Healing: Can we expect God to heal today?
At the time I’m writing this we’re still dealing with the Covid virus all around the world. Many are sick with it, and some have even died with it. We are told that many others are dying because of the vaccine that was developed to protect people from getting it. What are we to think about all this? One of my first questions has been to ask where all the “faith healers” are in all this? If there’s anything to their claims, why aren’t they clearing out hospitals with their miraculous abilities to bring about God’s healing? What are we to think about the “prayer cloths,” the “anointings of oil,” and the “miracle waters”? Is there any guidance about all this in the Scriptures? There certainly is! Let’s look at it.
Ever since man first sinned in the Garden of Eden the whole creation has been suffering in many ways.
Romans 8:22
22 For we [believers] know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [Emphasis added]
Please notice that it says, “the whole creation,” not just some. This tells us that as members of the human race, we are going to experience various forms of suffering throughout our lifetime. No exceptions! The next verse in this passage lets us know that even as believers we will experience all kinds of suffering until our time of resurrection when we, as believers in Christ, will get a new and perfect body.
Romans 8:23
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption [speaking of our resurrection] of our body. [Emphasis added]
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our conversation[Greek word POLITEUMA—citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working [His omnipotence] whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. [Emphasis added]
It is when what is called the Rapture occurs that even if we’ve died, we’ll then get a new and perfect body in which to live forever.
I Corinthians 15:52-53
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [Emphasis added]
But until this happens, we are vulnerable to every kind of suffering. Being believers does not exempt us from any of this. Furthermore, being mature believers doesn’t exempt us from it either. Even as great a man as the apostle Paul was, he had his physical ailments.
II Corinthians 5:1-4
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle [this body we presently reside in today] were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Our body is here called a tabernacle, a tent because it is only temporary. We will eventually get to live in a perfect resurrection body forever. But for now, we will do some groaning.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house [our new resurrection body] which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked [we surely WILL get a resurrection body to clothe our soul].
4 For we that are in this tabernacle [this tent, this temporary body] do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. [Emphasis added]
The being “unclothed” is to do with being without a resurrection body. We clearly don’t have this new body now, but after this event which we call the Rapture, we surely will. Until then we’ll need to do all we can to address our present bodily suffering. As well-meaning as a person may be, it is foolish to just “trust God” with it, as some say and do. Even the apostle Paul sought medical help for his ailments. In fact, his good friend who often traveled with him was a man named Luke who was a physician, a medical doctor.
Colossians 4:14
14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. [Emphasis added]
There should be no doubt about God’s ability to heal people of anything. There are biblical records of this happening many times.
Matthew 4:23
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. [Emphasis added]
Matthew 9:35
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. [Emphasis added]
God even worked through the apostles and others to perform miraculous works of healing.
Mark 16:18
18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. [Emphasis added]
There’s no question about God having done these things through people in the past. But what we do not accept are the claims of some that these same things occur today. It is important to note that when Christ was on earth His ministry was directed to Israel, not the Gentiles.
Romans 15:8
8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision [the people of Israel] for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: [Emphasis added]
Matthew 15:24
24 But he [Jesus Christ] answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [Emphasis added]
There were a couple of wonderful exceptions He made to that, but they were exceptions. His ministry and message were directed to Israel.
The same is true with the book of James and the other non-Pauline books of the Bible.
James 1:1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. [Emphasis added]
Throughout Israel’s history they were a people who looked for “signs” as verification of God’s presence and work.
I Corinthians 1:22a
22 For the Jews require a sign, [Emphasis added]
In the early days of the apostle Paul’s ministry, he was able to perform miraculous works of healing to establish his authority as a man of God.
Acts 19:10-12
10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. [Emphasis added]
But it wasn’t long before those special abilities for healing were withdrawn. In the later years of his ministry, he instead prescribed medical remedies just as we would today.
I Timothy 5:23
23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities. [Emphasis added]
There were some he was unable to help.
II Timothy 4:20
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. [Emphasis added]
There were others over which he had grave concerns.
Philippians 2:27
27 For indeed he [Epaphroditus] was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. [Emphasis added]
These were all faithful men of God, but men who had serious illnesses. Even Paul experienced various physical problems. These were matters he prayed over just as we should today. But notice that, like us today, he didn’t always get what he requested.
II Corinthians 12:8-10
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. [Emphasis added]
Instead of doing what we see Paul doing here, people want a miracle to end the suffering. I understand that none of us enjoy pain and suffering, but I’m afraid that’s what often goes with our time, and sometimes it is impossible for us to do much about it. Even though gifts of healing and miracles happened for a time, that’s long gone. That’s no longer a part of God’s program for His people. That was also true through much of Paul’s ministry. Note what he tells the Galatians in this which we believe was one of his earliest writings.
Galatians 4:13-14
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. [Emphasis added]
It appears that Paul suffered with some sort of eye ailment. Aside from his vision problem which caused him to write in large print, the ailment apparently disfigured his appearance.
Galatians 6:11
11 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. [Emphasis added]
Again, I remind you of today’s “faith healers.” If they can do what they claim, why aren’t they doing it? Why aren’t they serving in homes and hospitals to relieve the suffering and stop all the sickness and dying? The answer is that they can’t. If what these people claim is true, we wouldn’t even need health insurance, let alone all the medical facilities. Why do these same people that make their claims wear eyeglasses, visit doctors, and undergo all kinds of surgery. Whether they make their claims to deceive or not, the facts are what they are. They have no ability themselves or special access to God for help in all these physical ailments.
Unlike the situation with unbelievers, as believers, we should be confident that the day will finally come when our suffering will be over. We can all rest assured that whatever suffering we experience in this life is temporary. Furthermore, the day is coming when we’ll reside forever in a perfect body that will have none of these problems.
II Corinthians 4:16-18
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Because of our ongoing growth in God’s Word, our thinking on things only improves every day. That means that in the most important way of all, things only get better.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
The suffering we experience here is only for “a moment” in comparison to all eternity.
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.[Emphasis added]
What rich words of assurance these are! Yes, as we often say, life is short. It surely is in comparison to all eternity. This next passage seems to provide us with the best of all summaries of our situation.
Romans 8:18
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. [Emphasis added]
We know that the day is coming when we’ll be delivered from all this suffering.
Romans 8:21-23
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. [Emphasis added]
We can and should pray as we go through these times of suffering. But many times, we don’t even know how to pray. But note what we are promised about this.
Romans 8:26-28
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Yes, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us so that God will give us exactly what we need in every suffering situation of life. And in the end, He will work it all out for our good no matter how things may appear otherwise.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. [Emphasis added]
No matter what suffering you may have to endure, always know that God has a perfect love for you. Always know that He’s in “your corner,” providing exactly what He knows you really need. His love for us is infinite, even though suffering may make things look otherwise to us. We must learn to look at life’s circumstances through the eyeglasses of God’s Word. Only then will we get a clear glimpse at the good He’s bringing about in our lives. Altogether this should give us complete peace of mind. At no point should we ever doubt God’s perfect love for us.
Romans 5:8
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
We should always be comforted by our knowledge of God’s love for us. We must not allow our circumstances to dominate and determine our thinking. We must let God’s Word do that. But that will only happen if you will make a long-term commitment to be a disciple, a student, of God’s Word, particularly that of Paul’s epistles. The one thing that is most exciting about suffering is that it is through those times that we are most prone to give God our full attention. It is then that we sense our need for Him. That sense of need will cause us to be more attentive to spiritual things, and that needs to become a habit. Just know that however bad the suffering is, it is only temporary. What you have to look forward to enjoying in eternity and in heaven is absolutely fabulous. As you’ll see in this next passage, these are the things that take the sting out of death.
I Corinthians 15:51-55
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery [a secret]; We shall not all sleep [pass away in death], but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [Emphasis added]
It is at this time that we speak of as the Rapture that we who have put our faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as the sole basis for our salvation will be eternally delivered from these bodies of sickness and death. We are then given a perfect body like that of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20-21
20 For our conversation [our citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. [Emphasis added]
Until that time, God expects us to seek credible help both medical and natural alternative solutions for our physical sicknesses, trusting in Him for the outcome.
