HEALING
DEFINITION: Healing, as used in a biblical sense, refers to being made whole and restored spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. It is also called divine healing because it is when the one true God reveals His nature, fulfills His promises, and acts upon His provision in the atonement of Christ by curing a person and making him whole in body, soul, and spirit.
FACTS ABOUT HEALING:
Sickness entered the world through sin. God never intended for the spiritual sickness of sin or emotional, mental, or physical illness to be part of our world. Sickness entered the world through sin (Genesis 3). Although God sometimes uses it as punishment on sinners (Deuteronomy 28:22-35), sickness is not a sign of personal sin. See the story of the man born blind in John 9.
Reasons for sickness. Although sickness entered the world through sin, not all sickness is caused by personal sin. Spiritual sickness is, of course, caused by sin and it is true that sometimes physical conditions result from sin. But sickness can also result from a violation of natural laws, i.e., improper diet, overworking, lack of exercise, abuse of drugs and alcohol, or even violating the natural law of gravity. Satanic attacks also result in sickness as in the case of Job (Job chapter 2). Some sickness is caused by demons. See the accounts in Matthew 12:22-23; Matthew 9:32-33; Mark 9:25; and Luke 13:11.
God views sickness as captivity (Job 42:10); bondage (Luke 13:16); and oppression (Acts 10:38).
Healing is a gift from God. The psalmist declared: “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases” (Psalms 103:1-3).
All true healing comes from God, even when the gifts of natural or medical means are used.
Spiritual healing–salvation from sin–is the greatest healing. It addresses sinful behaviors that need to be corrected. Spiritual “sickness” is anything that adversely affects your spirit.
Emotional healing is the healing of damaged emotions. No wound is so deep that God cannot heal it. A wounded spirit is difficult to bear (Proverbs 18:13). This is why you need inner healing. Your spirit becomes wounded by sin (Psalm 38:4-6,8); by your enemies (Psalm143:3-4,7); and through anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness. These attitudes must be dealt with in order to receive emotional healing.
Mental healing is a healing of your mind from hurts, actual brain damage, or wrong thinking. (See also “Mind And Thoughts” in this database. )
God has redeemed you from the curse of sin. This includes the curse of sickness that resulted from sin (Galatians 3:13). This does not mean you will never be sick, but it does mean that healing is available for every condition.
Healing is a benefit of the death of Jesus on the cross. The prophet Isaiah declared: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).
Some believe that divine healings no longer occur, but the Bible says Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). As Jesus healed in Bible times, so He heals today. There are also many medically documented healings that have occurred after prayer to God.
Doctors and legitimate medicines are not in opposition to the Bible. Every good gift–such as doctors, legitimate medicines, and natural remedies–come from God (James 1:17). There is no conflict between divine healing and medical healing. Even when doctors and medications are used to facilitate healing, the ultimate healing is from God.
God heals all sickness and diseases–event those classified as incurable or terminal by medicine, because nothing is impossible to God (Luke 1:37).
All believers can minister healing. Jesus declared: “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;. 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” (Mark 16:17-18).
Some believers have a special gift of healing. First Corinthians 12:9 speaks of those who have a special gift of ministering healing.
There is a sickness unto death; John 11:4 speaks of a sickness that was not unto death. Second Kings 13:14 speaks of a time when Elisha was sick of the illness of which he would die. As a believer, you should continue to pray for healing unless God reveals that it is a person’s time to die. Sometimes a person will say, “I am ready and believe it is my time to go be with the Lord.” If they have that assurance, then you need to help them prepare by setting things in order and being with them in death. Draw encouragement from 1 Corinthians 15:51-55; Psalm 116:15; 2 Corinthians 5:1-8.
Not everyone is healed immediately. Job was healed when he forgave his friends and prayed for them. Unforgiveness can block healing, as can personal sin. Sometimes a person does not receive healing because they don’t believe in divine healing. Some people don’t really want healing because they are using their illness as an excuse not to work or to draw government assistance. Jesus delayed ministering to Lazarus because He had a greater miracle planned. There are many variables involved in healing, and we cannot accurately judge why healing does not occur immediately. This is one of the secret things that belongs to the Lord (Deuteronomy 29:29). Not everyone who hears the gospel gets saved. Not everyone to whom healing is ministered receives healing.
The end result of sickness for a believer is that it is either for the glory of God through divine healing (John 9:3) or it is a sickness unto death to usher you into Christ’s presence ( 2 Kings 13:14). As a believer, you will be either healed in time or eternity, but you will be healed.
DEALING WITH HEALING:
Determine the healing needed. Is its spiritual, emotional, mental, or physical or a combination of these? In order to be whole, each of these areas must be healed. For example, a person may ask for healing for a vision problem, but he may not know Jesus as Savior and his greater need is for spiritual healing.
Study what God’s Word says about healing. This will increase your faith to receive and minister healing.
Eliminate any preconceived notions concerning healing. Doctrines such as “healing is not for today” must be eliminated in order to believe for healing. Just as one believes and confesses the Lord Jesus in order to be saved, one must believe and confess He heals in order to be healed.
Seek first the greatest miracle of spiritual healing. Healing from sin is vital to healing in the mental, emotional, and physical realms. If you do not know Christ as your Savior, you need a spiritual healing.
Determine if any conditions are caused by errant behavior. For example, smoking, drugs, and alcohol addictions can affect a person physically, emotionally, and mentally. The behaviors contributing to conditions in any area must be bound spiritual and revoked lest “a worse thing come upon you” (John 5:14).
Pray for healing. If the condition is caused by demons, pray for deliverance. If you need an emotional healing, confess your feelings to God and ask Him to heal your inner wounds. Bind Satanic influences over your mind if you need a mental deliverance. Pray for physical healing if you are sick. If you are in a Bible believing church, call for the elders to anoint and pray over you: “Is any of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up” (James 5:14-15).
Receive your healing by faith. Just as you received salvation by faith–with no immediate visible signs apparent–so you can receive healing by faith even if there are no immediate signs are apparent. Sometimes there are miraculous signs accompanying a healing. At other times, the healing occurs gradually. When you receive salvation, the outward changes in your life are apparent gradually, and the same is sometimes true in healing.
Act upon your healing. James 2:17 says that faith without action is dead. Do something you could not do before prayer. For example, if you could not bend over, bend over. If you have been under a doctor’s care, return to your doctor to confirm your healing.
Maintain your healing. Stand in faith on the Word of God. Rather than believing your symptoms, believe God’s Word. Continue to stand on the promises of healing in God’s Word. Commit yourself to total trust in God for healing. Change your lifestyle, if your former way of life contributed to your sickness. Resist the attempts by Satan to cause sickness to return.
Do not become discouraged if healing is not received immediately. Some healings in the Bible were instantaneous, others were delayed. Continue to pray for healing. Continue to build your faith in the Word of God. Where applicable, change your lifestyle and eliminate sinful and unhealthy practices. Claim the promises of God for healing.
WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS ABOUT HEALING:
Old Testament
Genesis 17:18-19: God promised to heal Sara’s barrenness.
Genesis 21:1-7: Sara’s barrenness is healed.
Genesis 20:17: God healed Abimelech.
Exodus 4:1-18: Moses’ leprous hand.
Exodus 15:25-26: God reveals His name as “Jehovah-Rapha” which means, “The Lord Your Physician.” He promised that none of the diseases of Egypt would come upon Israel.
Exodus 23:25: God promised to take away sickness from among His people.
Leviticus 13:1-46; 14:1-32: Regulations regarding leprosy.
Leviticus 15:1-33: Health regulations.
Leviticus 16:29-30: Healing of sins.
Numbers 12:1-15: Leprosy of Miriam and Aaron.
Numbers 16:41-50: A plague affects Israel.
Numbers 21:4-9: Healing through the symbolic serpent of brass.
Deuteronomy 7:15: Obedience to God results in health.
Deuteronomy 28:1-68: Sickness results when you do not observe God’s law.
Deuteronomy 29:22: The Lord lays sickness on the land.
Deuteronomy 30:20: God is life and length of days.
Deuteronomy 32:39: God wounds and heals.
Deuteronomy 7:15; 28:60: Diseases of Egypt.
Judges 13:2-24: Manoah’s wife is healed by a “man of God.”
1 Samuel 6:3: A trespass offering brought healing.
1 Samuel 16:14-23: An evil spirit troubles Saul.
1 Kings 5:23; 2 Chronicles 16:12: Diseases in the feet.
1 Kings 8:37-40: Plagues in the land.
1 Kings 13:4-6: A man with a withered hand.
1 Kings 17:17-24: Elijah raises a child from the dead.
2 Kings 1:2; 8:8-9: Shall I recover of this disease?
2 Kings 2:19-22: Healing of waters by Elisha.
2 Kings 4:8-37: Raising of the Shunamite’s son.
2 Kings 5:1-14: The healing of Naaman.
2 Kings 13:14,21: Elisha is sick with a sickness unto death.
2 Kings 20:1-11: Hezekiah’s illness.
2 Chronicles 6:26-31: Prayer of repentance and sickness.
2 Chronicles 7:14: “I will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 16:12: A man with a serious disease does not seek God.
2 Chronicles 20:9: God hears when you cry in affliction.
2 Chronicles 21:12-30: An incurable disease of the bowels.
2 Chronicles 24:25: Disease is called great.
2 Chronicles 26:19: Uzziah’s leprosy.
2 Chronicles 30:20: Healing of people by Hezekiah’s prayers.
2 Chronicles 32:24-26: Hezekiah’s illness.
Job l-2: These chapters reveal the sources of Job’s problems, including his sickness.
Job 5:18; 30:18: Job talks about His disease.
Psalms 6:2-3: “O Lord heal me.”
Psalms 27:1: “The Lord is the strength of my life.”
Psalms 30:2: “I cried and you healed me.”
Psalms 32:3-5: Acknowledged sin results in healing.
Psalms 34:19-20: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Psalms 38:3,7: Anger and sin affects your health; disease is called “loathsome.”
Psalms 41:1-8: “Heal my soul for I have sinned against thee.” Disease is called evil.
Psalms 42:11; 43:5: God is the health of your countenance.
Psalms 42:1-5: Healing for a downcast spirit.
Psalms 55:1-2: Persevering prayer and healing.
Psalms 67:2: “That Your way may be known upon earth, Your saving healing among all nations.”
Psalms 72:13: You are to pity the weak.
Psalms 91:9,10: “Neither shall any plague come nigh your dwelling.”
Psalms 103:1-5: “Forget not His benefits…Who heals all your diseases.”
Psalms 105:37: Israel came forth without one feeble person among them. Three million people were all well and strong.
Psalms 107:17-20: “He sent His Word and healed them.”
Psalms 119:25-28: You are strengthened by the Word.
Psalms 119:67: “Before I was afflicted, I went astray.”
Psalms 147:3: “Who heals all your diseases.” Healing for a broken heart.
Psalms 105:37: “He brought them forth…not one feeble among them.”
Proverbs 3:7-8: How to be healthy.
Proverbs 4:20-23: The issues of life are affected by your heart attitude. God’s promises are life to those that find them and health to all their flesh.
Proverbs 12:18: The tongue of the wise brings healing.
Proverbs 15:4,30: A wholesome tongue is life; good reports affect health.
Proverbs 16:24: The Word of God brings healing to the bones.
Proverbs 17:22: A broken spirit affects the bones.
Ecclesiastes 3:3: There is a time to heal.
Ecclesiastes 5:17: Sorrow and wrath are related to sickness.
Isaiah 6:10: Understanding, conversion, healing.
Isaiah 19:22: When God is entreated He heals.
Isaiah 32:3-4: Healing is part of the Kingdom of God.
Isaiah 33:24: Inhabitants shall say, “I am not sick.”
Isaiah 35:5-6: Healing in the Millennium.
Isaiah 38:1-12,16: Hezekiah’s illness and his return to health.
Isaiah 53:5: We are promised healing and deliverance through the atonement.
Isaiah 57:18-19: Draw near for healing.
Isaiah 58:8: Health shall spring forth.
Isaiah 61:1: Jesus was sent to bind up the brokenhearted (emotional healing).
Isaiah 58:8: Health springing forth speedily.
Jeremiah 3:22: God heals backsliding when you return to Him.
Jeremiah 8:14-15; 20-22: A time of healing. Bitterness of sin is tied to physical health.
Jeremiah 15:18: How to deal with an incurable wound.
Jeremiah 14:19: Is there no healing for us?
Jeremiah 17:14: “Heal me and I will be healed.”
Jeremiah 30:12-17: God will restore health.
Jeremiah 33:6: “I will cure them.”
Jeremiah 51:8-9: Healing of Babylon.
Lamentations 2:13: “Who can heal you?”
Lamentations 3:33: “God does not willingly afflict.”
Ezekiel 14:19: “Is there no healing for us?”
Ezekiel 17:14: “Heal me and I will be healed.”
Ezekiel 30:17: “I will restore health.”
Ezekiel 30:12-13: Incurable wounds medicine cannot heal.
Ezekiel 30:21: What God breaks cannot be healed.
Ezekiel 33:6: “I will heal them.”
Ezekiel 34:4,16,21: A warning to shepherds who have not healed.
Ezekiel 47:8-12: Healing of the waters.
Daniel 4:34,36: Nebuchadnezzar’s healing.
Hosea 5:13: Man cannot cure a wound inflicted by God.
Hosea 6:1: “He has torn and He will heal.”
Hosea 7:1: Healing for Israel.
Hosea 11:3: “They knew not I healed them.”
Hosea 14:4: “I will heal their backslidings.”
Nahum 3:19: A terminal condition.
Zechariah 11:16: A warning to shepherds who do not heal.
Malachi 4:2: Healing in His wings.
New Testament
Matthew 8:13: The point of contact sets the time.
Matthew 8:17: Jesus bore our sicknesses.
Matthew 10:1: Power over sickness and demons is given to the disciples.
Matthew 18:19-21: Any two agreeing receive what is asked.
Mark 2:17: Christ came to heal sinners.
Mark 3:15-17: Christ gives power to heal sicknesses.
Mark 4:18-19: Healing is part of the anointing; Jesus was sent to heal.
Mark 11:24: If you believe when you pray (not after you receive), you will receive.
Mark 16:18: In Jesus’ name believers will heal sick and cast out demons.
Luke 5:31: The sick need a physician.
Luke 7:6: Unworthiness is viewed by Jesus as faith.
Luke 7:22-23: The most convincing argument is experience.
Luke 17:6: Small faith can bring great results.
Luke 18:7-8: Do not give up before your answer comes.
John 6:53-58: The body and blood of Jesus bring life.
John 10:10: Jesus came so that you can have life. Satan came to kill, steal, and destroy.
John 11:1-45: A sickness not healed immediately leads to a greater miracle.
John 14:12-13: The works Jesus did, you are to do.
John 15:7: The importance of abiding in Christ in relation to asking and receiving.
John 16:24: Ask in His name and you will receive.
Romans 2:4 The goodness of God leads to repentance.
2 Corinthians 4:16: Your outward man perishes, but your inward man can be renewed.
Ephesians 3:20-21: God has the power to work in you above all that you ask or think.
Philippians 2:25-27: The illness of Epaphroditus.
Colossians 4:14: Luke, a physician, was part of Paul’s evangelistic team.
2 Timothy 4:20: Trophimus’ illness.
Hebrews 4:15: He is touched with your infirmities.
Hebrews 11:1: Faith is the evidence of things (healing) not seen.
James 1:8: You must ask in faith and not waver.
James 1:17: Every good gift (healing, doctors, legitimate medicine) is from God.
James 5:14-15: Call the elders for anointing with oil, the prayer of faith, healing, and forgiveness.
1 Peter 2:24: You are healed by His wounds.
1 John 3:22: Whatever you ask you can receive if you are obedient.
3 John 1:2: Health is related to the condition of your soul.
Mark 7:36, 8:26; Matthew 8:4: Do not sensationalize healing.
Revelation 20:2-3: When Satan is bound, there is no more sickness and death.
Revelation 21:4: The final healing: No more sickness and death.
(For further biblical guidelines on healing, obtain the Harvestime International Network publication entitled “Battle For The Body” available at http://www.harvestime.org)
