How God Heals

The bible clearly shows that healing is one of the things God is up to.

In Mark 1:33-34 we heard

The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.

Imagine being in that room.

Or imagine being in the house when four characters pull the roof off the house to lower a paralytic down and Jesus heals that man.

One of the common things that Jesus did in his ministry was to heal people.

There are a number accounts in the Gospels of Jesus bringing healing.

And the Good News is Jesus

passed on the authority to heal to His disciples and us as the church.

In His initial instructions to disciples that we find in Matthew 10 and Luke 9 and 10

Jesus says

Go and preach the Good News, Tell the people the kingdom of God is near and heal the sick.

And throughout the Epistles, the letters to the Early Church

and documents of church history,

including from the history of the Lutheran Church

healing is an important part of God’s ministry.

God gives us the gift of healing.

Yet when we begin talking about healing through the church

some feel uncomfortable and don’t want to go there.

And so whenever I speak about healing in the church I have mixed feelings.

I feel confident that this is the right thing to do because God is actively involved in healing and seeks all people to be healed.

But cautious not because of God but because of our human response to healing and how people respond to the teaching and instances of healing.

What also has not helped is that unfortunately, some people have used God’s healing ministry for their own glory, greed or control of others.

And others when it comes to healing expect God to do what they want,

rather than what God wants.

They often want to limit God to what they can understand.

And are disappointed when God doesn’t live up to their expectations

They find it difficult to accept that God is the God of mystery

and at times can’tcomprehend that God acts in ways that we don’t always see or understand.

And there is also the issue that 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 9 highlightes where we hear that Satan will even copy God’s miraculous signs to deceive people

But Satan’s healing will not last eternity.

However none of these are reasons for us to discard or ignore the gift of healing that God has given the church to use for the benefit of others,

so that they can experience and receive the power of God.

Through His church,

the collection of people like you and me Jesus continues bringing His healing to us.

Jesus calls each of one us to be involved in healing in His name.

Some of us will have a special gift of healing to be used for God’s purposes,

but all of us are called to bring His healing into the lives of others,

by connecting people to Jesus and His community of believers.

Through Jesus you and me and others can receive healing

Physically, Emotionally, in relationships with others and Spiritually

The truth is everyone needs healing

Not just once but continuously

Because we are continuously affected by sin.

Sin is the cause of all pain and suffering

As we explore the New Testament there is a close association with sin and sickness.

Some of our sickness is caused by the sins we have committed and been involved in.

There is no question about this.

Sin will always lead to sickness of some kind.

This could be physical, emotional or spiritual sickness.

Jesus has an interesting way in dealing with sin.

In John chapter 8

Jesus forgives a woman involved in adultery and then says “go and leave your life of sin”.

In other words change your ways.

Forgiveness from Jesus is not just Jesus saying saying your forgiven so continue on sinning.

But rather forgiveness is Jesus saying don’t let the sins of the past affect you.

A good question to ask each day.

Is where have I sinned?

What have I been involved in that has negatively affected my physical health, emotional health and spiritual health?

And bring this situation to Jesus.

And you may benefit from bringing this situation to Jesus not just by yourself but by using the gift of the church, ie. Other Christians.

In James chapter 5 we are given some clear instructions of how to receive healing and it involves others Christians,

Reading from verse 13

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make them well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.