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Facts on Healing and How to Receive It

In this article, we established the fact that God's will was to heal the sick throughout the Bible and He still heals today!

Now, we will deal with some hindrances to healing and New Testament methods for receiving healing today.

Lies That Hinder Faith And Healing

1. Age of miracles has passed. That is a lie! God is a God of miracles and has never been restricted by any particular age or period of time. Miracles of every sort have continued throughout the history of the church. Jesus Christ who is the image of the invisible God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

2. We can glorify God by suffering with sickness - another lie! Jesus redeemed His people from sin and sickness. God gets glory when His people are free from that which He redeemed them. There are plenty of areas where Christians can suffer such as persecution and tribulation without going back into that from which you were redeemed. The blind man in John chapter nine didn't bring glory to God until he was healed.

3. Heal me "if it be thy will." Another lie! The will of God is clear with regard to both deliverance from sin and healing. To pray "if it be Thy will" for healing is to ignore what Jesus has already accomplished at Calvary. It would be the same as praying "Lord help me to stop sinning if it be Thy will." Jesus taught us to pray "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." There is no sin, sickness or death in heaven.

4. Paul's thorn in the flesh was physical sickness. Another lie! Paul himself tells us in (2 Cor.12:7)that the thorn in the flesh was a messenger of Satan sent to buffet him. The evil spirit was trying to take the revelation (Word of God) away from Paul (2 Cor.12:2-4and Mark 4:15-20).

5. God makes us sick to discipline us. Another lie! God the Father of our spirits uses His Word for discipline, reproof, correction and training in righteousness (2 Tim.3:16 and Heb.12:5-11) Sickness which is incipient death is totally opposed to His nature. To put sickness on His people would be to violate that which He accomplished at Calvary. God does not put sin or sickness on anyone. Satan is the one who steals, kills and destroys (John 10:10).

6. Healing is not in the atonement. Another lie! (Isaiah 53) plainly declares that just as Jesus bore our sins and iniquity He also bore our sickness, disease, pain, and sorrow. This is confirmed by (Matthew 8:16-17 and 1 Peter 2:24).

7. God crested the devil to give us sin and sickness so in the ages to come we would obey Him. Another lie! If this is true then all of us should gorge ourselves in sin and sickness to the fullest. But, that would make God the author of sin and sickness! Let's have enough sense to take sides with God -not the devil. Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted from God"; for God cannot be tempted of evil things and He Himself does not tempt anyone with evil (James 1:13-14). If God were the author of sin and sickness then Jesus who is God in the flesh (John 1:14) would be opposing Himself in healing every sick person He encountered.

Personal Hindrances

There are things that you and I can do to bring sickness upon ourselves and hinder healing from taking place, God forbid. Nevertheless, many times we bring problems upon ourselves because of lack of knowledge. But with knowledge we can make the necessary correction and walk in health! So, here are some areas to watch out for:

1. Do not violate the natural laws of physical health. Our physical bodies do need to eat right, rest properly and exercise. (Phil.2:26-30).

2. Unforgiveness will hinder you from being in proper fellowship with the Father and open the door for Satan (Matthew 18:21-35). Walk in Love!

3. Don't let the devil steal God's Word from you through persecution, afflictions, cares of this world, lusts of other things and deceitfulness of riches (Mark 4:15-20).

4. Don't be unequally yoked with those full of doubt or unbelief. Fellowship with like minded believers (2 Cor 6:14-18).

5. Don't look at the circumstances or go by your feelings (Romans 4:17-21; Mark 11:23-24; 2 Cor.5:7).

Ways to Receive Healing

There are different ways that healing can be brought to the sick according to God's Word -healing not only for the believer but for the sinner as well! Thank God for His mercy.

11. The Word of God contains within itself the power to heal those who will believe it. The Gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). Godsent His Word and Healed Israel when in the wilderness (Psalm 107:20). And, God's Word is health and medicine according to (Proverbs 4:20-22).

2. Your faith in God will bring healing. Jesus said to the blind man...do you believe? So be it according to your faith (Matthew 9:28-29). To the woman with the issue of blood...your faith has made you whole (Matthew 9:22). Jesus said to the centurion...as you have believed, so let it be done for you (Matthew 8:13). And to blind Bartimaeus...your faith has made you whole (or well) (Mark 10:42).

3. The name of Jesus. Whatever you ask in my name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13). At the name of Jesus every name in heaven as on earth must bow its knees and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord - which means that all sickness and disease, no matter what its name is must bow knees and flee when you come against it in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Phil.2:9-11 and James 4:7), and in the Name of Jesus those who believe shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover (Mark 16:17-18).

4. Calling the elders, anointing with oil and praying the prayer of faith will heal the sick (James 5:14-15).

5. As the Holy Spirit wills the gifts of healings and working of miracles will heal the sick and make them whole (1 Cor.12:8-10).

6. The prayer of agreement will bring healing. (Matthew 18:19) tells us, "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven." That would include healing! As you can see, there are many ways to receive healing and walk in divine health. No matter where your level of faith or spiritual maturity may be at, you can receive healing and walk in health. Even the sinner can be healed! Glory to God!

It Takes Time

As a believer, faith in God's Word comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Few Christians are taught the scriptural basis for healing and thus are unprepared when sickness comes. Faith is conceived, nurtured, and matured over a period of time. As the believer partakes of the unadulterated Word of God, he grows up into salvation. However, this takes time and medical help may be necessary in this interval of time. And, it's not a sin to receive medical help. If you can believe that God will work through the doctor - He will honour your faith. Learn to operate at your level of faith. Faith pleases God no matter what level you may be at in your Christian walk. Just walk in the light you have. That's all God will hold you accountable for.

A Final Word

God is not a legalist! He is first and foremost a loving Father who accepts people in the midst of their weaknesses. When one is weak in faith God does not love them any less! God loves the one who is weak in faith as much as He loves the one who may be strong in faith. So, do not impose your faith on others. Let's walk in love and minister the truth in love.

by Jim Kaseman