“The
reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s works.”
(1
John 3:8)
Jesus
Christ was the greatest healer that ever trod this earth. His ministry
consisted of teaching and preaching the good news about the coming of the
kingdom of God on earth which He demonstrated with signs and wonders. He healed
the sick, gave sight to the blind, made the lame to walk and raised the dead.
“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues,
preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”
(Matthew 9:35)
He
still heals, for His name is above anything that bears a name “Therefore God
exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him a name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and
every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.” (Philippians 2:9) He is Lord over all or Lord of none.
The
worlds were made by Him; it is understandable therefore that everything should
bow to His name. “For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or
authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16)
Until
Adam and Eve sinned, neither sickness nor death was part of their vocabulary.
Sin opened the way for the devil to oppress and afflict humanity with sickness.
Sickness is not of God but of the devil. God wanted His creation to live
forever, but sin stepped in the way and short-circuited the process.
To
remedy the situation, God healed sickness and diseases through the power He
gave the prophets and through prayer. Then He sent his Son whose mandate was to
release from bondage all that were held captive by none other than the devil.
Jesus Himself declared He had come for those who needed a doctor not for those
that were righteous. “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.”
(Matthew 9:12) A substantial part of His work was to release those whom the
devil had kept in chains.
God
does not want us sick; He wants us to enjoy good health. “Dear friend, I pray
that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your
soul is getting along well.” (3 John 2) It is our disobedience that opens the
way for sickness to get the better of us. Breaking God’s laws brings sickness.
In a way we allow Satan to afflict us when we step into his territory by
defying God’s word.
The
people Jesus healed were not righteous. He healed the demon-possessed, the
diseased, the lame and the blind. All those who were brought to Him, returned
healed except those who were from His hometown Nazareth who did not receive
healing because of their lack of faith.
We
may not be a match for the devil but God has granted us the power to defend
ourselves against him. First, He is calling us to a life of holiness and
righteousness. Though the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour, (1
Peter 5:8) he is powerless over those who are in Christ Jesus.
Naaman,
a Syrian general, living in the time of the prophet Elisha, was a leper. Though
he was a valiant soldier and a high-ranking personality, he had a handicap. He
had attracted one of the most dreadful diseases of his era. He needed healing
very badly. The slave helper in his household spoke to her mistress about a
prophet in Samaria who could heal him of his leprosy. He prepared himself for
the journey and on arrival the prophet, through his disciple, asked him to go
dip himself seven times in the River Jordan. When he obeyed, “... his flesh
became clean like that of a young boy.” (2 Kings 5:14)
Healing
is a gift from God. He sent His Son to the cross so that the power of the devil
over our body—His temple--will be crushed once and for all. This is the reason
why He could declare as He breathed His last; “It is finished!” He had
conquered sin and sickness.
Sickness
and death should no longer have dominion over us. When we knit a relationship
with God, through His Son and the Holy Spirit then we are sure of eternal life
and a perfect cover against sickness. “Because s/he loves me,” says the Lord,
“I will rescue him (her); I will protect him (her) for s/he acknowledges my
name. S/he will call upon me, and I will answer him (her); I will be with him
(her) in trouble, I will deliver him (her) and honour him (her). With long life
will I satisfy him (her) and show him (her) my salvation.” (Psalm 91:14-16)
Rather than just run to Him for healing, seek to know Him. God knows those that
are His own. Satan cannot attack anything that has His seal, which is the blood
of Jesus.
God
will heal you if you come to Him in faith. “‘Take heart daughter, your faith
has healed you.’ And the woman was healed from that moment.” (Matthew 9:22)
Doubt and fear can deprive us from receiving our healing. The word of God never
fails, it stands true forever.
Come
to Jesus believing. The price has already been paid. Your healing awaits
you!
