Is asking God to heal someone pointless ?

[MikeBigg]

God is gracious in answering all prayer, but i think the danger for many is asking God without a firm belief that it is His will and using that as an escape clause.

I generally get into trouble way saying this, but I believe it always God's will heal. It is completely consistent with His nature and character and the example that Jesus showed us. There was not one time recorded in scripture where Jesus said to a sick person: "I won't heal you today because I want to perfect your character through this disease." It is inconceivable to me that God would do that.

I wonder in a mixed setting how effective one person commanding, and another asking God to take care of it actually is, or is it a hindrance?

Mark Marx, the guy behind the Healing on the Streets initiative in the UK:

Healing on the Streets | Learn about & connect with our world wide Healing on the Streets network

has a way of explaining it. He suggests its like the boss of a factory giving work out to all his employees, then one of the employees calling the boss to come over to his bench to do the work.

I think petitionary prayer has its place in the healing realm, in our church we have seen improvements in the condition of people we've prayed for - for example, blood counts improving - but, commanding prayer is, in my experience and in the examples of Jesus, the way to go.

Blessings,

Mike

 

[GreatistheLord]

So, the right emphasis would be??? I don't know how else to say it that people would actually understand better. Because scripture says that we should trust in God and not men. I agree that it is God performing His will by the Spirit through us, definitely. That is how we please Him by "offering our bodies as living sacrifices" for Him to use by the Spirit. But, do you not think it is right to only trust in God and not men?

No, i mean that some people believe God foreordains healing and sickness, the emphasis of leaving it to God reminds me of this, although i know what you mean.

 

[allykelly07]

No, i mean that some people believe God foreordains healing and sickness, the emphasis of leaving it to God reminds me of this, although i know what you mean.

Oh ok, thank you for clearing that up. Well, the word does say that "all things work for the good of those who love Him." Do you know of other verses that talk about God planning things like that? I know that we should leave it to God, but the word also says, that in order to be healed, we must call on the elders of the church have them pray, and anoint you with oil and you will be healed. It seems that they go hand in hand. Because if we believe so much that it's we who have the power, rather than God is giving the power, through His Spirit in us, then we become almost like our own gods, rather than Christ healing through us, because we are being obedient to Him. Some people tend to leave the part out, where we must die to ourselves to allow the Spirit of Christ to live through us rather than we ourselves.

 

[MikeBigg]

Because if we believe so much that it's we who have the power, rather than God is giving the power,

We don't have the power, but Jesus gave us authority. This is what "praying in the name of Jesus" means.

through His Spirit in us, then we become almost like our own gods, rather than Christ healing through us, because we are being obedient to Him. Some people tend to leave the part out, where we must die to ourselves to allow the Spirit of Christ to live through us rather than we ourselves.

It is definitely Christ healing through us. We cannot do this ourselves. and the comment about dying to ourselves so God can live through us is key.

As for being obedient to Him in regards to healing. I have the view that the commands Jesus gave to the 12 and later the 72 to heal the sick, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers and raise the dead are included Great Commission (Matt 28: 18-20) and apply to me today.

This means I can go to a random (sick) person in the street and know that I am being obedient to God.

Blessings,

Mike

 

[ACWaller]

Every single thing you do on Earth, if it's a good thing, will have some aspect of healing. There are many different ways of healing and one thing I definitely think we do need to do is ask God for him to reveal to us the unique way our own destiny should be walked out. I suppose in heaven there is no need for 'healing' as such, but the new life we have will be a whole-man and whole-woman reality of which our conception of healing is a part.

 

[allykelly07]

We don't have the power, but Jesus gave us authority. This is what "praying in the name of Jesus" means.



It is definitely Christ healing through us. We cannot do this ourselves. and the comment about dying to ourselves so God can live through us is key.

As for being obedient to Him in regards to healing. I have the view that the commands Jesus gave to the 12 and later the 72 to heal the sick, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers and raise the dead are included Great Commission (Matt 28: 18-20) and apply to me today.

This means I can go to a random (sick) person in the street and know that I am being obedient to God.

Blessings,

Mike

Yes the great commission, it is for everyone in Christ and today. Save souls by snatching them out of the flames of hell, by the gospel of Christ and not an interpretation that is from us or what we think. Did you know that Christ said greater works than even all that He did will come. How can there be greater works than what Christ did? It must mean that being transformed by life by the Spirit in us is, greater than all of those outward works. Though I know that Christ still heals through us, but that by this new man in us we might become sons of God. He is taking the place of us more and more daily. When we know it is the Spirit speaking through us, there is no greater realization than knowing it is not of ourselves. Thanks for sharing those things.

 

[If Not For Grace]

We still don't have a working definition of "effective."

She means does the physical disease "cease to be". I have the same question for intercessory prayer? People are always asking others to pray for the healing of ______ (some specfic illness, Cancer, etc). The disciples went around healing people as did Jesus-Jesus only asked if they wanted to be healed, no requirements--nothing. He healed multitudes of people. The disciples took pity and healed without beiing asked. It seemed to be a get in line sort of thing. Does this type healing take place today?

We are also told where two or more are gathered together to ask what we will and it shall be done. Not done "god's way" or in some other form than that we ask. Yet how can this be? All christian families would pray that their loved one be healed from cancer, right? Then none would die of this type malady. So how does that work?

How many people prayed for the physical healing Lane Goodwin, (the 13-year-old McLean County teenager with Childhood Cancer). Surely there was the faith of a mustard seed within this crowd-so am I misunderstanding the two or more promise?

 

[allykelly07]

She means does the physical disease "cease to be". I have the same question for intercessory prayer? People are always asking others to pray for the healing of ______ (some specfic illness, Cancer, etc). The disciples went around healing people as did Jesus-Jesus only asked if they wanted to be healed, no requirements--nothing. He healed multitudes of people. The disciples took pity and healed without beiing asked. It seemed to be a get in line sort of thing. Does this type healing take place today?

We are also told where two or more are gathered together to ask what we will and it shall be done. Not done "god's way" or in some other form than that we ask. Yet how can this be? All christian families would pray that their loved one be healed from cancer, right? Then none would die of this type malady. So how does that work?

How many people prayed for the physical healing Lane Goodwin, (the 13-year-old McLean County teenager with Childhood Cancer). Surely there was the faith of a mustard seed within this crowd-so am I misunderstanding the two or more promise?

Yes the physical illness ceases to be. If we obey exactly how the word say we are supposed to do it, and the word says that "if there is anyone sick among you, call on the elders of the church have them pray over you and anoint you with oil, and the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well." James 5

This is the way the church is supposed to heal. God is The healer. We must not trust in man, they do not heal the way God commands us to. Outside of the church, people can heal the way the disciples did. But in all things we should be trusting in God who is all powerful and is able to heal us without even having to take a breath. In the Bible, you will not find one person that died from a terminal illness or anything of the like. Yes God allowed some to be sick for a time, but never leading to death. They either died because of the gospel, or old age, or from turning away from God. If we are living by faith, trusting in the One that made us and holds all things together by His power, He will not let those things happen to us. If He does let them happen to us, then we still trust in Him that He will not let us die from it. We say we have faith in God, yet we trust in men for healing? That is not Gods way. That means we have faith and no works and it is worthless and dead. But we are told to continue in this faith that saves in every way.

Proverbs 3:7-8
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Proverbs 4:20-23
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

1 Timothy 4:8
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

 

[TheVoiceOfFate]

My reply may be deleted because I am not currently a fully-fledged Christian, but I have been a Christian for so much of my life and have studied it long enough to be entitled to my opinion.

You can ask God for spiritual healing and guidance, and if you are open to him he will grant you this. However, it is pretty much moot to request physical healing as if you believe in the God of classical healing then you would know it would be unfair. Why would he heal you and not the starving millions in Africa who are dying of AIDS, or anyone very influential and decent on Earth with another similarly debilitating disease? In this sense God would be selective in his healing and this image is not fitting with the God that you believe in, as God has no favourites.

 

[justhappeneduponthis]

Afflicted No Longer

Sep2 by justhappeneduponthis



There must be a freeing of the mind and heart from the shackles of hopelessness. Hospitals are full of stories of remarkable reversals of illness simply because of the indomitable spirit of the patient. A pleasant word; a good confession; a smile; an ability always to laugh; an audacity even in the face of death.

I know of many well-intentioned Christians who will give by memory every promise of healing contained in the Bible, and there are many. But perhaps the candidate for healing does not yet have an assurance of Jesus’ loving disposition toward him.

The ever victorious progression of thought and faith must be as follows. Jesus is proved history. As all-capable Son of God He came from Heaven, taught Heaven and its ethic, returned to Heaven and dwells there presently, working on the development of His Church in partnership with the Father and Spirit. He loves me and has shown me as much in undeniable ways. I thrill to read the account of His earth walk, selfless death and resurrection in the Gospels. I honestly regard Him as my best friend, and place my life and expectations in His hands. I trust Him more than I trust my own wants or understanding. He will bring about the best of all possible good either in me or through me. He has never done less with anyone who has reached out to Him.

This sort of abandon brings people to an experience of salvation. It comes as a consequence of the gift of repentance. It comes as the Lord draws the believer to Him. It is not manufactured by persuasion or resolve. The same applies to healing. A well-intentioned Christian worker might place the raw materials of truth, warning and promise before a candidate; offer to pray; continue to lift that individual up in the following weeks.

But God will be the One who closes the deal. The victorious recipient, the honest-to-goodness child of faith is the one who can say, as with Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”.

For such a one there remain no dark corridors to be traveled. The victory has come from within. The happy old Gospel song asserts, “The world didn’t give it to me, and the world can’t take it away”.

 

[GreatistheLord]

You can ask God for spiritual healing and guidance, and if you are open to him he will grant you this. However, it is pretty much moot to request physical healing as if you believe in the God of classical healing then you would know it would be unfair. Why would he heal you and not the starving millions in Africa who are dying of AIDS, or anyone very influential and decent on Earth with another similarly debilitating disease? In this sense God would be selective in his healing and this image is not fitting with the God that you believe in, as God has no favourites.

to answer the question, some (not me) would say that God only chooses to save some, so only healing some is perfectly consistent with that. i would at least expect consistency to look like God healing *every* disease of the elect, and none of the rest.

but that's clearly a wrong theology.

you make a great point, if God were rationing out healing, as if Jesus's atonement were limited, we would expect Him to heal the aid's orphans in Africa before the wealthy westerner of a headache. but He doesnt, he gives salvation and all the benefits of the atonement to those who believe, the outworking process is something that comes out of relationship and operating with the Holy Spirit, but the gift is always for everyone, just like salvation.

 

[Nagaria]

Your probably just doing something wrong. When god made everything he pretty much made sure he didn't miss a spot. Although you should know when god made everything from a scientific standpoint i'd say he generated extra blood to fill everything in equal space just for his loaded information data and applications ( dna ) in his blood to plant whatever it is he wished in shape or form, mobile, or neutral. Yes, and we might be paying for it in some manner.

 

[justhappeneduponthis]

Does He not say in Romans 9 "I will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy". The if, how and when are in His hands for healing as well as for salvation. Ours is to never give up, to plead the promises and to submit without bitterness in the tough trail to victory. It may sound shocking, but sometimes God uses an extraordinary physician to overcome the affliction. That physician is Death. You should go on You Tube and watch Wintley Phipps recite "Go Down Death".

 

[deke123]

no way..... asking God to heal a person is great because God can do all things and is a all time God.

 

[Norah63]

Well the OP was asking us a blunt question, and wanting a blunt answer.
When the centurion asked for Jesus to just speak the word, and his servant would be healed. What do you think that meant? Let's be blunt.
Yes praying for someone will be effective. As it is done by obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit? Then there will be results.
Is it just'wishful' praying? probably not much shown with that.
It's not a think so, hope so, wish for, faith.
Faith is grounded in truth, revealed and the settled words of Jesus.
We are a work in progress. Never beat ourselves up for learning and growing. How else can we develop spiritual maturity?
Iron sharpens iron.
Faith is a wonderful gift for any purpose.

 

[CGL1023]

Sorry for the blunt title, but my last question got sidetracked into better ways of praying. I know...... but my question stands......

Is asking God to heal someone pointless unbelief OR does God sometimes
respond to this type of prayer ?

I personally thank the Lord that healing is a finished work of the cross and that He freely provides it for me. God has done everything we will ever need in providing us healing. It is simply ours to pick up and make it our own, as if we were given a gift that was left for us on the table. We have nothing if we don't pick up the gift and leave with it. It up to me to make my requests or petitions known and believe that the Word is truth and that the Word will work for me every time I act on the Word in faith.

 

[Norah63]

Amen CGL, good words.