By John David Hicks, Evangelist /Bible Teacher © 2002
The Bible tells us that it’s God’s will for everyone to be saved. But why is it that all are not saved? You must receive Salvation by faith (Eph. 2:8-9; John 1:12). Peter tells us that we are born again by believing the word of God. “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God (1 Pet. 1:23).” When you trust God’s word, He will do what He says He will do–save you (1 John 1:9). The atonement of Jesus also provides for our healing—all sin and sickness has been taken care of on the cross (Isa. 53:4-5; Matt. 8:17; 1 Pet 2:24; Ps. 103:1-5). The Greek word “I save” also means “I heal.” “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2 NKJV).”
But why are not all people healed? Healing is also received by faith, (Gal. 3:3-5; James 5:14) by believing God’s word. “He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave (Ps. 107:20).” When you are in harmony with God’s word—God will do what He says He will do and your faith will receive it (Heb. 11:6). All that you get from God is by faith. After healing various persons Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well.” Paul warned the Galatians “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? …Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? (Gal. 3:3, 5).”
Why are some healed and others are not? I don’t know. However, Jesus explained the fruit of faith as receiving the “Word of God” as the seed of Divine life (Luke 8:11). The seed and promises of God are the “good seed,” says Jesus. But it’s the condition of the soil that determines the harvest. Hard soil, or no depth, and worries choke the word. But the seed in the good soil produces 100, 60 or 30 times what was sown, declares Jesus.
James the Apostle, pastor of the early Church at Jerusalem, describes for us effective prayer and how to receive divine healing. James 5:13-18, “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 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. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”
1. Be convinced that it is God’s will to heal you now. If you are seeking healing, you must be sure from God’s word that it is God’s will to heal you. Otherwise you are trying to reap a harvest where no seed has been planted. When a farmer does not plant the seed, it’s impossible for him to have faith for a harvest. Jesus said that the seed of the “Word of God” produces good fruit (Luke 8:15). Read the enclosed Scriptures on healing. They will encourage you and build up your faith. Over a fourth of the Gospels is concerned with healing. When “A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and 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 (Matt. 8:2-3).” To faith, the Word of God is the Voice of God. As a result Faith is activated when the will of God is known. God is willing to heal you.
2. Get all hindrances and sin out of the way. “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray (James 5:13).” If you are afflicted with trials or persecutions or hurts and wounds from the past, let others help you pray. “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 (James 5:16).” Guilt can hinder faith. Holding resentment, grudges, feelings of rejection or lack of forgiveness often lead to physical ailments. Sin can cause sickness (Mark 2:1-12; 1 Cor. 5:5; 11:27-30), but this is not always the case (John 9:2-3). Also, ignorance, arrogance and shame keep you from praying in time of need. Ignorance, in that you fail to call on God in the time of trouble. Arrogance because you are trusting your own resources. Shame because you are in trouble. James encourages those who are ignorant to pray, the arrogant to submit to God’s grace, and the shame-filled to come for compassion and mercy.
3. Praise the Lord, because you get to see Him work. This passage of Scripture is directed to the Church. One group may be in trouble. Another group may be sick; they should be anointed with oil and prayed for. And the others that are happy in the Lord should encourage the others with testimonies and hymns of praise. “Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise (James 5:13).” Singing in the Psalms is another form of prayer and adds rhythm and music to our expressions of worship. “Consider it pure joy, (means jump for joy) my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (Why jump for joy? You get to see God work). Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).” “Continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name (Heb. 13:15).” God is bigger than your problems or sickness. It’s essential that you offer Him praise for who He is and what He has done before you get the blessing He has promised.
4. Call on the elders to pray for your healing as you draw near to God by surrendering yourself to Him. “He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord (James 5:14).” The sick person is to ask for prayer. This is a humbling act and one of dependence on the “body of Christ,” other Christians. It’s not God’s plan that His children be alone. We really do need each other’s prayers and support. The act of anointing with oil was a symbol in the Old Testament of bestowing divine favor and is associated with the outpouring of the Spirit for special attention and entitlement by God. Anointing in the New Testament for the sick is a symbol of the Holy Spirit as Life-giver and the atonement of Jesus Christ for our sin and sickness.
5. Have Faith in God (Mark 11:22; Gal. 3:6-7). “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 (James 5:14).” It is the sick person who must have the faith of expectancy to call. But it’s the elders’ faith, the ones who prays that is vital. Jesus pictured strong faith as no bigger than a “mustard seed” and “nothing will be imposable to you (Matt. 17:20).” This simple faith is so convinced of a Bible truth that you act on it. It is in the character of God that our faith rests. When God’s Word alone is the reason for your believing–before you see, or feel anything, that faith and prayer is answered (Mark 11:24). Jesus declared, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing (your seeing or feeling). The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life (John 6:63).” Since healing is by faith, and “faith without works is dead (James 2:20),” it is when you begin to receive that God begins to heal. Faith is what you have before you are healed. Faith is trust. Just like you are trusting Jesus as your Savior, trust him now as your Healer. “The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up,” says James.
6. Be fervent in prayer; seek, ask and knock (Matt. 7:7). “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops (James 5:16-18).” Elijah did not let his weaknesses undermine his faith. His weakness forced him to rely all the more on God. A righteous person wants what God wants, and God does not withhold anything good. Both the elders and the one prayed for must believe God’s promise for healing. “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised (Heb. 10:35-36).” The objective of faith is not to get well first and then believe that God has heard prayer. But it is a steadfast confidence that God is at work and that he will do what he has promised. The same God who answered Elijah’s prayers in his weakness will answer yours.
Do you believe that God heals today? Do you believe that God can heal you? Will you come to Him and let Him do it? You are to call for the elders of the church to pray over you and anoint you 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. Here are some questions you need to meditate on and pray over before the Healing Service:
What is your NEED?
Physical Healing; Spiritual Healing; Emotional Healing. Healing of memories–the sins and hurts of the past.
Generational sins and sickness; Healing for bondages and habits; Breaking of curses.
1. What do you WANT the Lord to do for you?
2. What do you THINK is its cause?
3. What should you DO to stay healed?
4. Do you BELIEVE God can heal you?
(See the next step, 3 of 4, A Prayer for Healing).