Healing and Faithfulness
Jesus healed all and still
heals through those who believe.
Our faithfulness to God does
it all.
Three-fold ministry
Commission conferred
Three-fold cord
Abraham is our landmark
Partial obedience
Kingdom in action
Doors closing on the gospel
Much effort, little result
Found wanting
Five senses
How healing takes place
Fear in obedience
When the Healoing Does not Take Place
Child-like faith
Conclusion
Fearful thing
Assuring His followers of their ministry, Jesus said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12). In saying this, He has conferred upon them the authority to do the works that He himself did, and made them custodians of continuing it.
At the beginning of His ministry, we find that Jesus had a three-fold ministry - “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 4:23). His ministry found no limit and the world has never been the same since. This defined His going, teaching and preaching, and healing all manner of sickness and diseases. His ministry was in Word and in power through miracles, signs and wonders.
During His ministry, the Bible states, Jesus “gave them (His disciples) power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases, And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:1-2). Then at the conclusion of His ministry and just before His ascension, it is written: “And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature … they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mark 16:15,18). This He said when He was resurrected and thus clothed them with the resurrection power also. Thus confirming again of what He told them earlier, the urgency of the commission was emphasized with power. It was a command and they were told to do what He Himself did. Nowhere in the Scriptures this authority was ever revoked. In fact, He had sealed it with His death and resurrection.
King Solomon stated: “A threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). He could have taken any other figure, but he stated ‘a three-fold cord’. He so stated because it was divinely ordained. This three-fold cord also reflects Christ investing on His Church a three-fold commission. It was to go, preach and teach, and to heal.
The churches have made great strides and propagated the gospel. However, the advancement of the Church has been slow compared to what the early Church witnessed. We have gone to all the world and preached the gospel, but the third part of the Commission, the healing and deliverance, has played a very little part. We have been functioning only on two-thirds of its commission. For the last two thousand years, the divinely ordained three-fold cord has been greatly missed. No wonder we have struggled and rowed hard.
The two-fold cord that we have had has not enough strength. For this reason, in many countries, the name of Jesus is disgraced because of our disobedience. The world has become daring to disgrace that which is holy. Surely, we have become weak spiritually because we have not displayed the kingdom of God in power. We have become lukewarm in our faith.
It is not a coincidence that on the third day of his journey, Abraham did see Mount Moriah (Genesis 22:4). Here, for his obedience to God, he was blessed beyond any other. Like Abraham, God desires to bless the churches, but it is expected of us to be fully obedient as he was.
Through the centuries, the churches have made great strides. In our zeal, we have covered the continents. However, according to the divine expectations, the Church is expected to fulfill the Great Commission fully. But, it has been found wanting. The missionary societies that have emerged have paced the entire globe. They have gone faithfully. They have also faithfully preached and taught the Word. Sadly speaking, when it has come to praying for healing, we have lagged miserably. In this, we have loaded ourselves with doubts. The truth is that we have heard a rumour that healing was for the first century believers. This rumour has done a great harm. A similar rumour was spread among the Jewish people that when Christ arose, His disciples came and stole His body away while the keepers slept.
It has often puzzled this author that if healing was not necessary, why did Jesus spend much of His time in healing the sick and demonic possessed? Jesus proved His ministry by His works. Therefore, while talking to His disciples, He said clearly: “ believe me for the very works’ sake” (John 14:11). He showed the kingdom of God in word and works. So is expected of His Church.
Apostle John writes: “because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). Jesus did miracles, healed the sick, cast out demons – we are to do the same. We have been commissioned to do so. We are, therefore, answerable to Him now and will also be at the judgment seat.
As the time goes, the spiritual climate in our world is bombarded heavily. More restrictions are imposed on the gospel everywhere. In the West also, the avenues to preach the gospel are closing down. The very mention of the name of Jesus is not welcomed by many. The Bible in some places is considered as hate literature. In many places, one is not allowed to pray publicly in the name of Jesus. Prayer has been prohibited in many schools. While most learning institutions enjoy religious freedom, the Bible has little place in it. Under these deteriorating circumstances, one wonders how the Church can survive? However, the Bible says that the Gospel shall be preached all over the world before Christ’s return. Is the door of the Gospel being closed?
The missionary societies have sent workers all over the world. Thus the word of God has been received in many lands. For example, in India, Christianity has been preached from the very first century. Yet today, after two thousand years, only three percent of its population is called Christians. Where have we gone wrong?
Surely, we have come short of the glory of God in the churches. Moses could not take the children of Israel to the promised land because he was just a little disobedient to God. He simply hit the rock when he was to speak to it (Number 20:8,11).
Like Moses, we have also slightly deviated from Christ’s commission. When He said to pray for the sick or lay hands on the sick and they shall recover, we have logically thought to do otherwise. Because medicines have made great strides, our emphasis has shifted from God. For this reason, efforts of most missionary societies have been to first establish hospitals. Though this has done much good, it may be that we ourselves do not believe that God can heal. Some think that divine healing is not important since man has made great advances in the medical field. Luke was also a physician who was with Jesus. So then, if Jesus had to defend His ministry by His works, and the medical faculty also existed at that time, we, His followers, must do what Jesus did. Did He not say: “greater works than these shall ye do, because I go to the Father” (John 14,12)? Jesus extended His hands on the cross to save us. He now expects from us to extend our hands for healing the sick in His name.
The greater works were not intended for writing books, which fall in the preaching and teaching ministry. He meant the works that He Himself did. The commission for greater works was bestowed upon His followers, which was guaranteed upon their obedience.
When God made man, He breathed into him His breath. The five senses that we have were given to us at that time. Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching were for us to benefit personally from. When Adam was made, he saw God and all His goodness in the entire creation which has never ceased to worship and adore Him. He heard God talking to him. He could smell the flowers and trees, for everything God had created was good. He tasted the goodness of God in the fruit of the trees and the growth everywhere.
Adam was also given the sense of touch. Touch was the sense by which we were to touch God’s creation. Thus, when we pray for someone, we are using that God-given sense and thus touch that person with God’s goodness. In the physical, we touch a person with our hand and in the spiritual we touch by our spirit. In doing so, we touch them with God’s touch that cause the healing.
God is Spirit. Since He is holy, we call Him, Holy Spirit. He became flesh so that the works of God could be seen in flesh. Man also is a spiritual being. Therefore, as our spirit becomes one with the Spirit of God and we pray for healing, God heals that person. Also, when our hands touch the sick, Jesus, who said: ‘I am with you always’, touches that person and healing takes place. Healing belongs to the Lord and His way are not limited. For example, Jesus took the five loaves and two fish; He broke it and gave to His disciples. The disciples gave these to the multitude. Thus, several thousands were fed and still twelve baskets full of food were left. Likewise, the healing that started with Jesus touches others and healing is multiplied. Even today it happens because He is the same. The disciples passed on the bread to the multitude faithfully. It is our faithfulness to Jesus that delights Him. Because He works with us, it causes the sick to be recovered.
It is importance for us to know that God is the only healer for He has said: “I am the Lord that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26). We will never be the healer, but we can be obedient to Him who has promised us ‘greater works’ in His name.
When we wish to obey God, fear from the enemy comes. His tactics are the same, to inflict doubt of Christ’s promises to us. He comes stealthily and says to our mind, ‘what if you pray for some one for healing and the person is not healed? You are going to be fool in the sight of all men.’ We know that we are not the healer, but are commanded to pray for the sick. Therefore, when we pray, we should not doubt. Our prayer should be positive realizing that the Healer is present. He does the healing as we obey Him. Mark’s gospel plainly tells us “they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” (Mark 16:20).
When the fear comes from the devil, we are scared. This fear is deceitful for it keeps us from being faithful to the Lord. This is the spirit of fear of which Paul wrote: “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but” he says: “of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Timothy, 1:7). In obeying God, the ‘spirit of fear` must be discarded so that God’s Spirit will have it way.
The Scriptures remind us that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). Jesus also said: “fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Because God is holy, His fear is holy also. It leads us to His presence. Such a reverend fear confers on us the blessedness of His power which is able to change the whole world. The fear of God is the divine wisdom.
The New Testament complementing the Old Testament states: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). John, when he saw the Lord in the vision on the island of Patmos, fell at His feet as a dead man for the fear of the Lord fell upon him. This made him to see the mighty glory of the blessed Master. At this time, he also received the messages for the seven churches. Only in the fear of God, we will be obedient to do what He wants us to do. When we are obedient, His love will naturally pour upon us like a river. Then when we pray for healing in Jesus’ name, the love of God raises that person to health.
We do not pray for healing because most don’t believe in the divine healing. When we do not pray, we also become disobedient to God’s command and provision. This kind of unbelief was the cause that Jesus could not heal many in Nazareth. Beside our unbelief, financial, relational, religious and other reasons are also major factors that hinder our belief. This is the realm of negativity. God’s commands are plain and clear. He will hold us responsible for not doing what He told us to do. No excuse of any kind will have any validity before the judgment seat of God.
Jesus said: “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Mathew 18:3). In the following episode that this author once heard , we see the power of God displayed by a child’s faith and obedience -
“A couple was driving to their church one day. In the car were their daughter who was six years of age and a few months old son. This couple saw a family friend. They stopped the car. As they got out and slammed the door of the car behind them, the baby’s hand, which was somehow in the door, got crushed. The couple, however, was unaware of the situation. The baby naturally started screaming. Their daughter, seeing the urgency, came running to her mom and told her of her brother. The mother naturally became concerned and was frantic to phone for help. The little girl told her mother, who was a Sunday School teacher: ‘Mom, the Bible says that we should pray for healing. Why don’t you do that.’ The mother, however, continued to get help. When this girl could not get her mother’s attention to pray; she went, placed her little hand on her baby brother and prayed for his hand to be restored in the name of Jesus. The baby stopped crying. The grown-ups had seen that the baby’s hand was crushed. When they saw that it had been restored completely, immediately understood the importance of healing in Jesus’ name.”
A child-like faith teaches us the importance of praying for healing in Jesus’ name and it makes us to see the wonders of the kingdom in power and faith.
Jesus desires His followers to have faith like a little child. A child has yet to be educated, so it is not the education that will determine our faith. As grown up, it seems, we miss the child-like faith. If we realize that we lack it, we can ask God for it. Faith and obedience must walk together for these enable us to do what our Lord Jesus has established. Every child of God has the full capacity and capability to display the kingdom of God both by Word and power. Signs and wonders are the outcome of our obedience. Our God is our God who does all things well, and He has chosen us all to do His works. Therefore, to do all that He wishes us to do should be our pleasure.
We are the temple of God and Jesus has empowered the Church for His glory. But our unbelief and disobedience have grieved the heart of the Lord. Therefore, the glory of God has departed from us. Because He wanted His temple to be glorious, Jesus twice went there to cleanse it. Now it is for us to bring the Ark of the Covenant back in the temple. When we do it, He will fill the churches with His glory so that His works may be seen. We need to be reminded that the Bible warns us: “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
At Jesus Feet - Ottawa, Canada, 2005
E-mail: acparshad@travel-net.com