2.09. Why Many Do Not Receive Healing
CHAPTER 9 WHY MANY DO NOT RECEIVE HEALING "If God still heals the sick today, why are so many good Christian people sick?"
Thousands of sick and suffering people in the world today would love to believe in the teaching of divine healing. It would mean deliverance for them from much suffering and sorrow But they dare not rest their case in the hands of God, and trust Him for deliverance, until this question is answered.
Thousands more, who already believe in the doctrine of divine healing, are asking almost the same question. "others are healed. I know that God does heal today." Why do I not receive healing? Is God a respecter of persons?"
These questions cannot be ignored. God certainly has not ignored them, for we have the answer in the Bible.
"There is no respect of person with God." Romans 2:11.
If Gods promises of healing apply to ANY ONE they apply to EVERY ONE.
"Is ANY 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: and the prayer of faith SHALL RAISE HIM UP; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." James 5:14-16.
It has been explained earlier in this book, that divine healing is not provided nor promised for the enemies of Christ, nor for those who persist in living in sin. It is our purpose here to deal with the reasons that CHRISTIAN PEOPLE fail to receive healing. If you desire to be healed, and are not a Christian, you must first find healing for your soul. Repent of your sins and seek God with your whole heart. When you have repented of your sins, and believe in your heart the lord Jesus (not just some things about him, but believe HIM, trust him, believe what he says in his word) and have confessed him with your mouth, then you will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10.) Then you will be born again by the spirit of God, born into the family of God, and eligible to ask in faith for any of his promised benefits.
If you are a Christian and still have not receive healing, examine your life and your attitudes in the light of Gods word. God has not shown respect of persons in your case, for that is contrary to his divine nature. If you are still sick, there is a reason. God word will reveal it to you, if you will diligently seek his face. When you find the trouble, correct it, and Gods healing touch is yours. His is Gods guarantee, and do cannot lie. The one reason that stands out above all others is lack of faith.
You may say, "But I have faith. I know God is able to heal me. Then why does he not do it?" Do you believe he will heal you, NOW? You say, "I hope he will. I know God does heal today. Ive been to Bro. -----s big meeting, and seen hundreds healed. But when he laid his hands on me I didnt gent healed."
What you have IS NOT FAIHT. You have hope. you hope to be healed. You have KNOWLEDGE. You know God is able to heal, and that He does heal. You believe what you have seen. But you do not have FAITH. Faith is believing what you have not seen, simply because God said it is so. (Hebrews 11:1) If you had faith, you would already y have been healed. A dear sister came to us with a deaf ear, which had been deaf fro many years. She said, "I dont see why I dont get healed. I have as much faith as anyone. I have all the faith in the world.
We carefully explained to her that if she had real living faith to that extent, it would be impossible for her to remain deaf, for real faith works. "Faith without works (faith that doesnt work) is dead. James 2:20. Real faith is guaranteed to bring results for God is faithful that promised. When she recognized the fact that she was lacking in faith, and humbly asked God to forgive her for doubting him and to help her unbelief, immediately her ear was unstopped. This is a thoroughly scriptural approach to God in such a case.
Jesus once said to a man whose faith was weak, "If thou can believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." Mark 9:23. The man replied, with tears, "Lord, I believe; help tho mine unbelief."
Immediately, Jesus first eloped his unbelief. His faith sprang up. He received the faith that God gives. And the thing he desired became not only a possibility, but a reality. His son was delivered from Satans power. An honest confession of doubt, coupled with a sincere desire to learn better how to believe, is far better than a loud profession of faith that does not work. It is hard to deceive yourself in this matter, and IMPOSSIBLE to deceive God.
Real faith is not hoping that God will heal you, nor knowing that he is able to heal you. It is joyful assurance that the work is as good as done because God WHO CANNOT LIE has promised - yes, even guaranteed - to heal YOU!
Many fail to receive healing because, due to erroneous teaching, they have been made to believe that sickness and physical suffering is Gods way of bringing out the best in them, or of developing the fruits of the spirit in their lives. They believe that they must be patient in affliction, an wait until it is Gods time to heal them. That perhaps God is working out patience and long suffering in them. Or perhaps God is chastening them for some unknown sin.
It is true that sin opens the door for sickness to enter, but all God asks is that the sin be confessed and forsaken. The scripture in James 5:14-17 applies particularly to this case. God does not say, "Is any sick among you? Let him patiently wait until God has finished chastening him." Rather, Confess your faults one to another (Now, TODAY!), and pray one for another that ye may be healed." The promise is, "The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up. And if he have committed sins they shall be FORGIVEN HIM."
God is not glorified by the Christian continuing either in sickness or in the sin that caused it, but rather by giving deliverance from both.
Patience and long-suffering are "fruits of the SPIRIT" (Galatians 5:22-23), not "fruits of sickness and suffering." They result directly from yieldedness to the indwelling spirit of God. If in some individuals they may seem to result from sickness, it is rather because the sickness had driven that individual to give more attention to his relationship with the spirit of God that he did when he was well. Any person who has observed sick people will readily agree that in other circumstances the result of sickness is frequently less, rather than more, patience.
If God (who never changes) uses this method of teaching patience and log-suffering, surely at some time in the earthly ministry of Christ, He would have said to someone who cried out to Him for deliverance "Go thy way,.] Remain sick until you have learned patience. Then you may seek me again, and perhaps I will heal you." But never once did He give such an answer. Not once did He command any person who was well to become sick, not any who was sick to remain so.
Both sin and sickness are the works of the devil.
God certainly has not ordained that the fruits of the spirit should be developed by the works of the devil. This is the work of the Spirit! Christ was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.
Some may say, "This may not be Gods time to heal me. I will be faithful in my sickness, and God in his own good time will heal me, should it be his will to do so."
It would be just as well for the sinner to say, "This may not be Gods time to save me. I will be faithful in my sin and disobedience, and if I am one whom God wills to save, surely he will save me in his own good time."
We know that it is the will of God to save everybody, for he is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Nevertheless, none will escape except they repent, for Jesus himself said, "Except ye repent, ye shall ALL likewise perish." The moment the sinner repents, salvation is his. He need not wait and wonder if God will save him, for God has said, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9. This is recognized as sound doctrine among all who call themselves fundamental believers. Yet many of them fail to recognize the fact that the same Bible tells them, "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and BE IN HEALTH, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 1:2.
Health is Gods will for his people, conditioned upon the well-being of the soul.
All Gods promises are conditional. Salvation is conditioned upon repentance. Healing is conditioned upon faith and spiritual health. But when Gods conditions are known and met, HEAVEN GUARANTEES THE ANSWER.
"For ALL the promises of god in him are yea, and in him amen unto the glory of God." 2 Corinthians 1:20.
"For he is faithful that promised." Hebrews 10:23.
Many fail to receive healing because they do not ask definitely for the thing which they desire from God. "Ye have not because ye ask not." James 4:2.
Two blind men were sitting by the wayside, and hearing that Jesus passed by, began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David." truly, they were addressing their plea to the right person, but when their prayer is analyzed, they really had not asked him for ANYTHING! Jesus asked them. "What will ye that I shall do unto you?" Matthew 20:32. "Lord that our eyes may be opened."
Thus their prayer was made definite, and "Immediately their eyes received sight." Verse 34. When you come to God for healing, state your need definitely. Gods promise is, "Whatsoever ye shall ASK in my name, THAT will I do. John 14:13. A man came in the healing line who was deaf in one ear, blind in one eye, and had rheumatism in his knees. As he came, he asked for deliverance for his ear, which had been totally deaf for a number of years. As prayer was offered and Satans power was broken he immediately received his hearing. this so inspired his faith that he had courage to ask healing for his eye. when this prayer also was answered, his faith was strengthened yet further, so that he asked and received deliverance for his crippled knees. There was no real new need in the man, nor any new willingness to heal on Gods part. But as each need was presented definitely, God was true to his word, and DID EXACTLY WHAT WAS ASKED IN JESUS NAME.
Often failure to make a definite request is due to a lack of faith. The beggar who comes to your back door may say, "Lady, please give me something to eat. He is not sure he will get anything.
If he should get something, he doesnt know what it will be. So he makes his request indefinite. But when you go into the store with money in your purse, to buy something to eat, your dont say, "Give me something to eat. You say, "Give me a loaf of bread, and a pound of butter." You give the grocer a very definite list of just the things you want, and the quantity of each. You have no doubt that you will receive the things you ask for.
Just so, the person who comes to God believing that whatsoever he asks he shall receive, will normally ask definitely for the things he desires.
Many times, if we can persuade the person seeking healing to determine in his mind exactly what healing he truly needs and expects to get, and to ask definitely FOR THAT HEALING, the barrier to healing is immediately removed.
Many people believe that it is a sign of meekness of humility to say, after they have prayed, "If it be thy will." This may be a trick of the enemy to keep you from having real faith to be healed. So long as you are not sure it is Gods will to heal you, you cannot ask in faith, for never in the history of answered prayer has anyone persuaded God to do anything contrary to his will! The central secret of answered prayer is praying IN HIS WILL.
Those who feel they should say, "If it be thy will" quote as an example the prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane, when he cried out in agony of soul, "If thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will but thine be done." Luke 22:42. Note that he was not praying for something which God had promised. He was not praying with a desire to change the circumstances. And although this prayer was prayed by the Son of God hims 3lf. IT DID NOT
BRING ABOUT THE CHANGE suggested in the prayer! This was never intended to be a prayer to change things. It was simply the agonizing cry of a struggling soul.
How different was the triumphant prayer at the tomb of Lazarus. "Father, I thank thee that thou hast hear me. And I knew that thou hearest me always...Lazarus, come forth!" John 11:41-43. When we pray for healing, we are praying for that which God has already revealed to be His will. (See chapter 3, "Is it gods will to heal you?") Why, then, should we say, "If it be thy will?
It is right that we should be concerned to know the will of God, and that when we pray, we should pray in accordance with His will.
We read in James 4:13, "Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:...For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that." In this case, God has not promised, nor revealed His will in the matter. But God has promised and revealed his will in regard to the healing of His people Therefore, we need not say, " --- If it be thy will." Rather, let us say, "I thank you, Father, that you have revealed Your will concerning this matter in Your word, and that I know I am asking in your will."
"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" 1 John 5:1-21. The "if" in many prayers not only denotes doubt. It is used as a loophole through which may hope to escape any possible charge of unbelief of unconfessed sin. If healing fails to come, the person who prays thus can always excuse himself by saying, "It just was not Gods will to heal me. He heals others, but although I am blameless, God has shown respect of persons, and chooses not to heal me. In the light of Gods own plain statement that he is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11), such a statement might well be classed as a slander against God, or "charging God foolishly." A lack of understanding of the dealings of God in regard to healing is the cause of many remaining sick. The person who has already set a pattern in his mind which he feels is the only way that God can or will work is in danger of losing confidence or of feeling that his prayer has not been heard or will not be answered, when the answer does not come according to his mental pattern. since healing can only come by faith, it is easy to see the importance of understanding Gods methods of dealing, in order that faith may not be shaken.
Many people have been heard to remark that if God does the healing, it will be instantly complete. The fact that this is merely mans theory, and not Gods constant pattern, can be readily seen from the fact that Christ himself did not always heal in this way. Often, He did heal instantly, and many healings are instant and complete today. But other patterns apparent today were also apparent in the ministry of Christ. A certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum, met Jesus and said to Him, "Come down ere my child dies" Jesus said unto him, "Go thy way. Thy son liveth." John 4:50. According to the words of Jesus, the boy was healed. The work was done. The case was closed, so far as Jesus was concerned. the noblemans servants met him along the road before he reached home, bringing him the glad news, "Thy son liveth." When the father inquired of them the hour when he began to amend, the servant replied, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." Verse 52. Then the father remembered that it was the same hour that Jesus had said, "Thy son liveth."
Note that the boy "began to amend." It would appear that although this boy was truly HEALED, It was not an instant, full restoration to his former health and vigor. Rather, the fever left, and he was on the road to recovery.
Even so today, in many cases, the cause of the disease is driven out, yet some time is required before normal processes of growth or convalescence bring about a state of full and normal well being.
Two dangers are involved in failure to understand this truth.
First, the person may lose confidence in the healing power of God, due to disappointment in failing to be made perfectly whole as he had expected. The loss of confidence opens the door for Satan to return and take possession again of that which had been taken from him (see Matthew 12:43-45), and even that which was at one time to having received a "partial healing," and then in a little while are as bad or worse than they were before. (This is discussed at greater length in Matthew 13:1-58, "How to Keep Your Healing.") Then there is the danger of accepting the partial deliverance as being all that God can or will do in your case, and therefore failing to continue to stand against the devil by faith until the healing is complete. If Satan cannot prevent your healing altogether, he will back up one step, and try to hinder you from receiving ALL that God intended for you to have. Gods plan for healing is COMPLETE HEALING, whether it be instant healing or convalescent type or deliverance If you do not receive instant healing, do not be discouraged, but keep praising God by faith for that which has already been done on your behalf. Not only for the improvement in your condition which you may be able to feel, but especially for the stripes which He bore at the whipping post in Jerusalem to pay the price for YOUR deliverance! And keep right on looking to Jesus until the manifestation of your deliverance is complete. As Jesus entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers stood afar off and "lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them.
God shew your selves unto the priest." Luke 17:13-14.
Jesus did not, there on the spot, tell them they were healed. But He did tell them go to show themselves to the priest, which they knew they had no right to do unless they were healed. As they started to the priest in obedience by faith, doing the thing they could not do unless they were healed, although as yet there was not outward manifestation of their healing. "It came to pass that as they went they were cleansed." (verse 14.) This was not an immediate visible healing, but was a genuine healing by the power of God.
These men took God at His word, and His word did not fail. They acted their faith, while it was yet not seen. As a result, in a very short time they SAW what they had had faith to believe.
If you will do BY FAITH, that which you could not do before, God will meet you. Jesus frequently asked the bedfast to "Take up thy bed and walk." When they did it, they were healed.
Peter said to the man at the beautiful gate of the temple, who had been impotent in his feet from birth, "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Then he took him by the hand and helped him up onto his feet. Immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength, and he not only stood and walked, but ran and leaped. Acts 3:6-7. Many today are receiving deliverances in exactly this same manner. A young lady came in the healing line who had walked only on crutches for four years. As she came, the glow of faith was upon her face. Before the minister could say one word to her she beamingly handed him her crutches. She was fully persuaded by faith that she would need them no longer. Of course, she went away walking without the crutches. God never fails to reward real living faith. Another had come to the same healing line in her wheel chair. After prayer she was commanded to raise and walk, without making one move in an effort to arise, she looked up at the minister and replied, "you know I cant do that." And she couldnt, because she did not believe, However, two night later, as she had been more fully instructed in the promises of God, she did arise fro the chair, walked, ran, and climbed the steps to the platform. This type of healing seems to have been one of the most prominent in the healing ministry of Jesus, and is still in effect today.
Faith in God is more that faith in His promises. It is also faith in His commands. His command need not always be a simple test of faith, as in the preceding cases. It may be a test of obedience as well. In John 9:1; Jesus met a man who was blind from his birth. Jesus met a man who was blind from his birth. Jesus made clay and anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. Then He gave him a command: "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam." The blind man did exactly as he was told.
"He went his way, therefore, and washed, and CAME SEEING." The blind mans eyes were opened! When? When the man obeyed the command of Jesus, and did what He told him to do Thus, we learn that healing may be down the road of obedience Jesus can heal you in the same way today. It is important to recognize that this is scriptural. The author has known of many cases where God dealt with certain individuals concerning obedience, these same persons being miraculously healed as soon as they had obeyed Gods voice. It is doubtful if any who stubbornly refuse to do Gods bidding can have faith to receive healing. In James 5:16; we find a command which God has given to many of those who have sought, but failed to receive healing for their bodies. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that ye may be healed." Certainly there is a strong inference her that if one is unwilling to confess his faults, these secret sins may destroy his faith, and hinder that person from being healed. It has bee the experience of the author, both as pastor and evangelist, that some who are prayed for, do not receive healing until they have first confessed their faults.
Many have wronged others and have been unwilling to confess that they have been wrong. it is little wonder that with such a rebellious spirit, they cannot have real faith for deliverance. But God promises that if these faults are confessed, both the sin and the sickness shall be taken away.
One day, Jesus cursed a fig tree because it produced not fruit. Mark 11:13. Apparently there was no change in the appearance of the tree at the moment. but the next day when He and his disciples passed again that way, Peter was amazed, and said to Jesus, "master, behold, the fig tree which thou cursedst ins withered away." (Mark 11:21) In this short time it had "dried up at the roots,: and was withered away. Many diseases are healed in the same way. The "root" of the disease is cursed in the name of Jesus. should it be cancer, tumor, goiter, or some other growth, it must either pass from the body or disintegrate into the blood stream, and be carried away. It is easy to understand that the person could be truly healed, and yet continue to suffer some discomfort during the time this process is taking place. The suffering may even be more acute, for a short period of time, than it was before, as this dead foreign tissue is being separated and carried away. At this point, many fail to recognize what is happening, and cast away their confidence. They give open testimony to the fact that they are not healed, and are even worse, and fear they will die. All this fear, loss of faith, and acceptance of Satans suggestions in regard to the case, opens the door for Satan to replace in your body the very thing which had been cast out by the power of God. And so the healing is lost before any of its benefits are recognized.
Although many cases of cancer are healed in this way, the author has also known many instances of cancer disappearing instantly.
God has set no pattern whereby He heals. Those who need healing must accept it Gods way. God usually heals in the way that would bring most glory to His name. Accept it just as God gives it.
If it is instantaneous, shout the praises of God and go on you way rejoicing. If it is gradual, thank God for your healing just the same, and look forward joyfully to the time when you will be fully restored to health. If God has cursed the root of your disease, as He did the fig tree, dont let your faith waver. Hold steady knowing that it is our faith that maketh you whole. But if God has commanded you to go, to do, or to speak, do not think that time alone will mend matters. Be obedient to God, and victory will come.
Perhaps you have had prayer for your healing once, or even many times, but failed to believe God for your healing. You think that perhaps it would denote unbelief to come back for prayer again for the same disease. We refer you to Mark 8:23. Here Jesus took a blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. When He had spit on his eyes, and put His hands upon him, He asked him if he saw aught. The man looked up and said, "I see men as trees walking." It was only after Jesus had laid His hands upon him the second time that his sight was fully restored. Then he saw "every man clearly." If you have had prayer and have not received healing, do not be discouraged. Rather, start over. Start reading the New Testament as though it were a new book.
Read and study this book, just as though you knew nothing at all about divine healing. You have missed a point somewhere along the line. Just go back and start at the beginning, and be very careful to follow Gods instructions in every point, and for you too, Heaven GUARANTEES THE
ANSWER. The Bible teaches that we shall prosper and be in health, even as our souls prosper. yet we have no promise in the Word of God that divine healing will give unlimited physical life to any person in this present age. It is still true that "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after that the judgment." Hebrews 9:27.
Some earnest teachers, preachers, and Christian people, in their great zeal for upholding the doctrine of healing, have left the strong inference that if one should exercise sufficient faith, he might never die physically. The Word of God makes it plain that death remains an unconquered enemy. "The last enemy that SHALL BE destroyed is death." 1 Corinthians 15:26. A careful study of this scripture and its context will show that while death will eventually be destroyed, that destruction awaits a future time. The sting of death is sin. To the person who is saved from sin, death has lost its sting But death itself is yet unconquered. Until Jesus returns and puts all things under him, death remains the normal end of all mankind.
Some quote Romans 5:12-14, as proof that physical health can be ours indefinitely to the extent that there should be no physical death. However, Paul was not here referring to physical death, but rather to spiritual death. spiritual separation from God. One can be alive physically, but dead spiritually. "but she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth." 1 Timothy 5:6. A careful study of Romans 5:1-21, especially Romans 5:17-19, will reveal that Paul was speaking of this spiritual death, and not of physical death, for he says (Romans 5:19), "For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." If the death spoken of in Romans 5:12 and Romans 5:14 is physical death, then Romans 5:19 should read, "So by the obedience of one shall many be made immune from physical death."
It is true that physical health during our appointed life time has been provided in the atonement. But the Word does not teach that any person can have such outstanding faith as never to die physically, except in the case of those whose normal life span shall reach to the time when Jesus shall come and those who are alive and remain shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
"The days of your years are threescore and ten: and if by reason of strength thy be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away." Psalms 90:10.
After having given this general rule in regard to the normal length of life, God gives us this pattern prayer. "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."
Psalms 90:12. According to this verse, even the most consecrated Christian should expect to come at last to the end of his days. This will explain why some in advanced age fail to be raised from their beds. Gods time may have come for them to go.
However, even if it should be the end of days for an individual, Gods word still does not indicate that it is His plan for that person to die in agony and disease, but rather that His servant should depart in peace. Luke 2:29. Disease is not necessary to bring about death. Gods pattern for death is found in Psalms 104:29. "Thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust."
Even when the time has come for one to die, there is scriptural example for the belief that in the case of unusual faint, a limited amount of time may be added. Hezekiah was informed that God had commanded him to set his house in order, for he should die and not live. yet in answer to his pleading, Hezekiah was granted an extension of life for fifteen years. 2 Kings 20:1-5.
Nevertheless, although Hezekiah was healed an his life extended, when the fifteen years were over, he still had to die. Divine healing does not set aside the law of death. Real faith can only be based upon the word of One who is faithful. We can have faith for healing because God has promised healing. But God has not promised that this physical life shall continue indefinitely.
Build your faint upon the Word of God. Search the Word to find the reason you have not been healed. Bet rid of the reason. Then accept your healing joy fully in whatever way God may see fit to give it.
God may choose to heal you instantly. He may choose to let the healing be gradual. He may choose to give a sudden manifestation of your healing, but at a time a little later. Or, in the case of one whose time has come to go, he may deliver from pain and suffering, and yet take the person to his eternal rest.
Lay aside our own ideas of how God is going to heal you, and accept the healing Gods way.
Believe God. Take Him at His word. God says healing is for you. God, who CANNOT LIE, has said, "Believe that ye receive it and ye SHALL HAVE IT." Do not cast away your confidence if recovery does not come immediately. Hold fast your faint in the word of God. Stand upon the promise, and GOD GUARANTEES THAT YOUR HEALING SHALL COME!