Healing – Can it Really Happen Today?

 I know we can be sceptical, and our current experience of God intervening in miraculous ways may be limited, but most of us do know answered prayer in this as well as other areas. Could it be that God wants to do more, if we are open and ready to accept it?

 When I taught in this area among the student pastors in Uganda, the readiness to anticipate what God might do was far greater than we usually show. Can we take a leaf out of their book as we press forward with the healing services? Here are some of the Biblical reasons to do so:

 

 

Jesus went around teaching and preaching the Good News effectively, and healing (see Matt 6:23 & 9:35 for summaries of what was normal for him). Read some of the examples of his teaching and healing in between. Ask yourself: Did Jesus do such remarkable things:

1. because he is God            or
2. because he was empowered by the Holy Spirit?

He is God, but if that is why he was able to heal, even raise the dead, how could he say to his followers “whoever believes in me will do what I do...” (John 14:12)? We are not God! And yet what Jesus said is precisely what happened. See for example the encounter Peter and John had with a beggar at the temple gate (Acts 3). And it still happens today, when followers of Jesus are open to it! Jesus also told his followers: “wait for the gift I told you about, the gift my Father promised... you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5). ‘Baptised’ means immersed or soaked. This soaking with the Holy Spirit is  necessary for hearing God’s guidance and acting accordingly. If we are to take seriously the promise to do what Jesus did, it cannot be solely because he is God that he did such things. Perhaps the key comes in Philippians 2: 5-11? Yes he is God, but he chose to give this up, to empty himself, become like us – reliant on the Holy Spirit! He wants us to follow his lead.

 Look at an example of Jesus dancing in co-operation with the Holy Spirit; the raising of Lazarus (John 11).

• Jesus was already empowered by the Holy Spirit. He acts in the context of love towards those involved (v5).
• He knew God intends to heal, he listened to guidance and got onto God’s timing (v4,6).
• Martha expesses faith in Jesus’ relationship with the Father and Jesus invites obedience from her and voicing of her faith (v21-22, 26-27)
• Jesus seeks the trust and obedience of the people, by telling them to move the stone (v39-41)
• Prayer is crucial: We don’t know the first part of Jesus’ prayer, but he must have prayed silently, and heard the guidance God gave – aloud he starts with thanks that God has already heard him! This was falling into step – the dance of co-operation (v41)
• Jesus himself was obedient, spoke God’s word into the situation – a word of command “Lazarus, come out” (v43) and a great miracle occurred.
• And the role of others? “Untie him, and let him go” (v44). Jesus involved a team ministry approach!

Lets pray that, as God leads us further into the healing ministry, all of us, whether in leadership, supportive roles, or seeking healing and bringing others in, will grow in our dance of co-operation.

 And yes, I’ve seen God heal miraculously: physical healing, emotional healing, spiritual healing, healing of relationships, healing of deep inner hurts. God’s healing agenda is more than what happens to idividuals, it is God restoring how things were always meant to be. It can happen today! It does!

 

Jon Sermon