living (substance abuse, immorality, etc.), sought God for divine healing for her. me then and I hope it will be a blessing
unhealthy living (overeating, not exercis- We obtained the best medical expertise to you who are struggling with some dis-
ing, etc.), exposure to contagious diseases, and did everything we could to trust God ease or physical impairment:
genetic propensities to certain illnesses, for her healing. She desperately wanted
and advancing age. In the case of Job, to live to watch our little boy grow up Opened Eyes
Satan was permitted by God to afflict him and become the person God had in If you had been living when Christ
(Job 2:7). mind. After a four-year struggle, with was on earth, and had known the
If one’s malady is the result of sin- several emotional high points and low Savior kind,
ful living, repentance and faith in God’s points, she succumbed to the disease. What would you have asked of Him,
redeeming work are often prerequisites I stood by her bedside as she drew her supposing that you were born blind?
for healing. If someone suffers because of last breath, and immediately Satan chal- And when you had considered and
an unhealthy lifestyle, such as overeating lenged my credibility as a minister and then replied, I suppose without a doubt
or eating foods rich in fat, then a change blamed my lack of faith as the reason she Would have said, “I’d like a dog
in one’s behavior will be necessary before was not healed. with a collar and a chain to lead my
one can expect to be on the road to The greatest lesson I learned during steps about.”
recovery. However, if someone suffers this traumatic experience was that I did And how often we in our faithless
cancer or a similar illness that is the result not have to believe in my faith or some- prayers, confess with shamed surprise,
of simply living in this sin-cursed world, one else’s faith for her to be healed, but We only ask for a dog and a chain,
then faith in Christ and His atoning sacri- that I had to trust God that He would when we could have had opened eyes.
fice is necessary for healing. Whatever the do what was right according to His will —Anonymous
cause of the sickness or physical limita- and His eternal purposes. My responsibil-
tion, God is able to heal. ity was to ask for her healing, believe in In summary, the provision for divine
Jesus treated people as whole persons. God’s provision for her healing, and then healing of our physical needs was includ-
He never left an individual well in body leave the matter in His hands, trusting ed in the Atonement along with the
but unwell in spirit. If He saw that a Him with the outcome. Our example can provision for our spiritual sickness. The
man’s physical sickness had its roots in a be found in Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane sacrifice has been made and the price has
spiritual cause, He dealt with that cause prior to the Crucifixion: “O My Father, if been paid for our healing.
first. Jesus came to make people well. it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; First, our part is to ask God for our
nevertheless, not as I will, but as You healing. We are to claim the promise of
The Confession of Faith
will” (Matthew 26:39, NKJV). John 16:24: “Ask, and ye shall receive.”
Since divine healing was provided in We are also to ask others to join us in
the Atonement, faith in the Lord is the key
Trust in God’s Sovereignty
prayer for our healing, as encouraged in
to receiving healing. The Gospels record Does God heal today? Absolutely! James 5:14: “Is anyone among you sick?
that Jesus healed people according to their Should we pray for the sick and expect Let him call for the elders of the church,
faith (see Matthew 9:29; 13:58; Mark 2:5; their healing? Absolutely! Healing can and let them pray over him, anointing
5:34, 36; 9:23-24; 10:52). Paul, through be realized by a simple childlike faith in him with oil in the name of the Lord”
the power of God, raised up a lame man at Him who is faithful and has the power (NKJV).
Lystra because he perceived that the man to fulfill His promises. We are not to be Second, we must believe God’s Word
had faith to be healed (Acts 14:8-10). discouraged if God delays His answer and and appropriate His promises. Matthew
Prayer for healing, like all prayer, must we actually grow worse. We are simply to 21:22 assures us, “Whatever things you
be offered by faith in the name of Jesus, trust Him and His Word. ask in prayer, believing, you will receive”
with proper motives, from a repentant However, we should keep in mind (NKJV).
heart, and in submission to the will of that the power to heal is solely in the Third, we must trust God with the out-
God (Acts 3:16; James 4:3; 1 John 3:21-22; hands of God and is dependent on His come. He will act according to His Word
5:14-15). God does not always answer in sovereignty. God responds to our faith and His will. Proverbs 3:5-6 challenges us,
the manner or time that we want, but we and knows what is in the eternal best “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
must fully trust in Him even when we do interests of the sick person and what will and lean not unto thine own understand-
not understand the reason for any seem- bring Him the glory. True faith is not ing. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and
ing delay in response to our prayers. faith in one’s own faith, but complete he shall direct thy paths.”
trust in God that He will do what is best
A Personal Trial
for us according to His eternal purposes.
Ken Bell is administrative
I experienced a trial of my faith when Several years ago Paul Henson read
liaison to the Church of God
my first wife, Mashelle, was diagnosed the following poem in a chapel service at
general overseer.
with leukemia. We, and many others, the International Offices. It ministered to
EVANGEL • FEB 2010 9
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