SOH 13. Why are some not healed?

The church isn’t healing

We have a responsibility to heal. Jesus told us to! Sadly, few Christians are actively obeying. If more believers stepped out in faith, more would be healed. When John G. Lake established the Healing Rooms in Spokane, USA, the hospital closed.

Essential faith

 And without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is the key ingredient. No one is healed by hope. Hope knows God can. Faith knows he will.

When the disciples couldn’t heal, Jesus said, “Because you have so little faith” (Matthew 19:20).

Doubts

Doubt is not lack of faith—it’s a mindset that allows alternatives (James 1:6-8): “God wants me sick.” “God may heal others, but not me.” “It’s my sickness and I must endure it” (Jeremiah 10:19).

Undiscovered roots

Wrong lifestyle or attitudes can prevent people from receiving healing.

We’re beginners

People are sick for many reasons. My own faith goes up and down. Let’s keep our faith high: read the Word, obey the Lord, and practice, practice, practice!

When I began, few were healed. Now we see up to three-quarters of the people in a meeting healed.

It’s beyond understanding

When the Lord appeared to Job after his suffering, Job said, “Surely I spoke of things… too wonderful for me to know” (Job 42:3). If Job couldn’t understand, neither can we. We cannot heal anyone. It’s the Lord who heals.

Not everyone receives now

After the powerful catalog of the faithful, Hebrews 11:39 says these were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.

These blogs are a brief summary of a huge subject. For more, go to our website, ask for a school of healing, or get the Manual or Heal the Sick!

Finally, do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says (James 1:22)!

SOH 12. Practical Ministry

Check out the situations when they used these. How to know which? Ask the Holy Spirit.

Methods of Jesus and disciples

For all situations:

1) Laying on hands (Mark 16:17-18)

2) Speaking the word (John 4:43-53)

3) Using authority (Luke 4:39)

4) Hearing the Holy Spirit (Luke 13:10-16)

5) Using faith triggers (John 9:6)

6) Discerning faith (Acts 14:9)

For special situations:

7) Casting out demons (Mark 9:14-29)

8) Special gift (1 Corinthians 12:9)

9) God’s presence alone (Acts 5:15-16)

10) Anointing with oil (James 5:14)

11) Office (2 Corinthians 12:12)

Before ministry

We minister the love of Jesus, with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3:12). Be presentable! Ask for Jesus’ eyes.

Ask the person, “What would you like Jesus to do?” “How long have you suffered?” “How did it start?” “Is it in the family?”

During ministry

Use the method the Spirit prompts. Keep your eyes open! Watch what the Lord is doing. If placing hands, ask permission. Place on the shoulder, or sick part. If a sensitive area, put their own hand there first.

Take your time. Ask the Spirit for guidance, or for root causes. Ask the person, “How are you feeling?”

After ministry

Ask, “Are you better?” Get them to do something they couldn’t do before. If no better, repeat, or use another method. Not all healing happens immediately. Miracles are events; healing is a process.

Always leave with encouraging words: “Something always happens.” “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6). “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).

Encourage them to thank the Lord for their healing (even if it’s not evident yet) and to testify when it happens.

Keeping your healing

The devil hates healing. He may try to put the symptoms back, whispering, “See, you weren’t healed.”

Don’t listen!  Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7). Tell him, “I am healed by the blood of Jesus, now leave!”

SOH 11. The anointing for healing

Anointing isn’t gifted worship or preaching. It’s the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. It’s God’s will that every believer should be filled with the Spirit. That’s one reason we’ve been saved (study Galatians 3:6-14). Why?

Power

Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). There is no greater witness than healing and deliverance. In Nepal, 90% come to Christ through healing.

The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4), including the devil’s diseases.

The nature of the Spirit

The Spirit is God—Now the Lord is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17). We cannot have just a little bit of him. He’s a person! We either have him, or we don’t. If we do, we have ALL of him, including ALL his fruits and gifts and power.

The Lord’s anointed

We’re called Christ-ians, not Jesus-ites. “Christ” means the anointed one. We’re anointed by the Spirit: He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

We are protected: “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm” (Psalm 105:15).

We are channels

We’re not spiritual batteries needing regular recharging. Like electric wires, we’re spiritual conductors—we have no power in ourselves, but if we’re connected, the power flows.

We connect to the Spirit by faith. We connect to people by compassion. We lay hands, we speak words, we command. We do what Jesus did, and not what he didn’t. We have the same Spirit.

If the Spirit can do it, we can do it, if we step out in faith.

SOH 10. Cast out demons

Deliverance isn’t the preserve of specialist ministries. It’s the privilege of every believer. “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons” (Mark 16:17).

Demons make people sick. When we minister healing, we’ll sometimes encounter demons.

Don’t be afraid

He says, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you (Luke 10:19). Love the person, hate the demon!

There are two main kinds – easy ones and difficult ones (see Mark 9:29).

What are demons?

Demons are real! They are unclean spirits that oppress (not possess) people through idolatry, witchcraft, the occult, freemasonry, addictions, trauma and soul ties. They make people afraid, hate worship and scripture, and often manifest through shaking, rolling, wild or defiant eyes.

We sense their presence by spiritual discernment (1 Corinthians 2:14; 12:10).

Use your keys!

If you suspect a demon, command it to come out in the name of Jesus. No need to shout, but be stern (Mark 1:25). If you need to know its name, the Holy Spirit will tell you. If it leaves within a few minutes, pray for them to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

If it doesn’t come out, it has a reason to stay. Tell the demon to be quiet (Mark 1:25). Command the person to take control. Ask the person if they’ve been involved in the above list, or need to forgive anyone. Lead the person in a prayer of repentance and forgiveness. Then command the demon to come out. Finally ask the Lord to fill them with his Spirit. Make sure the person is surrounded by believers. Every church should have a trained deliverance team, and every believer willing to fight the enemy.

SOH 9. Faith in Jesus

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing” (John 14:12). What did he mean?

We don’t put our faith in what we do, or pray, or say, or even fast. That is works. To do what Jesus did, we need faith, and faith IN HIM. Faith is being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised (Romans 4:21). If so, we will act on his word.

Faith in his name

Peter and John healed a crippled beggar. “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” Peter said (Acts 3:6). He later explained how he was healed (v 16): “By faith in the name of Jesus…”

Jesus is the name above every other. Every knee must bow, in heaven, and on earth and under the earth (Philippians 2:10), including sickness.

Faith in his blood

By his wounds you have been healed (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus paid for our healing on the cross. It is finished.

Faith in his word

Jesus promised (Mark 16:18) if we place our hands on sick people they will get well. Do we believe him?

Faith in his power

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and… he went around… healing all who were under the power of the devil (Acts 10:38). We have the same Spirit, and the same power.

Faith in his presence

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” Jesus stated (Matthew 28:20). Unconditional. He will never leave us. His very presence heals (Luke 6:19).

Faith in his command

When he commands us to heal in Luke 10:9, he expects us to be able to, and to obey. We shouldn’t need to be told again. Luke 10 is not a theological exercise—it’s a commission!

There are many more. Sign up and download the free School of Healing Manual.

SOH 8. Jesus gave us his authority

Authority is freedom

Authority [Greek exousia] is different from power [dunamis]. Power is the ability to act, authority is the permission, right or freedom to act. Traffic obeys a policeman because of his uniform, not his strength.

Authority is transferred by command from one in greater authority. All authority comes from God. God made mankind in his image and placed us on the earth to rule (Genesis 1:26-28). When we sinned, we gave our authority to the devil, who is now “prince of this world” (John 14:30).

Authority transfer

Jesus came to demonstrate restored authority. He passed his authority to the church, giving us the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 16:19), which open hearts: the gospel, healing, deliverance, raising the dead, service.

Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20). When he says “Go”, authority is transferred.

No spare keys

When Jesus gave us his keys, he quoted from Isaiah 22:22. I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. There is only one set of keys. Jesus gave them to us. He doesn’t have a spare set!

That’s why when we heal the sick, we don’t need to pray. WE HAVE THE KEYS!

Using authority

Jesus is our example: He rebuked a fever;  he commanded demons, “Come out;” to deaf ears, he said, “Be opened!”

He said, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20).

We speak TO the mountain, not pray about it. “Move!” is a command. Use your keys!

For more, check out my books: Authority and Who’s in Charge Around Here?

SOH 7. Jesus make us whole

The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, means to be whole. The Greek, sozo, is translated salvation, healing, whole, or be whole in the New Testament.

The Apostle Paul prays,May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

We are spirit, have a soul, and live in a body. Our spirit involves our life, relationships, and conscience. Our soul involves our mind, will, and emotions. Our body also includes our security and environment. Each part can be sick, and each healed.

Searching for Roots

When his friends lowered a paralytic before Jesus, he said, “Your sins are forgiven.” Jesus knew guilt prevented him from receiving healing.

If one part is sick, it can influence another part. When our spirit is crushed, we may suffer depression. Anxiety can cause heart problems. Unforgiveness can cause arthritis. Worry can bring migraines.

Listen to the Spirit

When healing the sick, ask the Holy Spirit to tell you if there is a root cause. He will—he is speaking to you all the time: For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:11).

You have the mind of Christ! He speaks via your own spirit, in thoughts, ideas, words, Scriptures, or pictures that pop into your head.

Common roots are fear, unforgiveness, worry, unrepentance, guilt, rejection, anger, bitterness, sinful habits, inherited problems, and demons.

Be bold to ask the sick person if your impression is true. If so, invite them to repent (if needed) and speak healing Scriptures over them.

SOH 6. God is a Healer

In Exodus 15:26, the Lord says, “I am the Lord who heals you.” It’s his nature, character, and work. Healing is what he does. Restoration is the whole purpose of Calvary.

God cannot change. “I the Lord do not change” (Malachi 3:6); and Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). If he healed then, he heals today.

God heals because he loves people and hates sickness, which comes from the devil. Sickness is not a neutral result of living in a fallen world. Acts 10:38 says Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil.

Jesus healed everyone who came to him. He didn’t refuse, set conditions, or tell anyone the Father wanted them sick. Whatever the sickness, he healed them.

The devil cannot heal

Speaking of the devil, Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy: I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly” (John 10:10 ASV). The Greek says he doesn’t come EXCEPT to steal, kill and destroy. Therefore he cannot heal.

He can fake it, by planting symptoms and removing them when he persuades the person to use false healing methods. (Acupuncture; Aromatherapy; Astrology; Charms; Color healing; Crystals; False gods; Homeopathy; Hypnotism; Icons; Indian head massage; Magic; New Age medicine; Psychic healing; Reiki; Religious symbols; Sacrifices to idols; Spiritualist healing; Transcendental Meditation; Witchcraft; Yoga.)

Sin is the root of all sickness

Jesus said to a man he’d just healed, “Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you” (John 5:14), clearly linking sin and sickness.

Sin causes sickness but is not always the immediate cause. When Jesus healed the blind man (John 9:3), he said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned.”

Don’t listen to lies saying God wants you sick! None of us deserve healing or salvation. Call to him, “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed… for you are the one I praise” (Jeremiah 17:14).

SOH 5. Methods Jesus used

Laying Hands

When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them (Luke 4:40).

This was the simplest method he used, and that works best for us. We often see 20% of a crowd healed without any words. It requires the least amount of faith, since that was all Jesus could do in his hometown when they didn’t believe in him (see Mark 6:5-6).

Faith is simply trusting God to keep his word. Jesus said, “And these signs will accompany those who believe … they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (Mark 16:17-18).

He doesn’t say to pray, and he doesn’t say some might be healed. He says, “They will get well.”

Speaking the word

Jesus often made prophetic declarations. To the official whose son was close to death, he said, “You may go, your son will live” (John 4:50). To the woman whose daughter had a demon, he declared, “the demon has left your daughter” (Mark 7:29). Both petitioners believed him.

Even when we’re isolated, we can declare the word of God. In both examples, the sick person wasn’t present.

There is power in the word of God. His word in your mouth is as powerful as his word in his own mouth!

We teach our delegates to declare over each other Acts 9:34: “Jesus Christ heals you!” and 1 Peter 2:24, “By his wounds you have been healed.”

Here is a list of Scriptures you can use for healing. Speak them out over people, with a mustard seed of faith, and expect them to be healed.

SOH 4. Jesus our Example

I prayed for hundreds, and saw almost no one healed.

After Reinhard Bonnke preached at the crusades, he ministered to the sick. Hundreds were healed, and he invited them to the platform to testify.

Many sick also came—for prayer. As crusade directors, we stood beside the platform checking who’d been healed. Healed? Up the steps. Want prayer? We prayed. I did what I’d been taught, and what I saw others do. Nothing. Discouraged, I became convinced Bonnke had the gift and John Fergusson didn’t!

Years later, someone suggested I studied all the healings in the Bible. What I found blew me away.

Jesus said, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:15). If we are his disciples, we should do what he did, AND NOT WHAT HE DIDN’T!

Jesus never prayed for the sick

He laid hands, he spoke words of encouragement, he declared, he commanded. He used faith triggers, he cast out demons. But when healing, he never prayed to the Father. Neither did the disciples.

In the Old Testament people did pray, but in the New Testament everything changed.

Prayer and ministry are different

Prayer is communication with God; ministry is serving people. Both are vital! Healing is ministry.

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John chapter 11), he does pray: “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me” (John 11:41-42).

He wasn’t praying for Lazarus to be raised! However, it’s clear he had already prayed and received the answer. Then he ministered: “Lazarus, come out!”

Check out other examples of prayer BEFORE ministry in Acts 9:40 and 28:8.

If we are disciples of Jesus, we should do what he did!