Healing is Our Bread

Jesus revealed Himself to humanity as “living bread”. He said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Jn. 6:51. Here, we learn how important what we feed on is. Who and what we listen to is important. We must always ask from everyone who teaches us: Is this the real Jesus?

Sadly, there are many who present a substitute Jesus. The bread they give isn’t living bread. Rather, it’s sugary bread. Once, my wife had a dream where she saw someone (a person we set over the church) feeding God’s people Mexican bread during the communion. This person was offering the people listening to him what they wanted to hear not the living bread.

I have to wonder in our day: How many ministers are offering people a substitute Jesus? They don’t serve Him. Rather, as the Apostle Paul said, “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” Phil. 3:19, ESV. Jesus, when listening to the Apostle Peter who was seeking to correct Him, said to him: “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Matt. 16:23, Berean Standard Bible. 

As ministers of the Gospel, we must always search our motives for why we do what we do. And we must always ask the question of ourselves: What and for who am I speaking? Why is that? Because we, like Jesus, must bring living bread from heaven to lost men and women. We, like Jesus, must become living bread. How do we do that? By setting our hearts and minds on the things from above, the things of God, the person of Jesus Christ.

If we can do that, then we can offer the world living bread, the bread, as Jesus said, “that came down from heaven”. And that’s the bread that people are searching for to satiate their soul’s hunger and see their bodies mended. Indeed, we are living in a time spoken of by the prophet Amos, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.” Amos 8:11, Berean Standard Bible.

We have many crying, “Word!”, to that which does not satisfy, to that which is not living bread in that it does not come from heaven. If what we say originates on earth, then it’s “earthly, sensual, devilish”. James 3:15. If what we say originates from heaven, then and only then is it “living bread”. That’s where the word of the Lord is found. That’s the bread that brings healing to those who are sick.

Jesus came face to face with a woman in need. That woman, a mother, had a daughter who was demon possessed. The devil had gotten ahold of that daughter’s soul. The mother confronted by this need went searching for healing for her daughter. (Have you been searching for healing?) When she found Jesus, she knew she had come to the right person, but his response to her wasn’t what she thought it would be: “It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.” Matt. 15:26. 

The woman could have been offended. She could have called Jewish news nine and said, can you believe what this minister said to me? He publicly called me, a dog. She didn’t do that. No, she did something that few are able to do. She humbled herself before the Christ she did not know and said, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” Matt. 15:27, NLT. That’s the picture of great faith, according to Jesus.

When, and if, God through His Son calls you a dog, learn how to humble yourself. How? Say woof! As it says in Ecclesiastes 9:4, Berean Standard Bible, “a live dog is better than a dead lion.” Yes, humbling yourself before God and admitting to the dog you are is better than pretending to be the lion that you’re not. God already knows whether you’re the lion you claim to be or the dog you’re trying to hide. 

Sometimes, the path to the bread requires us to get in the bread line; it requires that we humble ourselves before God. This woman was willing to do that. She begged and believed for her daughter’s life. And, unlike many who weren’t willing to beg and believe, she received. She, a Gentile, someone separated from the covenants of promise, received from God. But beloved, that’s not you, if you’re a believer. No, you’re not a dog before God. And the living bread, Jesus, the healer, is yours to partake of freely.

When we come to God for healing, we aren’t coming as those outside of covenant. No! We are coming as covenant people to receive what’s rightfully ours — healing. Yes, healing is in the covenant. Here, it was even in the Old Covenant for the believing Jew. How much more for those under the New Covenant? Yes, as scripture says, “better covenant [] which was established upon better promises.” Heb. 8:6. That’s the believer’s covenant.

Healing is our bread. We are entitled to it. It’s in the covenant. Why then do so many believers struggle to receive it? Because they think of themselves like the dog they were instead of the lion they are. And we must always remember who we are: the people of God’s New Covenant. And under that New Covenant, which is better than the Old Covenant where healing could be found, we can receive health and healing. 

Isn’t it time we recognize that health and healing is our right in God’s kingdom? Shouldn’t we recognize that the healing bread, the living bread, is our portion? Yes! Absolutely! “He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Heb. 11:6. As Jesus said, “Do not fear, only believe.” Mk. 5:36, ESV. Now, receive your healing. Amen.

— Scott Wallis