Is it God’s will to heal people?
The answer can clearly be read by clicking here.
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First we need to be aware that human impossibilities are God’s opportunities. Nothing is impossible to God, not even to heal the most impossible disease!
Jer 32:17 “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”
Luke 18:27 “Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.””
The best example of this is Jesus during His ministry on earth. It is clear that He had both the power and the authority to heal any infirmity, and He gave that power to His followers:
Luke 9:1-2 “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.”
There were situations where Jesus could not perform many miracles. Matt 13:58: “And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.”
Jesus could not perform miracles in Nazareth because the people there lacked faith!
There were also situations when Jesus’ disciples were unable to heal:
Matt 17:19-20: “Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Here too, it was due to lack of faith, though not from the receiver’s end this time, but from the giver’s end: the disciples themselves. So, it is possible that healing cannot happen if either the healer or the one to be healed lack faith in our all-loving Heavenly Father.
But does this mean that all those who are not healed lack faith? Not at all! It is not always God’s will that everyone be healed. The Bible is quite clear on that subject. Many Christians and non-Christians were never healed in the Bible. Here are some examples:
Paul had the ability to heal: Acts 28:8-9: “His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.”
Yet in spite of this, not everyone who was sick was healed by Paul. For example,
2 Tim. 4:20-21 “Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.”
Another example was Timothy, Paul’s spiritual son, who had problems with his stomach and other ailments. Paul’s remark to Timothy?
1 Tim 5:23 “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.”
Paul himself was plagued with a “thorn in the flesh”, and he reports that learning that trusting in God was more important than being healed (this is a lesson we all need to learn!).
2 Cor 12:7-10 “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Trust in our Lord, even if death is at your door. Communicate with your Savior and know that He will never abandon you, and remember the advice found in James 5:16: “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
Will you accept Him in your life now?
Here is a little story about a man who never doubted the goodness of God, even when facing death:
There was an old man at our church who had loved God all of his life. The man, John, walked around saying “God is Good”. He said it all the time, whenever and wherever he was. When John got married he said, “God is Good”.
When John lost his job he said, “God is Good”. When John’s father died he said, “God is Good”. When John’s wallet got stolen he said, “God is Good”.
Well, you get the idea, no matter what John did, or what happened to him, we would always hear him say, “God is Good”.
A few months ago, John was diagnosed with cancer. The disease had spread rapidly and he was told by his doctor he’d have only a few weeks to live. Still, even on his death bed, John could be heard by everyone in the hospital repeating his famous line, “God is Good”.
Our pastor Charles was John’s best friend. Charles went everyday to visit John in the hospital. And every night before Charles left John would tell him, “God is Good”.
Finally after weeks of watching his best friend get worse and worse from his terminal disease, Charles just could not stand it any longer and asked John,
” John you are my best friend and I love you. I love the Lord as much as you do too. I have listened to you say that God is Good your whole life. Through the good times, maybe I can understand you saying how good God is.
Maybe even through the hard times, to help yourself cope. But now, laying here on your death bed, how can you be so optimistic? How can you say God is good every day when you know he is letting you die?”
John just looked at Charles and smiled. “Dear friend, don’t you see all of those times I was saying God was Good, it was my way of praising him in the little way I could. And look what my reward is for remaining faithful, I am dying. You say God is letting me die as if that is a bad thing. Charles, have you forgotten that is our goal. To live our life for Him, and join him one day in heaven. See, GOD IS GOOD! He has finally called me home and in a few hours I will be with Him. I can’t imagine anything greater than that.”
John died that night in his sleep. Charles stood up and said only two things at John’s funeral:
“I will miss my friend but I know I will see him again one day soon…and GOD IS GOOD.”
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.
Rob Chaffart
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Yes it is always God’s will to heal. He challenges our faith” when you pray believe that you have already received the things you asked for and you shall have them.”
Dave
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Not in my mind. Sometimes God calms the storm (heals) and sometimes He calms His child! (ME) Struggling with this brain tumour has made me realize & pray for complete healing. However, when my race is done here on earth I want nothing to prevent me from entering heavens shores. I’m ready to bow at Jesus feet and praise Him for what He did for me. PAID IN FULL!! What a promise. I do believe however, that we need to expect Him to heal and pray that He heals. But whatever He deems is best for me….GOD IS IN CONTROL.
Sue
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It isn’t always God’s will to heal……
My Aunt had triple heart valve replacement done over a month ago and still has not woken up from the surgery! The doctors have informed us that there is very little hope for her! She suffered a massive stroke during the surgery and is 95% brain dead. The doctors say if she comes out of the coma, she will be a vegetable and confined to bed. The family is planning on removing her from life support and letting God’s will be done. Obviously in this case, God’s will is not to heal…..maybe they family should have left well enough alone and not have the surgery done. Maybe we could have gotten another few more years out of my Aunt. Only God knows for sure.
Connie
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No, I don’t think it is always God’s will to heal. My brother-in-law died when he was 43. He had cancer. He worked for a missionary group as an accountant. Everyone loved and prayed for him faithfully. His wife also worked for this missionary. Again and again and again we prayed and he would seem to get better and everyone would give glory to God and then he would get worse. Still, as he lay dying, one of the missionary people asked him to pray for them, and he offered up prayer to God even in his dying weakened state. His faith was in what God’s will was for him even as he was so distressed at leaving his family. God’s will was repeatedly asked for when we prayed for him. He died the physical death.
I went that week that he died, to stay with my sister and take care of some of her home needs that she was too exhausted to do, and also to help care for her dying husband. I had hesitated in going, I did not want to be there, and it was a very hard thing for me to deal with. I know that God drew me away from the room, as the angels were preparing to take my brother-in-law because of my weak emotional state. As I was taking a shower on the Friday of that week, he passed away. Gods timing is perfect. I had to go back home that weekend. I was able to be there for my sister until the end. We had faith that God could heal him. God did not.
We had faith that God had a reason for not healing him. My mother told me after that time, that in the bible somewhere that it explains that young men die before their times to prevent a worse thing from happening. We don’t have the power to comprehend the mind of God, but God’s plan is perfect.
I have a long history of painful and traumatic things that have happened to me. My faith was weakened by the loss of my babies from accident (I was almost full term when a drunk driver hit our car) then miscarriage, then the birth of my son after almost miscarrying, and then the death of my newborn daughter after a day and a half. I had prayed so hard that she would live when they told me that she was not doing well, and might not live. I had faith that God would save my little girl. She died. I was devastated and at a loss. After the shock, I decided I was angry at God and stared down a dangerous road.
After a while, God showed me that I was in danger of hurting others. And then I asked him to forgive me and restore me. He did, and then he told me why my little girl went to heaven.
I don’t always be faithful to my fullest. I have to continuously pray for forgiveness and work to repent (turn away from) my sin. But in my heart I know he is watching over me no matter what Satan whispers to me or trys to make me understand.
God is good. God is in control. God will answer my prayer. God will take care of me. God will forgive me. And someday, God will explain all I don’t understand, but turn over to him.
love,
Berni
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I do not think so. It was never God’s will that man would either get sick or die. It was intended that we would live forever. It is for that reason that God placed the tree of life in the garden of Eden. Since sin entered the world however, that tree has been unavailable to us and it was decreed that we should die.
We must all die and people very seldom die naturally without any health problems. I would suggest that if the healing we require is to prevent a death that is determined as our lot, then healing will not occur.
Again, we can be forgiven for our sins but must live with the consequences of them. If those consequences are lifestyle type diseases that we have brought upon ourselves by sowing to the flesh, then it is unlikely that prayer for healing will succeed. Unless of course God has unfinished business for us to complete and it suits His purpose to prolong our lives.
However I myself, in the last 12 months, have been miraculously healed from a terminal illness that had to be at least partially lifestyle related.
I think the key is to follow the instructions given to us in the book of James:
James 5:14AV 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:
It is also necessary to pray as Jesus did, “Not my will but Thy will …” Sometimes an illness may be sent to cause a change in someone’s lifestyle and circumstances to make them more useful to God. In my case
I was rendered legally blind through my illness and no longer have the ability to work effectively at a job. Consequently I have more time on my hands for this sort of thing (internet ministry) and for writing bible studies on various contemporary issues. I have been left with enough eyesight of sufficient quality to be able to use my computer with visual aids.
Sometimes a ‘thorn in the flesh’ is given to maintain an attitude of humility in it’s owner, as with Paul.
2Corinthians 12:7-AV And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2Corinthians 12:8-AV For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2Corinthians 12:9-AV And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Corinthians 12:10-AV Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Nevertheless there is much power in prayer and the ‘Answers to prayer’ section of this newsletter bears witness of many miraculous recoveries in direct answer to prayer.
It is not God’s will that any should get sick, suffer or die. However, because of sin, that is our lot. No matter what happens to us in this world, because of the love of God for us in giving us His son Jesus to pay the price for our sins, we are assured of an eternal life in paradise, where sickness and death will not exist. We need only accept His offer to participate. Having done that, no one need fear any thing that may befall them in this brief existence, having faith to humbly accept their makers will in the matter of diseases associated with this life.
Just as martyrs often inspired others to accept Christ, so too can the manner in which we bear our sufferings, be a powerful witness to others. As can the miraculous healing of one considered beyond medical help.
I pray that you will place belief in Jesus above all else, then, should you not receive healing when you ask for it, embrace eternity.
Lance Wearmouth
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I believe it is in accordance with God’s will to heal each and everyone of us. He said in his word by his stripes we were healed and also in another place by his stripes we are healed. He said, I would that you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers. There are things that we must do in order to receive healing. #1 is to have faith above everything. Always believe and not doubt. I realize that there is a sickness unto death that you won’t be healed of and I know that not everyone gets healed every time. i confess, I don’t understand everything, but I will never stop believing in the healing power of God.
Carlyn Casey
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No, we would never grow and learn if he always healed us.
Rhonda
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No, I don’t think it is always God’s will to heal one physically. Why do I say this? Incredible experience with a mentally handicapped son and serious arthritic conditions for myself. I have asked the Lord for many, many years to heal my son and asked Him over and over again, why me, why this child, why this to our family? What purpose could there be? And, as time has gone by and I have grown in so many ways, I have seen His will revealed to us.
I am NOW a staunch advocate, we formed a ministry that brought so many people to the Lord and fed, housed, clothed and more to the folks we served — all because we have a son with a mental health issue! When it comes to our son, why should he have to have this disability? Never have I seen such a deeply loving person, so forgiving of all who hurt him, so trusting, so caring for anyone, no matter what their “status” in our society. Would he have been this way without the disabilities — I doubt it.
And from my pain, I have learned of the incredible, physical pain of others. In this too I have learned to be an advocate, to help others who suffer as I do and to have the patience and understanding that while a person may look “normal”, there can be such debilitating pain and suffering that is within and does not show to the outside world, that all must be treated with understanding before any judgment is passed (a simple example is when you see someone with a handicapped sticker get out of a car and they look just fine, do not judge for you know not their pain!).
Succinctly put, I think there are so many reasons that the Lord does not heal. We may not know His reasons but there is no doubt in my mind it is for the good — for His plans and for us! It may be hard for anyone out there to believe this, especially if they are in the middle of suffering, but my years of living with pain, for me and my son, have truly shown this to be so very true and I give you this encouragement.
Laura