We just watched a video from Beamer Films titled “How should we then pray?” We heard a young man’s anguish over unanswered prayers. And we have all been to that point. It seems that God is not listening or He simply does not care.
We all have our favorite verses about healing. Here is a few of mine. “Ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
“Since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”
“If you are sick, you should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick.”
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power.”
“You have not because you ask not.”
“By his wounds we are healed.”
I have heard it taught that God is bound by his word. Therefore, God becomes a vending machine. Insert my favorite scripture, pull the knob, and God is forced to answer my request.
I have heard it taught that there is such power in the name of Jesus that, like a magic word, you pray in his name and you get it.
But when the magic formula fails us, we question God and our faith.
As you know, I have been struggling with a bulging disc in my back for three and a half weeks. I have lain awake at night confessing my sins and praying for relief so that I might sleep longer than two to three hours. And although I am feeling better, I realize a lot of the relief is coming from the medication and physical therapy.
I have had prayers lifted heavenward. I have been anointed with oil. I have asked but I have not received. I have quoted “by his wounds I am healed” but I still hurt.
The Bible says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power.” Maybe you guys are the problem. Maybe you have not been earnest in your payers for me or maybe you are not righteous. Maybe when you anointed me with oil you did not have faith it would work. I know better then that. I wanted you to see how sometimes taking scripture out of context can corrupt the Word of God. Sometimes we push for promises that God never made. So what do we do with these verses? How do they apply to us?
Let us look at our next character. Jesus has begun his ministry. He has cast out demons and healed many people including a man with leprosy. After several days, Jesus returns to Capernaum. Mark 2:2-4 “Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.”
Jesus is holding in church in someone’s house. He is the guest speaker and He is preaching the Word. We have the Word made flesh preaching the written word. Revival has broken out. It is standing room only. In the midst of this five people show up, four men carrying one man who cannot walk. They have not come to hear the message. They have come to see a miracle. They have heard of the Healer and now they want to see him.
But they cannot even get close to the door. How many of us would have left? How many of us would have said “Oh well. We tried”? However, these four would not turn back.
Imagine their struggle to get their friend on the rooftop. Imagine his fear of being dropped. But they got him up there. And then they tore a hole in someone’s roof.
What if you were the homeowner seeing parts of your roof being lifted off? What would your thoughts have been? Who are these guys? Who is going to fix this? I remember going to a church where new carpet had been lain. A few Sundays later, we had visitors that must have lived on a dirt road and they tracked mud onto the carpet. Quite a few people were upset over needing to get the carpet cleaned and suggested if they returned to ask them to remove their shoes. I can only imagine the horror in that church if someone had removed part of the roof to get to Jesus.
So Jesus is delivering the message when clay and hay begin to fall into the room. Suddenly like a spider coming down from the ceiling, a mat is lowered with a crippled man on it. I can see Jesus looking up at four anxious faces watching to see his reaction. What He saw though was faith.
Mark 2:5 “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”’
Now things are strange. He saw in the four men faith that Jesus would attend to their friends need. I am sure that they were expecting a physical healing. However, Jesus was more attuned to this man’s greatest need. His need to be healed from sin.
Let us read on. Mark 2:6-9“But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?”
Jesus asks a pertinent question. Which is easier to believe, what you see by faith or what you see with your eyes? Which is easier, the forgiveness of sin or a physical healing? If you were paralyzed which would you choose? It is obvious that what we see with our physical eyes is easier to believe than what we see with our spiritual eyes. And the forgiveness of sin is easier than a physical healing. The forgiveness of sin happens each time someone repents but a physical healing does not take place each time someone seeks it. And certainly, in the eyes of Jesus the forgiveness of sin outweighs any physical healing. Jesus had met this man’s greatest need but He was not finished.
Mark 2:10-12 “So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”
Within this scripture, I understand why God heals. He does so to elevate the status of his Son, to prove that his Son and He are one, and to garnish praise.
Let us read Romans 9:14-16 “Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! For God said to Moses,
“I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.”
God’s greatest concern for us is our spiritual well-being. He has shown his mercy and compassion by securing our salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus. However, we live in a world filled with physical ailments that we pray be removed but God chooses not too. That does not make him unfair.
The Apostle Paul had what he called a thorn in the flesh that he asked to be removed. Here was God’s answer.
Corinthians 12:9 “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”’
God says his grace, his mercy, and his compassion is all we need. He says his power works best in our pain. Probably because without pain, problems, and strife we would never get on our knees in prayer.
Now this brings up some debate. Are we not guaranteed that we can expect and receive healing? Let’s look at some of the most popular scriptures that we lean on.
1) Jesus said, “Ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” That comes from John 14:14. But let us look at it in context.
John 14:13-14 “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”
We love to make the name of Jesus a magic word like “abra cadabra.” We finish prayers with his name as if that will give us some special entrance into God‘s throne room. But it is only when what we are asking through his name is to bring glory to the Father that we have a guarantee. When you pray in his name tell him how his Father will be glorified.
2) “Since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” That comes from John 5:15. But again let‘s look at it in context.
1 John 5:14-15 “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”
God’s will always wins. Our prayers in alignment with his will are always answered. God is not obligated by his Word to go against his will in order to grant our requests. We have no right to try to put God in a corner and make demands of him. If you pray and get no results be sure what you are asking for is in alignment with what pleases him.
3) “Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.”
Let’s look at the entire thought. James 5:13-14 16 “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord.
This is actually a verse that is a bit complicated. James begins by saying if life is rough, pray. If life is great, praise. If life brings illness, prepare.
Notice when ill you are to call for the leaders, those who are spiritually strong. Ask them for prayer. And be anointed with oil as a means of preparation. Anointing oil was used to commit and set someone apart from the others. Kings were anointed and priests were ordained with anointing oil. When someone that was ill was anointed with oil, they were expressing their willingness to have themselves set apart and their lives placed in the hands of God. They were showing they were open to God’s will concerning their illness.
Also, the prayer was to be done in the name of the Lord. As we have already learned to pray in the name of Jesus is to desire to bring glory to the Father even if it means we are not healed.
We continue. James 5:15-16 “Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”
The scripture says “such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick” but that is not meant as a guarantee. Remember it is done in the name of Jesus to bring glory to the Father. The scripture describes faith as “the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; (Heb 11:1). We are to pray with confidence, realizing that God’s purpose in any situation will be accomplished.
The verse goes on to say, “The Lord will make you well.” The word “well” in Greek is “sozo.” It means to save, rescue, deliver. This is talking about a spiritual wellness. James is addressing the greater need, a spiritual healing. The Lord makes you “well” so that any sins committed are forgiven. James states that confession of sins and praying for each other’s sins to be forgiven brings about spiritual healing. Once we have accomplished doing that we are considered righteous. And if we pray earnestly, not a ten second “Lord I lift this up to you, Amen.” we have the power of the Holy Spirit and wonderful results can occur.
4) “By his stripes we are healed.”
This is our favorite verse to remind God of his obligation to heal us. But to what is this scripture really referring?
1 Peter 2:21-23 “For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
He never sinned,
nor ever deceived anyone.
He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
who always judges fairly.”
It is clear what this scripture is about. We are receiving instructions on how to live like Jesus. We are not to willfully sin. We are not to willfully deceive anyone. When insulted we do not retaliate or threaten revenge. We leave our case in the hands of God because He is a fair judge. Simple instructions but often impossible to follow. So God makes provision.
1 Peter 2:24 “He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.
By his wounds you are healed.”
Imagine this morning that you have pneumonia. You are coughing and wheezing unable to breathe. I come to you, embrace you, and take your pneumonia upon myself. Now you are able to breathe. My willingness to take your pneumonia has healed you.
Sin is a disease. Jesus took our disease from us and carried them to the cross. We no longer have the disease of sin. We can now live healthy. It was by his wounds on the cross that we have been made spiritually healthy. The provision has been made for us to live in right standing with God. When we fail to follow the example of Jesus, which we will, our case is left in the hands of God who has already forgiven our missteps.
Let’s look at one more man this morning.
Luke 5:12-13 “In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.”
There two ways I approach Jesus now with my prayers. My first concern is for my spiritual health. This is God’s first concern so it should be mine. Jesus paid a huge price for my spiritual health. I need to ask to be healed of any sin that would be a wall between God and me.
My second concern is for my physical health. I need to ask, “If you are willing, heal me.” Like Paul, I need to submit to God’s will concerning this thorn in my flesh. I must recognize that I cannot pressure God to heal by misusing his Word.
Some may ask, “Why should we pray then if God’s will is going to be done anyway?” The answer is very simple.
Everyone knows the shortest verse in the Bible consists of two words “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) but here is another short verse. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Never stop praying.” We pray because God commands it. Pray for healing. Pray for your burdens. Pray for more faith. But always pray to God “Your will be done.”
