Have you ever wondered why many who ask for healing don’t receive it? This is a common question and I’ve heard it voiced in a variety of ways. Very often this question is more than simply theological or conceptual. Many times a great deal of disappointment and hurt lies underneath.
We often don’t have answers to the “why?” question. Even when we do, while faced with particular and personal instances of suffering and disappointment, those answers are sometimes unhelpful. Answers to why questions are generally informational. God’s answer to human need and suffering is rarely informational, but rather incarnational. God enters into our suffering. He is with us in it. He carries it. This reality and experience is what is needed when faced with particular and personal loss or grief.
As I have personally wrestled with this issue, there are a few theological realities which I have found to be helpful. I share these today hoping they might also be helpful to others.
1) There is a difference between my position and my condition. What Christ has provided (my position) must be appropriated by faith in order to impact my experience (my condition). For example: The land of Israel was theirs positionally long before it was theirs conditionally. It was their inheritance long before it was their possession. To lay hold of their possession, they had to enter in and possess it by faith. An entire generation failed to do so, according to Hebrews 4, because of disobedience and unbelief. I believe Jesus has fully provided for all healing through his atoning work. The healing of sickness is part of our Kingdom inheritance inaugurated in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Many of us believe this, acknowledge this, affirm this, but few have learned to enter in and possess it. It belongs to us positionally, but we have yet to appropriate it experientially in a manner that affects our condition. I believe God is today stirring up his people to contend for and lay hold of more of the inheritance that is ours in Christ. My hope and expectation is that as we learn to contend for this we will begin to experience increasing victory in this area.
2) Faith and Unbelief operate both corporately and individually. Jesus himself was limited in what he could do in Nazareth (Matt 13:57-58). This limitation wasn’t due to the unbelief of one individual. There was, in that community, an atmosphere of unbelief which limited his ability to meet the needs of individuals. I believe the secularism and materialism of our culture, combined with the widespread unbelief of the church in our culture concerning the miraculous, has served to create an atmosphere of unbelief which stands as an obstacle. In the West, when we hear about something supernatural, our gut instinct is often that there must be a natural explanation. In other parts of the world, when they witness something natural, their first instinct is that there must be a supernatural explanation. Is it any wonder that it is easier to expereience that which truly is supernatural in those cultures?
3) Sickness is often only a symptom of a deeper root problem. Contemporary medical wisdom tells us that 80% or more of illness is psychosomatic. This means that a great deal of sickness has its root in problems of the soul. It is possible in some cases that we experience limited success in ministering physical healing because we have yet to deal with the underlying, fears, un-forgiveness, bitterness, stress, etc. that lie at the root of the illnesses we face.
4) We have not because we ask not. Very simply, it appears that healing is something we receive by asking. I know when John Wimber (founder of the Vineyard) began to contend for God’s healing power, he prayed for more than 250 people before he saw his first miracle. He prayed for 200+ more before he saw his second. As he began to contend, to ask – consistently, proactively, and faithfully – he began to see more and more people healed. I think sometimes we fail to see breakthrough because particular disappointments and losses discourage us and we simply back away from the issue. The giants are just too big. As Bill Johnson teaches, we easily get our focus on what hasn’t happened and enter into discouragement and unbelief instead of focusing on what God has done and is doing with thankfulness and moving forward in obedience and faith.
5) We are in a war. Satan is actively engaged in warfare against God’s purposes in our lives. He opposes and hinders at every turn. In Daniel 10 we see a specific example of how an unseen spiritual battle delayed Daniel’s answer to prayer.
I’m sure much more could and should be said. This isn’t at all intended to be an exhaustive answer to a complex dilemma. I do not know which of the above factors (if any) have specific relevance to your situation. I’m simply sharing some of the thoughts that have been personally challenging to me as I’ve wrestled through this same issue. I hope these ideas might serve simply as a starting place for you to pursue all the inheritance that God has provided you in Christ.
20 Comments
Excellent post Alan. So what might be some of the ways we can enter in and posses the inheritance of healing that is available to us in God’s Kindgom?
Jon,
The best stuff I’ve heard on the pursuit of healing has been from Bill Johnson and from Kevin Weaver. I recommend subscribing to Bill Johnson’s podcast from Bethel Church in Redding, CA and Kevin Weaver’s Uprising Podcast. They’re both walking in some significant success with healing the sick.
alan
How about dealing with our soul sickness before it manifests in physical sickness (that we are aware of)? Do the same principles apply? What would that look like? Do I contend for and stand in faith believing for the healing of my soul as I do for the healing of my body?
Alan,
Help me with this issue. I see that all the physical healing miracles that Jesus performed worked with existing body parts. You don’t see Him grow a limb. Or am I wrong? Is healing of missing body parts part of what we should be expecting? I know everything is possible with God, but I don’t know He did that. He is concerned with healing our spirit/soul/body in that order.
Cindy,
I don’t think we can assume from scripture that Jesus’ healing miracles never involved missing body parts. All we know is that the lame walked. We can only guess as to the nature of their lameness.
With lepers it is very common to be missing body parts. It is a fairly safe assumption that at least some of the lepers who were healed would have had such a condition.
And even if he didn’t generate new body parts, that level of healing would still fit well within the “and greater works than these shall you do” category.
Besides, Bill Johnson’s church in Redding, CA has seen a great number of creative miracles of healing like that and that’s just one example. Revival/Renewal history is full of such stories. I don’t see any reason we shouldn’t include such things in our pursuit.
Blessings,
alan
…not to be a fly in the ointment, but what about the plain simple fact of God's sovereignty? All men & women are appointed to die once, and it stands to reason that some must suffer with death through illness while others might die in firey car crashes and others just quit when it all gives out…but God remains unsurprised at these events and has decreed all these things in the secret counsel of His perfect will that governs all His creatures and their actions…
…I wonder if anyone realizes how close some of these comments and observations come to Christ Scientist and similar teachings…definitely outside the pale of orthodoxy…
Anonymous,
In God’s sovereignty he has provided salvation through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. I fail to see how contending to appropriate this victory in the arena of physical healing is unorthodox. “He heals all your diseases…” (Psalm 103)
Jesus has come to give us life. It is the enemy who has come to steal, kill, and destroy. (see John 10:10)
It appears you hold a very determinist view of things, which would require that God is the one who decrees sicknes, disease, and death in our world. This seems to me very incongruent with the revelation of God in Jesus, who is the exact representation of his likeness (Col 1). Who did Jesus ever kill or make sick?
Even though I completely disagree with your determinist position, I will not say that you are unorthodox, for many Bible honoring believers hold that view. Even though Muslims also hold that view, I will not use this fact to erroneously compare your view to Islam. Such a tactic would be inflamatory and unhelpful.
My view has no similarity with Christian Science, and is in fact very Biblically supportable, and is in fact shared by a large segment of Bible honoring believers. I welcome your continued reading and comments. Please identify yourself going forward and play nice.
Thanks for reading,
Alan
Great post – thought provoking, for certain. Since I have to be somewhere else soon, I must keep this post terse. Hope to come back to it later.
Here's a blog statement I hope to call attention to and create some discussion:
>> I believe the secularism and materialism of our culture, combined with the widespread unbelief of the church in our culture concerning the miraculous, has served to create an atmosphere of unbelief which stands as an obstacle. In the West, when we hear about something supernatural, our gut instinct is often that there must be a natural explanation. <<
A couple of questions concerning Christian life:
1. Is an affirmation of the "supernatural" a requirement? Is that affirmation a cornerstone of Faith in the Lord? I could go on about the impediments (i.e. individual personality differences, etc.) that are the basis of the question, but time is not on my side at the moment.
2. Is an affirmation of the "supernatural" part of our Hope in the Lord? If so, is that affirmation merely an ingredient of our Hope, or is it an essential cornerstone of our Hope (i.e. "essential" implies that without an affirmation of the "supernatural", Hope in the Lord cannot be authentic and is most likely difficult for one to convey that Hope to another in a way that makes a difference in another's life.)
Terry,
Good questions. Given that Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is essential and that a believer’s hope in the New Testament is anchored in a future resurrection of the dead, I would say that the supernatural is fairly central to our faith.
What a great post! I think healing is painful subject in the body of Christ. I’d like to share a short testimony in hopes of encouraging someone. A few years ago, I had a softball sized cyst and tumor on one of my ovaries.
I totally believe God heals because it’s in scripture. At the church I was attending at the time, I had elders pray and anoint me with oil. I had lots of people praying for me. People were telling me I was healed; it was a done deal. I believed it to be a possibility. Why not? I have nothing but a hope of having kids in my future.
The morning of the surgery I woke to pray (like always). I told God I bless every single person who prayed for me over the course of the diagnosis through the surgery I was about to endure. Then I felt what seemed to be a billion watts of electricity coursing through my body for like five solid minutes. It was unexpected and I thought it was the clincher for the whole healing process.
I lost the ovary in surgery and woke up to a lot of pain for the next few months!!!! It was like a nightmare unfolding. One day I went to the store and was sitting in the parking lot crying because I was in so much pain. I felt like I had reached my limit of enduring. I was crying out to God telling him all about it. This is the same God who has healed me of countless other colds, sicknesses and toothaches. I asked Him, why he wouldn’t heal me this time.
He asked me, “Where are you?” Then he quickened the scripture to me because I was sure he knew I was at Kroger’s. I told him, “I’m in the palm of your hand.” He said, “Then what are you doing?”
My reality shifted in that moment. My ability to endure changed. When I worship now, I envision my self at the throne (my best guess of what it might look like) and I know nothing can “stick” to me forever except what God has ordained. At a time in the future, it will be an imperishable body that’s perfect. I have experienced “both” sides of healing. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that HE heals. Ask, wait, ask, expect, ask, know…this is temporary.
…hmmm…
I don't think I was questioning whether the work of Christ in renewing the creation and rolling back the effects of the curse was a reality for His world at large. As I understand the post, the question posed and the answer being sought is about why some people are blessed by the continuation of God's merciful providential care for them in the area of physical health and others suffer.
My beef is with the "haves" & "have nots" class division of the Church. All those united to Christ are the "haves" of all His benefits and blessings. The "have nots" are those OUTSIDE the Church…they are spearated from Christ and His benefits.
So we agree that this point isn't a matter of orthodoxy.
The question of orthodoxy would certainly apply, in my mind, to point 3 and possible 4 which very closely resembles the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy. As I stated previously, sickness is a [/I]second[/I] cause by which the First Cause accomplishes that which He decrees from the counsel of His own will (Eph 1:11). Notice Paul states that He works ALL things, not some things, according to this counsel. This would include sickness, disasters, calamity, etc. Aside from the obvious purpose of doing all things for His own glory, our attempts to discern the deeper, humanly unknowable purpose of this will, sometimes with or without hindsight, I invite you to revisit the Almightys discussion with Job in 38:1-3.
"Jesus has come to give us life. It is the enemy who has come to steal, kill, and destroy. (see John 10:10)"
This is unquestionably true, but doesn't answer the question of why some receive healing and others do not. Since I am joyful post-mil preterist, it is my opinion that Satan has no power and has been defeated, banished to the Abyss. The Lord has come on a white horse with a bow in one hand and a rainbow in the other, and has utterly and completely conquered this enemy. Satans days of roaming the Earth are done…I am sure this is a conversation for another time.
"It appears you hold a very determinist view of things, which would require that God is the one who decrees sicknes, disease, and death in our world. This seems to me very incongruent with the revelation of God in Jesus, who is the exact representation of his likeness (Col 1). Who did Jesus ever kill or make sick?"
Christ never manufactured a car or programmed a computer either, but is still the Lord of all that is. These nifty inventions were, obviously, decreed by God to be…otherwise we might still be in horse drawn buggies and writing on papyrus…
It was NOT the intended work or purpose of the Incarnation to kill, maim, or make ill. His work is restorative, reconciling, and a demonstration of His Lordship over all the Creation…even the smallest of virus' and bacteria obey His every command. So I pose the questions, "Were ALL healed?" "Did all who heard His voice believe?" "Did Lazarus die, not once, but twice, even after the Lord of all Creation raised him from death to demonstrate the new life that will be to those that embrace Him in faith?"
Again, I assert that sickness and disease are agents of providence accomplishing the decrees of God, specifically that all men are appointed to die once, and then the judgement.(Heb 9:27) Granted, I for one am not happy about the prospect of cancer, diabetes, or some other terminal illness. Alternatives like having Ehud drive a dagger into my gut (Judges 3:20-22), a tent spike driven through my head (Judges 4:21), fiery car crashes, being eaten by wild animals, or falling from 35 stories aren't appealing either…but we ALL have to go someway, sometime…and that way is predetermined.(Acts 2:23) Because God IS omniscient, it will be no surprise to Him…He will NOT NOT know the day, hour, and manner of my demise…this "determinism" is a great comfort, because I can rest in knowing that nothing happens by chance or caprice. So your use of "determinism" as a four letter word is unjustified. I realise we all get a little queasy when we think God might get a bad rep when we can't keep the evil that happens to men out of His court, but He isn't worried about that.(Isa 45:7)
"Such a tactic would be inflamatory and unhelpful."
I suppose I should apologise for any perceived inflammation. Sorry.
"My view has no similarity with Christian Science, and is in fact very Biblically supportable, and is in fact shared by a large segment of Bible honoring believers."
I will go out on a limb to say that this is the same logical fallacy that Miss Eddy and others have used to support their opinions and interpretations. I am not saying you are doing this on PURPOSE, but you might be surprised by the similarities. Just because a mass of people believe something to be doesn't affirm the truth of the matter. A much greater portion of the Jews ALL believed that Jesus was NOT the promised Messiah, but that didn't make it true.
"I welcome your continued reading and comments. Please identify yourself going forward and play nice."
…if you insist…and I do try to play nice…
For Christ's Crown & Covenant
Preston,
Thanks for your comments! I am not a Calvinist, nor a post-mil preterist, so it is not surprising coming from completely different perspectives that we have significant disagreement on this issue. Thanks for playing nice.
Blessings,
alan
I am gonna take your short response as a kind invitation to bow out of the discussion. I will, of course, let it rest, but will make another observation about the nature of the necessity of agents of Providence and point to one "catch all" passage.
What would be the purpose of everyone being healed other than to escape the death that must come to all? If this is not the point, then I am to assume that everyone thinks they would enjoy other methods or trials and tribulations that lead to death. If we are content with those, then I can certainly see the appeal. Christ did not suffer with illness but was NOT spared from death via a gruesome, horrific method of torture called crucifixion. If God didn't spare His own Son suffering, I guess it stands to reason that He might not spare us either.(Heb 8:32) God does all things for His own glory. Through it all (cf Rom 8:35)though nothing separates us from His love and care.
In this same passage (Romans
we also learn that ALL things work together for GOOD for those that are called according to His purpose, which, by way of saying, is a word very similar to determined (according to the good people at Merriam Webster.)
ALL things in my mind includes coffee and water, insomnia and sleep, weddings and divorce proceedings, scraped knees and injury free youth, great wealth and bounced checks, & terminal or temporary illness.
Paul reminds us…"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
I am sorry the predjudice against certain historical saints and my penchant for being irritating and inflammatory has brought our "exciting" discussion to a halt.
Your graciousness in entertaining my few comments is much appreciated. I commend you for your work in His Kingdom and pray His many blessings upon you and yours.
For His Crown and Covenant
Preston, Thanks again for you comments. I very much enjoy Wesleyan Armenian / Calvinism debate and perhaps in another forum that would be fun. This blog is not really designed for that purpose though.
I do want to clarify, because you raise a very valid point. I am not suggesting that we’re not all going to die, usually because of some physical failure. After all, it’s appointed to man once to die, right? I’m also not suggesting that those who do receive healing won’t eventually die too.
I am suggesting that God has made a full provision for healing through Jesus. One day this provision will be fully appropriated in the new heaven and earth(Rev 21). In the mean time, the Holy Spirit is present as a guarantee of that future reality, a down-payment(Eph 1). I think we could probably go ahead and spend the down-payment. I don’t think we really are in many cases. There are a variety of reasons for that, I’ve listed a few.
Blessings,
alan
When I was little I would go to my friends house and his mom would be cooking food for him , a natural thing to do because she loved him .That aroma of the food cooking was her love for him. She saw how I was hungry but waited for him to share some of his food .You see they were poor and this was really his grandma that was feeding him. and so he said,”Are you hungry”? you want some of my food”?…The Father’s love for Jesus provided everything we need for our healing . Jesus left us with this message “Love one another as I have loved you, by this people will know you are my disciples”. …healing is the children’s bread and Jesus shared his bread with us.He is the bread sent from heaven. You are the aroma of the bread and Father wants you to know that you can give healing bread to those in need. And He will heal them…Just believe.
I liked your article. This is a great response to a difficult question. Faith is so key,but we are in a war, and the enemy’s weapons are often fear and doubt. In my experience , these can be powerful barriers to receiving our inheritance in Christ.
Hi Alan…wow….this was a volatile post
.
All I know is, I’m going to pray and believe by faith that Jesus is not done with me yet and wants to see me healed. I want others to agree with me on this…family and others who have already committed to me that they are agreeing with me for healing.
One thing the Lord speaks to me over and over is that He knows the number of my days…not doctors or anyone else, and that is actually a very comforting thought. I am also seeing Him do such a work between me and my birth family, starting with my mother. So, even though I know that one day I will leave this earth as it is, I believe by faith that God still wants me to ask for healing, proclaim it over my life, seek Him daily on my behalf and on behalf of others I know who are dealing with cancer, and just keep knocking and the door will be opened. I may be taking the word out of context, but I don’t think I am. Thank you for writing what’s on your heart.
Great word on healing, Alan. So needed. “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and our children forever that we may live by His Words.” (Deuteronomy 29:29, my paraphrase). I’m living revelation to revelation and glory to glory. Walking in the healing that I have until He releases a new level in my life. Thank you for reminding me to listen for His heartbeat in my healing.
It’s a good reminder for all of us, Michelle. Thanks!