The Healing Ministry (Pt. 2)
Why do some oppose healing?
There are different reasons. The Sadducees who were the "modernists" of that day, committed themselves to a rationalism that denied the supernatural. As for the Pharisees, the case was different. They were "fundamentalists," and they opposed Christ's healing ministry because of the popular reception given to it and their own inability to duplicate it. They reasoned among themselves saying, "What do we? For this man doeth many miracles. If we let him alone, all will believe on Him (John 11:47-48). The truth was that the Pharisees were willing to believe in the miracles of the past but wanted none at present. This attitude led them on a dangerous ground of actually claiming that the healing was the work of the devil. The Lord solemnly warned them that they were guilty of blasphemy and were in fact in danger of committing the unpardonable sin (Matthew 12:31-32).
The ministry of healing is one requiring a strong faith and special wisdom on the part of the minister. The novice can make serious mistakes. For one thing, teaching should always precede the ministering to the sick if the best results are to be realized.
Healing is for all even as salvation is for all; but all who come for healing are not healed, anymore than all who come for salvation are saved. There are conditions attached to both. Much depends on the kind of instruction that is given to the candidates. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." In Nazareth, Christ would do no mighty miracles, because of the unbelief of the people (Mark 6:5). They would not listen to His instructions and in fact tried to take His life. It is not surprising that few were healed in that place. At Bethesda Jesus saw a multitude of impotent folk, yet He healed cone and departed. The conditions evidently were not right. To the one He did heal He said, "Behold, thou are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee (John 5:14).
The time required for healing depends on the measure of faith present both in the one who ministers and the one who receives. Not all healings are instantaneous. Jesus said to the nobleman, "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe" (John 4:48). The nobleman accepted the admonition and went his way believing, and his son began to mend from that hour (John 4:52). The blind man of Bethsaida did not receive perfect sight when Christ first ministered to him (Mark 8:24). The 10 lepers were cleansed only as they went. Faith is an act (Luke 17:14). Christ's promise to believers that "they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" implies gradual healing rather than an instantaneous miracle. Of course in the healing meetings, there are miracles that take place instantaneously but there will be others who are healed that will receive gradual strength.
The minister must instruct the people after receiving deliverance, even more than before. Jesus gave a warning that an affliction may come back upon a man who puts forth no effort to arm himself against the counterattacks of the enemy (Luke 11:24-26). Some have supposed that when a genuine miracle takes place it is impossible for the recipient to lose it. That is not scriptural. Peter walked on the water, which was a miracle but when he took his eyes off Christ and looked upon circumstances and conditions, he began to sink. So those who get their eyes off the Lord and His promises and look at symptoms may well have a recurrence of their affliction.
The scriptures clearly teach there are hindrances that can keep a person from receiving healing. For example, failure to take proper care of one's body can result in serious illness. Epaphroditus, due to overwork and strain, also died from what appears to have been nervous exhaustion; nevertheless through Paul's prayers, he recovered (Philippians 2:25-30).
Perhaps the most common omission in the divine healing ministry is that preachers do not instruct folk after they get healed to move on up into the realm of divine health. Health should be the normal experience of every Christian. This was God's plan for the believers even in the Old Testament days (Exodus 15:23-26). It is God's plan for a believer today (3 John 2). Those who seek repeated healings often find it its increasingly hard to get deliverance. Some folk make it a habit to ask for prayer every time there is a prayer line. People should be taught that divine health is God's plan for them. Sickness should be the exception. Every Christian should read the 91st Psalm over and over until it becomes a part of him.
I thank you for your continued viewing and reading. If this Blog and its contents have been a blessing to you, then I ask, with God's leading, that you consider supporting Artesian Well Church.
Artesian Well Church
6031 Linden Avenue
Long Beach, Ca
Talk to you soon,
Pastor Norman
There are different reasons. The Sadducees who were the "modernists" of that day, committed themselves to a rationalism that denied the supernatural. As for the Pharisees, the case was different. They were "fundamentalists," and they opposed Christ's healing ministry because of the popular reception given to it and their own inability to duplicate it. They reasoned among themselves saying, "What do we? For this man doeth many miracles. If we let him alone, all will believe on Him (John 11:47-48). The truth was that the Pharisees were willing to believe in the miracles of the past but wanted none at present. This attitude led them on a dangerous ground of actually claiming that the healing was the work of the devil. The Lord solemnly warned them that they were guilty of blasphemy and were in fact in danger of committing the unpardonable sin (Matthew 12:31-32).
The ministry of healing is one requiring a strong faith and special wisdom on the part of the minister. The novice can make serious mistakes. For one thing, teaching should always precede the ministering to the sick if the best results are to be realized.
Healing is for all even as salvation is for all; but all who come for healing are not healed, anymore than all who come for salvation are saved. There are conditions attached to both. Much depends on the kind of instruction that is given to the candidates. "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." In Nazareth, Christ would do no mighty miracles, because of the unbelief of the people (Mark 6:5). They would not listen to His instructions and in fact tried to take His life. It is not surprising that few were healed in that place. At Bethesda Jesus saw a multitude of impotent folk, yet He healed cone and departed. The conditions evidently were not right. To the one He did heal He said, "Behold, thou are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee (John 5:14).
The time required for healing depends on the measure of faith present both in the one who ministers and the one who receives. Not all healings are instantaneous. Jesus said to the nobleman, "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe" (John 4:48). The nobleman accepted the admonition and went his way believing, and his son began to mend from that hour (John 4:52). The blind man of Bethsaida did not receive perfect sight when Christ first ministered to him (Mark 8:24). The 10 lepers were cleansed only as they went. Faith is an act (Luke 17:14). Christ's promise to believers that "they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" implies gradual healing rather than an instantaneous miracle. Of course in the healing meetings, there are miracles that take place instantaneously but there will be others who are healed that will receive gradual strength.
The minister must instruct the people after receiving deliverance, even more than before. Jesus gave a warning that an affliction may come back upon a man who puts forth no effort to arm himself against the counterattacks of the enemy (Luke 11:24-26). Some have supposed that when a genuine miracle takes place it is impossible for the recipient to lose it. That is not scriptural. Peter walked on the water, which was a miracle but when he took his eyes off Christ and looked upon circumstances and conditions, he began to sink. So those who get their eyes off the Lord and His promises and look at symptoms may well have a recurrence of their affliction.
The scriptures clearly teach there are hindrances that can keep a person from receiving healing. For example, failure to take proper care of one's body can result in serious illness. Epaphroditus, due to overwork and strain, also died from what appears to have been nervous exhaustion; nevertheless through Paul's prayers, he recovered (Philippians 2:25-30).
Perhaps the most common omission in the divine healing ministry is that preachers do not instruct folk after they get healed to move on up into the realm of divine health. Health should be the normal experience of every Christian. This was God's plan for the believers even in the Old Testament days (Exodus 15:23-26). It is God's plan for a believer today (3 John 2). Those who seek repeated healings often find it its increasingly hard to get deliverance. Some folk make it a habit to ask for prayer every time there is a prayer line. People should be taught that divine health is God's plan for them. Sickness should be the exception. Every Christian should read the 91st Psalm over and over until it becomes a part of him.
I thank you for your continued viewing and reading. If this Blog and its contents have been a blessing to you, then I ask, with God's leading, that you consider supporting Artesian Well Church.
Artesian Well Church
6031 Linden Avenue
Long Beach, Ca
Talk to you soon,
Pastor Norman
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