Healing
1. Healing was part of Jesus’ ministry:
Mat.4:23,24 – Jesus went…healing all manner of sickness & disease
Mat.9:35 – Healing every sickness & disease among the people
Mat.12:15b – Great multitudes followed Him & He healed them all
(See also Mat.15:30; 21:14; Acts 10:38.)
2. Healing promises are still valid “today”:
Heb.13:8 – Jesus Christ the same, yesterday & today & forever
Mal.3:6 – I am the Lord, I change not
Mk.16:17a-18b – These signs shall follow them that believe: Lay hands on the sick & they shall recover
Jn.14:12-14 – He that believeth on Me, the works I do shall he do
1Cor.12:7,9b – To another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit
Jam.5:14,15 – Is any sick among you? Call elders…let them pray
3. It is God’s will to heal:
A. Scriptural authority for asking for healing:
Exo.15:26b – I am the Lord that healeth thee
Deut.7:15 – The Lord will take away from thee all sickness
Psa.84:11b – No good thing will He withhold from them
Psa.103:3 – (He) forgiveth all iniquities, healeth all thy diseases
Psa.107:20 – He sent His Word, & healed them
Jer.30:17a – For I “will” restore health unto thee, & “will” heal
Mal.4:2a – Sun of righteousness arise with “healing” in His wings
Mat.10:1 – He gave them power…to heal all manner of sickness &… disease
Mk.1:40,41 – Lord, if Thou wilt…Jesus saith, I “will”; be thou clean
Acts 9:34a – Jesus Christ maketh thee whole
Jam.5:15 – Prayer of faith save sick…& the Lord shall raise him up
(See also Ezk.34:16a; 3Jn.2.)
B. God prefers not to afflict you; He’d rather heal:
Lam.3:33 – He doth not afflict “willingly”…the children of men
Psa.22:24 – He hath not despised…affliction of the afflicted; neither hath He hid His face from him
Heb.12:13b – Let it rather be healed
C. Jesus’ physical suffering paid for our healing:
Isa.53:5 – He was wounded…with His stripes we are healed
Mat.8:16,17 – Himself took our infirmities & bare our sicknesses
1Cor.11:23,24 – This is My body, which is broken for you
1Cor.11:29,30 – Not discerning Lord’s body…many are weak & sickly
1Pet.2:24 – By Whose stripes ye were healed
4. Nothing is too serious for God to heal:
Jer.32:27 – I am the Lord…is there anything too hard for Me?
Jer.32:17 – Ah Lord God! There is “nothing” too hard for Thee
Psa.34:19 – The Lord delivereth him out of them “all” (afflictions)
Psa.103:3 – Who healeth “all” thy diseases
Mat.10:1 – Power to…heal “all” manner of sickness, & “all” disease
Mat.19:26 – With God all things are possible
Mk.9:23 – All things are possible to him that believeth
Lk.1:37 – With God, nothing shall be impossible
Lk.5:17b – The power of the Lord was present to heal them
5. Conditions for healing:
2Ki.20:5b – I have…seen thy tears, behold, I will heal thee
2Chr.7:14 – If My people humble themselves, & pray & turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear & heal
Isa.19:22 – They shall return to the Lord…& He shall heal them
Isa.58:6-8a – [Help others:] Then thine health…spring forth speedily
Hos.6:1 – Come, let us “return”…& He will heal us
Jam.5:16a – “Confess” your faults…& pray one for another, that ye may be healed
6. Practical steps in obtaining healing:
A. Begin with a clean heart; unconfessed sin in your life will hinder faith:
Psa.66:18,19 – If I regard iniquity in my heart, Lord will not hear
Pro.28:13 – He that covereth his sins shall not prosper
Jam.5:16 – Confess your faults one to another, & pray one for another
1Jn.3:21 – “If” our heart condemn us “not”, then have we (faith)
(See also 2Chr.7:14; Psa.51:10; 139:23; 1Jn.1:8,9.)
B. Prepare by memorising promises; find authority in God’s Word & faith will come of itself:
Rom.10:17 – Faith cometh by hearing the Word of God
Josh.23:14b – Not one thing hath failed of all that…God spake
1Ki.8:56b – Hath not failed one word of all His good promise
Pro.7:2-3 – Write (My commandments) upon table of thine heart
Mat.24:35 – Heaven & earth shall pass away, but (not) My Words
2Cor.1:20 – All the promises of God in Him are yea &…Amen
2Pet.1:4 – Great & precious promises: by these ye might partake
C. Be definite:
Isa.45:11 – Concerning the work of My hands, command ye Me
Jam.1:6-8 – Ask in faith, nothing wavering
D. “Expect” from God; know you are entitled to His promises:
Mk.11:23 – Whoever…shall believe…shall have whatsoever he saith
Mk.11:24 – “When” ye pray, “believe” that ye receive & ye shall have
Heb.4:16 – Come boldly…& find grace to help in time of need
Heb.11:6 – He that cometh to God must believe…He is a rewarder
E. Accept from God; there comes a time to cease praying:
Josh.7:10 – Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
Lk.1:38 – Mary said, “Be it unto me according to thy Word”
F. Stand your ground in faith & trust:
Num.23:19 – God is not a man, that He should lie. Hath he said, & shall He not do it?
Psa.112:7 – Not be afraid of evil tidings…trusting in the Lord
Acts 27:25 – I believe God, that it shall be even as was told me
Rom.3:4 – Let God be true, but every man a liar
Rom.4:19-21 – Being “fully” persuaded that what He had promised
Gal.6:9 – In due season we shall reap, if we faint not
Eph.4:27 – Neither give place to the devil [his doubts & lies]
Eph.6:13 – Withstand…& having done all, “stand”
Eph.6:16 – Taking the shield of faith…to quench fiery darts
Heb.10:23 – Hold fast…(your) faith without wavering; He is faithful that promised
Heb.10:35,36 – Ye have need of “patience”, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise
1Pet.1:7 – The trial of your faith…more precious than gold (See also Pro.24:10; Jon.2:8.)
G. Real faith puts into action what it believes:
2Ki.5:1,9-14 – [Naaman obeyed Elisha, dipped in the Jordan, & was healed]
2Chr.20:21,22 – [When they went forth singing & praising God for the victory, He performed the miracle]
Mat.14:28,29 – [Peter believed Jesus & stepped out on the water]
Mk.2:11,12 – Take up thy bed, & go…& immediately he arose
Mk.3:1,5b – [A man stretches out his withered hand & is healed]
Lk.17:14 – As they “went”, they were cleansed (healed)
Jn.4:47-53 – Believed the word Jesus had spoken…& went his way
2Cor.5:7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight
Jam.2:17-26 – As body without spirit…faith without works is dead
H. Thank Him for hearing & answering your prayer:
Rom.4:20 – He was strong in faith, giving “glory” to God
7. Praying for the sick:
A. Pray for healing in “Jesus’” name:
(See Jn.14:13,14; Acts 3:6; 4:10; 9:34a.)
B. Importance of laying hands on & touching the sick:
Mk.16:18b – They shall lay hands on the sick & they shall recover
Lk.4:40 – He laid His hands on every one of them, & healed them
(See also Mat.9:29; Mk.3:10; 5:28; 6:56; 7:33-35; Lk.5:13; 6:19; 22:51b.)
C. Anointing with oil for healing:
(See Mk.6:13; Jam.5:14.)
D. The power of united, group prayer:
Mat.18:19,20 – If two of you shall agree [in prayer]…it shall be done
Deut.32:30 – One (shall) chase a thousand, & two put ten thousand to flight
E. Who should pray for the sick:
Lk.8:50,51 – [Have the unbelieving leave the room before you pray]
Jam.5:14-16 – Call for the elders…& let them pray over him. The fervent…prayer of a righteous man availeth much
8. Fight in the Spirit for your healing:
Mat.17:19-21 – [Unusual, stubborn sicknesses require extra faith & prayer & fasting]
1Tim.6:12 – Fight good fight of faith, “lay hold” on eternal life
A. Sing & praise the Lord:
(See Psa.34:1; 51:15; 66:17; 77:2,10,11; 109:30.)
B. Quote Scripture like Jesus did:
Mat.4:3-10 – He answered and said, “It is “written”…”
Eph.6:17 – Take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
9. Reasons that God allows afflictions & illnesses:
A. To keep us righteous & close to Him:
Psa.34:19 – Many are the afflictions of the “righteous”
Psa.119:71 – It is good for me that I have been afflicted
2Cor.12:7 – Lest I should be exalted…given a thorn in the flesh
Heb.12:6,11 – Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, & scourgeth
Rev.3:19 – As many as I love, I rebuke & chasten
B. To glorify God when He heals you:
Mat.15:31 – The multitude wondered…& they glorified God
Jn.9:1-3 – [The blind man's healing was to glorify God]
Acts 9:36-42 – It was known throughout all Joppa; & many believed
C. Sickness is often caused by sin:
Psa.38:2-5 – My wounds stink & are corrupt…because of my sin…because of my foolishness
Psa.107:17 – Fools, because of their…iniquities, are afflicted
Psa.119:67 – Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but now
Pro.26:2 – The curse causeless shall not come
(See also Num.12:1-15; 1Sam.5:1-12; 25:2-11,37,38; 2Chr.21:9-19; 26:16-21; Acts 12:21-23.)
D. Some sickness is an attack of the devil:
Mat.9:32,33a – When the devil was cast out, the dumb spake
Mk.9:17-20,25 – [Jesus rebuked an unclean spirit, healing a child]
Lk.13:11,13,16 – This woman…whom Satan hath bound 18 years
Acts 10:38 – Healing all that were oppressed of the devil
E. To teach & to test us:
Job 2:3-7 – [The devil was allowed to afflict Job to "test" him]
Job 5:17,18 – Behold, happy is man whom God correcteth
Psa.94:12 – Blessed is the man whom Thou chasteneth & teachest
2Cor.4:17 – [Our temporary afflictions teach us eternal lessons]
F. Emotional or physiological causes:
Psa.147:3 – He healeth the broken in heart, bindeth their wounds
Pro.11:17b – He that is cruel troubleth his own flesh
Pro.14:30 – Envy (is) the rottenness of the bones
Pro.15:13 – By sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken
Pro.17:22b – A broken spirit drieth the bones
Pro.18:14 – A wounded spirit who can bear?
G. God will show you the reason if you ask Him:
1Sam.6:3b – Then ye shall be healed, & it shall be known to you why His hand is not removed from you
Job 36:9-11 – Then He sheweth them their…transgressions
Phi.3:15b – God shall reveal even this unto you
H. How to keep from getting sick:
Exo.15:26 – If thou wilt diligently “hearken”…I will put none of these diseases upon thee
Psa.91:9,10 – Because thou hast made the Lord thy…habitation
Pro.4:20,22 – Attend to My Words…they are health to [your] flesh
I. Physical reasons for sickness:
Exo.8:24b – The land was “corrupted” by the swarm of flies
Lev.11:4-12 – [Eating unclean meats, seafood, etc.]
Pro.23:29-35 – [Too much wine or alcohol]
Pro.25:16,27a – [Overindulgence in sweets:] Not good to eat much honey
Pro.23:3 – Be not desirous of dainties: they are deceitful meat
Mk.7:3,4 – [Lack of cleanliness: Jews washed often, lived long]
Rom.1:24-27 – [Unclean or perverted sex]
Phi.2:27,30 – [Overdoing physically:] Sick…not regarding his life
10. Points to remember after prayer:
A. Reasons why we’re sometimes not “immediately” healed:
Isa.59:1,2 – The Lord’s hand is not shortened, but your sins have separated you
Hos.5:15 – I will return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence
2Cor.12:7-9 – [Paul prayed 3 times to be healed, but the Lord left him with a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble]
Heb.10:36 – After ye have done the will of God ye (shall) receive the promise
Jam.1:3 – The trying of your faith worketh patience
1Pet.1:7 – Trial of your faith (is) much more precious than gold
B. Testify publicly about your healing:
Job 36:24 – Remember that thou magnify His work, which men behold
Psa.107:2 – Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Mk.5:19b – Go home to thy friends & “tell” them how great things the Lord hath done for thee
Acts 4:10 – Be it known unto you all, that by the name of Jesus
(See also Psa.22:22,25; 35:18; 107:31,32.)
C. Obey God once healed, or your sickness may return:
Jn.5:14 – Thou art made whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing
Psa.85:8 – But let them not turn again to folly
11. Miraculous or natural healing?
A. God’s healing vs. doctors & medicines:
2Chr.16:12,13 – Asa was diseased in his feet…he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians. And Asa died
Psa.118:8 – Better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man
Jer.46:11 – In vain shalt thou use many medicines…not be cured
Mk.5:25-26 – Suffered many things of many physicians…grew worse
(See also Hos.5:13)
B. Sometimes doctors & medicines can help:
Pro.17:22a – A merry heart doeth “good” like a “medicine”
Lk.10:34 – He bound up his wounds…pouring in oil & wine
C. God-ordained natural remedies:
2Ki.20:1-7 – Take a lump of figs…lay it on the boil (Also Isa.38:21)
Jer.51:8b – Take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed
Ezk.47:12b – And the leaf thereof (shall be) for medicine
1Tim.5:23 – Use a little wine for stomach’s sake & oft infirmities
D. Eat wholesome, nourishing food:
Psa.103:5 – (The Lord) satisfieth thy mouth with “good” things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s
12. No sickness in Heaven:
(See Isa.33:24; Rev.21:4.)
A. Our immortal resurrected bodies will never be sick:
1Cor. 15:42, 43 – So is the resurrection…It is sown in corruption, raised in incorruption: sown in weakness…raised in power
20. Healing, Copyright © 1998-2012, The Family International