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I. Where does sickness come from?
A. There was no place for sickness and disease in the original plan of God.
1. Upon completion of the work of each creation day, God looked upon it
with approval and saw that "it was very good!"
Genesis 1:31
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
2. God never intended for man to be sick in body, but rather that he have
physical health.
3 John 1:2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
B. However, with sin came sickness into the world, and "so death passed
upon all men..."
Genesis 2:17
but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Romans 5:14
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
II. Jesus undid at Calvary the deeds of the Destroyer (Satan).
1 John 3:8
He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
A. Through the work of the cross, the believer can attain physical health,
as well as the salvation of his soul.
Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely He has borne our griefs (Greek, Sickness, Disease) And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
Matthew 8:17
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:"He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses."
1 Peter 2:24
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.
B. Therefore, physical healing is closely associated in scripture with spiritual
deliverance and forgiveness of sin.
Psalms 103:3
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
Isaiah 33:24
And the inhabitant will not say, "I am sick"; The people who dwell in itwill be forgiven their iniquity.
Matthew 4:24
24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
Matthew 8:16-17
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:"He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses."
Matthew 12:22
Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw.
Luke 6:17-18
And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,
18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.
Luke 11:14
And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.
Luke 13:16
So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think of it--for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"
Acts 5:16
Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Acts 10:38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
James 5:15
And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
III. What are the spiritual requirements necessary for obtaining physical healing?
A. One must first have the desire to be healed.
Matthew 20:30-33
And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!"
31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!"
32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
33 They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened."
Mark 10:51-52
So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight."
52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
John 5:6
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had beenin that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?"
B. He must believe that God is able to heal him.
Matthew 8:10
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, "Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
Matthew 8:13
Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.
Matthew 9:2
Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you."
Matthew 9:28-29
And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you."
Luke 17:19
And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."
Acts 3:16
And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Acts 14:9
This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,
C. The promise of healing has always been conditional upon obedience
to God's commands. ("If .... ")
Leviticus 26 (Deuteronomy 28)
Exodus 15:26
and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you."
Exodus 23:25
So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.
Deuteronomy 7:12-15
"Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.
13 And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you.
14 You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock.
15 And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you.
Isaiah 58:8
Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
John 5:14
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."
D. Although the promise of healing was primarily intended for the people
of God, His healing hand of mercy may be extended even to the unsaved.
Jesus healed a man blind from birth whose only understanding of the Lord
was that He must have been sent from God (See John 9:35-37). The Lord
honored the extent of his faith and sought him out Himself (vv. 35-37), that
He might further reveal Himself to him. The man got saved and worshiped
God (v. 38).
IV. Did Jesus always minister immediate relief from sickness and disease?
A. Scripture shows that usually the healing Jesus ministered was received immediately.
Matthew 9:22; 15:28; 17:18; 20:34
Mark 1:31, 42; 2:12; 5:42; 7:35; 10:52
Luke 5:13, 25; 8:47;4:39; 13:13
John 5:9
B. However, the blind man was healed in two steps.
Mark 8:23-25
C. The ten lepers received their healing "as they went."
Luke 17:14
V. How was healing ministered in Bible days?
A. Through the laying on of hands.
Matthew 8:2-4, 14-15; 9:29; 20:34
Mark 1:41; 7:32-33; 5:23; 6:4; 7:32-33; 8:23, 25; 16:18
Luke 13:13; 22:50-51
Acts 9:12,17; 28:8
James 5:14
B. By the anointing of oil by the elders.
Mark 6:13
James 5:14
C. Through prayer.
Genesis 20:7, 17; 25:21
Numbers 12:13
I Samuel 1:7-19, etc.
I Kings 13:4-6
2 Kings 20:1-6 (Isaiah 38:1-5)
2 Chronicles 32:24
Matthew 21:22 (Mark 11:24)
James 5:15-16
D. Through fasting.
I Samuel 1:7-19, etc.
Isaiah 58:8, etc.
Mark 9:29
Acts 9:8-9, 17-19
E. By the teaching of God's Word.
Psalms 107:20 (Note: In the Hebrew, the present tense
is used: " ... sends ... and heals.")
Proverbs 4:20-22
Acts 8:5-7
F. By special miracles of God.
Numbers 21:8-9 (brazen serpent)
2 Kings 20:7; Isaiah 38:21 (lump of figs put on boil)
Mark 7:32, 3 (fingers put in ears of deaf)
Mark 8:22 (spit put on eyes of blind)
John 9:6-7, 11 (clay put on eyes of blind)
Acts 19:11-12 (handkerchiefs taken from hands of Paul)
Acts 3:7 (lame man lifted up by the hand)
G. By a creative word. (See Mark 11:23)
Mark 5:41 ("Arise!")
Mark 7:34 ("Be opened.")
Mark 9:25; Luke 4:39; 5:39 (Rebuked the sickness)
Luke 5:13 ("Be thou clean.")
Acts 9:33-34 ("Arise ... ")
H. Through simple faith in His promises.
Matthew 8:8
Mark 10:52
Luke 17:19
John 4:50
Acts 3:16; 14:9
Hebrews 11:11
I. By an individual's act of faith.
Matthew 14:35, 36
Luke 8:43-48
J. By obedience to a simple command.
2 Kings 5:10, 14 (told to wash in Jordan seven times)
Luke 17:14 (commanded to show themselves to the priests)
John 5:8, 9, etc. (told to pick up the bed and walk)
John 9:7, 10-11 (told to wash in pool of Siloam)
Acts 14:10 (told to stand up)
K. By practical advice.
I Timothy 5:23 (wine for the stomach)
VI. Are disease and sickness always the result of sin and rebellion against God?
A. It is true that sickness may be allowed by God as punishment for sin.
Genesis 19:11; 20:17, 18
Exodus 9:8-11; 32:35
Leviticus 26:16
Numbers 12:11; 21:5-7
Deuteronomy 28:22, 27, 35, 65
I Samuel 5:6, 9, 12
2 Kings 5:20-27; 15:5
2 Chronicles 26:16-21
Job 33:19-22, 29-30
Psalms 25:18; 107:17
Zechariah 12:4
John 5:14
Acts 13:10-11
James 5:15-16
Revelation 16:2
B. But this is not always the case.
1. The physical ailment may be simply due to old age.
Genesis 27:1; 48:10
2 Samuel 19:35
2. It may be due to the sin of one's parents (See 2 Samuel chapter 12;
I Kings chapter 14), but not always (John chapter 9).
3. When Jesus healed the man blind from birth, He made it clear
that the physical defect had not been the result either of his parents'
sin or the sin of the one afflicted. It was only "that the works of God
should be manifest in him."
John 9:1-3
4. Paul's companion in the gospel (Epaphroditus) was "sick nigh unto
death... for the work of Christ." It was not due to any sin in his life,
but because the work of the ministry was so demanding.
Philippians 2:25-30
5. Job was declared "perfect and upright" in the sight of God (ch. 1:1, 8;
2:3), but God allowed Satan to afflict him tremendously (ch. 2:7, ).
6. Through the healing of Aeneas' paralysis the entire cities of Lydda and
Sharon turned to the Lord.
Acts 9:34-35
VII. God is not limited in His ability to heal.
A. It doesn't matter how long a person has been afflicted by the sickness.
1. He can heal those afflicted from birth.
John 9:1, etc. (blind man)
Acts 3:2 (lame person)
Acts 14:8 (the cripple)
2. He can heal those who have been suffering from the same sickness
for years and years.
a. Eight years. Acts 9:33-34
b. Twelve years. Matthew 9:20-22 (Luke 8:43)
c. Eighteen years. Luke 13:11
d. Thirty-eight years. John 5.5
e. Since childhood. Mark 9:21
3. He can even heal those who are at the point of death.
2 Kings 20:1-6 (Isaiah 38:1-5)
2 Chronicles 32:24
Luke 7:2-10
Philippians 2:27
4. If necessary, God can even raise them from the dead.
I Kings 17:17-23
2 Kings 4:32-35; 13:21
Luke 7:12-15; 8:49-55
John 11:43, 44
Acts 9:37-40; 20:9-12
Hebrews 11:35
B. It doesn't matter what type of disease or illness the person has, either.
1. Jesus healed "all manner of sickness and all manner of disease
among the people." He went forth "healing every sickness and every
disease ... "
Matthew 4:23; 9:35; 11:5; 12:15; 15:30-31; etc.
2. The following diseases are some of those recorded in scripture
where God healed the afflicted.
a. Blindness.
Matthew 9:27; 20:30-34
Mark 10:46-52
b. Lame; cripple.
Matthew 21:14
Acts 3:2; 14:8-10
c. Deaf.
Mark 7:32; 9:25
d. Dumb.
Matthew 9:32, 33; 12:22
e. Atrophy (withered hand).
Matthew 12:10-13 (Luke 6:6-10)
f. Speech defect.
Mark 7:32-35
g. Dropsy.
Luke 14:1-4
h. Leprosy.
Numbers 12:10-15
2 Kings 5:6-14
Matthew 8:3
Mark 1:40-42
Luke 5:12-13; 17:12-14
i. Fever.
Matthew 8:14-15 (Mark 1:30-31; Luke 4:38-39)
Acts 28:8
j. Paralysis (palsy).
Matthew 4:24; 8:6-13; 9:2, 6
Luke 5:18
Acts 9:33-34
k. Insanity; mental illness.
I Samuel 16:14-23; 18:10 ("Prophesied," v. 10, should
more correctly be translated "raved.")
Matthew 4:24; 17:15-18 (Luke 8:26-39)
l. Hemorrhage .
Matthew 9:20-22 (Mark 5:25; Luke 8:43)
m. Barrenness.
Genesis 17:15-21; 20:17-18; 25:21; 30:22-23
I Samuel 1:6-7
Judges 13:2-3, etc.
Luke 1:5-25
n. Boils.
2 Kings 20:7 (Isaiah 38:21)
o. Dysentery.
Acts 28:8
C. When Jesus ministered healing to a person, it was a complete work.
Mark 7:35 (The man began to speak plainly.)
D. The only thing by which God is limited in His power to heal is our own
unbelief. Scripture says that in one place Jesus "could do no mighty work
... because of their unbelief."
Mark 6:5, 6 (Matthew 13:58)
James 1:6, 7
VIII. Why do people sometimes not receive their healing?
A. It may be due to a lack of faith.
James 1:6, 7
B. Sin or disobedience may be the barrier.
Psalms 66:18
Isaiah 59:1, 2
Jeremiah 5:25
John 9:31
C. It may be because of a wrong motive (James 4:3; Mark 8:11;
Luke 11:16) or insincere intentions (i.e., pride; testing God, etc.).
We must be careful to consider our own motive in praying for
another's healing. Jesus was "moved with compassion" to heal the
sick (Matthew 14:14; 20:34; Mark 1:41) He never healed anyone
simply for publicity, or "to be seen." Rather, He fled from them
(John 5:13).
E. The person might really be in need of spiritual deliverance.
Matthew 4:24; 12:22; 17:18
Mark 9:28, 29
Luke 6:17, 18; 8:2, 36
Acts 5:16; 10:38
IX. Why do people sometimes lose their healing?
If they return to the sin of their past life, having no change within,
there is no guarantee that they will be able to hold on to their healing.
John 5:14
X. Whose responsibility is it to pray for the sick?
A. He should call for the elders
(James 5:14) or those in the church with specific gifts of healing
(I Corinthians 12:7-11).
B. The entire church should continually lift up in prayer the sick
members of the body.
James 5:16-17
XI. No matter who is the vessel used by God to perform a miracle of
healing, Jesus is always the Healer (Exodus 15:26). He alone is to
receive the glory for any manifestation of the power of God (Acts
3:12; 14:11-15).
A. Miracles of healing should draw people closer to God, cause them
to recognize His Lordship, and lead them into worship.
I Kings 18:39
Matthew 9:8; 15:31
Mark 2:12
Luke 5:25-26; 13:13; 17:15-18; 18:43
John 9:38
B. It should give them a desire to follow Him, to continue in His ways.
2 Kings 5:14-17, etc.
Matthew 20:34 (Mark 10:52)
Luke 8:38, 39; 18:43
Acts 9:34-35
C. Nevertheless, some remain ungrateful and take their healing without
any intention of continuing in the things of God.
Luke 17:12-18
XII. Is this interest in divine healing a valid emphasis?
A. Scripture is clear in showing us that God does not want His people
to be sick.
3 John 1:2
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
B. A great portion of the Lord's ministry involved healing those physically
afflicted. (He did not minister only to the spiritual needs of the people.)
Luke 4:18
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed MeTo preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
C. When He commissioned the apostles to go forth, it was with this command:
"heal the sick, cleanse the lepers ..."
Matthew 10:18
D. The Holy Spirit has provided that specific gifts of healings be placed within
the body of Christ, for our benefit.
I Corinthians 12:7-11
XIII. This promise of healing to the people of God can be individually
claimed today; but we must look to Him for it, rather than to the physicians.
Deuteronomy 32:39
'Now see that I, even I, am He, And there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there anywho can deliver from My hand.
2 Chronicles 16:12
And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians.
Mark 5:26
and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.
Luke 8:43
Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,
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