NATIONAL YOUTH MINISTRIES p: e: w:

Transcription

1 You are hungry for more of god. thanks to christ s sacrifice, healing is available for you. not only will god heal your heart, he will also heal your body. this booklet explains healing through inspirational personal testimonies and beautiful biblical truths. GOSPEL PUBLISHING HOUSE SPRINGFIELD, MO NATIONAL YOUTH MINISTRIES p: e: youth@ag.org w:

2 GOSPEL PUBLISHING HOUSE SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

3 Hungry? Spiritual Food for Today s Student A Study in the Doctrine of Healing 2004 by Gospel Publishing House 1445 N. Boonville Ave. Springfield, MO All rights reserved. Printed in United States of America. All Scripture quotations, unless indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Rod Whitlock, author Rick Lorimer, ministry development director Sharla Moody, Jill Cook, Andrea Reinhardt, Shoji McGhee, Tom Young, editors David Raley, Zenas Bicket, Bible and doctrine editors Jeff Fulton, designer 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

4 Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? The fact that you are reading this booklet indicates your hunger to grow in your understanding of healing. We are called to be careful students of Scriptures. As such, we should do all we can to prepare ourselves as vessels who bring life and healing to a lost and hurting world. This booklet is a tool to help you understand healing. Healing comes through Christ and His sacrifice for us on the cross. Do not allow this to become a substitute for your own in-depth study of the Scripture. There simply is no substitute for what God speaks through His Word and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In our desire to walk as disciples of Christ, we must realize we are called to pray for the sick. I must admit my own lack of faith, ignorance on the subject, and fear of failure has kept me at arm slength from praying for the sick. However in recent years, the Lord has brought many people my way who need healing. He does this for a reason. As Christians, we can no longer afford to remain complacent. Too many people suffer with disease and bondage. Daily we come in contact with people who hurt. Is there hope? Yes, if the Church will fully embrace the healing message we were commanded to proclaim. We are to preach the gospel, heal the sick, and deliver the oppressed. It s simple to understand this commandment in our heads, but it s another matter to grasp with our hearts and then do with our hands. It s like algebra easy when the teacher explains it in class, but something different when we are alone with the problem. Do you remember the story about the man who went to his neighbor at midnight for bread? (See Luke 11:5 10.) An unexpected friend came to the house and the man needed bread to feed this guest. For years we looked at this passage as a reason to come to God in order to have our needs met, even at the most inconvenient times by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

5 Don t misunderstand what happened. The man did not come for himself, but for another. He needed and wanted the bread to give it away! Perhaps you need bread (healing) for yourself. Before you can give something away, it must first become real to you. Your Father wants to demonstrate that the bread you receive must also be given away to others. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8). Freely you received healing, deliverance, and life. Now freely give! Are you hungry? Let s look at the ministry of healing. Why are people sick? Sickness comes primarily from three sources: 1. Satan. He schemes to kill, steal, and destroy. (See John 10:10.) He is out to destroy life, and he often uses sickness to accomplish his objectives. 2. Sinful choices. Scripture reveals that sinful choices can bring sickness and disease upon us. We must understand that sin carries consequences, and at times, these consequences are disease. (See James 5:16.) 3. Fallen world. We live in a fallen world filled with virus, pollution, chemicals in our food and water, and exposure to so much more. God never intended Earth to be this way, but because of sin, our world is fallen that is until God creates a new heaven and new earth! (See Revelation 21:1.) How should we respond to all this? First, realize there is little we can do about our fallen world. Satan is not going to change his tactics either; we are at war with him. As he brings disease and destruction, we are called to bring healing and freedom. However, we are able to make choices regarding whether or not we sin. Right choices can bring health, while wrong choices can make 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

6 us susceptible to illness. Notice what is said in the following verses. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:14 17). The elders are to anoint the individual with oil and pray for him or her. The confession of sin followed by prayer brings healing. We should not mistake the time it takes for the process of healing as a lack of healing. Healing isn t always instantaneous; it may come over a period of time. The process of healing (i.e., calling on the elders, anointing with oil, confessing sin, and praying) is evident in the above passage. Read John 5:4 14. Jesus came to a man who was crippled for thirtyeight years. Once Jesus healed him, He made an interesting statement in verse fourteen. Jesus found him at the temple and said, See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you. Have sins of bitterness, a critical spirit, anger, hatred, idolatry, jealousy, immorality, unforgiveness, pride, doubt, or self-hatred stood in the way of the healing God wants to do in your life? A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones (Proverbs 14:30). Clearly it is important to fight against sin and have peace in our hearts in order to avoid potential health issues. God never intended to establish rules of do this and don t do that. Looking back at His original plan in the Garden, He established one rule stay away from the tree in the center. When sin entered through the violation of that one rule, God established many rules. The enemy would 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

7 like us to believe God loves to make up rules in order to make our lives miserable. This is a lie! God established rules to protect us. Some rules are for our physical protection. Avoiding a life of jealousy can sometimes keep us from sickness or disease in our bones. (See Proverbs 14:30.) Again, not everyone with arthritis or another disease of the bones is sick because of sinful choices. As we pray for people, we should do all we can to help the individual deal with spiritual issues as much as physical ones. Sickness and Healing in the Old Testament The Old Testament accounts of healing do not compare with the numerous healings recorded in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, sickness was often used as a means of judgment for sin, and health was a reward for obedience. In John 9:2, the disciples assumed a man s blindness was a consequence of a sinful lifestyle. On the other hand, when an individual, by his or her own choice, makes a decision to live a sinful lifestyle, he or she should not be surprised to become sick or develop a disease. We see this in sexually-transmitted diseases. AIDS is not a judgment of God, but a consequence of someone choosing to live a life outside of God s will. It might be said the best prescription you have against sickness and oppression is your obedience to Christ. Disobedience and sin open us up to sickness and death. Remember, the enemy seeks our spiritual death, and he sometimes tries to use infirmity and opression to accomplish his evil design. To help us understand this a little more, let s look at some examples from the Old Testament and then examples from Jesus ministry and the Book of Acts. But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in. They confronted him and 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

8 said, It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God. Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead (2 Chronicles 26:16 19). Uzziah became diseased with leprosy as a result of his pride, unfaithfulness, anger, and rebellion. In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord s wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:24 26). There are many examples of how sin affected the people and led to sickness and disease in the Bible. The enemy notices our disobedience and looks for ways to attack us. (See 1 Peter 5:8.) Since Satan s kingdom is a kingdom of sin and sickness, we become subjects of it when we turn away from God. When we return to God in repentance, we are cleansed and can be healed. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones (Proverbs 3:7,8). The Revelation of Jehovah Rapha, the God who Heals! F.F Bosworth wrote the following passage in Christ the Healer, To me, another unanswerable argument that healing is in the atonement is to be found in the seven redemptive names of Jehovah. In other words, one of the seven redemptive names God reveals in the Scripture is, I Am the Lord who heals (Jehovah Rapha) by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

9 The first place in Scriptures God reveals himself as our Healer is in Exodus. The passage states, There the Lord made a decree and a law for them, and there he tested them. He said, If you listen carefully to the voice of 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 15:25,26). In the middle of Israel s obedience, God promised He would not bring any of the diseases that were brought on the Egyptians. By looking to the Cross, we find the answer to our situation. He is our Healer, Jehovah Rapha. The Book of Isaiah discusses the healing powers of the Cross. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:4,5). Isaiah prophesies of Jesus birth and His mission. Part of His purpose was to bring our healing. Because of Jesus wounds upon the cross, we are healed. Jesus took our sicknesses, as well as our sin. Jesus Ministry to the Sick There are many Scriptures found in the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that point to the healing ministry of Jesus. You may wish to read through the Gospels and look specifically for each time Jesus healed someone. Write notes in the margins of your Bible concerning healing. For our purposes, we will examine at least one example from each of the Gospels. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

10 having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them (Matthew 4:23,24). People who needed healing were brought to Jesus. Note that the demon-possessed were included in those whom Jesus healed. It appears the people were healed from physical infirmities, as well as from possession by evil spirits. The devil is an ally of sickness. When Jesus came into Peter s house, he saw Peter s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick (Matthew 8:14 16). Jesus drove out the demons and healed those who were sick. It appears that many who were possessed by demons were also sick and in need of physical healing. But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region. While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel (Matthew 9:31 33). There is an interesting aspect to this healing. The demon was first driven out, and then the man began to speak. Healing came after deliverance. Driving out a demon to bring healing was something new for the people. For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him (Mark 3:10). They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went into villages, towns or countryside they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed (Mark 6:55,56) by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

11 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. A man in the crowd called out, Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not. O unbelieving and perverse generation, Jesus replied, how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here. Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father (Luke 9:37 42). The boy was first delivered, then healed. Because of the demon, the boy suffered with sickness. Again, not every sickness or disease is caused by a demon. Many times, we become sick due to the choices we make. For example, continual overeating, purging, or binge eating often lead to diseases that could be overcome with healthy eating and exercise. Healing in the Book of Acts Healing continued even after Jesus returned to heaven. The following Scriptures come from the Book of Acts. Jesus is now in heaven, and the disciples simply continued what Jesus started. Then Peter said, Silver or gold I do not have, but what I 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. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God (Acts 3:6 8). Once Peter prayed for the man, he extended his hand and helped the man up. We shouldn t be afraid to ask someone how he or she is feeling immediately after praying for him or her. To help us, He sent the Holy Spirit so we might be carriers of healing to our community. Great salvations, healings, deliverances, and miracles occurred as a normal part of the Early Church. Could it be we were never meant to minimize these ministries of the 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

12 My wife and I were walking down a hallway in our church when we ran into a girl we knew. During the conversation, she mentioned how she was experiencing severe back pain. My wife and I asked if we could pray for her. After praying, I asked her how she was doing. She said she felt much better but was still in pain, so we prayed again. Again I asked how she was doing. She said she felt great! I asked her to bend over, touch her toes, and do something that previously caused her pain. She did and had no pain! Church? We are often challenged to witness to the lost. I challenge you to pray for the sick. Share all of Christ. He is salvation, and He is also healing. Bring the saving, healing Jesus to all of those around you! As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed (Acts 5:15,16). When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city (Acts 8:6 8). There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. Aeneas, Peter said to him, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat. Immediately Aeneas got up (Acts 9:33,34). God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them (Acts 19:11,12.) 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

13 In Acts, handkerchiefs were even used in healing. We should be careful that we don t attempt to copy a form of healing just because it is in the Scripture or because someone else does it. Certainly, if the Holy Spirit speaks to us concerning praying for the sick in a certain manner, we should follow His voice. What we don t want to do is simply say that, because Paul used handkerchiefs to bring healing, we should also. God is much more creative. The method of healing is not necessarily the issue. The real issue is our motive: to see people healed. Who should pray for the sick? As believers we are called to pray for the sick. There are several reasons why this is important. First, the Lord instructs us and commands us to follow Him by praying for the sick. When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick (Luke 9:1,2). Praying for the sick also demonstrates God s compassion and mercy. I have prayed for many people in malls, restaurants, and coffee shops. Each time I pray for their healing, they are touched by the compassion of Christ. It s a beautiful way to express the love of a God who cares for His people. You become an instrument of His grace! Some time ago, I went through a Krispy Kreme drive-through. When I approached the window, I asked the girl how she was doing. She responded by saying she had a headache. I told her to get in the car and I would take her to church. (Just kidding!) I asked if I could pray and ask Jesus to heal her. She told me I could, so I told her to stick her head out the window. I stuck my head out of my car window, and I prayed for her. When I finished, I told her to thank Jesus when He healed her. I drove off with doughnuts in hand and mouth, thanking God for the opportunity to pray for her! 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

14 You don t have to be in church to pray for the sick. Sometimes we think we have to bring people to church for them to receive healing and salvation. We bring the people to Jesus, and since Christ lives in us, we can pray for people any place and any time. Healing can happen in church, too. An evangelist once shared with me a few of the healings she had witnessed as she prayed with people. One pastor was healed of a leg injury. He wore a brace for several years and was in chronic pain. One night, he felt God s power touch him. Later that evening, he took his brace off, began to walk up and down stairs, and has never put the brace on or had pain again. Another man was healed of chronic back pain. He was unable to sleep at night and remained heavily sedated just to make it through the day. He was baptized in the Holy Spirit and went to bed and slept for the first time in years. The next day he didn t need his pain medication. A woman with curled toes was also healed. The evangelist told me she laid hands on her and the woman felt the presence of God. She went home, took off her shoes, and her toes were straight! Would you pray for 100 people? Would you be willing to pray for others who are sick, regardless of the situation or location? You may pray and not see the results right away. Are you willing to pray for 100 people before deciding whether or not to continue praying for the sick? Don t give up praying just because you don t see immediate results. I took this challenge, and I have seen many people healed as a result of my perseverance. When I pray for an individual, I expect him or her to be healed. I am more surprised when he or she is not healed than when the person is healed. And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease (Matthew 10:1) by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

15 The power to heal and deliver was given to the twelve disciples. As you go, preach this message: The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:7,8). As we go, we are to: 1. Preach the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. 2. Heal the sick. 3. Raise the dead. 4. Cleanse those who have leprosy. 5. Drive out demons. In Luke 10, Jesus gives authority to the seventy disciples to heal the sick. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, The kingdom of God is near you (Luke 10:9). Later, Jesus gives us the Great Commission: Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:18 20). The disciples were commanded and commissioned to make disciples of all nations including all races and people groups. The disciples were told to teach everything Jesus taught them to do. As disciples, we are also commanded to obey everything that was passed on to the Twelve and to the Seventy. This includes preaching the message of the Kingdom, healing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

16 He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized 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. After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it (Mark 16:15 20). These signs will accompany those who believe: 1. Drive out demons. 2. Speak in new tongues. (See Acts 2:1 4 and read the Hungry? booklet, The Baptism in the Holy Spirit.) 3. Pick up snakes (i.e., power over the enemy). (See Luke 10:19; Acts 28:3,4.) 4. Drink deadly poison. (Ability to handle situations nonbelievers are unable to handle.) 5. Place hands on the sick, and they will get well. After Jesus went to heaven, the disciples went out and preached everywhere. We are commissioned to do everything the disciples were instructed to do. This passage does not say these signs will only accompany those who are called to full-time ministry. It is a call to each and every person who is a believer and follower of Christ. That includes you. First Corinthians 12:28 tells us God gives the gift of healing to some individuals. This does not imply only those with this gift should pray for the sick. Some are called to be evangelists, yet we are all called to evangelize. Some may have the gift of healing, but we are all called to pray for the sick by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

17 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. If you love me, you will obey what I command (John 14:12 15). We will do greater things! Seem impossible? Take one look at Acts and you will see more miracles recorded in the ministry of Paul than you will find recorded in the Gospels in the ministry of Jesus. The disciples and Paul were not superior to Jesus, but His words came true. (See John 14:11 13.) Not only were His words true then, they remain true today! It s what you do for Christ that proves what you believe about Christ. Faith without action is dead. (See James 2:20.) Jesus model for healing shows He prayed for the sick after His baptism and anointing. This speaks of His obedience to and relationship with His Father. We also see He was moved by compassion for people and healed all those who were brought to Him. He always had the same motive for healing the sick, even though His methods changed from time to time. Finally, He trained His followers to continue His ministry of healing. FAITH FOR HEALING The Issue of Faith, Sovereignty, and Healing Certainly God is God. He can do anything He wants. Yet we must realize that at times God chooses to use His Church you and me. This is part of His sovereignty. There are certain things God chooses not to do until His people respond. Certainly God can heal anyone at any time, yet we are commanded to pray for the sick. We partner with God to do His work! Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He healed yesterday, He can heal today, and He will heal tomorrow! (See Hebrews 13:8.) 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

18 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Hebrews 11:6). We are called to live a life of faith. Faith in our Lord Jesus is necessary in order to please God. At times God understands our lack of faith and chooses to honor our requests even when we lack faith. In the following Scriptures, different individuals involved in healing had the faith for the healing to take place. A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven (Mark 2:1 5). We are not sure whether or not the paralytic had faith. However, it appears the men who carried the paralytic did. Then one of the synagogue rulers named Jairus came there. Seeing Jesus, he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live (Mark 5:22,23). The father had faith for his daughter. The little girl may not have even been aware of her father s request. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed. Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, Who touched my clothes? You see the people crowding against you, his disciples answered, and yet you can ask, 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

19 Who touched me? But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering (Mark 5:25 34). In this case, the woman s faith was involved in the healing. Jesus healed her physical body but also brought healing to her emotions. In Luke 7:1 10, the servant was sick, and the centurion asked Jesus to come heal his servant. The Centurion was the one with great faith even through the healing wasn t for him. In 1999, Teisa Miller, the director of Student Affairs at New Orleans School of Urban Missions, was diagnosed with a deadly form of cancer. The day she received the news, she locked herself in her bedroom and called out to God. Jesus healed her that night. She still had surgery and other treatments, but she knew God had healed her. In 2002, she noticed changes in her body and found a strange lump under her left arm. X-rays confirmed a mass located in her left lymph node seemed to be growing. The blood work and tests confirmed her body was fighting the sickness. After the first doctor s report, she asked the students at the school to pray for her. They believed God for a complete healing without surgery or treatments. She returned to the doctor the next week, and after more blood work and tests, the doctor came and examined her again. He exclaimed, If it wasn t for the X-rays from your first visit, I would not have noticed anything. The mass has disbanded and is no longer as dense. This certainly is not acting like cancer. Teisa responded to the doctor, It is not acting like cancer; it is acting like Jesus! God allowed her to witness to the doctor and the lab technician in a wonderful way. God healed her again. He answered her prayers so specifically; today she does not face further treatments or surgery by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

20 In Luke 9:37 43, Jesus rebuked the crowd for their unbelief, yet delivered and healed a boy. Christ s compassion brought healing. Apparently no one present had faith for the healing. Although God is not pleased by lack of faith, His great mercy for the boy brought about his healing. They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them (Mark 6:12,13). I don t know about you, but at times I think healing would be easy if Jesus was with me like He was with the disciples. If you feel this way, re-read Acts 19:11,12. Jesus was not physically present when people were healed under Paul s ministry. Christ dwells in you. Where you walk, He walks. When you minister healing to another, He ministers as well. Does prayer work? I recently came across a study on the issue of healing. The article was Does prayer work? by Sara Davidson, in the Oprah magazine. Elisabeth Targ, a psychiatrist at the University of California, researched prayer and healing for AIDS patients. She found that forty percent of those patients who did not receive prayer died within six months. But not one patient who received prayer from unidentified strangers died! Eighty-six percent of Americans believe prayer heals people, and seventy-five percent of doctors believe prayer helps patients recover faster. Prayer is not only a good idea, but it is necessary. What if someone is not healed? In the Bible, there are a few instances when we come across people who are not healed. Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus (2 Timothy 4:20). How could Paul leave one of his friends sick? Didn t he pray for him? We can 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

21 assume that Paul had prayed for him, yet Trophimus is left sick. We should be careful when it comes to attempting to guess why someone does not receive healing. Only in eternity will we understand these matters. Even the apostle Paul suffered from a physical affliction and doesn t seem to ever have received healing while on earth. (See Galatians 4:13 16 and 2 Corinthians 12:7 10.) Sick or healthy, we are blessed with wholeness in Christ. No matter what condition we face or what illness we may have, we can know Christ is with us and will never leave us. In other words, we may never recover from disease (that is, until we reach heaven), but we can live a whole life in Christ. Jesus highly values the whole person. He cares not only for the physical but also for the emotional and spiritual. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, Do you want to get well? Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you (John 5:6). Remember the story of the woman with the issue of blood? (See Mark 5.) She approached Jesus to simply touch His garments. Immediately she was healed. Jesus turned to her and said, Go in peace (verse 34). In other words, Yes, you are healed. Now go with no more fear or doubt. My former pastor became a quadriplegic due to a horrific car accident a few years ago. Yet he continues to pastor a church of over 1,000 people. He is married and has two children. He continues to counsel, preach, perform marriages, and give hope to people every day, all from his wheelchair. There are some things he can no longer do, but this has not stopped him from fulfilling his call. One day he will walk. It may be here on earth, or it may not be until heaven. Either way, he is living out his call from God. Illness should never prevent us from living! 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

22 I m not sure why God hasn t healed this man of God. Perhaps we will only understand this in heaven. Until then, our focus should remain on the fact that we serve a loving God who genuinely cares for us. Sometimes accidents happen. Until physical healing comes, we can rejoice knowing service is not limited to what our bodies can do so much as to what our God can do through someone totally yielded to His purposes! What about death? One day we will die. (See Hebrews 9:27.) We cannot determine the time when God takes us. In the same way, use common sense. If you are sick, take your medicine. If your doctor has told you to stop eating fried foods to stay alive, put down the drumstick! Regardless, don t stop praying for your healing and the healing of others until you or they die. I have a friend who was on a mission trip to the Far East. He told me that Christians in the Far East think we Americans are missing it! Apparently the Christians with whom he worked pray for sick people until they are healed or dead. If they die, the people pray for them to be brought back to life. Many people have been raised from the dead. I desire this kind of faith! Is it okay to go to the doctor? Does going to the doctor mean you don t have faith? First of all, let s look at what we know about Jesus and healing. Scholars believe the writer of the New Testament Books Luke and Acts was Luke the physician. If Jesus outlawed doctors, He wouldn t have a doctor write two books of the Bible. In addition, there is no place in Scripture where medicine is forbidden. There is an interesting verse found in the New Testament. Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses (1 Timothy 5:23). We can conclude three facts from this verse. First, Paul (the author) had no problem suggesting additional treatment beyond prayer. Second, Timothy 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

23 (the recipient) was plagued with frequent illnesses that required some type of treatment. Third, Timothy s wife was a bad cook. All right, maybe we can t conclude the last one! You would think that Paul, a man who only had to touch a handkerchief in order to see people healed, would simply have to pray for Timothy to be healed. (See Acts 19:12.) It seems that Timothy was not healed and used some sort of medical treatment for his condition. In 2 Kings 20:7, Isaiah administered natural medicine in order to help heal Hezekiah. In the days of Isaiah, figs were thought to have healing properties. Isaiah had no problem with using medicine to help Hezekiah recover from his illness. My best advice is to pray first and believe for healing. If healing doesn t come, depending upon the sickness, seek medical attention. The fact that we have doctors shouldn t prevent us from first turning to the Lord for His gift of healing. Keys to Praying for the Sick God can use us to pray for the sick, but we must be vessels who continually yield to God and His purposes. We are called to a Great Commission, and we should do all we can and take His call seriously. What if God called you to pray for a friend in your school lunchroom? At that point, you don t have time to tell God to give you a couple of hours or days to read about healing in your Bible or to pray and fast. We should do our best to be in a place of readiness. We have no idea when God may call our number and ask us to get in the game. As God gives you opportunities to pray for people, take them. He may start small. Perhaps your mom has a headache. Take her by the hand and pray for her. Let s say you re out with your friends at the mall, and one person has to go home because he is not feeling well by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

24 Ask your friends to gather around him and pray. As God sees your faith in action, He will give you additional opportunities to pray for people. Matthew 25:23 tells us when God knows we re faithful in a few things, He is glad to give us more. Ask the Lord to bring people your way who need healing and then offer to pray for them. When God brings you the opportunities to pray for others healings, consider the following tips. 1. Ask the individual what the problem is. It may be as simple as a cut or as life-threatening as cancer. Listen as you ask God for compassion for the individual. Although you might feel awkward asking someone if you can pray for him or her, follow God s guidance in the situation and move in His will. Testimony: One Sunday in church, my wife felt impressed to approach a student and ask him if she could pray for him. (He had back pain for some time.) He agreed and she prayed, but nothing happened. By the end of the service, the student approached my wife to tell her God had healed him during the service! If she had not stepped out and asked, he may not have been healed at that time. 2. Ask the Holy Spirit to be present and for His wisdom in the situation. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the cause of this condition. Is it Satan, sinful choices, or a fallen world? Some causes will be easier to discern than others. Once you understand from where the sickness is coming, it will help you pray. 3. Ask the Holy Spirit what kind of prayer to use. This may vary depending upon the cause of the illness. You may need to intercede for someone over a long period of time. You may need to take authority over the sickness and command it to leave the individual s body. (See Luke 4:38,39.) Depending on the situation, you may want to spend some time praying 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

25 in the Spirit. If you ve not been baptized in the Holy Spirit, you may want to pick up the Hungry? booklet Baptism in the Holy Spirit. 4. Ask the individual how he or she is feeling. Questions such as, How are you feeling? or Do you feel any different? are good questions. If he or she is not immediately healed, ask if you can pray again. Encourage the individual to be honest about how he or she is feeling. The person doesn t need to say he or she is healed if he or she still experiences pain. Scripture does not tell us that someone claimed healing. On one occasion, Jesus asked a man how he was doing and the man said he wasn t totally healed. Jesus simply prayed again. (See Mark 8:22 25.) You may find there are other factors that prevent the healing (e.g., sin), and you may need to talk with the individual about receiving wholeness in Christ prior to receiving physical healing. 5. Act accordingly. If someone is healed, rejoice! If the person is not healed, continue to pray or gather others to pray with you. You He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave (Psalm 107:20). may want to agree to meet another time, depending on the situation. Don t stop praying or believing until the person dies or until God says stop. Encourage the individual and love him or her even if he or she didn t receive healing. Remember that, at times, healing is a process. By simply coming to God in prayer, the process has already begun. 6. Seek guidance from other believers and take time to thank God for His gift of healing and for hearing your prayers. To help you, spend time with someone who prays for the sick. Spend time discussing how to pray for the sick and then pray with him or her as he or she ministers. You will be able to learn a great deal from those who actually pray for the sick and see individuals healed. As you conclude your prayer, make sure you spend time thanking God for hearing your prayers and for the healing that will come by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

26 Staying Healthy There are several places throughout Scripture where God gives His people remedies to live a healthy life, such as medicine. Encourage individuals to spend extra time in the Word when they are sick. Many times God will reveal something to them through His Word. He may speak a word of healing to them directly from Scripture. When we or someone we know is sick, we pray for healing and seldom give thought to the reason for the sickness. Is this sickness a result of poor personal care? Is there unhealthy eating, lack of rest, or lack of exercise involved? Many of us get well again, only to return to the same habits that brought on the sickness. God heals us of high blood pressure, but we continue to shake the salt. God desires to heal more than our bodies. He desires to heal our lifestyles. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. (See 1 Corinthians 6:19.) We are to care for them. We are to give our bodies proper nutrition, rest, and exercise. In our study we have seen how sinful choices can bring consequences that lead to sickness. We also see how everyday lifestyle choices could also lead to sickness. Let me challenge you to eat healthier, get plenty of rest, exercise, and laugh more! Heard any good jokes lately? Laughter is good medicine! A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones (Proverbs 17:22). These choices are just as spiritual as repentance from sin. Don t mistakenly separate them as non-spiritual things. We are spiritual beings. Sometimes we become afraid that if we take care of the spirit, soul, and body, we might become New Agers! This is not necessarily true. We are to care for our bodies and souls along with our spirits. How can we stay healthy? 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

27 How to Stay Healthy: 1. Dedicate your body to the Lord and His work. 2. Eat healthy. 3. Drink plenty of water. 4. Get rest. 5. Exercise regularly. 6. Get regular check-ups. 7. Regular times of fasting. In his book Real Teens George Barna says only six percent of teenagers today have a healthy diet. In 2002, Americans spent $120 billion on pain medication and treatments! When we abuse our bodies, we create all sorts of potential health issues. These suggestions are no guarantees that you will be healthy. But combined with what you have studied will lay a great foundation for healthy living. Also remember that when you are sick, you can pray the prayer of faith and believe God for your healing! God receives glory when an individual is healed. God can receive as much glory (and perhaps more) by keeping His children healthy. Imagine the testimony we can offer the world by showing them that not only do we have a God who heals us, but as we follow Him, we can live healthy lives. And So We Come to the End Join with me and determine that whatever the extent of Christ s healing in your life, you will be one who determines to bring healing and wholeness to your family, friends, and community. If you do this, you will enter into a win/win situation for you, your community, and for the kingdom of God. There are numerous examples of Jesus healing people in Scripture. What we read is only a small fraction of what Jesus did while on earth. (See John 21:25.) I believe Jesus left us a clear example to 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only

28 follow in Scripture. This booklet has been provided to you as a starting point to help you to piece the pattern together. Realize this study is not exhaustive. This is only the tip of the iceberg. Yet it is a start and a continuation of what the Lord is showing you in this area. This booklet is meant to raise your own desire for growth and further study in the area of healing, rather than answer all your questions. So, what are you waiting for? Know any sick people? Why not ask them if you can pray for them and watch God at work! Books that can be helpful: Christ the Healer by F. F. Bosworth Healing Through Deliverance, vol. 1 and 2 by Peter Horrobin Power Healing by John Wimber Authority of the Believer and Healing by Che Ahn The Hidden Power of Prayer and Fasting by Mahesh Chavda The Fire of Delayed Answers by Bob Sorge 2004 by Gospel Publishing House. All rights reserved. Files may be stored electronically and printed for personal, church or other non-commercial purpose only