Should Healing Occur Instantaneously? - The Christian Online Magazine

The Christian Online Magazine -

Introduction:

Let me say this first…

I believe in the healing power of Jesus Christ. When I pray for someone I expect him or her to be healed right then and there. When I pray for myself I expect to be healed quickly and completely. With all this said, let me point out, there is still Biblical reasoning behind healing that takes a while to occur.

Yes, I believe that every child of God should be walking daily in excellent health, both emotionally and physically, yet it doesn’t seem to be quite that simple.

I like to pray for people, especially when the power of God is present to do so. But when someone doesn’t get healed immediately after I pray, I don’t question their faith, I question mine. We need to check ourselves first to see if we are walking in faith. To walk by faith, we must also walk by love. Not many are doing this it is sad to say. How can we expect to help someone receive their healing if we don’t first love them?

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (Galatians 5:6)

If we don’t have love, the faith we do have will not work properly.

A Time Frame Involved in Getting Well

There are several scriptures in the Bible that I hardly ever hear mentioned in regards to healing. And, although I believe that it is not God’s will for His children to continually stay sick, I do believe, in some instances, that there is a time frame involved in getting well.

The Man at the Pool

For instance, the man who waited by the pool of Bethesda for the water to be troubled by an angel had been crippled for thirty-eight years. Jesus however came along one day and the man was made completely whole. (John 5:1-9)

Point…

He was made whole when Jesus happened along but he had waited thirty-eight years for his healing.

The Woman with the Issue of Blood

Do you remember the woman who had the issue of blood? She had been to several physicians, spent all her money and had rather grew worse. Jesus happened along, she touched the hem of His garment and felt within herself she was healed. (Mark 5:25-34)

Point…

She had been sick twelve years before she was healed. But then Jesus happened along.

The Man Born Blind

And, what about the man that was born blind. All his life he couldn’t see until Jesus happened along and healed him. It doesn’t say how long he waited for his healing, but he was now of age and he had been that way from birth. So its safe to say a few years had gone by before he was healed. (John 9:1-7)

Point…

He had been blind since birth. A time frame was involved before Jesus happened along and healed him.

Lazarus Raised from the Dead

Lazarus was sick and his sisters went to Jesus and asked Him to come and heal him. But when Jesus heard of it He said, "this sickness is not unto death." So He abode two more days still where He was. However, Lazarus did die and it looked as if Jesus had lied. So, how could this be? Did Jesus care? Was He ever going to show up? Well, He showed up, but not until Lazarus had been dead four days. Talk about your time frame.

Nevertheless, Jesus raised him from the dead and showed forth, not only His healing power, but His miraculous healing power! (John 11:43-44)

Point…

Lazarus was awaiting healing in a tomb of all places. Now that is about as bad as it can get for anyone. Yet the end result was a miracle. And the end result is what matters most in our lives. Though the wait was long and difficult, Jesus did happen along and Lazarus was healed.

Keep in Mind Who Your Enemy Is

The devil cometh not but for to steal, kill, and destroy. But, Jesus came to give us life and more abundantly. (John 10:10)

As you read the Bible and apply those principles to your life, take note, the devil is the one causing your problems and Jesus is the One who is solving them.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3^rd John 1:2)

The above scripture makes it clear God wants us all well. So don’t give up in your search for healing because no matter your situation God’s healing power is eventually going to touch you, if you do NOT give up.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)

If we don’t give up, we will reap a harvest of healing miracles and blessings.

A Hindrance to Healing

Your Doubting Friends and Family

This has nothing to do with a time frame, it actually has to do with doubt, but not from you, it could be your friends and family delaying your answer for healing.

Did you know that Jesus put out those that doubted his healing power? He put the doubters out and healed this girl….

And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cu`-mi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. (Mark 5:39-42)

As you can see from reading the above scriptures that Jesus put out the ones that would have hindered Him healing this girl. You see, although you don’t have doubt in your heart when you are getting prayer in the prayer line, others standing by, which is usually your friends and family, could really be a hindrance to you. Put the doubters out! Whether it’s your friends or other Christian acquaintances.

Tip: Rid yourself of those who would hinder your healing or your work for the Lord. God cast satan out of Heaven because he was a hindrance. He wants to hinder you as well.

Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us. (I Thessalonians 2:18)

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (I Peter 5:8)

Another Hindrance to Healing

Many are weak and sickly….

I want to bring reference to the following scriptures pertaining to the Lord’s Supper.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (I Corinthians 11:28-30)

The last sentence is one that is well overlooked in regards to sickness. Notice it says, "…many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep…" Whoever thought that the Lord’s Supper could become a life and death situation.

When we partake of the Lord’s Supper we need to be careful to examine ourselves first and ask forgiveness of any sin we are aware of or unaware of, as the case may be. To carelessly partake of the Lord’s Supper could mean the loss of good health and even worse, the loss of life.

A Closing Thought

If you are sick and waiting on your healing, don’t give up, Jesus will happen by one day just as He happened by for the man at the pool and the women with the issue of blood. Your day is coming. Jesus will happen by just as we see in the case of Lazarus. Things may look bad, really bad, but hold on till He (Jesus) gets there. He will show up!

Darlene is Publisher and Editor of

The Christian Online Magazine

http://www.ChristianMagazine.org

darlene@christianmagazine.org