Healing

The need for healing is overlooked.  I don't know anybody that doesn't need some form of healing, yet there doesn't seem to be an emphasis placed on it.  I'm not talking about just physical healing.  That's the first thing most people think of....physical ailments that need to be healed.  I think the most damaging and hurtful afflictions are those of the mind, heart, and soul. It is these wounds that cause the most sin.  These are the wounds that cause people to abuse their children, their families, and everyone else around them. There is so much spiritual, emotional, and physical sickness and pain in our world today that it can't be denied. Maybe that is the problem, denial. Denial of our need to be healed by God, through Jesus.


As a Catholic, I understand that suffering is part of life and united to the suffering of Christ is very powerful.  But, not all suffering is necessary.   People who are suffering in their minds, hearts, and souls generally cannot experience or accept the love of God.  These wounds and sufferings actually separate them from the love of God.  What good can come from this brand of suffering?  Not only is the wounded person living a life apart from God, more than likely the fruit of these wounds have also spread to others and have caused them to also live apart from God.  Sometimes, it is for the good of our souls that the suffering is removed. 

I was drawn to Lukes gospel this morning. I read about the woman who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit:

13:10-17

He was teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath.  And  a woman was there who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over, completely incapable of standing erect.  When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are set free of your infirmity."  He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.  But the leader of the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the sabbath, said to the crowd in reply, "There are six days when work should be done.  Come on those days to be cured, not on the sabbath day."  The Lord said to him in reply, "Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his ass from the manger and lead it out for watering?  This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?"  When he said this, all his adversaries were humiliated; and the whole crowd rejoiced at all the splendid deeds done by him.

The footnote was most interesting:
Whom Satan has bound:  affliction and infirmity are taken as evidence of Satan's hold on humanity.  The healing ministry of Jesus reveals the gradual wresting from Satan of control over humanity and the establishment of God's kingdom.

If you read on in Luke's gospel, starting at verse 31 it reads:

At that time some Pharisees came to him and said, "Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you."  He replied, "Go and tell that fox, "Behold  I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose."

Footnote:  Nothing, not even Herod's desire to kill Jesus, stands in the way of Jesus' role in fulfilling God's will and in establishing the kingdom through his exorcisms and healings.


I think this proves there is a purpose in healing.  God actually desires it for us.  It is necessary, not just a novelty of our faith!  God desires our healing because it brings glory to Him and establishes His kingdom on earth.  It is not selfish to pray for healing for yourself or others.  It is the will of God.

He laid his hands on her, and she at once stood up straight and glorified God.

What was the first thing this woman did upon being freed from physical and spiritual bondage?  She stood up straight and glorified God!   The people who witnessed the healing rejoiced!  It increased their faith and joy in Jesus and glorified the Father. The control that Satan had over this soul was broken!  Don't you see the need for this today?  Don't you know many, many people who are in need of this healing?  Maybe you are in need. Maybe you are the one who has been crippled for many years and are bent over for the weight of it. 

I sense that God is hungry for opportunities to show His glory.  He is desperate to perform His loving miracles in order for all to see and rejoice.  He desires healing for his children so that His kingdom may come. What he needs is children that will LET him, children that realize their need of healing.  We may feel selfish praying for healing for ourselves, but maybe it is selfish not to.  Maybe we are clinging to our emotional illness, sin, fear, shame, doubt and pain and not allowing God to heal us for His glory.  Maybe our suffering has become so much of our identity that we are afraid to let go of it and be healed.  Can you imagine the woman who was crippled and bent over for 18 years?  Imagine what she was able to do for the glory of God once she was healed.  What if when Jesus said, "Woman, you are set free of your infirmity", she said "No thank you, I'm alright.  I've been this way for a long time and I'm used to it now."  She was obviously getting around and functioning because she was at the temple.  We are probably functioning, too.  But imagine if the unnecessary burdens that are crippling us were removed.  Imagine how much more we could accomplish and how much more God could be glorified through us! 

Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what needs healing in your heart and soul.  Then, allow Jesus to heal you for the glory of God!