Divine healing is for today as it was for Biblical times

I always thought most Christians believed in divine healing, but the more I hear some radio preachers and many different groups say they don’t believe in divine healing, I realized this is not so.

Their teachings have a limited knowledge of the scriptures in this area. They seem to pick and choose what is convenient so they can prove their point. I don’t say that to be derogatory, but I believe that we must be open-minded and believe the Bible just like it was written. It is not outdated.

To look at scriptures on divine healing, we first must look at first Corinthians 12:4-11 and study the nine gifts of the Spirit. Three of these gifts are what we call the power gifts, which are the gift of miracles, gifts of healings and gift of faith. Of course, there are six other gifts, and certainly they are not lesser. But for now we’ll look at these three power gifts.

From what I can understand, Christians who don’t believe in divine healing for today have been taught that these gifts went out when the disciples left this earth. I even heard one man say when Jesus went to the cross, divine healing ceased to exist. I have not been one to pick and choose the scriptures I wish to believe. Almost daily when I take up the word of God or listen to someone anointed to preach God’s word, it shows me how to walk as Jesus walked. Yes, the word of God convicts me and I make that adjustment. Sometimes I have to say, “Lord, forgive me and repent.” The gifts of the spirit are active today in the church and gifts of healings are ever-present to those who believe.

I heard one man preach against divine healing. He said he heard of people being prayed for healing and were told because they did not have faith was the reason they were not healed. Yes, it takes faith to receive healing, but unscriptural teaching many times can affect our faith to receive. If we need healing, take in scriptures and teachings that shows us that healing is for us today, get them into your spirit, your innermost being, and let your faith rise. Understand your faith can be hindered by unscriptural teachings. Christians who study the word of God see that a major hindrance to receive healing is unforgiveness as we see in Mark 11:25, 26: “ … forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.”

To believe for divine healing is a blessing. God does not condemn those who don’t believe in healing, nor do I.

Remember, Jesus come to give life and live more abundantly.

Believing in divine healing for me just comes natural when studying the word. Scriptures that speak of divine healing “by his stripes we were healed” and “I am the Lord healeth thee.”

Fact is, that particular scripture came to me from deep down inside my innermost being one day when I heard a minister preach. He said that God puts sickness on Christians some times. Though I’d heard that teaching in the past, it still bothered me because the last few years I had been studying the word of God under a five-fold ministry teacher, and I had seen where the word of God says it is God’s will that we be healed and sickness doesn’t come from God. So when I heard this man preach that from the pulpit at our church I was concerned, although he was not our pastor.

Even so, I went to the Lord in prayer. I remembered that in God’s word it says to come as a little child and that’s how I prayed, open and sincere. I prayed, “Father, if I missed it in my teachings and my belief, show me.”

The prayer was a pretty simple one, but sincere. Then up out of my spirit came those words, “I am the Lord that healeth thee.”

Well, I didn’t remember reading that in the Bible, so I went to my concordance and there it was in Exodus 15:26. Those words were so profound, “I am the Lord that healeth thee.” I just threw out all that man’s message. Yes, the man used a few scriptures, more out of context than anything, to prove his point, but all the same incorrectly. It is God’s will we be healed.

Divine healing is God’s will for today. In the Bible, we see the woman who had the issue of blood and when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, Jesus turned and asked, “Who touched me?” Then he said he said to her, “Your faith has made you whole.”

That is how we need to come to Jesus today, believing he is the healer. By faith, the woman touched Jesus’ garment and believed for healing. Divine healing is for those who believe that Jesus is the healer; really, it is for everyone who believes in him.

James 5:14 says, “Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

Healing is for today. Jesus gave a great commission: “Go ye into the world.” He also gave us that authority to pray for the sick in Jesus’ name. Christians, we are Christ’s ambassadors, go ye into the world telling of Jesus’ saving grace and his willingness to heal those who are afflicted.

Lavon Barve works with Cup of Life Ministry in Wasilla.

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