OCTOBER – HEALING
1. Romans 8:11 “ But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
This passage, when taken as the literal truth and believed, destroys all the arguments against supernatural, physical healing. Will we believe the Bible? Does the Holy Spirit dwell in me? He is the same Spirit that raised the dead body of Christ and released Him from the tomb where He was carried. The promise given here is that my mortal body can receive an infusion of power from the Spirit to make me whole. Why would I ever question God on this issue? When do I not want to receive healing and wholeness? Is there any benefit in my being sick? Just how productive am I when my body is being beaten up? I will take the Bible seriously and quit submitting to lies conflicting with it.
2. Exodus 15:26 “ He said, ‘If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and
do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” NIV
God powerfully brings His people out of their slavery in Egypt. Then He begins to lay out the provisions of His covenant with them. He makes it very plain that He has appointed Himself as the One who would keep them in health. He names Himself as their Healer. He also lays out the conditions of receiving the benefits. We now have a better cove-nant with better promises in the New Testament. Let’s get hold of what is ours now!
3. Isaiah 53:4-5 “ Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we
considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. 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.” NIV
In Exodus we see that God provided healing for His covenant people. In Isaiah we read the prophet’s words foretelling the Messiah would come to earth as the Healer who offered His own body as the wounded sacrifice for our sickness, weakness, and pain. He bore the punishment for us and we receive the substitutional blessing of healing. Jesus died for all and He was wounded for all. If He died for all that anyone might be saved from their sins, then He also was wounded for all that anyone might be healed of their infirmities. Jesus bore all our sins and all our sicknesses.
4. Matthew 8:16-17 “ When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were
demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, ‘He himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.’”
That very Word that Isaiah prophesied some 700 years before the arrival of Christ on the earth was now literally coming to pass. When Matthew records the events of Jesus casting out demons and healing people physically there is a reference to the specific Word of Isaiah’s prophecy. Jesus came to prove the Word. He fulfilled the forecast. The power of the devil was overthrown by casting him out and the work of the devil was undone by healing the sick. All those who came to Jesus were set free from the bond-age of darkness as well as the bondage of physical infirmity.
5. 1 Peter 2:24 “ He 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.” NIV
Here Peter is referring to the same passage in Isaiah 53 as Matthew did when he gives the account of Jesus healing the sick in the New Testament. The Apostle Peter is saying that Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross so that we no longer bear the weight of that sin but live in right standing with God. In the same way Jesus was wounded in His body and bore our sicknesses on that day so we are no longer required to suffer with those infirmities. How could we say that Christ took our sins upon Himself and we still need to pay the penalty? There is no requirement of double payment. Then why should we have to pay for sickness that also has been paid for in full by the Lord? Notice this verse in Peter states that we have been healed – past tense.
6. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “ May God Himself, the God who makes everything holy
and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together – spirit, soul, and body – and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If He said it, He’ll do it!” MSG
Paul concludes this letter written to the church by declaring that God, who makes us whole in body, would keep us fit till Jesus comes again. In fact, he emphasizes that God is dependable to do exactly as He says He will. Now if we can utterly trust the Lord to keep our spirit intact to ensure we will arrive to our destiny in heaven, can we also trust Him to keep our body whole and healthy so we can represent Him on the earth? We really need to make a whole-hearted effort to work in close partnership with our Creator to take care of our body so it too will reflect the image of the the Master Builder.
7. 3 John 2-3 “ Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just
as your soul prospers. For I rejoice greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in truth.”
The Apostle John is conferring a prayer blessing on the church. He is praying a blessing of total prosperity on people. This prayer specially mentions being in health in body as well as in our spirit. It gave this giant in the faith great joy to hear that the followers of Christianity were actually walking in the truth of physical healing and not just talking about it. John is impressed that his disciples in the faith were upholding the Biblical standard set by their Lord Jesus. How it must please God when we practice the same doctrines that were set out by His Son. Since He set the table and provided all we need thereon, let us eat and be satisfied by all that has been given.
8. Acts 5:15-16 “ They even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on
stretchers and bedrolls, hoping they would be touched by Peter’s shadow when he walked by. They came from the villages surrounding Jerusalem, throngs of them, bringing the sick and bedeviled. And they were all healed.” MSG
This is the Bible history of healing: God provided it, Isaiah prophesied it, Jesus proved it, Peter preached it, Paul printed it, and the church practiced it. The people came in throngs to hear that anointed, powerful Word that was being preached by the early church. They didn’t just gather to discuss and fuss about what was proper or what may agree with the current doctrinal disposition of the people. They continued in the stream of ministry established by their Teacher. When they spoke the Word of Jesus, believed in the Word of Jesus, and did the acts of Jesus, they got the same results as Jesus.
9. James 5:14-15 “ Is anyone sick? He should call for the elders of the church and they
should pray over him and pour a little oil upon him, calling on the Lord to heal him. And their prayer, offered in faith, will heal him, for the Lord will make him well; and if his sickness was caused by some sin, the Lord will forgive him.” LB
Here is a call to anyone who is sick. Since sickness came into the world through sin, there can be an assumption that a sick person has sinned too. Therefore it often takes an act of humility to ask church leaders to anoint one with oil and pray for healing. There is no indication that the elders involved should delve into the cause of the illness, But there is a readiness by the Lord to heal that suffering person both inside and out. The following verse in this chapter does mention that we should also confess our faults to one another. This could prevent us from repeating that sin, and getting sick again.
10. Mark 1:40-41 “ A man with leprosy came to Him and begged him on his knees, ‘If
you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ He said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.” NIV
The question often posed by Christians in their need for healing is, “Does Jesus want to heal me?” Look at this Bible example. A total stranger approaches Jesus with a confi-dence that the Lord can heal him, but is it really His will to heal him? Here the Lord sets us straight on the issue of His will concerning healing. I don’t believe for one minute that Jesus is a respecter of persons, so if He is so completely willing for one, He is willing for all to be healed. Jesus is sure willing for all people to be saved, and yet many will not be saved for various reasons. May we approach the issue of healing in the same way.
11. Proverbs 4:20-23 “ My son, give attention to My Words; incline your ear to my
sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.”
In this modern time so many people rely on the word of a physician without even knowing their proficiency. They take remedies and medicines without question. Yet they will question God and have many doubts about the reliability of a Bible based position for keeping them in good health. We need to take time with learning Scriptural concepts. We need to pay close attention. We need to feed on the Word of God until it becomes central to our way of thinking. Life will come if we find the truth, and that truth will become medicine to our mortal bodies. Some bibles describe it as having “radiant health” (LB) or “bursting with health” (MSG), or “health to a man’s whole body.” (NIV)
12. John 10:10 “ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I
have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”
Jesus is addressing the Pharisees with truth. He is revealing the distinction between the devil’s work and the Lord’s work. All forms of destruction are attributed to the thief. The purpose of Jesus coming is to confront and destroy this work by bringing life into every area and need of humanity. The devil loves to destroy the Creation of God, especially those who are created in the image of God. He is determined to keep us from looking like the Father and being whole. Jesus has promised to bring us life; complete life, abundant life. Satan wants to steal from us; Jesus gives us prosperity. The devil wants to kill us; Jesus gives us long life. The devil wants to cripple us; Jesus gives us healing.
13. Psalm 103:2-5 “ Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who for-
gives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satis-fies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
If I forget to eat I will definitely starve and die, unless someone corrects me. If I forget to go to work there will be no pay cheque, my family will suffer and I will have no tithe to give to the Lord. If I forget to get dressed everyone will see that I am totally naked and laugh at me for being such a fool. Well, if I forget that divine healing is a benefit provided by God, I may eventually die or my family may suffer for my ignorance, and the devil will surely laugh for my missing out on the provision God has for my health. Don’t forget the blessings laid up for you: Salvation, healing, protection, provision, heaven!
14. Acts 10:38 “ Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy
Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do this because God was with Him.” MSG
Jesus was always found doing good to people. He went around healing all those who were afflicted by the devil. There is no evidence that Jesus fulfilled the will of the Father by making people sick. That is a sick thought. Healing was His ministry. We are to follow after the example of Jesus. First we submit to Jesus to receive His anointing with the Holy Spirit. Now God is with us, and we get out there and help others by ministering healing to all who are oppressed with sickness by the devil. This is what Peter and the first disciples did. We are to also be true disciples and go to work like they did.
15. John 5:5-9 “ One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus
saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, He said, ‘Do you want to get well?’ The man said, ‘Sir, when the water is stirred, I don’t have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in.’ Jesus said, ‘Get up, take your bedroll, start walking.’ The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off.” MSG
This is an account worth reading. The cripple was looking for healing through the minis-try of an angel. He never recognized the person of Jesus, nor knew His power. Yet he received his miracle. I can’t imagine why the multitude of sick people didn’t all cry out for Jesus to heal them instead of looking at the pool for the angel to arrive to heal one of them. Are you looking for healing from another source, or will you call for Jesus to help?
16. Luke 4:18 “ The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” NIV
Jesus is beginning His public ministry after being baptized with power and tested by the devil for 40 days in the wilderness. His very first message was a declaration of God’s doctrine to be established in the church. Sick people are poor in health. They are also held captive by the enemy, and cannot see for their blindness. They live under the oppression of the wicked one. Jesus was anointed to bring relief to every one of these conditions. This is the ministry for all those anointed by the Holy Spirit, both those who stand behind the pulpit and all those who call themselves disciples of Jesus Christ.
17. Proverbs 16:23-24 “ A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote
instruction. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” NIV
Study of the Scriptures reveals God to us, and as we develop a fear of the Lord, wisdom comes to shape our lives. Wise people have trained their mouth to be guided by their hearts as they know that is how the Lord can lead them to successful living. There are many Words in the Bible that promote healing and health, and those are the sweet Words that can influence our attitudes and physical well-being. Godly attitudes bring health to our soul. A healthy soul can assist us in making right choices for taking care of our body. Making simple choices like eating right foods, taking regular exercise, and having proper rest are often the result of responding to a sweet soul, and bring health.
18. Genesis 1:26a-27 “ Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to
Our likeness;’………….So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
The Bible states that God, the Trinity, created mankind in His image – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father is not lacking in any way, Jesus the Son is complete and whole, and the Holy Spirit is neither sick or failing. That is the image we were made in. The image of man was subject to be altered when we fell into sin in the Garden of Eden. Then the Son came to earth to restore all things to mankind – spirit, soul, and body. Why would we as believers in Christ entertain anything less for ourselves than what God has already established from the beginning. There is an enemy that tries to distort the image of God in us but let’s fight for the right to be all that we are created to be.
19. Genesis 1:31 “ God looked over everything He had made; it was so good, so very
good! It was evening, it was morning – day six.” MSG
After creating the heavens, the earth, and everything in it, God was completely satisfied. He declared that it was very good! The man and woman He created were very good. God has a high standard for all things He is involved with. Since being whole and healthy as we were originally created was so good, why would any human being who is sick or suffering in any way consider that condition to be good? There is a battle for our lives. Satan is always out to steal our health, to kill our bodies, or to damage us so we cannot reflect the image of God or do the work we are called to. So let’s believe God for total health and continue to press into the Scriptures to receive the blessing of healing. It is there in the Bible for us to see and to receive for the glory of God.
20. Deuteronomy 30:19 “ I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that
I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”
God is making it plain to His people in their journey from the slavery of Egypt to the land of Promise, that their lives will be determined by the choices they make. He even reveals the two choices they have. It is not confusing when there are only two options. The first choice God recommends is life and the blessings that come with it. The next choice is death and the curses that propel us into that destiny. Most of the people being led by the great Moses chose death, for they expired in the wilderness before they reached their promised inheritance. Today I would suggest we choose life, which includes protection, provision, and thanks be to God, healing for our bodies.
21. Joshua 1:8 “ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall
meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
We are to be searching the Bible for truths on healing and then spending plenty of time meditating on those principles. Our mouth needs to conform to all the positive words written for us to feed on. It is so powerful to be speaking words that Jesus can give agreement to. That is how we begin to prosper. That is the way to success. If we fool around by speaking the devil’s curses that he would enjoy adding to our life and our body, we will surely suffer. Today show your courage, be wise and strong, to observe carefully all the life giving Words given by Jesus for promoting a healthy physical life.
22. Mark 5:25-28 “ Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had
suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment; for she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.’ Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.”
It is so sad that many people spend time and money going to human physicians who are limited in what they can do for the sick. We do thank God for getting some relief from our infirmities from doctors, but when will we begin to exercise our faith as this suf-fering woman did and stretch out to touch Jesus the Healer. He is the One who can dry up the fountain of our troubles instead of just treating the symptoms of sickness.”
23. James 4:6b-7 “ God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore
submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Far too often we give the devil a lot of attention by trying to fight him off without the power of God working on our behalf. We encounter challenges with sickness invading our bodies and attack Satan with all the resistance we can muster. A better plan would be to focus on submitting humbly to God and to delegated authorities He has placed in our lives. Then His grace, heaven’s power, begins to flow to us and through us for all the spiritual battles that lie ahead. If we maintain our pride we’ll find even God will resist us and then our enemy has a good laugh as he plagues us with his evil and infirmities. Practice humility. Practice submission. Continue to forgive those who have sinned against you. Keep meditating on the Scriptures. Carefully obey what God says to you.
24. Proverbs 18:21 “ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love
it will eat it’s fruit.”
How interesting that in this passage death is mentioned before life concerning the use of words. Could it be that humans are prone to speak those negative words that kill rather than the positive things that bring life. Why are we promoting poison rather than good fruit when we talk. Truly, our minds need to be renewed to begin to think on good things. Good words will certainly follow. We will learn to love speaking what will edify others and usher in blessings into our surroundings. Quit talking about destructive issues just to get attention. Stop confessing that you are getting sick or that you don’t feel well. Why not begin rehearsing the bible verses that tell of the healing power of Jesus. How about believing some of these life-giving words for yourself or your family?
25. Matthew 6:9-10 “ Pray along these lines: ‘Our Father in Heaven, we honor Your holy
Name. We ask that Your Kingdom will come now. May Your will be done here on earth, just as it is in heaven.’” LB
When we pray this prayer as Jesus taught His first disciples, what are we praying? In heaven all beings are under the government of God and there is no sickness and disease to be found anywhere. That is according to the will of God. Now why would the Lord want anybody on earth to be sick when none in heaven are? We are fervently praying that His will be done concerning our lives so that we will reflect the conditions in heaven. Could it be that our problems arise on earth because we have issues with the Kingdom, or government of God. We want to remember to honor His Name by believing what is Biblical, and in our believing hearts He will establish His Kingdom of wholeness.
26. 1 John 3:8 “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”
Jesus came to earth for a very specific purpose – to destroy the works of the evil One. We observe the life and ministry of Jesus, and find Him to consistently be speaking the Word of God, casting out devils, healing the sick, and feeding the poor. Christ never cast devils into people, only out of them. Jesus never took food from hungry people so they could starve. In the same manner, Jesus never prayed for someone or laid hands on them that they would get sick. He wanted all those who came to Him to be fed, free from demons, and healed of their infirmities. There is no other doctrine given to us than that which Jesus laid down as a foundation for those that are His disciples.
27. Psalm 119:105 “ Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”
How many times have we heard the people around us say that God is giving them some sickness to either teach them something spiritual or to humble them. As I read Joshua 1:9, I see clearly that God instructed His man to meditate in the Word to make his way prosperous and to have good success. Jesus Himself never laid hands on someone to make them sick to gain some spiritual insight. Jesus preached the Word of God. Then He healed them. The Psalmist said the Word is a lamp and a light for our journey. There is no proof that sickness makes a proud person humble. We need to submit to God and choose to be humble. If sickness actually would teach us spiritually we should all be praying to be sick and never try to get well. Yet we do our best to get over our infirmities and even pay good money to do so. Go to the Lord our Healer and be whole.
28. Luke 22:19-20 “ Taking bread, He blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
‘this is My body, given for you. Eat it in My memory.’ He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant written in My blood, blood poured out for you.’” MSG
Sometimes Christians have a difficulty believing Jesus’ sacrifice of Himself was for our physical healing as well as for our salvation from sin. Or they maintain that salvation is more important than healing. The fact is that Christ provided both and has never indicat-ed that we only get to choose one benefit. If His blood was shed for our sins and His body was bruised for our healing why would we not receive that blessing for our lives that cost Him so much. There has already been a high price paid by the Lord for our eternal well being and also for our physical wholeness on this earth.
29. Luke 9:1-2 “ One day Jesus called together His twelve apostles and gave them
authority over all demons – power to cast them out – and to heal all diseases. Then He sent them away to tell everyone about the coming of the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” LB
In His ministry, Jesus first showed the disciples what was to be done, and then He sent them out to do what they were trained in. They immediately went out preaching about healing and casting out devils. They were telling everyone that this was the Kingdom of God in action. Healing the sick is bringing about the authority or government of God to the people. When God is governing, the demons have to retreat and the sickness has to flee the scene. I suppose these twelve men were amazed at the results of their minis-tering. I believe we need a revival of this kind of ministry in the Christian church today.
30. Luke 13:10-13 “ On a Sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,
and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her forward and said to her, ‘Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.’ Then He put His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” NIV
The religious leaders watching this miracle unfold really didn’t care that the woman was healed. They were probably jealous and angry about the authority Jesus displayed and tried to make a big issue over Him healing on the Sabbath. He made a clear distinction that this eighteen year infirmity was a direct work of the devil that needed to be undone immediately, Sabbath or not! It instantly released the woman to give praise to God.
31. Mark 16:15-18 “ And then He told them, ‘You are to go into all the world and preach
the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Those who believe and are baptized will be saved. But those who refuse to believe will be condemned. And those who believe shall use My authority to cast out demons, and they shall speak with new languages. They will be able to even handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them; and they will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.’” LB
Jesus was near the point of His life when He would ascend into heaven to be seated at the right hand of God. In this last moment with His faithful disciples, He gives them a commission for their work on earth. They are to preach the Gospel to everyone, every-where. This Good News was to be confirmed as the Word from God by what happened afterward. One of the signs of the integrity of the message was that the sick would be healed. That is our work today. It is to continue until Jesus returns to earth. With the increase of the world’s population and the nasty diseases put upon mankind today, we have a huge ministry opportunity before us. Let’s believe God’s Word and join forces to set people free from sickness.