Why do we see so few healed? Why don’t churches experience more of God’s healing power on a regular basis? Why are so many in the Church sick and infirm? Have you ever asked any of those questions? If you have, I’d like to present a possible reason for the lack of healing in churches. What hypothesis do I have for the lack of healing in churches? My thought process begins and ends with the gospel, preaching the gospel, and believing the gospel — the gospel of healing. That’s what I’d like to talk about in this post.
Our gospel is not only a gospel of salvation. No, it’s also a gospel of healing. Forgiveness of sins and the healing of bodies go hand in hand. The Bible shows they are connected not separate. Yet much of the Church has separated healing and forgiveness. In their gospel, healing isn’t part and parcel of the gospel of salvation; it’s separate. In some cases, healing is dissected and divorced from forgiveness and salvation. That was never meant to be the case. Yet, it is.
That’s why so many have such a hard time receiving healing and an easier time receiving salvation. The gospel of salvation has been preached for years and decades by stable and competent ministers who, for the most part, have represented Christ well. Healing, on the other hand, has oftentimes been treated with skepticism, cynicism, and unbelief. Many have seen those who believe in divine healing as foolish: it can be thought of them that they just don’t know what they’re doing. Or, they’re ignoring modern science and medicine. But are those things at odds with one another? Or are they complimentary?
There’s no contradiction between modern medical science and healing. It isn’t wrong to go to doctors for medical help. Luke was a physician. Col. 4:14. Jesus said people would say tauntingly, “Physician, heal yourself!” They wanted His miracles their way. They were unwilling to follow Jesus’s medical advice — “Do not fear, only believe.” Mk. 5:36, ESV. Then, Jesus said, “All things are possible for one who believes.” Mk. 9:23, ESV. Yes, real faith makes all things possible.
"The reason why we have such a hard time believing and trusting God is, oftentimes, we seek man’s approval and not God’s approval."
Why do so many have such a hard time believing? Have you struggled with believing God? Do you really trust Him? Why do so many have such a hard time trusting God when things go wrong? When all hell seems like it surrounds you, are you still able to put your trust in God? Jesus told us why so many have such a hard time believing and trusting God: “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” Jn. 5:44, NLT. The reason why we have such a hard time believing and trusting God is, oftentimes, we seek man’s approval and not God’s approval.
Are you seeking God’s approval? Or are you seeking man’s approval? If you seek man’s approval over God’s approval, you always struggle with believing and trusting. As people, we can become addicted to man’s approval. That addiction causes us to struggle with faith in God. When man’s approval means less to us than God’s approval, we will grow stronger in our faith in God. Now, I’m not talking about being lawless. Yes, we should still follow the Bible’s teaching on “honoring all”, 1 Pet. 2:17, honoring our parents, Eph. 6:2, honoring our spouses, 1 Pet. 3:7, and honoring those in authority. 1 Tim. 5:17. But we should always honor God first and more. Prov. 3:9.
How can we measure our honor of God? By looking at your checkbook, bank account, credit card receipts, or other methods by which we give. Check your giving and discern your honor. Giving enables us to check our honor of God. That’s why giving to God is important: it enables us to see if we are truly giving God the honor He is due. Yes, we should give. Yes, we should tithe. Yes, we should honor God in all we say and do. God places a premium on this key characteristic: “I will honor those who honor Me, but those who despise Me will be disdained.” 1 Sam. 2:30, Berean Standard Bible.
Real faith always honors God. If we want to see more sick people be healed, I suggest we start by honoring God. How? Give. There’s a story about John D. Rockefeller. According to the story, he discovered he was dying at 53 years of age. He realized that he was unable to take his wealth with him. He changed from seeking to accumulate wealth to giving his massive wealth away (1.5% of the national GDP at the time). When he did, he started getting better. And he died when he was the ripe old age of 98 years old. That’s 45 more years of living AFTER he started giving. Yes, honoring God by giving to others, especially the poor, lengthened his life. And it will do the same for us today. It wasn’t a special prayer, church attendance, or message that caused him to be healed. It was his giving.
I suggest we learn how to give our way out of difficult situations. I’ve done that. I remember one moment in my life where everything I owned was in my pocket. I had lost everything because of the evil done to me by evil people. Evil. But I moved forward. I kept trusting God. And I went to a conference with Cindy Jacobs. She received an offering. I went forward with all I owned in my pocket (and I thought, Oh No!). God spoke to me to give. It was a significant amount. I obeyed. Then, I went to a conference with Rick Joyner. I was looking to setup my book table to sell books. God spoke to me, “give them away”. I said in my heart, “Lord, they cost money!” But I obeyed. In less than two hours, all my books on the table were gone. Gone! I went home. When I arrived back, I saw the church’s offering. Someone had donated their entire paycheck to the church ($3,000.00+). God provided. Not my way, or in my time, but in His way and in His time.
How have I made it this far, especially with all those who were against me? I gave. I honored God. I chose to believe and trust God. By faith, God saved me. If you’re sick or infirm, he’ll do that for you too. That’s why I’d encourage you to give. Give your way out of sickness. Give your way out of financial issues. Give your way out of marital problems. Give your way out of family problems. Give your way out of business or employment issues. Give! And watch what God does. Yes, it works. Don’t think some get rich gimmick is going to get you out of trouble. It won’t. But give. Honor God with your substance. It works.
I want to remind you of a promise in scripture: “With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” Ps. 91:16. Yes, long life is God’s will. Always! Don’t settle for the smooth lies of Satan! Let God give you a long and prosperous life by choosing to give to Him. I believe He will do that. Will you agree with me?
Let us pray!
-Scott Wallis
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