¨
Word shared in a church in India on Feb 10 2018
Introduction
Today I am going to teach on what Jesus did - his ministry
while on earth.
And in particular I will touch the healing part - God´s heart
for bringing healing and restoration.
I will show that what Jesus worked, was all based on his
later salvation work on the cross which were yet to come.
It can be good to know that the base word which is translated
salvation in the bible includes both the soul salvation and
healing (for soul and body).
-------------
I first want to make a flashback to the time of ancient Israel,
where much of what were happening actually were shadow
pictures of Jesus ministry and his work on the cross, and are
for our teaching.
Israel and salvation
When God wanted to put things in order again after Adams fall
in the garden, and send his Messiah, he was looking for a man
to start with, and found Abraham.
Some generations after Abraham, his descendants left their land
of Kaanan and went down to Egypt, this was due to a severe
drought.
In Egypt they were first treated well because of Joseph´s current
recent success there. But eventually they became slaves under a
new Pharaoh, "who did not recognize Joseph".
The Jews shouted to God for deliverance for long time, God
eventually raised up his servant Moses as a deliverer.
Pharaoh was hard at heart, did not want to let the Jews leave.
Moses challenged Faraoh by mighty miracles and acts of
judgment.
Eventually, after Egypt experienced severe suffering, Faraoh had
had it - and let the people of Israel go.
The people of Israel left Egypt by passing the Red Sea, and in
front went Moses. It was all a mighty miracle performed by Moses;
when he stretched out his rod and split the sea in two to make a
way through.
By then, Pharaoh had regreted the let-go of Israel and followed
them trough the sea. But - God let the Egyptian army drown by
that the water turned back.
The apostle Paul summarizes this story in one of his letters;
1 Cor 10:1-4
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our
ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.
They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the
same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the
spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
The bible tells us that this is a shadow picture of salvation, and is
clear about that Moses represents Jesus, and the people represents
the Church (if you read the book of Hebrews).
So they were "baptized to Moses" in the Red Sea. By that they
were delivered from past slavery. It was Moses that opened "an
impossible way" (to be compared with the cross).
And when on the other side of the sea; God sent his glory cloud
over the people, a foreshadow of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Let us read one more word about this deliverance, from;
Ps 105:37
"Then he (God) brought them out with silver and gold, and among His tribes
there was not one who stumbled (no feeble person - svag, matt, sjuk)."
The number of people leaving Egypt was 600.000 men + their
family members. And, here it comes: amazingly the bible tells
us that among them noone were stumbling.
The bible should not state this if there were not many stumbling
just before the exodus - due to the very rough slavery yoke
under Egypt.
God actually made miracles with everyone that needed it. And,
observe; it was connected to the very beginning; the salvation
out of Egypt. They even got riches from Egypt, like "you get
whatever you want, if you just leave.."
This is more than a hint; healing is a natural blessing in the
New covenant, for which this is a shadow picture - The new
covenant in Jesus Christ.
Jesus was made a curse - that we would be blessed.
The Church and salvation
It is my absolute conviction that healing is a blessing within the
New covenant. We have become children of God - he is our
Father. We as fathers want our childrens best.
Just like we never doubt that salvation in Jesus Christ is for
anyone - we should not doubt that healing is part of the
covenant as well.
Actually the New Testament is very clear on this in the gospels
about Jesus ministry;
Luke 6:19
"..and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from
him and healing them all."
Matt 8:16-17
"When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to
him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This
was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah;
“He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
Matthew tells us that Jesus delivered people from spirits, and
healed all sick people from both diseases and "infirmities". ALL
is always all, noone excluded.
Matthew here refers to that all this happened to fulfill prophecy
from the Old Testament, about a coming Messiah, Isaiah 53.
Matt 53:3
"He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, familiar
with pain."
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered
him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds
we are (being) healed."
Interesting that this word says "yet we considered him..". This
means we can have "our theology" about Jesus and about the
scope of what Jesus did on the cross, but is it biblical?
Firstly: Jesus was pierced for our transgressions, which is very
important for your soul´s eternal salvation.
Without the forgiveness from your sin, through Jesus, where he
shed his blood on the cross, you and I are eternally lost.
He did it for us because he loves us. He is waiting for you to
recieve him as your Lord and Saviour.
Secondly: What we mainly touch today; by his wounds we are
also being healed.
We have a text referring to Isaiah 53 in one of Peter´s letters;
1 Pet 2:24
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die
to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
This is a text after the cross, looking back. Here it says that
we have been healed by his wounds.
An interesting Old Testament referral, which as a shadow-
picture connects healing to the cross, is when God told Moses
to raise a stand with a copper snake attached to it.
The people were asked to look up to the copper snake to get
healed. They were NOT asked to beg God to heal - as healing
was namely already deposited; they just had to look at the
copper snake, and realize healing was given (4 Mos 21:8-9).
For me the teaching until know is enough to state 100% that
healing is included in the atonement.
The most important is to be saved. That we accept Jesus
as our saviour and belong to him for eternity.
But that shall not keep us from receiving healing which God
wants to give us all.
We want our children to be healed if they are sick. If we
can get them healed on natural way, we don´t ask God
first if it is ok - do we? We think it is selfevident.
How much more loving parents are we compared to God?
Are we more loving than him?
The Bible is full of "overstatements" saying everyone was
healed, he healed them all, everyone that touched him
got healed etc.
God´s Kingdom
Jesus said that healing is a sign of that God´s Kingdom,
God´s ruling, has come. So, what Jesus said and performed
were signs of God´s Kingdom that were now to usher in;
Luk 11:20
"But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God
has come upon you."
Matt 4:23
"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming
the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness
among the people.
Healing examples in Jesus ministry
If someone believes that God is mighty and able, but doubt
his will is to heal, maybe because you feel sinful, or you
are the cause to your bad situation - here is the Word from
God to you;
Mark 1:40-41
"A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you
are willing, you can make me clean. Jesus was indignant (upset) . He
reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said.
“Be clean!”.
The power seem to have been switched on in Jesus ministry
without Jesus actually being actively involved in each separate
case;
Luke 6:19
"..and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming (out)
from him and healing them all."
Matt 9:20-22
"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years
came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to her-
self, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."
"Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith
has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.”
The blind man Bartimaeus attitude is definitely something to
follow. Don´t let us be too sofisticated, that we do not dare
stand out from the crowd;
Mark 10:46-52
"..a blind man, Bartimaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging.
When he heard it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus,
Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the
more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!
”Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.”
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road..
The blind man´s friends or neighbours had the wrong view of
Jesus - that we shall not disturb this high ranked rabbi.
But Bartimeus had got the chance of his life, he was not going
to miss it! His faith ignored what others would think.
Jesus had time for this man, and rather encourages his
"stubborn" behavior, and calls it by name - faith !
Special cases?
When we read the bible we see that people got touched directly
by God. It was not about to sit and wait, and all got healed.
There is one single passage in the bible where it says that Jesus
could perform almost no miracles in his hometown.
This was due to the massive unbelief. The people view him as
"Joseph´s son" and did not discern the God-calling on his life.
There is one case where Jesus prayed twice, and the man´s sight
got partly better and better until he had full sight.
There is also the case with Lazarus. Jesus heard rumours that
Lazarus was sick. But he waited to go there even until Lazarus
was dead;
When he arrived, people "in a fine way" accused him to have not
"arrived in time", while "a miracle was still possible"..
But - the story in this full chapter 11 in the Gospel of John was
purpously a massive make up with unbelief. When the people had
cried and mourned enough about Lazarus, Jesus called Lazarus
out of the grave..
By Faith and by Spoken words
God wants to learn us how to receive from him by faith and by
our spoken words. This is valid for various needs and wishes,
even when it comes to receiving of healing.
Heb 11:1
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what
we do not see.
1 Joh 5:14-15
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask any-
thing according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears
us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Mark 11:23
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into
the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they
say will happen, it will be done for them.
We should encourage this kind of faith. It should not be looked at
as something spectacular.
No condemnation - rest in your salvation!
However, we should not put burden on each other, regarding
having enough faith for our healing or not. We should love one
another unconditionally, like brothers and sisters.
For example, when it comes to healing, we have the following
word, which reminds us that we are the body of Christ where we
shall serve each other and carry burdens for one another;
James 5:14
"Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray
over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
Anointing with oil is one way of trusting God in receiving healing.
We can pray for each other even without anointing of oil.
You can have (and you probably know it better than I) a wonderful
life with Jesus, though you have need for healing. It is my own
experience.
It must not at all affect your God-relation, and from that standpoint
you can boldly, restingly, stretch against God. Maybe also your
faith need to grow by the hearing of the Word.
Sustainable faith
Sometimes we need to stand in faith over some time, without
giving up on what we trust God for.
The disciples saw that Jesus had very good results in his ministry,
and they asked him to learn them how to pray.
It is very interesting what kind of teaching Jesus brings up upon
their request;
Luk 11:5-13
"Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him
at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of
mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’
7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is al-
ready locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you
anything.’
8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because
of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get
up and give you as much as you need.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks re-
ceives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will
be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake in-
stead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then,
though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how
much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who
ask him!”..
Is it God who is like a "friend" that has gone to bed, and don´t
want to raise and open the door and give us some bread ??
I think God has shown me the interpretation of this parable.
Anyone can actually "try" to pray, and ask God for something - to
see if something happens.
But, when you start to claim something you believe is according to
God´s word, and need to stand firm; you will start experiencing
a fight between spirit and flesh.
The flesh will say " God is at sleep". Interpreted, this means that
when you do not get your prayer answer you will be tempted to
think that God did not want to give the kind of gift you have been
prayed for.
It could be that you get tempted to think that healing is not for
you, or that God has some divine cause to hold the healing, for
another 10 years or so.. Jesus said it was satan that had kept
people in bondage; for 18 years, 38 years etc.
In the time-span between prayerstart and receiving, that is where
new, wrong teachings about God´s will may find daylight.
The end of this bible-passage is then refreshing; it says "which of
you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake in-
stead?"
You can here read between the lines what Jesus thinks about
religious (fleshy) teaching on healing, which undermines / steals
the faith from people in a needy situation which God wants to
meet.
God is much more good than we are. We want our children to be
healthy. And God wants even more for that his children are
healthy, and he has shown his will clearly in the bible and in
the actual ministry of Jesus.
Whe can do the same deeds that Jesus did
There is sometimes the wrong understanding about Jesus, that
he made miracles because he was God´s Son.
But that is not what he says about himself;
Joh 5:19
"Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do
nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing,
because whatever the Father does the Son also does."
Actually, we cannot see in the bible that Jesus performed
one single miracle before he himself was baptized by John
the baptist, and was filled with the Holy Gost.
Jesus was true God and true human. Mary was concieved
by the Spirit and Jesus then was born by a woman. God
the Father / Mary the mother.
Jesus laid off his divine garment (though he was still "Son");
1Fil 2:6-8
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God some-
thing to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man.
It is rather we as christians that do things of our own. But we
should start to follow Jesus´ example. In his earthly walk he
is rather meant to be our great example.
This is what he said;
Joh 14:12
"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have
been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because
I am going to the Father.
Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing,
and even greater..
The very last thing someone says before to leave, is usually
something important. After the resurrection but before Jesus
left the disciples, He said to them;
Mark 16:15-18
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever
believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe
will be condemned.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they
will drive out demons;.. they will place their hands on sick people,
and they will get well."
Some people are called into special ministry to do these
things.
But - every believer can minister in this by faith and the
gifts of the Spirit. God uses ordinary people to touch
others - the believers ministry.
Introduction
Today I am going to teach on what Jesus did - his ministry
while on earth.
And in particular I will touch the healing part - God´s heart
for bringing healing and restoration.
I will show that what Jesus worked, was all based on his
later salvation work on the cross which were yet to come.
It can be good to know that the base word which is translated
salvation in the bible includes both the soul salvation and
healing (for soul and body).
-------------
I first want to make a flashback to the time of ancient Israel,
where much of what were happening actually were shadow
pictures of Jesus ministry and his work on the cross, and are
for our teaching.
Israel and salvation
When God wanted to put things in order again after Adams fall
in the garden, and send his Messiah, he was looking for a man
to start with, and found Abraham.
Some generations after Abraham, his descendants left their land
of Kaanan and went down to Egypt, this was due to a severe
drought.
In Egypt they were first treated well because of Joseph´s current
recent success there. But eventually they became slaves under a
new Pharaoh, "who did not recognize Joseph".
The Jews shouted to God for deliverance for long time, God
eventually raised up his servant Moses as a deliverer.
Pharaoh was hard at heart, did not want to let the Jews leave.
Moses challenged Faraoh by mighty miracles and acts of
judgment.
Eventually, after Egypt experienced severe suffering, Faraoh had
had it - and let the people of Israel go.
The people of Israel left Egypt by passing the Red Sea, and in
front went Moses. It was all a mighty miracle performed by Moses;
when he stretched out his rod and split the sea in two to make a
way through.
By then, Pharaoh had regreted the let-go of Israel and followed
them trough the sea. But - God let the Egyptian army drown by
that the water turned back.
The apostle Paul summarizes this story in one of his letters;
1 Cor 10:1-4
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our
ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.
They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the
same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the
spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
The bible tells us that this is a shadow picture of salvation, and is
clear about that Moses represents Jesus, and the people represents
the Church (if you read the book of Hebrews).
So they were "baptized to Moses" in the Red Sea. By that they
were delivered from past slavery. It was Moses that opened "an
impossible way" (to be compared with the cross).
And when on the other side of the sea; God sent his glory cloud
over the people, a foreshadow of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Let us read one more word about this deliverance, from;
Ps 105:37
"Then he (God) brought them out with silver and gold, and among His tribes
there was not one who stumbled (no feeble person - svag, matt, sjuk)."
The number of people leaving Egypt was 600.000 men + their
family members. And, here it comes: amazingly the bible tells
us that among them noone were stumbling.
The bible should not state this if there were not many stumbling
just before the exodus - due to the very rough slavery yoke
under Egypt.
God actually made miracles with everyone that needed it. And,
observe; it was connected to the very beginning; the salvation
out of Egypt. They even got riches from Egypt, like "you get
whatever you want, if you just leave.."
This is more than a hint; healing is a natural blessing in the
New covenant, for which this is a shadow picture - The new
covenant in Jesus Christ.
Jesus was made a curse - that we would be blessed.
The Church and salvation
It is my absolute conviction that healing is a blessing within the
New covenant. We have become children of God - he is our
Father. We as fathers want our childrens best.
Just like we never doubt that salvation in Jesus Christ is for
anyone - we should not doubt that healing is part of the
covenant as well.
Actually the New Testament is very clear on this in the gospels
about Jesus ministry;
Luke 6:19
"..and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from
him and healing them all."
Matt 8:16-17
"When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to
him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This
was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah;
“He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
Matthew tells us that Jesus delivered people from spirits, and
healed all sick people from both diseases and "infirmities". ALL
is always all, noone excluded.
Matthew here refers to that all this happened to fulfill prophecy
from the Old Testament, about a coming Messiah, Isaiah 53.
Matt 53:3
"He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, familiar
with pain."
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered
him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our
iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds
we are (being) healed."
Interesting that this word says "yet we considered him..". This
means we can have "our theology" about Jesus and about the
scope of what Jesus did on the cross, but is it biblical?
Firstly: Jesus was pierced for our transgressions, which is very
important for your soul´s eternal salvation.
Without the forgiveness from your sin, through Jesus, where he
shed his blood on the cross, you and I are eternally lost.
He did it for us because he loves us. He is waiting for you to
recieve him as your Lord and Saviour.
Secondly: What we mainly touch today; by his wounds we are
also being healed.
We have a text referring to Isaiah 53 in one of Peter´s letters;
1 Pet 2:24
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die
to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
This is a text after the cross, looking back. Here it says that
we have been healed by his wounds.
An interesting Old Testament referral, which as a shadow-
picture connects healing to the cross, is when God told Moses
to raise a stand with a copper snake attached to it.
The people were asked to look up to the copper snake to get
healed. They were NOT asked to beg God to heal - as healing
was namely already deposited; they just had to look at the
copper snake, and realize healing was given (4 Mos 21:8-9).
For me the teaching until know is enough to state 100% that
healing is included in the atonement.
The most important is to be saved. That we accept Jesus
as our saviour and belong to him for eternity.
But that shall not keep us from receiving healing which God
wants to give us all.
We want our children to be healed if they are sick. If we
can get them healed on natural way, we don´t ask God
first if it is ok - do we? We think it is selfevident.
How much more loving parents are we compared to God?
Are we more loving than him?
The Bible is full of "overstatements" saying everyone was
healed, he healed them all, everyone that touched him
got healed etc.
God´s Kingdom
Jesus said that healing is a sign of that God´s Kingdom,
God´s ruling, has come. So, what Jesus said and performed
were signs of God´s Kingdom that were now to usher in;
Luk 11:20
"But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God
has come upon you."
Matt 4:23
"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming
the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness
among the people.
Healing examples in Jesus ministry
If someone believes that God is mighty and able, but doubt
his will is to heal, maybe because you feel sinful, or you
are the cause to your bad situation - here is the Word from
God to you;
Mark 1:40-41
"A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you
are willing, you can make me clean. Jesus was indignant (upset) . He
reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said.
“Be clean!”.
The power seem to have been switched on in Jesus ministry
without Jesus actually being actively involved in each separate
case;
Luke 6:19
"..and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming (out)
from him and healing them all."
Matt 9:20-22
"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years
came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to her-
self, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."
"Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith
has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.”
The blind man Bartimaeus attitude is definitely something to
follow. Don´t let us be too sofisticated, that we do not dare
stand out from the crowd;
Mark 10:46-52
"..a blind man, Bartimaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging.
When he heard it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus,
Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the
more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!
”Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.”
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road..
The blind man´s friends or neighbours had the wrong view of
Jesus - that we shall not disturb this high ranked rabbi.
But Bartimeus had got the chance of his life, he was not going
to miss it! His faith ignored what others would think.
Jesus had time for this man, and rather encourages his
"stubborn" behavior, and calls it by name - faith !
Special cases?
When we read the bible we see that people got touched directly
by God. It was not about to sit and wait, and all got healed.
There is one single passage in the bible where it says that Jesus
could perform almost no miracles in his hometown.
This was due to the massive unbelief. The people view him as
"Joseph´s son" and did not discern the God-calling on his life.
There is one case where Jesus prayed twice, and the man´s sight
got partly better and better until he had full sight.
There is also the case with Lazarus. Jesus heard rumours that
Lazarus was sick. But he waited to go there even until Lazarus
was dead;
When he arrived, people "in a fine way" accused him to have not
"arrived in time", while "a miracle was still possible"..
But - the story in this full chapter 11 in the Gospel of John was
purpously a massive make up with unbelief. When the people had
cried and mourned enough about Lazarus, Jesus called Lazarus
out of the grave..
By Faith and by Spoken words
God wants to learn us how to receive from him by faith and by
our spoken words. This is valid for various needs and wishes,
even when it comes to receiving of healing.
Heb 11:1
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what
we do not see.
1 Joh 5:14-15
"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask any-
thing according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears
us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
Mark 11:23
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into
the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they
say will happen, it will be done for them.
We should encourage this kind of faith. It should not be looked at
as something spectacular.
No condemnation - rest in your salvation!
However, we should not put burden on each other, regarding
having enough faith for our healing or not. We should love one
another unconditionally, like brothers and sisters.
For example, when it comes to healing, we have the following
word, which reminds us that we are the body of Christ where we
shall serve each other and carry burdens for one another;
James 5:14
"Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray
over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
Anointing with oil is one way of trusting God in receiving healing.
We can pray for each other even without anointing of oil.
You can have (and you probably know it better than I) a wonderful
life with Jesus, though you have need for healing. It is my own
experience.
It must not at all affect your God-relation, and from that standpoint
you can boldly, restingly, stretch against God. Maybe also your
faith need to grow by the hearing of the Word.
Sustainable faith
Sometimes we need to stand in faith over some time, without
giving up on what we trust God for.
The disciples saw that Jesus had very good results in his ministry,
and they asked him to learn them how to pray.
It is very interesting what kind of teaching Jesus brings up upon
their request;
Luk 11:5-13
"Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him
at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of
mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’
7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is al-
ready locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you
anything.’
8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because
of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get
up and give you as much as you need.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks re-
ceives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will
be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake in-
stead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then,
though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how
much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who
ask him!”..
Is it God who is like a "friend" that has gone to bed, and don´t
want to raise and open the door and give us some bread ??
I think God has shown me the interpretation of this parable.
Anyone can actually "try" to pray, and ask God for something - to
see if something happens.
But, when you start to claim something you believe is according to
God´s word, and need to stand firm; you will start experiencing
a fight between spirit and flesh.
The flesh will say " God is at sleep". Interpreted, this means that
when you do not get your prayer answer you will be tempted to
think that God did not want to give the kind of gift you have been
prayed for.
It could be that you get tempted to think that healing is not for
you, or that God has some divine cause to hold the healing, for
another 10 years or so.. Jesus said it was satan that had kept
people in bondage; for 18 years, 38 years etc.
In the time-span between prayerstart and receiving, that is where
new, wrong teachings about God´s will may find daylight.
The end of this bible-passage is then refreshing; it says "which of
you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake in-
stead?"
You can here read between the lines what Jesus thinks about
religious (fleshy) teaching on healing, which undermines / steals
the faith from people in a needy situation which God wants to
meet.
God is much more good than we are. We want our children to be
healthy. And God wants even more for that his children are
healthy, and he has shown his will clearly in the bible and in
the actual ministry of Jesus.
Whe can do the same deeds that Jesus did
There is sometimes the wrong understanding about Jesus, that
he made miracles because he was God´s Son.
But that is not what he says about himself;
Joh 5:19
"Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do
nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing,
because whatever the Father does the Son also does."
Actually, we cannot see in the bible that Jesus performed
one single miracle before he himself was baptized by John
the baptist, and was filled with the Holy Gost.
Jesus was true God and true human. Mary was concieved
by the Spirit and Jesus then was born by a woman. God
the Father / Mary the mother.
Jesus laid off his divine garment (though he was still "Son");
1Fil 2:6-8
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God some-
thing to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man.
It is rather we as christians that do things of our own. But we
should start to follow Jesus´ example. In his earthly walk he
is rather meant to be our great example.
This is what he said;
Joh 14:12
"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have
been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because
I am going to the Father.
Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing,
and even greater..
The very last thing someone says before to leave, is usually
something important. After the resurrection but before Jesus
left the disciples, He said to them;
Mark 16:15-18
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever
believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe
will be condemned.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they
will drive out demons;.. they will place their hands on sick people,
and they will get well."
Some people are called into special ministry to do these
things.
But - every believer can minister in this by faith and the
gifts of the Spirit. God uses ordinary people to touch
others - the believers ministry.
Björn Hellman
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