~ A place to find answers to gnawing spiritual questions ~
Question: Can we ask for healing and expect our prayers to be answered? Some teachings tell us to ask. Others tell us that the healing is our Salvation and we will carry this burden in life as Paul did. I wonder which teaching is right. Are Christians supposed to prosper - or are we to suffer with our difficulties? Thank you. Of course I want to ask for healing - and know it can happen - but am I being misled?Answer: I appreciate your interest in the matter of divine healing. To begin with, God is a Healer and all healing comes from Him!
I have an excellent resource that I want to write out for you. I think that it will answer most if not all of your questions.
REVELATION CONCERNING GOD'S WILL. God's will concerning healing is revealed in four main ways in the Bible:
[1] God's own pronouncement.
In Exodus 15:26, God promised health and healing for His people if they remained faithful to His covenant and commandments.
[2] Jesus' Ministry.
Jesus, as the Incarnate Son of God, was and is the exact representation of God's nature and character (Hebrews 1:3). In His earthly ministry, Jesus revealed God's will in action (John 6:38; 14:10), proving that it is in His heart, nature and purpose to heal all who are sick and oppressed of the devil.
[3] The Provision of Christ's atonement (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; 1 Peter 2:24).
Jesus' atoning death was complete and adequate for redeeming the whole man, spirit, soul and body. As sin and sickness have become the twin giants designed by Satan to destroy us, so forgiveness and healing are God's twin Giants of redemption to make us whole (Psalm 103:3; James 5:14-16). [It should be clarified that the soul's healing is of much greater worth than that of the body. "What would it profit a man if he gained the whole world and lost His soul!"]
[4] The Ongoing ministry of the church.
Jesus commissioned the church [twelve disciples] to heal the sick AS a part of the proclamation of the gospel [kingdom of God] (Luke 9:1-2,6; 10:1-19; Acts 3:1-10; 4:30; 19:11-12). Jesus hasn't changed and neither has His design for the church. There were the gifts of healing given to the church (1 Corinthians 12:9), and the church is still in existence!
I must add that there are times when God chooses not to heal and takes His beloved saint home, for example, read 2 Kings 13:14. This we must not question God about, but rather trust in His design and plan for our lives. This would obviously mean that not all sickness is a direct result of one's personal sin.
More reading on the subject can be found in the book entitled: HEALING: Three Great Classics on Divine Healing [Christian Publications, Camp Hill PA].
This is a trilogy of the books on healing by Andrew Murray, A.J. Gordon, and A.B. Simpson
I hope that this has been helpful and that you will be granted that healing touch by our compassionate God!
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This page was last updated January 7, 2009.
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