Recently, I had a woman write to me seeking prayer for healing for both herself and her sister. It quickly became apparent that she had no idea how the process of healing works in the Bible. Instead, she was following dangerous doctrines that will never lead to healing.
A dangerous doctrine
Her pastor had told her she had to “Speak your healing into existence!”
Nowhere in scripture does such a practice occur. Never did a sick person have to speak their own healing into existence. This is a false and dangerous doctrine.
It places all responsibility onto the sick person. If they follow this doctrine and are not healed, then the pastor can simply brush it off saying they don’t have enough faith.
And yet in the scriptures there were many healings performed where the recipients had very little faith. As Jesus Himself said,
“…if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” (Matthew chapter 17, verse 20)
You don’t need much faith to be healed, but you do need some.
Furthermore, if the person believes they lack faith, they may fall into condemnation. They may think they are no good, lacking faith, not worthy of God’s healing power or His kingdom. But the scripture says:
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans chapter 8, verse 1)
So, this raises the question. How can I be healed today and what is needed to receive a healing from the Lord? There are three things required for healing to occur.
Faith
The first requirement is faith. You don’t need a lot, but you do need some.
Recall the paralytic who lay on the steps of the pool of Siloam. Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed, but the man’s response did not reveal much faith. He certainly had some as he believed he would be healed by entering the pool.
5 One man was there, who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" 7 The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me." 8 Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked. (John chapter 5, verses 5 to 9)
So, some faith, no matter how small is needed to enable a healing to occur.
Power
The second requirement is the power to heal.
The power to heal in all of the biblical healings came from God through the working of the Holy Spirit. Note that power went forth in this scripture.
28 For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well." 29 And immediately the haemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, "Who touched my garments?" (Mark chapter 5, verses 28-30)
It is clear that this woman had faith and the power to heal worked through Jesus even without His direct knowledge.
Authority
The third requirement is the authority to heal.
Both power and authority come from God and no man is able to take them. This is why a statement such as, “Speak your healing into existence,” is such a lie. It suggests that this sick woman can TAKE God’s power AND His authority to heal herself.
But the scripture tells us that the authority must be given by the Lord before any man can heal.
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. (Matthew chapter 10, verse 1)
Without Jesus giving His authority to heal, no healing would take place.
Summary…and one more thing.
These are the three things that are required if you want to be healed. You need faith to be healed and God must give the power and authority for the healing to occur.
But how can this be done today? We can’t take the power and authority, can we?
No, but God has given both power and authority to the Elders of the church to heal by anointing with oil and the prayer of faith.
14 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; 15 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. (James chapter 5, verses 14-15)
When we follow the processes that God laid down, rather than trying to take His power and authority, that is when He does His work and heals. So, if you want to be healed, follow the words of Jesus and the process He gave to the church.
Since retiring from work, John Lemmon now spends his time teaching, preaching and writing about the word of God, online and offline, answering God's call on him to “Speak to my people.” You can connect with John on Twitter (@JohnBLemmon) or on his website: freegiftfromgod.com/ or listen to his podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/the-free-gift-from-god-podcast/id1440682375