Sermon Archives (January  20, 2002):

Is Healing for You? – Part 8

Good afternoon church.  I have been teaching the last seven sermons on “Is Healing for You?”    We’ve sought to answer that question from God’s Word?   What does the Bible, God’s Word say about healing?   And our finding have been this:

Having received God’s answer, that yes, healing is for you, our focus is now to determine from the Bible how we as Christians obtain healing.   At our last service we discussed the means: Anointing with oil, and the laying on of hands.   Today we will discuss two additional means for obtaining healing:  Agreement between believers, and the how to pray.

Beloved let us bow our heads.   Father, let every believer hear this message today and the world as well.  Teach us Father by your word your principles of healing.   Teach us Father how we may receive healing, but also how we as your instruments may pass on God’s healing to others.   And all God’s people said, “Amen.”

How then to obtain healing:  

Method 3:  (Matthew 18:19-20)  “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

The Bible states, “if two of you agree on earth concerning anything..”   Healing is not specifically mentioned, but “Anything on earth” would certainly include healing.   The Bible says, “it shall be done.”   It doesn’t say sometime, or if only if we have lived a perfect life.  It says, “anything” and “it shall be done.”

Some can see no value in attending church.   Here today, even though it is under the stars, you are attending a church service.   But as a practical matter, how could believers agree if they did not bother to come together.  Coming together facilitates for those who agree and for those who ask for their healing.

Others would argue, “Yes, we prayed for healing, but the ones who needed healing died.”   In many cases, the person who otherwise needs healing the most doesn’t want to be healed.   They’re tired of Satan’s world.   They would rather die, leave Satan’s world, and go on to be with Jesus.  If the individual, who requires healing, really doesn’t want to be healed, then the prayers for healing will justifiably fail for lack of  “agreement.”   If there is no agreement, then God cannot answer the prayer.  So when you have somebody with you to pray, be sure that you are in agreement as to what you are collectively praying for.

In the ministry, I lay hands upon people and pray at their request for healing.   I will believe God right then for their healing.  But afterwards, I ask, “Do you believe God has healed you.”   And many times the response is, “I hope so.”   To hope so is not agreement.   I’m believing, but they are only hoping.   That is not agreement, but a disagreement.  

The Bible gives the example:   (Matthew 9:27-30)  “When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord.’”  Notice the two men didn’t say, “We hope so.”   No, when Christ ask, ”Do you believe?”, they answered “Yes Lord…”    “Then He touched their eyes, saying, ‘According to your faith let it be to you.’ And their eyes were opened.’”  You see, their faith and your faith is necessary.  God can’t heal where there is disagreement between Him and you.

Sometimes, individuals claim healing before entering the hospital.   God can work with or without the medical establishment.   If you are convinced that an operation is necessary, there is no sense - for lack of agreement - in asking others to pray for a miraculous recovery.   Rather ask them to pray that God will bless the success of that medical procedure, and God will then insure its success.

Many have died for lack of agreement.   Family and friends are praying for supernatural healing, while the sick person is looking for healing at the hospital.   If I agree on one thing, and you agree on something entirely different, then there is no agreement.   Where there is no agreement, God cannot help.

Some say, “I’m such a wretched person, I don’t deserve to pray.”   Others will say, “My problems are beyond enumeration.  If God could only deal with half, I would be happy.”  No!  Both approaches are wrong.  The Bible says, (1 Peter 5:6-7) “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you.”   It is not for you to say that you do not deserver prayer.   The Word says, “humble yourselves.”   Why?   Because the Lord says “He cares for you.”   Do we only place half of our needs before God?   No.  That’s not in agreement with God’s Word.   The instruction is to cast “all your cares upon Him.”

Method 4:  How then do we pray?   How about a silent request?  No way, José!!!  Silence doesn’t work.  You can’t think healing through God.   The silent approach isn’t just wrong.   It’s stupid.  Be practical.   Think of it this way.  You go into a Seven-Eleven.  You approach the cashier.   She asks you,  “How can I help you.”  You reply, “I have a silent request.”    Daa!!   Come on now. 

Sometimes, when I as a minister pray over others, either the one receiving the prayer or one who is with me begins to speak in tongues.  Wrong!  This is not the place for speaking in tongues.  When you speak in tongues, you are speaking in a heavenly tongue, the meaning of which you do not know.   So if you don’t know what you are praying, and I as the minister am instead clear saying a prayer over you or another, that’s not agreement.  For the prayer to be in agreement, we must be saying the same thing.  Therefore, if I or any minister prays over you, verbalize your agreement with that prayer by saying “Yes, Lord” repeatedly as the prayer is said so that your Father in heaven will know without question that you are in agreement with what is being prayed.  Remember, I said, “say”.  I didn’t say think. 

Some retort, “Well God knows your need.”   Sure, and the cashier in the Seven-Eleven knows you have need of everything in the store, or Seven-Eleven wouldn’t be selling it.  But the question is what do you need now.   If you require God’s help, be kind.  Be honest.  Be direct.  Give God a break and let’s cut out all the mystery.

(Luke 11:1-2)  “His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray...’ So Jesus said to them, ‘When you pray, say:   Our Father in heaven…’”   Now my focus here is not to review with you the Lord’s Prayer.   We all know it.  We have all said it.  Rather, note Christ’s instruction, “When you pray, say…”   Repeat that with me, “When you pray”  …  “SAY!!!”   That is not silence.  Christ says to “SAY” because this is the how God heals.

See how God works.   (Genesis 1)  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  How??  “Then God said, ‘Let there be light.’”  Note God “said ‘Let there be light.’”   And what was the result?  “And there was light.”   God said, “Let the waters … be gathered.   Let the dry land appear.”   And when God “said” these things, it was created.  God said, “Let us make man in our image.”   And it was done.   Not silently.  God didn’t create in silence.  No, he spoke the Word and it was done.  God creates by words, and by the saying of those words.   You are a child of God, bought by the Blood of Jesus Christ.    Just as God’s Word is power, your words are power.  Use them!  Claim them!

For this is Christ’s promise for you born of the blood of the lamb, (Matthew 7:7-8)  "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Beloved, will you bow your heads, close your eyes, and repeat.   I said repeat not think after me, “Blessed is our Father, who by his grace gives us means to obtain healing.  In agreement, we ask for health.  We ask for jobs.  We ask for dignity.   Today we claim both God’s healing and our Father’s love: Cover me with Your blood.   Forgive me my sins. Come into my life. I believe you are the Son of God, and that You died on the cross for me.  I repent of all the works of the Devil.  Create by God’s Holy Spirit a clean heart, and the strength to reject Satan’s world.   Heal me and renew my spirit so that I can hear Your voice, and be used by You as Your child to bring many to salvation.   I accept You as my Savior!   You are my Lord!  Amen!”

Once again I have brought oil.   If you wish healing, the Holy Spirit, blessings in your life, come to the cross and it will be given to you.  But you say, I was anointed last week.   Well I answer you today, have you received the manifestation of those prayer, of that anointing?  If not, ask again, and again, and again.  “Knock, and it will be opened to you.”   Be persistent until that manifestation of prayer is evident and upon you.