Healing
1. HEALING WAS PART OF JESUS’ MINISTRY:
Matthew 4:23–24 Jesus went … healing all manner of sickness and disease
Matthew 9:35 Healing every sickness and disease among the people
Matthew 12:15 Great multitudes followed him and he healed them all
(See also Matthew 15:30; 21:14; Acts 10:38.)
2. GOD’S HEALING PROMISES ARE STILL VALID TODAY:
Malachi 3:6 I am the Lord, I change not
Mark 16:17–18 These signs shall follow them that believe; lay hands on the sick and they shall recover
John 14:12–14 He that believeth on me, the works I do shall he do
1 Corinthians 12:7,9 To another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever
James 5:14–15 Is any sick among you? Call elders … let them pray
3. IT IS WITHIN GOD’S WILL TO HEAL:
A. Scriptural authority for asking for healing:
Exodus 15:26 I am the Lord that healeth thee
Deuteronomy 7:15 The Lord will take away from thee all sickness
Psalm 84:11 No good thing will he withhold from them
Psalm 103:3 [He] forgiveth all iniquities, healeth all thy diseases
Psalm 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them
Jeremiah 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and will heal
Malachi 4:2 Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings
Matthew 10:1 He gave them power … to heal all manner of sickness and … disease
Mark 1:40–41 Lord, if thou wilt … Jesus saith, I will; be thou clean
Acts 9:34 Jesus Christ maketh thee whole
James 5:15 The prayer of faith shall save the sick … and the Lord shall raise him up
(See also Ezekiel 34:16; 3 John 1:2.)
B. God prefers not to afflict; He’d rather heal:
Psalm 22:24 He hath not despised … affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him
Lamentations 3:33 He doth not afflict willingly
Hebrews 12:13 Let it rather be healed
C. Jesus’ physical suffering paid for our healing:
Isaiah 53:5 He was wounded … with his stripes we are healed
Matthew 8:16–17 Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses
1 Corinthians 11:23–24 This is my body, which is broken for you 157 healing
1 Corinthians 11:29–30 Not discerning Lord’s body … many are weak and sickly
1 Peter 2:24 By whose stripes ye were healed
4. NOTHING IS TOO SERIOUS FOR GOD TO HEAL:
Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord God! There is nothing too hard for thee
Jeremiah 32:27 I am the Lord … is there anything too hard for me?
Psalm 34:19 The Lord delivereth him out of them [afflictions] all
Psalm 103:3 Who healeth all thy diseases
Matthew 10:1 Power to … heal all manner of sickness, and all disease
Matthew 19:26 With God all things are possible
Mark 9:23 All things are possible to him that believeth
Luke 1:37 With God, nothing shall be impossible
Luke 5:17 The power of the Lord was present to heal them
5. CONDITIONS FOR HEALING:
2 Kings 20:5 I have … seen thy tears, behold, I will heal thee
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people humble themselves, and pray and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear and heal
Isaiah 19:22 They shall return to the Lord … and he shall heal them
Isaiah 58:6–8 [Help others:] Then thine health … spring forth speedily
Hosea 6:1 Come, let us return … and he will heal us
James 5:16 Confess your faults … and pray one for another, that ye may be healed
6. PRACTICAL STEPS FOR OBTAINING HEALING:
A. Begin with a clean heart; unconfessed sin will hinder faith:
Psalm 66:18–19 If I regard iniquity in my heart, Lord will not hear
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another
1 John 3:21 If our heart condemn us not, then have we [faith]
(See also 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 51:10; 139:23; 1 John 1:8–9.)
B. Prepare by memorising promises; find authority in God’s Word, and faith will come:
Joshua 23:14 Not one thing hath failed of all that … God spake
1 Kings 8:56 Hath not failed one word of all his good promise
Proverbs 7:2–3 Write [My commandments] upon table of thine heart
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but [not] my words
Romans 10:17 Faith cometh by hearing the word of God
2 Corinthians 1:20 All the promises of God in him are yea and … amen
2 Peter 1:4 Great and precious promises: by these ye might partake
C. Be definite:
Isaiah 45:11 Concerning the work of my hands, command ye me
James 1:6–8 Ask in faith, nothing wavering
D. Expect results from God:
Mark 11:23–24 Whoever … shall believe … shall have whatsoever he saith … When ye pray, believe that ye receive and ye shall have
Hebrews 4:16 Come boldly … and find grace to help in time of need
Hebrews 11:6 He that cometh to God must believe … he is a rewarder
E. Accept God’s decision:
Joshua 7:10 Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
Luke 1:38 Mary said, “Be it unto me according to thy word”
F. Stand your ground in faith and trust:
Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie. Hath he said, and shall he not do it?
Psalm 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
Romans 3:4 Let God be true, but every man a liar
Romans 4:19–21 Being fully persuaded that what he had promised
Galatians 6:9 In due season we shall reap, if we faint not
Ephesians 4:27 Neither give place to the devil [his doubts and lies]
Ephesians 6:13 Withstand … and having done all, stand
Ephesians 6:16 Taking the shield of faith … to quench fiery darts
Hebrews 10:23 Hold fast [your] faith without wavering; he is faithful that promised
Hebrews 10:35–36 Ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise
1 Peter 1:7 The trial of your faith … more precious than gold
(See also Proverbs 24:10; John 2:8.)
G. Real faith puts into action what it believes:
2 Kings 5:1,9–14 [Naaman obeyed Elisha, dipped in the Jordan, and was healed]
2 Chronicles 20:21–22 [When they went forth singing and praising God for the victory, He performed the miracle]
Matthew 14:28–29 [Peter believed Jesus and stepped out on the water]
Mark 2:11–12 Take up thy bed, and go … and immediately he arose
Mark 3:1,5 [A man stretches out his withered hand and is healed]
Luke 17:14 As they went, they were cleansed [healed]
John 4:47–53 Believed the word Jesus had spoken … and went his way
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight
James 2:17–26 As body without spirit … faith without works is dead
H. Thank Him for hearing and answering your prayer:
Luke 17:15–16 When he saw that he was healed … fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks
Romans 4:20 He was strong in faith, giving glory to God
7. PRAY FOR THE SICK:
A. Pray for healing in Jesus’ name:
(See John 14:13–14; Acts 3:6; 4:10; 9:34.)
B. Laying hands on and touching the sick:
Mark 16:18 They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover
Luke 4:40 He laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them
(See also Matthew 9:29; Mark 3:10; 5:28; 6:56; 7:33–35; Luke 5:13; 6:19; 22:51.)
C. Anointing with oil for healing:
(See Mark 6:13; James 5:14.)
D. The power of united, group prayer:
Deuteronomy 32:30 One [shall] chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight
Matthew 18:19–20 If two of you shall agree [in prayer] … it shall be done
E. Who should pray for the sick:
Luke 8:50–51 [Have the unbelieving leave the room before you pray]
James 5:14–16 Call for the elders … and let them pray over him. The fervent … prayer of a righteous man availeth much
8. FIGHT IN THE SPIRIT FOR HEALING:
Matthew 17:19–21 [Unusual, stubborn sicknesses require extra faith and prayer and fasting]
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life
A. Sing and praise:
(See also Psalm 34:1; 51:15; 66:17; 77:2,10–11; 109:30.)
B. Quote Scripture:
Matthew 4:3–10 He answered and said, “It is written…”
Ephesians 6:17 Take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
9. REASONS WHY GOD ALLOWS AFFLICTIONS AND ILLNESSES:
A. To keep us righteous and close to Him:
Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous
Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted
2 Corinthians 12:7 Lest I should be exalted … given a thorn in the flesh
Hebrews 12:6,11 Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten
B. To glorify God when He heals:
Matthew 15:31 The multitude wondered … and they glorified God
John 9:1–3 [The blind man’s healing was to glorify God]
Acts 9:36–42 It was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed
C. Sickness is often caused by sin:
Psalm 38:2–5 My wounds stink and are corrupt … because of my sin … because of my foolishness
Psalm 107:17 Fools, because of their … iniquities, are afflicted
Psalm 119:67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray: but now
Proverbs 26:2 The curse causeless shall not come
(See also Numbers 12:1–15; 1 Samuel 5:1–12; 25:2–11,37–38; 2 Chronicles 21:9–19; 26:16–21; Acts 12:21–23.)
D. Some sickness is an attack of the Devil:
Matthew 9:32–33 When the devil was cast out, the dumb spake
Mark 9:17–20,25 [Jesus rebuked an unclean spirit, healing a child]
Luke 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 and 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
Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chasteneth and teachest
2 Corinthians 4:17 [Our temporary afflictions teach us eternal lessons]
F. Emotional or physiological causes:
Psalm 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, bindeth their wounds
Proverbs 11:17 He that is cruel troubleth his own flesh
Proverbs 14:30 Envy [is] the rottenness of the bones
Proverbs 15:13 By sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken
Proverbs 17:22 A broken spirit drieth the bones
Proverbs 18:14 A wounded spirit who can bear?
G. God will show you the reason if you ask Him:
1 Samuel 6:3 Then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you
Job 36:9–11 Then he sheweth them their … transgressions
Philippians 3:15 God shall reveal even this unto you 161 healing
H. How to help from getting sick:
Exodus 15:26 If thou wilt diligently hearken … I will put none of these diseases upon thee
Psalm 91:9–10 Because thou hast made the Lord thy … habitation
Proverbs 4:20,22 Attend to my words … they are health to [your] flesh
I. Physical reasons for sickness:
Exodus 8:24 The land was corrupted by the swarm of flies
Proverbs 23:3 Be not desirous of dainties: they are deceitful meat
Proverbs 23:29–35 [Eating unclean meats, seafood, etc.]
Proverbs 25:16,27 [Overindulgence in sweets:] Not good to eat much honey
Mark 7:3–4 [Lack of cleanliness: Jews washed often, lived long]
Romans 1:24–27 [Unclean or perverted sex]
Philippians 2:27,30 [Overdoing physically:] Sick … not regarding his life
10. POINTS TO REMEMBER AFTER PRAYER:
A. Reasons why we’re sometimes not healed:
Isaiah 59:1–2 The Lord’s hand is not shortened, but your sins have separated you
Hosea 5:15 I will return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence
2 Corinthians 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]
Hebrews 10:36 After ye have done the will of God ye [shall] receive the promise
James 1:3 The trying of your faith worketh patience
1 Peter 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
Psalm 107:2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so
Mark 5:19 Go home to thy friends and 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 … doth this man stand here before you whole
(See also Psalm 22:22,25; 35:18; 107:31–32.)
C. Obey God once healed, or your sickness may return:
John 5:14 Thou art made whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing
Psalm 85:8 But let them not turn again to folly
11. MIRACULOUS OR NATURAL HEALING?
A. Doctors don’t always have the answers:
2 Chronicles 16:12–13 Asa was diseased in his feet … he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians. And Asa died
Psalm 118:8 Better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man
Jeremiah 46:11 In vain shalt thou use many medicines … not be cured
Mark 5:25–26 Suffered many things of many physicians … grew worse
(See also Hosea 5:13.)
B. Doctors and medicines can help:
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine
Luke 10:34 He bound up his wounds … pouring in oil and wine
C. God ordained natural remedies:
2 Kings 20:1–7 Take a lump of figs … lay it on the boil (See also Isaiah 38:21.)
Jeremiah 51:8 Take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed
Ezekiel 47:12 And the leaf thereof [shall be] for medicine
1 Timothy 5:23 Use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and … infirmities
D. Eat wholesome, nourishing food:
Psalm 103:5 [God] saftisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s
12. NO SICKNESS IN HEAVEN:
1 Corinthians 15:42–43 So is the resurrection … It is sown in corruption, raised in incorruption: sown in weakness … raised in power
(See also Isaiah 33:24; Revelation 21:4.)