Holy Spirit, I thank You for Your Word. I thank you that the scriptures I have shared from the Old Covenant on each of the preceding pages have brought life to each person who has read and pondered them in his heart.
And now I pray that as we go on to examine your promises for healing contained in the New Testament, may the anointing of Your presence be experienced as it was experienced by so many of the great Bible heroes—Peter, Paul, John, James, the apostles and the disciples.
Anoint each one, I pray. May this book bring healing and deliverance to each life in Jesus' name. Amen.
Matthew 8:1 is the first promise from the New Testament which I want to examine.
"When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will;
be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."
Ladies and gentlemen, saints of God, healing is the will of God for you. Never, ever, ever go to the Lord and say, "If it be thy will..." Don't allow such faith-destroying words to be spoken from your mouth.
When you pray "if it be your will, Lord," faith will be destroyed. Doubt will billow up and flood your being. Be on guard against words like this which will rob you of your faith and drag you down in despair.
It is His will. Jesus said, "I will". Let's believe Him and trust Him. Find out what the Bible says and then go to the Lord. Don't say, "If it be your will." Get to know what the Word of God promises, and you will see that it is God's will for you to be healed and enjoy health.
Jesus told the leper, "I will" make you clean. Today
He is saying to you, "I will". Be thou clean. Please notice something which is often missed. The Bible does not say that Jesus responded, "I will," and then put forth His hand. No, rather, he first stretched out His hand and then said, "I will". Do you realize that when Jesus did that, He was saying, "I want to heal you so much that I'll touch you, I'll deliver you, I will begin to heal you even before you will reach out to receive." Jesus was saying "I will," but I think there is something awesome and beautiful in the fact that Jesus touched him first and then said, "I will". Mark 3:1-5 states:
"And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, "Stand forth." And he saith unto them, "Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?" But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, "Stretch forth thine hand." And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other."
In this we see that action is vitally important to a miracle. If you want God to grant the miraculous in your life for which you are believing—if you want Jesus Christ to heal you—you must act on your faith,
you must release your faith, you must do something about it. This man stretched his hand and was made whole by the power of Almighty God.
Mark 5:25-34 tells the story of the woman with the issue of blood. This account is so inspirational because she was determined to be healed, no matter what.
"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
And Jesus, immediately knowing that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, "Who touched my clothes?"
And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
And he said unto her, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."
What a marvelous miracle; what a tremendous healing! This woman said, "If I can only but touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed." She came behind the crowd—such a vast crowd that it must have seemed as if a sea of people stood between her and her miracle. But she would not be denied. She persevered and as she pressed through the crowd and stretched out her hand, determined to touch the hem of his garment, she was made whole.
This portion of scripture provides such a simple guide for each of us. In verse 27, she heard. Faith comes by hearing.
Secondly, in that same verse, she touched the hem of His garment. She activated her faith. And then in verse 33 she came and told that she had been healed.
These are three vital keys. First, she heard; second, she acted upon what she heard; and third, when she received her healing, she testified, "I have been healed!"
When you hear the Word, faith is born. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing and hearing. When you activate your faith, the miracle comes.
And when you tell someone, the miracle is kept.
You keep what you have received by telling someone
about it. That's why, when you are healed, don't ever keep it to yourself. Tell somebody that you have been healed. Mark 10:46-50 declares,
"And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
And when he heard (here again—he heard) that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus."
Please note just what was involved in blind Bartimaeus receiving his miracle. First of all, he cried out to Jesus for mercy. If he had not cried out to Jesus, Jesus would not have stopped to listen to the need of Bartimaeus. He would have just continued on His way.
When you cry out to the Lord in faith believing for your miracle, He will stand still and all heaven will stand still on your behalf. Verse 48 tells us that many
charged him or threatened him to hold his peace—
don't bother Jesus! Bartimaeus, be quiet! However, he would not stop. He would not give up; he was determined to make his need known. He cried all the louder.
When Jesus heard him, he commanded that he be called or brought to him. At this point Bartimaeus did an amazing thing—he took a step of faith and cast off his garment.
Now you may ask, "Just what significance does this have?" This represented a powerful act of faith on the part of Bartimaeus. The garment which Bartimaeus cast off was the garment of that day which was worn by anyone who was blind. It was commonly understood that anyone wearing this particular type of attire was dependent upon the goodwill and assistance of the public. Without help a blind individual could not function. It served almost as an insurance policy and granted him special considerations and privileges. Because of the garment, people would recognize that the person wearing it was blind and would be called upon by the rules and standards of their society to offer to help and assist him with his daily needs—perhaps accompanying him to his home, at times to feed him, if necessary; and so on. Without that garment he could potentially starve to death or be abandoned or ignored to fend for himself in his dark, sightless
world.
All blind individuals of that day wore that type of attire. When Jesus requested that they bring him, Bartimaeus threw away his garment, saying by his action, "I don't need this any more. In the natural, I can't see yet, but I am about to get my miracle. Today is my day!"
That is truly faith. His act of faith in throwing away his garment before he actually received his sight was dynamic. His natural eyes were still closed, but his spiritual eyes were focused on his miracle. He was confident that he would receive his sight. He knew that he knew that he knew he would receive his sight!
Perhaps you need to let go of the natural support systems on which you depend and allow God to miraculously intervene in your behalf. The unwavering, determined faith of Bartimaeus was evidenced by his total lack of hesitation. Even though his garment was his insurance policy, his guarantee for his daily provision and everything he needed, he knew that what Jesus was able to give him was more desirable—more valuable—priceless. The Bible goes on to say in verse 51
"And Jesus answered and said unto him, 'What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?' The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight."
Even though the Lord knew that he was blind, he still asked Bartimaeus what he desired. Bartimaeus had to make his request known by speaking it out.
Many of us are not healed because we have failed to ask for our miracle. "Ye have not, because ye have asked not."
Matthew 21:22 assures us of this very thing.
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
Ask today—this moment—for your miracle.
And Jesus said unto him, 'Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.' And immediately he received his sight; and followed Jesus in the way."
He received immediately! An instantaneous miracle occurred in the life of Bartimaeus because of his total abandon to self and total faith in Jesus Christ.
Let's look at Luke 6:19 now. I pray that this will be a reality in your life today.
"And the whole multitude sought to touch him:
for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all."
What a tremendous miracle—He healed them all.
It is my prayer today that you will be one of a multitude who, as they read these faith-inspiring words from God's Word, will receive your miracle.
Luke 17:11 states:
"And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off; And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, 'Go show yourselves unto the priests.' And it came to pass that as they went they were cleansed."
As they went, they were cleansed! They were not cleansed from their leprosy until they went (until there was action); there had to be that act of faith. Today as you believe His Word and as you go (or take action), you will be healed and delivered. Acts 3:1-8 states
"Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms.
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none;
but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength."
Notice, the man was not healed while he was seated. The man wasn't healed after he stood. Rather, he was healed while he was helped to stand. It took the act of faith again.
Please notice what I am saying about the act of faith. With the lepers, as they went, they were healed.
With Bartimaeus, healing came as he cast off his garment. The woman with the issue of blood was healed as she touched the hem of His garment. Here again, the crippled man seated at the gate called Beautiful was healed as he stood—action brought his miracle.
"And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." (vs. 8)
Acts 5:14 tells us
"And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women."
When miracles began to happen, the Bible states that multitudes came because of the miracles. As miracles begin to happen in your life, you will begin to affect and influence people for God. They will come and say, "If you have received a miracle, maybe
I will receive my miracle." God will use you as a mighty testimony.
"And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.
Insomuch they they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one." (Acts 5:14-16)
Every person was healed! Healed every one! That is my prayer today that every one will be healed today! I believe that the anointing is going to become so great that we will see signs and wonders similar to those found in Acts 9:32-35.
"And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.
And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.
And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord."
I pray that your miracle will help turn many lives to the Lord starting today.
The Bible also declares in Acts 10:38 that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power.
"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."
Notice in Job 42:10 God called sickness captivity.
And here it is called oppression. Ladies and gentlemen, if sickness is oppression, who wants it? I know you don't want it. That's why you are filling your heart and life with these promises from God's Word. May the Word of God build faith in you to receive your healing today!
Then in Acts 14:9 we find the record of a marvelous, creative miracle.
"The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed..."
Here is a man from Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked. This man had never walked. Verse 8 states that. He heard Paul the Apostle speak. As he heard, faith was birthed
within him.
"And Paul perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked."
What a tremendous miracle! The man, a cripple from birth, had never walked, but heard the Word of God and believed. He not only heard, but also believed the Word of God. Paul saw it in the man's eyes and said, "Now get up and walk in Jesus' name," and the man did!
Today I pray that the same power that flowed through Paul to touch that man at Lystra will also touch you to heal and deliver you from your problem.
Acts 19:11 goes on to declare much more to us.
"And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them."
The anointing was so strong on his life that even handkerchiefs which had been rubbed on his body and distributed to the sick brought healing to the sick.
It is that kind of anointing, saints, that breaks the yoke of bondage, even as Isaiah 10:27 declares.
You are so special to God, and your body and its
health are important to God. You must never lose sight of that nor forget it. The Bible declares something very, very important that every Christian must realize and never forget. It says:
"Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body
"Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body