Nope! Not even close. Still too much of me in the way I would guess. But, since adopting our current approach over the more traditional approach, it has gone from less than 10% to around 60 or 70! The ministries bringing this message of Biblical healing are seeing multiplied thousands of healings and miracles worldwide.
What I find most remarkable though? If you read through the four Gospels and the Book of Acts, every bit of resistance directed at Jesus and His disciples came from the established religious tradition of His day. Not only that, but it was this very issue that brought the greatest attack. Seems not much has changed in the last 2000 years. It's not the unsaved people of the world that fight to stay sick, it's the Church that attacks this message.
It's also interesting to note that the greatest effectiveness of this message happens overseas. The western religious mindset is so entrenched in unbelief that it would rather argue about the Word of God than to walk in it. You preach this overseas and they come by the thousands and leave healed. The Gospel still works where it is presented in it's true form and received with gladness.
The Apostle Paul reminded the Church at Corinth: "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." (1Co 2:4, 5) he told the Church at Rome, before his death that, "Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." (Rom 15:19)
Jesus sent His disciples out to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and to heal the sick. Before He ascended, He promised that believers would lay hands on the sick and they would recover. (MK 16:18).
Under the Old Covenant, we read: "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." (Ps 107:20) His very name Jehavah-rapha means the Lord our healer. Healing is part of the very nature and character of God and exemplified by the ministry of Jesus and His followers. Today we have a New Covenant. It is a "better covenant" based upon "better promises."
Unfortunately, today we pick and choose our way through the Bible. We believe certain scriptures and reject others. apparently, the message of healing is one we reject the most, even though it was provided for us on the same basis as salvation. If we treated the subject of salvation in the same way we treat healing, very few would ever be saved. The inescapable truth is that the Gospel preached in the absence of the manifestation of signs and wonders, in particular healing, simply isn't the Gospel of the Kingdom. What we have today is "another Jesus" and a "different Gospel."
By the way, what is your record regarding healing the sick?
Oh, touche!
OK, but seriously, my record is close to 100%, I suppose. Medication, IV fluids, TPN, transfusions, surgery, etc. (paid for by my insurance) healed my son. It's just under 100% because, among other things, of my brother's death: prayer didn't work (and neither did his medical care, not that that had anything to do with me).
Now, as for your 60-70%, am I correct in assuming that this record applies only to miraculous healings? If so, that's a very impressive record. You should get a CNN news crew to follow you from room to room at your local hospital. Oh, CNN wouldn't do that, being so ungodly and liberal and stuff? OK, Fox News, then.
Now, I have a question for you, given the connection you have made between salvation and healing: what is the chance that you will go to heaven when you die?
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
OK, but seriously, my record is close to 100%, I suppose. Medication, IV fluids, TPN, transfusions, surgery, etc. (paid for by my insurance) healed my son. It's just under 100% because, among other things, of my brother's death: prayer didn't work (and neither did his medical care, not that that had anything to do with me).
Now, as for your 60-70%, am I correct in assuming that this record applies only to miraculous healings? If so, that's a very impressive record. You should get a CNN news crew to follow you from room to room at your local hospital. Oh, CNN wouldn't do that, being so ungodly and liberal and stuff? OK, Fox News, then.
Now, I have a question for you, given the connection you have made between salvation and healing: what is the chance that you will go to heaven when you die?
100%-- thankfully that is still based on His finished work.
I am very sorry about your brother. That sucks!
Forgive the repetition of some of my earlier ideas in this article from my ministry blog. It deals with the issue at hand and provides an effective starting place for those seeking to learn more about this vital issue. I welcome your honest questions and will do my best to answer them from scripture. As for the objectors and critics, you're welcome as well. You provide me with the opportunity to deal with the most common arguments against healing and knock over a few "sacred cows" in the process.
The Healing Ministry of Believers
It is important for us as believers to realize that healing was provided for us on the very same basis as forgiveness of sins and salvation. Healing is in the atonement. Divine healing was promised to us by prophecy in the very same verse that declares our salvation.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. Isa 53:5 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.
You can see clearly in this passage, the twofold aspect of our redemption—our healing was provided by Jesus beating at the whipping post and our freedom and forgiveness from sin was provided by His death on the cross.
The prophetic fulfillment of this promise was foreshadowed by Jesus’ earthly ministry: Mat 8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: Mat 8:17 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
We as believers can minister healing to others with the same confidence we present the message of salvation. We do not have to pray for some special anointing, as we already have the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Nor do we need a special leading or “word” from God. While some do ,in fact have a “Gift” of healing, we as believers simply need to recognize and acknowledge that healing is part of our purpose and calling.
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
We have a commission to minister the Gospel to the world and the whole Gospel message includes the reality of Divine Healing. The Apostle Paul made this clear in his letter to the Romans.
Rom 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
The Gospel presented without signs and wonders, is NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to adjust our thinking and realize that this ministry is our responsibility, and is not to be limited to some sort of “professional clergy.” Our pastors are given to us for the purpose of traing and equipping US to do the work of the ministry.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Not only do these verses make it clear that we as believers are the ones responsible for the ministry of signs and wonders; they also emphasize that the five-fold ministry will endure until the coming of Christ at which time we will be perfected.
We see the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in Peter’s letter to the Church: 1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
We can go forth in confidence bringing the full Gospel message of salvation, healing and deliverance. This is not only our privilege, it is our responsibility. We are accountable to God for what we do with our Great Commission. We can no longer sit by and leave this to others. It is time for saints to rise up and take our place in the world with the message and ministry of reconciliation.
2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
What does that ministry consist of? 1Jn 3:8 ... For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Notice that it doesn’t say Jesus came to destroy the devil. It says His focus was on the works of the devil. If we as believers are here to continue the ministry of Jesus, then this should be our focus as well.
The key lies in the word salvation itself. If we are indeed to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom in the power of the Holy Ghost, the indwelling Christ, an understanding of the meaning of the word “salvation,” becomes helpful. One scholar writes; “The Heb. And Gk. words for salvation imply the ideas of salvation, healing and deliverance.”
Salvation of the Spirit is what we normally think of as being “saved” from our sins.
Salvation of the Soul is what we term deliverance, and
Salvation of the Body is physical healing.
For those of you interested in learning how to minister more effectively in the area of Divine Healing, please accept my invitation to visit the following link and listen as we teach others, in depth, the Biblical basis for the ministry of healing and how to greatly enhance the results of your own personal ministry.
100%-- thankfully that is still based on His finished work.
1. "It is important for us as believers to realize that healing was provided for us on the very same basis as forgiveness of sins and salvation."
2. Your track record on healing is 60-70%.
3. You think you have a 100% "track record" on your personal salvation.
For some reason, you know you a) have understood correctly the instructions for salvation (even though there is much disagreement on this among believers), and b) have followed those instructions sufficiently. You somehow know that you will not be among the believers who Jesus said will think they were saved but were not.
That's amazing! How did you do that?
By the way, saying that salvation is "based on His finished work" could also be said of healing. You have said the are both "in the atonement."
And I bet you won't see the problem, here!
Quote:
I am very sorry about your brother. That sucks!
Thanks.
__________________
Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
1. "It is important for us as believers to realize that healing was provided for us on the very same basis as forgiveness of sins and salvation."
2. Your track record on healing is 60-70%.
3. You think you have a 100% "track record" on your personal salvation.
For some reason, you know you a) have understood correctly the instructions for salvation (even though there is much disagreement on this among believers), and b) have followed those instructions sufficiently. You somehow know that you will not be among the believers who Jesus said will think they were saved but were not.
That's amazing! How did you do that?
By the way, saying that salvation is "based on His finished work" could also be said of healing. You have said the are both "in the atonement."
And I bet you won't see the problem, here!
Thanks.
Let me share with you the Mission Statement of Miracles in Action:
"The mission of Miracles in Action is to boldly proclaim the Apostolic Message, teaching believers everywhere the True Nature of God, as well as who they are in Christ-equipping them with the knowledge necessary to live a life characterized by righteousness, freedom and true spiritual power, while exercising their God-given authority and dominion and operating fully in their Covenant responsibilities, rights and privileges."
The problem seems to be that there is much we still don't fully understand about what it truly means to be "In Christ." The New Creation places us into a completely different kingdom and totally new relationship with God. We have been taught the traditions of men, that make the Word of God of no effect, for so long, that there is much to unlearn before we can begin to walk in the truth/light.
Divine Healing is indeed provided for us on the same basis as our Salvation. But, just as with salvation, we must factor in the "human element," We are fallible people trying to make our way as best we can. Instead of the truth of the Gospel of the Kingdom, we have been fed religious garbage for years. Many of us are just beginning to understand the realities of the New Covenant. With greater light come greater ability to walk in that light. (Much can be said here, but you can find most of it on our website and blog, found below).
As for the Salvation question? That's a different matter entirely. We can and do understand the truth about that. Jesus was very clear in His teaching on this subject and we have many examples left for us in the pages of scripture.
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Acts 2:38 is the comprehensive answer to any inquiry about New Testament conversion, expressing in a nutshell the proper response to the gospel.
I do recognize "the problem here." It's that we all, myself included, have much to learn, and even more "flesh" to get out of the way.
Please go back and study the article above on The Healing Ministry of the Believer. Take the time to visit the website link and listen to some of the teaching. I guarantee, it will revolutionize your understanding about what it means to be a New Creation. And if you haven't yet experienced the reality of the New Birth and the fulness of His Spirit, I invite you to do so at your first opportunity.
I hope this will help to answer at least some of your questions. I wish there was another venue for us to share on. There is much that can be said on this topic and many more related to walking as Sons of God, in the power of His Spirit.
God can heal...but there are times He says no..consider all the people who lived among the Israelites who had Leprosy
Yes! But don't get caught up in confusing Old Covenant reality with our rights and privileges (responsibilities too!) in our New Covenant.
Hebrews 8:6 (KJV) But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
We have promises under the New Covenant that the Israelites did not have.
But even the Children of Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness with not a sick one among them!
The question is not whether or not God can heal, or if He sometimes says "No." Remember:
2 Corinthians 1:20 (KJV) For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
If we can begin to understand even the basic content of those two verses our effectiveness in ministry will increase dramatically. The problem is we do not understand who we are In Christ and who He is in us.
Healing seems to not be all that common among Christians, or at least as common as it should be, but as one who has been healed more than once by the power of the Christ I can testify to the truthfulness of it.
But, I've also prayed fervently for the healing of others, and myself, and nothing happened.
Re: Biblical Facts on Divine Healing
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