The Importance of Understanding and Speaking Jesus' Name & His Authority Over Sickness

When Jesus was resurrected from the dead He proved that He is the Son of God with power over sin and death (Romans 1:4). He was given ALL authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). In turn, He gave us His authority when He commissioned us to preach the gospel, stating that 'these signs will follow those who believe: In my [Jesus'] name they will cast out demons, speak in new tongues, ...lay hands on the sick, and they will recover' (Mark 15-18).

Jesus never rescinded His commission or any of His promises (Romans 11:29), so they are just as true today as they were 2000 years ago. It is, without a doubt, God's will to heal the sick. Remember the bible story of a man with leprosy who came to Jesus.  He said, "Lord, if you are willing you can make me clean. Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy (Matthew 8:2-3).

Jesus healed the sick, commanded His disciples to heal (Luke 10:1-9), and has commissioned us, in our generation, to do the same by His power and authority. So, we can walk in confidence that God wants to heal us and use us, His children, to heal others.

We can also walk in total confidence that God hears our prayers and wants to answer them. "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14). "And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commands and do those things that are pleasing in His sight" (1 John 3:22). "Therefore, I [Jesus] tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (Mark 11:24). "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then though you are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:9-11).


As we pray for healing, concerning ourselves or others, we are to do so in His name."I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it" (John 14:12-14). When Peter and John went together to the temple at the hour of prayer, there was a man at the gate of the temple who had been lame since the time of his birth. This man asked them for money and Peter replied: "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3: 6).

In addition we should speak, out loud, to the infirmity or illness and take authority over it in the name of Jesus. Our prayers do not have to be long or complicated because it is by His name and in His authority that people are healed. When I pray for people to be healed I say: "In the name of Jesus Christ I/we take authority over [whatever the illness is, if known] and command it to be healed in that name."

This is not meant to be a formula. Never! It is simply the name and authority of Jesus, the one who conquered sin and death, by which we are both saved and healed.

The Place of Personal Faith in Healing

Our personal faith plays a very important role in obtaining our healing from God. He requires us to have and exercise faith when it comes to healing. We may seek prayer for healing from others (ie- pastors, elders in the church, people used in the gift of healing and/or faith,etc. ) and this is scriptural (James 5:14-15, Matthew 18:20), as well as very important for us to do. However, God still requires and honors us our faith, not just the faith of the person praying for us, in order to see Him move on our behalf.

There are three stories in scripture that come to my mind which illustrate the need for us to exercise our personal faith for healing. The first story involves the man who brought his demon possessed son to Jesus in Mark 9:17-29. In this portion of scripture, the father tells Jesus that his son is robbed of his speech and is physically tormented by a demon. The father mentions that the disciples could not cast out the demon and he begs Jesus to heal his son.

It is easy to understand the father's frustration, fear and concern for his son whom he loves. What loving parent wouldn't give anything to see their child healed? In the story,the father says ..."but if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us" (Mark 9:22b). To this, Jesus replies: "If [I] can? Everything is possible for one who believes" (Mark 9:23). As we can see, Jesus made it plain that there was no question about His ability to heal the father's son. Additionally, Jesus plainly stated that the father had to have faith in His ability to heal in order for Jesus to do exactly that.

Isn't Jesus wonderful? He blew the lid off of the father's unbelief and told him that "Everything", not just healing the demon possessed son, is possible for anyone who believes. Jesus' statement pierced right through the atmosphere of unbelief and oppression that haunted the boy and his father. Jesus, spoke the Word, and in doing so created an atmosphere of faith and victory whereby this evil spirit was then after cast out. We are to do the same - as we speak God's Word, we too change the atmosphere around us from one of defeat to one of victory. In verse 24, the boy's father responds in faith and immediately exclaimed, "I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief." With the father declaring his faith in Jesus, He honored the man's faith and rebuked/commanded the demon to leave, and the boy was then healed.

The second and third stories are actually intertwined in Mark 5:21-43. Jairus, a synagogue leader, asked Jesus to come to place His hand on his daughter and heal her. While Jesus was going to Jairus' home, a large crowd came upon Him and a woman who had a blood disease for twelve years exercised her faith by touching His clothes and was immediately healed. He questioned who touched Him and the woman, trembling in fear, admitted that she was the one. In vs. 34, Jesus said: ..."Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering". Notice that Jesus said it was her faith that healed her. It wasn't the healing of Jesus alone that healed her. It was her faith combined with the the healing anointing of Jesus by which she received her healing. If she lacked faith, she would not have been healed because Jesus does not work miracles where unbelief exists - see Mark 6:5.  

Meanwhile, Jairus' daughter died (vs. 35). In vs. 36 Jesus told Jairus: "Don't be afraid; just believe." Again, Jesus demanded the person requesting the miracle to have faith. Notice that in verses 39-40 Jesus told most of the people in the room where the daughter is lying dead to leave. He did this to remove the spirit of unbelief so that healing could take place. We need to remove the obstacles around us when ministering faith and healing to others. In verses 41-41, Jesus took the little girl by the hand and told her to get up, which she did, proving that she was healed.

We can see from the these three scriptural illustrations that Jesus calls for us, as believers, to stand in our own faith (as opposed to trusting in someone else's faith) for healing. We see that our faith is directed toward Him (not directed toward someone with the gift of healing, because they are not the healer) - He is our healer. When we do this the anointed healing of Jesus can flow into our lives and heal us according to the promise of His Word.

Is Any One of You Sick? He Should Call the Elders...

Last Sunday I was healed of a serious and debilitating injury to my left shoulder. It was one that I lived with for the last eight to ten months and it was also one that was getting progressively worse. Since the time of my injury, I prayed for healing and stood on the scriptures. God is so wonderful, gracious and merciful because His Word prepared my heart to receive the fulfillment of His promise for healing several months later.

There are a number of ways that God heals. Sometimes our healing comes in the form of an instantaneous miracle. However, other times, we receive it when we stand on the promises in God's Word and then wait, growing in faith, for the Lord to manifest it in due season. For me, in this situation, it was the latter. I waited and grew in faith until I received my healing in due season.

God always blesses us when we stand on His Word and proclaim His promises. In James 5:14-15 scripture says:  "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven." 


We can stand in great assurance of healing when we call the elders. Elders are a very important means through which God provides for us to be healed. When we call them, we are operating under the blessing and within the authority of His Word and His government. Elders oversee and are entrusted with God's work (Titus 1:7 NIV) in the church. They are given by God to the church to admonish, exhort, strengthen, teach, guide, and encourage His people (1 Thessalonians 5:12). God uses elders to bless His people. When we call them we receive the blessing of God through them. By doing this, we can obtain the answer to our prayers because we understand and participate in the blessing God has provided through His government. God has given the church governmental authority and structure for protection, growth, ministry, and blessing to those who will receive it.

Ephesians 4:11 mentions other governmental ministries, in addition to that of elders, God has given, which are; apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Verse 12-13 tells us why they are provided by Him..."to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."

There are so many blessings God gives when we are a part of His body, the church. It is given to prepare, strengthen, grow in unity and knowledge, as well as mature us, as God's children, to become like Christ. When we understand, obey and submit to the governmental authorities and ministries He has established within the church, we are protected and blessed. Concerning healing, we can have great confidence in our faith by calling the elders to pray for us when we are sick. It is a blessing by design given by our wonderful and faithful God. He is a God of His Word and He loves to fulfill His Word in our lives.

God bless and heal you,

Ross


(Note: I've written a companion article which can be found at http://thevictoriousovercomer.blogspot.com titled "God is Eager to Transform Your Life & Situation - Part 1").

The Correlation Between Holy Living & Healing

Living a life of holiness is essential to living a life of healing and wholeness. Both holiness and healing can through faith in Jesus Christ. When we live by faith, are cleansed of our sins and obey God, we have unimpeded access to God and receive His rich blessings.

Arthur Pink once said, "The highway of holiness is the only path that leads to heaven".

Isaiah 35:8-9 says:

8 And a highway will be there;

it will be called the Way of Holiness.

The unclean will not journey on it;

it will be for those who walk in that Way;

wicked fools will not go about on it.

9 No lion will be there,

nor will any ferocious beast get up on it;

they will not be found there.

But only the redeemed will walk there

Proverbs 16:17 states:

The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life.

1 Peter 1:15-16 - 

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Thanks to Geri McGhee for contributing the quote by Arthur Pink and for the scriptures! More quotes and teachings by Geri McGhee can be found on her ministry website at:

www.abidinglifeministries.org

Abiding Life Ministries

Lindale, TX

Several Reasons We Can Be Confident That God Heals

Many people question if God wants to heal and/or if still heals today. Here are a number of proofs showing that it is God's will to heal, He still heals today, and that He uses us in the healing of others.

1. One of God's names is Jehovah-Rapha. The meaning of this name is "The Lord Our Healer" . One of the scriptures where this name appears is in Exodus 15:26 - "He said, 'If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to all His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the disease that I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.'"

2. God is unchanging. While many people limit God and think that healing is limited to the Bible and its time period, or shortly thereafter, the truth is that it is a promise for yesterday, today and the future. Hebrews 13:7 says: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever". His promises do not change because He does not change (Malachi 3:6).

3. Healing is a part of the Great Commission. We are commissioned to preach the gospel throughout the world and baptize those who believe, AND we are to lay hands upon the sick for healing. Mark 16:18b says: ..."they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

4. Jesus promised that we would do as He did. So, because Jesus healed, we also are used by Him to heal. John 14:12a says: "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing."

5. God wants to heal us. John 14:12-13 states: "You may ask anything in my name and I will do it." Luke 5:12-14 says: "While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered in leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, 'Lord, if you are willing you can make me clean'. Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' And immediately the leprosy left."

6. God's will is that ALL people who ask Him be healed. Matthew 8:16 says: "When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Him, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick". Also, about 30 years later, the Apostle Paul was used by God to heal all the sick. Acts 28:9 states: "And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured", (ESV).

7. Jesus bore, not only our sins, but also our sicknesses and infirmities on the cross. Isaiah 53:4-5 states: "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. 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." See also Matthew 8:17 & 1 Peter 2:24.

8. We are instructed to ask the elders of the church to anoint us and pray for our healing. James 5:14-15 says: "Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up..." God wants leaders to be used in healing and for us to go to our leaders and ask them to be used by God to heal us.

9. God has given the gift of healing to be used by people in His body, the church, along with other gifts to edify and strengthen. 1 Corinthians 12:8 - "To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit..."

10. God has appointed leaders in the church and given some to have gifts of healing. 1 Corinthians 12:28: "And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing..." It is clear that God intends that there is to be manifestations of healing in the church.

11. Sickness is a curse and Jesus came to free us from the curse and all its effects. Acts 10:38 - "...God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil..."

12. Our salvation includes the promise of healing. The Greek word for "salvation" is soteria. Our salvation includes many promises including spiritual and eternal deliverance, as well as healing, safety and health. See Vine's Expository Dictionary for further information and verification.

Note: All scriptures above, except where noted otherwise, are from the New International Version Bible.

Healing Scriptures

The following scriptures are some of many that we should meditate upon, stand on, and claim for our lives when we are in need of healing. As we petition God, we should spend time praying His Word so it deeply penetrates our hearts, saturates our minds, builds our faith, and opens our spirits to fully receive from Him. We should also remind Him of His Word and promises to us. This builds a connection of faith, humility, as well as dependence upon Him. It also serves as a pleading which He hears because of His mercy. When we do these things watch His grace and mercy flow into our lives and situations. Since we must pray according to His will, praying His Word is powerful and effective for healing, breaking bondages, and seeing Him move on our behalf.

Isaiah 53:4-5 - Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him and afflicted. 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.

Matthew 8:17 - This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases".

1 Peter 2:24 - He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.

Matthew 21:22 - If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Mark 11:23-24 - I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea', and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.


Exodus 15:26 - "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and so what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commends 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".

James 5:14-16 - Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Psalm 30:2 - O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me.

Psalm 103:2-3 - Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.

Psalm 107:20 - He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.

Proverbs 4:20-22 - My son, pay attention to what I 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.

The Word Is The Seed Necessary for Harvest

Jesus said in Luke 8:11, "The Word of God is Seed". In this portion of scripture, He talked about how the Word of God, as seed, can produce a good crop in our lives.

Seeds, by their very design, contain the genetic code to promote and propagate life. Until a seed is planted in the ground, it will not "activate" the life it contains. Archaeologists have found seeds that have been dormant for thousands of years, yet when these same seeds are planted in soil, they germinate and grow. Amazing, isn't it?! (See article for more information - http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/11/1122_051122_old_seed.html). It is the same with the Word of God - it lies dormant until planted.

The Word of God contains the "genetic code" for us to live life eternally, as well as to live life abundantly (Jn 10:10). Yet, if it is not planted and cultivated in our lives, it will not do us any good. No matter what type of seed it is, if it isn't planted, there's no future harvest. However, when we plant God's Word in our hearts; by reading it, meditating upon it, being obedient to it, this "seed" is then activated and begins to grow. This is absolutely necessary for seeing the promises and God's will fulfilled in our lives.

The Word is not firmly planted in us until it is placed in the "fertile soil" of a heart that has belief and trust. Without such a heart, there is no fertile soil in which the seed can grow. A heart of faith is an absolute prerequisite for seeing a future harvest brought forth through faith.

After being planted, seed for crop must be watered and maintained and requires exposure to sunlight and fed fertilizers to keep the soil rich with nutrients. It is the same with the seed of the Word of God planted in our hearts. We must cultivate our faith by hearing and reading the Word of God continually (Romans 10:17), trusting in God and His faithfulness (Proverbs 3:5-6), and obeying what He commands (John 14:21). As this happens, our seed of faith will grow.

Concerning healing, the same dynamic is at work because it is received by faith. We must first believe and understand, based upon the Bible, that it is God's will to heal us. As we cultivate our faith for healing by knowing and standing on God's promises, this will produce the necessary nutrient-filled soil for the Word of God to take hold in our lives and bear abundant fruit.

Planting the Word of God as seed in our lives is a necessity either before or at the time we pray for, or receive prayer for, our healing. Proverbs 4:20-22 says: "My son, pay attention to what I 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".

Jesus Took Up Our Sicknesses On The Cross

<sup>Isaiah 53:4-5

4</sup> Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

⁵ 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.