God’s Gift of Healing
Following on from our series on being a Presence-Centred Church, a new series of four talks looked at Healing. This is both a gift from God to us individually plus a gift to the church to take to other people. Jesus called us to be a people of power.
The Healing Starts With Us
Rob spoke about five key postures that create space for God’s healing power:
Gratitude – living with thankfulness whatever the circumstance.
Offering ourselves – surrendering our bodies, minds and souls to God.
Receiving healing – opening our hearts and hands.
Persistence – refusing to give up asking and praying.
Partnering with God through medicine – using the gifts and tools God has given us with faith.
When we live like this, we become both recipients and channels of healing. It begins in us and it flows through us.
Our testimonies of healing – whether instant or over time, whether a partial healing or a total healing, become a powerful tool for spreading the good news of Jesus.
A Healthy Theology of Healing
In the second talk, Rob outlined a healthy theology of healing:
Healing is central to the gospel. It’s a visible sign that salvation is already at work. It’s a manifestation of God’s goodness and it’s part of the salvation package.
Our bodies always matter to God. God cares deeply so we should present our bodies to Him. He is invested in our redemption.
Salvation is restoration. God’s plan is to reconcile everything – spirit, body, society, creation.
The church – that’s us – is called to participate in the redemption of everything. We are the living expression of the goodness of God’s Kingdom now.
Jesus redeems the whole person. Healing is not just about comfort, or proof of faith.
When Healing Doesn’t Come
This is probably the question we ask most – we have prayed diligently but we still haven’t seen the healing. In this talk, Rob explores five reasons healing might not happen quickly as we learn to walk with God when we don’t understand Him.
Sometimes we’re not asking the right thing. Ask the Holy Spirit how to pray, especially when praying for others. Only the Holy Spirit knows what’s really happening.
Sometimes we’re not ready for healing. Healing can have a cost. Getting well means stepping into new responsibilities, forming new habits, possibly coming off benefits, getting a job. Sometimes we’ve lived with pain or limitation so long we’re not sure who we’d be without it.
Sometimes it’s about faith and community. When it comes to faith for healing, Jesus said we only need faith as small as a mustard seed to move a mountain. (Matt. 17:20) We don’t need great or perfect faith. As long as faith exists somewhere, it is enough. Ask others to pray alongside you.
Sometimes it’s about timing. We need to maintain a posture of healing even when we aren’t receiving the healing we’re asking for. We need to remain persistent, whilst responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes it’s just a mystery. Sometimes when healing doesn’t come, we simply don’t know why. We have to learn to live with the mystery. We have to lay down our right to understand. Isaiah 55:8 tells us: ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways’ declares the Lord. We are not meant to make sense of everything God does.
How Do We Pray For The Sick?
Following three talks setting the foundations for healing, the last talk is a practical guide to praying for the sick
Rob provided 8 simple guidelines
1. Everyone can pray for healing
2. Pray in small teams (2-3 people)
3. Results aren’t your job
4. Define healing as moving someone forward
5. Speak to the condition, don’t beg
6. Check in as you pray
7. Celebrate progress
8. Don’t prolong it – end with hope and love
Healing doesn’t always mean instant, dramatic change. A good working definition is: Leaving someone in a better place than before we prayed. That could mean more peace, more hope, less pain, or just a clearer sense of God’s presence.
Think progress not perfection. Every move towards wholeness is a win.
