Are you Healed?

Have you been healed? I’m not talking strictly about physical healing, but spiritual healing as well. As I read through the scriptures, it became clear that healing is a direct correlation to our faith. Healing comes by FAITH, and not by anything WE do.

James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

3 John 2

There are 4 main reasons to why we don’t get healed.

1.  God wants to use our affliction to bring Glory to His name – Joni Erikson Tada is a prime example of this. Joni became a quadriplegic after a diving accident. She had prayed to God to heal her, and when God didn’t, she started to question and blame God for the condition she was in. After a few months, she realized that it wasn’t meant to be. Now to make a long story short, she has a wonderful ministry, ministering to those who are handicapped like herself.

2.  Unbelief = Little faith – Matthew 17:20 Here Faith and unbelief are connected. The word mountain here is literally translated as a literal hill or mountain. Figuratively it can mean anything in our lives that looks to be a mountain. Romans 4:20 Abraham believed and his faith was strong because of it. Have faith in God – Mark 11:22-24 Believe that God can do a healing work in you and you shall receive it.

3.  Expect God to “BAM” heal us when he wants to use another way. Too many Christians want God to strike them with instant healing, when we should be taking God at His Word and do what he tells us. Look at Naaman and Elisha. Naaman (a Syrian officer) came to Elisha to get healed of his leprosy. 2 Kings 5: 9-15 There is a parallel between this story and Christians today. Naaman is the resemblance of the Christians’ way of thinking vs.11-13. Naaman was furious because he was EXPECTING God to heal him right there and then! And he left raging mad! Naaman’s servants on the other hand are like unto the Holy Spirit, who softly talks to us. His servants asked Naaman, “If the prophet told you to do something great, would you do it, why not this little thing” After Naaman’s 7th dip in the Jordon, he came out cleansed, It wasn’t the Jordon that healed him, but his faith in the God of Israel. God can use anything He wants, wherever He wants, whenever He wants. What we expect God to do is not necessarily what God will do  – Isaiah 55:8; God uses a Donkey – Numbers 22:21-33; Uses a Bronze snake on a pole – Numbers 21:9; A great fish – Jonah 1:17

4.  Unforgiven Sin in our lives. Matthew 5:23, 6:14, Mark 11:25-26 According to research from the University of Wisconsin, internalizing, or holding on to, hurt and resentment can lead to depression, post-traumatic stress, increased anger, anxiety, illness, drug and alcohol abuse, sleep- and even eating disorders. Holding unto grudges affects your present attitude, how you treat people, even your health. When you’re stressed, bitter, and tense, you’re more prone to numerous ailments such as ulcers, heart problems, anxiety attacks, even cancer! Psalm 38 King David admits that because of his unforgiven sin, his heath is failing. Do you see how much weight is placed on forgiving each another?

6 ways to receive your healing.

1.  Have a good laugh! Norman Cousins who back in 1964 was told by his doctor that he had but a few months left to live. Norman rejected that negative idea, and went to a hotel room, rented a movie project and watched comedies like the Marx Brothers, Candid Camera and others. Well the few months stretched into years, when he finally died in November of 1990. Medical experts, including the American Cancer Society say that laughter is healthy because it helps muscles function better, lowers blood pressure, and improves breathing. Laughing also reduces stress. Stress lowers the effectiveness of the immune system to fight. So if laughing reduces stress, that would mean then that laughing raises the effectiveness of the immune system to fight? Proverbs 17:22 – ASV says cheerful heart. What Norman cousin experienced is what Solomon already knew, that a merry heart is like good medicine!

2.  Don’t worry about tomorrow because tomorrow has enough problems of its own. Worrying creates stress, which as just mentioned reduces the ability of the immune system to fight. Chronic worrying affects your daily life so much that it interferes with your appetite, lifestyle habits, relationships, sleep, and job performance. Many people who worry excessively are so anxiety-ridden that they seek relief in harmful lifestyle habits such as overeating, cigarette smoking, or using alcohol and drugs. Don’t worry about the things you need, as God will supply all of your needs, why worry about them. Matthew 6:25-34

3.  Pray and believe. We need others to pray for us, and over us along with our own prayers. There is nothing to ashamed about asking for prayer, as James 5:13,14,16 mentions, “the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous can do a lot of things. James 5:15 says “the prayer of FAITH”, in other words we have to believe in what we are praying for.

4.  Renew your spirit through seeking after God by studying His word. Write His word on your heart. Proverbs 3:7,8. Hear what God has to say, for they are live to you. Proverbs 4:20-22.

5.  Forgive others for their trespasses against you, because if you don’t God won’t forgive you. Matthew 6:14,15

6.  Receive the ULTIMTE healing of all! By His stripes we are healed Isaiah 53:4-7. God used His only Son to heal us from all of our sins because He Loves us! John 3:14-18 Jesus was whipped so much that His flesh hung from His bones, beaten so much that He was black and blue from bruising. A crown of thorn was placed on His head, no not placed, but jammed down on his head so that the thorns dug into His head. And when HE carried the cross up to Golgotha, wood splinters dug into an already whip torn, blistered, bleeding back which only added to His agony and pain for us. Jesus paid the debt for our sins. There can be no remission of sins without the shedding of blood. Jesus became that sacrifice for us. Hebrews 9:22. Jesus became the atoning victim for us that we should not die but have everlasting life. Romans 3:23-25.