Healing And the Power of God

Healing is something that many in the Christian church wrestle with.  The wrestling has nothing to with whether healing is good or bad--everyone agrees that any healing from God is good.  But the question has to do more with trying to understand why healing happens sometimes and other times not.

I am not addressing that particular issue right now--instead, I want to point out something that is embedded in Scripture related directly to the healings that take place there.

In Acts 9:32-35 we see Peter praying for a man who had been paralyzed for 8 years.  This man was healed, but what I want to point out is verse 35: "All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord."
Then in Acts 9:36-42 Peter prays for a girl who had died--yes, you heard that right, who had died, and the girl was healed of her death (does that even make sense??).  But, again, focus on verse 42: "This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord."

You will see this again, and again in scripture--that where healing took place, people were brought to relationship with Jesus.

Now I believe that based on Matthew 7 God loves to give his children good gifts, so the healing that he brings to people makes a lot of sense just based on that.  But I think the problem we have sometimes is that we forget to see the bigger picture when it comes to healing.  Our sin makes us selfish, and the gifts that God wants to give us can be held onto for ourselves if we aren't careful.  It can become a little bit more about 'me' and a little less about others, and a little less about God!  But God shows us that the healings that took place in Acts served a much bigger purpose than just an individual receiving a gift--it was done so that people would take notice, and ultimately take notice of the One who did the healing!  People were saved because of the healing.

So when we pray for someone to be healed, rejoice that God desires to give good gifts to his children.  But don't forget that the healing that happens is to serve a greater purpose: to bring glory to God and to bring people into a saving relationship with him.

God is good.

So I want to bring a word of encouragement to all who are reading this today:  if you know someone who is hurting physically or emotionally, you can pray for them and believe for God to heal them.  The healing that will happen will be a blessing to the individual but also it will be a source of evangelism--so let it be that!  Let people know that God did an amazing thing and see what the Holy Spirit will do to draw them to Jesus.

May you walk in the power of God today and may you see him do the impossible--right before your eyes.

BT