A Nugget from New Life Network
(excerpts from Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day (January 16, 2018)
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
I received a letter from a man in Paragould, AR who made this comment. He said, “I agree that health comes from God and that infirmities come from the devil, but how can we be assured that healing from God is for us today, in the 21st century?” This man has a valid point asked by many, so I would like to quickly give you two great truths in the Bible and six reasons healing is for us today.
Here are two great truths in the Bible that incorporate healing:
1) Every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17) and that includes health and healing. How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)
2) All bad and evil gifts come from Satan which includes sickness. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
The simplicity of these two truths is that God is good and Satan is bad. Consider the following:
1) Healing was prophesied by Isaiah. Isaiah 53:4-6 is the prophecy and Matthew 8:16-17 is the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah. The prophet Isaiah said the Messiah would take our sicknesses and carry them for us. That means Jesus paid the price for us. He took our sicknesses so that we could be healed.
2) Believers are the Body of Christ. First Corinthians 12:13 and 27 tell us that as Christians we are a part of His body. As a part of His body, we are healed. Jesus is not sick. He paid the price in full for our health and healing.
3) Jesus has not changed. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” If He healed in the past, then He heals today. He has not changed His will or His promises.
4) Believers are commanded to heal the sick. Jesus said in Mark 16:18 that those who believe would, “Lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Would Jesus command us to do something that we could not do? Of course not!
5) “Gifts of healings” are gifts from the Holy Spirit. First Corinthians 12:9 tells us that the “gifts of healings” are for the Church. Christians are the Church.
6) Sick believers are commanded to ask for healing. James 5:14-15 says, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.” If healing were not for us today, then sick believers would not be required to call for prayer to be healed.
Is healing from God for today? Yes, of course it is! Are there phonies out there making money and fame off of healing? Yes, there always have been. Not much has changed since the time of Jesus. But that doesn’t mean that God’s true healing power is not for us today. Know the truth! God’s will for us is health and healing!
