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Did you know that the Greek word often translated as "saved" is SOZO? Sozo doesn't just mean to be saved from hell (forgiven), it also means to be healed, made whole and delivered. The word is used 118 times in 103 verses of the New Testament. It is used in:
It is a three-fold word representing the full measure of our salvation. It really makes sense if you think about it. We serve a triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) who created us as a triune being (body, soul, spirit), so it only makes sense that He would provide a triune salvation! Sozo! |
 Greek for "forgiven, healed, delivered" |
For the past 5 years, I have been on a journey of learning about things like Divine Healing and the full measure of what we call "salvation." I know many do not agree that signs, wonders and miracles are still for today - that those gifts somehow passed away with the Apostles. I respect people who hold to that belief, but even though I was raised to believe that way myself, I can no longer support that view.
Personally, I find absolutely no evidence in scripture to justify the Doctrine of Cessation (the gifts ceased with the death of the Apostles). In fact, I find the exact opposite in scripture. Verses like Mark 11:22-24, Mark 16:17-18, John 14:12 (and many others) can not be ignored. I believe we need to either take a high-lighter or a Sharpie to those scriptures. I've chosen to high-light them, believe the Word of God over the wisdom of men and do my best to walk in what the Bible says I'm to be doing as a member of Christ's body here on this earth.
In my numerous travels around the world, I have met (and interviewed) many people who simply read the Word of God, believe what it says, step out in faith to do the impossible and in so doing, they have seen miracles! And just like in the Bible, any case of healing that I've encountered has always resulted in numerous people believing in and giving their lives to Christ. My new friend James Lama (who was my interpreter on a recent trip to India) is a perfect example of this.
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James was led to faith in Christ as a result of his mother being healed of a brain tumor. He himself was healed of a disease that would take 8 months out of the year away from him. When he accepted Christ he was healed. And now he is a "Master Trainer" - a church planting trainer of other church planting leaders. He and many of our Indian interpreters were strong believers in the gift of healing and the need to manifest it as part of taking the Gospel to the lost. I was absolutely thrilled to have been paired up with James! |
If you are interested in James' point of view on this subject, I invite you to CLICK HERE to watch a short video interview I did with him in the field. He explains how he came to know Christ, how he and his mother were healed and why we as Believers need to simply believe and obey what the Bible says about things like healing.
It really is as simple as this... read the Gospels. The same thing that happened in Jesus' ministry and the same thing that happened in the ministry of the Apostles (as depicted in the book of Acts) is happening all around the world... especially in India. The Gospel message is being confirmed by signs, wonders and miracles!
But I don't believe it's just for "Third-World countries" because...
- I believe healing is part of the Atonement (Psalm 103:3, Isaiah 53 and numerous other passages that link physical healing to the work of the cross)
- I believe Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). His method for reaching the lost has not changed (John 14:11). Read the Gospels. MOST of Jesus' ministry was about healing the hurting.
- I believe there is no "respect of persons with God" (Romans 2:11) - what He does for Hindus, He'll do for everyone else too.
- I believe it is always God's will to heal because Jesus was the exact, expressed image of the Father (Heb. 1:3) and He always healed those He came into contact with that needed it. And Jesus said He only did what the Father does (John 5:19)
- James 5:14-15 says that the prayer offered in faith WILL heal the sick. Seems pretty self-explanatory to me. It's not just churches in Third-World Countries that James is talking about here.
- God gave the gift of healing to the Church (Eph. 4:11, 1 Cor. 12:9 and 1 Cor. 12:28) And if God's gifts are irrevocable (Romans 11:29), then they are still for us today.
- And I believe Jesus left us in charge of completing the work (all over the world) that He began while He walked this earth (Matt. 28:18-20 - see Matt. 10:5 for the first of many commands that Jesus gave His disciples and which He commanded them to teach their disciples. See also John 14:12 and John 20:21)
Paul said he fully presented the Gospel by word, deed and with signs, wonders and miracles following (Romans 15:18-19). I don't believe we are fully presenting the Gospel if we are not doing so as Paul did.
Many have said, "But God is in charge..." and imply that all things good, bad, sick, healthy, etc. are under "God's control." Yet God Himself said in Genesis 1:26-28 that He was releasing control of the earth and everything in it (even micro-organisms that cause disease) to us.
Psalm 8:3-6 says:
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place — what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority...
Psalm 115:16 says:
The heavens belong to the Lord, but he has given the earth to all humanity.
In the end of Matt. 28, Jesus gives the authority to us once again. In these and many other passages, it seems clear to me that God (in His Sovereignty) left us in charge here. He made us His Body so that we might continue the works His Body started while He walked among us.
So, I don't see God allowing sickness and disease, pain and suffering on this earth... I see US allowing it by our inaction and inability (because of fear and doubt) to take control and cast those things out (like Jesus commanded us to do).
| The short audio segment to the right is from a "Gospel Truth Seminar" by Andrew Womack. It really sums up my position on whether or not "God's will" plays into us being sick and suffering. It's only 15 minutes long and well worth the listen. |
I'm so passionate about this issue because there are SO many people in the world crying out for a touch from God. As His Body here on earth, it is up to us to do that touching. It is the name of Jesus that heals, but He does it through the words and hands of His Body the Church. The only hindrance to that is unbelief. And I saw that both in myself as well as in our whole American team while we were in India.
There were a couple of instances that happened to me on that trip wherein opportunities for healing came up. One day, James and I sat down along side a dirt road to eat our lunch. After we finished, we heard someone call to us from the hut we were sitting in front of. James interpreted for me and told me that the people inside wanted us to come in. So, he and I went in and witnessed to an older woman and her daughter. Just as they were about ready to pray and receive Christ, a young man came in. I went through my presentation again and all three indicated that they wanted to receive Christ as their Saviour. So we prayed. But not only did they wish to receive salvation, both the young woman and her brother needed physical healing in their bodies too. They asked if Jesus could heal them too.
The young woman had some sort of female problem with bleeding. The young man also had some sort of internal disorder. Well, since healing has been such a strong, personal conviction of mine, when the family asked if Jesus could heal them, I of course said "Yes. Jesus wants you well."
On that cue, James shared the story of the woman with the issue of blood who reached out and touched the hem of Jesus' garment and was healed (Mark 5:25-34). He talked about the love of Jesus and encouraged the two young people that God would do the same for them.
James and I then laid our hands on their heads and commanded the illness to go in the name of Jesus. When we finished, James asked if they felt any different. They both said that they felt something go through their bodies and that they did feel better. I could not see any physical difference as both of their issues were internal, but based on their words and the smile on their faces I am choosing to believe that God healed them through our step of faith.
On another instance, many sick people came to me for healing. I had just witnessed to a crowd of 50-60 people. At least half of them prayed to receive Christ as their Savior. It was awesome. But then, shortly after taking some pictures, the people began to bring their sick to me. I will never forget the look of a mother as she held her baby girl up to me. The girl's leg was mangled from Polio. A father brought his young boy to me. The boy's arm was twisted from a break that never healed right. Old men came to me for healing of their eyes. The sick and mangled surrounded James and I. All of them crying for help. Each of them looking for a touch from God. They believed this Jesus could heal them. They believed in us to deliver it.
At first, I got very excited, thinking about the previous success. I thought. "Wow. God, this whole village will get saved when they learn about these people getting healed in the name of Jesus." But then almost immediately after that, the thought came into my head, "Oh, but what if it doesn't work?" I went very quickly from a position of faith to a position of fear and doubt. James and I prayed and we did lay our hands on the sick much like we had done before, but this time we did not see the manifestation of healing take place.
So what happened? Jesus already paid the price for healing. "It is finished" encompassed the full measure of "sozo." I believe the healing has already been delivered just as the forgiveness has and we must carry it to others so they can receive it. But just like the delivering and receiving of Christ's forgiveness is done through faith, so also is the deliverance and receipt of healing. Because I believe the work has already been done on the cross, and because I know the people believed, the only one left to blame is me. I can't speak for James, but I know the fear and doubt that I had at that moment.
It is the same fear and doubt that prevented virtually everyone on our American team from stepping out in faith believing we have the power within us (Eph. 1:17-23) to set those people free from the works of the devil. We all brought back stories of people looking to us for healing... and (unfortunately) of our impotence of faith as well - the inability (or unwillingness) to deliver it.
But Jesus said we must have faith, believing and not doubting in order for us to move the mountains we are facing (Mark 11:22-24). Speaking for myself, I know I still have to flush doubt from my being so that I can truly carry out the commands I believe we have as members of Christ's Body here on earth.
So, needless to say, that day haunted me for the rest of the trip. And I had to really struggle not to let that failure steal my joy. Even now, I have to struggle against it. I weep when I think of those faces looking to me for help. And sometimes I feel like I hear Jesus rebuking His disciples for their lack of faith and I see Him looking at me the same way.
I do take hope however in the fact that our Indian brothers will be following up in those areas. They have seen the manifestation of healing take place and they do believe - in spite of the fact that our western seminary professors keep trying to teach these brothers that the miraculous ended with the Apostles and that they should stop believing otherwise - a trend I strongly feel needs to stop (1 Cor. 12:7-21).
But still, even with those failures, I know I must rejoice in the many souls that received Christ as their Saviour that week in India. They will be in Heaven because of that fact. I just know they could have had so much more... if only I (we) had believed.
Compassion without action is just feeling sorry for people. Lord help us to take action. To be Your Body here on this earth, releasing the Kingdom to the lost, hurt and dying.
Amen.