The Truth About Healing, Why It Is For Today, And How We Should Pray

I have heard the various beliefs on healing that range from the Pentecostal Charismatic to the Baptist.  Even though they differ in their beliefs, I have found that all Bible believing churches believe that healing is for today.  Quite frankly, you have to go over a mountain of scripture to not believe healing is for today. 

So what does the Bible say about healing for today’s New Testament church?  Certainly, the blueprint for Biblical healing starts with James 5:14 & 15: 

“Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” 

As you can see, the central ingredient (for the believer; Hebrews 12:6-8) of a prayer of healing is faith (v. 15).  As Hebrews 11:6 say, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” 

In this verse we find three critical ingredients a Christian must possess and continue in when they come to God for healing: 1) They must have faith in God, 2) They must believe He is a rewarder of them who seek Him, and 3) They must be diligent when seeking the Lord for healing.   

Speaking of diligent, the third point has been the subject of debate in the church for some time.  Some believe that a believer should pray for healing one time and then believe it is coming. 

This sounds good, but again, there is a mountain of scripture both in the Old and New Testament that refute this belief starting with the abovementioned verse.  Here are a few more examples: 

1. Hannah prayed for years before she conceived a son (Samuel): I Samuel 1:1-20

2. Daniel prayed and fasted for three full weeks before he received his answer: Daniel 10:1-13

3. Jesus’ parable of the widow and the unjust judge is an example to believers to be persistent in prayer: Luke 18:1-8

4. “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6 

These are all examples found in the Bible that teach that it is the will of God that we be persistent in prayer.  My sincere advice to everyone reading this is that you earnestly continue in prayer and have everyone you know committed to doing the same thing until you receive your healing. 

This brings me to another belief that has divided the church…should we pray for the will of God to be done when praying for someone to be healed?  No, because His will is already known!  James 5:14 & 15 has already made it clear what the instructions and order are for a believer to follow when sick.  That is God’s will!  The end result is “the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up”.  

What about I John 5:14 which says, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us”.  

Certainly, I believe strongly in asking God for wisdom (James 1:5) to discern His will or to shed light on an issue I do not understand, but not so regarding healing.  For some reason, people feel they need to pray for the will of God on an issue that is already blatant.  For example, you don’t need to ask the Lord for wisdom to determine if you should commit adultery on your wife (Exodus 20:14) or whether you should to steal your neighbor’s lawnmower (Exodus 20:15).  The answer to these questions are already clear in the Bible and so are your instructions for healing.  All God requires is that you follow them.

My rule of thumb in regards to healing has always been...unless God tells you that you’re not going to recover from a sickness (as he did Hezekiah, Isaiah 38:1-5), trust Him and believe that you will. 

Unfortunately, many have it all backwards.  For the life of me I just can’t understand why we think we need to seek the Lord to find out if it’s His will for us to be sick (or dying). That’s just not God’s will! 

But wasn’t the Apostle Paul sickly and haven’t other faithful believers throughout history died believing they would be healed?  Paul was sick, and yes, Godly people have died of horrible circumstances.  I certainly can’t even begin to surmise what God was doing in their life or what He was trying to accomplish through their death.  It’s no secret that God has used the sickness and death of many believers to bring people to Christ, provide strength to believers, and bring glory to His name.   But that has nothing to do with the known command of God for you to call for the elders of the church, be anointed with oil and prayed for in faith, and to be diligent in continued prayer for your healing.   

The truth is, it’s God’s will for you to be well and in good health until He tells you otherwise.  My advice to all who read this is to stop trying to figure out how to stay sick and follow the written Word of God (James 5:14 & 15) on how to get well.  For you can be sure this is the will of God. 

If you haven’t yet followed the command of the Lord to call for the elders of the church, and be anointed and prayed for, do that as soon as possible.  Also, get as many Bible believing Christians as you can to join in prayer for you. 

Below, I have written a scriptural prayer of healing that you need to print out and mediate on daily.  

I pray this will be a great help to those who are in need of the healing touch of the Lord Jesus Christ.   

Pastor Malone  

Scriptural Prayer of Healing

Prayer
Father, I come to You today believing according to James 5:14 & 15 that it is not God’s will that any Christian should be sick.  In keeping with Your command that if anyone be sick, I have called for the elders of the church, who have prayed for me in faith and have anointed me with oil.  

Father, I have obeyed in faith your healing command and now call upon You to perform what you have promised.  I now diligently seek you to perform what You have said You would do because I believe that You are a rewarder to them that diligently seek You (Hebrews 11:6).  In faith I believe that God You are going to heal me of ______________. 

Because we know that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1) I know that my healing is on the way.  For we walk by faith, not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7). 

Father, I thank You and give You praise today for Your healing touch.  Amen

Continue in this prayer and remind God daily of His promise (James 5:14 & 15) of healing.  Diligently seek Him for He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him in faith.  Get others to also claim this prayer of faith daily with you.