HEALTH & HEALING

 INTENTION:

God wants you well, and we should never second-guess that.

Christ broke the curse of sickness and disease through the Cross; let’s believe this.

   ( DOWNLOAD BIBLE STUDY AS PDF )

 

I.            TOPIC:

We want to look at Health and Healing—not only for a believer, but for everyone. This is a matter of what Christ accomplished for us—Jesus not only demonstrated the Lord’s Will regarding health and healing, but took upon Himself all sickness, disease, deformities, missing body parts, birth defects, mental illness, and all.

As such, it should not be a mystery to us what God’s Will is in this matter for our own personal lives, but everyone’s life. We will see how Jesus (being the exact representation of God) healed all people, not leaving anyone unhealed; nor giving anyone a disease. Additionally, we can look at Jesus’s instructions to both His disciples and to all believers; seeing the disciples themselves performing miracles of healing both during Jesus’s ministry and after the Cross.

Furthermore, we can look at the lives of the disciples and see they never reveal to us that they suffered one bit from any sickness or disease themselves (only persecution), giving us hope and ability to do the same in our lives.

NB: Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) was not sickness but persecution from a literal person sent by Satan (this being the “messenger of Satan”)—Paul shares with us separately that he was greatly harmed by the evil of “Alexander the coppersmith” (2 Timothy 4:14). This is who I believe was Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”. Neither do I believe Paul had eye problems (eye illness): www.bornofspirit.net/was-paul-sick-when-he-met-the-galatians/

There are numerous teachings on health and healing, but I have found these people and teachings have helped me better understand that God wants me (us) well: Andrew Wommack (www.awmi.net/healing), Bill Johnson (www.bjm.org/core-values/healing), Curry Blake (Divine Healing Technician Training) (www.jglm.org/videos), and the testimonies of the late Dave Duell with the giftings of the Holy Spirit (www.facebook.com/DaveandBonnieDuell).

Much of what we will discuss here in this Bible Study pertains to understanding what was discussed in the previous Bible Study on Faith & Belief / Unbelief—it doesn’t require us to have faith to experience health and healing, just believing in the Faith of Christ Jesus (i.e. believing that Jesus Christ can accomplish it because of His Faith).

We are going to start off first with understanding the Body (Bread) and Blood (Wine) of Jesus. Additionally, we will be looking into the meanings behind the original Hebrew and Greek words used in verses.

 

II.            READING:    John 6:26-58 (NKJV)

Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”

35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

41 The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 And they said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

52 The Jews therefore quarrelled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

 

III.            RELATED VERSES AND QUESTIONS:

A.      The “Lord’s Supper”:

Matthew 26:26-28 (NKJV)

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Mark 14:22-25 (NKJV)

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 22:14-20 (NKJV)

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Question: What does the bread (Body) and wine (Blood) mean for you?

·         Refer also: Bible Study Lesson 047 – Body of Christ

B.      1 Corinthians 11:23-34 (NKJV) {PoG}

26 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment {condemnation} to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are {trained and instructed} by the Lord, that we may not be condemned {judged} with the world.

33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.

Question: How did they (do we) take “Communion” in an unworthy way?

C.      Colossians 1:13-20 (NKJV) {PoG}

{God the Father} has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

·         Further reading: Hebrews 9 & 10 regarding sacrificial blood: the relationship between the sacrifices done through the Law and how Jesus Christ (through the Cross) exacted that required blood-sacrifice (atonement) for sins once-and-for-all-time.

Question: What did the Blood of Jesus Christ accomplish?

D.      Taking our sickness and disease (prophesised, carried-out, completed):

Isaiah 53:4-5 (NKJV) {PoG}

Surely He has borne our griefs {H2483: Sicknesses} And carried our sorrows {H4341: Physical pain, Mental pain, Sorrow}; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten {H5221: struck, hit, beaten, slayed, killed, scourged} by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded {H2490: defiled, polluted, desecrated, fatally wounded, pierced} for our transgressions, He was bruised {H1792: crushed, broken, shattered} for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes {H2250: bruises, stripes, wounds, blows} we are healed {H7495: literally healed, healthful, in order to get healed}.

Matthew 8:16-17 (NKJV) {PoG}

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities {G769: weakness, infirmity of the body (feebleness of health or sickness) or soul (want of strength)}, And bore our sicknesses {G3554: disease, sickness}.”

1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) {PoG}

{Christ} Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed {G2390: to cure, heal, make whole (literally or figuratively)}.

Question: What did Christ Jesus do through His Body? Do you see this as literal (physical) or figurative (spiritual)?

E.       Jesus tells us where sickness and disease come from:

Matthew 12:22-28 (NKJV)

Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” 25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Luke 13:10-17 (NKJV)

Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” 17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

John 9:1-7 (NKJV) {PoG}

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, {nevertheless} that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

John 10:10 (NKJV)

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Question: Do you believe God is the ones whom makes people sick or have birth-defects?

F.       Jesus demonstrates all kinds of healing:

Matthew 4:23 (NKJV)

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

Matthew 8:16 (NKJV)

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.

Matthew 15:30 (NKJV) {PoG}

Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed {crooked body members, injured, disabled, mutilated}, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them.

Mark 6:56 (NKJV)

Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.

Luke 4:40 (NKJV)

When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.

Luke 6:19 (NKJV)

And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

Question: Did Jesus ever reject healing? Do you feel He wants to heal you or someone you know?

G.      Unbelief and healing:

Mark 8:22-26 (NKJV)

Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. 23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 24 And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” 25 Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. 26 Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.”

Luke 10:10-14 (NKJV)

But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, 11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ 12 But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city. 13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

Mark 6:1-6 (NKJV)

Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marvelled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

Question: Why did Jesus have to lead the blind man out of the city? What limited Jesus in His hometown?

H.      Believers instructed:

Matthew 10:1,7-8 (NKJV) {PoG}

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give {Acts 3:6}.

Mark 6:7,12-13 (NKJV)

And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them.

John 14:12-14 (NKJV)

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

Mark 16:14-18 (NKJV)

Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Question: Jesus sent His disciples out to do as He Himself did; why could they only heal “many” and not all? What instructions did Jesus give, not only to the disciples, but to all those “who believe”? Is this you?

IV.            FURTHER THOUGHT:

A.      Luke 17:11-19 (NKJV) {PoG}

Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed {G2511: to make clean physically (cured), morally, and Levitically}. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed {G2390: to cure, heal, make whole (literally or figuratively)}, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. 17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed {G2511}? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well {G4982: to be made whole, to save/keep saved, to make well, heal, restore to health, preserve}.”

Thoughts: As lepers, these 10 men were outcasts from the city; not able to interact with anyone but other lepers outside the city gates. They were considered unclean; which is why they kept their distance. Yet their desire was to be made clean (to no longer be outcasts or have leprosy)—which is why they called out to Jesus believing He could heal them. As they went to show themselves to the priests, they were cleansed (cured) of leprosy—yet one (the Samaritan) went back to praise God (not to just go get religious approval). When he did, he was made whole. As suffering from leprosy, it was common to lose fingers, toes, and other parts of the body to the disease. For him to be made whole was for these missing parts to grow back and be restored to his God-designed normalcy. (Yes, missing limbs and organs can grow back!) The other 9 were cured of their sickness, but still had the signs of leprosy in the missing body parts—the Samaritan was healed to the point no one could even know he had had leprosy. We can then ask ourselves this question: do we just want to be cured, or also made whole?

 

B.       Healing for anyone and everyone.

Look through all the verses regarding healing done by Jesus and His Disciples (before and after the Cross). For Jesus and His ministry, He demonstrated healing, showing us what the Will of God is; and using these miracles to testify of God.

It's not the sickness that brings glory to God, but the healing!

Nor is it God “using” sickness to bring people to Him!

Healing miracles can be a testimony to lead people to Christ. Most of whom Jesus and the disciples healed were not believers; yet became believers from the healing. You don’t have to be Born-Again to experience healing, and often it is the healing that brings people to Christ. As a believer, you can work healing on Christians; but also on non-Christians to help lead them to Christ!

V.            ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & SUPPORT:

A thank you to Kelly and Joshua who are inspirational in this life-journey. And to all the family, friends, sponsors, and donors who have fed into this ministry and outreach.

If you would like to support this ministry and outreach, you may do so via our website or at:

(U.S.A. registered 501c3 Non-Profit Organisation)