IT'S ALWAYS GOD'S PERFECT WILL TO HEAL EVERY BELIEVER
REASONS WHY IT'S ALWAYS GOD'S PERFECT WILL TO HEAL EVERY BELIEVER
Introduction
Some may argue, that if it was always God's perfect will to heal every believer in Jesus, they would all get healed; but as that obviously doesn't happen, it cannot always be God's perfect will to heal. This is a false reasoning, but to show that it is, we need to establish at the outset, what we mean by 'God's perfect will', and make a distinction between 'God's perfect will', and 'God's permissive will'. 'God's perfect will' is simply everything that God wants to happen, based upon his love for us. It is that we fear him and keep his commandments (Deuteronomy 5:29; Ecclesiastes 12:13), have fellowship with him (Genesis 3:8-9; 1 John 1:3), love him with all of our heart and soul (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37), become like Jesus (See #2.20), and love others as ourselves (Matthew 22:39; Romans 13:8-10). "God's permissive will" is everything that God allows to happen, whether it is part of his perfect will or not, and it includes everything that happens in the heavens, and upon the earth. Nothing can happen outside of God's permissive will, because God has total control at all times (Psalm 115:3; 135:6; Proverbs 21:1; 29:26; Ecclesiastes 8:3; Isaiah 45:11-12; 46:10-11; Daniel 4:34-35; Jonah 1:14; John 19:11; Ephesians 1:11). However, within his permissive will, God permits much wickedness to take place; he allows war, murder, theft, adultery, idolatry, and even Satan worship, simply because he has given Man freedom of choice, and he will not take it away until death. God's perfect will never changes, but his permissive will alters according to circumstances, and depends mainly upon the choices made by Man. A few examples will illustrate the difference between God's perfect will, and his permissive will:
(A) When God created Man, he gave him dominion over everything that he created on the earth (Genesis 1:28; 9:13; Psalm 8:48), and although he instructed him not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17), he permitted him to choose for himself, which he did (Genesis 3:1-7). God's perfect will was that Man would not eat of it, and so be free of the consequences, but his permissive will was that he could, if he chose to do so, and bear the punishment promised (Genesis 2:17). Before Adam sinned, God's permissive will was that he should live in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:8), but afterward it changed, and he drove him out (Genesis 3:23-24).
(B) At one time God's permissive will was that Hezekiah should die for his sins if he did not repent (2 Kings 20:1; Isaiah 38:1), but after he did repent (2 Kings 20:2-3; Isaiah 38:2-3), God permitted him to live another fifteen years (Isaiah 38:5). God's perfect will was always that Hezekiah would repent and live (Ezekiel 18:31-32).
(C) Another example is, that it is God's perfect will for everyone to be saved (Ezekiel 18:32; Matthew 18:14; John 3:16; 6:39; - Galatians 1:3-4; - 1 Timothy 2:3-4; - 2 Peter 3:9; Revelation 22:17), but his permissive will is that most will be lost, and that is what in fact will happen (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:24). In this instance, God's perfect will and God's permissive will are obviously not the same. So just as those who fulfil the conditions for salvation will be saved, and those who do not will be lost, so also, those who fulfil the conditions for healing will be healed, but those of us who do not will not be able to receive our healing by faith. One of the conditions to be able to pray in total faith is that we know that what we are praying about is God's perfect will (1 John 5:14-15). Thus it is important to establish from the word of God exactly what God's will is when it comes to healing sickness. If the devil can come to us and say, "God will not heal you because ...", and we do not have a scriptural answer, then he has destroyed our faith for healing, and he can keep us sick, because another of the conditions to receive by faith, is that we do not doubt:
(Matthew 21:21) "If you have faith, and doubt1 not,"
(Mark 11:23) "Whoever ... shall not doubt1 in his heart, but shall believe"
(James 1:6-7) "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering1. For he who wavers1 ... let not that man think that he shall receive anything from the Lord."
(James 5:15) "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick,"
The word translated doubt1 (Matthew 21:21; Mark 11:23) is the same Greek verb d?a????? (Gtr. diakrino), which is also translated wavering1, and wavers1 (James 1:6). In context here, it means "to judge", "to dispute", or "to contend" in the mind, and thus "to doubt". Doubt about what God's will is, or about what God has said, is one of the devil's devices, which he uses to deceive us, and rob us of the blessings which God has promised us. The first thing he said to Eve in the garden of Eden was, "Yes, has God said, You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" (Genesis 3:1). By suggesting that she could, he was trying to get Eve to doubt what God had said. When he saw that she knew what God had said, he tried to get her to doubt the consequences of it by saying, "You shall surely not die:" (Genesis 3:4). In order to expose the wicked deception that it is not always God's will to heal us, the following sections establish one simple truth; that it is always God's perfect will to heal us, even though sometimes we may not get healed when we fail to fulfil the conditions. This ought to be a great encouragement to anyone sincerely seeking a healing, because if God's attitude towards us is the reason why we cannot get healed, and we cannot change God (See #2.024), then we could never get healed. But if we are at fault somewhere, then we can do something about that, and when we do fulfil the conditions to be healed, we will receive. Therefore, when we get these scriptures securely in our heart, it will rob the devil of an opportunity to deceive us out of what God has promised, and what Jesus died to purchase for us.
JESUS IS PROOF THAT GOD WANTS US HEALTHY
He came to earth to do the will of God the Father
MATTHEW 26:39, 42 (Jesus)
39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, your will be done.
MARK 14:36 (Jesus)
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to you; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what you will.
LUKE 22:42 (Jesus)
42 Saying, Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours be done.
JOHN 4:34
34 Jesus says to them, My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to finish his work.
JOHN 5:30 (Jesus)
30 I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgement is just; because I do not seek my own will, but the will of the Father who has sent me.
JOHN 6:38 (Jesus)
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.
Note: Jesus came to earth to do the will of God (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38), and submitted himself to do it even when faced with death on the cross (Matthew 26:39; 26:42; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42), so there can be no doubt that he did fulfil God's will while he was here. When he made statements like, "not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39), and "not my will, but yours be done." (Mark 14:36), he was talking to his Father, and referring to his Father's will (John 5:30). So as he doesn't change (Hebrews 13:8), let us ask ourselves, whose will was he doing when he healed all the sick people (See #2.023)? Obviously the Father's will, and as God doesn't change either (See #2.024), it proves that it is still God's perfect will to heal us today.
He destroyed sickness, the work of the devil
1 JOHN 3:8
8 He who commits sin is of the devil: for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy1 the works of the devil.
ACTS 10:38 (Peter)
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit, and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Note: The word translated he might destroy1 (Gr. ??s? Gtr. luse) (1 John 3:8) is the first person, singular, aorist, active, subjunctive, of the verb ??? (Gtr. luo) "I loose", or "I untie". This means that the purpose of the manifestation of Jesus was to "loose (or untie) the works of the Devil." (1 John 3:8). We see an example of him doing this when he said to a woman with a spirit of infirmity, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." (Luke 13:12), where the same verb "luo" is used. He went on to say, "And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?" (Luke 13:16), where he used the same verb "luo" again. So in order to "loose the works of the Devil", Jesus went around destroying sickness, "healing all who were oppressed of the devil;" (Acts 10:38). This confirms two important facts; firstly, that sickness is from the devil (See also Job 2:6-7; John 10:10), and secondly, as Jesus came specifically to do the will of God (See #2.021), it is always God's perfect will for sickness to be destroyed.
#2.023 He never refused or failed to heal anybody who asked him
MATTHEW 4:23
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
MATTHEW 8:16
16 And when the evening came, they brought to him many who were possessed with demons: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all who were sick:
MATTHEW 9:35
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
MATTHEW 12:15
15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from there: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all:
MATTHEW 14:14
14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
MATTHEW 15:30
30 And great multitudes came to him, having with them those who were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus feet; and he healed them:
MATTHEW 19:2
2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
MATTHEW 21:14
14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
MARK 6:56
56 And wherever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
LUKE 4:40
40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.
LUKE 6:17-19
17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
18 And those who were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went power out of him, and he healed them all.
LUKE 9:11
11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.
JOHN 6:2
2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them who were diseased.
Note: During his earthly ministry Jesus healed "all who were oppressed of the devil." (Acts 10:38), "all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." (Matthew 4:23), "all who were sick." (Matthew 8:16), "every sickness and every disease among the people." (Matthew 9:35), "them all:" (Matthew 12:15), "their sick." (Matthew 14:14), the "lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others," (Matthew 15:30), "the blind and the lame" (Matthew 21:14), "as many as touched him" (Mark 6:56), "every one of them" (Luke 4:40), "those who were vexed with unclean spirits:" (Luke 6:18), "them all." (Luke 6:19), and "those who had need of healing." (Luke 9:11); proving beyond any doubt that it is God's will for every believer to be healed. Nowhere can a scripture be found where Jesus failed to heal anybody who asked him, or refused to heal anybody who asked him, and he is "the same yesterday, and today, and for the age." (Hebrews 13:8). If it was God's will for anyone to be sick, then Jesus failed to do the will of God, because he didn't put sickness on anybody. If it was God's will for Christians to suffer with sickness, then Jesus failed to do the will of God a second time, because he never suffered with sickness himself. Even though he touched many sick people (Matthew 8:15; Luke 4:40; 5:13; 13:13), he never caught their diseases, but on the contrary, they always caught his perfect health; "as many as touched him were made whole." (Mark 6:56).
God hasn't changed, Jesus hasn't changed
PSALMS 102:27
27 But you are the same, and your years shall have no end.
MALACHI 3:6
6 For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.
HEBREWS 13:8 (Paul)
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for the age.
JAMES 1:17
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Note: Having established that when Jesus came he did the will of God (See #2.021), that he destroyed sickness, the work of the devil (See #2.022), healing innumerable diseases ; we can now see that as God and Jesus do not change, then healing for the sick must still be God's perfect will for us today.
RECEIVING OUR HEALING BY FAITH PLEASES GOD
Jesus healed all those who asked him
MATTHEW 4:23
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
MATTHEW 8:16
16 And when the evening came, they brought to him many who were possessed with demons: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all who were sick:
MATTHEW 9:35
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
MATTHEW 12:15
15 But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from there: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all:
MATTHEW 15:30
30 And great multitudes came to him, having with them those who were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus feet; and he healed them:
MARK 6:56
56 And wherever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
LUKE 4:40
40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.
LUKE 9:11
11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.
Jesus always pleased God
JOHN 8:29 (Jesus)
29 And he who sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
HEBREWS 11:6 (Paul)
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
Note: Receiving our healing by faith pleases God, but being healed with drugs, medicines, ointments, or surgery does not. Doctors diagnose according to the condition of the flesh when they check the temperature, the pulse, the breathing, the blood pressure, and so on; but do they ever check the spiritual condition of the patient? Paul said "those who are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:8), and "without faith it is impossible to please him." (Hebrews 11:6), so doctors can never please God as long as they diagnose and treat according to the flesh. Those who profess to believe in Christ, and prescribe the same treatments as unbelievers, show that their confidence is in the drugs, and not in God. Divine healing relies totally upon the supernatural power of God to manifest a healing, and this trust in him is what pleases God. Jesus never used drugs or medicines, or sent people to the physicians for treatment, but every healing was done totally by faith in the Father, and that is why he could say, "I do always those things that please him." (John 8:29). If we wish to please God, then we need to receive our healing by faith, without drugs or medicines, because "without faith it is impossible to please him." (Hebrews 11:6).
RECEIVING OUR HEALING BY FAITH PLEASES GOD
The healings of Jesus brought glory to God
MATTHEW 15:30-31
30 And great multitudes came to him, having with them those who were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:
31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.
LUKE 5:24-26 (Jesus heals the sick of the palsy)
24 But that you may know that the Son of man has power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said to the sick of the palsy,) I say to you, Arise, and take up your couch, and go into your house.
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that on which he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26 And they were all amazed, and glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things today.
LUKE 7:12-16 (Jesus raises a dead man at Nain)
12 Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and many people of the city were with her.
13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, Do not weep.
14 And he came and touched the coffin: and those who carried him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say to you, Arise.
15 And he who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God has visited his people.
LUKE 13:10-12 (Jesus heals a woman with a spirit of infirmity)
10 And, behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no way lift up herself.
11 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said to her, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.
12 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
LUKE 17:12-15 (Jesus heals ten lepers)
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said to them, Go show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God.
LUKE 18:42-43 (Jesus heals a blind man)
42 And Jesus said to him, Receive your sight: your faith has saved you.
43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
JOHN 11:3-4 (Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead)
3 Therefore his sisters sent to him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified by it.
JOHN 11:39-40
39 Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him who was dead, says to him, Lord, by this time he stinks: for he has been dead four days.
40 Jesus says to her, Did I not say to you, that, if you would believe, you should see the glory of God?
Note: In every one of these cases God was glorified by the healing, not by the sickness, because glory was given to God after they were healed, not while they were still sick. Even when Lazarus had been dead four days, they had still not seen the glory of God (John 11:40), nor did they see it until he walked out of the grave, his partially decomposed body being fully restored to life. If we really love God, and desire to see him glorified, then we need to receive our healing by faith, so that he alone may receive the glory.
We are commanded to glorify God in our physical bodies
PSALMS 50:14-15 (Asaph)
14 Offer to God thanksgiving; and pay your vows to the most high:
15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.
ISAIAH 43:7
7 Even every one who is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20 (Paul)
19 What! Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?
20 For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit which are God's.
2 THESSALONIANS 1:11-12 (Paul)
11 Therefore we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Note: We are commanded, "glorify God in your body," (Psalm 50:15; 1 Corinthians 6:20), that's what we were created for (Isaiah 43:7), and we can only do this by being in perfect health, or being healed by faith, but not by remaining sick. What glory is it to God, if our only witness is that the devil is making us sick, and God won't heal us because he doesn't love us enough, or likes to see us suffer? How many people would we convert to Christ on that basis? Isn't it much more truthful to tell them, "Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:17), and "with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5). Then we can share with them the love and compassion that God has for his children, and glorify God with our testimony of perfect health.
Every promise is "yes" for God's glory
PSALMS 50:14-15
14 Offer to God thanksgiving; and pay your vows to the most High:
15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you and you shall glorify me.
JOHN 14:13-14 (Jesus)
13 And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
2 CORINTHIANS 1:20 (Paul)
20 For all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen, for glory to God through us.
Note: There are three fundamental reasons why most of us want to be healed: to glorify ourselves, to relieve ourselves of the suffering or inconvenience caused by the sickness, or to glorify God.
The first is one of the reasons why sometimes we are unable to stand in faith for healing: because we are seeking to glorify ourselves, rather than God. If we wish to be healed so that we can boast, and show off how God is blessing us, in order to obtain the admiration of others, then we will fail, because this is contrary to faith:
(John 5:44) "How can you believe, who receive honor one of another,"
(James 4:3) "You ask, and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts."
The second is just a natural desire to be free from the pain and inconvenience caused by sickness, and the woman with the issue of blood is a good example of this (Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48). She spent everything that she had seeking healing from the physicians before she came to Jesus (Mark 5:26; Luke 8:43), and when she did get healed, she tried to hide it (Luke 8:45-47). This shows that she was neither seeking glory for herself, or for Jesus; and it also shows that God is willing to heal under these circumstances.
However, if the third reason applies to us, and we have a sincere desire to glorify God, then God has told us; "call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you and you shall glorify me." (Psalm 50:15). All of God's promises are already answered with a "yes" for God's glory (2 Corinthians 1:20), and that includes healing. He will not say no providing that we fulfil the conditions, because he will not alter what he has said (See #2.223), nor can he lie (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2).
WE ARE COMMANDED TO PRESENT OUR BODIES PERFECT, AS A LIVING SACRIFICE
The command to present our body as a living sacrifice
ROMANS 12:1 (Paul)
1 I entreat you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your service of the word.
Sacrifices must be perfect to be acceptable
LEVITICUS 22:20-25
20 But whatever has a blemish, that you shall not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.
21 And whoever offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in cattle or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish in it.
22 Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a issue, or scurvy, or scabbed, you shall not offer these to the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar to the LORD.
23 Either a bullock or a lamb that has anything superfluous or lacking in his parts, that you may offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted.
24 You shall not offer to the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall you make any offering of it in your land.
25 Neither from a stranger's hand shall you offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes are in them: they shall not be accepted for you.
DEUTERONOMY 15:21
21 And if there is any blemish in it, as if it is lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.
DEUTERONOMY 17:1
1 You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God any bullock, or sheep, in which is blemish, or any evil favouredness: for that is an abomination to the LORD your God.
MALACHI 1:8,14
8 And if you offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if you offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? Offer it now to your governor, will he be pleased with you, or accept your person? says the LORD of Hosts.
14 But cursed be the deceiver, who has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices to the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great king, says the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
Note: Paul said that to present our bodies "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God," (Romans 12:1), was our reasonable service; but according to the Old Testament types, to be acceptable a sacrifice must be in good health. To sacrifice anything sick is considered evil (Malachi 1:8), and unacceptable (Leviticus 22:20; 22:25), an abomination to God (Deuteronomy 17:1), and we are commanded not to do it (Leviticus 22:22; Deuteronomy 15:21). The only way we can obey all of these scriptures is to be in perfect health, so how can God ever want anybody to be sick? Certainly he permits sickness, but he also permits murder, theft, etc. and none of these are his perfect will either, are they?
WE ARE COMMANDED TO RESIST THE DEVIL STEADFAST IN THE FAITH
EPHESIANS 4:27 (Paul)
27 Neither give place to the devil.
EPHESIANS 6:11 (Paul)
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
JAMES 4:7
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
1 PETER 5:8-9
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour;
9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.
Note: The devil is always the cause of sickness (Job 2:6-7; Luke 13:16; John 10:10; Acts 10:38), and these verses are commands to give him no place in our lives, but to resist him "steadfast in the faith," (1 Peter 5:9). These are commands to resist sickness, amongst other things, and as God would never desire us to do something contrary to his will, it shows that it is always God's perfect will for us to be healthy. As all disobedience to God's word is sin (Leviticus 22:9; Numbers 15:31; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Daniel 9:5; 9:11), it is a sin not to resist sickness by faith, and this was confirmed by Paul when he stated the principle, "whatever is not of faith is sin." (Romans 14:23). God wants us to "walk by faith," (2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 4:12), "Fight the good fight of faith," (1 Timothy 6:12), and "live by faith." (Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 2:20; 3:11; Hebrews 10:38), so that "the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it is tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" (1 Peter 1:7). Healing is only one area which gives us an opportunity to do this.
SICKNESS GIVES THE ENEMIES OF GOD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BLASPHEME HIM AND HIS WORD
2 SAMUEL 12:14 (Nathan)
14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.
PROVERBS 25:26 (Solomon)
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
ISAIAH 52:5
5 Now therefore, what have I here, says the LORD, that my people are taken away for nothing? those who rule over them make them howl, says the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.
EZEKIEL 36:20
20 And when they entered into the heathen, wherever they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.
ROMANS 2:24 (Paul)
24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.
Note: Any dominating sin or sickness in our lives is a submission to the devil, and any defeat that the devil can inflict upon us with sin or sickness gives the world an opportunity to blaspheme the name of God. If we wear glasses, or visit dentists, or seek after doctors when we are sick, then we cannot honestly say that we have the faith that God heals eyes, teeth, or sickness, because all deeds come from the heart (Proverbs 16:9; Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21-23), and faith without works is dead (James 2:17; 2:20; 2:26). All these things give the world an opportunity to blaspheme the name of God; to deny that he loves us (See #2.32), to deny that he is merciful (See #2.34), and to deny that his word is true, when healing has so graciously been granted in the scriptures. The fact that God does not wish his name to be blasphemed proves that it is always his perfect will to heal us, but we still need to fulfil the conditions in order to obtain our healing.
MIRACLE HEALINGS HELP UNBELIEVERS TO BELIEVE
JOHN 4:48
48 And Jesus said to him, Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe.
JOHN 11:43-45 (After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead)
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he who was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin, Jesus says to them, Loose him, and let him go.
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
ACTS 4:4 (When Peter healed a lame man and preached)
4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
ACTS 9:34-35 (After Peter healed Aeneas of the palsy)
34 And Peter said to him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ makes you whole: arise, and make your bed. And he arose immediately.
35 And all that dwelt in Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.
ACTS 9:40-42 (After Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead)
40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
41 And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
42 And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
Note: Jesus himself testified that signs and wonders caused unbelievers to believe (John 4:48), and many people believed simply because of the miracles that were done (John 11:45; Acts 4:4; 9:35; 9:42). If it is God's will for people to believe in Jesus, which it is, then surely supernatural healing must be his will also.
MIRACLE HEALINGS SPREAD THE FAME OF JESUS
MATTHEW 9:26 (After Jesus raised Jairus' daughter from the dead)
26 And this report went into all the land.
MATTHEW 9:31 (After Jesus healed two blind men)
31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
MARK 1:28 (After Jesus healed a man with an unclean spirit)
28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
MARK 1:45 (After Jesus cleansed a leper)
45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was outside in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
MARK 5:20 (After Jesus healed the Gadarene demoniac)
20 And he departed and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men marvelled.
LUKE 7:17 (After Jesus raised a widow's son from the dead)
17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judea, and throughout all the region round about.
Note: Does God want the fame of Jesus spread abroad? Of course he does! He wants the gospel preached in all the world (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15), so miracle healings are something God very much wants to see take place, because as these scriptures show, they cause the word of God to spread very quickly. When we get healed by faith, we will have a far better witness for Jesus than when we are sick, won't we?
JESUS HAS ALREADY SUFFERED FOR OUR SICKNESSES
ISAIAH 53:3-5
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows1, and acquainted with grief2: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we did not esteem him.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs2, and carried our sorrows1: yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 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.
MATTHEW 8:16-17
16 When the evening came, they brought to him many who were possessed with demons: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all who were sick3:
17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities4 and bore our sicknesses5.
1 PETER 2:24
24 Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live in righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.
GALATIANS 3:13 (Paul)
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree:
Note 1: Leviticus chapter 16 describes an atonement for sin which was made under the law, and Isaiah 53 describes the atonement made by Jesus Christ for sin under the New Covenant. It is a section of scripture which is called "the Atonement", and if we can find healing in this scripture, then we can know for certain that healing was included in what Jesus bought for us on the cross. The noun translated sorrows1 (Isaiah 53:3-4) (Hb. ???????, Htr. Mak'ov) comes from a root word (Hb. ??????, Htr. Ka'av), a verb which means "to be sore," or "to have pain," or "to be sorrowful." The key to understanding this root word is "pain", which can be defined as "bodily or mental suffering". It can refer to physical pain, for example, "every male was circumcised ... when they were sore" (Genesis 34:24-25), and "his flesh upon him shall have pain" (Job 14:22), or it can refer to mental pain, which is sorrow, "Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful" (Proverbs 14:13). The noun "mak'ov" itself can also refer to physical pain, "He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:" (Job 33:19), or mental pain, "he who increases knowledge, increases sorrow." (Ecclesiastes 1:18). There are times when it can refer to both: "And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows." (Exodus 3:7). Here the pain would certainly be physical as well as mental, because taskmasters with whips would inflict much physical pain, and this in turn would cause "their sorrows". We may conclude then, that the strict meaning of the word depends on the context where it is used, as to whether it refers to physical pain, mental pain, or both.
Note 2: So we need to analyze this scripture (Isaiah 53:4-5) in context, and together with other scriptures, in order to determine exactly what it refers to here.
Was Jesus "a man of sorrows"? Well, if we look at other scriptures we will find that he wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). He wept over Lazarus (John 11:35), and when he was in the garden of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives, before his crucifixion, he said, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even to death:" (Matthew 26:38; Mark 14:34). When he prayed, he was "in an agony" (Gr. ??????, Gtr. agonia) which means "severe mental struggles", so much so that "his sweat were as great drops of blood falling to the ground." (Luke 22:44). So certainly he was a man of sorrows.
Was Jesus "a man of pains?" Here we only have to look at Jesus just before he died on the cross. He was beaten during his trial (Matthew 26:67; Mark 14:65; Luke 22:64; John 18:22). He was scourged (Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; John 19:1), and he had a crown of thorns put on his head (Matthew 27:29; Mark 15:17). He was nailed to the cross (John 20:24-28), and he was crucified (Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:33; John 19:23), which was an extremely painful way to die. According to prophecy, "his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:" (Isaiah 52:14), so that we can conclude with certainty that Jesus was a man of pains, as well as a man of sorrows. That does not help us much to know which of these are meant in this passage on the atonement, but let us look at some more points:
(A) If Jesus carried our sorrows, then by definition, he must have carried our pains also, because pain is one of the greatest causes of sorrow. If he did not carry our pains, then our sorrows could not have gone either, and that would mean that we would have to ignore this scripture altogether. The conclusion to be drawn is that Jesus carried both our pains and our sorrows on the cross: this contradicts nothing.
(B) If we examine the conditions in the kingdom of God, after our resurrection, then we can note the following:
(Revelation 21:4) "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
For the condition to include "no more ... sorrow, ... neither shall there be any more pain:" then surely Jesus must have redeemed both on the cross. Otherwise God would have no justification for taking them away. It could be counted as a failure if Jesus did not redeem everything that Adam lost for us, so we must conclude that he carried both our pains and our sorrows on the cross.
(C) Examine the statement: "he cast out the spirits with his word, ... That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities" (Matthew 8:16-17). This is definite proof that Isaiah 53:4 includes physical sickness and infirmities, because when he cast out the spirits, he fulfilled "Himself took our infirmities" (Matthew 8:17), which is a quotation of "he ... carried our sorrows:" (Isaiah 53:4), and the scripture verifies that spirits do cause physical infirmities (Luke 13:11). The word translated infirmities4 (Gr. ?s???e?a Gtr. astheneia) is often used of physical infirmities (Luke 5:15; 8:2; 13:11; John 5:5), or sickness (John 11:4), or diseases (Acts 28:9), as well as its other meaning of weakness. The conclusion to this is, that in the prophecy of Jesus' death (Isaiah 53:3-4), the word translated sorrows1 (Htr. Mak'ov) refers to both physical pain and sorrow.
Note 3: We need to make it clear that although Jesus took our worldly sorrow which "works death", he did not take our godly sorrow which "works repentance to salvation" (2 Corinthians 7:10). Jesus himself called us to repentance (Matthew 4:17; Luke 13:3; 13:5), and God has commanded all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30), but as repentance includes godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10), in no way have we been delivered from this. We have been called to become like Jesus (See #2.20), and he was a man of sorrows (See Note 1), as well as Paul who sorrowed much for the sake of others (Romans 9:2; Acts 20:19; 20:31; 2 Corinthians 2:4; Philippians 2:27-28).
Also as far as pain is concerned, because Jesus suffered much pain for the sake of others, then this is our calling too. His pain was through persecution (See Note 1), just as Paul's was (2 Corinthians 11:23-25; Galatians 5:11; 6:12: 2 Timothy 3:11). As Jesus promised us persecution (Matthew 5:11; Mark 10:30; Luke 21:12; John 15:20), then we can believe that "all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12). Therefore Jesus only took our worldly pains, which includes those that come with sickness, but not those that we suffer for his sake.
Note 4: The word translated grief2 and griefs2 (Isaiah 53:3-4) is the Hebrew word ????? (Htr. cholî). It comes from the root word ????? (Htr. chala), which can variously mean to be weak, infirm, sick, diseased, wounded, etc., and can refer to either physical or figurative sickness. The word "cholî" is variously translated elsewhere as, "sickness" (Deuteronomy 7:15; 28:61; 1 Kings 17:17; 2 Kings 13:14; 2 Chronicles 21:15; 21:19; Psalm 41:3; Ecclesiastes 5:17; Isaiah 38:9; Hosea 5:13), "sicknesses" (Deuteronomy 28:59), "disease" (2 Kings 1:2; 8:8; 8:9; 2 Chronicles 16:12; 21:18; Ecclesiastes 6:2), and "sick" (Isaiah 1:5). Almost everywhere it literally means physical sickness or disease, such as the fall of Ahaziah (2 Kings 1:2), Asa's feet (2 Chronicles 16:12), and Jehoram's bowels (2 Chronicles 21:15-20), but it is also used in a figurative sense of Israel, called Ephraim (Hosea 5:13). In two other places it is translated "grief" (Jeremiah 6:7; 10:19), but even here it could be translated "sickness" as it is in some other versions (NIV, NASV, etc.). For any honest Christian, this ought to be enough evidence to translate "choli" as sickness in Isaiah 53:3-4. Why should it mean physical sickness in every other scripture where it is used except these?
Note 5: There are also other reasons why, at the very least, Christ's death on the cross must include the redemption of our sicknesses and diseases:
(A) The word "choli" is translated "sickness" (Deuteronomy 28:59; 28:61), where it refers to the consequences of being under the curse for disobeying the law. When Christ died on the cross, as he "redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:" (Galatians 3:13), then he must have redeemed us from sickness also.
(B) As there can be no grief or sickness on the new earth, all things will be "made new" (Revelation 21:15), Jesus must have redeemed both on the cross. Otherwise God would have no justification for removing them from us.
(C) The statements "with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5), and "by whose stripes you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24), have to refer to physical healing, because we are not spiritually healed, we are born again. The wicked spirit that lives within us, called our "old man", is not healed, but has to be crucified and killed (Romans 6:6). The "new man", which is Jesus, grows within us and replaces our "old man", and when this is complete we become "a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17). Notice that nothing is healed, all things are made new; the "new man" is created (Ephesians 4:24).
(D) In order to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah 53:4 Jesus first had to heal "all who were sick." (Matthew 8:16), so that he could fulfil "Himself ... bore our sicknesses." (Matthew 8:17). This in turn is a quotation of "he has borne our griefs," (Isaiah 53:4), and again shows that the prophecy of Isaiah 53:4 must include physical sickness as well as sorrows. The word translated sicknesses5 (Gr. ??s??, Gtr. nosos) is also translated "sickness/es" (Matthew 4:23; 9:35; 10:1; Mark 3:15), "diseases" (Matthew 4:24; Mark 1:34; Luke 4:40; 6:17; 9:1; Acts 19:12), "infirmities" (Luke 7:21), and is never used in the New Testament of anything other than physical sickness or disease. Therefore that is what it must mean in Matthew 8:17, and Isaiah 53:4 which Matthew is quoting.
(E) There is a place in the Old Testament, where Levites were allowed to make an atonement in order to prevent a plague among the Israelites (Numbers 8:19). We must ask the question, "If an atonement made by a Levite under the law could prevent a plague, how much more the atonement of Jesus Christ?" There are two places (Numbers 16:46-48; 25:1-13) where a plague was stopped by a Levite who made an atonement for Israel because of sin. Again we must ask the question, "If the atonement made by a Levite under the law could stop a plague among the Israelites, how much more can the atonement of Jesus Christ stop sickness and disease in our lives?"
All this evidence shows that God sent Jesus to the cross to redeem us from sickness as well as sin, and proves that it is always his perfect will to heal us.
WE ARE CALLED TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS
MATTHEW 10:25 (Jesus)
25 It is enough for the disciple that he is as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call those of his household.
LUKE 6:40 (Jesus)
40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one who is perfect shall be as his master.
ROMANS 8:28-29 (Paul)
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:17-18 (Paul)
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
1 JOHN 2:6
6 He who says he abides in him ought also to walk even as he walked.
Note: There is no record that Jesus was ever sick. On the contrary, as sin is the cause of sickness (Leviticus 26:21; Deuteronomy 28:15-22, 58-61; Psalm 25:18; 31:10; 38:3-5; 39:11; 89:30-33; 107:10-11, 17; Proverbs 11:17; Jeremiah 30:14-15; Daniel 9:11; Micah 6:12-13; Matthew 9:5), and there can be no sickness without sin (Exodus 15:26; Psalm 91:9-10; Proverbs 19:23; 26:2; Ecclesiastes 8:5; Matthew 9:5; Mark 2:9; 1 John 5:18), except exceptional ones (John 9:14), he could not possibly have been sick, because he never sinned (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5). Even though he touched many sick people (Matthew 8:15; Luke 4:40; 5:13; 13:13), he never caught their diseases, but instead they always caught his perfect health, "as many as touched him were made whole." (Mark 6:56). As it is God's perfect will for every Christian to be "conformed to the image of his Son," (Romans 8:29), it can never be his perfect will for any Christian to be sick, can it?
GOD HAS PROMISED HEALING IN THE COVENANTS HE MADE WITH MEN
Healing was promised in the Old Covenant
EXODUS 15:26
26 And said, If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.
EXODUS 23:25
25 And you shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless your bread, and your water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of you.
DEUTERONOMY 7:12,15
12 Therefore it shall come to pass, if you hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord your God shall keep to you the covenant and the mercy which he swore to your fathers.
15 And the Lord will take away from you all sickness ...
PSALMS 91:9-10
9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation;
10 There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
PSALMS 103:2-3
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits,
3 Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases.
Note: These verses show that healing was promised under the Old Covenant for "all sicknesses" (Deuteronomy 7:15), and "all your diseases." (Psalm 103:3), and protection was promised against "any plague" (Psalm 91:10). Although it depended upon the people serving God (Exodus 23:25), being obedient to him in everything that he has commanded (Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 7:12), and making him their refuge and habitation (Psalm 91:9), it does make clear that healing was always available when the conditions were fulfilled, and shows that it is always God's perfect will to heal his people.
Healing is promised in the New Covenant
MATTHEW 10:1,5,8 (Jesus) (RPT)
1 And when he had called his twelve disciples to him, he gave them authority1 over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every sickness and every disease.
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, ...
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons: freely you have received, freely give.
MARK 3:14-15
14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15 And to have power1 to heal sickness, and to cast out demons:
MARK 16:17 (Jesus)
17 And these signs shall follow those who believe; In my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;
LUKE 9:1-2 (Jesus)
1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power2 and authority1 over all demons, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
LUKE 10:19 (Jesus) (RPT)
19 Behold, I give to you the authority1 to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power2 of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you, certainly not.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:7-9 (Paul)
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit all.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:28 (Paul)
28 And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, kinds of tongues.
JAMES 5:14-16
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:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Note 1: The word here translated authority1 (Gr. ????s?a, Gtr. exousia) is incorrectly translated "power" in the KJV (Matthew 10:1; Mark 3:15; Luke 10:19), and is distinct from the word translated power2 (Gtr. dunamis), which is akin to the English word "dynamite". When Jesus gave authority over all demons to his disciples (Matthew 10:1; Mark 16:17; Luke 9:1), and over all of their power (Luke 10:19), he effectively gave it to every disciple of his who is willing to receive it. He gave it to Judas Iscariot who was one of the twelve (Matthew 10:1), and also his betrayer (Mark 14:43-45; Luke 22:47; John 18:23); he gave it to Simon Peter who later denied him three times (Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-27), and to the other disciples who fled for their lives and left him when he was arrested (Matthew 26:31: Mark 14:27). He also gave it to seventy other disciples (Luke 10:1; 10:17-19) who later deserted him when his words became too strong for them (John 6:60-66). Thus we can dispense with any idea that we have to be perfect before we can be given this authority, it has already been given to us, although we do need to recognise that it must be exercised in faith (Matthew 17:20), and using the name of Jesus, because "at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;" (Philippians 2:10).
Note 2: To those who insist that healing is not part of the New Covenant, then let us ask these questions:
(A) Under which covenant has God set gifts of healing in the church (1 Corinthians 12:28), if not under the New Covenant?
(B) Which covenant was the apostle James under, when he said, "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," (James 5:14-15), if not under the New Covenant? Surely these are elders of the New Testament church that he referred to, aren't they?
(C) Under which covenant did the apostle Peter heal the lame man at the gate of the temple (Acts 3:18), heal the sick in the streets (Acts 5:15), heal the man sick of the palsy (Acts 9:32-35), and raise Dorcas from the dead (Acts 9:36-42), if not under the New Covenant?
(D) Under which covenant did Paul heal the crippled man at Lystra (Acts 14:8-11), heal the father of Publius, and others, on the island of Melita (Acts 28:7-9), and raise Eutychus from the dead (Acts 20:8-11), if not under the New Covenant?
God will not break or alter any covenant
JUDGES 2:1
1 And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.
PSALMS 89:34
34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
PSALMS 111:5
5 He has given meat to those who fear him: he will be ever mindful of his covenant.
ECCLESIASTES 3:14 (Solomon)
14 I know that, whatever God does, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and God does it, that men should fear before him.
ISAIAH 40:8
8 The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
MALACHI 3:6
6 For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Note: Having established that healing was promised under the Old Covenant (See #2.221), and under the New Covenant (See #2.222), we see here other statements of God, which show that he will never alter or break them:
(Judges 2:1) "I will never break my covenant with you."
(Psalm 89:34) "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips."
(Psalm 111:5) "he will be ever mindful of his covenant."
(Ecclesiastes 3:14) "whatever God does, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it:"
Thus the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, both of which include healing, can still be appropriated today if the conditions are fulfilled.
The New Covenant is better than the old one, and supersedes it
HEBREWS 7:22
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better covenant.
HEBREWS 8:6-7,13
6 But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if the first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
13 In that he says, A new covenant, he has made the first old. Now that which decays and grows old is ready to vanish away.
Note: Just to reinforce the point that healing has also been provided under the New Covenant (See #2.222), then for the sake of those who say that it isn't, we need to ask the question that obviously arises from these scriptures. If healing was provided under the Old Covenant (See #2.221), and Jesus is the mediator of "a better covenant." (Hebrews 7:22), "a better covenant, which was established upon better promises." (Hebrews 8:6), then how can it possibly be, that the New Covenant doesn't include healing? We need to know for a certainty, that God has always provided healing for his people, when the conditions are properly fulfilled, because it is always his perfect will to heal us.
JOHN'S WILL CANNOT BE CONTRARY TO GOD'S WILL
3 JOHN 2
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that you may do well and be in health, even as your soul does well.
Note: Here we have a simple statement by the apostle John, "I wish above all things that you may ... be in health," which indicates that the physical health of those that he wrote to was of the utmost importance to him. How could such a man of God possibly have a desire like this, contrary to the will of God? The answer is that he couldn't. He testified himself that he was an eye witness of Jesus Christ (1 John 1:12), and that he had fellowship with the Father and with Jesus (1 John 1:3), so the idea that his desires were in any way contrary to God are really unthinkable. This just proves that one of God's greatest desires is that we are in good physical health, and it totally agrees with the mission of Jesus, doesn't it (See #2.02)?
GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS
ACTS 10:34
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons;
ROMANS 2:11 (Paul)
11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
EPHESIANS 6:9 (Paul)
9 And, you masters, do the same thing to them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
JAMES 2:9
9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors.
Note: There are some scriptures (Genesis 4:4-5; Exodus 2:25; Psalm 138:6) which indicate that God does respect persons in a sense. He is no respecter of "who" or "what" we are in this world, but he is a respecter of "what" we are spiritually, the state of our spiritual heart. He does not respect a Pharisee above a publican (Luke 18:10-14), or a rich man above a poor man (Luke 16:19-31; James 2:15). God considers each of us according to the state of our heart, "for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7). He rewards us according to our righteousness (2 Samuel 22:21, 25; 1 Kings 3:2; 8:6; 2 Chronicles 6:23; Psalm 18:20, 24), which depends on us having God's word in our hearts (Psalm 37:30-31; Isaiah 51:7), and according to our faith (Matthew 8:13; 9:22; 9:29; 15:28; 21:22; Mark 5:34; 5:36; 10:52; 11:24; Luke 8:48; 8:50; 17:9; 18:42), which also requires God's word in our hearts (Romans 10:8). So Abel's offering was accepted, while Cain's was rejected (Genesis 4:4-5), simply because "By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain," (Hebrews 11:4). As God has healed many people in the past (Matthew 4:23; 8:16; 9:35; 12:15; 14:14; 15:30; 19:2 etc.), then he will also heal now when the required conditions are fulfilled, otherwise he would be having respect of persons. Not only would this be a sin to him (James 2:9), but it would go against all his promises of healing (See #2.22), make him a liar, and God cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2).
OUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1 CORINTHIANS 3:16-17 (Paul)
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwells in you?
17 If any man defiles the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20 (Paul)
19 What? do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?
20 For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Note: When we are born again, and baptized in the Holy Spirit as the Corinthians were, [evidenced by speaking in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:2; 14:4; 14:13-16; 14:23; 14:27 etc.) and the operation of spiritual gifts in the church (1 Corinthians 12:7-11; 12:27-31; 14:27-33),] then our bodies are considered by God to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, as these scriptures show. Does God want his temple to be defiled in any way, or to be unclean? Not according to Paul and Peter, because God's will is for his temple (our body) to be holy (Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Peter 1:15-16), and he will destroy those who defile it (1 Corinthians 3:17). So how can God ever want any of us to have our body defiled with sickness? The simple answer is that he doesn't. He wants all of our bodies free from all physical uncleanness, which includes sickness; and that's why he sent Jesus to heal all the sick (See #2.023), gave authority over the devil to the disciples under the New Covenant (See #2.222), set gifts of healing in the church (1 Corinthians 12:28), and ordained the prayer of faith to heal the sick (James 5:15). Again this shows that God's perfect will is for us to be healthy.
THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST
EPHESIANS 1:22-23 (Paul)
22 And has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
EPHESIANS 5:29-30 (Paul)
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
COLOSSIANS 1:18 (Paul)
18 And he is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence.
COLOSSIANS 1:24 (Paul)
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church.
Note: These scriptures indicate that the church is now the body of Christ on earth, and individual Christians are members of his body (Ephesians 5:30). When Jesus was here in the flesh, he laid hands on the sick in order to heal them (Matthew 8:15; 9:25; 9:29; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 7:33; 8:23; Luke 4:40; 13:13), but now believers, who are part of his body, are supposed to do it in his place (Mark 16:18; Acts 3:7; 9:17; 20:10; 28:8). This being so, we need to ask the question: was it ever God's perfect will for Jesus to be physically sick? It couldn't be, could it? because Jesus had full authority over all sickness, which he often demonstrated (See #2.023). Apart from that, look what was written about him in the scripture:
(Psalm 16:10) "neither will you suffer your Holy One to see corruption." (Also Acts 2:27)
(Acts 2:31) "neither his flesh did see corruption."
(Acts 13:35) "You shall not suffer your Holy One to see corruption."
(Acts 13:37) "But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption."
God would not allow the body of Jesus to be corrupted, even by death, so how could he ever allow it to be corrupted by sickness? So if it was God's will for Jesus' body to be free from sickness and corruption then, it must be his will also for his body (the church) now, because God doesn't change (See #2.024), and his perfect will never changes (See Intro 1). If it was God's will for Jesus to be sick, then he would have to be sick all of the time in order to continually fulfil it, and we would have to be sick all of the time also in order to continually fulfil God's perfect will. Every healing would be contrary to his will, and Christians would have to pray for themselves and others to become sick in order to fulfil God's will, wouldn't they? because we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven without doing God's will (Matthew 7:21). How many of us desire to have our bodies afflicted with sickness, disease, or mutilation? None if we are in our right mind! So if we never want our bodies to be sick, and our desire for our body is the same as Jesus' desire for his body (Ephesians 5:29), then he can never desire his body (the church, and us as individual members) to be sick either. As Jesus' will was always the same as the Father's (See #2.021), it proves emphatically that it is never the Father's will for us to be sick, doesn't it?
GOD LOVES US
MATTHEW 7:11 (Jesus)
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?
JOHN 3:16 (Jesus)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
ROMANS 8:32 (Paul)
32 He who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
1 JOHN 3:1
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world does not know, because it knew him not.
1 JOHN 4:8
8 He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.
1 JOHN 4:16
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he who dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.
Note: These are just a few scriptures which tell us that "God is love." (1 John 4:8; 4:16), and that he loves us so much that he was prepared to sacrifice his only son to save us (John 3:16; Romans 8:32). There can be little doubt then that God not only wants us saved and cleansed from all sin, which is spiritual uncleanness, but he also wants us healed, and cured of all diseases, which are a physical uncleanness. It must be his perfect will, otherwise he would not have gone to such extreme lengths in order to do it. How many of us would sacrifice our only child to save someone else? How many of us would not help someone who was hopelessly struggling with sickness and pain, and called to us for help, when it was within our power? How much more will a loving God come to our aid when he sees us sick, and we call to him to heal us? However, if we are being chastened for disobedience or sin (Leviticus 26:27-28; Psalm 89:31-32; 107:17; Jeremiah 30:14), then God's love is the reason why we are not healed:
(Proverbs 3:12) "For whom the LORD loves he corrects;"
(Proverbs 13:24) "He who spares his rod hates his son: but he who loves him chastens him."
(Hebrews 12:6-8) "For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as sons; for what son is he whom the father does not chasten?
But if you are without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not sons."
(Revelation 3:19) "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent."
This last scripture gives us the way out of chastening, which is repentance from whatever is the cause. It could be a failure to learn God's word (Psalm 94:12; 119:71), a failure to enter into rest (Psalm 94:12-13), a failure to turn from sin (Job 34:31; 36:7-10), a lack of purity in heart (Job 41:24-25), a lack of holiness (Hebrews 12:10), a lack of righteousness (Hebrews 12:11), or a lack of prayer (Isaiah 26:16). God will not let us off without repentance (Hosea 5:15), because it would leave us condemned with the world (Job 33:14-22, 29-30; Proverbs 23:13-14; 1 Corinthians 11:32). This all shows that God's perfect will is always that we are healed, but that the condition of repentance is fulfilled also. Anyone who knows anything about love knows that love wants to give whenever there is a need, and when we need healing, God, who is love (1 John 4:8; 4:16), wants to give us that healing.
GOD IS MERCIFUL
PSALMS 103:8-11, 17-18
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He has not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward those who fear him.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those who remember his commandments to do them.
PSALMS 117
1 O praise the LORD, all you nations: praise him, all you people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endures for ever. Praise the LORD.
PSALMS 118:1-4
1 O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now say, that his mercy endures for ever.
3 Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endures for ever.
4 Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endures for ever.
PSALMS 136:1-4, 23-26
1 O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endures for ever.
2 O give thanks to the God of gods: for his mercy endures for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endures for ever.
4 To him who alone does great wonders: for his mercy endures for ever.
23 Who redeemed us in our low estate: for his mercy endures for ever.
24 And has redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endures for ever.
25 Who gives food to all flesh: for his mercy endures for ever.
26 O give thanks to the God of heaven: for his mercy endures for ever.
PSALMS 138:8 (David)
8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me: your mercy, O LORD, endures for ever: do not forsake the work of your own hands.
MATTHEW 5:7 (Jesus)
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
MATTHEW 12:7 (Jesus)
7 But if you had known what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless.
JAMES 5:11
11 Behold, we count them happy who endure. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Note: Many times in the Old Testament, when people sought after God, they went looking for his mercy (Deuteronomy 21:8; Psalm 30:10; 56:1; 57:1; 67:1; 119:41; Daniel 9:18). Why? because they knew that God was merciful. In the New Testament, when people came seeking for Jesus, many times they came asking for mercy (Matthew 9:27; 15:22; 17:15; 20:30). Why? because they knew that Jesus was merciful. When he healed people, Jesus was motivated by "compassion" (Matthew 14:14; 20:34; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13), which is really "a desire to extend mercy". So we can see that we have a God whose mercy is "plenteous" (Psalm 103:8), as great as "the heaven is high above the earth," (Psalm 103:11), from "everlasting to everlasting" (Psalm 103:17), and "endures for ever." (Psalm 118; 136; 138:8). Therefore, if we "love him and keep his commandments" (Deuteronomy 7:9; Nehemiah 1:5), "fear him" (Psalm 103:11; 103:17), and trust him (Psalm 32:10). If we call upon him (Psalm 86:5), confess and forsake our sins (Proverbs 28:13), refuse to "observe lying vanities" (Jonah 2:8), and extend our mercy towards others (Psalm 18:25; Matthew 5:7), then he will certainly extend his mercy towards us, because "he delights in mercy." (Micah 7:18). The fact that healing is an act of God's mercy was shown by Paul, who was describing the healing of Epaphroditus when he said, "God had mercy on him;" (Philippians 2:27). As God cannot change (Psalm 102:27; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17), and mercy is his motivation for healing us, it proves that it is always God's perfect will to heal everyone who will "trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever." (Psalm 52:8).
Special thanks to a great man of God and a wonderful friend, Pastor Terry Sisney.
My name is William Poovey, and I pastor at Bethel Church in Olar, SC. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a lot of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
William Poovey
