Divine Healing

The Bible has much to say on the subject of Divine Healing. The number of scriptures in the Old and New Testaments and the Healing miracles of Jesus recorded in the Gospels, include a great deal of information on the subject. So much in fact, it can be a bit overwhelming when trying to study or teach or meditate on this vital topic.

As I have studied the scriptures over the years on the subject of Divine Healing, it seems to me that all the healing scriptures and healing examples in the Bible naturally fall into four main categories. It has been a tremendous help to me in teaching and understanding this subject to list every scripture and each healing miracle of Jesus under one or more of these main headings. These headings form what I call four main pillars or truths concerning Diving Healing. These four truths work together and are interdependent.

Of course there are many other truths and statements the Bible makes regarding healing, but these four are essential when it comes to offering healing to others or receiving it for yourself. And they are extremely helpful in managing and recalling mountains of scriptural evidence in an orderly fashion.

The four truths are:
1. Sickness is the result of Sin and Satan
2. Divine Healing is the Will of God
3. Divine Healing is part of our Redemption
4. Divine Healing is received by Faith

Almost every healing scripture or miracle in the Bible affirms or confirms one or more of these truths. They are progressive revelation. They answer the who, what, when, why and how of Divine Healing. They are vitally important to anyone who wants to take the journey from sickness to divine health. If you need some help in managing your own personal healing portfolio, I challenge you to begin to list the healing truths from the Bible under one or more of these main headings for the purpose of study and meditation. I will hit some of the high spots in this newsletter to help you get started.

1. Sickness is the result of Sin and Satan

The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
It will be very difficult to get rid of sickness and disease if you are not sure where it came from. If there is any concern that it came from God, faith is hindered until this doubt is removed.

There was no sickness and disease on the Earth before Adam sinned. There is none in Heaven and there will be none after Satan is cast into the lake of fire. We see very clearly in the Book of Deuteronomy that sickness and disease is part of the curse of the law, which is the result of sin. After a pretty exhaustive list of sicknesses, the Bible says, “Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law…(Deut 28:61). Thank God, Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. The curse was a result of sin.

In many cases sickness and demons go hand in hand. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)

Jesus healed a woman who was bowed over and couldn’t lift herself up. After her miracle He said: So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound (think of it) for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (Luke 13:16)

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. (Acts 19:11-12)

Notice what happened when Philip preached to the Samaritans: For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. (Acts 8:7)

In these cases the Sicknesses, infirmities and devils all left at the same time.

2. Divine Healing is the Will of God

Almost every healing scripture could be included in this category. However, there are a few instances that especially show that Divine Healing is the will of God. For one thing, Jesus never turned anyone away with sickness by telling them it wasn’t God’s will to heal them. There is not one case in which God was trying to teach someone something with sickness or disease. If this is as common as some people teach today, you’d think we would have had at least one example in the New Testament.

Not knowing for sure that it’s God’s will to heal, undermines faith and makes it almost impossible to receive Divine Healing. Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” (Mark 1:40) He didn’t know the will of God but he soon found out. Jesus said: “I am willing; be cleansed.” (Mark 1:41)

He is still willing today! In many instances He healed them all: And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all. Luke (6:19)

If healing wasn’t God’s will for everyone, why did Jesus heal them all? Matt 12:15, Matt 14:14 and Matt 14:34-36 also speak of Jesus healing them all. Mark 6:56 says: And as many as touched Him were made well. Jesus didn’t take the time to decide who God wanted to heal and who He didn’t. It was God’s will to heal them all.

James 5:14-15: Is anyone among you sick? 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 will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. Notice James didn’t say if it’s God’s will He will raise them up, he said, “is anyone sick among you”. It is implied here that healing is the will of God for any sick person.

3. Divine Healing is part of our Redemption

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

Every Christian believes that Jesus suffered so that forgiveness could be offered to the whole world. The Gospel clearly reveals that Jesus paid the penalty for sins. Isaiah 53:5 not only says the price for sins was paid, but it also says that the price for healing was paid. If we can believe that Jesus’ suffering purchased forgiveness, why can’t we also believe that His suffering (the stripes He endured) has purchased our healing. The Bible often puts healing and forgiveness together and through the scriptures we know that healing and forgiveness were purchased at the
same time, in the same work of redemption.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases. (Psa 103:2-3) and Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)

Notice how in the previous two verses, healing and forgiveness were mentioned together. Healing is part of our redemption. It was never supposed to be separated from forgiveness, they were purchased together and they are supposed to be offered together. The Great Commission begins with “Preach the Gospel to every creature” and it ends with “Lay hands on the sick and they shall recover”.

One more example is in Luke 5 when the paralytic was let down through the roof as Jesus taught the people. Not only do we see someone receiving healing by faith, but we also see Jesus put healing and forgiveness together to the astonishment of the crowd. Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?

24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” He said to the man who was paralyzed, “ I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” (Luke 5:23-24)

Jesus offers both healing and forgiveness because they are both included in His redemptive work.

4. Divine Healing is received by Faith

Volumes have been written on the subject of faith and rightfully so. The majority of people who came to Jesus for healing received by faith and it is still the same today. Faith is something we do. God won’t do it for us. Those who practiced the principles of faith received from Jesus, every time. The instances where people came to Jesus and received their miracles by faith serve as examples to us. If we learn to do as they did we can get what they got.

When the woman with the issue of blood was healed Jesus let the whole world know why she received her miracle: And He said to her, “ Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” (Mark 5:34) If her faith could make her whole, your faith can make you whole. He told Jairus, after it was known that his daughter was dead: As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “ Do not be afraid; only believe.” (Mark 5:36) He told the father who had a son with a deaf and dumb spirit: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23) Two blind men came for healing: And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “ According to your faith let it be to you.” (Matt 9:28-29)

We could add many more examples to this category, but you get the idea. I hope that separating healing truths into these four separate groups for the purposes of study and teaching helps you like it has me. The scriptures, when allowed to work together, make a powerful case in favor of Divine Healing. Hopefully, this article has inspired you to get out your Bible and get into the Word.

For more teaching on this subject, order my new CD series entitled, “Getting Armed with the Truths of Divine Healing.“