Healing Process

When belief in healing for what seems to be the "normal things humans battle with" comes before God, I do not observe His direct involvement. I believe I can safely say, in most cases, God allows the natural healing process to occur like medicines, doctors, rest, fluids in addition to our request to be healed totally by God in prayer.

At this point in my walk with King Jesus and His Holy Spirit, I believe Christians should use their God-given common sense when sicknesses arrive or a major disease attacks or surgeries are required. Wellness has been practiced for a very long time. Luke was a physician and even the Lord goes by the title Great Physician as depicted in Luke 5:31.

I see healing as two fold - (1) a gift God has available to give according to His purpose and (2) an act of faith on our part whether it be as small as a mustard seed or a leap of faith to acquire the healing.

But alongside common sense should be the believer's faith. In Mark 10:52 a blind man sees due to faith in Jesus as the miracle-worker. 

In Matthew 9:22, the woman with the issue of blood simply desired to touch Jesus for her healing to manifest. Her faith was married to her action but Jesus credited her faith. 

In Matthew 9:18-19, 23-26, on either side of the event of the woman with the issue of blood is a father who reaches out to Jesus in faith, fame of Jesus and fear of losing his daughter. However, Faith moves him to seek and ask Jesus for the miraculous.

In Matthew 9:27-30, two blind men were asked by Jesus concerning their healing - "Do you believe I am able to do this?" They replied, "Yes, Lord." Jesus said, "According to your faith let it be done to you." Their faith was enough and their sight was restored.

In addition, there were times in Scripture when Jesus rebuked His disciples because they did not have enough faith. One such instance is found in Matthew 17:14-21. 

There was a father whose son by all appearances had epilepsy because of the terrible, physical fits that he would display. Apparently at this point in time the disciples were out on their own and could not heal the boy. When the boy was brought before Jesus, the condition was revealed to be worse than epilepsy, the boy was demon possessed and Jesus rebuked the demon and it fled, returning the boy to his right mind and the boy to his father. 

After finding out it was a demon, the disciples ask Jesus, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" - in essence, why could we not heal this boy? 

Jesus instructed his disciples - "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

I can hear some say at this point, but if you tell someone they don't have enough faith you are condemning them and scripture says there is "now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." This is a mis-applied verse and concept.

Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - needs to be read and understood in context. This verse and idea of condemnation must be followed by the remaining paragraph of Paul - 

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

This "condemnation" therefore is speaking to the sin humans are under until they accept God's love-gift of Christ's life, death and resurrection for their eternal security with Him. This "condemnation" is not talking about, nor should it be applied to - the amount of faith for healing.

This being said, the amount of faith someone has is not the sole criteria for the healing needed. Sure, the measure of faith in Christ will influence a needed healing, but I believe the most important aspect is The Will of the Lord.

Some people believe the second that you vocalize an issue you give birth or more energy to it. This is nonsense. The problem was already there waiting for you to recognize it and do something about it. Speaking about it is not going to make it worse, it is going to aid in the healing process and provide steps for overcoming your condition or situation. Acknowledgement of a physical, mental or spiritual ailment or challenge is not the same as surrendering to it.

This fact of recognizing the issue then doing something about it is what makes seeking out God's Will during our dilemma so important. What do you think confessing our needs and shortcomings one to another within the family of believers is all about in James 5:16? Healing. Also 1 John 5:14 states - "This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us."

Notice a few things here. Because of our relationship with Christ, believers are privileged to boldly come before God's throne in prayer. 

Secondly, no request is unreasonable, but the petitions that really get His attention are the one's that align with His will. 

Finally, "he hears us". Our request has been heard, now the answer and the timing thereof must be totally entrusted in the hands of The King.

"Paul himself had a physical ailment that the Lord declined to heal (2 Corinthians 12:7–9).
The twelve apostles did not heal everyone, either. Often, there were Christians left unwell in spite of the apostolic power. Paul says to Timothy, “Use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses” (1 Timothy 5:23). Why didn’t Paul just lay hands on Timothy and heal him? It wasn’t because Timothy didn’t have enough faith; it was because it was not God’s will to heal Timothy that way. The healing ministry was not for anyone’s personal convenience; rather, it was a sign from God—to the Jews of the Old Covenant primarily—of the validity of the apostles’ message."
[https://www.gotquestions.org/God-heal-everyone.html]

In conclusion, mental, physical and spiritual healing is helped tremendously by -

1. Seeking God first and His will; petition Him about it. There is no name it and claim it, otherwise we all would be well all the time.
2. Use your God-give common sense to utilize God's aids or helps He has given us at our fingertips. In other words, take your medicine.
3. Surround yourself with faith bolstering people, music, places and things. 

We all live in a fallen, imperfect world with imperfect bodies, demanding more attention as we age. For me, I have no issue of trusting God. My struggle is God withholding wisdom and understanding many times concerning the "why" of my experience or delay in healing. 

I whole-heartedly believe if I had a grasp of this why part to the equation I could make sense of my suffering and accept it more. But I look at Job's life and I am in awe at his response to all that happened to him. He lived before Christ and Christ's promises and yet said, "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." (Job 1:21)

The matter boils down to acceptance of God's sovereignty despite what challenges we all are in the middle of and outcome we may be praying for. This reverts back to a trust in God's will and His healing plan. His plan and trust in it must be center to our prayer-life.

Until that healing comes, whether it is this side of Heaven or the other, I find myself, like the father with the convulsing boy doing what I can in the here and now and seeking Jesus, as the dad did, saying to Christ - "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief." (Mark 9:24)

Our Trust And His Wisdom

Why bother God with our requests and petitions when He knows the beginning from the end anyway? And even if it is not a bother why do we really need to submit any inquiry to Him since He is all-knowing?

Some situations in life are going to teach yes you can do that. Other situations will teach no you cannot do that or maybe at a later time you can do that.

However, there are going to come circumstances within our experiences which warrant wisdom. This type of wisdom can only come from a God not only willing to share His vast, unending insight with us but also warn and educate us about the pitfalls of life because He has been there and done that. Hebrews 4:15 states we can trust in this very fact about God through Christ - 

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin."

As you may observe, in this age of faith, seeking wisdom is half of the answer to why pray, why petition, why we press God for anything - trust is the other answer.

I used to be very impatient and when I experienced an issue I would go directly to a source of help and grab the aide needed. As I have matured in life, I have adopted the practice, depending on the situation, of trying to figure a problem out to the best of my ability before calling on the knowledge and wisdom of those around me. 

This is where growth and maturity happens. In this stage of life where the rubber meets the road, where there is friction - change has to occur for development to proceed. God initiates His formula of pressure over time and believers are refined once more. If He supplied us with the answers to problems on the onset of every issue, there would be no progress in our development. God allows change through all kinds of friction so that in our relationship with Him we move from glory to glory. Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:18 says it like this -

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."

There are other sources of knowledge and wisdom that people place their trust in today. There is the source of the world and all its organizations. There is the source of technology and plethora of information available. There is the source of people and their experiences in life. And there is the source of faith in a God who has created it all, always been there, has a plan for everything and desires relationship with everyone through Christ Jesus.

The problem with consistently relying on anything other than God through a personal relationship with Christ and His Holy Spirit for answers to anything and everything is the limitation of the other sources. God has no limits and desires to share in a developing relationship with us.

A computer can only output or even predict in so much as we input into the machine or computer. With God, He already knows your life backwards and forwards, inside and out.  

God or Yahweh has known the beginning from the end. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. And even transcends time and space because He created them both. He is simply waiting for our humble trust in His wisdom.

Therefore, a cultivated relationship with a created being is what I believe God seeks. Even in the face of Him knowing everything, the fact that He knows everything and owns everything has put humanity in a category that many do not want to accept – we don’t know everything. The beautiful fact here is that God desires to impart His knowledge and wisdom to us.

That is one direction, one part of the relationship God’s movement toward us. What will our movement toward God be?

There is a huge “IF” coming here and “Ifs” are conditional words. This time the condition falls on us. Matthew quotes Jesus saying, 

“seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6:33)

The “all these things” that will be given to us are the concerns of life that we deem are necessary and Jesus does not deem priority. Speaking of priority, Jesus states here that IF His kingdom and right-standing with Him are pursued first in the believer’s life then the rest of what we are concerned about in life “will be given to you as well”.

King Solomon found himself in alignment and therefore in favor with God as he was in his early years of ruling Israel. God said to  Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you." 

In Solomon's response to the Lord, he began by stating the major blessings that had been given to his father David and himself. However, the blessings given led to an awesome responsibility - the leadership of God's Nation, Israel. For this leading role, Solomon knew he fell woefully short in experience and needed divine help, so he formed his request as follows - 

“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (1 Kings 3:7-9)

This begins to tackle the other half why bring a question, request, or issue to our All-Knowing God in the first place – trust.

Christians are in a developing relationship. This means the relationship must be continually cultivated. Unlike our earthly, limited-in-knowledge and wisdom relationships – the bond we have with God, through Christ and the Holy Spirit is on a next level of belief, need to know basis, which seems to be another definition for faith to me.

However, through this relationship and in this faith, God is the potter and the believer is the clay. As He molds us and makes us into His image more every day - to ask questions, to request things, to petition the King is what He expects – so do it, Trust Him. This is how Christians grow and mature. This is how believers get equipped for the next life battle – Our Trust And His Wisdom.

The Mystery Of God's Healing Process

The fact that Jesus healed and had compassion on those that needed a miracle of some sort in their lives, be it for themselves or another in their family, before He paid the price with the flogging and crucifixion is amazing and wonderful. 

Jesus solved all kinds of problems for people because of His great compassion. He healed the blind, the deaf, the lame, the mute, those with leprosy, those demon possessed and those dead just to name a few conditions. Matthew says it like this - "Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matt. 9:35-36)

What catches my attention is the speed at which the healing took place. Many, if not most of the curing encounters with Jesus included the word "immediately" or sense of that word to convey healing from Him. This is opposed to today, where I only hear of pockets of testimonies where "immediately" was the answer to someone's request of God for healing.

Matthew records one with leprosy that had no problem with Christ's ability, He just had a question about the willingness of Jesus to heal his plight. Matthew says, "A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, 'Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.'" (Matt. 8:2) See how the phrase "you can make me clean" emphasizes Christ's ability is not in question but is tied to the Lord's will? Matthew then recalls, "Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy." (Matt. 8:3) There is that word immediately.

Right after this meeting, Jesus engages with a centurion soldier that recognizes Jesus has authority, His words are powerful and His immediate presence bedside is not required. 

"The centurion replied, 'Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.'" (Matt. 8:8-9)

This faith impresses Jesus and He lets those around them know plus Jesus heals the centurion's servant "at that moment" - "'Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.' Then Jesus said to the centurion, 'Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.' And his servant was healed at that moment." (Matt. 8:10, 13)

Then there is the purposeful delay of Jesus to visit Mary, Martha and the one Jesus loved - Lazarus. Of course John would have something to say about that in John 13:23, 20:2 and 21:20 - calling himself "the one Jesus loved" or "the disciple Jesus loved". For the record, Jesus loves the whole world. 

As far as Lazarus was concerned, Jesus got word of the status of Lazarus when Lazarus was on his deathbed. Knowing that Lazarus died because Jesus is the Son of God, He tells His disciples twice the reason for returning to just outside Jerusalem.

"After he had said this, he went on to tell them, 'Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.'

His disciples replied, 'Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.' Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

So then he told them plainly, 'Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.'" (John 11:11-14)

This was a time where Christ waited a specific amount of time that seemed the end-all for us, death, but was no match for the Creator, the Word of God in flesh. 

As time has marched on society has gotten worse about wanting things instantly to the point where we expect immediacy with the technology and people skills we have acquired. I can testify that God still works in delay fashion as well as the immediate and sometimes He says, "No".

With all the Scripture there is about 

• the price He paid for our healing, 
• the promises of His healing touch, 
• power there is in His name, blood and spirit, 
• His nature that is still the same today - compassionate, 
• asking and receiving in His name 
• and being persistent in the seeking - why does God delay the cure we seek and pray for?

With some instances of healing being immediate, others through the process of doctors and medicine that God has blessed us with and still other situations where our prayers have been answered with the death of a loved one - all we have left to lean on is trust in the sovereignty of God as we work out on this side of heaven - The Mystery Of God's Healing Process.

A Man You Would Write About

All of Scripture is ultimately about one person - Christ Jesus. The Old Testament not only alludes to Him and His first visit, but prophesied His arrival as well. The first part of the New Testament documents the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, The Messiah. While the later half of the New Testament deals with the creation of the church, the sustaining of the church and the return of Christ for His church. In this book of instruction that Christians call The Bible, Christ Jesus is viewed as the ultimate example or standard in all things.

There is a retired Christian band named 4Him that performed a song entitled "A Man You Would Write About". This song spoke about the desire and pursuit of being the type of Christ follower that people would write about favorably during and many years after the life of that person.

While Christ is the believer's forever model to follow, before Christ's arrival and after His ascension to God The Father - there were certain quality people that stood out who I believe Christians should study and emulate in addition to Jesus.

Here are some suggestions of key people in Scripture that I am looking at emulating and perhaps other believers in Christ might want to consider imitating. This is not an exhaustive list, but the additional Biblical people to mirror would be - Noah, Enoch, Joseph, David, Elijah, Elisha, Daniel and John the Baptist.  

Why these particular individuals? The relationship these people had with God was honored by others. Family, friends, the public, servants, angels and God Himself honored the holy, intimate relationship they held with The Lord by recognizing God's presence, leadership and provision in their lives. Let us study to get a glimpse of why these relationships stand out?

Noah - "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time and he walked faithfully with God." (Genesis 6:8-9) 

Those are some awesome qualities to possess. Noah was honored by God and the community. Why?  Noah was "righteous" - in right-standing with God. He was "blameless among the people" which translated to a man of integrity and "he walked faithfully with God" which meant he was not wishy-washy with his beliefs in a world that was so wicked that God was soon to destroy it with the flood.  Righteousness, integrity and faithfulness are great ingredients for honor in the believer's life and Godly favor in the Christian's life.

Enoch - "Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more because God took him away." 

Once again faithfulness is magnified. I believe this is  important because God is faithful. One of His titles is Faithful and True found in Revelation 19:11. Notice that faithfulness is a walk, a journey, a lifestyle in a relationship with God - not an instant characteristic given as a gift, talent or skill. So, since steadfast faithfulness to God's precepts and relationship is important to Him, I believe we should walk in it always, like Enoch displayed. Who knows, perhaps one of us will be snatched up early also. 

Joseph - "The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered," (Genesis 39:2) and "The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." (Genesis 39:23) 

The Lord can be with anybody so that they are comforted, protected, counseled - whatever the need for the Lord to fill in that person's life is. For Joseph, the Lord blessed him with a type of Midas Touch. Everything Joseph put his mind and hand to in life, the Lord prospered and/or gave him success with.

Joseph followed God's leadings, promptings, visions and dreams in his life. This cost Joseph rejection from his own family. Trust in God is a huge lesson here. Wherever Joseph went and whatever situation he found himself in, Joseph flowed from God's counsel therefore he succeeded. But that success was all built on a foundation of trust in God's constant leadership and presence in his life.

David - Samuel, speaking to Saul says prophetically about David, "But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command." (1 Samuel 13:14) In addition, when the time came for Samuel to anoint the new king, God brought Samuel to the house of Jesse. "One of the servants answered, 'I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.'" (1 Samuel 16:18) 

I find it interesting that of the whole household of Jesse, no one you might expect speaks up about David to put him forward as candidate for King of Israel - not David's father, nor mother, nor siblings, but a "servant". In addition, the servant saves the best characteristic for last - "And the Lord is with him." Could it be that the servant knows a servant spirit and immediately identified that in the shepherd boy, the shepherd king - David? 

A servant spirit or serving characteristic serves one well. The return on developing this trait is enormous. Not only is it the better thing to give or serve than receive but Jesus says about both - "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)

Elijah - "Then Elijah said to them, 'I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets.'" (1 Kings 18:22) and "As they [Elijah and Elisha] were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." (2 Kings 2:11)

Boldness and courageous zeal for the Lord are qualities Elijah exemplified. With no other prophet left to do the Lord's bidding, the mantle fell on Elijah and he wore it well. Even though Elijah, the mentor, had Elisha as a friend, Elisha was an apprentice and co-laborer of God and evidently not considered a full-time prophet. If you read Elijah's story you will come away with a sense of him being a man of God that took-the-bull-by-the-horns and got things done for the Lord. I believe the Lord rewarded Elijah's tenacity and no compromising of the faith and holy behavior with an early, living departure to Heaven, also known as a rapture. 

Elisha - "When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, 'Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?' 'Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,' Elisha replied." (2 Kings 2:9) 

I cannot blame Elisha's request for the double portion of that incredible blessing on his mentor's life. After seeing his mentor and friend receive an early heavenly escort out of this life, I hope I would have asked for such a blessing as well. One of the proofs of this double portion being exemplified came after Elisha's death. 

"Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet." (2 Kings 13:20-21)

Take-aways from Elisha's life that I observe are -passion for more of the things of God, continuation of a mentor's good work and establishing God-centered relationships.

Daniel - At the beginning of Daniel's exile to Babylonia, Daniel could be described by King Nebuchadnezzar as part of a group of - "young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace." (Daniel 1:4) 

However, the angels of Heaven compliment Daniel also. Daniel is not called just esteemed by the heavenly beings but "highly esteemed". Gabriel, the chief messenger angel of Heaven, tells Daniel this in Daniel 9:23 then another angel echoes that sentiment in 10:11 and 10:19. Why? I believe because Daniel never compromised his faith in God for anything or anyone. Sounds like a re-occurring trait that requires attention, doesn't it?

John the Baptist - Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11:11) 

In this one statement, Jesus gives one of the greatest compliments to a family member ever and then sets the record straight with the word "yet". Jesus explains that He is the exception. There is someone greater than John because He or Jesus has made Himself least in the kingdom - Christ, the Servant Savior King (Philippians 2:6-11).

Cousin to Jesus, John the Baptist was the herald of Christ Jesus the Messiah. As the baptist, he was to baptize new converts into the kingdom of God. However, in addition to that duty, he fulfilled all that was required for Jesus to publicly acknowledge Father God and Father God to acknowledge Him in being baptized or emersed in water by John.

In this description of John by Jesus, Christ teaches He is not only greater than John but should be viewed as the believer's book ends, the least and the greatest in the kingdom, the servant and the master, through one of the largest compliments of a family member to ever have been made. This tells me that no matter what your station is in life, no matter your societal status or life experiences - Christ has loved us enough to experience it all and conquer it all. And that He can use us all for His glory.

Summary - According to Jesus, one of the highest compliments anybody could ever give a believer in Christ is - "I praise God for you." In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus was teaching on being light and salt to the world. Now-a-days to be salty means to be bitter, but the Word of God portrays being salty as flavorful and healthy. The last part of this passage Jesus instructs - "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt. 5:16) 

You know the song "This Little Light Of Mine, I'm Going To Let It Shine"? I challenge all of my brothers and sisters in Christ, don't hide your light under a bushel, as the song says, or anything else, let it shine! I am going to try harder, with God's help, to remain in right-standing with God, live with integrity, trust more in God, be confident in my Godly role in life, be zealous and passionate for the things of the Lord, have a servant spirit about me, while being faithful and not compromising the faith. 

That is plenty to work on, but I have The Holy Spirit to help me along The Way. Two of the traits emphasized in my study go hand-in-hand and I purposefully listed them last. Faithfulness and No Compromise. If I am not faithful, I have compromised. If I have compromised, I have violated my faithfulness. I pray that in all things Christ-like I will be faithful and in light of those men that came before Jesus that I have mentioned - I desire to be A Man You Would Write About.