The Energy Crisis in the American Church

Chapter Six – Are Healing Possible Today?

The Gift of Healings and Christians Healings

The unrest in the world today, both inwardly in our mind and body, and outwardly in the states inundations, is causing many people to turn to the church. More and more people are coming into the church is that dot our countryside. But when these people come, one thing they want to do is to attend a church where, upon leaving, they know that they had worshiped God and had been made somewhat a better person. Such experiences, I feel, or causing many to re–examine their spiritual balances.

Consequently many people are feeling that they have not had a spiritual change in their lives for the past 5 or 10 years perhaps as one said, "Some are living on the horse and buggy faith in a day of rockets and satellites, spaceships and moonwalks!" Many are discovering for themselves, personally, that there is something different from the faith of yesterday and the faith that it is possible today. Further, people are discovering that the spiritual progress they are making in their lives is totally inadequate for the situations that lingers today. We are being assaulted on every side and if we don't have a faith that is updated, in yesterday's faith is not going to be sufficient for the faith of today's nuclear age.

So we are really need of a stronger faith. This comes when, instead of patching up the old faith that we have , we attempt to discover within our hearts a new type faith, a stronger thing. It is not that we need new glasses but we are in need of some new eyes, spiritualize, to behold a new love and to receive a new stage. If a Christian starts to deny and disbelief enclose the mind and heart in the adventure in that particular area is going to be lacking.

There is indeed in America the energy crisis. We are feeling it in the church as never before. We need to latch onto a new type state that would stand every one walking just a little bit higher than previously with uplifted just a little bit, so when temptations and problems are situations arrived they will not be able to overcome us.

I want to write about the spiritual gift of healing. Everyone of you, I will be safe to say, has some area within your life that is not as whole as to what you wanted to be. You do not have a disease are a great illness necessarily, but there are areas where you need a healing. I am fully convinced that I'm quite prepared to say that God is available today to heal everyone of us. He has the power to do it.

I read recently where a minister stood in a pulpit and said much the same thing. One person, that was a very close follower and a very close friend, walked out shaking his head and said, "Oh, my friend has gone off the deep end." I believe, however, that God's power today just as effective, just as charged, just as potent as it was when Paul was writing this letter in the late 50s to the Corinthian church.

He wrote to the church these words "Now about the spiritual gifts, the special endowments of supernatural energy, brethren I do not want you to be misinformed, therefore I want you to understand. There are distinct varieties and distributions of endowments, extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit. They vary, but the Holy Spirit remains the same. There are distinct varieties of services but it is the same Lord who is served. There are distinctive varieties of operations, of workings to accomplish things but it is the same God who inspires and energizes them all in all."

He goes on to say, "To one is is given in and through the Holy Spirit the power to speak a message of wisdom and to another the power to express a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same Holy Spirit. And another wonderworking status by the same Holy Spirit and to another the action on powers of healing by the one Spirit." If you are following in the King James translation or others, you will find the word "gifts of spirit". In verse 28 and verse 30, the only three occasions where the word is mentioned, healing that is, it is preceded by the word "gets".

And it is in the world, it is not singular as all the other gifts in their listing this is significant as it shows me that as people have given the gifts, they are given different gifts of healing because they are different types of diseases Paul in speaking to a group of people who have a church situation which might not be unlike ours today in that some people are saying, "I don't see any difference between some members of service clubs and those who are members of the local congregation". Does that sound familiar. The people of the Corinthian church couldn't see the difference in some people. So they sent word to Paul, "help us out" and they listed of some of the things that were of bother or a burden to some of the people and so he writes.

We must remember that these people to whom he is writing are people who had suddenly been snatched out of the shackles of paganism and ushered into the kingdom. These people were enthusiastic about their religion. I mean as enthusiastic as some are about sports. The people could see this as when these people became Christians it meant something to them. Paul is writing to these people, expressing to them for example a list of gifts he had in mind that tactfully and persuasively putting them into sorter order of value. Meantime he has something to say about their origin, and read about that in First Corinthians, chapter 12 he says "Men may be equal in God's sight, but they are not equal in respect to their endowments." Some are more gifted than others some have been given five talents, some 1 talent and some greater mental ability. Others had more imagination, creativity and what have you.

This particular gift of which we are speaking, the gift of healing is a gift that is given to a person, not necessarily because of his own choosing but it is determined by the Spirit therefore there can be no ground for pride to what is entirely a matter of grace. Let me say for a parenthetically, as we go into 4 points that we are talking about a person who prays, for example, praying for healing. Plus a person who has been supernaturally endowed with the gift of healing.

What Jesus Said and Did

Let us see what Jesus said and did about healing. We turn in Matthews, chapter 10 and we read in verse 8 words like this: "Men, women, go out, cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and drive out the demons. Freely, without pay, you have received, and freely without charge you give."

He sent His men out with the instruction to heal the sick. They would have healing clinics that we read about in Matthew 9. These gifts that were given to the apostles were resident in them. I feel, and contrary to some perhaps, that they are not always available for us due to ourselves. If you are given a gift, you are given a gift. If God gives you a gift, He is not an false giver, He has given you the gift. You have it within you, but you may not be able to exercise that gift at all times. Paul could not do it at all times. With his own thorn and with Timothy, for example, yhet he had the supernatural gift of healing. The reason that people today who have been given the gift of healing as well as the disciples who were given the gift of healing, could not heal was because there wads a blockage in their channel.

After Jesus' resurrection He spent forty days on the earth, there is not one report of a miracle. But then we find all of the believers involved in this and many performing these miracles. Jesus said in John 14:12 some very disturbing words. He said, "I assure you, and most solely I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things I do." Now either we believe it is God's word or we take out this one verse. "If you believe in Me, you will be able to do the things that I do., And He will be able to do even greater things than I do because I go to the Father." Now these are words are for you. They were words for the men and women of that day. Greater works, not absolute exertion of power, but effects of those works.

For example, accomplishments that are made today are: devotion, endurance, gallantry, heroism. The impact and impression of Jesus are far greater, we are extending in so many different realms and doing minor works in Jesus. But the work that He has for us to do includes healing The Church has forgotten this. Further, we will talk about why the church has forgotten this. But the gifts of healing are the gifts of supernatural healing for injuries, handicaps and diseases without the aid of natural means or human skills and they are manifestations of the Holy Spirit working compassionate human channels to the person in need.

Mark 16, "And these attesting signs will accompany those who belie34ve. In My name they will drive out demons. They will speak in new languages – they will pick up serpents, they will lay their hands on the sick and they will get well."

Anyone has within them the power of God, if that one is a believer, to heal. Now there are reasons why people are not healed and we will discuss that in just a moment. But the is a difference between any one of us having this ability to heal, because of our faith and because of our praying, and that one who has that supernatural gift of which we have been reading in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12.

Any believer can pray and any believer can see healings. Many of you have prayed for people to be heeled and your have se3en healings. But after you come to that place in life when you are re4ally latching on to God's spirit, there is a greater intensity of healing being seen.

Old and New Testament Healings

Let us look, if you will, at some of the Old and New Testament experiences and just in passing mention a few. When you read them you may remember as you were taught in your Church School, or heard about in sermons.

First of all in Exodus 15:26 the word says "Il am the Lord God that heals you." No qualifications. Psalm 103:3, "God forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases." Exodus 23:25 says that your bread and your water will be blessed and I will take sickness away from the midst of you." You say then, "Why aren't all Christians well?" I will answer that in just a minute Look at the Old Testament healings. We are not talking about miracles, we are talking about healings. Moses and Aaron with the brazen serpent, the prophet of Judah with Jeroboam's withered hand, Elijah and Elisha restoring health to a child.

In the New Testament, to mention just a few there are 19 cases of healing in the book of Acts alone. And remember the book of Acts was written by an M.D.. Paul, who had possession of these gifts, took with him a medical doctor. There was Peter's wife's mother, who had a very high fever, Lepers were cleansed, a paralytic was healed, there was a man who had a withered hand restored, lthe dead were raised to life, an issue4 of blo0od stopped, the blind healed, the deaf and dumb were cured, a woman was healed of a special infirmity and dropsy was nealed. On and on we can mention where healing took place. So the Old Testament and the New Testament tells us all about it.

Healings Today

Why does God allow sickness? Why does God allow bloodshed in war and illness and strife?: What is God doing about it? The reason God allows all these things to happen is very simple. Because He has given to each one of you myself included, a free apart. And that is the answer to why God allows all of these things.

You may quickly say, "Why doesn't He intervene?". He has! He has intervened when He sent Jesus. He sent His Son to intervene, to overcome sin, to overcome evil, to overcome hatred, to overcome jealousy, to overcome bloodshed, warfare, suffering, sickness and disease. He has overcome this in the power of Jesus, in the person Jesus. And further, He has given each one of us the power, the real power, to win victory over sin and over diseawse. You know, I think somehow or another we are discovering or re–discovering something that the Christian Church possessed in the early days and that for a long time, perhaps, has gone by the wayside, oreven completely lost.

That is regarding the Church's stand toward healing. Perhaps the Church became so convinced that salvation was number one, which it is, do not misread me, that they forgot that our body needs healing as well as our soul. Our Christian Scientist friends, and I have some very dear, close friends who are Christian Scientists practictitioners, perhaps had it right in a respect when they talk of this and emphasize it, but I think they have have it wrong when they devote all of their attention to the healing. Maybe this would be an incentive to and a challenge for othe Christian Church to re–discover, to preach and practice the "Full Gospel", which includes healings.

Modern developments in the field of psychology and in that scarcely explored realm of spirit that lies beyond the physical, is helping us to reemphasis the old–time practice of the church. There are many people who are ill because of themselves. Doctors have told me regarding certain patients in the past. There is nothing medically wrong with them."

They should be well, but are not." This goes back to the individual. Many an individual has died, who physically speaking, had every reason to recover from the sickness. For some reason, known only to that person and God, maybe they lacked faith. But faith and power go together right here which reinforces the physical and the spiritual. Our human personality is made up of physical, it is made up of mental and of the spiritual elements so should be treated as such.

A Look at James 5:14 & 15

There are healings taking place today. One reason is because as we turn to the fourth consideration in the book of James. "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of 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 man, and the Lord will raise him up and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."

"The sick are suppose to call for the elders of the church." Not the apostles, the leaders. The pastor may be out of town making a hospital call or may be on vacation or attending a conference. So the sick person calls for the people of the church who have distinguished themselves in a particular fashion in healing. They are to call upon them. The word is, "The pray of faith will save them that are sick, and the Lord will resort him, and if he has committed sins he will be forgiven." He goes on to say that are supposed to call for the elders, they will come and lay hands upon them and they will become well.

The problem with our churches today is that we are so geared for the pastor doing everything that those who possess powers to do things sit back and let the pastor do it. This is why I feel we are slanting so far away from the early practices of the New Testament Church. Incidentally, the scripture says here they are not suppose to wait until the pastor comes to them, they are supposed to call for these people to come. It has always been amusing to me that when people get sick they immediately call for the medical doctor but they never call the pastor or elders. Then they wonder why he has not been there to visit. If we pastors had some kind of magical power to know who is sick and where they are it certainly would be great. They immediately call for the medical doctor and then may complain, as has been the case often times in other churches, that the pastor has not visited the sick people.

They are supposed to take the initiatives, the scripture says and make the first contact. Then there is going to be some praying done for them as a means whereby divine favor has been received. One who prays for himself and has others to pray for him has a better chance of recovery than he who has missed the hope and stimuli that prayer can bestow.

The Bible says oil was supposed to be used. There is some discussion today about the use of oil in healing. Some say oil should be used others say it should not be used. There was nothing magical about it anyway, it was just simply symbolic in its use. Well, oil was used. Oil is used today in southern Arabia to a great extent. People bathe themselves in oil. It helps close up the pours. Sailors use oil because much of their body is exposed to the sun and it has a healing property.

Perhaps there is something here that we are4 not understanding about healing. If we pray too God it is God's will that people all be well. But obviously everyone is not going to be well. So, when you hear me pray for sick people, or when you pray for sick people, never conclude by saying, "Lord, if it be Your will." because it is God's will that all be made well, whole and perfect. The problem is that we say words like this that could well take effect away from our praying We will touch about this in just a moment in our conclusion.

The best way is to begin to pray for sick people. Ask God to use you in this way and then step out in faith. These people it would seem in James' writings were men and women who apparently had no great, official position in the Church, not otherwise distinguished among their fellow members, but upon whose hand had been bestowed this special charisma of healing. But it is conditioned jupon the faith of the reciprocant. Faith in human agents as well as in God and ourselves is required.

Let me share with you some words in Acts, chapter 3. Peter and John wewre going to the temple in the hour of prayer, in was 3:00 in the afternoon. "A certain man who was crippled from his birth was being carried along, who was laid each day at the gate of the temple which was called Beautiful. There he asked for love gifts from those who entered the temple. When he saw Peter and John going into the temple, he asked them to give him a gift. Peter directed his gaze intently at him and so did John, and they said "Look at us,." The man paid attention to them expecting that he was going to get something from them. Peter said "Silver and gold, money, I hae none of, but what I do have I give to you in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk." He took hold of the man's right hand with a firm grip, raised him up, and at once his feet and ankle bones became strong and very steady. "Leaping forth, he stood, and he began to walk and went into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God."

The point I want to make is this, the man had faith in these men and the men did not cause the healing, but, became the channels through which this healing took place. Now, the qu4estion that is in the mind of more than one is "Why are not all healed who turn to Jesus?" The list is endless, but may I just give you two suggestions. The first is unbelief. I think of a man who is undergoing a blood transfusion in a hospital. He realizes that the situation is critical. I look over, in my mind's eye and I see his wife sitting over there, wringing her hands and distraught, "Oh, what is happening?" He sees this and he picks up vibrations from his wife. Unbelief! Whereas, on the other hand, if his wife is sitting over here with a wonderful, radiant, radiant, buoyant, believing look on her face, he picks this up and he responds. He has belief. Belief is important because unbelief is one reason why everyone is not healed that turns to Jesus.

You take the four men who had the friend that couldn't walk. They believed Jesus could heal him. They went up on the roof of the home where Jesus was preaching, they even pulled back some of the awning so that could let him downs by means of four ropes in front of Jesus. Jesus healed the man. He healed him because of the faith involved.

The second reason that everyone is not healed is because they ask to be healed in the wrong way. Lord, do it my way!! I want to be healed this way,. Jesus came to the man who had the withered hand and He said, "Stretch it out,.": "I can't" "It hurts.". "Stretch that hand out." "Oh, I can't. I can't do it." Unbelief and the wrong way. I don't want pain. You take, in the Old Testament, the case orf Naham and Eklijah. Elijah was asked to heal this man of his leprosy. The man believed that this prophet of God could heal him,. He went to Him expecting a miracle of healing and when asked what to do, the prophet of God said "Go down to the old river and bathe yourself." The audacity of the minister to tell me to do this. And so, he stomps out and doesn't get healed. Finally he comes back, saying to himself, "I expected that man to wave a magic wand or I expected him to jump up and down, or do something. But he tells me to take a bath,." He was told that seven ducks in dirty water will do the trick. He did and he was healed, but it was not his way,. We have wanted things our way and this is the problem.

In Conclusion

May I say this, the early church was alive with healing and there is evidence in writings of such men as Origan, Irenaeus andr Tertullian, but it gradually dropped off. Why? Loss of faith, lack of faith, lack of spirituality, perhaps ignoring the Christian Gospel for both the body and the soul. Nevertheless we today, must reassess the Christian Gospel, knowing that it is for both.

Recent groups have come upon the scene, faith healers, but most of the healing that is done today takes place within the context of the Church and the context of medicine. The two go together. Paul went about with a physician. To the Christian Church today we must reaffirm that the Christian Gospel is health as well salvation. Jesus came to overcome. We were born into sin because of Adam and Eve. We don't have to do anything wrong, it was already done; we have barren born into it. So Jesus is what God did about it.

Whether hands are used or not, whether it is an extension of one's faith or not, healing gores beyond the reason, healing goes beyond the intellect and the emotion, and God comes and heals. And God can heal today because your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Follow me carefully, it is perfect love, perfect serenity, joy, stability, health and wholesomeness. l Now this is not a denial of your aches and pains or yo8ur disease or your illnesses. Jesus accept the reality of the sin and the disease so we must picture the victory over it.l We must visualize God's Holy Spirit at work within us. We must see in our spiritual eyes, some way, His power flowing through our blood stream, cleansing infection through your nervous system, through every cell of your body. And then you must say, "Lord, heal.": "Lord heal": You be specific about what you are asking and for whom. Then with faith believe and thank God for it, but if you keep on saying, "Lord, please heal this," then this can become a part of your sickness. It could cut off the possibility of healing.

So you say, "Lord heal me." You don't say, "If it be Your will," because it is His will that you be heale4d. The only time you say, after a prayer, if it be Your will is when what is to happen is a result of your mechanism, yourself. In the case of healing, God heals the person. But in the case of asking for direction, for example, you are involved, then very definitely you must say, "Your will be done" but when your are talking about healing, you should say "Lord, heal." The healing prayer should be short and direct and then follow it with a prayer of thanksgiving and faith because this spirit of thanksgiving unlocks the lock and starts the flow within.

May We Pray

There is much, our Father, that we don't understand. But this we do understand, that the Bible is Your Word and we are told to do certain things and when we don't see the things occurring, it is not Your fault. it is our fault. We pray, Our Father for new eyes to behold that type of a faith that is going to be revenant now and in subsequent days that follow Give us new insight into the power of Jesus who is present today to heal us of all our infirmities, to heal us for salvation and to heal us for health. Amen.