The GOSPEL is GOOD NEWS, now and forever! Jesus forgives our sins AND He heals our bodies – both are a vital part of the gospel message!
There’s bad news everywhere in the world these days. What the world needs is the good news about Jesus! That’s what transforms the world, and changes it into a better place to live.
HEALING TESTIMONY
I’ll never forget a life-impacting, outstanding event in my youth. I was at a camp as a teenager, and there was a young man attending who had been in an accident. One of his legs was shorter than the other.
The minister called him forward and prayed for him. We all excitedly gathered around, wide-eyed, to see what would happen. The minister commanded the leg to grow out in Jesus name!
Right before our the leg grew out to the same length as the other one. It moved very visibly! One of the legs may have been around 3/4 of an inch shorter than the other one, as I recall. We were totally amazed to see the power of God on display in such an unmistakable way! It really strengthened our faith!
IS HEALING FOR TODAY?
The exciting answer is ABSOLUTELY! Yes it is! It’s part of the gospel message!
Recently I was listening to a message on youtube by a very influential minister. Recently he left his thriving church in the States, and went to Asia as a missionary. He hadn’t personally grown up with the teaching that healing is for today. However, he was giving exciting testimonies of miraculous healing while praying for people in Asia. PTL!
Whether people want to believe it or not, it is still the truth – God is a God of miraculous healings today, as always! “He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! “(Hebrews 13:8)
“JEHOVAH-RAPHA” – Exodus 15:26
God says, “I am the God that heals you!” – – I am the Lord, the Great Physician, the Healer”! Jehovah-Rapha is one of the wonderful, redemptive names of God.
There were no doubt millions of people in the wilderness, when the Israelites were on their way to the promised land. God proved his healing, preserving power to them as seen in Ps 105: 37 “… and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.“
This word of promise – “I am the God that heals you” will endure forever. The Word of God is what God is: eternal, unchanging, & living.”
GOD IS A GOD OF MIRACLES
If God just worked miracles in the past but will not do the same today, it would mean that He is just a God who “was” but not a God who “is” But the Bible says that He IS the great “I AM” – “I AM the Lord that heals you.” He will be saying exactly the same thing tomorrow, because He will still be the great “I AM”. There is NO “MAYBE”; He heals ALL who come to Him believing His promise.
HAVE FAITH
Jesus said, “Have FAITH IN GOD”! (Mark 11:2)
Often Jesus would say, “According to your faith be it unto you!” (Matt. 9:29)
So let’s ask in faith, without wavering (James 1:6).
more healing testimonies
I’m thankful for a number of healings I have personally experienced, as well as witnessed in others, and give the Lord praise!
BACK HEALED
Recently some friends in Australia were telling us a miraculous healing testimony about one of their friends. He had a severe back injury, and couldn’t even stand to walk because of the pain, and had to crawl on the floor. They visited him and prayed for him. The Lord touched him and immediately he was healed. Their friend walked with them to their vehicle as they left his house.
He was still talking about his healing weeks later, saying that they healed him. They assured them that it was Jesus who healed him, not them. Before their friend had not been open to receiving the Lord, but after his healing wanted to pray with them for salvation. PTL!
HEART PROBLEMS
A number of years ago, one of the men in our congregation was having some heart problems. After we prayed, he experienced the Lord’s healing touch, and is still talking about it.
HEALED AND RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL
A few years back the father of one of the members in our congregation was in the hospital. He was very ill. He was thinking it might be the end of his life. When one of our pastors visited, and prayed with him, he promised that if the Lord will heal him, he would continue to serve Him. The Lord raised him up and restored health to him. After getting out of the hospital he was baptized, and still continues to attend services and serve the Lord.
I PETER 2:24
…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes YOU WERE HEALED.
HEALED FROM TUBERCULOSIS
I read of a lady in New York, U.S.A who had been bedridden with tuberculosis for several months.
As she meditated on I Peter 2:24, and thought about Jesus bearing her sins in his own body on the tree, she wept with gratitude for the salvation he had provided. “He had borne her sins”! She was confident that because of that, she was ready to die.
Then she read further… “by whose stripes you were healed.” She re-read the verse and noticed that Jesus had borne her sins – he had already done it. It was past. It was over. She was saved. She knew it. It was very real to her. Nothing could make her doubt it!
What about those other words in the same verse? “by whose stripes you were healed”? Could it be true? It must be… It’s the Word of God!
In her weakened voice she called out to her mother – “Did you know that God said in His Word that I WAS HEALED?”
Tears of joy began flowing down her cheeks. Listen to this, the Bible says – “By whose stripes you were healed.” That must mean ME. … It has already been done. I’m healed! I’m healed! Get my clothes. Bring them here. I’m healed. This is wonderful!!
The mother tried to calm her down and keep her in bed, and avoided bringing her clothes to her – but she could not control her daughter’s joy.
Didn’t you teach us to believe all of the Word of God? … to believe EVERY WORD of the Bible?
The one-time victim of tuberculosis arose by herself, put on her clothes, left her bedroom, went shouting through the house, and was completely HEALED! In less than three weeks, she was normal in weight and was completely restored!
LET’S BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD
ILLUSTRATION
Let’s consider a man being bound and cast into prison.What if he were to make an appeal for pardon, and the jailer were to come and present the paper showing that a pardon had been granted.
He would no doubt FEEL grateful toward those who had granted him pardon, but was still be in prison.
The jailer reads the pardon, takes off his handcuffs and chains, unlocks the prison doors, throws them open, and says, “You are free: go your way in peace.”
But the man says: “I know the pardon says I am free, and I believe every word of it, but I am in prison.”
“The doors are open. Walk out!” says the jailer.
“I know that the doors are open, and I know I would be free if I were out; but I am not out.
“Well, walk out,” persists the jailer. “Don’t you believe that what the pardon says is true?”
“Yes, I believe every word of it, but it seems as if I never will get out of here.”
A pardon would be of benefit to such a man. By his own choice, he remains in prison instead of acting upon the authority of his pardon.
The Gospel of healing for the body doesn’t benefit those who will not act upon it.
The Scripture “I am the Lord that heals you” is of little or no value to those who do not accept the promise of God and act upon it. We must act upon our faith. “Believe” is a verb – it is an “action” word.
HEBREWS 11:1 – TRUE FAITH
“…with His stripes you were healed” does not benefit much for those who refuse to believe that all of their sicknesses were put away at Calvary. Those who refuse to believe the Word of God because of what they SEE or FEEL, forgetting that the very nature of FAITH is the “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of THINGS NOT SEEN” (HEB. 11:1)
LET’S BELIEVE REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTANCES
Signs follow those that believe – (Mark 16:18 – … they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover)
God sent His Word and (it) healed them. (Ps. 107:20)
The Gospel is the power of God to everyone that believes (Rom. 1:16). The gospel is the power of God, when believed.
When believed and acted upon, any promise of God is transformed into the power of God.
Every promise of God is indwelt by the power of God equal to produce what it promises, when it is believed and acted upon.
God’s promises are life unto those that find them, and HEALTH TO ALL THEIR FLESH (Prov. 4:22)
GOD CANNOT AND WILL NOT LIE
The Lord promises to heal us! Can He lie? Is God honest or not?
Do you have confidence that God will keep His promise? That is faith!
NUMBERS 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: has he said, and SHALL HE NOT DO IT? Or has He spoken, and SHALL HE NOT MAKE IT GOOD?
HEBREWS 6:18 –
… it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to lie…
I KINGS 8:56 (Solomon )
There has not failed one word of all His good promise .
JOSHUA 21:45; 23:14 (JOSHUA)
NOT A WORD FAILED of any good thing which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass… you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. ALL have come to pass FOR YOU; not one word of them has failed.
PSALM 119:89
For ever, O Lord, your Word is settled in heaven
JEREMIAH 1:12
I will “HASTEN” my Word to perform it!
Hasten means “to watch over,” to protect,” “to stand behind” In all of His infinite power, God is “standing behind” His Word to perform it!
DON’T DOUBT GOD!
We can find no ground for doubting God! Don’t doubt God. If you must doubt something, doubt your doubts and fears, because they are unreliable, but never doubt God or His Word.
Satan is a liar. Jesus said so. He lies to men, telling them that God’s Word is not true. He denies God’s Word and promises men everything but is the one that breaks his promises!
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
I John 3:8 – For this purpose was the Son of God manifested – destroy the works of the devil.
The Gospel gives promise for our sins to be forgiven, AND for our bodies to be healed! It was provided through Jesus sacrifice on the cross!
Isaiah 53:4-5 – Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses) and carried our sorrows (pains); yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and BY HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED!
MATTHEW 8:16,17
“… and (He) healed ALL that were sick: that it might be FULFILLED WHICH WAS SPOKEN BY ISAIAH THE PROPHET saying HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES and BORE OUR SICKNESSES – Matthew 8:16,17
He WILL keep His promises!
“SOZO”
We must always see a full 2-fold deliverance in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Greek word “SOZO” (the “word “saved” in many places in the Bible) when properly translated carries the meaning of “PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALING”. It is the same word Jesus used when He said to the leper: “Your faith has made you whole”. It is the same word used in Luke 8:36 – “He that was possessed of the devils was HEALED”.
The “SAVED” in Romans 10:9… you shall be SAVED is the same Greek word used by Mark when he said, … as many (SICK PEOPLE) AS TOUCHED HIM WERE ‘made whole”. Both words “saved” and “made whole, were translated from the Greek word, “SOZO”.
Each of the words found in the following Scriptures are translated from the same Greek word “SOZO”: “HEALED” – Mark 5:23; “SAVED – Mark 16:16; “HEALED” – Luke 8:36; “SAVED” – Acts 2:21; “HEALED” – Acts 14:9; “SAVED” – Eph. 2:8; “SAVED” – Acts 2:21; “SAVED” – Luke 18:42; “SAVE” – James 5:15; ‘MADE WHOLE” – “Mark 5:34; “BE WHOLE” – Mark 5:28; “WHOLE” – Luke 17:19; “WHOLE” – ACTS 4:9; “SAVED” – Acts 4:12; “MADE WHOLE” – Mark 6:56
The word SALVATION is an all-inclusive word which gathers unto itself the meaning of full deliverance, complete safety, preservation, and soundness – spiritually, mentally, and physically.
What a miracle – SALVATION from SIN and from SICKNESS!
JOHN G. LAKE
John G Lake was a great missionary evangelist was used mightily in the healing of thousands.
He said, “This needs to be removed from the minds of God’s people – the idea that divine healing is something disassociated or separate from Christ’s salvation — IT IS NOT! Healing is simply the salvation of Jesus Christ having its divine action in a man’s body, the same as it had its divine action in a man’s soul”
The will of God is to extricate the body, soul, and spirit of man from sin and effects or penalty of sin, which are disease and death.
The fear of sickness need never be tolerated by the redeemed, re-created, and delivered child of Jehovah-Rapha (the Lord, the great PHYSICIAN or HEALER)
IT IS ALWAYS HIS WILL TO HEAL those who will obey Him, believe Him, and act boldly on His Word of promise.
JESUS THE GREAT PHYSICIAN
JESUS REFERS TO HIMSELF AS A PHYSICIAN, AND A PROPHET.
Luke 4:22-24 He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum do also here in Your country.’ 24 Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country.
Mark 2:17 – When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
WOMAN HEALED
Mark 5:25-27 A certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well…29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that SHE WAS HEALED of the affliction…. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and BE HEALED of your affliction.”
HEALING IS PART OF JESUS MINISTRY TODAY
Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever
Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me
to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me TO HEAL the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Luke 5:17 – …the power of the Lord was present TO HEAL them.
Acts 10:38 – …how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and HEALING ALL who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Romans 8:11 – But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
HEALING COMES THROUGH THE NAME OF JESUS
SMITH WIGGLESWORTH – Tells of ministering to man dying of tuberculosis. While standing beside the bed, they did nothing but repeat the name of Jesus over and over. The glory of God began to fill the room; healing flowed into that dying man’s body; he arose, perfectly whole!
Acts 3:6,15 – … (Lame man healed) IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth rise up and walk… immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God… HIS NAME THROUGH FAITH IN HIS NAME has made this man strong… the faith which is by him has given him this perfect soundness…
Acts 4:10,12 – …BY THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth does this man stand here before you whole… Neither is there SALVATION in any other; for there is no other name under given among men whereby we must be SAVED.
John 16:33 – … Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father IN MY NAME He will give you.
Philippians 2:0-11 – God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME 10 that AT THE NAME OF JESUS every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
HEALING SIGNS FOLLOW BELIEVERS
Mark 16:17,18 …these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will lay hands on the sick, and THEY WILL RECOVER.
MAN WHO FELL OFF OF ROOF
Signs following
A number of years ago I after I ministered at a church, I was taken to the home of one of the men in their congregation who had fallen off of the roof of their house, and was very ill. He was feverish, and unable to attend the service. We prayed for his healing. There was no obvious manifestation of healing at the time. However, they reported to me later that within 3 days he was ok and working in his field again… PTL!
IT IS GOD’S WILL TO HEAL
All that God has given us is given through Christ Jesus our Lord, for whosoever will – – whosoever will meet the conditions and believe the Word. God excepts no one. He is no respecter of persons. His promises are to all.
James 5:14 – Is ANY (not some) 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: 15 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.
Matthew 7:7 – Ask, and it shall be given YOU. (JESUS)
John 14:14 – If YOU shall ask ANYTHING in my name, I will do it! (JESUS)
Mark 11:24 – What things so-ever YOU desire, when YOU pray, believe that YOU receive them, and YOU shall have them. (JESUS)
Healing is promised through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11)
These Scriptures, along with many more promises in the Word of God clearly make known God’s will to heal whosoever comes to Him in faith. This is His will. He has willed us healing, health, and strength in Christ. Will we obey Him, in taking His way, that HIs will may be done in us and that we may glorify God in our bodies?
Our Father has promised us healing, and we have a right to expect Him to keep His promise!
Where God has revealed His will on a subject, by promising to do that thing, we need not be in ignorance of it or in doubt concerning it.
God’s Word reveals healing to be His will, just as salvation is His will, if we fulfill the conditions and believe His promise. The faith that appropriates God’s promise rests on the knowledge of His will. His known will is the basis of our faith.
We must KNOW the will of God, then we may take by faith whatever He has promised in His Word, believing that when we ask we receive.
I John 5:14-15 – Now this is the CONFIDENCE that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to HIS WILL He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we HAVE the petitions that we have asked of Him.
ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH JESUS
Mark 9:23 – Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE to him who believes.”
Mark 10:27 – But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE”
Mark 11:22-24 – 2 So Jesus answered and said to them, “HAVE FAITH IN GOD. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
Mark 14:36 – And He (Jesus) said, “Abba, Father, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE for You…
HEALING IS AVAILABLE TO ALL
2 Peter 3:9 – The Lord is… not willing that ANY should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Acts 10:38 – God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and HEALING ALL who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
John 3:14-16 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that WHOEVER believes in Him should NOT PERISH but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER believes in Him should NOT PERISH but have everlasting life.
DIVINE HEALING COMES FROM GOD
Psalm 107:2 – He sent His Word, and (it) healed them, and delivered them from their destructions…
2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray… I will… HEAL their land.
Jeremiah 30:17 – I WILL RESTORE HEALTH to you,I WILL HEAL you of your wounds.
Hosea 6:1 – … come let us return to the Lord — HE WILL HEAL us.
Psalm 103:3 – …who forgives all our iniquities AND heals ALL our diseases.
Malachi 4:2 – …The Son of Righteousness shall rise with HEALING in His wings.
THE LAYING ON OF HANDS
Mark 16:18 – they shall lay hands on the sick, and they (the sick) shall recover
These signs shall follow them that believe… they shall “get well” after the believer has laid hands on them.
Any believer can lay hands on the sick, and the promise is: they SHALL recover. A believer is more than one who merely agrees that the Word is true. A believer always ACTS on the Word of God.
God never tells us to do something that we cannot do.
Obtaining the fulfillment of His promise is more a matter obedience than of faith. By doing what God tells US to do, then expecting God to do what He tells us HE will do – THAT IS FAITH!
ILLUSTRATIONS OF ACTIVE FAITH, AND WHAT GOD DID
Noah built the ark – GOD flooded the earth.
Moses stretched out the rod – GOD parted the waters.
Joshua marched around the Jericho walls – GOD tore them down
Elijah smote the waters – GOD parted them.
Elisha threw the stick in the river – GOD made the iron swim.
Naaman dipped sever times – GOD healed his leprosy.
Jesus said it is the believer who should lay hands on the sick. It is GOD Who will cause them to recover.
James said that the elders should anoint ANY SICK with oil, and pray over them the PRAYER OF FAITH. He says it is the Lord Who shall raise up the sick.
God says, “You do a small thing – I’ll do a large thing. You do something that only a man can do – I’ll do something that only I, God, can do. Do what God tells YOU to do, then expect God to do what He said He would do. That is FAITH!
Everywhere believers lay their hands on the sick in faith, the sick recover. We should expect nothing less than this.
Mark 5:23-41- (Healing of Jairus daughter)
Lu 13:11-13 (woman healed of infirmity when Jesus laid his hands on her)
Acts 28:8 – (father of Publius healed when Paul laid his hands on him)
Sometimes it is accompanied by manifestations, sometimes not. It makes no difference whether or not there is feelings. The Word of God is superior to our feelings. It is written, They shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. That Word is always true. Whether feeling comes or not, healing always comes. Don’t expect feeling – expect healing. Healing is always better than feeling.
When the sick learn to base their faith on the Word of God exclusively, they have won the victory.
Faith has nothing to do with anything but the Word of God. Don’t nullify healing by believing in what you feel more than in God’s Word of promise. Train yourself to believe God’s Word. Faith in the Word wins!
Faith is never feeling – feeling is never faith. Faith has nothing to do with feeling. Feeling has nothing to do with faith. Faith constantly ascribes everything to thus says the Word of God, irrespective of pains, symptoms, or feelings. Say exactly what the Word says! That’s the secret!
Faith disregards everything but God’s Word. When the hands of believers are laid upon you, you will recover, if you will only believe it. Stand by the Word of God, and God will stand by you.
OUR PART – GOD’S PART
2 Corinthians 6:1 … we are WORKERS TOGETHER WITH HIM!
GOD WANTS US TO BE HEALTHY – HEALING IS HIS WILL!
HEALING IS FOR ALL AND SHOULD BE PREACHED TO ALL – It is a vital part of the gospel message!
