Lecturers

Christ Healing Fellowship

Healing Manual
 Lecturers

Christ Healing Fellowship

Healing Manual
 CHRIST HEALING FELLOWSHIP HEALING MANUAL

CONTENTS

SECTION ONE : EQUIPPING IN THE HEALING MINISTRY

1. Introduction ......... ............ ....... .............. .........,........ .......

5
2. The Nature of God's Healing Ministry 9
3. Why the Healing Ministry?....... ..... ....... .................. 12
4. Our Commission into the Healing Ministry ......... 15
5. Obedience and our Authority to heal ..... . ..... .,.„. ..... 18
6. Ministry to Causes rather than Symptoms ......... 21
7. Holy Spirit Power and His gifts ........................ 25
8. Faith and Healing . ...... .....,.. ............ ..................... ...... ...29
9. Practical applications for the Healing Ministry ... 34

SECTION TWO : RELATED TO EQUIPPING

10. Basis for healing from Scripture ....................... 38

11. The Bible and Healing ...................................... 41
The Order of St. Luke ............................ 45
12. A Costly Ministry ............................................ 47
13. Healing is the Will of God ................................ 49
14. Healing and the Kingdom of God ........................ 52
15. Jesus heals in different ways ............................ 54
16, Laying on of hands ............................................ 60
17. Healing is a Church Ministry ............................. 64
18. Healing of the Whole person............................. 66
19. Who heals? JESUS .......................................... 70
20. What is a Miracle ............................................. 73
21. Characteristics of a Miracle-producing Church ..... 75
22. Private Ministry to the sick ................................ 76
23. Public Ministry to the sick .................................. 80
24, Hospital Visiting : Athol Thompson ....................... 83
25. Hospital Visiting : Trevor Jones .......................... 91

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SECTION THREE : SPECIAL AREAS OF MINISTRY

26. Healing and Forgiveness ................................. 101

27. Anger and the body ....................................... 103
28. Depression................................................... 105
29. Depression (Rev J Hart) .................................. 110
30. Healing of the Wounded Woman 118
31. Healing of the Abused Woman and Child .............. 123
32. Healing of the Wounded Man 132
33. The Wounded Healer (Redemptive suffering)....... 135
34. Healing of Christian Marriage .......................... 141
35. Healing of the Elderly .................................... 150
36. Healing of the Family ..................................... 154
37. Healing of the Church Family .............................162
38. Suffering : Passive submission or
Victorious transformation ............... 168
39. The Hospice Ministry :
a. Death ..........................................175
b. Listening ..................................... 176
c. Ministry to the Bereaved ................ 178
d. Grief ......................................... 180
e. Healing the Dying 183
40. Our Lord Jesus - Role Model :
Healer and Counsellor ..................... 186
41. Ministry of Intercession................................. 189
42. How to pray for Deliverance ............................ 191
43. The Healing and Counselling Ministry.................. 210
44. Pastoral Care and Counselling : AIDS .................. 216

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 SECTION ONE
EQUIPPING IN THE HEALING MINISTRY
 1. INTRODUCTION

LESSON 1

Please write out texts in the space provided

Recommended translation (used by lecturer of notes) : R.S.V However the "Jerusalem Bible'',
"Good News" and the " New International Version" translations may also be used. The
questions which follow are based on the R.S.V. - If you use another translation write the
text out in full even if the opening and closing words are different. The aim of this
exercise is to help you "take in' the full meaning of the text as you write it out. Please also
underline these text in your bible as you write them out, and if possible, begin to commit
them to memory by re-reading them at the end of each lesson, and then, if possible try to
repeat them from memory. We need to know them and "Store them in our hearts." Psalms
119:11

Matthew 4 v 23-25
Good News includes healing

And ............................................................................................................................

..................................................... the Jordan."

From the text in Matthew's Gospel it is obvious that the healing ministry is an integral part
of the Good News. This is even more so when we read in:

John 10 v 10b
Abundant Life

"Icame ..........................................................................................................................
................................................................................... abundantly."

(Good News = "... that you might have life - life in all its fullness").

The word "abundant" means "overflowing", "surplus". Life with Jesus meant overflowing
quality, surplus in quantity. Picture an overflowing milkshake or an overflowing glass of cool,
refreshing water, cascading down the side of the glass: that is the sort of abundance Jesus
brings. Jesus does not want us to be sickly - depressed - painracked miserable. Galations
gives a glimpse of this abundant life:

Galations 5 v 22-23
Fruit of the Spirit

"But the fruit

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It is important to remember that when our Lord talks of abundant life, He includes our
whole life:

Physically, Mentally, Spiritually

Wholeness

The Jewish theologians at the time of our Lord, did not easily distinguish body and spirit
as we do today: rather they saw a person as a unity - a oneness. These theologians at
the time of our Lord would find it difficult to understand our modern phrase "saving a
soul"; rather, God's salvation affected the whole person. With this background in mind,
we can understand that when our Lord talks of abundant life, He is referring to the
whole person.
This eternal life that our Lord offers is not to be misunderstood in terms of quantity,
but rather quality. A new quality of life beyond the grave.

Summary

The gospel then is directed at the whole person and healing is an instrument of our Lord to
bring about a better quality of life.

HEALING IN THE EARLY CHURCH

The early church was powerfully used in the healing ministry. Read:

Acts 3 v 1- 10 Peter and John

Acts 14 v 8-10 Paul and Barnabas

1. "But Peter said .......................................................................................................

........................................................................... and praising God." (Acts 3 v 6-8)

2. "Now at Lystra .......................................................................................................

................................................................... and walked" (Acts 14 v 8-10)

As the Apostles were given the Holy Spirit they were empowered to "go out" to preach and
heal in the name of Jesus. Read:

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Acts 5 v12-16 Signs and Wonders

Please write out verses 12,14 and 16

✓ 12

✓ 14 .............................................................................................................................

✓ 16 .............................................................................................................................

We see the Gospel and healing going together in the early church as many believers were
added to the Lord as a result of both preaching and the sings and wonders done among the
people by the hands of the Apostles.

(Also read 1 Corinthians 2 v 1-5) Notice:

a, Paul's humility;
b. God's power at work through his ministry)

CHURCH TODAY
Medical Profession

As time has passed, the role of the Church in the healing ministry has been reduced and
more and more healing has passed on to the medical profession. Medical science, under the
inspiration and guidance of God's Holy Spirit, achieves seemingly miraculous cures and
healing, and, as a result, the Church has appeared more and more reluctant to assume her
once powerful role in the healing ministry. COULD THERE STILL BE A PLACE FOR DIRECT
CHRISTIAN HEALING MINISTRY ALONGSIDE AND COMPLEMENTARY TO THE WORK
God IS DOING THROUGH THE MEDICAL PROFESSION? (If the student belongs to a
study group, please discuss this question).

An Effective Ministry : Some Difficulties

The Church has always been ready to pray for the sick, but less enthusiastic to go out and
to heal the sick. The two are not the same!

It is interesting that our Lord never seems to say "Pray for the Sick". Yes - obviously
scripture teaches that we are to do this too - Paul continuously exhorts prayer for one
another and asks for prayer for himself. Read Eph'esians 6 v 10 and 17 v 10-18, Philippians 4
v 6-7 and 1 Thessalonians 5 v 16-18. Nevertheless our Lord rather says, "Heal the sick", and
this is different from simply having prayer lists for the sick. (Again, if you belong to a
study group, discuss this section).
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 Perhaps there has been a faith problem in this area in the Church, linked with the sensitive
question
"What happens if no healing takes place?"

(This question is discussed quite fully later on. We need to face up to the issue of "Why no
healing seems to happen" from the start. When Jesus ministered, and the apostles
ministered, healing did happen. Why the difference?)

From time to time, as new life has come into the Church, evangelism and healing have been
highlighted. In more recent years people have moved out of the traditional church into
newly formed Christian groups.. These groups often strongly emphasizes what is known as
"the prosperity gospel" - they teach that God wants all His followers to have TOTAL
WEALTH and TOTAL HEALTH.

Unfortunately, although there have been many miraculous healings, there has also been
much hurt for those who have not been healed. These unfortunate people are being left
with a tremendous feeling of guilt as it is implied in the teaching given that, if there is not
healing -
"There must be some unconfessed sin in your life."

Is this good news?

It is interesting that in her testimony Joni Ericson, a paraplegic who was not outwardly
healed, mentions that her expectancy of Christianity was "Total Wealth and Total Health" -
whereas in fact, her blessings from the Lord lay not in obtaining what she wanted from God,
but rather what God, in His infinite love, wanted from her and which, at this point, did not
include physical healing. Healing and blessing came - but not in the form she expected, and
. she has a vibrant testimony of God's love to share out of her experience of suffering and
love.

How important it is to have a proper understanding of the Healing Ministry, and a proper
humility before God as we heal in His Name. This will go hand in hand with perfect faith and
trust in His overwhelming love for us, demonstrated so perfectly in Christ.

Task to be completed before you do the next lesson:

1. Read through all the Biblical passages referred to in both the "BACKGROUND" and
LESSON ONE, and then choose 2 which you will try to learn off by heart, and 2 others
which you will learn to find easily in your Bible, for use in counselling or teaching.
2. Try to find out what forms of healing ministry are taking place in your parish and/or
other local churches. Are healing services being held? DO prayer groups who pray for
the sick exist? If possible attend a healing service, or join a prayer group for the sick,
if you do not already belong. Ask questions about healing ministry of anyone you meet
who has some experience and training in this field. Read anything you can find on the
subject.
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 2. THE NATURE OF GOD'S HEALING MINISTRY

When we talk of the healing ministry of God, there are four clearly defined areas that need
to be mentioned;

1. Healing ministry through the Church which includes

1.1 The laying on of hands

Luke 13 v 10-13

1.2 The prayer of faith

James 5 v 15

1.3 in some cases

Anointing the oil
James 5 v 14

Such healing is frequently associated with the FORGIVENESS of SIN - sin often
"Paralyses" us, and shuts us off from a sense of God's love, and has to be dealt with
as part of God's healing ministry - read Mark 2 v 1-12, Luke 1 v 68 - 69 and 76 - 77;
Psalm 32 v 1 - 5 (notice how healing came when the psalmist confessed his sins to
God!); James 5 v16

IN THE FIRST PART OF THIS HANDBOOK WE CONCENTRATE MAINLY

ON THIS AREA OF HEALING, i.e. 1.1, 1.2, 1.3

2. The Medical Profession

Here we can mention that Luke was the beloved physician and not the "out of work"
physician. Jesus Himself used a medical preparation to minister healing.

John 9 v 6

Recently, at a healing seminar, a doctor was heard to say that God has given the world
the medical profession in His love for us because man has neglected the healing ministry
of the church.

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 In James 1 v 17 we read

And so we understand that the medical profession is a good gift from God and an
instrument in His hands for healing suffering humanity.

It is interesting that in James 5 v 14 the word to "anoint" with oil really means smear
with oil. Olive oil is recognized for its medicinal properties and, in this instance, we have
the medical profession and the healing ministry of the Church going hand in hand.

In Ecclesiates 38 v 1-14

"Honour the physician with the honour due to him, according to your need of him, for
the Lord created him; for the healing comes from the most High, and he. will receive .
a gift from the king, The skill of the physician lifts up his head, and in the presence
of great men he is admitted. The Lord created medicines from the earth, and a
sensible man will not despise them, Was not water made sweet with a tree in order
that His power might be known? And He gave skill to men that He might be glorified
in His marvellous works. By them He heals and takes away the pain; the pharmacist
makes of them a compound His works will never be finished; and from him health is
upon the face of the earth.

My son, when you are sick do not be negligent, and pray to the Lord, and he will heal
you. Give up your faults and direct your hands aright, and cleanse your heart from
all sin, Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice, and a memorial portion of fine flour, and
pour oil on your offerings, as much as you can afford. And give the physician his
place for the Lord created him; let him not leave you for there is need of him.
There is a time when success lies in the hand of the physicians, they too will pray to
the Lord that He should grant them success in diagnosis and in healing for the sake
of preserving life."

It is gratifying to learn today that Christian Doctor's Guilds and also Nurses' Guilds are
becoming more and more part of the Medical and Hospital scene, This is an exciting
testimony of God at work in His healing ministry through the medical profession.

3. The Natural Healing Process

Nature teaches us that the body has a natural healing process. If we cut our finger the
wound will heal naturally. A surgeon once said "I bandage the wound, God at work in
nature, heals the wound,"

Abuse of our bodies through bad habits, lack of exercise, poor diets, is a hindrance
to the natural healing process and, of course, abuse to the body contributes
enormously to illness. In theological language, wrong living - SIN, is destructive and
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 it is interesting to note that the Medical Profession is saying that between 60% and
80% of patients in hospital are there because of psychosomatic causes. An
unhealthy mind can result in an unhealthy body.

St. Paul gives us this warning

1 Cor 3 v16 - 17

4. Spiritual Environment

Very often Our Lord uses an environment of Love and Prayer to bring about His healing
process. This is particularly so in the case of mental problems.

A young man lived in a Christian Community surrounded by loving, caring and praying
Christians. His problems were manifold Introversion, Fear and Insecurity, Inferiority
Complex. Very little direct counselling was given to the young man, but the community,
in showing him how they loved him and accepted him, brought about a real healing in only
a few months.

Here then, we see four obvious ways in, which the Lord is exercising His healing ministry
today.

Please complete:-

a.

b.

c.

d.

and very often the Lord combines these different areas of healing to achieve His purpose.
In my family, if there is a pain, we have the prayer of faith and the laying on of hands. If
the pain does not go away, then we use the medical 'profession. Whichever way healing takes
place, it is God healing and to Him belongs the glory

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 3. WHY THE HEALING MINISTRY?

a. God cares for suffering humanity. This care is expressed in the cross reflected in
the words of the Prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah 53 v 5
Suffering humanity

Physical , mental and spiritual healing has been accomplished on the cross.
Whenever a request is made for healing, in the Gospels, Jesus heals.

Matthew 8 v 1-3

.................................................................................. Jesus wants to heal.

Like all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the healing gifts are used to build up the body
of Christ. The gifts of healing are for the common good of the body of Christ as a
whole. As Jesus was a healthy person, so He wants His body, the Church, to be
healthy.

1 Cor 12
The gifts of the Spirit

b. The healing ministry is also used to add numbers to the body i.e. it is evangelical.

Acts 5 v 14

Many signs and wonders were done by the disciples among the people, including the
healing ministry. Refer to Acts 5, as people were healed of their illness, so they
became believers.

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c. The healing ministry is used to demonstrate the living Jesus whom we preach :-

1 Cor 2 v 1-5

A healing today

Two Indians of the Muslim Faith, came to a Christian Healing Service. On being
questioned about their attendance at the service, their reply was that they had
heard of the Christian God Jesus, and that He could heal. One of the Indians was
blind and when hand were laid on her, her sight began to be restored.

The Jesus we had preached during the service was authenticated by the healing
miracle performed.

d. Healing is the fulfillment of prophecy.

Isaiah 53 v 5

The healing ministry continued in the Christian Church points to Jesus as the
promised Messiah.

e. Healing is done to the glory of God.

1 Cor 10 v 31

f. We are healed for service.

Mark 1 v 30 - 31

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 Here we notice that as soon as Peter's mother-in-law was healed, she served our
Lord and His disciples.

Healing and Service

In John 21 v 15 - 17 we notice our Lord healing Peter's disturbed memories, his

memories of the betrayal.

Three times Peter affirms his love for Jesus effectively canceling out his three
denials. What is interesting to note is that immediately the affirmations were
made, our Lord commissions Peter into service

Feed my Lambs
Feed my Sheep

From these two healing ministries of our Lord, we are clearly to understand that
when we are healed, we are healed for His service, whatever the service may be.

When the Church exercises the healing ministry, we must bear in mind why the healing
ministry is given. It is not simply a healing for healings sake, but for the following reasons.
Please list them

a.

c.

e.

f.

A man wanted to be healed of liver damage 'Just so that I can get back to my
drinking"?????

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 4. OUR COMMISSION INTO THE HEALING MINISTRY

Christian healing is not so much a theological problem to be solved, but a command to be

obeyed by all followers of Jesus Christ,

Matthew 10 v 8a

A study of the word HEAL reveals that the word is in the plural, which means that our Lord
commissions all of His disciples to be involved in the healing ministry. We are reminded that
the disciples were also commanded to go out and make Christian disciples - not only
Christians - and further that they had to teach the new disciples all that Jesus had
commanded them.

Matthew 28 v 20
Obedience in Discipleship

Therefore, all Christians, as disciples of the Lord, must be involved in the healing ministry.

It is not always easy to take the first step in the healing ministry, but only as we do so, can
the Lord use us in this way. Remember in Joshua chapter one, the Lord gives Israel only the
land which they take by faith.

"every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you".

A glance at 1 Cor 12 v 96
Gifts of Healing

would suggest that only certain disciples are involved in the healing ministry. This is true in
certain circumstances which we will discuss later, but let us also remember that as
Christians we can all sing to the Lord's glory although some of us sing better, so the Lord
can use us all in the healing ministry, although perhaps some are. used more extensively.

The word HEAL is in the imperative which means it is not c request but a command

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 Imperative
Jesus does not say -

Please go out and heal ...................................

Do me a favour and heal ...............................
Won't you be involved in a healing ministry ...

The word is a Military word - a command - and therefore, as soldiers of Christ we are meant
to obey. The word "heal" is not a request.

Soldiers of Christ

A young Anglican Priest was asked to take part in a healing mission. He was happy to do so
just as long as he did not have to be involved in the healing ministry. He was happy to be a
speaker. Circumstances, however, made it imperative for him to be involved in the healing
ministry and to his great delight and total surprise, the person was healed.

Matthew 10 v 1
Power

The word "authority" in this text includes the dimension of power. The disciples were sent
out as "power-filled" Christians to fulfill their commission. They did not go out, as it were,
empty-handed. Today, this some power is made available through the Holy Spirit of God to
go out in the name of Jesus and do what Jesus commanded the early disciples to do. Those
who are involved in the Christian Healing Ministry today bear witness to this power at work
in the church.

The blind can see

The lame can walk
Hurts are healed ..... indeed Jesus is the "same yesterday, today and tomorrow".

Hebrews 13 v 8 In one instance a lady in an old aged home, had been in a wheelchair for 10
years. The prayer of faith and the laying of hands saw her leave the chair and walk.

It is important to remember that we are not called to success or failure in the ministry.
We are called to obedience. Naturally, we go out in faith and expectancy but the results
are according to God's will.

Every illness to be healed

In accepting our commission we are to remember that healing includes every disease and
every infirmity. An old lady in her early nineties was healed on her death-bed. Every one of
her organs seemed to be going into failure. Again, the prayer of faith and the laying on of
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hands saw a miracle. The old lady recovered and years later received a telegram from the
State President on her 100th birthday.

The terminally ill

In the event of encountering a terminally ill patient (medically speaking) it is not enough for
Christians simply to say "shame" and not expect a miraculous healing. We remember that,
with God nothing is impossible. A wise person once said that "our extremity is God's
opportunity". Therefore we minister to all diseases and every infirmity.

death
Colin Urquhart makes the important point that where death will result from an illness, God
gives one a word of knowledge in these situations, the prayer of release is appropriate. We
are reminded that even those people whom Jesus healed, died. As Christian, we accept that
death is the ultimate healing.

Phillippians 1 v 21 "For me to live in

Christ and to die is gain"

The word HEAL then teaches us several truths about our commission as disciples and the
healing ministry.

a Plural means .....

b "Imperative" means

c The word "Authority" includes the dimension of

d The healing ministry is not restricted to certain types of illness, -

comment ............................................................................................................

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 5. OBEDIENCE AND OUR AUTHORITY TO HEAL

We as Christians have the authority to heal:

Matthew 10 v 1

This authority was given to all our Lord's disciples and is given to us; His modern day
disciples - Matthew 28 v 19

The word AUTHORITY in Matthew 10 v 1 includes the following three dimensions:

a. Ambassadorial - 2 Cor 5 v 20
b. Unimpeded - no limits to the power or to the healing
Matthew 10 v 1 "... every disease and every infirmity..."
Luke 10 v 17 "... "Lord even the demons are subject to us in your name..."
c. Godly Power - God's direct intervention. God has the power over this creation
because He is the creator.

Acts 3 reflects these dimensions with the healing of the cripple:

i. The name of Jesus - Ambassadorial

ii. Lame from birth - Unimpeded
iii. His feet and ankles were made strong - Godly Power

Our Lord Jesus gives us this authority, as His disciples, because it is His authority to give -
Matthew 28 v 18 - 20 "all authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to me".

With disobedience we can lose this authority.

In Genesis Chapter one and following:

Adam and Eve, before the fall, lived in a Paradise. There was rain, there were crops, there
was fruit of the Earth. Perfect health, peace and joy. No sickness, pain, suffering or death
" and God saw that it was good"....

However, Romans 6 v 23 "wages of sin is death" and Genesis shows not only death in a
spiritual sense.

The disobedience of Adam and Eve caused them to be moved out of God's presence thereby
losing God's authority, in their own lives, and thereby losing God's authority they had over
nature.

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Through disobedience Adam and Eve were no longer "over" nature but in a sense "under"
nature and this is seen by - drought, famine, pain, sickness, suffering and ultimately death!
A picture of a disobedient world of today

Satan is very powerful - Jude v 9_, yet while Adam and Eve were under the authority of
God, he, Satan, had no power' over them, he could only seduce them. The way back to God
and healing prevented - Gen. 3 v 24 " ...a flaming sword was placed in the garden of Eden..."
However, for the Christian, our hope is in Christ, for as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all
be made alive" 1 Cor 15 v 22.

If healing is contingent on anything human it is contingent on our obedience.

The Christian healing ministry is not so much a theological problem to be solved, but a
commandment to be followed!
1. Matthew 10 v 8 "Heal the sick."
2. Acts 5 v 32 The Holy Spirit is given to those who are obedient.
3. James 5 v 16 "The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effect"
4. Matthew 10 v 8 Heal := plural and imperative.

Page 143 of Ken Blue's book "Authority to Heal", give a beautiful example of healing and
obedience. Compare also Luke 10 v 1-9 and verse 17. Here we see obedience, power,
authority and joy.

Leslie Weatherhead says :-

"It may well be that the whole fellowship of the Church needs to be raised to a
higher spiritual level today before individual healers in it can repeat the healing
activities of the Son of God, and that until groups within the Church today are
willing to pass through the some kind of discipline, the healing ministry of the
Church will be restricted".

OUR LORE) JESUS

Jesus was totally obedient Matthew 26 v 39 "Thy will be done".

Jesus was therefore totally under the authority of our Heavenly Father, so therefore, he
exercised this authority. The obedience of Jesus had the exact opposite effect of the
disobedience of Adam and Eve

Nature obeyed Jesus -

Feeds 5 000 from five loaves and two fishes

Storm is stilled
Water becomes wine
Walks on water

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Blind see, deaf hear, lame walk, dumb speak and even the dead are raised.

Mark 1 v 29 - 45 is a good reference to the authority of Jesus.

On every occasion God backs the authority of Jesus because of His obedience.

Our Lord hands on His authority to us His disciples:

Matthew 10v1; Luke 9 v 1- 2; Luke 10 v 19.

This authority, with its three dimensions, pivots around obedience:

a. Peter and John were obedient they preached and healed, and so healing took place
(Acts 3)
b. The 70 were obedient to their commission and our Lord responds ... "I have given you
authority..." Luke 10 v 17 - 19.

Ken Blue says that Jesus is not impotent in the face of suffering humanity. This is true. He
will continue this ministry through us, His Body, The Church. All He wants from us is our
obedience.

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 6. MINISTRY TO CAUSES RATHER THAN SYMPTOMS

IDENTIFY CAUSE OF SICKNESS

In the healing of Blind Bartimaeus, Mark 10 v 46 ff, Jesus asks the question "What do you
want me to do for you?". Bartimaeus was asked to identify his need.

When identifying our need for healing, care must be taken to focus on the cause of the
illness, rather than on the symptom. Symptoms of illness flow out of causes. As an
example, it is of little use squeezing out the pus of a boil or to pop a boil, another boil will
simple start up. What is causing the boil in ones body, is more pertinent. This of course
could be an impurity in the blood stream combined with stress and a whole lot of
contributory factors.

Ministry to the cause of an illness naturally flows out to Ministry to the whole person. A
physical illness caused by the stress of guilt may well result in a Spiritual Healing when
ministering to the cause.

THREE CAUSES OF ILLNESS WHETHER :- Mental, Physical, Spiritual

1. SIN - Matthew 9 v 2 - 8

A modern striking example - AIDS

A particular person was healed from a skin affliction after confessing - hate, hurt
and resentment.
Psalm 38 shows a very close link between sin and sickness
A statistic shows that denomination wise, the lowest percentage of mental patients
are Roman Catholic - the confessional is extremely therapeutic.
Guilt causes depression
Depression causes Anxiety
Anxiety causes Tension
Tension causes Stress
Stress works on the Central Nervous system which has an adverse effect on -
The Digestive system
The Respiratory System
The Cardiac System
The Muscular System.

A Radiologist remarked that, to a degree we all have cancer, but we also have
immunity.

Stress breaks down our immunity.

The Ministry for sin is repentance and accepting forgiveness.

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 The three mentioned causes of illness may well be affected by :-
a. Evil - Acts 10 v 38, any involvement with the occult may precipitate evil.
Notice beut 18 v 10 ff
b. Environment - Pollution, Ghettos, High-rise buildings

************************

In certain ministries prayer may well be needed simultaneously for repentance - healing of
memories - physical healing and even on occasion - deliverance.

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 7. HOLY SPIRIT POWER AND HIS GIFTS

In 1 Cor 12 Paul lists different gifts of the Spirit and includes the gifts of healing

(List these gifts as they appear)

Now we must clearly understand that the gifts and the Giver of the gifts, the Holy Spirit,
cannot be separated.

The gifts of healing are not separate entities in themselves, as in the case of my gift to you,
of say, a wrist-watch. The watch can operate independently of the giver but the gifts of
healing cannot operate independently of the giver. It is the Holy Spirit who is healing.
McNutt, the author, points out in his book "Healing" that, in terms of 1 Cor 12, some folk are
specially gifted in the healing ministry although all of us have the potential in Christ to
exercise a healing ministry. We can all sing but some sing better. And so, as we embark on
a healing ministry, we pray for the giver of the gifts in our lives and, as the giver Jesus, live
in us and as we live in Him, so come the gifts. Without the Holy Spirit of Jesus in our lives
there can be no gifts and so let our priority be to receive the Giver and then He will give
the appropriate gifts to be used for the building up of the Kingdom of Heaven in our heart
at the appropriate time.

To illustrate this point we notice, in Acts 2, that after the Holy Spirit's blessing was
received then "many miracles and wonders were done through the apostles which caused
everyone to be filled with awe". Acts 2 v 43.

The apostles had received the Holy Spirit in their lives, not individual gifts, and the Holy
Spirit then proceeded to bestow His gifts of miracles and wonders through the apostles.

Again, in Acts 3. that is directly after Pentecost, a lame man is healed.

Acts 3 v 1- 10 Peter and

John and gifts of healing

" One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the
afternoon. Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called
Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked
straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" So the man gave them his
attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not
have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking
him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became
25
strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple
courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and
praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple
gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had
happened to him. While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were
astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.

When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do
you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?"

Now in these verse we notice that the lame man expected something from Peter and John,
but Peter says "I have nothing to give you Now the understanding is that Peter had no
money to give but, at the same time, Peter understood that he had nothing in himself to
give, no specific gifts of healing to impart, so he calls upon Jesus, the Spirit of Jesus within
himself to heal the lame man. The man is healed through Jesus graciously using Peter' as His
instrument.

In the dialogue with the Jews that follows, Peter confirms that the healing had nothing to
do with him at all, or of any healing gifts he had - it was simply the indwelling Holy Spirit in
Peter's life that cured the man.

Listen to Peter, Acts 3 v 12

"Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power
or godliness we had made this man walk?"

And so it is better to pray for the Giver of the gifts the HOLY SPIRIT than for the gifts
because with the Giver comes his gifts.

It is important that all of us are available to the Holy Spirit in order that He may use any of
His gifts at anytime, in any circumstance or situation. Although Paul quite specifically
mentions that different gifts are for different people, the situation may arise where only
one Christian is available to minister God's ministry in a particular need

For example:-

"In a small town one shop carries groceries, milk, meat, vegetables, etc. but in a larger town
it will be necessary to have different shops each carrying some specific goods because of
the need of a larger number of people"

So it is in the healing ministry that, among a larger number of Christians, a larger number
would need to have the gifts but if there was only one Christian then the Christian would
need to have all the gifts.

One of the texts in the Bible that perplexes many is John 14 v 12

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 "Truly, truly,. I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do;
and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father."

Now, how can we do greater works than Jesus? Can we raise the dead? Can we give sight to
the blind? Can we restore hearing to the deaf? Of course we can do none of these things

What does Jesus mean? Well, the answer is quite simple! The same Holy Spirit that was
given to Jesus, that empowered Jesus to heal, is given to us today.

In Luke 3 v 21 - 22 we read of Jesus at His baptism. Jesus was first empowered by the
Holy Spirit and in verse 23 we read "Jesus began His work" and in Luke 4, we read "Jesus
returned from Jordan full of the Holy Spirit " and again verse 18 of the same chapter we
read the works of Jesus Himself.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to preach the good news to
the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives, the recovery of sight
to the blind".

This is the good news for us today, that, as Jesus was anointed by the Holy Sprit to heal
the sick, so the self same Spirit anoints us and operates through and in us.

"Greater works can be done".

And now, let's quickly be reminded that our authority as a Church to heal or do greater
works rests not in ourselves or our denomination but in the name of Jesus, We are always
aware of this because the Holy Spirit witnesses to Jesus.

John 15 v 26 - 27

Earlier on in these lectures, mention was made that , in the healing ministry, we are the
bottles and Jesus is the medicine. If we are the medicine bottles how do we get the
medicine or, in other words, have we got the Sprit of Jesus?
Possessed by the Holy Spirit

First of all, let us assume that if we are calling Jesus "Lord" and really mean it, we have the
Spirit because we read in 1 Cor 12 v 3

In other words, we have opened our hearts to Jesus - He has come in, We have the Spirit,
or the medicine. Maybe the Holy Spirit has never been powerfully active in our lives simply
27
 10. BASIS FOR HEALING FROM SCRIPTURE

1. GOD'S UNCHANGING NATURE

In Exodus 15 v 25

The Jews had a need, God healed the need. God made the water sweet. In scripture
the three very often speaks to us of the cross. In Scripture the cross is referred to as
a tree.

1 Peter 2 v 24

As all Christian healing begins at the cross Isaiah 53 v 4 - 5

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him
stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our
transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace
was upon him, and by his wounds we are heated."

We see in this reference to Isaiah a vision of God ministering to suffering humanity in

the Old Testament and continuing the ministry in the Cross of Christ, bearing in mind,
of course, that the Greek word for salvation ad healing - SOZO is often used for both
ministries.

In Exodus 15 v 26 we read:-

The Hebrew word "healer" used in this text is used in modern Hebrew as "Doctor" and
we see that we have a God who has an unchanging nature, a God who has cared for and
healed suffering humanity from the beginning. In Malachi 3 v 6 we read

"For I, the Lord, do not change"

And in Hebrew 13 v 8 we read of Jesus

" Who is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow"

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 As we throw the cross of Jesus into the bitter waters of illness, we expect healing.

2. EARTHLY MINISTRY OF JESUS

Matthew 4 v 23 - 24

In the inspired summary of the earthly ministry of Jesus our Lord's ministry . was a
DOING ministry, not only a preaching but healing as well. Luke expresses this activity
as well in Acts 1 v 1.

The healing ministry then, given to the church, the body of Christ, is not so much a
theological problem to be solved but a commission to be obeyed. James tell us not only
to be hearers of the word, but DOERS of the word as well.

3. ATONEMENT OF JESUS

Isaiah 53 v 4 - 5

It is interesting here, that the words GRIEF'S and SORROWS have the following
meaning in modern Hebrew:
GRIEF'S sickness
SORROW - pains

In Matthew 8 v 16 - 17 we read of Isaiah's prophecy being fulfilled in our Lord Jesus

and His ministry.

In 1 Peter 2 v 24 we rend of the atoning love of Jesus, quoting from the prophet Isaiah.

We note with interest the reference to a tree. The Greek word for "Healed" is from
the same stem from which the Greek noun "Doctor" is derived.

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 12 A COSTLY MINISTRY

In accepting our commission to preach the gospel and heal the sick, we appreciate that the
healing ministry is costly.

When we read Mark 5 v 24 34 (please read these verses), we learn about our Lord healing
a woman with an issue of blood. We also learn that it cost Jesus something to heal this
woman.

Verse 30 reads:

Tears and pain, and despair

Power had gone forth from Jesus. It cost Jesus to heal. It will cost us something to be
involved in the healing ministry. There is time and there is inconvenience. There is
becoming involved with suffering humanity and there is the need for follow-up ministry as
we find in the story of the good Samaritan. One finds that the work can be exhausting. As
we read the Gospels we find that Jesus draws aside from the crowds from time to time and,
no doubt, one of the reasons was to replenish his strength in order to continue the healing
ministry.

The healing ministry is empathetic rather than sympathetic and one must take care not to
immerse oneself too fully with individual care needs thereby limiting oneself at times when
other needs present themselves.

The source of our strength is the Lord

Our Strength

Philippians 4 v 13

Detail ways in which the healing ministry is costly.

a

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48
 13 HEALING IS THE WILL OF GOD

"A number of years ago I was walking across a busy intersection when I heard the scream of
an auto's breaks behind me. Swinging around I turned in time to see a large truck strike a
little boy when he darted into the street. A crowd quickly gathered but it was immediately
apparent that the little boy was dead. As his sobbing mother threw herself across his body
I heard someone trying to comfort her, "Mary, don't blame yourself, it was God's will". I did
not know the people but it was with difficulty that I restrained myself from challenging
that terrible blasphemy, "God's will" to crunch the life out of a little child and snatch him
from his Mother and Father? After thousands of years of religious ecstasy and
revelation, of study and contemplation, is that the best answer to give?"

John 10 v 10
IGNORANCE

THE WORD "Abundant" means fullness, exceeding, much more.

Abundant Life

And so it is apparent that God does not intend sickness, anxiety or depression.

The gospel message is one of salvation and healing in the name and power of Jesus. So much
of the power in our Lord's ministry was demonstrated in the healing of the sick. Jesus was
doing the will of His Father.

Hebrews 10 v 7 and 9a

... and in the light of these verses we can gladly accept that it is God's will to heal. We are
reminded that God intended us to be made in His image.

Gen. 1 v 26

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... and this surely does not include illness. St, Paul tell us that we are the body of Christ. 1
Cor 12 v 27and as the earthly body of Jesus was never ill, it is hardly likely the our Lord
wants His body, the church, to suffer illness. Never do we hear of Jesus being sick. Jesus
came into contact with all manner of disease - fevers, leprosy, etc. He Himself did not
contract the illness. He healed the illness.

In Matthew's Gospel, 8 v 1 - 4 Jesus heals illness - he

does not encourage illness

We read of the healing of the leper. Jesus says "I will" to the leper's request. Jesus never
questions whether it was the will of God to heal - this is taken for granted. Nowhere in any
of the gospels do we read that Jesus refused to heal someone on the grounds that it was
God's will for them to be ill.

Illness a cress - No!

Many people, mistakenly, accept illness in their lives as a burden or a cross that they have to
bear from the Lord. First of all, this is wrong thinking because a cross is no so much a
burden, but rather a death.

Romans 6 v 6 - 8

Paul is talking about our sinful nature dying on the Cross. Secondly, when we suffer we are
called to suffer only for the sake of the gospel.

1 Peter 4 v 13

Very often God allows illness in our lives in order that He can use the illness to talk to us
and draw us nearer to Himself as we realise our need for Him.
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 Romans 8 v 28 All things work together for good to
those who love the Lord

It is a mistake to say "God has brought this illness into my life -" rather we should say
"What is God saying to me in this illness"?

Very often, when we are prepared to hear God's voice in an adverse situation and respond,
then healing comes.

How often one hears testimonies of a true conversion arising out of a situation where a
person had a real need, e.g. sickness.

We notice in the cross God taking suffering and transforming the suffering into victory.
"It has been achieved" Jesus cries. John 19 v 30
Likewise, if we allow Him, God transforms our sickness into His healing for us.

Death

While understanding that illness is never the will of God, inevitably all must die. Even people
whom Jesus healed died in the end.

For the Christian, death is the ultimate victory: God's nearer presence; and there is healing
in dying. When we look at nature we see, for example, in the plum, that his fruit falls from
the tree at its ripest and best. Death can be a natural process and need not necessarily be
accompanied by pain and suffering. In one instance, a lady who was ill from cancer and
suffering from the disease, was prayed for. The testimony of her son was that the lady was
transformed to almost total youthfulness just before her death. She was healed in dying
and, of course, the cancer dies with the body.

In terms of the Christian understanding of death, death is a transfer on promotion from

Gods Kingdom on earth, into God's Kingdom in Heaven.

Is sickness God's will? Discuss this question, providing reasons for your answer.

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 14 HEALING AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD

St. Augustine equates the church with the Kingdom of heaven, (not everybody in the church
is a Christian unfortunately). In today's social gospel climate, the Kingdom of heaven means
a more righteous society.

Both of these understandings are not the original meaning of the Kingdom of heaven, rather
they are extensions of the real meaning. Kingdom - Ba.silea = rule of kingship rather than
kingdom. The rule of Christ in a life.

Healing of the whole person requires the two dimensions of the .cross, The vertical which
equals a right relationship with Father, through the Son and by the power of the Holy
Spirit. The horizontal expressing the understanding for social justice and caring; a right
relationship with our neighbour. Healing, then, in relation to the kingdom of heaven means
entering the kingdom through Jesus resulting in a right relationship with God and our
neighbour, i.e. the two great commandments.

The story of Adam and Eve points out that through sin, man had to leave the Garden of
Eden, or the kingdom of God. By forgiveness of sin, Jesus reverses the effect of sin and
returns man to God's kingdom. Sickness, a by-product of sin, is healed as a consequence of a
return to God's Kingdom, (not always physically however), as a sign that God's kingdom has
come into our lives. Therefore, Jesus commissions His disciples, Matthew 10 v 7 - 8, to
preach the gospel and heal the sick.

Healing is clearly a sign that God is reigning and that He intends to present Himself
victorious over all the powers of evil and illness through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 10 v 38

We also notice that, in the pattern of the ministry of Jesus, He calls for repentance,,

Mark 1 v 14 - 15

...because the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Jesus then calls His disciples and immediately
begins a healing ministry.

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Again, we notice in Matthew 10 v 7 - 8

The kingdom of heaven is linked with physical, mental and spiritual healing.

If the kingdom of heaven is ot hand, that means that we can hold it through repentance and
faith in Jesus. As members of that kingdom, our Lord Jesus brings us His healing ministry.
It is obvious that our Lord intends all of us to be healthy citizens. There are, of course
occasions when our Lord allows illness in our lives and this is discussed in lecture 6.

Mark 10 v 46 - 52 The cure of Bartimaeus, (please read

Jesus is seen as the Messiah in this story : the rule of God over all evil has begun. Here is
even greater good news than the curing of one blind man.

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 15. JESUS HEALS IN bIFFERENT WAYS

In the healing ministry one experiences Our Lord healing in different ways.

1. Instantaneous. Healing takes place immediately.

2. Time delay. Healing takes place some time after prayer.
3. Second touch.

Mark 8 V 22 - 25

Here Jesus repeats,His ministry

The type of healing that takes place most frequently. After the prayer of faith and laying
on of hands an improvement takes place. Francis McNutt, in his book "HEALING" says, "the
most important thing I have learned in the past few years about praying for healing is that
usually people are not completely healed by prayer, but they are improved. This, of course
we can understand because we usually take several doses of medicine for an illness and
gradually we improve."

Included in second touch healing is "soaking prayer". In this type of prayer, a person, or a
group, or a community prays regularly for a healing. St. Paul often used "soaking prayer" and
advises us to do the same. We read in 1 Thes 5 v 17 "Pray constantly". Soaking prayer must
be positive. Merlin Carothers advocates "Soaking praise" and here Romans 8 v 28 is
relevant.

Jan Christoph Blumhardt, a great Christian authority on healing, mentions one of the
possible reasons for "Second touch" healing. His understanding is that Our Lord heals over
a period of time, in that our illness is a sort of alarm clock to reminds us of our constant
need to turn our eyes to our Lord. When this need is firmly established in our minds, then
complete healing takes place.

Repeat ministry

There is the obvious danger that if healing does take place instantly, like the nine lepers, we
shall simply forget about our Lord.

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I quote Blumhardt:

"Should somebody want to be healed in body without receiving at the same time, or
even before, the forgiveness of sins, he would not receive so much, even though he
would be well. It would rather be a harm to him because he would no longer have an
alarm clock, so to speak, because just that which should remind him of his inward
need, is now taken away."

MEDICINE: Many Christian folk are under the mistaken belief that to call a doctor for an
illness displays a lock of faith. There was an instance where a Christian with a healing
ministry told a particular sufferer to throw away her insulin for her diabetic condition,
because, Jesus had healed her. Throwing away her medicine would be an act of faith. This,
in fact, was an act of foolishness because, as a result of throwing away the medicine, she
went into a coma. Jesus works through medicine just as He works through faith. In fact,
the medical profession is simply an instrument in the hands of our Lord for healing. How
many doctors and surgeons have acknowledged this and have asked for their hands to be
blessed as they continue our Lord's healing ministry. No doctor can ever claim to heal the
body, he simply encourages a healing process that is already there, built in by God Almighty
Himself. The surgeon many revive a faulty piece of bodily equipment but, again, drugs are
used to encourage the healing process that is latently built into the body, or to compensate
for the loss. It is, in every instance, that our Lord, working through nature, causes the
healing process.

Medical Profession

From scripture we must realise that the medical profession is an instrument in our Lord's
hands for healing because, was not Luke a physician? In the healing ministry in John 9 v 6
did not Jesus himself use a basic preparation of ointment? Prayers and where possible the
laying on of hands, we believe, comes first and if obvious healing does not take place, then,
surely the Lord has chosen to use the medical profession.

A young lady was not healed of an asthmatic condition instantly through prayer and the
laying on of hands. However, in hospital she was placed in a bed next to an unbeliever and
led that person to Jesus. How mighty are God's ways. God had deliberately chosen the
Medical Profession.

REMISSION: Most prominent theologians, involved in the healing ministry today, are
always anxious that a miraculous healing be authenticated. This is usually accomplished by
reference to the Medical profession or a time factor when no recurrence of the illness
occurs. This is important, in order that the person concerned may not be misled and claim a
healing which has not happened. Very often, in a highly charged emotional atmosphere, a
healing seems to take place but, perhaps, after an hour or two the problem returns.

55
 Return of an illness

Medical science has also pointed out that there is a natural remission of an illness for a
period of time but, sooner or later the illness re-occurs.

In this way it is possible to avoid hurt and confusion. "I though God had healed me" with,
probably a damaging effect of the person's faith. We thank God for a remission of illness
that He is at work through the natural healing process and if the illness re-occurs, we can
still seek God and His purpose that is being worked out in the illness.

NOTE WELL! We don't thank God for the illness - He is our healer. We thank God that, in
the illness situation, His purposes are being worked out,

NO HEALING; When no apparent healing takes place when we pray, we have the assurance
that there is always a blessing. A lame man in a wheel chair was not restored to mobility
after prayer, but he replied "Who worries about my legs - I found Jesus after that prayer."

POSSIBLE REASONS FOR NON-HEALING (See Lecture 9 paragraph 7)

1. LACK OF FAITH Matthew 17 v 14 - 20 (read these verses)

Kathryn Khulman, in her later ministry, had many more healings. Remember we have faith in
Jesus - not in our faith.

2. REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING: McNutt in his book "HEALING" says "Physical healing

is not in itself the highest value in the world. At times God uses sickness for a higher
purpose. There has been a long history of saints whom God called to suffer redemptively in
union with the suffering of Jesus on the cross".

We are reminded that, in 1969, when Agnes Sanford was visiting the trappist Monastery in
Duduque, Iowa to give some lectures on healing to the Trappists. It was then that an
epidemic of Hong Kong Flu struck the monks down. On the second day of the seminar' Agnes,
herself, the renowned expert on healing, came down with the flu and had to be taken to the
Franciscan Sister's Hospital. But a higher purpose seems to be served by this as it gave
Agnes an opportunity to talk to many sisters and nurses. As a result, she was asked to give
a workshop to the nursing staff and, in this way, influenced a congregation prominent in
nursing. St. Paul recognizes the higher purpose that sickness sometimes serves when he
says

"Even at the beginning, when that illness gave me the opportunity to preach the
Good News to you, you never showed the least sign of being revolted or disgusted by
my disease that was such a trial to me". (Gal 4 v 13 - 14)

"Suffering in joy is redemptive". Helen Keller

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3. SIN: We consider the healing of the whole person and, in this consideration, we see
the healing of the body which, in the Christian ministry is associated with the forgiveness
of sin. We see this particularly in Matthew 9 v 1 - 8, Mc Nutt relates an incident when
healing could not take place without repentance.

"Once on retreat we prayed for the healing of a sister suffering a truly destructive
illness but nothing happened. The whole group remained in prayer, -Filled with an
expectancy that something should happen. Then someone sensed that the disease
was hooked up with a real resentment of authority and a number of angry
relationships. When this was brought up, the sister concurred that she felt this was
truly the case; she asked for forgiveness for her rancor. Immediately, the healing
began to take effect'.

4 NOT PRAYING SPECIFICALLY. Of course, God does answer general prayer but
very often there is a deeper cause for an illness that God wishes the person to be aware of.
Alcoholism - unhappy marriage - broken relationships with God. Sometimes we only pray for
the symptoms of an illness and not the cause. It is no good cleaning the pus out of a boil -
the root must be removed.

5. REFUSING MEDICATION

6. BODILY ABUSE: We are not sure that our Lord will always heal someone of say,
Emphysema, if that person continues to smoke: Will God heal the diabetic if they continue
to use alcohol against medical advice? Perhaps God wants us to dome exercise before he
heals a heart complaint. A natural means of preserving health is a right diet.

7. MIND ABUSE: Perhaps God won't just simply heal our nervous tensions and
headaches until we have learnt to trust Him and stop worrying.

8. A DIFFERENT PERSON TO BE USED: Mc Nutt points our that , on occasions, a

different person is to be used for the healing ministry. It may well be that God wants to
draw that different person into the ministry. We are only part of a larger body.

9. ENVIRONMENT: Obviously, God wants us to live in a Christ centered community of

love. Often this is not the case and, in fact, so often we find ourselves in a community
thriving on the world, the flesh and the devil. We find that even in the church community
there are those who will have nothing to do with the healing ministry and those who do not
believe in miracles.

We are reminded in Matthew 13 v 58

"And Jesus did not do mighty works there, because of their unbelief".

Healing may not even take place in a home environment because of hatred in the home.

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10. NOT WANTING TO BE HEALED: Very often people use their illness as a crutch
for sympathy or attention. Maybe the cripple at the pool (John 5 read this incident) and his
illness was his security and so Jesus asks him "Do you want to be healed?" The truth is that
there is no disease incurable by God but there are people who are incurable.

11. POSITIVE/NEGATIVE THINKING: It is interesting to note that, in the mission

hospital situation, in many instances black patients who come for treatment will not accept
oral medication for an illness but insist on an injection. In their minds they are convinced
that the injection will bring healing and very often does.

There is an element of positive thinking in this treatment and, in fact, positive thinking has
a beneficial effect in the natural healing process.

One often sees that a negative approach to an illness can introduce symptoms of a
psychosomatic illness. It has been noted that someone without a fever was persuaded that
a fever was present and because of a negative attitude this person was convinced of a fever
and a fever resulted.

For the Christian, positive thinking is obviously linked with faith and in all aspects of
Christian life, positive thinking should be a characteristic.

After examining some of the causes why healing does not take place, we must admit we do
not have all the answers. When all the circumstances appear to be right and healing does
not take place, with Kathryn Khulman, we simply say "WE DO NOT KNOW".

"All things work together for good to those who love the Lord."

Romans 8 v 28

And we await upon God's wisdom in all simplicity.

Robert L. Wise - in his book

"When there is no miracle" give us this insight:

Janet prayed for a need,

"At the time I felt God was completely ignoring my pleas. But now I see He was
working a plan that was better than anything I could have imagined. Yes, God's
purposes are bigger and better than anything we can ask for in this present moment.
Therefore, in His great love and mercy, He will not settle for the little solutions you
demand in your self centered prayers. Just wait. Even when you can't see any
possibility, believe that His purposes are at work.. Stop looking to yourself. Believe
in what is beyond you".
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Jesus heals in different ways. Discuss this statement.

Name a few reasons why healing may not take place.

If no physical healing takes place in a ministry how do we continue the ministry?

 16. LAYING ON OF HANDS

LAYING ON OF CARING HANDS

As we read the Gospels, it is interesting to notice that is only in caring situations that
miracles happen. In the very first miracle that Jesus performed - John 2 - Jesus cares for
the young bridal couple and so that they may avoid embarrassment, He replenishes the wine
at their wedding reception. In this incident Jesus sets the pattern for miracles and ,
particularly, for healing miracles. Miracles happen in a caring situation.

Jesus cared for blind Bartemaeus and so healing occurred.

Matthew 10

Jesus said to the leper in Matthew 8 v 1 "I want to heal you".

Again, Jesus cared.

Jesus responds to the care of the cripple's friends . Matthew 9

How important then for a Church to be a caring community for care is the very seed-bed
that produces miracles. The fact is that Jesus never performed a miracle for a miracle's
sake. Miracles happened in caring situations. St. Paul says "Make love your aim". 1 Car 14

CLEAN HANDS

At St. Paul's College, Grahamstown, one of the students preached a sermon on "HANDS".
In a nutshell the sermon illustrated that our God-given hands can be used or abused. In the
Old Testament we see hands used and abused.

Gen 3 v6 Hands abused Eve Picks fruit Disobedience

Gen 7 v5 Hands used Noah builds ark Obedience
Gen 4 v8 Hands abused Cain slays Abel Disobedience
Ex 14 v27 Hands used Moses stretches forth his hand Obedience

In the New Testament we see hands used and abused.

Matt 2 v16 Hands abused Herod's soldiers kill all the male children
Acts 3 v 7 Hands used Peter helps a lame man
Acts 7 v 58 Hands abused Stephen is stoned
Acts 8 v 17 Hands used Peter and John lay on hands for receiving the
Holy Spirit

AND 50 the old and new Testaments tell us that hands can be used and abused. Today, in
our lives, hands are used and abused.

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