Healing:  Blockades to receiving healing & miracles à not moving towards a revelation of Christ in you.

This document is written to obedient believers, who want to obey God’s will and command to heal the sick. 

 

Sick person not “dead to sin and living unto righteousness”

 

 

Righteousness

 

 I Peter 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.

 

This article http://thisgospel.info/?q=blockades-ministry defines what being “dead to sin and living unto righteousness” means – as sanctification is a continual progressive upward work whereby we grow in receiving and abiding in the Christ’s imputed righteousness.  As we do this, we move continually closer to realizing the implications of His finished work in our lives; experiencing Christ’s righteousness instead of Satan’s guilt – and God’s glory instead of the Devils shame.  Guilt and shame aim to drive us away from fellowship with God and others in Christ.  Through making Christ’s righteousness our own by receiving it by faith, we stand confidently before God and man, and we approach God boldly.  We are being changed from glory to glory as we believe and receive the revelation of Christ’s righteousness in us and through us.

 

 

Worthy people

 

Which person (the Christian or the Atheist here) do you think is more likely to receive Christ’s healing?

 

  1. The Atheist is moving towards God when he allows the street preacher to heal his injury.  He is willing to believe that God may exist, and that God may love him enough to heal him.  So the Athiest’s faith is actively moving towards Christ’s righteousness. 
  2. On the other hand, a Christian is moving away from God’s righteousness when they mix denominational doctrines of unbelief with their faith that God either WON”T or MIGHT heal them.  Many Christians are either afraid or uninterested in Christ the healer because they believe that he requires righteousness by their own religious self-effort.  That is why they doubt that God has healed them.  They are not convinced of their right standing with God because they approach it on the basis of their own works of righteousness – instead of His finished work of righteousness for all who believe. 

 

Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness.  Like many that you meet on the street, he had no Bible, no Church, and lived among pagans.  They believe God when they let you command their sickness to leave in the name of Jesus. 

 

Many denominational Christians will not even do that, because they do not have that much faith.  If they do let you speak forth God’s word to their sickness, they may criticize your prayer style or try to teach you how to believe and pray their way – which has produced no miracles in and through them.  Somehow they are experts with no successful experience. They block healing by believing, promoting, and quarrelling over denominational doctrines of unbelief which mix some twisted faith with a lot of doubt.  God keeps his name holy and will not partner with man’s righteousness, which He views as filthy rags.  He will not share His glory with another.

 

 

Humble people

 

Jesus told a non-Jewish woman that healing is the bread of the children of the covenant.  She persisted toward believing God for her healing by saying that the dogs (Gentiles like herself) eat the crumbs from their master’s table.

 

Mark 7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Syrophoenician Woman

21  Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.” 23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting [j]at us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and began [k]to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 And He answered and said, “It is not [l]good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 But she said, “Yes, Lord; [m]but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed [n]at once.

 

 

Healing your enemies

Jesus only mentioned that this woman was not part of God’s covenant with the Jews.  He did not mention that she was a Canaanite, and that her people were enemies of the Jews.   God can heal his enemies.  He recognized that this woman had great faith, even though she was a Canaanite. 

 

People who are outside of God’s covenant are not guaranteed healing (the children’s bread), but they may also receive it by faith.

 

Divine Health for Believers

 

Healing is a solid promise to believer, who receiving and believing God’s righteousness in and through himself:

 

Psalm 103:2-4 (New International Version)  2 Praise the LORD , O my soul,  and forget not all his benefits-  3 who forgives all your sins  and heals all your diseases,  4 who redeems your life from the pit  and crowns you with love and compassion,

 

However, does this passage intimate that those who have not had their sins forgiven are not eligible to receive the Lord’s healing?  The New Testament teaches that true believers have a promise of receiving healing directly from the Lord:

 

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken [make alive] your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

 

His Stripes

 

 I Peter 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.

 

Peter’s sentence above has many connected clauses that can make it difficult to read.  The first question is this:  Does this passage relate to physical healing?  Look at the passage Peter refers to:

 

Isaiah 53
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 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.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

 

This passage is clearly speaking of redemption.  Matthew states that it is also speaking of deliverance from maladies, or healing for our bodies. 

 

Matthew 8
16When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
   "He took up our infirmities
       and carried our diseases."[1]

 

 

 

SOZO ministry

 

According to Matthew, Isaiah is dealing not only with redemption, but also with physical healing.  These two concepts are more related than one might think.  The Greek word translated as “saved” is SOZO.  It means to save, heal, and deliver. 

 

So let’s look at Peter’s context when he references this passage.

 

            1 Peter 2

But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
    22"He committed no sin,
       and no deceit was found in his mouth."[5] 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

 

So Peter is writing about believers (sheep of the Sheppard) who “die to sins and live for righteousness” as having their infirmities and diseases healed by Jesus.  He clarifies that they must suffer pain and persecution, but not disease or sickness. Peter suggests that Christ’s blood not only paid for their soul’s salvation, but also for their healing and deliverance from evil (demons—evil people will physically harm them).  This makes sense since those 3 aspects of healing ministry are combined in the Greek word SOZO.  The “full message” of the gospel is composed of these 3 aspects of the word “saved”:

  1. Salvation
  2. Healing
  3. Deliverance

 

Acts 5
19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20"Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life."
21At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.

 

You will notice that Christ and his followers followed this 3-pronged ministry pattern all throughout the New Testament.

 

Mark 6

12They went out and preached that people should repent. 13They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

 

Of course they did, because they (and we) were commanded to:

 

Matthew 10:1
He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil[ 10:1 Greek unclean] spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 10 In context: Matthew 10:1-2)

 

Matthew 10
7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[1] drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.  (Whole Chapter: Matthew 10 In context: Matthew 10:7-9)

 

 

 

Aspect 1 (save):  “preached that people should repent”  --Mark 612

 

Acts 26:20
First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
(Whole Chapter: Acts 26 In context: Acts 26:19-21)

 

Job 34:33
Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know.
(Whole Chapter: Job 34 In context: Job 34:32-34)

 

 

Aspect 2 (heal):  “healed them”  --Mark 612

 

The passage from Job above asks an important question of an unbeliever, who wants healing without repenting in response to the Gospel.  This is why so much healing takes place in conjunction with the presentation of the gospel.  You will notice this correlation in the Bible record and might notice it today, if you can find anyone preaching repentance.  If an unrighteous person asks me to pray for them to get something (healing, or whatever else) Job 34:33 is a great starting point to share the gospel with them.

 

 

Aspect 3 (deliver):  “drive out demons”  --Mark 612

 

One of the causes of sickness can be demons.  I’ll get into all that later, but know this:  If you refuse to obey Christ’s command to “drive out demons”, some people will not be healed of these demonically caused sicknesses.

 

Separating these 3 aspects too much can lead to an unbalanced healing ministry.  Here are some examples of how that might happen:

  1. Praying for healing of an unrepentant sinner.  While God MIGHT heal them, would it not be better to give them the gospel message as well?  Then they could be inside a covenant that includes the benefit of healing, according to Peter’s passage above (and many other scriptures that won’t fit in this document). 
  2. Perseverating on praying for healing without praying for salvation and/or deliverance from demons.
    1. Salvation is also process:

                                                               i.      1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
(Whole Chapter: 1 Corinthians 1 In context: 1 Corinthians 1:17-19)

                                                             ii.      2 Corinthians 2:15
For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
(Whole Chapter: 2 Corinthians 2 In context: 2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

    1. Deliverance is also process:

                                                               i.      Matthew 6:13
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.[ 6:13 Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.] '
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 6 In context: Matthew 6:12-14)

                                                             ii.      Luke 11:4
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[ 11:4 Greek everyone who is indebted to us] And lead us not into temptation.[ 11:4 Some manuscripts temptation but deliver us from the evil one] ' "
(Whole Chapter: Luke 11 In context: Luke 11:3-5)

 

The gospel was proclaimed to Abraham (Gal. 3:8), and has been around for longer than most Christians think.  It has always tied together (as in the case below) the ideas of (1)forgiveness of sin, (2)healing all your diseases, and (3)redemption and saving from hell/death [deliverance].

 

Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the LORD , O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD , O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

 

 

The offense of the Gospel

Let’s rank the 3 aspects of healing ministry in order of how offensive they are to random sick person:

  1. Ministering physical healing – usually considered polite, as long as you don’t pray for them out loud, or lay hands on them.
  2. Preaching the Gospel of repentance – rarely considered polite.
  3. Confronting the demon that is making them sick – never considered polite, but if they are desperate, and it works, they should be thankful.

 

Mark 6:3
Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph,[ 6:3 Greek Joses, a variant of Joseph] Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
(Whole Chapter: Mark 6 In context: Mark 6:2-4)

 

Galatians 5:11
Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
(Whole Chapter: Galatians 5 In context: Galatians 5:10-12)

 

Jhn 16:1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.  16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 

 

Jesus is concerned with more than healing.  He does not separate physical healing from the rest of the person.  Jesus’ name is Yeshua in Hebrew.  An angel explained Jesus’ name to his step father:

 

Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[ 1:21 Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the LORD saves.] because he will save his people from their sins."
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 1 In context: Matthew 1:20-22)

 

He’s not some New Age Genie that wants to make everyone healthy, wealthy and wise.  He is concerned with the whole person.  Jesus felt no need to separate the above 3 aspects of healing/gospel ministry. When did He ever emphasize one to the exclusion of the others? 

 

I appreciate anyone who even carries out #2 (preaching repentance – salvation).  But many who do preach the Gospel leave out #1 and #3, in order to avoid controversy.  Jesus did no such thing.  On the other extreme, some Charismatics emphasize #1 and #3, at the expense of #2.  One of the effects that can have is the following:

 

Luke 11

24"When an evil[h] spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' 25When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."

 

That is why Jesus warned this man thusly:

 

John 5

11But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.' "

    12So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?"

    13The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

    14Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." 15The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

 

Preaching #1 (healing) and #3 (deliverance) without including #2 (repentance and salvation) is incomplete.  The love of Jesus wants to minister the gospel to people holistically (numbers 1-3 above).  Christians have not been given a spirit of fear or cowardice, so we can preach the full message of the Gospel.

 

 

 

 

Return to the Blockades to Healing

 

 

This document is an important part of the document on God’s will and command in healing the sick. 

 

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