Divine Healing
 

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world (elementary principles or morals) of the world, and not after Christ. Making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many like things do ye. (Col. 2:8)

For example, many professing Christians read and quote James 5:14-15 but when push comes to shove, their actions show that they really don't believe the Word of God.  At the slightest excuse they run to the doctor or take a drug to alleviate their fears. It should not surprise anyone that there is a drug problem among young people today when there is a legal and very profitable drug trade that caters to the fears and anxieties of the adult population.

Most leisure conversation generally includes talk of sickness, hospitals and doctors but rarely, rarely any mention of trusting the Lord for healing.  Should they trust the Lord they then might also feel obligated to live a holy and dedicated life, which does not find favor today even among professing Christians.

In the book of Luke, which consists of 24 chapters and a total of 1151 Scriptures and in the book of Acts, which consists of 28 chapters with a total of 997 Scriptures, NOT ONCE is there a mention of Luke ministering to people through his profession as a physician.  Nor in all of the other books is there mention of anyone being referred to the "beloved physician" for treatment by the application of medical tools or drugs.

Certainly, if the medical profession was an acceptable alternative for healing for the Christian, then there would have been at least one mention of Luke using his professional expertise instead of the Name of Jesus for healing.

Why would a believing Christian want to trust his healing to a medical doctor that operates under the sign of the CADUCEUS?  The caduceus, in Greek mythology, is the staff with two entwined serpents that Hermes used when he ferried dead souls across the river Styx in to Hell!

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Mat 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Act 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Isa 6:10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

To be healed by God requires faith.  "Faith healers" or "practitioners" who have the gift of healing may accomplish this. Individuals also can use their own faith to be healed.
Act 14:9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Psa 107:20 He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Mat 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the Word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Mat 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Jam 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

He tells us: "If ye being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more will your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask them."  The key here is to be able to claim God as your Father through the saving grace of Jesus the Christ as Lord of your life. Since Jesus the Christ is the Word of God incarnate then one must allow the Word of God to be Lord (the ruling factor) of one's life.  God does everything through His Word.
Has a loved one ever rebuked you? It can hurt worse than a beating and is an example of how chastisement by the Word of God works.  If you are not subject to His Word then you are automatically subject to the god of this world; Satan (who, incidentally, does not have mercy).

Through the prophet Hosea God tells us that: "My people are destroyed through lack of knowledge. . . ".  Knowledge of God and His will is available through His Word that we know as the Holy Bible. This is the operating manual for man that, if followed, not only will result in a healthy and satisfied life here but also eternal life after our time is finished in this world.

 Lyle C. Hildebrand