, doubt God, have half-hearted faith, but still receive
the promise of healing. It isn't going to happen.
My great grandmother, Emily Alice Brown, whose family and
neighbors used to bring their sick to her for prayer and healing,
sometimes said this: "If you can't pray the 'prayer of faith,' you'd better get to a doctor."
Are you ready to stand before God and give an account of the
life you have lived on this earth? If not, please visit the How Can I Be Saved
page of this website. Your eternal destiny depends on it. God bless you.
