Healing for
physical and emotional sickness is in God's plan for our lives. Jesus is the
Great Physician who healed people throughout his ministry and continues to do so
today. He cares about your body and mind just as much as your soul. In the
Kingdom of God healing is the default mode for health.
We don't
discourage a sick friend from going to the doctor yet we can be wary of
encouraging him to pursue divine healing. The Bible is full of stories about
people getting healed. The stories are very diverse in the way someone is
healed, the process of the healing and who facilitates the healing but one
factor is always the same — everyone gets healed of their sickness.
The most
practical book in the Bible is James. We can read about how to gain wisdom, how
to deal with conflict, how to communicate effectively. And in James 5:14-15 it
tells us how to be healed, "If you are sick ask the church leaders to come and
pray for you. Ask them to put oil on you in the name of the Lord. If you have
faith when you pray for sick people they will get well. The Lord will heal
them."
It seems pretty
straightforward. Ask to be healed, believe you will be healed and then thank God
for your healing. But it doesn't always work that way. On at least four separate
occasions the Bible tells us Jesus healed everyone that was sick — every single
person was made well. But there were times everyone did not get healed by
Jesus.
If you are sick
or have an illness you want to be healed. If you have been diagnosed with a
disease you need God's healing touch. If someone you care about needs a healing
you want to do whatever you can to help. What is it that can keep us from being
healed? Here are ten possible reasons.
Lack of Biblical Faith
This is a
slippery slope that can end with someone believing it is their fault they are
not healed. Much like the people who asked Jesus if the reason someone was sick
was because it was their fault. Even a little faith is pleasing to God. But no
faith hinders healing. In Mark 6:5-6 it says, "Jesus could not work any miracles
there, except to heal a few sick people ... He was surprised that the people did
not have any faith." Biblical faith produces certainty, conviction and action
all needed for God to heal.
Feel Undeserving of Healing
Someone can
feel they are not worthy of being healed. They think their request is simply not
important in all that God has to do. They believe they are not deserving of such
a miracle. No one can earn healing, it is God's gift just like the rest of his
grace toward us. But you can put yourself in position to be healed.
Refusal to see Medicine as a Way God
Heals
Prayer for
healing and medical care should be pursued with equal vigor. To think there is
only one way of healing is to limit what God can do. God may use another avenue
for your healing. Medicine can be the course God has for you to travel in your
healing.
Erroneous Theology
Some people
cannot be healed because they believe God's healing ministry has ceased to
function. They are Cessationists. They believe we are in another dispensation
where miraculous healings no longer occur. It's hard to be healed when your
theology does not allow for divine healing anymore.
Sin Is a Hindrance
Sin can cause
sickness. I Corinthians 11:29-30 tells us, "Those who eat and drink without
discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why
many among you are weak and sick." We are to repent of our sins during the
celebration of communion (and other times as well) so we can be forgiven and
receive the healing God has for us.
Prayers are Incorrect
Our prayers may
not be specific enough for us to be healed. Jesus always encourages specific
prayers. We may pray for physical healing when the real need is for emotional
healing. Our prayers may be too surface and not get down to the root issue that
needs to be healed.
Neglect of Natural Means of Health
God has
designed us to function optimally with the appropriate amount of sleep. Our
bodies are made for physical exercise and healthy eating. When we neglect our
bodies we limit the healing God can give us.
Accommodation of Sickness
Some accept
their sickness as a way of life. They give up hope for healing. Like the man who
had been crippled for thirty-eight years they have accommodated themselves to
their lot in life. Jesus initiated the healing of this man and commanded him to
take action. When he did he was instantly healed and could walk.
Root Issues Bar Healing
Your healing
can be blocked by unforgiveness. Mark 11:25 says, "When you stand up to pray you
must forgive what others have done to you." Anger can lead to bitterness taking
root in your life and hinder the healing work God wants to do.
Belief that Sickness is Required by God
Some respond to
sickness by believing God uses it to teach them a lesson or to share in the
sufferings of Christ. While this may be true it can convince them God requires
them to be sick and thus they do not seek out or believe God for a healing.
There are powerful lessons to be learned in battling sickness and pursuing
healing.
If you need to
be healed make sure you are doing whatever you can so Jesus can do what only he
can.
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