Matthew 8:16-17 says, “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, (Jesus) Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” There have been many arguments about whether or not Isaiah 53:3-5 was talking about physical healing as being part of the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Matt. 8:17 clears this up quite nicely. Jesus Christ bore our griefs (Heb - sickness & disease), and carried our sorrows (Heb- pain & anguish). Matthew, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote this in his gospel. Jesus came to heal us - spirit, soul, & body. Unfortunately, much of the church has denied this - to our detriment.

In Matt 8:16, it says Jesus healed ALL that were sick. In Acts 10:38, Jesus healed ALL who were oppressed of the devil. Was this God’s will? Certainly. The last part of Acts 10:38 says, “because God was with Him”. Jesus is God in the flesh (Jn 1:14). He is the express image of the Father (Heb 1:3). Does God want all healed? Didn’t Jesus heal all? Yes and yes. We must understand this. We must know Jesus is our healer. We must know sickness is not from God. If we think it is from God, we cannot have faith to be healed. We cannot have “Disney” faith, and wish upon a star. We don’t throw pennies in wells and hope to be healed. Our faith can only be effective when it is based on the Word of God. God’s Word is God’s will.

The Word says we have a better covenant with better promises. If physical healing was a promise in the Old Testament, is having no healing in the New Covenant a “better” promise? No. In the OT, sickness was a curse (Dt 28:15-68). Is it now a blessing in the NT? No. In fact, we have been redeemed from the curse (Gal 3:13). Jesus became sin with our sins, and He became sick with our sicknesses. If He bore my sins so that I can be free, did He not bear my sickness so that I can be healed? Yes.

The church has failed to preach this good news. It has exalted vain traditions of men above the Word of God (Mk 7:5-13), and kept multitudes from receiving their healing. The gospel of healing and the gospel of forgiveness of sins is the same gospel (God heals all thy diseases and forgives all thine iniquities Ps 103:3). Many stop preaching healing because someone dies. Should we stop preaching salvation because someone goes to Hell? Should we stop giving to the Lord‘s work, because someone misuses some funds? Of course not. God’s Word is eternal truth. It does not change. It is not based on circumstances. Individual decisions and results do not change God’s Word. His Word is never the problem. We need to change, not God.

Many are weak and sickly in the church because they do not discern the Lord’s body. They take communion in ignorance of the healing benefits of Jesus our Passover. They don’t take communion in faith; they take it as an empty ritual. Communion is the “Meal that Heals”.

Healing is based on atonement, not on a whim of God. In the OT, they looked on the bronze serpent (a type of Jesus), and were healed and their pain taken away. The lepers were cleansed when the atonement was made. The year of Jubilee started on the Day of Atonement. Aaron made an atonement for the people, and the plague of death was stopped that broke out among the people. Do you see the connection? Jesus was our atoning sacrifice. With His wounds, we are healed. When we exalt God’s Word, and start confessing it and believing it and acting on it - then we will start seeing God’s results. Is this just wishful thinking? No. it is “faithful” thinking.

Most Christians have more faith in doctors and pharmaceutical drugs than in God’s Word. I’m not against doctors - I’m just stating a fact. Imagine if we operated in the faith of the centurion in Matt 8:5-13. The kind of faith that amazed even Jesus. The kind of faith that says, “The Word of God is all I need to be healed”. This centurion was not even a born again believer. But look what his faith produced. Will we, his covenant children through faith in Jesus shed blood, receive any less? Away with such thinking in Jesus Name! Let us believe and receive! Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!