Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:8
Over the years I’ve seen Christians ask ministers to pray for their healing. They call the church office, ministry prayer lines, and flock to the alter to stand in a healing line. God, in His mercy, will often meet these hungry souls and they experience His healing power.
Did you notice that I said “He will often meet”? I’ve seen some amazing miracles but I’m also aware that there are many who do not receive their healing. This is something I’ve struggled with over the years.
I spent time in the Gospel accounts searching for answers. The first thing I noticed is that not everyone was healed in the ministry of Jesus. Consider the following two examples:
- Mark 6:1-6
And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. - John 5:1-9
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
In the first example Jesus was visiting His home town. The people recognized Him because He had grown up with them. They did not honor Him or the anointing on Him. Mark tells us that He was unable to heal anyone except for a few with minor ailments.
The second example is that of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda. John tells us that there was a “great multitude of impotent fold, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.” In context of the entire Gospel account we could easily conclude that there were thousands seeking healing that day. There is no indication that anyone was healed except the lame man.
We are not going into these passages too deeply at this point. They are just two of several that tell us even in Jesus’ ministry not everyone was healed.
Scripture clearly tells us that it is God’s will for every person to be healed. It also makes it clear that not everyone will receive a healing. Two questions remain to be asked, why and is there anything we can do to enable more people to receive their healing?
Answering these questions will require us to take a journey together through Scripture. I believe that the very first step will be to understand that God has delegated authority to us. He will not violate this authority. Christians often expect Him to by pleading with Him to do what He has delegated to them. Think of the following example.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
Who did James say is responsible for resisting the devil? When he said, “resist the devil” he was speaking to his readers.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
James 1:1
James addressed his letter to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad”. In verse two he calls them “brethren”. Biblical scholars believe that his letter was addressed to Jewish Christians outside of Israel.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
These two statements were directed at Christians. They are just as applicable today as they were when James wrote them.
- Submit yourself to God.
- Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
I have heard people talk about resisting the devil and not seeing a difference.In most cases these people are not living lives reflective of a person who has submitted to God. We do not have a right to expect the devil to flee if we have not submitted our lives to God.
I said that many Christians are trying to get God to do something for them that He has delegated to them. In this case we are instructed to submit to God and then resist the devil. I’ve observed many people who spend hours crying out to God for freedom from the devils oppressions. They are trying to get God to resist the devil in their place!
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Psalms 89:34
The Word of God contains His covenants with mankind. This covenant is binding. God’s Word is unchanging. It tells us to submit and resist. This is covenant instruction!
Resistance is not passive. It will require us to actively fight against the works of Satan. God is not going to step in and get the devil off of our backs for us if we do not resist!
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