Three Essential Elements of Physical Healing

Luke 5:17 "One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing." 

In the four gospels we see Jesus performing roughly 35 miracles, many of which were physical healing.  When studying either the Gospels, the Book of Acts or New Testament letters, an interesting question arises: what is the nature of physical healing? Recently I was asked some questions about physical healing and took the person to Luke 5:17-26, which gives one of the clearest accounts of the ingredients and pattern of physical healing in the Bible.  In today's post we are going to consider three essential elements of physical healing: Power of God, Presence of faith and the Purpose of God.  

1. The Power of God to heal.  Luke 5:17
The scripture plainly tells us in Luke 5:17 that "the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing." Whenever there are prayers offered up on the behalf of sick people, the one thing we should never doubt is God's ability to heal.  In order for any healing to take place, God's power has to be present.  Even though Jesus Christ was and is God in human flesh, he chose to submit Himself to the will of His Father.  God's power to heal was present and the text tells us there was a second crucial element present, namely the presence of faith.

2. The presence of faith to receive healing. Luke 5:18-20, 25
Luke 5:20 states - "Seeing their faith, He said,“Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”  Earlier in the account some people had brought this paralyzed man on a stretcher to a house where Jesus had been teaching some crowds.  The crowds were so thick that the friends of the man could not bring him through to where Jesus was.  So by their effort they hoisted the man upon the roof of the house, undoubtedly broke through the roof and lowered the man on the stretcher down to where Jesus was teaching. (Luke 5:18-19) Jesus saw their faith and the faith of the paralyzed man and forgave his sin and healed his disease. (Luke 5:25)

God's purpose, not the presence of faith, is the determining factor in healing
Now here is a question: was the man's faith the reason for his healing? This is a very important question because I am sure you have heard it said by some people that the reason why people don't get healed is for lack of faith.  Let me say right up front that the amount of faith has nothing to do with whether or not you get physical healing.  Faith certainly is needed to receive healing, however the presence of faith alone does not mean that you or I will get healed.  The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:1-9 was afflicted by a thorn in the flesh or "messenger from satan" after he had witnessed a series of visions in the third heaven.  Paul relates how he asked God three times to deliver him from the demonically inflicted ailment.  But the Lord told Him in 2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

If we were to really believe that the amount of one's faith was alone responsible for physical healing, then we would have to conclude Paul had no faith - which would be ridiculous at best!  God's power to heal is never at issue, however God may have another purpose in mind.  The presence of faith, though necessary to receive healing, is not the decisive factor as to why people get healed or do not get healed.   So then that leads us to the third element involved in physical healing: God's purpose.

3. The purpose of God decides whether people are physically healed. Luke 5:21-26
Jesus says in Luke 5:24 But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.”  I underlined the phrase "so that" in the passage to show Jesus' point: namely the purpose for why the man got healed.  Anytime you see the phrase "so that" in the Bible, it speaks of purpose.  God had a purpose in this episode - to demonstrate Jesus' inherent ability to forgive sins. (Luke 5:24) Miracles of physical healing are designed to point to spiritual realities that are connected to God's character and saving purpose.  God's purpose was present to heal as well as His power.  

What would had happened if God had chosen not to heal the man? Would the man's faith, great as it was, brought about the healing? No. 
Faith in an of itself is a receiving grace. God's purpose is the decisive factor.  Again I have heard many well-meaning people and Bible teachers misguidedly say that it is always God's purpose to heal.  Really? If that were the case then obviously everyone would get healed that we pray for.  However, is physical healing always the greatest purpose? Only God can make that determination.  In the instance of this man, it was God's purpose, however in the case of Paul's ailment in 2 Corinthians 12, it was not.  God used Paul's frailties to accomplish great things for the kingdom.

Conclusion:
Today we have looked at the subject of physical healing and have considered three essential elements: Power of God, Presence of faith and the Purpose of God.  We have seen that God's power to heal is never in question.  Furthermore, the presence of faith is necessary to receive the healing, however faith by itself is not the decisive factor. The third element of God's purpose is the decisive factor in healing.  People who do not experience physical healing, even after much prayer, must remember that it is not due to the amount of faith, or lack thereof, but rather the purpose of God.  If anything, God's power to sustain the person in the illness can position that person to be used greatly by Him to bear witness to others about Jesus.   

P4 - God's Greatness in Psalms and Romans - Election, faith and salvation

Psalm 105:4-8 "Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. 5 Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth, 6 O seed of Abraham, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones! 7 He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. 8 He has remembered His covenant forever, The word which He commanded to a thousand generations."

We have been exploring the theme of "God's Greatness" in Psalms 90-106 and Romans 11-16.  In today's post we will take one final look at this theme by noting how it functions particular in the Biblical teaching of election, faith & salvation.  

Greatness of God in salvation seen in God's electing purpose of grace

In Psalm 105-106 we see what the Baptist Faith and Message calls "God's Purpose of electing grace" as the basis for Israel's calling and identity. Roughly 100 times is God's electing purpose mentioned in the Bible.  We find three references to God's "chosen ones" in these two Psalms. (105:6,43; 106:5)  Once we see reference to Moses as God's "chosen one". (Psalm 106:23)  Then of course with reference to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, we see demonstrated God's purpose of elective grace. (Psalm 105:8-24)  Article V of The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 explains this truth: "Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. "  

Man bears the responsibility for rejecting the Gospel

So then, if anyone rejects the Lord and His offer of the Gospel and dies in their sins, who is to blame?  Scripture spells out pretty clearly that Israel was at fault for the consequences of their rebellion. (Psalm 106:6)  Mankind is responsible for the rejection of the Gospel, and God is credited for the reason behind a person freely choosing to believe the Gospel. (Acts 13:46-48, Ephesians 2:8-10)  

How people are able to believe and remain in their salvation

So if God's purpose of Grace explains why anyone gets saved, then how is anyone able to believe and remain in their salvation? Psalm 105:1-15 and  Romans 15:4 tells us that by the word of God proclaimed in the Gospel do people believe and remain firm in their faith.  Romans 10:17 plainly states - "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."  Upon such hearing, all those who call upon the name of the Lord in saving faith will be saved. (Romans 10:13) So then Who gets the credit? Jesus Christ in His grace and Word is the author and finisher of faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2) Because of God's grace, a person truly and freely believes and is justified by faith alone or credited with the righteousness of the Lord. (see Psalm 106:30-31)  

God's Sovereignty in salvation points to His great saving power in Jesus Christ.  

Only God can design a salvation wherein His Sovereignty and human responsibility are present without contradiction.  If anyone rejects the Good News of Jesus Christ, it is because of their doing.  Today thank God for your salvation and His choosing of you. (John 15:16; 1 John 1:9)  Secondly thank Him for His Word which brought you to the point of choosing Him and sustains you in His salvation. (Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; James 1:17-18)  Thirdly pray for your unsaved loved ones and friends that that they would respond by grace through faith and be saved to the glory of God. (Romans 9:1; 10:1; 1 Timothy 2:1-3; 2 Peter 3:9-10) 

P3 - God's Greatness in Psalms and Romans on a personal level

Psalm 103:1-4 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion.  

As we continue in our series on the greatness of God, we will look at how God's greatness affects the soul of the Christian.  What we meditate upon the most will mold how we make our daily decisions.  

Meditating on the greatness of God

If you ever wanted Biblical reasons as to why you should talk to yourself, then Psalm 103 and 104 are the chapters for you.  At the beginning and end of each of those Psalms we see this phrase: "bless the Lord Oh my Soul".  What is the soul? Your soul is your center of self-awareness.  You are a three-part being: a soul that is wrapped in a body that contains another invisible area called "the spirit".  

(1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 4:12) 

You do not merely have a soul - you are a soul.  As a soul - you have a thinker called the mind, a feeler called emotions, an expression of convictions called your conscience and a chooser called the will.  As you grow in grace, you are to tell your mind what to think your emotions how to feel and your will what to choose. (Philippians 4:6-9; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Joshua 24:15)  The Psalmist here in Psalms 103 and 104 is telling himself to think and reflect on God's Greatness in times past and in the scriptures.  The Psalmist is instructing himself to be mindful about what God is doing in the creation around him.  As you train your soul to get in order with what God said, and regard your selfish desires to be dead, only then can you move on ahead in God.  

Making Godly decisions that will honor the greatness of God

Whenever you come to Romans 14, you discover a clear set principles for Godly decision making that can be useful in the process of training your soul.  What are those principles? Will whatever I am deciding to do: Enable me to live for Christ (Romans 14:8); Love my brother (14:13); Be led by the Spirit (14:16-17); Build-up God's work (14:19-20) and then finally, will this decision help or hinder my faith-walk? (14:22-23)  Whenever you sift your decisions through that five-fold grid, whatever comes out at the bottom, that is what you are to do.  My prayer today would be that you and I would take to heart God's greatness and let it affect our soul and daily decisions, so as to immediately obey the principles of His Word.  

P2 - God's Greatness in Psalms and Romans

Psalm 96:1-4 "Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. 3 Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. 4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods."

Yesterday we began reflecting on God's Greatness from Psalm 90-106 and Romans 11-16.  Today we continue our reflections as we aim to get our focus more on the greatness of our God. 

God's Purposes point to God's Greatness in Psalm 96,97 and 98

The three main events or Divine Purposes that mark true Biblical faith are: Creation, Redemption and The Lord's return to earth.  Old Testament saints affirmed the first and understood Redemption to be the Promise of God to them.  The Lord's return was recognized as God's final defeat of evil and judgment at the end of history, where the saints for God would see their Redeemer with their own eyes in resurrected bodies. (Job 19:25-28; Daniel 12:1-3)  

New Testament believers affirm the same truths, but from the perspective of accomplished Redemption at Christ's cross and empty tomb.  For the New Testament saints, God the creator is affirmed, Redemption centers around the Person of Jesus Christ the Redeemer, Who is coming back. (1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 1:7; Titus 2:13)  In Psalms 96, 97 and 98 you see reference to all three sets of fundamental truths of creation, redemption and second coming.  All three themes constitute true Biblical faith and all three are used by the Psalmist to point to God's greatness.  

The Power of God's Holiness displays the greatness of God in Psalm 99-100

Psalm 99 presents to you the greatness of God's Holiness.  The Psalmist presents the holiness of God in the following fashion: the greatness of God in 99:1-3, the goodness of God in 99:4-5 and God's self-revelation in 99:6-9.   Whenever you consider God's Holiness, it is Who He is.  Holiness means He is in a class by Himself, Perfect and Unique.  The greatness of His holiness in Psalm 99 turns into the praise of His greatness in Psalm 100.  God's greatness of holiness is not only to be marveled at, but enjoyed by all those who by grace through faith believe on Him.  

The pleasure of God's goodness in Jesus Christ demonstrates the magnitude of God's greatness in Psalm 101-102

Psalm 101 then unfolds for you the Goodness of God, with Psalm 102 having the Psalmist, in a desperate situation crying out and finding hope in the greatness of God.  What makes Psalm 102 significant is the fact that Hebrews 1:10-11 quotes Psalm 102:25-26 as a way of pointing the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Practically living a life based on God's Greatness in Romans 12-13

Romans 12 meanwhile begins the practical section of the Book of Romans.  With the doctrinal foundation of Romans 1-11, there would be no motivation nor understanding behind living out the practical realities of Romans 12-16.  There are over 70 or so different "tender mercies" mentioned throughout Romans 1-11 that God gives to live out Romans 12-16. 

Romans 12 describes a church composed of Christ's people who are exercising their gifts according to His tender mercies.  The gifts of the Spirit listed in Romans twelve could be translated "the gracings of the Spirit".  Truly and significantly the Christian life begins by Grace, is sustained by Grace and will continue into eternity by Grace.  

Whenever you turn to Romans 13, you see Paul unfolding the relationship between God's Sovereign authority (13:1) and delegated authorities (13:3-4).  How you and I treat delegated authorities (such as government, law enforcement or spiritual) tells a lot about how we deem God's authority.  Romans 13:5-10 spells out the duty Christians have to authority and details how we are to live under such authority in 13:11-14.  By putting on the Lord Jesus Christ as instructed in Romans 13:14, we are setting our minds and life under the authority of God's Word.  In so doing, we acknowledge to Jesus Christ that He indeed reigns (Psalm 99), worthy of our praise (Psalm 100), All-good (Psalm 101) who will come back, reign on earth and transform the heavens and earth into a new heavens and earth. (Psalm 102:25-26; Hebrews 1:10-11; Revelation 21-22)