In order to heal our hardened hearts, we need a fresh revelation of the heart of God, manifested most vividly in healing power. Too many hindering doctrines undermine the reality of God’s love demonstrated through His healing power.
The first and most effective tactic Satan used and continues to use today is to convince believers that we can’t trust God or His word. This is a deception which accuses God of indifference towards men’s trials and problems. It distorts God’s heart and perverts His Word and love towards His creation (Gen.3:1-6).
Too many believers have forgotten or never knew Jn.10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” They blame God for anything bad that happens – “How could a loving God allow that to happen?”
Jesus Christ came to reveal the heart of Father, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.’ Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’” (Jn.14:7-9).
Jesus was “the express image of His person” (Heb.1:3). So, what was Jesus Christ’s response towards healing? He healed ALL who came to him! I am particularly impressed with the leper who came to Jesus saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” This is the same reaction to healing many believers have today. They know Jesus CAN heal, but they’re not sure He is willing to heal them! Jesus was moved by compassion, stretched out His hand and touched the leper, saying to him, “I am willing; be cleansed” (Mk.1:40-45). Jesus’ response appears calm and gentle, but I believe His voice was filled with intense love of Father mixed with anger at the curse of sin Satan caused to be God’s creation, man! On only one occasion, Jesus told someone He would not heal her daughter (Matt.15:22-28). This woman of Canaan came to Jesus asking for Him to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Since she was not a Jew she had no covenant relationship with God for healing and Jesus did not respond to her request. She kept asking for her daughter’s deliverance as Jesus deflected her requests with her disqualification for healing, yet she persisted over and again. In Matt.15:28, Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” Her daughter was healed that very hour!
Today, such faith is rare indeed! As a matter of fact, a standard excuse for lack of healing is, “Well, they just didn’t have enough faith for their healing.” I’ve never seen that in scripture, have you? I believe many miss their healing not because of lack of their faith, but because of corporate unbelief in the church. Fifty to sixty years ago hundreds of people were being healed of life-threatening diseases every day! Why not now? Very little expectation for healing or the miraculous exists in the church. When you add that with lack of persistence, it’s not hard to see why so few believers receive their healings and experience miracles today! We need the same type persistence as the mother from Canaan had. Let’s compare her persistence with what exists in many areas of the church today.
· The woman asked Jesus to heal her daughter; Jesus doesn’t answer her. Knowing Jesus is her only hope, she persists! Today, a prayer for healing is offered and the heavens appear to be as brass. Prayer is halted because it’s assumed it isn’t in His will to heal the person.
· Jesus tells the woman it’s not Father’s will to heal her daughter; she continues to persist. As prayer is made, the thought comes that God doesn’t want to heal because of the timing or sin is in the life of the person.
· Jesus tells her that it isn’t her covenant right to ask for healing. She agrees, yet persists nonetheless! When prayer is offered and no evidence results, many believe that the person has to get their lives in order before they can be healed.
· Jesus commends the woman’s faith and heals her daughter! Today, Jesus marvels at the lack of faith with people going away without their healing!
Just as our modern “me-first society” wants instant gratification; so also the church has gained a “micro-wave” attitude towards ministry, particularly healing. Most healing ministry is conducted with a “BOOM – DONE!” attitude. I call it “Brylcreme ministry”. You may not be old enough to remember the old hair dressing commercial on TV that said, “A lil’ dab’l do ya’”.
Jesus equates faith with persistence in Lk.18:1-8, the story of the widow who sought for justice from an unjust judge. Even though he was crooked, the judge relented because of the widow’s persistence. Jesus said if an unrighteous judge would relent how much more would God avenge His own elect! Jesus ends this parable with, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Good question! Persistence comes into our lives when we receive a revelation of God’s heart.
In Jn. 9: 1-5, Jesus passed by a man blind from birth. His disciples made the assumption that either his sin or the sins of his parents caused his blindness and they asked Jesus which was the cause. Jesus replied, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
After saying this, Jesus made clay from spitting on the ground and anointed the man’s eyes. He told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The man did as told and came back seeing.
Many believe this man’s blindness was a platform for showcasing Jesus’ healing power. I believe Jesus used this event to teach His disciples to avoid pointless debates over useless doctrines and religious thinking as their question about whose sin caused the blindness. Jesus was saying, “I didn’t come to discuss nonsense; I came to destroy the devil’s works and demonstrate Father’s heart through healing and restoration.” Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” He could only be the light while here, now it’s up to us to display His glory! We are the light of the world now – it’s time to start shining!
1 Jn.3:8 explains, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” His mission is now ours and gifts of healings are a mighty weapon in our representation and partnership with Holy Spirit.
Ps.103:2-3, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.” Yes, it’s the Lord Who heals, but He uses believers to be the instruments of His healing power.
The world is waiting to see the church awake from its slumber and be the instrument of healing and restoration it has always been intended to be.
The first and most effective tactic Satan used and continues to use today is to convince believers that we can’t trust God or His word. This is a deception which accuses God of indifference towards men’s trials and problems. It distorts God’s heart and perverts His Word and love towards His creation (Gen.3:1-6).
Too many believers have forgotten or never knew Jn.10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” They blame God for anything bad that happens – “How could a loving God allow that to happen?”
Jesus Christ came to reveal the heart of Father, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.’ Philip said to Him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’” (Jn.14:7-9).
Jesus was “the express image of His person” (Heb.1:3). So, what was Jesus Christ’s response towards healing? He healed ALL who came to him! I am particularly impressed with the leper who came to Jesus saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” This is the same reaction to healing many believers have today. They know Jesus CAN heal, but they’re not sure He is willing to heal them! Jesus was moved by compassion, stretched out His hand and touched the leper, saying to him, “I am willing; be cleansed” (Mk.1:40-45). Jesus’ response appears calm and gentle, but I believe His voice was filled with intense love of Father mixed with anger at the curse of sin Satan caused to be God’s creation, man! On only one occasion, Jesus told someone He would not heal her daughter (Matt.15:22-28). This woman of Canaan came to Jesus asking for Him to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Since she was not a Jew she had no covenant relationship with God for healing and Jesus did not respond to her request. She kept asking for her daughter’s deliverance as Jesus deflected her requests with her disqualification for healing, yet she persisted over and again. In Matt.15:28, Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” Her daughter was healed that very hour!
Today, such faith is rare indeed! As a matter of fact, a standard excuse for lack of healing is, “Well, they just didn’t have enough faith for their healing.” I’ve never seen that in scripture, have you? I believe many miss their healing not because of lack of their faith, but because of corporate unbelief in the church. Fifty to sixty years ago hundreds of people were being healed of life-threatening diseases every day! Why not now? Very little expectation for healing or the miraculous exists in the church. When you add that with lack of persistence, it’s not hard to see why so few believers receive their healings and experience miracles today! We need the same type persistence as the mother from Canaan had. Let’s compare her persistence with what exists in many areas of the church today.
· The woman asked Jesus to heal her daughter; Jesus doesn’t answer her. Knowing Jesus is her only hope, she persists! Today, a prayer for healing is offered and the heavens appear to be as brass. Prayer is halted because it’s assumed it isn’t in His will to heal the person.
· Jesus tells the woman it’s not Father’s will to heal her daughter; she continues to persist. As prayer is made, the thought comes that God doesn’t want to heal because of the timing or sin is in the life of the person.
· Jesus tells her that it isn’t her covenant right to ask for healing. She agrees, yet persists nonetheless! When prayer is offered and no evidence results, many believe that the person has to get their lives in order before they can be healed.
· Jesus commends the woman’s faith and heals her daughter! Today, Jesus marvels at the lack of faith with people going away without their healing!
Just as our modern “me-first society” wants instant gratification; so also the church has gained a “micro-wave” attitude towards ministry, particularly healing. Most healing ministry is conducted with a “BOOM – DONE!” attitude. I call it “Brylcreme ministry”. You may not be old enough to remember the old hair dressing commercial on TV that said, “A lil’ dab’l do ya’”.
Jesus equates faith with persistence in Lk.18:1-8, the story of the widow who sought for justice from an unjust judge. Even though he was crooked, the judge relented because of the widow’s persistence. Jesus said if an unrighteous judge would relent how much more would God avenge His own elect! Jesus ends this parable with, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Good question! Persistence comes into our lives when we receive a revelation of God’s heart.
In Jn. 9: 1-5, Jesus passed by a man blind from birth. His disciples made the assumption that either his sin or the sins of his parents caused his blindness and they asked Jesus which was the cause. Jesus replied, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
After saying this, Jesus made clay from spitting on the ground and anointed the man’s eyes. He told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The man did as told and came back seeing.
Many believe this man’s blindness was a platform for showcasing Jesus’ healing power. I believe Jesus used this event to teach His disciples to avoid pointless debates over useless doctrines and religious thinking as their question about whose sin caused the blindness. Jesus was saying, “I didn’t come to discuss nonsense; I came to destroy the devil’s works and demonstrate Father’s heart through healing and restoration.” Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” He could only be the light while here, now it’s up to us to display His glory! We are the light of the world now – it’s time to start shining!
1 Jn.3:8 explains, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” His mission is now ours and gifts of healings are a mighty weapon in our representation and partnership with Holy Spirit.
Ps.103:2-3, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.” Yes, it’s the Lord Who heals, but He uses believers to be the instruments of His healing power.
The world is waiting to see the church awake from its slumber and be the instrument of healing and restoration it has always been intended to be.