Who Touched Me?

The message Jesus brought to the world was something no one had ever heard. He proclaimed the kingdom of God drawing near, and then did something most amazing. He put His words into action. Jesus healed people—as many as could get close to Him. The lesson is clear. God is breaking through to the physical world (into the affairs of man) to heal (physically and spiritually). Jesus never wavered in this teaching. He preached the Kingdom of God and healed the sick. The more one studies the ministry of Jesus, the more one realizes the importance Jesus placed on healing the sick. For nearly one-fifth of the four Gospel accounts is devoted to Jesus’ healing and the discussions raised by them. In fact, the emphasis on healing is more extensive than any other experience in the narrative. Out of 3,779 verses in the four Gospels, 727 relate specifically to the healing of physical and mental illness and the resurrection of the dead. And the healings that are recorded represent only a small fraction of the total - John 20:30. Compare this to the 165 verses that deal in general with eternal life. Churches who lack the wisdom of God to minister healing to the sick overlook a larger truth. It is His eternal nature and purpose to both save and heal. It is God’s intent that through the Church the manifold wisdom of God should be made known, according to His eternal purposes, which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him we can approach God with freedom and confidence - Ephesians 3:10-12. Salvation and healing are both God’s wisdom and eternal purpose -Psalm 103:3-4, Isaiah 53:4-5. Many churches have forgotten this foundational, spiritual truth and are paying the price. In practical terms it means a Church (the Body of Christ) without a healing ministry is like a restaurant without a kitchen! Neither is very satisfying. Not many people show up for service, because there is nothing there to fill their hunger. During his earthly ministry Jesus focused on two things: Proclaiming the Kingdom of God, and healing the sick of physical illness and disease. After Jesus ascended into heaven, His disciples (obeying the Great Commission) did the same as what Jesus taught them: They proclaimed the Gospel and healed the sick. That all happened here on Earth over 2,000 years ago. So here's a question: What's changed since then? For sake of discussion, suppose Jesus were to physically appear in our midst today. What would we do? Do you think we would crowd around Him asking Him to heal our infirmity or disease? Of course, and He would! He would heal us because of who He is, and our faith in Him. Now here's what I ask you to ponder. Does it make any difference whether Jesus is physically here in our midst today or not to ask him for physical healing? That's a rhetorical, gotcha question because He IS with us today. That's the whole point of the healing Gospel of Jesus Christ. He lives within each one of us. This explains why James exhorted Church elders to pray over the sick and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord for healing - James 5: 14-16. Our Personal Faith is the Key to Divine (Spiritual) Healing. Of all the spiritual issues that confront Christians today, perhaps none is more misunderstood than the power of faith to heal the sick. Jesus said: If you have faith as tiny as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there and it will move. Nothing will be impossible to you." - Matthew 17:20. Those who do not believe in healing miracles today are quick here to point out that Jesus was addressing his disciples; that His message about faith moving a mountain was intended only for them. But, why do they say that? What verse from God's Word can they cite that backs this teaching? There is none! To the contrary, when Jesus' disciples asked Him why they could not heal an epileptic boy, He chided them saying, “Because you have so little faith!” - Matthew 17:19-20. Could it be the same with many of us today? Which is easier to say: "The age of miracles have ceased." Or; "Oh ye of little faith?" You see, healing miracles are all about faith; they are not bound by time or circumstance. The problem is not miracles, the problem is our lack of faith in God to heal the sick. If we have faith in God that He saves us in obeying the Gospel, what keeps our faith from believing God will heal our body when called upon through that faith? The problem is our faith (disbelief), not God's willingness to heal. Faith in God's promise to heal is what separates men of faith in God, from carnal men who cower in fear or disbelief that God will heal them. This kind of faith is not intellectual or born of doctrine: It is a soul searching conviction (born of God's Word), which touches the very heart of God.