Greatest Hindrance to Healing

The Greatest Hindrance to Healing
2/20/11

Beside the issue of speaking in tongues, the theology and topic of divine healing is most misunderstood and therefore causes division within the universal church today. Because of that God's people are destroyed.

Hosea 4:6 – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

The Hebrew word for “knowledge” = (da`-ath) – means an understanding through application. Gaining ‘knowledge’ of an applied skill (for example: hunting - I become more proficient the more I apply my knowledge of hunting)

So essentially this verse tells us: People are destroyed because they do not put into use and practice the information that has been provided by God.

I can ‘know’ how to hunt (gun, round, location, camo) but unless I practice the knowledge, it is of no use.


This morning I would like to pragmatically address a few of the common misunderstandings regarding divine healing:

Always remember; What I agree with is what I have chosen to empower – either light of darkness – they cannot exist together as they are mutually exclusive.

1. Jesus was able to heal because he was the son of God.

The implication here is that Jesus is deity, therefore while he could bring healing and deliverance – we (as mortals) are not capable of the same.

Philippians 2:6-7 – “who though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

Jesus while entirely God, chose to 'make himself nothing and take on the likeness of men'. Jesus gave up His divinity so as to demonstrate for man what a person in perfect relationship to the Father would look like.

Matthew 28:18 – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

God needs nothing given to Him – Jesus received authority – meaning he gave up that authority and upon His resurrection reclaimed it again.

John 14:12 – “…whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do…”

Mark 16:7-8 – “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues… they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

These two verses speak for themselves.

2. Jesus had special power to heal

Again, the implication is that Jesus had access to a special power that modern day believers do not.

What was the power?

Acts 10:38 – “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

So the power that Jesus received was the Holy Spirit. That is how he went about healing and doing good. The amazing news is that people who have professed Christ as Lord and Savior have received that same Holy Spirit.

John 14:17 – “the Father will give you another Helper, the Spirit of truth, who will dwell with you and be in you.”

and again...

Ephesians 1:13 - “…when you heard the word of truth…and believed in him were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit…”

3. Jesus always healed instantly

The idea here is that every healing/deliverance accomplished by Jesus was seen and recognized immediately. Therefore, when it ‘appears’ that people are not instantly healed, God must not want to heal them.

The bible has two accounts in which 'healing' was not instantaneous:

Luke 17:11-15 – “… ten men with skin disease met him (Jesus). They stood at a distance and shouted, ‘Jesus, have mercy on us’ when He saw them, he told them, ‘show yourselves to the priests’, As they went, they were made clean.

Because we are not provided the distance these men traveled it is safe to assume that they lived at least a days journey from the 'priests' that were in the city. The common practice of the day (according to Josephus) was to banish lepers out of the city entirely.

John 4:46-53 – the nobleman whose son was sick with fever to the point of death. Jesus tells the man that to go his way and that his son will live. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken to him and he went his way.

Upon his returning his servants met him and told him that his son was alive. The man inquired the hour when his son ‘began to get better’ and they said yesterday at the 7th hour. Notice, that the man's son 'began to get better' giving us the picture of a gradual process of healing. In addition, the nobleman knew nothing of his sons healing… so to him it was not ‘instantly seen’ he believed the word.

Besides misunderstandings there are numerous religious answers to affliction and disease:

1. “If you don't get healed it's because you don't have enough faith…”

It’s not an issue of faith – it is an issue of belief.

In the 5th chapter of John there is an account of a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years at the pool at Bethesda. In this account of His healing there is no reference of him having faith in Jesus (although he did have faith in a false system of angelic-healing waters). Actually, when asked who healed him he says, "I do not know".

So if he did not have ‘faith’ what did he have? BELIEF in what Jesus said.

It's important to remember that faith is not the absence of doubt – it is the presence of belief.


2. I guess with this affliction I’m reaping what I sow…

The obvious question we should ask about spiritual issues is; "Was that demonstrated in the ministry and life of Christ?" In this case, the answer to that question is 'no' - Christ did not withhold healing and deliverance based on 'reaping and sowing'. Ask yourself; How many people did he encounter and say to them, “Sorry, can’t do anything for you… you’re getting what you deserve.”

Of course we are given the principal of reaping and sowing in Glatians 6:7 – “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.”

As with any precident you must take the verse in the context with which it is given - YOU MUST KEEP READING – v8 – “For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”

The point Paul is making here is that God cannot be fooled and if what we are sowing is for our personal gain (flesh) and not God’s glory (Spirit) when it is time for the “harvest” we will reap corruption for the things sown to our selfish desire of advancment in the world.

Another thing to remember: Text taken out of context will result in a pretext that deceives.


3. I’m going through this so that God can bring glory to Himself –

In regard to God needing ‘glory’ – he is not a narcissist and could force every knee to bow to give Him glory at any moment He desired. He does not need to use coercion to bring about worship or to display His glory on earth. He even tells us in Psalm 86:9 – All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O LORD, and shall glorify your name.”

In other words… God will eventually receive Glory from every nation, tribe and tongue – He does not need to use affliction to receive glory – His appearing is enough.

In thinking about this religious answer to affliction; Why would God allow (approve) of something that Jesus came against, and told His followers to stand in opposition too? That is a kingdom divided.

It is inconsistent to have Jesus pay the price for healing and for us to believe it is not God’s intention to heal.


So what is the greatest hindrance to healing?

Coming into agreement with the past and a spirit of unbelief. Statements like:

- I’ve never seen it first hand.

It is in the absence of experience that bad theology is formed.


- I’ve tried it before and it has not worked.

The bible tells us of a woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:25) for 12 years. She had depleated her life savings going to doctors and therepists but none could help. Imagine what she needed to overcome to approach Jesus.

A modern day rebuttal of trying it before and it did not work out is Roger Bannister – who broke the 4 minute mile on May 6th 1954.

Up until that day no one had ever seen it before – although there were reports of people doing it. Thousands of runners tried from 1850-1954… none had succeeded. Experts had said that it was impossible because the heart will explode and human physiology will not allow for it.

Yet, Bannister broke it and 46 days later the 4 minute mile was broke again. The time for the mile has continued to get shorter and as of 1999 the record was 3:43.13

Any idea that does not have an expectation of good is under the influence of a lie.

God said it – “If I’m involved the result will always be good”.


4. People have told me that I’m living in denial.

before I even address this I must tell you, do not be irresponsible – go to the doctor, receive treatments, eat well, exercise…

However, in regard to living in denial 2 Corinthians 4:18 tells us – “…do not look at the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.”

Colossians 3:2 – “Set you mind on the things above, not on things that are on earth.”

You rarely accomplish what you are unwilling to attempt.


Finally let me leave you with this principal found in Judges 20 that tells the story of Israel’s war with the tribe of Benjamin. Israel wanted the tribe of Benjamin to turn over some men who murdered a woman, cut her to pieces and sent the parts to the country of Israel but the tribe of Benjamin would not listen and took up battle lines against Israel. The people of Israel inquired of God - who instructed them to send the tribe of Judah up first and fight against Benjamin. Israel did according to the LORD but lost 22,000 men that day.

The people took courage and again formed battle lines. They inquired of God again and this time He told them to go up again… but this day they lost 18,000 men.

The people of Israel went to Bethel, wept, fasted and sacrificed peace and burnt offerings to the LORD. Once again, they inquired of the LORD and the LORD told them to go again into battle and this day attained victory.

Imagine what the people of Israel had to overcome in their effort to defeat God's enemy. Sickness and disease in an enemy of God and regardless of the number of times we do not attain the victory...

The mandate remains the same:

Mark 16:7-8 – “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues… they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”