Sharing Magazine

Christian Healing: How can it be that God intervenes miraculously?

by The Rev. Mike Endicott

Christian Healing is what happens when Christians minister in Jesus’ name, enabling people to receive restoration to health of body or mind through God’s great love and mercy. This restoration of health is part of what is meant by the ‘abundant life’ which Jesus promised.

We may wonder how Christian healing works. How can it be that God intervenes miraculously? Quite simply, though we do not understand how he does it, we know that our supernatural God is the Creator of the universe – from the largest galaxy to the most infinitesimal subatomic charge or particle. He brought into being and sustains in being all matter that exists; so nothing is impossible for him. Without him, nothing would exist at all; no universe; nothing! It is hardly surprising, then, that he who is Creator of all has the power to change things in this world that he created.

Where do I get the faith to see healing?

     Whatever we say about faith being important for seeing healing miracles happen (as taught by Jesus), we should always remember He also revealed that we need only to have a ‘mustard seed’ amount of it. Such is the grace of God that this really is sufficient. Faith like this is a deep, uncluttered and child-like personal trust in the total reliability of Jesus − the same miracle-working Jesus whom we see in the Gospels. The New Testament lists faith among the nine gifts of the Spirit; and tells us all that we have been given a measure of faith, and that faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. In a special way, the Holy Spirit grows faith, as fruit, in the lives of human believers. The Bible also makes it clear that it is something we have to exercise, because Jesus tells us to ‘have faith’; not to doubt, but to believe.
      The growth of the fruit of faith, as with all the fruit of the Holy Spirit, makes Christian believers become more as God intended; more like Christ. The Christian life is marked by that on-going process. This is faith in action:“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” (James 5:14-15)
So how do we obtain enough faith to see people healed? The first step is to begin to hear the word of God, for faith comes by hearing that word. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
      So the way to perform healing and miracles, as the apostles did, is to see Jesus in the Gospels as the perfect revelation of the Father’s will to heal, watch him working through the hands of others in the church, and operating in the faith that comes from hearing, believing and applying the anointed word of God. When the disciples asked Jesus how they might perform miracles, his answer was to focus on their beliefs. Then they asked him, “What must we do to the works God requires?’” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28)

I believe for others, but not so well for myself.
Is this OK?

     This question usually stems from a common held misunderstanding that a particular healing is the result of an arbitrary ‘decision’ by God. But we need to be aware that God’s will is utterly consistent, in perfect accordance with his own self-revelation in the Scriptures. If it were not so, we would have to say that God does not always give what he promises. He is faithful to his word and his covenants. Consider this scenario: if I were to minister for healing to ten lepers, should I expect God to have a different answer for each of them? This one to be healed; that one to remain in his sickness; another to be healed next year, perhaps? Of course not. I need only to look at how Jesus healed to know that, in the matter of healing, God’s will is the same for all. 
     Firstly, we need to know that healing flows like a river out of heaven, a mercy-flow, released on Calvary. It should never be thought of as a question of, “Will it come to me or them?” Rather, it is a question of our willingness to jump into that river of God’s mercy. If you doubt this, jumping into that ‘river of mercy’ is going to mean changing your mind, as Thomas needed to do. Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” (John 20:24-25)
And this is so often the lot of doubters: their doubts cause them to miss out on blessings they could have enjoyed. Jesus had come back to spend time with his disciples; Thomas the doubter was not there to see it, and he did not believe their witness. But, displayed here is the abundant grace and love of God: Jesus came back again a week later, and gave the doubter another opportunity to believe.
     A week later his disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:26-27)
Do not be like doubting Thomas a moment longer; do not miss out on any of the blessings God has in store for you. Heed the words of Jesus to Thomas: “Stop doubting and believe.” Do not doubt that God’s blessings are for you. Such doubt may stem from false humility. Know that Calvary was for you. The wounds of Jesus were for your healing, as well as for others. While it is sometimes difficult to imagine that the living God might touch us, and it may be relatively easier to believe that he will touch others, we know that, in his unconditional love, he gave Thomas another opportunity to believe; and he offers that to you. If we have faith for others and yet not for ourselves then we have not yet seen that Jesus is the embodiment of the Father’s heart. Jesus healed all who came to him; his will is to heal you, too!
 

The Rev. Mike Endicott lives in South Wales, UK, and is the Director of The Order of Jacob’s Well. He has spent ten years rediscovering, teaching and practicing the healing ministry demonstrated and defined by Christ in the New Testament. He will be in the United States leading healing missions in TX and AZ. At the OSL International Conference in Kelowna, Canada this June, he will be a Keynote Speaker and Workshop Leader. Visit the calender events on this website. 
This article contains excerpts from CHRISTIAN HEALING © by Mike Endicott and is quoted by permission of Terra Nova Publications. If you would like to purchase a copy of this book, visit the shop at www.jacobswell.org.uk. Further FREE teachings are available from www.simplyhealing.org.