Lesson 261: "Healing, Faith and Mercy"
Healing, faith and mercy! Is there any way that we can separate these three? Divine healing is recorded in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament. Jesus was “The” instrument of divine healing while He was here on earth. Miracles of healing accompanied the ministries of the apostles and other believers who walked in faith. “And these signs will accompany those who believe; in my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison it will not hurt then at all; they will place their hands on sick people and they will get well” (Mark 16:15-18).Healing does not replace faith but rather compliments it by exposing the mercy of God. “Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am faint; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are in agony” (Ps. 6:2). God is pleased to extend His healing mercy to His people and Jesus repeatedly healed in response to those calling out for His mercy just as the two blind men called out; “have mercy on us, Son of David” (Matt. 9:28)! Faith is vital in receiving healing as shown to us by the Canaanite woman crying out; “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me” (Matt. 15:22-26-28). Here Jesus recognized the woman’s faith and healed her daughter. Another fact seen here is that we can call on Jesus’ healing power to heal others as Jesus honors the intercessory prayers of the righteous (James 5:16).
God showed His great healing mercy when He healed the barren womb of Elizabeth and she bore a son; the greatest of all prophets, John the Baptist (Luke 1:7, 57-58, Matt. 11:11).Jesus is our High Priest and awaits on the throne of mercy for His people to approach and ask with confidence for mercy and grace (Heb. 4:15-16). He knows our weaknesses because He who was without sin became sin for you and I and experienced every emotion and pain that we will ever have. Jesus wept (John 11:35); feared (Heb. 5:7); needed sleep (Matt. 8:4) and food (Mark 14:14) and allowed His body to be “killed” on the Cross. He will respond graciously to all your needs if only you will ask (James 4:2, John 14:14). We are to use healing as a testimony of the power of Jesus Christ. After Jesus healed the demon possessed man He told him to go and be a testimony; “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how he has had mercy on you” (Mark 5:19). Jesus Christ will show us the same mercy that we show others; “blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy” (Matt. 5:7). Being a good neighbor is showing mercy to a stranger in need when others have passed him by (Luke 10:29-37) but remember that God will not always put someone on the side of the road for you to find. You may have to search “inward”!
It is the Lord who heals (Ex. 15:26) and His power to heal is without limit. We serve a living, healing Savior whose mercy and heart are for the people (Matt. 4:23-24). Our part in this divine healing is to bring the sick to Jesus for healing (Matt. 14:35-36) and while you are standing so close to the Healer, reach out and touch His hem for your own healing. He is willing if you have faith (Mark 1:40-41) and we must fix this firmly in our hearts and minds. He is willing! Show your faith by showing and sharing a testimony about your healing; stretch out your hand (Matt. 12:10-13)! The prayer to heal the sick from a righteous person is powerful (James 5:14-16) and the righteousness comes from God and is by faith (Phil. 3:9). The message of salvation is confirmed and God also testified to it by signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to His will (Heb. 2:3-4). These gifts are listed in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and the gift of healing is included. The same Holy Spirit who gives these gifts will give the power to use them properly and effectively. The greatest mercy God shows is forgiving our sins but this mercy also covers healing (Ps. 103:2-3) so do not neglect your gifts (2 Tim. 1:6) and exercise the spirit of God given power.
1st Peter 2:24 says that by His wounds you HAVE BEEN healed and Isaiah 53:5 states that we ARE healed. This is past and present and not future! Jesus died on the Cross for our sins and purchased for us the blessing of divine healing. He also left us this promise; “if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer” (Matt. 21:22). The prophet Habakkuk spoke a prayer that is always good to remember; “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day; in our time make them known” (Hab. 3:1-2). We have all heard of Our Lord’s fame and the deeds of His Son Jesus Christ so let us rejoice that we have a healing Savior who will share the blessings of healing and show mercy to all the faithful.