Chapter
1 Divine
Healing
"They
will place their hands on sick people,
and
they will get well" (Mark 16:18).
We
serve a good God; He is full of love and grace, God desires to see us healthy
and living well as our spirits are made well. Just as a shepherd leads
his sheep to green pastures, so God fills with good things those who come
to Him through Christ. To those who are in despair, He gives hope; to those
who suffer from heavy burdens, He gives rest to those who are sick, He
gives healing.
Throughout
my 40-years ministry, I have been bombarded with questions: "If we ask
God, can we really be healed? Can I be free from this mental anguish and
live in peace? What must I do to receive the blessing of health?" This
book proposes to answer these very questions concerning the gospel of divine
healing.
Definitions
of divine Healing
A
supernatural occurrence
Scientific
laws cannot explain divine healing; divine healing is a testimony of God's
power. God is omnipotent. He can heal all our injuries and diseases, including
cancer and heart problems. He can provide a cure for all of our physical
illnesses and weaknesses. God wants us to be spiritually and physically
healthy.
A work of
the triune God
Mankind through
some experimentation or rational theorization cannot imitate divine healing;
divine healing can only be planned and performed by God Himself. When God
led the Israelites out of Egypt into Canaan, He said to them, "I am the
LORD, who heals you" (Exodus 15:26). Christ devoted much of His ministry
toward healing the sick. He also commanded His disciples to continue His
healing ministry (Matthew 10:8).
After Christ
healed the demon-possessed man who was deaf and blind, Christ said, "But
if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has
come upon you" (Matthew 12:28). This verse teaches us that Christ asked
the Holy Spirit to heal the sick. One of the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians
12) specifically mentions the "gifts of healing." God desires to heal the
sick; the triune God takes an active part in divine healing.
A redemptive
sacrifice and provision
The prophet
Isaiah spoke about Christ's ministry of salvation when he said, "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¡° (Isaiah 53:5). Christ died and was resurrected for suffered
physically and His flesh was torn for the very purpose of bringing us victory
over our physical weakness and illnesses. Christ¡¯s suffering on the cross
brings victory over sin; Christ¡¯s suffering on the cross brings healing
from illness. His redemptive sacrifice provides both spiritual and physical
health. Through the blood of Jesus we have salvation; through the blood
of Jesus we have divine healing.
A gift from
God
Divine healing
cannot be bought with a price. Salvation is a gift from God. Divine healing
is also a gift from God. We received salvation through out faith in Jesus
Christ, and we receive healing through our faith n Jesus Christ as well.
Divine healing
in the Bible
There are
many records of divine healing in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments.
Let us examine these records for a better understanding of God's will concerning
divine healing.
In the Old
Testament
As God led
the Israelites out of Egypt toward the Promised Land, He gave them a premise,
"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" (Exodus 15:26).
The health
or suffering of the Israelites depended primarily upon their relationship
with God and less on environmental factors. God desires to have His people
live in health. When the Israelites maintained a righteous relationship
with God, they had God¡®s promise of enjoying healthy lives.
Once Miriam
criticized her brother during their journey through the desert and God
afflicted her with leprosy. However, when she repented of her wrongdoing,
prompted by Moses' intercessory prayer, God healed her (Numbers 12:1-15).
Similarly, when the Israelites grumbled against God and Moses, God sent
venomous snakes as punishment. Moses prayed again for the Israelites and
God told him to make a bronze snake and place it for all to see so whoever
looked upon the snake might be healed (Numbers 21:4-9).
Such afflictions
were a result of an unrighteous relationship between God and man. When
we serve God, however, and live according to His Word, we can enjoy health.
But if we are afflicted with some illness, God will heal us.
"Worship the
LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. 1 will
take away sickness from among you" (Exodus 23:25).
"If you pay
attention to these laws and are careful to follow them ... The LORD will
keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible
diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you"
(Deuteronomy 7:12-15).
"He sent forth
his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave" (Psalm 107:20).
¡°My son,
pay attention to what 1 say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them
out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those
who find them and health to a man's whole body" (Proverbs 4:20-22).
God heals
and raises people from the dead, transcending natural laws. God resurrected
the widows son (1 Kings 17:17-24), and brought back to life the son of
a Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8-37). God healed Naaman from leprosy (2
Kings 5:1-15), and healed King Hezekiah, extending his life 15 years (2
Kings 20:1-11).
Christ provided
a solution for our sinful nature, and a solution for our illnesses.
¡°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" (Isaiah 53:5).
Accept the
redemptive cross of Jesus Christ, and you can also be blessed with divine
healing and live a healthy life.
In the New
Testament
The Gospels
record the greatest number of divine healing. Christ freed many from evil
spirits responsible for afflictions. He made two blind men see (Matthew
9:27-31), made the deaf hear and the mute speak (Mark 7:31-37), and helped
an invalid man who had been ill for 38 years (John 5: 1-15). In addition
to these, Christ healed many other illnesses. He obeyed the will of God
through His ministry of divine healing (John 6:38).
Christ desired
healing for the sick (Luke 6:6-11). The Pharisees and the teachers of the
law rebuked Him, but He continued His ministry of divine healing. From
this passage, we can see that the ministry of divine healing is more important
than tradition or ritual. Churches today should actively promote the ministry
of divine healing.
The ministry
of divine healing was passed on to the disciples. The Book of Acts records
the ministry of divine healing by the disciples. Peter and John commanded
a crippled beggar, ¡°Si1ver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give
you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk¡±(Acts 3:6). Then Peter
held on to the man's right hand and lifted him to his feet, whereupon the
man began to walk and jump.
Through the
disciples, God revealed His will about divine healing. "Crowds gathered
also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented
by evil spirits, and all of them were healed" (Acts 5:16).
God also healed
the sick through Paul. God healed a crippled man in Lystra (Acts 14:8-10).
Handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched Paul were taken to the sick and
their illnesses were cured and evil spirits left them (Acts 19:12).
The ministry
of divine healing was not limited to the disciples. During early church
history, persecuted Christians in Jerusalem were forced to flee and scatter.
Philip, one of those Christians, went to Samaria to preach the gospel.
As Philip preached, many evil spirits inhabiting the people were driven
out, and many of the sick were healed (Acts 8:4-7). God chooses to use
those who have strong faith (Mark 16:17,18).
Divine healing
throughout church history
We
can find records of divine healing in the writings of Tertullian, Origen,
and Clement, dated around the 3rd century A.D. Records also show instances
of divine healing in the ministry of John Wesley, whose great work of reviving
England is unequalled. In the 20th century, God has blessed many with divine
healing, driving out evil spirits, and healing the sick, including raising
the dead. Through mass media, we can easily learn about first person accounts
of divine healing. The ministry of divine healing has not come to an end
with the departure of Jesus Christ from this world; the ministry of divine
healing has been passed on to His disciples and to the Church.
Divine healing
today
During the
time of Christ, many suffered from illness. Today there are many that are
in need of Christ's healing. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, mankind has
been suffering from corrupt bodies, hearts and spirits.
Just
as people during the time of Christ needed and experienced divine healing,
people today also need to experience God's healing power. It is comforting
to know that Christ is the same today as yesterday and will be forever
(Hebrews 13:8). So is it reasonable to think that Christ had great compassion
on the sick in the past and then He ignores them today? No! Even today
Christ has the same compassion and heals the sick through the Holy Spirit.
From the time
I started a tent church in the Bul-gwang area in l958 until now, 1 have
seen Christ heal countless numbers of people. These miracles confirm my
belief in the continuing ministry of Christ's divine healing through the
Holy spirit, because I am continually witnessing the gospel of divine healing.
Case one
Some time
ago a man carrying a little boy in his arms came to me for prayer. The
boy was about five years old and was suffering from leukemia, leading to
certain death. The little boy should have been running about without a
care in the world, but he lay helpless and exhausted in his father¡®s arms.
As 1 looked upon the man and his son, tears welled up in my eyes. The man
told me he would bring his son to the worship services on Sunday and Wednesday
to defeat the evil spirit eating away at his son's life. A week passed.
There was not much improvement in the boy's condition. But the man did
not lose hope. He continued to attend church and pray for his son's healing.
One day the
man walked into my office and handed me an envelope. He said he wanted
to give an offering of thanks to the Lord in the amount it would have cost
for his son to go to the hospital. Just then the man¡®s son bounded into
the room! Not long ago, this same little boy had been tying limp in his
father's arms.
The man told me he had come home from
work the previous night, and found the boy literally running around the
room. He could not believe what he was seeing! Doctors of modern medicine
had said there was no hope for the boy. But the father was witnessing the
miraculous healing power of God right before his very own eyes! With tear-filled
eyes, the father gave thanks and praised our God who heals.
Case two
This incident happened during a crusade
in Lutheran church in Minnesota (USA). After preaching and praying for
those who desired to accept Christ, I received a clear revelation from
God as I prayed for the sick.
In the vision I saw a person suffering
from cancer with a tumor as hard as stone. Then I saw God healing the person
and removing the tumor. Immediately, I proclaimed that God had healed a
person suffering from cancer. Although the Gothic-style church was
able to accommodate 3,000 people, the sound system was inadequate. My words
did not carry very well, so no one came forward to give a testimony of
healing from cancer.
After the conclusion of the four-day crusade,
I received a call from a pastor asking to see me. We met for breakfast
and he told me this story.
"I am an evangelist working in Micronesia.
Some time ago my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. We did everything
possible for her to get well; we came back to America for her to receive
an operation. However, the surgeon was unable to remove the cancer completely
and she was scheduled for her third operation. Since I needed to stay near
my wife during her hour of need, 1 could not return to Micronesia to continue
my ministry. Then I heard about your crusade and my wife and I attended
on the first night of the crusade. But the sound system of the church made
it difficult for us to hear your sermon. After your prayer for the sick,
we tried to listen carefully for your announcement about God healing a
person with cancer. We felt so sad when we did not hear such an announcement.
¡°The next morning 1 heard my wife shout,
'Come quickly!' I went to her and she told me that the rock-like tumor
was beginning to soften. On the second day, the tumor had become completely
soft, and by the fourth day the tumor had disappeared! I took my wife to
the doctor for confirmation and the doctor said that he could not find
a trace of the tumor. She would no longer need an operation! Now it is
possible to return to Micronesia. I asked to see you today to tell you
about this good news and to thank you."
The joy he beamed during our conversation
remains forever imprinted in my mind and confirms to me once again the
power of the living Christ who continues to heal the sick today.
Let¡®s Review
1. What is the significance of divine
healing?
2. Can people experience divine healing
today?
3. On what biblical basis can we say that
divine healing is a coordinated work of the triune God?
4. List the verses in the Bible which
teach us God¡®s will about healing and watching over our health if we remain
obedient to Him.
5. Read the following verses and meditate
on them.
* Exodus 15:26
* Matthew 10:8
* Mark 16:17,18
* Hebrews 13:8
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