Introduction to Spiritual Healing

Spiritual healing is a term known to many. However it means different things to different people. In our context, we define what we mean by the phrase ‘spiritual healing’ and discuss the principles behind how it works.

The entire premise and perspective of message is based on the purpose of life, one of which is to grow spiritually. This means that the aim is to help others not merely at a physical level but to focus on the spiritual growth of each individual. Thus the more we are aligned to helping a person grow spiritually when we practice spiritual healing, the less we risk being misaligned with the purpose of life. When spiritual healing is done keeping this higher purpose in mind then our spiritual capability to heal does not diminish.

What is Spiritual Healing?

The Spiritual Science Research Foundation (SSRF) defines the word ‘subtle world’ or ‘spiritual dimension’ as the world which is beyond the understanding of the five senses, mind and intellect. The subtle world refers to the unseen world of angels, ghosts, heaven, etc. which can only be perceived through our sixth sense.

Spiritual research has shown us that up to 80% of the problems in a person’s life can have their root in the spiritual dimension. We have covered the various aspects of how the spiritual dimension affects our lives under the section on Spiritual causes of difficulties.

When the root cause of a problem is in the spiritual dimension, then it needs to be counteracted or treated by some method that is spiritually more potent than the cause of the problem. This is termed as spiritual healing. It involves the use of spiritual energy to overcome the problem, such as removal of distress, caused by negative energies. When those who are not affected by any negative energy distress are exposed to spiritual healing energy, they simply receive the benefits of the additional positive energy.

2.1 Difference between symptoms displayed and the root cause of the problem

It is important to differentiate the ‘symptoms’ displayed by a person and their ‘basic root cause’. We can better understand this by the following example.

Negative energies: At the Spiritual Science Research Foundation, the term ‘negative energies’ is used as a collective noun to represent all types of entities in the spiritual dimension that intend to harm humanity right from the ‘common ghost’ to the highest level ‘māntriks‘. If the spiritual strength of a common ghost is between 1 and 10 units, then a māntrik’s strength ranges from a billion to close to infinity.

John decides to throw a bucket of water on the floor in Jane’s room when she is not there. He then hides himself to gleefully watch Jane’s reaction upon her return. When Jane enters the room and sees the wet floor, she searches high and low for the cause, but cannot fathom the reason for the water on the floor. She then goes on to wipe the floor. John later throws another bucket of water on the floor; Jane is again searching for the cause of water, and she wipes the floor again. John lets out an evil chuckle under his breath at Jane’s plight. He delights in her ignorance about the real cause of her problem – which of course, is none other than himself.

This is a typical analogy of how a spiritual reason, such as an attack by a ghost or negative energy (symbolized by John), can cause a problem in life, for example, a heart condition (symbolized by the water on the floor). Due to the fact that we do not have the sixth sense vision to see or perceive a ghost, our search for the cause of the chest pain remains inadequate. Unfortunately, the investigations are limited only to the physical or psychological dimension.

2.2 What does Spiritual healing cure?

Based on the above example, we can now appreciate that heart disease can actually be caused due to a spiritual reason. A medical problem (resulting from a spiritual root cause) when treated medically or surgically can only alleviate the damage done as a consequence of the spiritual root cause. Thus by treating the heart condition by surgery or medicine, medical sciences can at best bring about a symptomatic cure. The condition, however, reoccurs because the root cause (for example, the ghost or negative energy) is still active and has not been taken care of.

Spiritual healing is about the diagnosis and removal of the spiritual root cause of the problem. In our above example, it is about finding John (the ghost) and stopping him from throwing any more water (causing heart problems). It could also be used to prevent a potential problem from happening in the first place.

Advanced spiritual healing remedies have the potential to reverse a physical impairment. However, in most cases it is advisable to use physical measures (like medical treatment) to alleviate the physical damage. The reason for this is that spiritual energy is invaluable as it is extremely difficult to acquire compared to any physical effort such as medical treatment. Attempting to cure an ailment using spiritual means would require a lot of invaluable spiritual energy. The same result could be achieved with a comparatively lower input when attended to at a physical level.

It is for this reason that the Spiritual Science Research Foundation (SSRF) emphasizes that only the appropriate level of energy be used for treating a problem. So for example, if a person has eczema due to a spiritual root cause, it needs to be treated at all three levels:

At a physical level- with medicines
• At a psychological level – if there is depression due to the eczema
• At a spiritual level – the spiritual root cause needs to be alleviated by spiritual remedies

At heart, we all have the capacity to heal ourselves and nurture others. Spirit, energy, thought, intention, skilful practice and belief are available to all people. Yet as individual expressions of the life force, we all have different paths, and not all of us feel called to healing practices.

For those of us that do feel “called” to spiritual healing, we are often met with some kind of resistance, either from our friends, our family members, or our culture. This is because spiritual healing can be frowned upon as a quasi, scientifically-misguided, charlatan practice by a society that is built on the mind and ego. While there are con artists in every practice, the genuinely beneficial aspects of spiritual healing are largely ignored because they can’t be quantified or reasoned with.

Unfortunately, this has led to a large percentage of us losing touch with traditional forms of healing. Very few of us were raised around shamans, medicine men or medicine women who could pass on ancient knowledge and holistic healing practices. Instead, as children we were taken to physicians and doctors who prescribed us with medications of all kinds. And while these medications were useful and helped to fix certain parts of us, they never aided us in healing our whole organism with its many layers.

Yet despite the way you were raised, you might still feel a strong pull towards spiritual healing, even if it “goes against the grain” of what you were taught.

30 Signs you’re a Spiritual Healer

If you’re a spiritual healer, you will sense it deep down.

Somehow I’ve always known that I’m a healer. As a child, I was thoughtful, inquisitive, dreamy and extremely nurturing. I remember caring for the kids at school, caring excessively for my toys, caring for stranded insects that got caught in spider webs and caring a whole lot about the “bigger picture” in life.

I also remember playing with energy, having precognitive dreams, being hyper-sensitive to the physical and emotional environments around me and somehow always attracting wounded people into my life.

Spiritual healers come in many shapes and forms. For example, I fulfill my role as a spiritual healer through my writing. Other people fulfill their calling through practicing kinesiology, yoga, meditation, hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, herbalist, acupuncture, and a whole range of other practices.

Spiritual healers are shamans in their own right. They are people who allow the energy of Spirit to flow through them in a way that guides, rejuvenates and empowers others.

The spiritual healer is also a wounded healer. In other words, by healing themselves, they heal others. This is the absolute best kind of education available.

Are you a spiritual healer? Here are 30 signs that I’ve compiled in response to my own experience and those I have mentored or shared with (some might surprise you):

You are highly sensitive to energy (positive or negative).
You feel other people’s emotions and physical ailments as your own (empathy).
You are intuitive and can read others very easily.
You are a “big picture” thinker (and don’t concern yourself too much with the details).
You have gone through bouts of existential depression.
You have felt like an outcast for most of your life.
You think differently from others.
You get overwhelmed in public easily.
You have struggled with anxiety or panic before.
You are the natural peacemaker between people.
You are the confidant that people turn to in times of need.
You experience digestive issues, lower back pain or gain weight around the stomach (solar plexus chakra disorders).
You feel drained after spending too much time around people
Sensitive beings like animals and children gravitate towards you.
Other people tend to “dump” their emotional baggage onto you to deal with.
You think in shades of grey rather than in black and white.
You are very aware of the interconnectedness of life and deeply respect it.
You believe in synchronicity more than coincidences.
You have a history of healers in the family, e.g. nurses, psychologists, massage therapists, prophets
You’ve experienced a major trauma in your life, e.g. loss of your family, life-threatening illness, near death experience, physical/sexual/emotional abuse, war, mental illness.
You’ve gone through a spiritual awakening.
You’ve experienced the dark night of the soul.
You tend to use the right side thinker more than a left side thinker.
You experience chronic pain in your body or an autoimmune disease (energetic blockages).
You are EMF sensitive (electromagnetic hypersensitivity).
You tend to attract people who need “fixing” but often get trapped in self-sacrificing roles.
You’re an excellent and compassionate listener.
You are naturally drawn towards healing professions that help others experience balance and wholeness.
You can feel, distinguish between and alter the energy within and without yourself.
You have had numerous mystical experiences.

How many signs in this list could you identify with? I’m sure that I’ve missed a few signs of the spiritual healer here. If you think I have, just make a suggestion!

As a healer, the best possible place you could start is with yourself. Starting from within first is the best way to ensure that you have enough energy, passion and love to give to others.

God’s Promise to Heal You

John 10:10 gives us the two plans for our lives—the enemy’s plan to steal, kill and destroy and God’s plan for life abundantly. Life and health are from Lord Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus to give us life in both quality and quantity. Your heavenly Father wants you well. Author and Pastor Bill Scheer shares 15 short passages on God’s Healing promises in his powerful little book. Each reading reveals a new aspect of God’s plan for healing. You will be forever changed as you discover just how important it is to your Father God that you are healing and made whole.

God’s Plan

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. But Jesus says; I have come that they may have life, and that they have it more abundantly.

John 10:10: While we live on the earth, we can follow one of two plans, both of which are found in John 10:10. Satan’s plan is to steal, kill, and destroy everything we have. God’s plan for you, however, is abundant life. Sickness and premature death are from Satan and absolutely not from God.

If you can ever think that God is the cause of your sickness, you are deceived and won’t pray to be healed. We can see the error in this type of thinking by looking at Matthew 6:10. Jesus prayed, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Is there any sickness in heaven? No, not at all; so if there isn’t any sickness in heaven, then it absolutely cannot be God’s will for you to be sick on earth; Jesus came to do the will of the Father, and that was to give you abundant life—a life of perfect health. I will not allow the devil to steal my health. I choose to live in the abundant life that God has for me.

God’s Report

Isaiah 53:1-5: Isaiah begins with the questions, “Who has believed our report?” When battling sickness, you are faced with two reports. First is the doctor’s report, which says you have a disease. Secondly, you have the report of the Lord, which says the stripes of Jesus have healed you.

The two options are clear. But the choice of which to believe is up to you. Are you going to believe the symptoms in your body and the report from your doctor? OR will you believe the Word of God? Even though what you are experiencing may be factual, facts are subject to change. And a report from God is more than factual; it’s truthful. God’s word never changes.

Verse 1 continues, “And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Or, on whose behalf has God shown His power? The answer is found in the question. God’s power is revealed to those who believe His report. If you are worried, fearful, or anxious about your health, you haven’t yet fully believed God’s report. This great report is that Jesus has healed you, but no one can receive your healing except you.

In verse 4, the Hebrew words for griefs and sorrows are choliy and mak’ob. The literal translation for these words is “sickness and pain.” The Hebrew word for bore is nasá. It means “to lift up; to carry.” This means when Jesus was tied to that whipping post, He bore, or carried, our sicknesses and our pains for our reason—so we wouldn’t have to. Now when you hear the words, “by His stripes we are healed,” imagine Jesus receiving 39 lashes on His back for your healing. It’s up to you to believe and receive this. It’s already been done. And it was all done for you.

I believe the report of the Lord. I believe God’s healing promises above any symptom I experience in my body. All symptoms have to leave for I am healed by the stripes of Jesus.

Declaration of Faith: Disease is not for me. I am righteous through faith in the Lord Jesus. Any disease that tries to come on me is illegally trespassing in my body. Satan cannot legally afflict me any longer. My sins have already been paid for, and I don’t have to be punished ever again.

God’s Blessing

Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all of His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you, and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle, and the offspring of your flocks… Deuteronomy 28:1-4:

This is the overcoming, victorious life that God desires for all of His children, and these are the blessing He wants us to continually live in. Some people think that God uses sickness to teach them something. But when you read the above verses, you see that there was no mention of sickness or disease in God’s list of blessings.

God desired the Israelites to be in health. He wanted them to be obedient to his commands in order that they could walk in all His blessings. But He warned them that if they didn’t keep His Law, penalties for disobedience would come upon them. The consequences for not keeping the Law are listed in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. If an Israelite kept the entire Law, he would be blessed. If not, curses would come upon him. This is what Paul calls in Galatians 3:13, “the curse of the Law.”

However, this is absolutely not the case for you and me. We live under a new and better covenant. And although there is a penalty for sin, God laid that entire penalty on Jesus. We do not get what we deserve. The blood of Jesus shed on the Cross was the hefty price that was paid for all mankind.

Satan wants you to accept punishment for your sins. He wants you to endure sickness, and he tries to make you believe that you deserve it. He knows that the penalty for sin has already been paid; he just doesn’t want you to know it. But now you know the Truth. Receive what was already obtained for you on the Cross and walk in all the blessings of Deuteronomy 28.

God’s Confidence

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

Hebrews 10:35: During His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructed the people not to pray like the heathens who use vain repetitions, “…For they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matt. 6:7). When you continually ask God for something that He has already given you, you’re really indicating that you don’t believe you received it in the first place. And we receive according to our faith.

Jesus told His disciples to believe they received their petitions when they prayed, not when the condition changed. (Mark 11:24.) You have to absolutely determine in your heart not to sway from God’s promises, regardless of the situation.

The reward for keeping your confidence in the Word is the manifestation of your healing. Circumstances, symptoms, and the experiences of other people will tempt you to cast aside your confidence. But when God’s Word is your final authority, nothing can sway you.

Declaration of Faith: No matter what my circumstances look like, I do not sway from the Word of God. It is the final authority in my life.

God’s Instruction

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders for the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up…

James 5:13-15: James, the brother of Jesus, gives specific instructions to those who are sick. He tells them to ask the elders in the church to anoint them with oil and pray for them. If you are sick, it’s your responsibility to ask for prayer. You shouldn’t expect the elders to come to you.

James goes on to say that your prayer must be in faith. God does not answer “if it be Thy will” prayers. We already know what His will is regarding your healing. And God only responds to faith. “If it be Thy will” prayers only disguises for doubt and unbelief. The prayer of faith says, “Father, I know that you have provided for my healing, and I know that You want me to recover fully. I ask for and receive by faith Your healing power into my body.”

Declaration of Faith: I receive healing when the elders of my church anoint me with oil. I receive my healing by faith in God’s Word.

God’s Price

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5: Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

1 Peter 2:24: The Apostle Peter and the Prophet Isaiah both viewed the Cross but from different perspectives. Isaiah looked into the future and saw the finished work of Calvary. He said, “…by His stripes, we are healed.” Peter witnessed the Cross firsthand. He looked back at what Jesus had already done and said, “…by whose stripes you were healed.” Now when you read the Word, you can know with full assurance that your healing has already been provided and paid for.

Declaration of Faith: By His stripes, I was healed more than 2,000 years ago. I receive and stand in what Jesus did for me. In this, God is glorified.

God’s Triumph

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 34:19: Some Christians seem to think that just because they are born again, they should never experience any type of problems. We all know this does not happen. We see from this verse that the righteous—and that includes you and me—have many afflictions. In this life, at one time or another, everyone will encounter problems in his or her physical body. We have God’s promise, however, to deliver us from every affliction. This is great news! It doesn’t matter how big or small the problem; God is more than able to deliver us, and He causes us to triumph every single time. If we don’t quit, we always win.

Declaration of Faith: No matter what comes against me, God always causes me to triumph. (2 Cor. 2:14.) I stand in the victory that has been bought for me through Christ Jesus.

God’s Promise

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:7: This verse promises that when we resist the devil, he will flee. The works of the devil include sickness, fear, and premature death. Many Christians are waiting on God to do something about the devil, but God did everything that needs to be done. He sent Jesus to the earth to defeat Satan. When Jesus descended into hell, He conquered the devil and stripped him of the authority he had stolen from Adam. Jesus completely humiliated Satan and made a public spectacle of him. (Col. 2:15.)

James also admonished us to submit to God. This means that we are obedient to God’s revealed will. When God shows you course corrections to make in your life, are you quick to make changes? We have to submit to God completely, not just in areas that are convenient or comfortable. Course corrections could be things such as not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, or readily forgiving people who have wronged you. When you do what the Lord instructs, the Holy Spirit is able to show you things that may be blocking your healing. Sometimes these are only minor adjustments that you need to make in order to receive the manifestation of your healing. So be quick to obey the leadings of the Holy Spirit.

Declaration of Faith: I submit to God and am quick to obey His instructions. I stand firm and resist the devil. He has no choice but to flee.

God’s Protection

Psalm 91 is a psalm of deliverance, rescue, and protection. It encourages us to put our trust only in God. I encourage you to confess this personalized version of the psalm every day. Allow the Holy Spirit to minister hope and faith to you as you read the words aloud.

I dwell in the secret place of the Most High and rest under the shadow of the Almighty. You are my refuge and my fortress, My God, and in You I put my trust. You deliver me from the traps of the devil and from every deadly pestilence. You cover me with Your feathers, and under Your wings I take refuge; Your truth is my shield and buckler. I will not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand; but it shall not come near me. Only with my eyes shall I see the punishment of the wicked. Because I have made You Lord of my life, my refuge, and my dwelling place, no evil shall befall me nor shall any plague come near my dwelling; for You will give Your angels charge over me, to keep me in all my ways. They bear me up in their hands, lest I dash my foot against a stone. I tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent I trample underfoot. You made a promise to me that because I have set my love upon you, you will deliver me; You will set me on high, because I know Your name. When I call upon You, You will answer me; You will be with me in trouble; You will deliver me and honor me. With long life You will satisfy me, and show me my salvation.

Healing Bible Verses

The Bible speaks often of miraculous healing through the work of Jesus Christ and faith in God. Our Lord is able to provide both physical and spiritual healing, and wants to do that for you!

When you are overwhelmed with health problems, bad news, or relationship struggles, the Word of God can be your source of supernatural help. Don’t give up! God promises greater things in store – a future filled with promise and hope! This collection of Scriptures on healing will provide encouragement, strength, and comfort as you focus on God’s healing power.

Scriptures about Physical Healing

It is evidenced through both Old Testament and New Testament Scripture that God does have the power to heal our physical bodies. Miraculous healings still happen today! Use these Bible verses to talk to God about your pain and to fill your heart with hope.

“Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14
“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” James 5:14-15
“He said, “If you listen carefully to the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” Exodus 15:26
“Worship the LORD your God and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you…” Exodus 23:25
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5
“But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the LORD” Jeremiah 30:17
“See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.” Deuteronomy 32:39
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.” 2 Chronicles 7:14-15
“You restored me to health and let me live. Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.” Isaiah 38:16-17
“I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the LORD. “And I will heal them.” Isaiah 57:18-19
“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.” Jeremiah 33:6
“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3 John 1:2
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelations 21:4

Spiritual and Emotional Healing Scriptures

Sin, abuse, neglect, rejection, betrayal…all cause great emotional and spiritual pain that hurt just as physical pain does. God, our Great Physician can completely heal our broken hearts and bind our wounds, healing and making us whole. Spiritual and emotional healing is often a process with steps that we need to put action behind. Use the following Bible verses to guide your heart and mind toward full recovery.

“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.” Proverbs 4:20-22
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 7:22
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
“LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” Isaiah 33:2
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:6
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

Healing Verses from Psalms

The Book of Psalms is a collection of cries, prayers and praise. The authors of each chapter experienced every struggle, heartache and fear imaginable. This collection of comforting verses will help guide you toward whole and complete healing.

“Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.” Psalms 107:19-21
“LORD my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.” Psalms 30:2
“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.” Psalms 34:17-22
“Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” Psalms 103:2-4
“Have mercy on me, LORD, for I am faint; heal me, LORD, for my bones are in agony.” Psalms 6:2
“The LORD protects and preserves them— they are counted among the blessed in the land – he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.” ~ Psalms 41:2-3
“I said, “Have mercy on me, LORD; heal me, for I have sinned against you.” Psalms 41:4
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3
“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalms 23
“Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me; LORD, be my help.” You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy” Psalms 30:10-11
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalms 73:26

Three Biblical Steps to Healing Your Spiritual Wounds

Question: “What does the Bible say about healing?” Answer: Isaiah 53:5, which is then quoted in 1 Peter 2:24, is a key verse on healing, but it is often misunderstood and misapplied. “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 healed.” The word translated “healed” can mean either spiritual or physical healing.

However, the contexts of Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 2 make it clear that it is speaking of spiritual healing. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). The verse is talking about sin and righteousness, not sickness and disease. Therefore, being “healed” in both these verses is speaking of being forgiven and saved, not physically healed.

Question: “What is divine healing?” Answer: Divine healing involves a supernatural act which resolves a physical, emotional or spiritual problem. In a Christian context, the supernatural element is God, many times through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

New Testament Divine Healing

Approximately one fifth of the Gospel narrative is devoted to Jesus’ healing ministry. At the start of His ministry, Jesus “went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people” (Matthew 4:23).

Later, when Jesus sent His twelve disciples out to preach the gospel, He gave them authority to heal the sick (Luke 9:1-2). After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, the apostles continued healing many (Acts 5:12-16). Acts records a number of healings by Peter, John, and Paul (19:12; 28:8-9).

Christian Divine Healing Today

Concerning divine healing today, there are a couple different schools of thought. Some Christians believe the gift of healing (1 Corinthians 12:9) ceased along with the sign gift of tongues. This position is called cessationism. Other Christians believe all of the sign gifts are still in use today.

While we take the cessationism view, we do believe that God is still “the LORD who heals” (Exodus 15:26). He has not lost His ability to heal, and His love for His people has not diminished. Divine healing may come through traditional medicine or through direct intervention by God in response to prayer. Or, if God wills, wholeness may not come until the ultimate healing in heaven. God is the Great Physician, and all healing, physical, emotional, and spiritual, belongs to Him

Question: “What is the spiritual gift of healing?”

Answer: The spiritual gift of healing is the supernatural manifestation of the Spirit of God that miraculously brings healing and deliverance from disease and/or infirmity. It is the power of God that destroys the work of sin and/or the devil in the human body, such as the healings that Jesus and the disciples performed (Matthew 4:24; 15:30; Acts 5:15-16; 28:8-9). The gift of healing given to the church is primarily noted in 1 Corinthians 12, where the spiritual gifts are listed.

Spiritual gifts are powers, skills, abilities, or knowledge given by God through the Holy Spirit to Christians. Paul tells the church that the purpose of the spiritual gifts is to edify other believers and, ultimately, to glorify God. God gives these gifts for His use, but in the Corinthian church, they were apparently a type of status symbol or being used to indicate superiority. Interestingly, 1 Corinthians 12:9 refers to “gifts” of healing in the plural, which may indicate that there are different gifts of healing. The gifts of healing could mean a very wide range of skills or abilities. This could be from the power to do miraculous or dramatic healing, like making the lame walk, or the use or understanding of medicine. It could even be the ability to empathize and show love to others to the point of healing an emotional wound.

There has been much debate about the usage of the spiritual gift of healing among Christians. Some believe the gift of healing and some other sign gifts are no longer operative today, while others believe the miraculous gifts are still in use today. Of course, the power to heal was never in the gifted person himself/herself. The power to heal is from God and God alone. Although God does still heal today, we believe His healing through the gift of healing belonged primarily to the apostles of the first-century church to affirm that their message was from God (Acts 2:22; 14:3).

God still performs miracles. God still heals people. There is nothing preventing God from healing one person through the ministry of another person. God can certainly intervene in whatever manner He sees fit, whether in “normal” fashion or through a miracle. Our salvation itself is miracle. We were dead in sin, but God entered our lives and made us new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). That is the greatest healing of all.

Faith Healing today? Yes!

Does God heal today? Can we expect to see miraculous healings in our modern, high-tech world? Yes! My desire in this Bible study is to show from the bible’s healing Scriptures that God is both able and willing to heal the sick, the diseased, and the infirm. Many of our spiritual leaders have personally experienced this blessing of divine healing. So have millions of others. Multitudes of books have been written on what is variously called faith healing, spiritual healing, divine healing, healing prayer, healing ministry (and other similar expressions). And genuine healing testimonies abound of God’s supernatural power to heal bodies well.

But the foundation for this truth lies not so much in men’s experience — as wonderful as that may be — but in the Scriptures, the Word of God. So let’s turn now to the Bible to see its revelation of this great truth of spiritual healing. (Explanatory note: the terms “spiritual healing,” “divine healing,” and “faith healing” are essentially used interchangeably in this bible study.)

Sick believers don’t need to remain sick!

James 5:14: Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him…

James was writing to Christian believers (2:1). He asked them if any of them were sick. It is a “given” of life in our fallen condition that our bodies on occasion tend to sickness, and eventually they die. However, as the verse directly below points out, it is also a “given” for the believer that God is Jehovah-Rapha, “the Lord who heals you.”

Exodus 15:26 God said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.”

God identified Himself to Israel in a variety of names and ways. Here He revealed Himself to His people as “Jehovah-Rapha” — “the Lord who heals you.”

Healing is not just something that God “does.” No, more than that, healing is part of God’s very nature — “I AM the Lord who heals you.” God was, is, and will continue to be a Healer. Remember always that you serve a healing God who has declared that His intent towards you is “not to bring on you any diseases … but to be the Lord who heals you.”

God is FOR us, not against us, in the matter of healing.

God’s heart towards His people is health and healing. See, for example, the following Scriptures on healing:

Exodus 23:25-26 Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

Deuteronomy 7:11-12, 15 Therefore, take care to follow the commands, decrees and laws I give you today. If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your forefathers…. [15] The LORD will keep you free from every disease. He will not inflict on you the horrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but he will inflict them on all who hate you.

Acts 10:38 …how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

God’s spiritual healing power extends to ALL our diseases and infirmities.

Psalms 103:2-3 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.

The greatest of the Lord’s “benefits” is that He forgives all our sins! But the Psalmist here charges us not to forget another of the Lord’s benefits — that is, He “heals all our diseases.”

ALL our diseases! None are too hard for Him. God heals them all. No illnesses are excluded from this great “benefit.” Whatever disease you or a loved one may have, it falls under God’s promise to “heal all your diseases.”

Jesus died for both our sins and our sicknesses.

Isaiah 53:5 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 healed.

1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

It was Jesus’ willing offering of Himself on the Cross that bore our sins. But the very same tormented body of Jesus, in His scourging and crucifixion, purchased for us the blessing of divine healing — “by His wounds you have been healed.”

And notice the differences in the verb tenses used by Isaiah and Peter. Isaiah, prophetically seeing this seven centuries before Christ, said, “By His wounds we are healed.” The apostle Peter, looking back to Christ’s historical death and resurrection, declared, “By His wounds you have been healed.” Jesus cried out from the Cross, “It is finished!” Sin has been overcome. Sickness has been overcome. The Cross of Jesus Christ has conquered both sin and sickness. Dr. Roger Sapp, whose CDs and DVDs on healing I have greatly enjoyed, strongly emphasizes that healing is ours because of what Jesus accomplished at the Cross. Jesus Christ the Savior is just as surely Jesus Christ the Healer.

The following are some of the numerous instances of divine, spiritual healing in the Bible. Let’s see what insights we can learn from them.

God responds to prayer for healing.

Genesis 20:17-18 Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, for the LORD had closed up every womb in Abimelech’s household because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.

Numbers 12:13 So Moses cried out to the LORD, “O God, please heal her!”

The principle here is simple — faithful Abraham prayed, and God healed. Moses prayed for leprous Miriam, and God healed her.

King David understood the power of prayer for healing the sick — “O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me” (Psalm 30:2).

The ongoing principle seen here and elsewhere in the Bible is the power of a believer’s prayer. God honors and answers prayers for healing. Abraham, Moses, and David believed in God’s healing power and His willingness to heal, and they prayed for it. And God was faithful to answer! Jesus taught on this same power of a believer’s faith-filled prayer:

Matthew 21:22 “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

And it’s OK with God if our prayers for healing are deeply emotional!

2 Kings 20:1-5 (King James Version) In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

Serious illnesses can be emotionally devastating. King Hezekiah was “sick unto death.” To make matters worse, the prophet Isaiah brought him the Lord’s message that this illness would be fatal. Hezekiah’s reaction is very illuminating for us.

The Bible reveals to us that, having learned that his illness was terminal, Hezekiah “wept bitterly” as he “prayed unto the Lord.” Note that God regarded both Hezekiah’s prayer and his emotions — “I have heard thy prayer; I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee.” It’s OK with God if we are quite emotional in approaching Him with our healing needs.

Now let’s look at some examples of Jesus healing the sick, the infirm, the diseased, those in pain, etc.

Jesus healed a broad range of illnesses — in fact, He healed “every disease and sickness.”

Matthew 4:23-24 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and HEALING EVERY disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.

Christians serve a healing Savior, Jesus Christ. His heart, as here, is for “the people.” The Gospel records abound with illustrations of the healing miracles of Jesus among the masses, the men and women on the street. He preached and taught, yes. But He also “healed every disease and sickness among the people.”

“Every disease and sickness” — Christ’s healing power is without limit. His healing touch is available to everyone. There is no illness beyond His ability to cure. He healed them all, including:

Those “ill with various diseases”
Those who were “suffering severe pain”
The “demon-possessed”
Those “having seizures”
Those that were “paralyzed”

So don’t hesitate to bring any healing need to Jesus, because in His ministry of healing, He demonstrated His ability and His willingness to heal “every disease and sickness among the people.”

Jesus’ healing power was prophesied in the Old Testament.

Matthew 8:16-17 (King James Version) When the evening was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

God had this in mind all along. The prophet Isaiah spoke of it seven centuries before the New Testament era:

Jesus would take up our infirmities.
Jesus would bear our diseases.
Jesus would “heal all that were sick” to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah.

Be encouraged to reach out to Jesus for your healing.

Matthew 14:35-36 And when the men of that place had knowledge of Jesus, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

Verse 36 “…all who touched him were healed.”

Our part is to reach out and touch Jesus for healing. Bring your sick ones to Jesus. Encourage them by faith to reach out and touch Him, because then, as now, all who touched Him were healed.

Don’t pray the leper’s prayer; pray Jesus’ answer!

Mark 1:40-41 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”

Do not establish your healing doctrine on the leper’s cry, “If you are willing.” No, but rather build your faith for healing on Jesus’ confidence-building reply, “I AM willing!” Fix this thought firmly in your soul — Jesus IS WILLING to heal those who come to Him in faith.

BELIEVE the Lord for divine healing. Have FAITH in His power and willingness to heal you.

Matthew 9:20-22, 27-30a And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour…. 27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us. And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And their eyes were opened.

A principle of great importance is seen in these verses — that is, “thy faith hath made thee whole … according to your faith be it unto you.” Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” But conversely, we are told, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matthew 21:22). God expects us, in asking for healing as well as in other prayers, to believe Him, to believe His word, to “have faith in God” (Mark 11:22). Divine healing is quite appropriately called “faith healing”!

I remember the late Kenneth Hagin saying that he had seen many healings in a no charismatic, fundamental church early in his ministry. He said he simply preached “faith and healing” and people got healed! He understood that key: faith is an indispensible ingredient in divine healing.

God may ask us to demonstrate our faith for spiritual healing.

Matthew 12:10, 13 And a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”… [13] Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other.

There may be times when the Lord will ask you to show your faith, to give observable evidence of your faith, as in the case of the man whom He told to stretch out his withered hand.

Healing comes through faith in Jesus, not faith in faith.

Acts 3:16 By faith in the name of JESUS, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Healing comes “by faith in” someone — JESUS! Over the years I have heard sincere Christians misdirect their faith. Some have fallen into the error of having “faith in faith.” No! Our faith is in a Person, Jesus, who heals. Others have properly searched the Scriptures concerning healing, but have unfortunately been content to use them merely as a “formula” for healing, rather than as a revelation of the Healer Himself. “Faith healing” is not primarily believing the doctrine of healing (true as that doctrine is), but believing in the Healer, the Person — that is, in Jesus Christ.

Peter understood the proper object of our faith — Jesus! He told his listeners how the lame man had been healed:

Sometimes we may need to “walk” for a while in faith, and then the healing comes.

Luke 17:12 and as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

This is a very reassuring verse. Notice that the lepers were not healed the moment they prayed. No, but rather they were healed “as they went” to show themselves to the priests in obedience to Jesus.

There may be times when we need to “walk” for a while in faith, and then the healing comes. Although many healings in the Bible were instantaneous, some were not immediate. Be willing to maintain steadfast faith as you pray for divine healing, and don’t be discouraged if your healing does not immediately occur.

Don’t pray, then doubt!

In his epistle James reveals a valuable principle for the person asking something of God — “When he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord” (James 1:6-7). When you ask God for healing, don’t doubt! Don’t waver! Believe God. Believe the healing promises of His word. Reject doubt, choosing rather to say, “God is true … His word is true … so my doubts must go!”

Now let us look at HOW healing is ministered to people.

By prayer, as we have already seen.
By a spoken word. John 4:49-51: The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down here my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.

Even at a distance from the nobleman’s home, Jesus spoke the word: “Thy son liveth.” And the man “believed the word that Jesus had spoken” and returned home to find his son alive. There is healing power in the spoken word of faith.

Acts 9:33-34 There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.

Again, we see the power of the spoken word of faith. Peter simply declared the truth: “Jesus Christ heals you.” And the miracle of healing followed immediately. Tell the sick, “Jesus Christ heals you.” Make no apologies for that statement. Don’t doubt it. Don’t try to water it down. As the old saying goes, truer words were never spoken!

Acts 14:8-10, And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

Once more we see the healing power of the spoken word of faith. The preaching of the word of God inspired an atmosphere of faith. Paul “perceived that the lame man had faith to be healed.”

How did the lame man come to this place of having faith to be healed? The answer is that he heard the word of God spoken by Paul. This is a vitally important principle for all churches and all Christians. Preach the word. Teach the word. God’s word will inspire faith in the hearers. And we will begin to see dramatic healings in response to the spoken word of faith — “Stand upright on thy feet!”

By the laying on of hands. Acts 9:10-11, 17-18, And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus…. [17] And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

First notice that it doesn’t require an apostle to heal the sick; It doesn’t require someone with a special healing ministry to heal the sick. Verse 10 identifies Ananias simply as a “disciple.” Mark 16:17-18 records Jesus’ promise to all believers — “And these signs will accompany those who believe…. they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Led by Jesus in a vision, the faithful disciple Ananias found Saul and announced to him that Jesus had sent him to heal Saul’s blindness. It is important for those who are sick to understand that Jesus is able and willing to heal them.

Then Ananias laid his hands on him, and Saul’s eyes immediately received sight again.

By filling the needy person’s heart with the faith-building, life-giving word of God.

Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.

The words of the Lord, as recorded in the Bible, are life-giving. Jesus said that His words “are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). One of the most inspiring CDs I have ever listened to was simply a collection of healing Scriptures read aloud by a pastor. I could feel the word of God building faith.

But the Proverb reveals another dramatic benefit of keeping the Lord’s words “within your heart”, and that benefit is health — “My words …[are] health to a man’s whole body.” The secular world speaks of “alternative health”. But the best source of alternative health — or any aspect of health is the sure promises of God in His word, the bible.

Through what have been called “prayer cloths.”Acts 19:11-12 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them;

Many churches continue to pray this way for sick family members and friends who live at a distance. I endorse this practice wholeheartedly.

Generally, during the post-service altar ministry someone will hold a handkerchief over which believers will come and pray for healing for the person in need. Then the handkerchief is mailed to the sick person, along with some faith-building scriptures on healing (usually including Acts 19:11-12) and an explanation that believers in the church had prayed for them for their healing. Testimonies abound of people being physically healed in this way.

Some years ago in a church in Uganda, I was touched to see a medical doctor holding a prayer cloth on behalf of a sick person of his acquaintance. As I joined with the others in prayer, I thought to myself, “Here is this Christian doctor, with all his scientific knowledge, humbly asking the Great Physician to do something better than medical science can do it.” My faith was encouraged.

A merry heart contributes to our receiving spiritual healing. Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (King James Version) A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

The margin of the New American Standard Bible says that a joyful heart “literally, ‘causes good healing.’ ”

Think of that — the state of our “heart” — referring here to the emotions, not the bodily organ — can substantially affect our good health or lack thereof. This has long been common knowledge in the medical field. Sometimes illnesses are diagnosed as “psychosomatic” in origin. Interestingly, the word psychosomatic comes from the same Greek words that the Bible uses for “soul” and “body.” So medical science agrees with the Bible that the state of our inner man or woman can substantially affect our physical health, for good or for bad;

The word of God says that a merry heart “literally causes good healing”! There is a direct, cause-and-effect result: merry heart —> good healing. Conversely, a broken or crushed spirit has a negative effect on our health (it “dries up the bones”).

One of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) is joy. Those who allow the presence of the Lord in their lives to bring a daily, inward joy will also reap the wonderful promise of their “merry heart doing good like a medicine.”

There is healing in “the Lord’s Supper,” the Communion. 1 Corinthians 11:29-30 For anyone who eats and drinks [the Lord’s supper, vs. 20] without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

“That is why many…are weak and sick.” Why? They take Communion “without recognizing the body of the Lord.” They forget 1 Peter 2:24 — “By his wounds you have been healed.” They participate in the communion service, perhaps needing a physical healing, and remain oblivious to the fact that Jesus’ body bore both our sins and our sicknesses.

I would encourage every reader to ponder these things the next time you take communion. Remember what Jesus’ broken body has done for you. Receive the benefits of that by faith. And expect divine healing to come to your body, even during the very communion service.

By calling the elders of the church to lay on hands, anoint with oil, and pray for you. James 5:14-15 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up.

An important doctrinal point on a related topic — it’s important for each church to have elders. Otherwise, there are no “elders of the church” for the sick to call for prayer and anointing with oil. Can you identify the elders of your church?

It is always considered a privilege to respond to calls from the sick. The process is simple and will generally be something like this:

The sick person, or someone on their behalf, calls an elder to come and pray.
That elder contacts another elder or two to accompany him.
Those elders anoint the sick person with oil and pray the “prayer of faith”
That being done, God’s promise is: “The Lord will raise him up.”
In some instances, divine healing comes as demons are driven out. [NOTE: The Bible does not indicate that demons can inhabit Christians.]

Matthew 17:15, 18 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water.” [18] Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed from that moment.

It is important to remind ourselves that this healing was before the Cross of Christ, so the boy was not a born-again person, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. I find no Bible evidence that a born-again Christian can be possessed by a demon.

Here the boy was clearly possessed and had a demon within (verse 18 — “it came out”). The demon’s presence was manifested by the boy having seizures. When Jesus cast out the demon, the boy was immediately healed.

You too may encounter some instances of afflictions suffered by unsaved people that are caused by demonic power. As in the case of Jesus curing the epileptic boy, healing may come as you drive the demon(s) away in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 13:10-13 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

This is a similar instance to the healing of the epileptic boy. The woman had been literally “crippled by a spirit” for 18 years. Jesus acknowledged (verse 16) that Satan had bound her and that she needed to be “set free.” He ministered that deliverance to her, and she was immediately healed from her crippling condition.

Sometimes healing comes from what would seem to us to be rather unusual, even remarkable, methods. John 9:6-7 Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the blind man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

Acts 5:15-16, Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them; There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Jesus spit, made mud, and put it on a blind man’s eyes. And when the man washed his eyes, he could see! Sick people were laid in the streets, and when Peter’s shadow passed over them, they were healed.

These and other extraordinary healings were not written to give us a “pattern” of how to minister to the sick. In fact, neither of these instances was repeated in the New Testament. These are simply manifestations of the multifaceted power of God to heal. As we have seen in items 1-10 above, God heals in a variety of ways. The common denominator in all is this: God does heal! And is by faith;

WHO may be used to bring divine healing to those in need?

Ultimately, spiritual healing in all instances proceeds from God.
The early apostles healed. Matthew 10:1, 8 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness…. [8] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Acts 3:6-7 Then the apostle 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 strong.

A larger group of seventy-two disciples was sent by Jesus to heal the sick. Luke 10:1, 8-9 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go…. [8] “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick that are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’
In the Great Commission, Jesus encouraged all believers to heal the sick. Mark 16:15-18, And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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.

The Great Commission is for all believers to share the Good News of Jesus “in the entire world.” And God will confirm the Gospel with supernatural signs, including healings. And the Gospel that He will confirm is not spoken just by apostles and other ordained ministers, but also by “them that believe” (17). Every believer can share the Good News and can minister divine healing to the sick. Jesus’ encouragement to every believer is (18): “Lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.”

There are some Christians (not all) who are especially empowered by the Holy Spirit with “gifts of healing.”1 Corinthians 12:7-11, But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another diverse kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

This list is commonly called the nine spiritual gifts or gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are supernatural gifts with which the Holy Spirit endows individual Christians to minister to others.

One of these nine is “gifts of healing.” It is given to some, not all — notice: “to one is given … to another … to another … to another the gifts of healing …”

1 Corinthians 12:28-30a And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing?

This is a similar list of spiritual gifts and ministries, indicating that to some God distribute the specific “gifts of healing.”

Let me add a side thought before our summary. It is this: Faith does not preclude our using wisdom and taking normal antiseptic, antibacterial precautions. For example:

2 Kings 20:7 Then Isaiah the prophet said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered.

Luke 10:34 “He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.” The wine, containing alcohol, would have an antibacterial effect.

1 Timothy 5:23 “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses;” Apparently, in context, for the alcohol’s antiseptic properties when poured into contaminated water; It seems that germ-laden water was giving Timothy recurring stomach problems.

SUMMARY: God’s heart is for healing. It is a “benefit,” as is the forgiveness of sins that Jesus secured with His death, burial, and resurrection (Psalm 103:2-3). It is a historical “ancient landmark” of both the Old and New Testaments.

Jesus healed again and again while He walked the earth. And He remains “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Jesus heals today!

Biblical healing methods vary, and they include healing prayer, the laying on of hands, the spoken word, and anointing with oil by praying elders, among others.

Jesus has entrusted the healing ministry to His Church. The first apostles healed the sick. So did a large group of disciples. In the Great Commission, Jesus encouraged all believers to lay hands on the sick for healing. And there will be some in the churches whom the Holy Spirit will endow with specific “gifts of healing.”

Exodus 15:26 I am the Lord, who heals you.

Psalms 103:1-3 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits; who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.

The Three Types of Healing in the Bible;

Man was created in the Bible as a triune being. What I mean by that is that there is more to a human being than meets the eye.

He was created in the image of God and has 3 parts. He has a body, a soul, and a spirit.

So since man has 3 parts to his make-up, he also has 3 parts of him that at one point or another may become sick or in need of healing.

The Bible talks about all three of these types of healing.

The first type of healing in the Bible is spiritual healing.

Spiritual healing is when the human spirit becomes damaged and ill from the effects of sin in our lives.

Now do not think that I am the type of person that points fingers at people. I am not! I have had more than my fair share of sin in my life and have seen the devastating effects of it.

Sin, in it’s simplest definition means missing the bulls-eye on a target. When we miss it, we cause harm to our human spirit and cause spiritual illness.

Spiritual healing then is the renewal and restoration of the human spirit. This is what is talked about by Jesus when He said a person must be born again.

This healing comes when a person receives forgiveness from God by accepting the forgiveness offered by God when they start a personal relationship with Jesus.

Even for the Christian, forgiveness is something that needs to be maintained on a regular basis. If not, then once again our spirit will become ill and wounded.

This is one reason why some people become spiritually proud and religious rather than walking in humility knowing that they are no better than anyone else, just forgiven.

They have forgotten their need to maintain a constant flow of forgiveness.

The second type of healing is emotional healing.

Emotional healing or the healing of the soul, is where a person no longer has an emotional reaction to either the sins that they have committed or the sins that have been committed against them.

When we sin, we feel guilt. Guilt is not just a fact but it is an emotional reaction.

When somebody else sins against us, we feel all kinds of emotions, anger, shame, bitterness, etc. Emotional healing is when you no longer react with those emotions when you think about or remember what you did or what others do.

King David after being confronted about his sin of adultery and setting up the death of Uriah, got honest with God and received not only spiritual healing but emotional healing. In Psalm 32 He says

Psalm 32:5 5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt.

I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Not only was David forgiven but He also received the removal of the feelings of guilt. He was emotionally healed.

The third type of healing is physical healing.

I know that physical healing can be a controversial subject. If all I knew about physical healing was the circus acts I see on Christian TV, I would throw it out too!

However I do not get my inspiration and beliefs from Christian TV. I get it from the Bible and for better or worse, physical healing was God’s idea.

He is the one that said He was the Lord that heals us. (Exodus 15:26} And it was Jesus who fulfilled the prophecy that was made concerning the coming messiah that said the messiah would take all our sicknesses and carry all our diseases.

It was Jesus who said that one of the signs that would follow believers is that they would lay hands on the sick and they would recover.

So physical healing was God’s idea, not some creation of television evangelists. They just took it and used it for their own motives and gain.

How Are the Three Types of Healing Connected?

These types of healing can be connected to one another. What I mean by that is that one may lead to another or one may prevent another. This is not always the case, but many times it can be.

Spiritual healing can be connected to emotional healing. Just as we saw with the example of King David, he received emotional healing after he received spiritual healing. Many times I have found that you are not released from the torment of being emotionally wounded until you first get things right with God and receive forgiveness yourself from God. It is pretty hard to give something that you have not received in the first place.
Many times I have seen people get healed physically after they have dealt with an emotional wound. A person who is bitter and angry at someone has a much harder time trusting and believing God will heal them physically than does the person who has dealt with trust issues. How can you trust a loving heavenly father to heal you if you still have in the back of your head the idea that those in authority let you down?
Sometimes it is just the grace and compassion of God. There have been many times I have seen that the grace and compassion of God poured out on someone who is not a believer but receives physical healing lead to spiritual healing and the person getting their life and heart right with God. It is the goodness of God that leads a person to repentance.

So as you can see, we need all 3 types of healing to be understood and offered to this world. It truly is an important subject that Jesus modeled for us while He was here on this earth.