A leper came to Jesus, knelt down, and begged Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean” (Mark 1:40). This was a monumental event because the leper was asking the very question we all eventually ask. He did not doubt Jesus’ ability to heal, but rather His desire to heal. He asked, “I know you can heal, but do you want to?”
Jesus resolved the issue once and for all when He touched this outcast, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed” (Mark 1:41). This one phrase settled it. The heart wish of Christ was, is, and will always be to heal the hurt and destroy the pain of those He loves. This is why in many places all who were sick and demonized were set free.
Haight Ashbury Miracle
I will never forget the miracle I witnessed while street witnessing one night near Haight and Ashbury Streets in San Francisco.
We came upon a group of people congregated in an alleyway and noticed a couple huddled in the corner under a blanket. They told us they were homeless and had been living on the streets for several years. After sharing Christ with them, they gladly submitted their lives to Him.
When we asked how we could specifically pray for them, the husband explained that his wife had a condition in her legs that left her paralyzed. For three years he had been carrying her around from homeless shelter to shelter.
When we heard this, we all gathered around her and spoke the word of the Lord. As we helped her to her feet, God performed a miracle right before our eyes. We watched her emaciated legs gain strength as she marched down the street with hands lifted heavenward praising God. The look of exuberance on her face was priceless.
Many of the other street people stood in wonder, as they were well aware of her condition. It was an awesome miracle. Needless to say, we preached Christ with extra boldness that night.
Healing. The ByProduct of the Kingdom
Healing is a byproduct of the Kingdom and is available whenever the gospel is shared. Jesus is committed to healing the sick.
Nearly twenty percent of the gospels are devoted to the healing ministry of Christ, and over sixty percent of His ministry involved healing and deliverance. This is far more than any other activity.
If you are a minister who does not spend a good percentage of your time ministering to the sick, what are you waiting for? You are missing out on all the fun.
I am convinced there is coming a day in the Kingdom when no disease will stand before the people of God. Scripture seems to indicate that all disease will one day be eliminated from God’s earthly kingdom, and I want to be a part of the company of people that helps promote it (see Is. 33:24; 35:5-6).
D.Thomas Lancaster writes, “We would do well to let the rule of the coming Kingdom dictate how the servants of the King live now.”
Knowing that sickness will not be apart of the future kingdom indicates that ministering to the sick is part of Kingdom living.
Tips for Healing
1. Release healing. Have you ever noticed that Jesus and the disciples did not pray for the sick? They carried healing with them. In the marketplace, we are commissioned to “heal the sick” (see Matt. 10:8; Luke 9:2; 10:9). It is one thing to pray for healing; it is quite another to declare it. Try releasing healing by verbally addressing the injured body part and declaring Scripture over it.
2. Build faith. A testimony of healing has the ability to embolden our faith as well as theirs. Share a recent one and heighten their expectation.
3. Cure with care. Even when Jesus was physically and emotionally exhausted, Scripture records that he was “moved with compassion” for the crowds (see Matt. 9:36; 14:14; Mark 1:41). Our love for people must grow stronger than our insecurities and inhibitions. When we tap into the compassionate heart of Christ, we invariably tap into a realm of power.
4. Don’t panic if nothing happens or the person gets worse. When nothing happens, often there is a block or spiritual root to the problem (such as fear, rejection or unforgiveness). Remove the block by having them confess it and often healing will occur. If the pain increases or moves to another place in their body, don’t panic. The sickness is usually demonically linked. Cast out a tormenting spirit of affliction and infirmity, and you should see some positive results.
5. Don’t give up. Reading the accounts of men and women used powerfully in healing, most started out with little success. In fact, some even died of their conditions. God will often test us to see if we take the credit or the blame for the miracle. He wants to know if our compassion and obedience are strong enough to press past the question of why some do not get healed.
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What do you think? Love to get your thoughts on this article.
Well since I discovered the Biblical truth about healing in 1990, I’ve been praying for the sick. Many times, I saw no improvement or only limited success. However, I remember Randy Clark saying not to give up on healing unless you have at least prayed for 1000 sick people. I haven’t got 1000 yet, but in the last few years, I prayed for Kippy with leukemia and she lived. My son Elliott and I prayed for Helen’s coworker William with late stage lung cancer which had spread to the bones, he survived and is gaining weight right now.
Praise the Name of Jesus and keep trying! Don’t give up.
I too am with you Derrick. Only in the past few years have I personally seen greater results. For me, I need to continue to “just do it”. Continue to trust the Lord knowing it’s His heart and will to heal. I love your diligence, desire and obedience to the Word. Keep going
Yes. Awesome. Keep at it. Persistence is important when seeking healing for other people.
‘Cure with care’ is being highlighted for me. Christ’s compassion in and thru us … overcoming fatigue, insecurities, inhibitions ….
Great perspective here.
Brian, I fully agree. A great reminder. Thanks fo sharing!
Me too! Too many times we see cure without care, while in a prayer line or sitting in a doctor’s office. Cure without care can be sometimes more destructive than the sickness itself.
God’s ways are amazing!! As I was praying last night for my mom regarding cancer,I told the Lord,” Lord I don’t doubt your ability to heal or your want to heal but wonder if sometimes it is your will for someone to be healed”.
And here’s your article addressing the very same issue with almost exactly the same words. Jesus is so faithful and loving that He sent His answer in a way I never expected.
All glory to Him!
Nesa
I love how the Lord hears and answers our prayer is unique ways! So cool! Thanks for letting me know, Nesa and will continue to pray for your mom.
Really love “Our love for people must grow stronger than our insecurities and inhibitions.” Amen!
Truth! Thanks for sharing, Garrett.
1)Can Jeff or Greg expound and perhaps give us the words they use to declare and speak healing? Do you just tell people to stretch forth their hands?
2) And what words should be used to cast out a demonic influence after praying about unforgiveness or other secret sin that may be hindering complete healing? Pastors in our fellowship of churches generally say something to the effect of “In the name of Jesus, leave this body and we rebuke you in the name of Jesus”…or “We plead the blood of Jesus…” in a church service, but I read in the Book of Jude that Gabriel told Satan, “The Lord rebuke you” and I’ve always kind of wondered about how to address Satan ever since. It affects the way I pray and I know that “Greater is He who is me than he who is in the World” and that I serve the Creator and all -powerful God, but does anyone have an idea of words to use as a launching point? Thanks for the post.
Nate
Hi Nate. Let me give you my take on it in a very abbreviated reply. Jesus never healed anyone the same way twice. It was always different. The reason for this was to keep Him dependent on the Holy Spirit. When someone comes to me for healing I don’t need to try and remember an exact phrase or scripture to use (like “stretch forth thy hand”). I listen to the Holy Spirit and move out and minister in His name. I speak to the sickness based on the finished work of Jesus. If He gives me a scripture or a phrase, I use it.
Regarding the second question. Like I said above, I simply take authority in Jesus name based on the finished work of the cross. I don’t get into an authority match or a yelling spree with the demonic, thinking somehow if i yell loud enough or work hard enough freedom will come. I pray from victory not for victory. Jesus already disarmed all principalities and powers. So I minister from a place of rest. I simply find out what the Holy Spirit is doing and come into agreement with Him. I may gently ask them if their is anything that had not been disclosed etc. then I resume praying for them. When I minister from heaven to earth I get far greater results. Hope this helps.
Nicely put, Greg. I agree wholeheartedly. It’s not so much in what you say but in the spirit of God anointing your words. When I pray, I try to pray as specific as possible ie: L4 move into place, pancreas start producing insulin. When those kinds of prayers do not produce results, I’ll try a different angle and switch it up. Maybe I’ll go after the root cause of that sickness like being unloved or bitterness. Henry Wright’s book called A More Excellent Way is a must read (in my opinion) for anyone who wants to pray for the sick. Excellent insights of root issues to disease.
About demons, I speak to them directly and give them clear directives. Catch-phrases will not work if we are unsure of our authority or we have secret sin.
Hope this helps.
Hi Greg,
I have been prophesied and prayed over by total strangers for a 10 x 10 fold of healing from God through me. I have yet to see this but I do have faith that if these words are true then He will full fill them. I do know that God’s ways are not our ways and He answers prayer all the time just not always as we want them answered. I was praying and praying and fasting and praying for two very sweet boys for over 1 year and they both, fairly recently, succumbed to their sickness. So sad but also a time of great rejoicing. Through their suffering they brought many people closer to Jesus and even some had given their lives to Jesus just because of reading all the prayers and faith of the people who were following their story. These boys, God chose to heal them in heaven which, in my thoughts, is the better of the two.
Maybe this is my stumbling block but Jesus says we are to do what He does, so if this is so and we, in complete faith, obedience and with a repentant heart step out and pray over the sick then they should be healed just like when Jesus and His disciples prayed. Yet we don’t see the kind and numbers of healing that Jesus and His disciples had. We see it sporadically. Preachers like John MacArthur preach a closed cannon and no more miracles like the ones Jesus did. I like John MacArthur’s teaching but this one really stumbles me and makes me question things. And then there are preachers like Bill Johnson who preach heaven here on earth.
Well, these are things that I ponder and I take them to God often.
Blessings,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Let me share personally from my own experience. This is in no-way meant to be pointed at anyone, just my own personal convictions.
I won’t let my lack lower the standard set in God’s Word or the ministry of Jesus. I will not lower the Word to my lack of experience. Many men and women throughout history have created doctrine from their own lack. It’s safe and cowardly. It’s easier to say miracles are not for today then to press into the anointing that releases them. With the growth of the information networks around the world, we have access via internet to hundreds of confirmed healings on a daily basis. There just is not the evidence to support a closed cannon position.
Though it’s tempting to give up or align ourselves with doctrine that lines up with our lack; believe that what Jesus said and did is for today and it’s for you! Stay anchored in His Word. Continue to hear and read testimonies of healing. Hold on to, contend and believe the prophetic words spoken over you. I know it’s harder to continue to press in but when you break into more and more of His healing power you will be so grateful to the Lord for keeping you tenacious in your faith. Rich blessings to you!
Hi Greg,
Thank you for your encouraging words! I am pressing in and I won’t stop. I don’t want a man’s words to stumble my walk with God.
I just recently attended a conference with Heidi Baker. It was so encouraging to hear the stories she had to tell. She was speaking about deliverance and how many people were delivered from demonic spirits during one of her services. God is amazing!
Blessings,
Love hearing this. Amen!
i agree that we are to always pray for healing and that every sickness would bow to the name of Jesus. it is amazing the power there is in His name and His authority. i do not believe that we will see a complete end to sickness before His literal return. however every sickness that is healed now is supposed to firmly anchor us in the reality that He IS coming back to restore all things (including our physical bodies) and to cause our hearts to be lovesick for His coming. paul said that the last enemy to be defeated would be death, and i am so excited for that day because even with healing in our midst, we still all die and i want to live forever in a body that will never decay or grow old.
you are absolutely right that the preaching of the gospel is meant to be accompanied by healings. it is a great witness that we serve the Resurrected King and that He will raise our bodies too on the day of the Lord!!!
my recent post: how to pray with boldness…
Charis, I enjoyed the tie-in of healing and the longing for the Lord’s return. Healing is meant to give us revelation of His supreme goodness and glory in the light of Him coming back to rule and reign. Thanks for sharing and congrats on the new addition to the family!!
Amen!
I have personally experienced the supernatural healing of the Lord. I had a broken wrist (fractured) and Bob Johnson laid hands on me and prayed and my wrist was completely healed. Today, I struggle with a form of tendanitis in this same wrist. God is using this situation to remind me of His finished work on the cross and the testimony of what He’s already done for me. I do not understand why I am still struggle, nor why so many I’ve contended for in prayer for so long are still struggling. But I don’t allow it to prevent me from going after their, or my own healing. I choose to believe.
Personally, I have to keep digging deeper. It’s work. What’s always refreshing to me is to hear stories of how many are not healed from those who are experiencing healing breakthroughs. It encourages me to know that no one “bats a 1,000″. Most people who are having breakthroughs in healing are the ones who keep stepping out in faith, in radical obedience, and pray for the sick. Thanks for sharing.
This article was great. One of the things I have recently realized is how I lack faith for healing. It is so ridiculous how far away I have come from the early visions and encounters with the Lord where He showed me that a large part of the ministry He had for me included laying hands on the sick and watching them recover. I’m not sure what went wrong, maybe after praying for so many and not seeing significant results your faith in that area depletes- I certainly have great faith in other areas and walk in victory over them- but in the area of healing… well I am challenged to step it up. Thanks for this!
Gina, I believe God measures healing different than we do. The process is just as important as the healing itself, even more so. Sometimes the process can be years but the results are still in the process (if you know what I mean). So stay obedient and pray for people often for the sick. You will see people recover soon.
Ps Gina, I sometimes have the same struggle that you’ve been experiencing. I lost my younger sister and one of my uncles to cancer. However, I am not giving up. I want to keep trusting God and obeying His Word. Sometimes I see success like Helen’s coworker with lung cancer. Let’s all encourage each other and press on and contend for miracles.