Healing, Faith, Facts, and Feelings (#1)

Few Christian ideas stir up emotions, debate, and confusion as healing. Some say that healing died with the last apostle, others believe that healing never really happened at all, and it is just an allegory for spiritual salvation in the Bible. And of-course some, believe that healing continues today.

I believe that healing still exists today, as a gift of God’s grace empowered by His Spirit.

But obviously, each group of people believes that they are correct. So, is there a way to know what’s right? Is there a definitive answer? Let’s explore the answer together.

Recently I experienced symptoms of sickness in my body, and the response from the people around me was varied and vast. It’s amazing how a simple experience can so easily reveal what’s in a person’s heart and what they truly believe. While some encouraged me on, others were preoccupied with doctor’s diagnosis, and suggesting that God was testing or punishing me.

Much like my recent experience with the tornado that destroyed my previous home, these allegations of God’s punishment or testing could be crippling and destructive if I didn’t have a firm foundation of God’s love and knowing His will. I think these thoughts ad feelings, and experience are not unique to me, but quite common among believers, and so today I would like to explore how to have unshakable confidence in God’s will to heal, even when facing opposing feelings, doubts and circumstances.

Knowing God’s Will

One of the most prevalent areas of doubt among Christians regarding healing comes in the form of “God’s will.” This doubt is often expressed in the language and prayers of people who use phrasing such as “Lord, if it’s your will, please heal…” or some variation of that.

Some believe that using language of doubt like that means that they are humble, but that’s actually a false humility, and it doesn’t please God because it’s not of faith. The scripture says in Hebrews 11:6 that without faith it is impossible to please God. So any prayer that is not of faith also clearly doesn’t please Him. Romans 14:23 is even more straightforward by saying whatever is not of faith is sin!

A large part of faith is knowing the will of God, because if you are unsure about God’s will, there will always be a layer of uncertainty getting in the way. The book of James chapter 5, verse 15 says that the prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise the person up.

Now that’s very interesting, and it’s also crucial for us to understand because how can we honestly pray the prayer of faith, if we aren’t convinced that God is backing-up and supporting the endeavor?

It’s impossible to stand against fear, uncertainty, and doubt regarding spiritual matters unless we have already settled the will of God in our mind.  1^st John 4:18 says that there is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.

This “perfect love” is not referring to our love… it’s not our human love for God, but rather His divine perfect love for us. That’s how fear is cast out, by knowing and receiving His perfect love for us. There are a lot of Christians in “torment” just as this verse mentions, because they are still in fear, not knowing how much God loves them…. And not understanding how secure they are, because they do not know His will— so they are always on shaky ground, always uncertain and always fearful.

Jesus Is the Will of God

The answer of course is to look squarely at Jesus. The scriptures define Jesus as the manifestation, the visible image of the invisible God. (Colossians 1:15)

Furthermore, the scriptures are clear that Jesus revealed the will of the Father one-hundred percent of the time:

For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me.

John 6:38

Jesus said to them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

John 4:34

And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him

John 8:29

So, If you have a question about how God acts, how He behaves, and what His character is like, simply look at Jesus. 

John 1:18, makes this even more clear by saying:

No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

John 1:18

That is an old-English way of saying: no-one has ever seen God the Father, except Jesus, who by-the-way is God, He came to show us exactly what God is like.

The absolute gold standard for knowing the will of God is found in the life of Jesus Christ… for everything, including healing.

In the next part of our study we will see how to apply this knowledge practically, to strengthen our foundation of faith and belief for healing, and crush the common doubts that often hinder us.

Until then, I look forward to thriving with you again.

Be blessed.