“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 inequities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
-Isaiah 53:4-5
I still have yet to witness a profound miraculous healing. I have seen many people healed of small afflictions, and have seen serious illnesses healed over time, but never have I witnessed someone’s leg grow out instantly, cancerous tumors visibly dissolve, or the crippled walk. Despite having not seen, I still believe. It is a choice we all have to make, and yes it’s a choice. Satan tries daily to increase our doubt and wrap us up in the worldly reality that writes miracles off as impossible fantasies. For those that believe in God, satan tries to twist our view of Him, “is God really good?” we begin to question, “if He is good why would He let bad things happen?” Unfortunately most, if not all, of us have blamed God at least once, for something He didn’t do because we fell into satan’s trap and forgot who He is.
It is crazy how easily one can twist the Bible. Picking out verses here and there like a bag of skittles and tossing the more nasty or “offending” parts out. We see this happening more and more as people try to justify their sins and force God into their self-created box. I’ve even seen people take it as far as to believe that there is no hell or satan….no judgement at all for their actions. There are extreme opposites too, that live in the old testament and believe God to be constantly furious and unforgiving towards His creation. Both, I am happy to say, are not true. All it takes is looking at the entire Bible, not just the savory parts, for us to reaffirm who God is and what constitutes right and wrong.
The old testament, in so many ways, has many still bound. Just like the pharisees we gravitate towards laws and structure instead of the miraculous and spontaneous acts of God. If it wasn’t in their religious scrolls they instantly labeled anything new as from demons, giving credit to satan for what God actually did. They had studied the Word and held that as the complete picture of who God is, not realizing until late that God was still writing and revealing His nature to us. Even now, we do not know God completely, that’s what makes a relationship with him so much fun! He reveals more of Himself as we partner with Him. I didn’t know everything about my husband coming into marriage. I still don’t. We had been friends for years but even then I had much to learn about his heart and what living with him would be like. I honestly believe that to be one of the greatest joys of marriage, discovering one another more deeply. God is the same way.
Our God is miraculous! keep that truth in your mind when the world tries to tell you something else. God’s nature, heart, and intent are clearly expressed in the Bible, however do not limit God to only what you know. One thing I’ve heard through multiple testimonies is that God often works in ways we would never have guessed. We can’t be like Moses striking the rock (Numbers 20) instead of obeying how God wants to do something. We serve a God of infinite ideas and He loves expressing them through us, for the sake of our faith and trust, but also for the sake of those we minister to.
The new testament is what brings it home for us. In the old testament we see God as restorer and healer, then He sends His Son, who is restorer and healer..lastly Jesus dies for our sins/debt and is resurrected…before he returns to heaven He promises the disciples that they will be receiving the Holy Spirit in His place. Keeping that in mind lets look at what Jesus says earlier in John 14:12-13:
“I can guarantee this truth: Those who believe in me will do the things I’m doing. They will do even greater things because I am going to the Father. I will do anything you ask the Father in my name so that the Father will be given glory because of the Son.”
We will do even greater things than Jesus? Yes, it is now our commission to carry out, we are called to heal, restore, raise, cast out, and perform many other signs in the name of Jesus. What about the next part, “They will do even greater things because I am going to the Father,” In order for the Holy Spirit to come, Jesus had to ascend. He even tells the disciples that it’s better that He goes so that the Holy Spirit can come and rest upon them. It is through the Holy Spirit we receive power to do the miraculous. Remember, our debt has been paid, our old selves have died along with the old covenant. God is not mad at us, if he was that would mean that our debt has not been paid! Jesus is now alive in us, God sees Him reflected in each of His children. Now we are the ones called to heal and restore.
That is why I believe in the power of healing. Our God does not punish us with diseases and disabilities! Do not blame God for the works of the devil. “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) We live in a fallen world, however we have a weapon in the Holy Spirit. Through co-laboring with Him we can change the world. We are the ones called to release heaven’s realities on earth and destroy the works of the devil. But we have to say yes, we have to make a choice. Do you believe in the power of healing?
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the captives and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free…” (Luke 4:18)
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