The Gospel Of Healing

There is but one way to teach “The Gospel of Healing,” and that is to look at the facts. In doing so, we will go straight forward into the mind and heart of God. So let’s look at the things we do know.

Matthew 9:35-38

35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Most would admit that Jesus is the first example of what we are to be, except when it comes to actually working the works of ministry. When it comes to confrontations with the kingdom of darkness, we recoil into a spiritual cocoon of unbelief. But we tend to justify it with well known traditional additives. (“Not everyone was called to do this or that”). Well we are not talking about everyone, but we are talking about those who were called to serve in the government of God. That government was established on the earth with signs and wonders.

Now, am I one who believes that not all will work miracles? Yes I am. However, as a leader in the Body of Christ, I have to make sure that I am not perpetuating an environment of skepticism and unbelief in the Body of Christ. There is a reason we are called leaders. The people we lead tend to take on our mind and our disposition. And if that disposition or mind is not that of Christ then we are leading them into unbelief and destruction. Their end will not be desirable. I dare say to you that there are some leaders who are very guilty of this. The Lord has said so.

In most cases, such a disposition is not gendered with an intentional agenda to lead the people of God astray. However, it is due to a reluctance to embrace the fullness of Christ. Even when He is taught, the word is sifted; and complacency rules the heart of some leaders. They have made themselves comfortable not doing certain things in ministry that are clearly seen in the scriptures.

Nevertheless, when you try to minister to them to open their eyes to the mind of God, pride quickly responds with some traditional cliche such as; “That is too complicated, I don’t think God is requiring all of us to do this or that. Or even, “God knows my heart, and he knows that if he wants to use me, he can.”

The reason this response is pride is because it is all about that person and their view of ministry. They have not stopped to consider that they are passing that same apathy and complacency on to the people they influence. A pastor may never work a miracle, but with that mindset, he or she will never produce a Deacon Phillip through their discipleship.

Another observation of the Holy Spirit in such confrontation is, “I can’t ever seem to get it right. I can’t ever seem to do enough to please God, according to the message. There is always something else to do. Or some other way to think. It’s just too much to deal with.” That too is pride and completely self-centered.

We as leaders ought to be glad for God to correct us, instruct us, teach us more perfectly. But these things become offensive when they oppose the image we have of ourselves. They also become inconvenient when we have a problem with someone telling us what to do. This problem includes God, because pride will only allow you to see God’s messengers after the flesh.

But let’s get back to the point of this lesson.

Matthew 9:35

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Hear the word of the Lord. Teaching, preaching, and healing are all part of the gospel. You cannot get away from that. You cannot take healing out of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He taught, preached and healed. The disciples taught, preached and healed. In the early days of the church in America and Europe, they taught, preached and healed. Why are we given James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

It makes no sense to call for the Elders if the elders have no expectation of the power of God healing the sick. What is your mind? Where do you stand on this matter? What and how are you influencing the people of God?

Matthew 9:36-38.

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

I am reminded constantly of a word the Lord spoke to me nearly 40 years ago. “Ninety percent (90%), of those preaching the gospel, I did not call.”

With the millions of men and women preaching the gospel, you would not think that such a statement would be true today. But it is more true today than it was 40 years ago. Most of that 90% have never truly embraced what salvation and ministry is.

The principles and ways of God never change. The Body of Christ doest give much thought to this truth, but that does not make it untrue. God is very mindful of whom he chooses to serve in the Kingdom of Heaven. He knows those who will carry on the purpose and will of God.

Finally my friends…

Hebrews 12:25-29

For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

If you do not embrace these truths, then what are you going to do from here on. If there are any leaders that cannot embrace the whole gospel, then those leaders need to remove themselves from leading the people of God. For it is one thing to fall short of a principle or a mandate from the Lord; but it is entirely different to reject his word altogether, regardless of the excuse. If we are not willing to hear the voice of truth, then we are not fit to serve in the Kingdom of Heaven.

26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

I want you to take note of this verse. What is it in heaven that can be shaken? What is there in Heaven that might need to be removed? The sons of God are seated on the right hand of God in Jesus Christ. We were made to sit in this Heavenly place. However, God is speaking to his creation in a voice that will shake us to the very core of our being. There is only one way that we will survive the shaking and it is spelled out for us in the next verse.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

We must receive the fullness of Christ. Our conviction must be according to the mind and heart and purpose of God. Our will, our way, and our opinions are things that can be moved and swept away. We are only safe when we receive the kingdom of Christ that cannot be moved. It is holy, pure and totally manifests the heart of God.

To reject this voice of God, is to be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life in Heaven. God is not only shaking up the earth in ways that the world is incapable of dealing with, he is also shaking up the kingdom of Heaven. Many will be removed from this kingdom and only that which cannot be removed will remain.