Presuppositions re Healing ministry

Hello Artos.

"1. God can heal"
I agree, but that doesn't mean that He will heal until after we are resurrected.

"2. God wants us whole"
I agree, but that doesn't mean that we will be made "whole" till after we are resurrected.

"a. person's willingness to receive"

We should not turn away a free gift of God like healing if He grants such a thing.

"b. person's willingness to let go of sin and change (repentance/change eg of diet or lifestyle)"

With God's help a Christian would want to amend their life/lifestyle so as to keep their body in as good a shape as possible without abusing it. There is no way to totally be free of our sinful condition, but one should strive to reduce doing those things which would negativey impact one's body.

"c. circumstances around the person (eg person lives in an infected area- might need to get out of it so as not to be exposed to the viruses etc)"

Seems like a repeat of b. Sometimies you can't change things and must deal with what you have.

"4.Healing can take time or can be instant, can come in various forms"

Agree. Healing in an instant would be a miracle and God doesn't do much of that these days. Haven't seen any restored legs or arms at Lourdes lately. But we may help our bodies to be able to fight off disease or illness with proper rest, exercise, diet, medication, etc.

"I often struggle with the issue: Does God WANT TO HEAL THAT SPECIFIC PERSON IN A SPECIFIC WAY (PHYSICALLY) AT A SPECIFIC TIME?"

Not quite sure what you are asking. God wants all His children to be healed in body and soul.

"Often, people in healing ministries would say: God wants to heal you now."
How does one reconcile the issue of God's specific will with that statement?"

The problem is thinking that just because you are a Christian God owes you something, like healing. Scripture never says that. Scripture says the opposite, that disciples will face adversity, illness, persecution, will not have "the good life", will be poor, cursed, beaten, killed. Sure God wants us to be back in the original relationship and state humans were in in the Garden. But that will not happen till we are in heaven with our new bodies. As a matter of face, and I think this is important, we have forgotten that God upholds us and continues to heal us each and every second. If He stopped for even one instant, we would all die immediately. We may not be totally perfect in body, but without God's assistance right now, we wouldn't even exist.

I'd probably be viewed as challenging it though. I do challenge the view that perfection in body may be found on earth. Living a godly lifestyle to support our bodies and others would be in line with Christian teaching.

"Am asking it as someone who has to pray for healing for other people and dare not pray in boldness (fear of acting in presumption) at times."

Why not? Your heavenly Father has said he wants you to pray (talk with Him), has promised that He will listen, and that He will answer. It would not be presumption to do what He asks. Just remember that His answer may not be what you want it to be!

Pax

Hello Zzub.

You are incorrect. There are more Christians who are sick than are well. Or are only healthy Christians true Christians?

Having faith has nothing to do with being physically well.

You posted - "I have seen people get out of wheelchairs, I have seen the deaf completely healed, the dead raised. A man with one lung restored to having two. A man with a plate in his back the plate dissolved and the spinal bone regrew."

This is bunk. Total bunk.

Pax