HEALTH AND HEALING

By Jemima Rayan

To be healed is one thing but to be in health is another. Our God wants you well. If we are going from healing to healing, then pray about living in 'divine health'. The provision for both our salvation and our healing are made on the cross of Calvary. Christ's work on the Cross makes each possible. Simple faith receives both.

Jesus Christ's body and blood:

Salvation and Healing go hand in hand. The blood of Jesus Christ was shed for our salvation and His body was broken for our health. By His stripes we were healed (1Pet 2:24). Ps 103:3 says Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases. The Lord Jesus not only forgives but also heals us. It is the same Lord who does both. 3 John 1:2 says Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in 'health', just as your soul prospers. We should expect to grow in health as we grow in the Lord.

Keys for divine healing:

1. Walk in His ways:

The children of Israel saw miracle after miracle. When they were hungry, the Lord provided manna for them. When the waters of marah were bitter, God made the bitter water sweet. When the sea was in front of them and Pharoh's army behind them, the Lord made a way for them to escape. But God was not pleased with that generation. Why? Heb 3:10,11 says "Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said 'They always go astray in their heart, And they have not known My ways. God wants you to know 'His ways'. King David prayed, 'Show me Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. When David had everything to choose from, he wanted God to make the choice for him. Our God has promised to instruct and teach you in the way you should go. He will guide you with His eyes (Ps 32:8) More and more you walk in God's ways, you will see yourself living in health. Ex 15:26 says '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'. Do you strive to walk in God's ways?

2. Pay attention to the 'Word of God':

Pro 4:20-22 says, My son, give attention to My words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are 'life' to those who find them, and 'health' to all their flesh. God's word brings healing. Ps 107:20 says 'He sent His word and healed them And delivered them from their destructions. Everytime you need health in your body the Lord sends His word and heals you.

Imagine a doctor prescribing a medication to a patient. The patient would not expect the medicine to work unless he takes it as prescribed. Likewise, reading the Word of God and living according to the Word is so important. A quick dose of the Word of God on a Sunday service and not taking time for the Word of God the rest of the week will not help you to maintain this divine health.

3. Prayer of faith:

Jam 5:14-16 says ' Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him anointing him with oil...pray for one another that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Oh! you don't necessarily have to be an elder in a church. The Lord has made you a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, His own special people (1 Pet 2:9) You can pray that prayer of faith. You can anoint with oil and pray.

4. The name of Jesus:

One of Jesus' last words were...In My name they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover (Mk 16:18) We are supposed to take that authority in Jesus' name. Jesus said in Luke 10:19 "Behold I give you authority... Peter exercised that authority. There was a lame man at the gate of the temple called Beautiful...Peter said ''Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk (Acts 3:6) Do you exercise that authority? Paul exercised that authority. Acts 19:11-12 reads, Now, God worked unusual miracles by the hand of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick and the diseased left them. Acts 28:8 says...Paul went in to him and prayed and he laid his hands on him and healed him. (Acts 28:8)

God's got an army marching through the land

Deliverance is their song with healing in their hand

Everlasting Joy with gladness in their heart.

'Are you a part of that army? I pray that 'your healing shall spring forth speedily' according to Is 58:8 in Jesus' name. Amen.