Is it God’s will to heal the sick?

We receive many answered prayer requests here at Answers2Prayer and we do rejoice with people who were healed through the stripes of Jesus Christ. “This is fine and well, but I am sick and was wondering if Jesus cared enough to heal me. Is healing God’s will for my life?”

Excellent question, which I will try to answer using God’s Word.

1. Faith is crucial

In anything we do, we need faith. If I don’t have faith that a certain chair will hold me, I will not sit down in it. The consequences may be painful, as I will have to stand if no other seats are available! The same is true is that if we do not have faith in God, God cannot bless us.

James 1:6-8 “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” NIV

Heb 11:6 “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.” NIV

“But does God want to heal me? If He really wants to, I will put my faith in Him.” It is true that you cannot have faith in obtaining something from God if you do not know if it is His will. Is healing God’s will for you?

2. God’s Word: Revelation of God’s Will

To know God’s will, we need to study God’s Scriptures. In it His character is revealed. In it only truth, God’s truth can be found.

Rom 10:17 “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” NIV

Faith needs to be build on God’s Word. We cannot rely on others. We cannot rely on our pastors. We cannot rely on our church. We can only rely on God’s Word to know the truth!

God’s Word guarantees that Num 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” NIV God will never lie to you. It’s one of the things He just cannot do. It is against His nature.

King Solomon discovered that 1 Kings 8:56 “Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises.” NIV

We can trust God’s Word. It is the only source that will never lie to us. Ps 119:89 “Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” NIV

3. Depending on God’s Holy Spirit

We can boldly ask for anything that God has promised us through His Word. If it is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, we need to depend on His Holy Spirit. “John 16:13 “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.” NIV God’s Holy Spirit however will never go against God’s Word!

Depending on the Lord will bring you many blessings. Prov 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” KJV

4. Clear Biblical issues

There are some issues where the Bible is clear on:

a. We do not need to know God’s will concerning someone’s salvation: 1 Tim 2:3-4 “God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” NIV

b. We do not need to know God’s will concerning baptism by water. Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” NIV

c. We do not need to know God’s will concerning baptism in the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38-39 “And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call.” NIV

d. We do not need to know God’s will if whether we should pray. 1 Thess 5:17 “Pray continually.” NIV

e. We do not need to know God’s will if whether we should study His Word. 2 Tim 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” KJV

f. We do not need to know God’s will if whether we should lead a moral life. 1 Thess 5:22 “Avoid every kind of evil.” NIV

But what is God’s will concerning healing?

5. Book of Psalms

The book of Psalms let us know what God’s will is concerning diseases. Ps 103:2-3 2 “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits– who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.” NIV

The Hebrew word for diseases is “tachaluw” and means physical disease, sickness.

6. Jesus

What is amazing in Jesus’ ministry on this planet, is that He never refused to heal anyone. He never turned away and said that it wasn’t God’s will to heal a certain person. He never once said that a certain sick person needed to be sick, so that he could learn some spiritual truths. He never once said to a sick person that he would be eventually healed when he got to heaven. Never once!

Healing was a priority in His ministry. Jesus’ message of salvation went hand in hand with His ministry of healing. When the pastors of his day opposed Jesus’ healing ministry, He continued to heal people that were brought to Him. He never used restraint in His healing ministry.

Matt 12:13-15 “Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick.”NIV When threatened, He withdrew, but never stopped healing the sick. Notice the word “all”. Jesus did not play favourites. He healed all the sick.

When the crowd would press around Jesus, trying to touch Him, Matt 14:36 “all who touched him were healed.” NIV

Jesus was always willing to heal. Luke 4:40 “When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.” NIV

Have you notice that the gospels like to stress the word “all” when referring to Jesus’ healings? Notice this in the following texts:

Luke 6:19 “and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.” NIV

Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” NIV

Matt 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” NIV

7. Jesus’ healing power was not reserved for only Himself

Jesus clearly gave authority to His disciples to heal others. Matt 10:1 “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” NIV

This healing power was not reserved to just the disciples of Jesus. Luke 10:1-2, 9 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field…Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.'” NIV

This healing power was given to all believers. Mark 16:17-18 “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.” NIV

After Jesus had risen and was taken back to heaven, His disciples continued His healing ministry. Acts 5:15-16 “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.” NIV

Jesus directives to us are clear. His healing ministry must continue!

8. Jesus willingness to heal

Most of those that encountered Jesus assumed that He wanted to heal them. Only one man questioned Jesus’ willingness. That man was a leper. Matt 8:2-4 “A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.” NIV

Is Jesus willing to heal you?

“I am willing,”

Case closed.

9. The word “Will”

The use of “will” in reference to healing is further evidence that God wants to heal. Notice the use of that word in the context of salvation, as well as in the context of healing.

Acts 2:21 21 “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” NIV

Mark 16:18 “They will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” NIV

James 5:14-16 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. NIV

Do you need any further evidence? God is willing to heal us. Jesus died on Calvary so that you could walk in perfect, divine health. 1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” NIV

10. Diseases in heaven

Notice how many diseases there will be in heaven: Rev 21:3-4 “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” NIV

If you are suffering right now, just look towards your Saviour. He wants you to be healed. He guarantees your complete healing in heaven. You can trust Him. He can and will heal you now.

Rob Chaffart

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Firstly we should understand that it is not God’s will that any should be sick, however, just as we die so do we get sick. It is our inheritance from our first mother and father and their disobedience that brought all such things upon the human race.

The bible has many stories of the sick being healed and indeed, any reader of our prayer and praise newsletter will have been informed of miraculous cases of healing. Yet it is also obvious that the majority of requests for healing do not get answered. Why? I wish I could explain that!

We have been given instructions to follow when requesting healing. How many follow these instructions?

Jam 5:14 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:

Jam 5:15 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.

Jam 5:16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Note that it says ‘the prayer of faith’. When Jesus healed the sick He used the words ‘Your faith has made you whole’. The key is faith. Both of the aflicted and the ones praying for healing. If then someone is not healed is it an indication that there was not enough faith? Not necessarily. The faith we need is that God ‘can’ heal. Having faith that God ‘can’ heal does not mean that He will.

God is not a servant that we can call on and He must do our will. It is us that must do God’s will.

God knows the future, and He knows us. If we have faith in God we should also be willing to leave to Him the decision to heal us. We should ask; and then relax, knowing it is in God’s hands and that it will all work out for the best. Not necessarily for the best for us, but the best for God’s purpose for us.

There is a story of a minister of religion, a man of great faith, whose baby son became seriously ill such that he was going to die. This minister fought against the death of his son with all the prayer he could muster from members of his congregation and of other churches. The matter became one of public interest. It was as though the minister made such an issue of it that God’s credibility was at stake if the boy was not healed. Against all the odds, the boy survived and the minister gave many testimonies to the power of prayer to influence God. However, as the boy matured, he became lawless, committed murder and was hung for his crimes. The minister then regretted his action in organizing such widespread prayer when the child was sick. He realised then that had he simply prayed that God would do what was best, and left the matter with Him, the boy would have died and become part of the Kingdom of God, but now was lost.

I tell you this story to point out that it is better to leave these life and death decisions to God and accept the outcome as being the best. Even if it is difficult to know that at the time. That is the sort of faith one needs.

Often I have seen prayers for healing for someone who is elderly and with a terminal illness. Are such prayers submitted out of concern for the best interest of the elderly person, or from the selfish interest of the relative who does not want to face their loss? We must understand that death will be the last enemy to be defeated. Death will not be defeated until the last of the wicked, together with Satan and his wicked angels, have been extinguished in the ‘lake of fire’ following the judgement at the end. We will then go on to a world made new in which there will be no more death. We must all face our end of days and most of us will be sick when this happens. Prayer for healing of someone whose time has run out will probably not succeed. I say ‘probably’ because of cases where it has. Good king Hezekiah for instance pleaded with God for more time after God told him he was at his end. He was granted another 15 years during which time he sired his successor, the worst king Israel ever had. Had Hezekiah accepted his death instead of pleading for more time, Israel’s future may have been quite different.

Another aspect is a promise of God;

Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

If you have misused your body it is quite possible that you are only reaping what you have sown. Your degenerative disease is not only a lesson to you but is a witness to others around you. If your children see the suffering caused by your long use of tobacco, for instance, it should have the effect of warning them against such for themselves. Healing of your illness may not be in the best interests of yourself or those close to you. This you should accept and leave the matter with God. You are assured that if you stop sowing to your flesh and sow to the Spirit, you will inherit life everlasting.

So in answer to the question, I would have to say that it is not always possible to know God’s will in healing the sick, even for esteemed men of God. We should have the faith to submit our will to God and let the final decision rest with Him. We should then be able to praise Him for the outcome, knowing that it was for the best, even if it is not the outcome we would have wanted. Thoughts of self and our concern at possible loss we will suffer should be put aside and replaced with inner peace, knowing that both us and our situation are under control with God. We should realize that our reward is not in this world but in the next, and that here, we are to place ourselves at God’s disposal, to use us, even as martyrs if need be, to save as many as He can. Do you have such faith dear reader? Are you able to say, “Here am I, send me!” ? If not, if your focus is on personal concerns, cares of this life and material possessions, and you would like that inner peace I spoke of, answer ‘The Savior’s Call’ in this newsletter.

Lance Wearmouth

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You need to have FAITH that God WILL heal. He wants to heal all people.

Mtt.17:14-21 says~ 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.

Heb. 13:8 says~ Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, and today, and forever.

Be assured, God’s Word is clear, IT IS GOD’S WILL to heal, ALL the sick who call on Him in FAITH.

Mtt. 7:8 says~ Everyone who asks receives.

God has promised to heal everyone who asks, just as He’s promised to forgive everyone who asks. HE will NOT break His promises. It is always His will to keep His promise. That is why we can ask in absolute FAITH and expect God to fulfill His Word. Faith is knowing God WILL do what He said He will do.

James 5:14 says~ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him…and the prayer of FAITH will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.

Exodus 15:26 says~ I am the Lord who heals you.

Psalm 103:3 says~ Praise the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits. Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. That includes you if you believe God’s Word.

FAITH is the key hear. FAITH in God’s word, His promises and in Jesus Christ our Savior. Faith with ALL your heart and soul and being. Faith with all that you are and all that you have. 100% FAITH! MAY ALL BE BLESSED!

Love DeeDee

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I believe God’s wants to heal all the sick: “I wish above all things that you prosper and be in good health even as your soul prospers”.

Dave

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God is Jehovah-Rophe – Jehovah heals. God is our healer.  It is his will for us to be healed.  God changes not! 
Healing is for today! God is the same today, and he was yesterday as he will be forever!      

The blessings of Abraham are ours! Galatians 3:14 and the first half of the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy! 
Satan’s dominion over us as new creatures in Christ has ended.  Jesus is our Lord!

Confession:  By HIS stripes I was healed!  God’s Word tells me I was healed almost 2000 years ago by HIS stripes.  If I was healed then I am healed.  Healing belongs to me because I am in Christ.

Confess that Christ is your redemption.  Confess that you are redeemed.  Confess that Satan has no more dominion over you—and hold fast to that confession.

Confession:  the law of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.

James 4:7 . . . Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. . . . Oh, the devil’s not so afraid of you as an individual.  But when you find out what your rights and privileges are in Christ . . . When you find out the name of Jesus belongs to you . . . When he knows that you have learned what that name will do . . . Then he will run from you as if in
terror.   

Confession:  Because I am in Christ, the greater one lives in me.  He is great then the devil.  Greater then disease.  Greater then circumstances.  And He lives in me!       

“God is in me now.”  Your confession of faith will cause him to work in your behalf.  He will rise up in you and give you success.  The master of creation is in you.     

Confession:   I am a conqueror! Sooner or later you will become what you confess.    

Confession:  Through Christ, my Lord, I can do all things.  He strengthens me.  I cannot be conquered. I cannot be defeated.  I can do all things through Him. 

Flesh and natural human reasoning would limit us to our own ability.  We look to the circumstances, the problems, the tests and storms and say that we can’t.  The language of doubt, the flesh, and the senses is,
“I can’t.  I haven’t the ability, the opportunity, or the strength.  I’m limited.”

But the language of faith says, “i can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  the strength of God is ours.  We do not trust in our own strength—the bible says nothing about our being strong in ourselves.  It says that God is our strength.

Healing scripture

1.  Deuteronomy – Chapter 28
2.  Galatians – Chapter 3
3.  Epheisans – 1:16-23 and 3: 14-21                        

DAILY CONFESSION

According to Deuteronomy 28:61 ___________sickness of ___________ is a curse of the law; but according to Galatians
3:13 CHRIST redeemed ___________ from the curse of the law.  Therefore, ___________ NO longer has __________ disease.

Healing scriptures

Proverbs 4:20-23
Joshua 21:45
Philippians 2:13
Romans 8:2,11
2 Corinthians 1:20
Matthew 8:2,3; 8:17; 18:18; 18:19
Exodus 15:25; 23;25
Deuteronomy 7:15; 30:19
Malachi 3:10
Psalm 103:1-5; 107:20; 91:16; 91:10; 34:7; 112:7
Isaiah 53:5; 43:25-26; 27:5; 55:11
Jeremiah 30:17
Mark 11:22-24; 16:17-18
John 9:31; 10:10
Galatians 3:13-14
Hebrews 10:23; 10:35; 13:8; 4:12,14
Joel 3:10
3 John 2
James 5:14-15; 4:7
1 Peter 2:24
1 John 5:14-15; 3:21-22
2 Timothy 1:7
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Ephesians 6:10-13, 16
Revelation 12:11
Nahum 1:9           

Praise God for his healing power.  I happen to be a witness that God heals.  Praise his holy name.  God bless you, abundantly, over and above that which you could ever ask or think, in Jesus precious name.

Love you lots,

Your friend, always,

Jeannie

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Praise the Lord!

I pray that God will open the eyes of our understanding about God’s will for divine healing.

I John 5:14-15 says “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. God’s will is found in His Word. In fact God’s will IS His Word. Therefore, we need to search His Word to find out His will for divine healing.

Psalm 107:20 says “He sent his Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. We know that Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1-2). According to Isaiah 55:10-11, God’s Word will not return to Him void. Therefore, when God sends a Word of healing to us, we are healed.

Isaiah 53:4-5 says “Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” This passage is referring to Jesus. He already paid the price for our sins. I heard that there are thirty-nine major categories of diseases in the world. Jesus took thirty-nine lashes with the whip. Therefore, Jesus paid the price for EVERY major category of diseases. We do not have to accept any form of sickness (physical, mental, emotional or spiritual). We need to accept what Jesus did for us at Calvary.

Mark 16:18 says “They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; THEY SHALL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK, AND THEY SHALL RECOVER.”

James 5:14-15 says “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: 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.” If we examine the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, we will find that He healed many people. He then transferred the same power to His disciples who transferred the same power to other believers. If it were not God’s will for us to be healed of any sickness, then why did Jesus heal all of those people? Why did He give us the same power to heal people?

III John 2 says “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prosper.”

It appears that it is God’s will for us to be made whole (spirit, soul and body). However, our prayers could be hindered by a number of factors such as unforgiveness, bitterness, anger, hatred, sin, etc. Mark 11:25-26 says “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have aught against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Please do not let anything hinder you from experiencing God’s best for your life be it healing, deliverance, prosperity, marriage, etc. May God richly bless you as you receive His Word concerning healing.

Melvin Lewis