Healing is an aspect of Jesus’ ministry that was very dear to His heart. This was Jesus’ favourite way to attract people to God and give them the words of salvation.
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” Acts 10:38
When Jesus ministered in Israel He went about healing people from the damage Satan was inflicting on them, for God was with Him. We see from this verse that it’s not God’s perfect will that we are to be sick. Some say that God has put sickness on them, but this verse shows us that it is not God but the Devil makes people sick. God heals. If God makes us sick then Jesus was undoing the work of God.
When Jesus died on the cross He left His Church with the ministry of reconciliation and the legacy of healing. Even in the Old Testament we see that God is our healer, our medicine and also our doctor.
“He said, "If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you." Exodus 15:26
The word ‘heals’ in this verse is the Hebrew word ‘Rapha’ which means, doctor, cure, mend, medicine and healer. He is our physician or Doctor. He is our Good Shepherd and He’s our King, but did you know that He is also our Doctor too?
God wants us to be well no matter what, and uses doctors’, nurses and medicine to bring this about. We even have within us the ability to heal ourselves. The trouble is that most medicines today have side effects, but praise God, that His healing has no side effects at all.
The Church still has the ministry of healing as part of its mission statement even though Jesus has died on the cross and 2000 years has gone by. Healing is one of the signs that follow them that believe. Are you a Believer? Jesus actually said that we are to heal the sick and didn’t say pray for the sick. Something is lacking in the 21st Century Church.
“Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:17
Laying on of Hands
There are 4 obvious methods in which Jesus still heals us today. The first one is mentioned in the previous verse in Mark 16:17 and that is the laying on of hands. Some say that this verse is not in all translations of the bible. Even if it wasn’t, we still have John 14:12 that says that the works that Jesus did would we do also.
In the book of Acts we read of Ananias who wasn’t even an Apostle, just an ordinary Christian, yet God used him to lay hands on Paul and heal him of blindness.
“So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 9:17
We read later of Paul laying his hands on the Roman man on the Island of Malta (who wasn’t a Christian either) and he was healed.
“And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him.” Acts 28:8
Anointing with Oil
“It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.” Isaiah 10:27
We are told here that the anointing oil destroys the yoke. It doesn’t just break the yoke it destroys it. If I were to break a chair leg it can be put back together again, but if I destroy it then there is no chance of putting the pieces back together again. There is great power in the anointing. I don’t really understand why we should use oil, but it is a method that was used by Jesus’ disciples. The Church was encouraged to use anointing oil to pray for the sick too. The main reason oil is used would be that oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
“Is anyone among you sick? 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 will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” James 5:14-15
Jesus’ disciples were told to use anointing oil when they prayed for the sick even while Jesus was still with them. There is no record of Jesus using anointing oil in His ministry although He did use a mixture of spit and mud on one occassion.
“So they (Disciples) went out and preached that people should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.” Mark 6:12-13
Prayer Cloth
“Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19:11- 12
The healing power of God can be imparted and abide in an object and then used for healing. Cloth is an obvious choice as it is light, easy to carry and slow to decay and can be worn on the body.
When Elisha the Prophet had died his bones were in an open tomb. During his ministry he was used mightily in miracles. A dead man was thrown into his tomb and the body touched Elisha’s bones. The Pall Bearers were hastily fleeing from their enemy and had thrown his body in there. The moment the dead body touched the bones of Elisha the man was raised from the dead. There is an abiding presence that can remain on an object. The anointing on Paul’s life stayed in the clothes that were sent out and healed sick people.
Communion and the Breaking of Bread
When Jesus died on the cross He didn’t just cleanse us of our sin but also healed us of our sicknesses. This prophecy by Isaiah the Prophet shows that this was His intention at the cross. It speaks of our healing 3 times in this portion of scripture.
“Surely He has borne our griefs (sickness) And carried our sorrows; (pains) Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace (health and well being) was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4
When we gather around the Communion Table we remember what Jesus did for us on the cross.
Paul said that when we gather for communion we need to remember that there was a reason why many were weak, sick and died before their time. He didn’t say reasons, he said reason.
“For this reason, many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.” 1 Corinthians 11:30
What is that reason? We need to know what it is and Paul said it is because we don’t understand and make a separation of the blood and the body. The word discerning means to make a difference.
“For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 11:29-30
The Church throws both the elements into the same basket. They say the bread and the wine are for the forgiveness of sin and make no distinction. Paul makes it clear that you need to make this distinction if you want to receive healing from communion. He says that many are sick, weak and die before their time because they don’t ‘discern’ the truth about the Lord’s body. His blood was for the forgiveness of sin and His body was broken so that ours might be made whole, and the breaking of bread speaks of this.
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
His body was broken for you so that you made be made whole. John speaks a lot about the bread and the wine in John chapter 6 and what it does for us.
“I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” John 6:49-51
John also speaks of the bread that fell from heaven in the wilderness which had the power to keep the Children of Israel well for 40 years. But this was just a shadow of the real deal that we now have with us. Jesus is the living bread and He can heal us and keep us well. His word is also likened to bread
“But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4
“My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.” Proverbs 4:22
Jesus wants you well and it was an important part of His ministry. He wants us healed and whole, physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. He has not only provided us with one but 4 obvious ways to receive your healing.
You can also be healed by speaking out His word with faith and with praising God and singing.
You may have a long standing sickness and need a breakthrough, believe that you will be healed by any of these means. Some of you have a sickness that you have just learned to live with over the years. Remember Jesus wants you well. He went to a lot of trouble to secure forgiveness and healing for you at the cross. Don’t settle for less, reach out and receive what is rightfully yours.
Look at the woman who had the issue of blood. She had it for a long time and had tried everything to be healed. She didn’t give up, she persevered and pressed through the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. Many were touching Jesus that day but she touched Him in faith and was made whole.
Jesus died for the whole world but the whole world isn’t saved. Only those who believe what He did at the cross are saved and healed. ‘According to your faith so be it unto you.’
On another occasion Jesus was in a house and it says that the presence of God was there to heal but only the one who was lowered through the roof received healing. It’s obvious that it doesn’t just happen because Jesus is here. You need to reach out in faith. The key is to persevere. We see how Namaan the Syrian was healed after dipping 7 times in the River Jordan and how the walls of Jericho fell after walking around them 7 times. If they only did it 6 times that would not have been enough. Today could be your day, your Seventh day believe.
