Does God Heal today?

              I got saved at a young age, and grew up in the church.  I was searching the scriptures for myself when I was about 17 years old, and wanting to know the truths of the scripture.  But during all of these years, I trusted what the church was telling me to be correct. In fact, the more I read, the more questions I had.  If the disciples were told to go out and heal, Why werent we experiencing divine healing now? Was it only for the disciples back then? I was told that we could ask God in prayer for healing and then if it is his will to heal then he will heal. If you weren’t healed, I was told it was because “it wasn’t his will or that there could even be sin in your life”.  They said that God sometimes “allowed” us to get sick so that while we were on our backs we would look up and depend upon him.  Hmmmmm.  It didn’t feel right to me. I’ve even been told that God works today through doctors and that we should be praying that God divinely moves the hands of the doctors.

            I think of a time many years ago that I was sick in bed for many days feeling miserable. I was thinking there must be some sin in my life.  I was asking God to help me to feel better if it was his will.  I would try repenting of any sin that would come to mind, wondering why he was allowing me to be sick.  I read my Bible thinking if I was obedient, then I would get better.  I was miserable for most of a week until the sickness ran its course.  I wondered what I had done wrong to feel so miserable.  I have watched young people die around me through the years and wondered why God brought them home early.  Essentially, blaming their sickness or accident on God.  I always thought that God had his purposes to make them sick.  I always heard in Job that “God gives and God takes away” so I figured that he must take away when it is his will.

I was dropping off my daughter Courtney who was now 16 years old when she said to me, “ Dad, I’m ready for hearing aids now.”  You see, she had needed them for many years but the doctors told me that if she is not going to seriously wear them, then wait until she was ready.  For years, everyone was always repeating themselves to her and she listened to the tv and her music loud.  It was hard to be in the same room as it was very loud.  Her hearing had been getting progressively worse and she was having her hearing tested over a period of about three to four years.  I told her that I would call and make an appointment for the hearing doctor tomorrow.  She thanked me and hugged me and I heard the Spirit say “Pray!”  I stopped and said Courtney let me pray for you, and she kinda looked at me like “ok, whatever!”  At that instant it began to rain, and I heard the song “healing rain” in my mind.  Without telling her what I was doing, I rolled down the window slightly and wet my fingers with the rainwater.  I put my fingers in her ears and prayed for healing for her ears in the name of Jesus!  Her response was ….ok can you make the appointment now? I said sure and gave her a hug goodbye.  Later that night, she showed up, unexpectantly  and was saying “Dad!!! I can hear!!! I can hear!!! I’m going to go to church with you on Sunday!”  For me, that was a start of studying the scriptures to see for myself what God said about healing, not man.

            Let me share with you “a little of what I’ve learned”.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 say,”All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Acts 17:11 says, (speaking of the Bereans) “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”   When someone tells you something, even from the pulpit, search the scriptures to make sure that you are receiving truth. John 16:13a says,” Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth”  Depend on the Holy Spirit to reveal Gods truths to you.  It is important to study the scriptures yourself.  You are going to stand before God Yourself one day and there will be no excuses for what we have been told to do.  It’s there for us to read and study.  We have Gods very words at our fingertips in black and white.  You are not going to be able to say, Well, my pastor told me something different.  You need to study it, to show yourself approved unto God and not be ashamed.  It also says that it thoroughly equips us for every good work. What good works is he talking about?

            John 14:12,” Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.   And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. ”

Luke 10:1,8-9,17-19  “After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.  And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:  And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you…….And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

When Jesus traveled and taught he healed ALL the sick.  His apostles healed ALL the sick and we should heal ALL the sick.  Part of the reason that Jesus came was to provide healing for our physical bodies.  Isaiah 53:4-5 says” Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But 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.”  Matthew 8:14-17 shows the fulfillment of the last verse from Isaiah. It says, “ And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.  And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.  Jesus provided healing for us by allowing his body to be whipped and beaten for us. 

Consider 1 Corinthians 11:23-30. “ For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.  For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”   The Lord separated the body and the blood in the Lords supper for a reason.  First his body was broken for your bodys healing.  Next we are given salvation through his blood because the the life is in the blood. It says many were weak and sickly and some died because they were not discerning the Lords body when they were partaking of the Lords supper.  Jesus suffered bodily so that we could be healed.  We no longer have to be sick or weak or even die of disease because we can be healed by the stripes that were put upon Jesus for us.  Jesus’ blood paid for our sins but his body paid for our healing.  We need to recognize this and honor Jesus for this.  I don’t generally hear this being taught in churches today and we wonder why so many people are sickly or dying.

Healing was paid for by Jesus at the whipping post. So…. how do you receive healing?? You receive healing through faith.  Acts 3:6-7,16(niv) says,” Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.”  James 5:14-16 says, ” 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 shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

 Now, we can ask ourselves, “How do we know when it is Gods will to heal?”  I tell you today to settle this in your heart, It is ALWAYS Gods will to heal.  The Scriptures give a particular example that is recorded in three of the gospels of a man that had leprosy. The man asked Jesus  "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.”(Luke 5:12b-13). Jesus was always willing to heal.  Everywhere he went, the sick were brought to him and he healed them all.  The one time I can think of that he turned someone down for healing was because he said he had to go to the children of Israel first before he could go to the gentiles.  But that person walked away with the healing requested Done!  Do you think Jesus would have told the disciples that “They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:18) if it wasn’t Gods will to heal?  He said THEY WILL RECOVER! He didn’t say” If its Gods will they will recover!”  Believe Gods word to be true! God doesn’t give us sickness! and he doesn’t allow us to be sick.  Christians allow people to be sick. God gave his Son Jesus, who paid the price with his body for our healing once and forevermore.  He is willing to heal everytime..... But are YOU willing…..to do what God has called YOU to do.  Jesus said lay hands on them and they will recover..pray in faith expecting God to do what he said he would do without wavering.  James 1:6-8 says “But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”  You see Jesus gave us….the Christians, a job to do….He said that He was going to the father and that  “these signs will follow those who believe;………they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”  John 14:12 says “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”  Do you hear what He is saying…….If you believe on Him, you will do these works ..AND GREATER…..”  We need to stop believing lies that the enemy has planted in churches years ago and believe what the Bible says about healing. Do you believe Jesus? I didn’t ask if you believe in him. I asked if you believe him…Jesus clearly taught that believers would do his works and greater….

            God doesn’t take away what he has given us…The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy.  In the book of Job it was quoted by Job “The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away.” This is taken out of context because God responded to Job by saying “Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:  “Who is this that questions my wisdom
with such ignorant words?”  Jesus sent his Holy Spirit that dwells in us….The Holy Spirit heals as you lay hands on people… the Holy Spirit goes into action based on faith. When you put your faith in healing someone don’t take it back or doubt because you  don’t see immediate results….Know that He is working….He said they will recover…..

Luke 9:1-2 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.² And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

What does it mean to be in Gods Army?

               If we would enlist in the US Army, we would sign our lives over to the government, They would then take us and train us night and day to be a soldier.  We would be ready to defend our country or war against another country at a moments notice.  We would go to where we were sent to complete the assigned mission as we face real enemies in this world.  We would be given the authority and the weapons and body armor needed  to carry out our mission.  We would free those who were captured by the enemy  We destroy the enemies capabilities to hurt us as we are hated by many.  I've sung this old familiar hymn countless times growing up, never truly understanding what it was talking about until now.  It is called Onward Christian Soldiers and here is verse 1, "Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,  with the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;  forward into battle see his banners go" .  When we accept Jesus as Savior by making him Lord over our life, we have signed up to be in Gods army, to be a soldier for Jesus Christ.

               There is a spiritual battle that rages every day.  We Face a real enemy as the enemy tries to oppress us, take captives, deceive us, steal from us, inflict pain and suffering on us and kill us.  1 Peter 5:8 says," Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"   John10:10 says, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." and John 8:44 says," Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

              In Revelation 10:9,17 it says" And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. ¹⁷ And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

            Jesus came to earth in human form for a purpose.  This purpose is shown in the following verse, 1 John 3:8b, "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."  Hebrews 2:14-15 also shows this ," Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."  Jesus came to destroy the devils works and the power over death, to reconcile us to him.  Jesus destroyed his works by forgiving sins, healing all the sick, raising the dead, feeding the hungry, and so much more. This was attacking the enemy head on by destroying the enemies’ works.  Before Jesus ascended to his father, he said in John 14:12,” Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”   We are to do the same things that Jesus did.  We have been recruited, the mission has been made clear, we are to war against the enemy by doing what Jesus did.  He doesn’t say its not going to be hard, but he said to have faith that we will overcome.  2 Timothy 2:3 says,” Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 

            We are fighting a spiritual battle and an enemy that we cant always see with our eyes.  Ephesians 6: 12 says,”For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  How do we fight an enemy that we can’t always see? It may be difficult and there will be attacks against us, but we need to be prepared with the armor and weapons that God has given us for warfare.  Ephesians 6:7-13 says, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”  All of these things are for defense except for one.

God gives us a sword, which is the word of God.  “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  Jesus used the word of God as his weapon against Satan when he was being tempted by him.  Jesus did everything for our example.  Jesus even died like a soldier, John 15:13-14 says,” Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. ”  I am Jesus’s friend. I will do what he has commanded me to do.  I will put on the whole armor of God and renew my mind to grow into Christ.  I will be his hands and feet on this earth to go and do his works.  I am Gods son, mans servant, and the devils master.  Jesus became like me so that I could become like him. Are you his friend?