MIRACULOUS HEALING Part Two
By Gail K. Kachnycz; 22 March 202, revised 17 February 2024
To review the context:
During our
journey through chronic illness and care-giving, there have been friends that
have told us that they are praying for miraculous healing for my husband's condition. A few have been close and dear friends who care about us deeply. We
appreciate these prayers. We also worship in a fellowship that believes that
the miraculous gifts of the Spirit are active in this modern time. However, Mike has never sensed from the Lord that it is His plan to heal
miraculously. The illness progressed through various stages of decline. First,
it was manageable and full employment was possible. Next, accommodations at
work were needed. Eventually long term disability status was granted in 2012.
Finally, all avenues of medical treatment were exhausted and hospice at home
began in fall 2018. Through all these events, we did not sense that the Lord
was directing us to pray for miraculous healing.
A miracle of healing can take place in this
day and age. However, it is not always the Lord’s plan for everyone. If that
were the case, people would profess faith in Christ simply to be healed of
cancer or any other debilitating or terminal disease. The ultimate goal of
faith is God’s glory, not man’s convenience or comfort.
My counsel to
people who want to pray for miraculous physical healing is this: seek the Lord
for His guidance in this matter. Be sure that the attitude for prayer for
healing is not actually denial of the disease. If this issue has been
addressed, and you still feel led to pray for miraculous healing, do so.
However, until that healing takes place, do not ignore the practical realities
of the illness that the person and family are facing. To paraphrase 1
Corinthians 14:15, pray in the spirit (for miraculous healing), but also with
understanding (for symptom relief and practical help).
If you are the
person experiencing chronic illness and have concerned family or friends
praying for miraculous healing, they may question why you are not doing the
same. If miraculous healing is not taking place, they may suggest that the
problem is either that there is unconfessed sin in your life, or that you don’t
have enough faith to be healed. These are deep issues. A brief
examination of both will be addressed. Sin connected to sickness was published last week. Today's topic is faith and healing.
LACK OF HEALING EQUALS LACK OF FAITH
There may be
prayer supporters who are praying for miraculous healing, who imply or state
outright that the reason physical healing has not taken place is because the
affected person does not have enough faith to be healed. Faith contributes to
healing, but the ultimate power rests with God’s sovereignty, and the ultimate
purpose is to bring glory to God.
The Bible does
record instances where deep faith is connected with healing. Luke Chapter 8
describes two such events. Luke 8:43-48 is the story of the woman healed of the
issue of blood. Jesus says to her, “Daughter,
your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:48) The same passage
describes the request by Jairus for Jesus to heal his daughter. When a
messenger brings news that the girl has died, Jesus says to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will
be healed.” (Luke 8:50) Jesus does restore her life.
Matthew 8 contains the story of the healing of the Centurion’s servant. The Centurion knows that Jesus need only say the word for healing to take place. “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, ‘Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.’ “ (Matthew 8:8-10). Matthew 15 records another instance of a gentile whose faith resulted in healing. A Canaanite woman requested that her daughter be released from demon possession.
He [Jesus] answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
He replied, “It is not right to take the
children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even dogs
eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. Matthew 15:21-28
However, lack of
healing does not mean lack of faith. Two men of great faith were plagued by
illness, and were not healed. One is the Prophet Elisha, and the other is the
Apostle Paul.
The life of Elisha is documented in 1 Kings 19 through 2 Kings 13. He was mentored by the Prophet Elijah and actually witnessed Elijah being taken to heaven in a fiery chariot swept up on a whirlwind. He advised kings and performed many miracles, but he was afflicted with an illness that eventually was the cause of his death. (2 Kings 13:14a) One of the most amazing miracles connected with Elisha actually occurred after he was dead. 2 Kings Chapter 13 records what happened:
Elisha died and was buried.
Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. 2 Kings 13:20-21
No faith was
involved in this miracle: Elisha had been dead so long that only his bones
remained, and the other man was also dead. God’s sovereign power was on
display.
The Apostle Paul
is well known to Christians. Initially a persecutor of believers, he became a
pillar of faith and was martyred in Rome. Paul was a zealous evangelist, making
three missionary journeys throughout the
Roman world. He was an able teacher, and under God’s inspiration wrote almost a
third of the New Testament. He performed miracles and even cloths that had
touched Paul brought healing when they were taken to the sick. However, Paul
himself had a chronic affliction.
In 2 Corinthians Chapter 12, Paul describes an encounter with God that is either a vision, or an actual transportation to heaven. Here was a man of immense faith. However, he notes something more important than these incredible experiences. The crux of the matter is noted in verses 7 through 10.
…Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Paul did pray for
the affliction to be removed. In fact, he prayed three times. However, he knew
that the ultimate goal was not his own health and comfort on earth, but
whatever would bring the most glory to God. By the same token, Paul was
sustained in his suffering by God’s grace. God provides His grace to us,
sufficient for whatever we are experiencing. Draw upon that grace, like water
from a spring with a never ending supply.
In conclusion, here is my recommendation for how to pray for miraculous healing, or how to receive those prayers. Have the attitude of the three Hebrew young men living in exile in Babylon. The king, Nebuchadnezzar, built a huge golden statue ninety feet tall, and required everyone to bow to it. These three men refused, obeying the commandment not to worship any idol. As a result, they were sentenced to be burned to death inside a furnace. Here is their response:
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:17-18
God is able
to grant miraculous healing. But even if He does not, His grace is sufficient.
Drawing on that grace, and remaining steadfast in faith, will bring glory to
God. That is our ultimate purpose.
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