Christ our Healer

There used to be a billboard that caught my attention a few years ago as I drove around Erie. It was effective in getting my attention, not because of flashy graphics or bright colors, but rather its message. The advertisement, made for Health South Rehabilitation, boldly proclaimed “WE HEAL U”. At face value this declaration may not seem to be an issue, but something about it never sat right with me. And that’s because I believe that there is no doubt that medicine and doctors can aid the healing process and modern medicine has made amazing advances in helping saving the lives of many but to claim to be the agent of healing is a whole other thing. To claim to be the agent of a body that begins to regenerate itself after chemotherapy or radiation treatment would be insane. Doctors can remove bad things but they cannot bring on regeneration. Doctors can subsitute a bad organ for a good one but they are left helpless when it comes to whether the transplate will actually take. There is something that happens within the human body that doctors and hospitals have no control over. So to claim to be that agent, that causation for healing makes me wonder… And yet, we as the Chrisitian and Missionary Alliance boldly profess that Christ is Healer. He is the the agent of Healing. It’s on our logo, it’s in our fourfold gospel. It’s on our sign out front. The picture of the pitcher.

We believe that Jesus is our Healer, and that Divine Healing still exists. There is healing avaiable for not only our souls…but for our physical bodies and that is because of the atoning work of Christ on the Cross.

Psalm 103:1–3 NIV

1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

Romans 8:11 NIV

11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

What Is Divine Healing?

Dr. Albert B. Simpson defined divine healing in his book, The Fourfold Gospel as, “the supernatural divine power of God infused into human bodies, renewing their strength and replacing the weakness of suffering human frames by the life and power of God” (p. 39). Divine healing should be understood as a miraculous act of God alone. A perfect example of divine healing is bringing a dead body back to life, which the Scriptures claim that Jesus did on three separate occasions. The first of these occasions was speaking life back into the body of a little girl, Jairus daughter, which is recorded in Mark 5:22-43. The second claim was when Jesus said to the dead son of a widow in the town of Nain, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” (Luke 7:14b, NIV) and the dead man sat up and began to talk. The last time Scripture records this type of miraculous divine healing is in the gospel of John, chapter 11, where Jesus speaks life back into his friend Lazarus after he had been dead for four days.

While divine healing does not always have to refer to raising a dead body back to life, there is no greater example that we can look at to see the miraculous power of God at work infusing his power and life into lifeless bodies. There are countless other examples of divine healing in Scriptures and “it would take entirely too long to examine in detail the countless records of Jesus’ healing power and grace. He cured the leper, the lame, the blind, the paralytic, the impotent, the fever stricken—all who had need of healing” (Simpson, 1994, p. 14). Often when someone was the recipient of divine healing in Scriptures, it was accompanied by addressing the persons sin and forgiveness. That is because sin and sickness are intimately united as we will examine next.

How does Divine Healing Related to the Atonement?

Healing in the atonement refers to the belief that Christ’s death and resurrection not only paid the price for sin for those who believe, but also for their sickness and disease. Central to this belief is the thought that because sin entered into the world, it brought with it sickness and disease. Therefore there is only one way to truly get rid of the effects of sin, by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This belief is based on scriptures found in Isaiah 53 & Matthew 8. In Isaiah we read, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (53:4-5). This verse refers to the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. In it we find provisions that Christ’s death and resurrection make healing available to those who have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Also, In Matthew 8:17 the Scripture reads, “This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.’” Finally in Galatians 3:13 we read, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.’” Keith Bailey, in his book Divine Healing argues this point by writing, “Physical healing is related to vicarious atonement because sickness in man is the direct result of his fallen state. Christ dealt with sickness by dealing with sin…the perfect atonement of Jesus Christ dealt so completely with sin as to effect the putting away of the fruits of sin” (p. 54). Jesus, our Redeemer, not only took our sin, but the curse that came with it as well. Not only are we called to stand in that promise, we are called to pass the blessing on to a world that is in desperate need of a touch with the divine. And that is why Jesus passed this ministry on to his followers and the ministry continues today.

The Ministry of Healing in the Church

And so we proclaim there is healing available. How do we go about accessing it? How to we tap into that agent of healing that we claim to have? Well that is where i believe we can learn from the Words of James 5.

James 5:13–18 NIV

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

Is there anyone among you sick? If there is, let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.

Here is a prescription for healing. We understand prescriptions, take this medicine 3x daily after a meal and xyz… and we expect the proper results, and we often fail to realize that there is a host of side effects from these medications as well. But I am not trying to put down the medical field, there is such a place for that today in our world, and it is amazing what they are able to do through studying the body but it is still the practice of medicine, they are still trying to figure eveyrthing out.

In James 5, the provisions for healing sick members of the church are laid out. The scripture reads, “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:14-16). It does not give a specific place or time in which this should happen, but it is essential that the person who is sick comes forward in obedience; the elders then pray over them, and then anoint them with oil. Meanwhile the rest of the church should maintain a spirit of unity and confess their sins and pray for one another. In the rest of this section, we will discuss those three major themes found within this passage, beginning with the obedience of the believer.

Obedience of the Believer

The obedience of the believer is the first step to the ministry of healing prescribed in James. In James 5:14 the scripture calls the believer to step out in faith and obedience to “call for the elders of the church.” This is an active step of faith, requiring the believer to step forward and place their reliance on Christ alone. It can be very humbling to come forward and ask for healing, but it is an act of submission that the Lord honors. The second act of obedience of the believer is the confession of sin. If there is any sin that needs to be confronted, the believer is encouraged to “confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16).

What does a step of faith look like?

Luke 5:17–26 NIV

17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

There is faith in action! These men, knew Jesus could heal their friend and so they went to extreme measures to get their friend into Christs presence. And here is a perfect example from Christ himself who ties healing and the forgiveness of sin together. And Christ dealt so completely with both on that cross that he has purchased the very power for us to be freed from both.

The Elder’s Role

According to James 5:14, the elders of the local church are tasked with the ministry of anointing and praying for the sick. It is not a ministry of a single elder or pastor, but all of the elders. The reason for this is so that no one man may receive the glory or recognition for healing, but rather God will receive the glory that He is due. Simpson in his book, The Gospel of Healingpoints out that it is elders, and not the apostles who are are leaders tasked with this ministry. The reason he gives for this task being given to the elders is because they are the leaders in the church that are also most connected to the needs of their local church family. They are “the men most likely to be within reach of every sufferer, the men who are to continue till the end of the age” (1994, p. 18).

The Significance of Anointing with Oil

While oil does have some medicinal properties, when used in the ministry of prayer for healing, it is a symbolic representation of being consecrated or set apart to God. Throughout Scripture, oil is used to signify something as being set apart, or holy. In Leviticus 8, Aaron and his sons were anointed with oil and sprinkled with blood by Moses in order to set them apart as being priests to serve God. The prophet Samuel first anointed Saul with oil to set him apart as the Lord’s anointed ruler of Israel (1 Samuel 10:1-2). Samuel also anointed the young shepherd David with oil to set him apart as the future king of Israel (1 Samuel 16). It was commonplace throughout the Old Testament to consecrate things to God by anointing them with oil. When it comes to the New Testament however, we see that anointing with oil takes on a fresh meaning. Jesus sent his disciples out with authority over impure spirits and to heal the sick. And it is reported that, “they drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them” (Mark 6:13). So is this oil mystical in its healing properties, or is it a symbolic representation of being set apart to God? It is my belief that anointing with oil helps focus’ the attention of the believer as well as the elders who are praying on Christ. Consecrating that person to Him through confession of sin and turning them over to the care of the Lord Jesus.

James practical example- James 5:16-18

James 5:16–18 NIV

16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

What if my healing doesn’t come.

1 Kings 18:41–46 NIV

41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” 44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ” 45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

Seven times he sent his servant back… James just includes it in here…again he prayed and the heavens gave rain...

Healing isn’t just about sin...

John 9:1–8 NIV

1 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?”

...

25He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

Our healing is about his glory, and our sickness is about his glory.

Paul’s thorn in the flesh...

Practical Plan for Healing Ministry in the Local Church

The church has been given a gospel of healing, good news that not only has Jesus healed us from our sin and awakens our dead spirit, but also has the power to restore our bodies here and now. The church should not shy away from the marvelous benefits found within this teaching. If the local church is going to operate in the fullness of the Fourfold Gospel, then the doctrine of Christ our Healer needs to be taught[T6] . The pulpit is a great place to start sharing the gospel of healing, but we would do a disservice[T7] to our churches and community if this is the only place we teach about the gospel of healing. A church’s pastor should have the courage to preach the good news that Jesus can and does still heal today. They should also have the courage to invite the congregation to the altar to pray for healing, but I do not believe that this is enough. In order to effectively share the gospel of healing to our communities, we need to train people [T8] who are spiritually gifted in the ministry, and comfortable praying for God’s best for people. The elders in the church should also receive specific training on the anointing with oil and praying for the sick within their congregation, and then given opportunities to practice in this ministry. A very practical way this could be applied in a local church is for a pastor, instead of doing a hospital visit by himself, to take an elder or two along [T9] with him to pray and anoint the sick church member. Often in ministry, it is too easy to just do the work ourselves instead of empowering others to do the ministry alongside us.

Another aspect to developing a ministry of healing within the church is training our people to be open to the Holy Spirit’s leading [T10] when sharing the gospel. It was often as Jesus and His disciples were going about their daily business when they were filled with the Spirit and unbelievers were healed. Training our people to be sensitive to the voice of God’s Holy Spirit and giving them permission to minister to our communities in this way would be an amazing testimony to Christ our Healer. With as often as we read about miraculous healings in Scripture, believers should expect[T11] God to use us in this manner in our everyday lives.

My Experience of Christ as our Healer

Personal Testimony of Divine Healing

On May 2, 2012, at E & G Auto Plus in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, there was an explosion. The explosion was caused by a young man’s carelessness as he attempted to cut a 55 gallon drum in half with an acetylene torch. What the young man didn’t realize is that even though the drum was mostly empty, the chemical that was within was extremely flammable. There was an instantaneous explosion as soon as the torch touched the barrel (2 Injured in Explosion, 2012). I had the unfortunate timing to be standing directly in front of the barrel even though I was roughly 20 feet away. The fireball quickly consumed me. I ran for my life away from the blast but it was too late. The flames engulfed by upper body. Methanol burns clear and hot, and the flames burnt my face, head, neck, tongue and esophagus. Before I knew it, my throat was swelling shut and they had to intubate me to keep me breathing as I was flown by medical helicopter to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY. The doctor told my wife when she arrived that I would likely be in the hospital for months and the healing process would be years to come.

There were moments of touch and go in my healing process, namely because when they intubated me in the helicopter, I aspirated which caused me to get pneumonia on top of the burns. I can’t thank the medical professionals enough for using their expertise to help me heal, but I can thank God alone for the amazing rate at which my body healed. On the second day I was in the hospital, a local pastor’s sent two of his elders to my hospital room to anoint me for healing, and what transpired after that day is nothing short of a miracle. My body healed at a rate that was not normal, and I was out of the ICU in 13 days and out of the hospital completely just a couple days after that.

While I would not choose to ever go through that situation, to go through that pain and suffering, I would not change the fact that it happened to me. I would never choose to go through it, but I am so thankful that God sustained me through it and brought me divine healing. To this day there are only a few scars, but those are scars of healing.

The experience that I went through encouraged my faith in the Lord, and His faithfulness to the Word. There have been many times I have prayed for others, and anointed them for healing and they have not been healed, yet. But that has not and will not stop me from following the Word of God and asking the Lord for divine healing for those in our churches because Christ is our Healer. It’s not that we seek the healing, but as we seek Him, He pours out His healing.

Concluding Thoughts

It is a bold statement to claim for someone to claim that they are an agent of healing, but that is what faith is all about. The Church needs to take a stand, boldly in defense of the gospel of healing. The good news is that His sacrifice not only paid for our redemption and forgiveness but also has provided for our healing. He truly is the agent of divine healing and we are blessed to not only receive new life through faith in Christ alone, but also divine life. A life that is then devoted to living in the power of Christ while at the same time being willing to be used by His Spirit to manifest gifts of healing whenever He desires to use us. It is good news that we are called to share, Christ is our Healer.