Why is it that some people get healed while others don’t? When a person does not receive healing, the most commonly taught idea is that God, in His sovereignty and infinite knowledge, chose not to heal them. God obviously didn’t want to, or He would have. But that idea does not hold up under an examination of Scripture. While there are some aspects to healing we may not have the answers to until we get to heaven, God’s word tells us that there are some very clear things that hinder people from being healed.

• What does Scripture reveal about hindrances to healing?
• How did Jesus feel about human suffering?
• Did Jesus ever not heal someone?

Tune into the next episode for part two, which speaks specifically to unforgiveness as one hindrance, out 2/20/23. Episode 31 is pulled from sermon one in the Forgiveness and Healing five-part MP3 series.

Additional Resources

Billy Graham
Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine

Transcript

We’re gonna be looking tonight at the subject of healing. And over the years, we have been a church since 1980. And I was ministering and teaching the Bible before that. And many times I saw God heal people. And many times I’ve seen God not heal people. And over the years, you begin to ask yourself, why is it that some do get healed and some don’t? And of course, there are a lot of different answers. And there’s some areas where we just perhaps will never know until the next life, you know, till we can ask God in person, but there are some things that actually hinder. There are things that hinder God healing. And in studying the scriptures, there are some very clear things that hinder God’s people, or anybody else, for that matter, who comes to God from being healed. And if you want to open your Bibles tonight, to Psalm 103, I want to talk to you tonight about the relationship between forgiveness and healing. We’re gonna talk about forgiveness and healing.

Let me just tell you the most commonly taught idea. The most commonly taught idea is that God in His sovereignty and his wisdom and his infinite knowledge and understanding, for whatever reasons he may have just doesn’t choose to heal lots of people. That’s a widely accepted idea that if you prayed and you didn’t get healed, then God obviously didn’t want to, or he would have. And that idea does not hold up under an examination of Scripture. Because you know, the Bible says that God’s will, that God has spoken and revealed himself in the Bible. And it says, in former days, he revealed himself in little bits, by the prophets. I want to read the verse to you, we’ll come back. I’ll be back in Psalm 103. I want to read this verse too you. You don’t have to turn to it. It’s from Hebrews chapter one.

“God, who at various times, and in various ways, spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets.” Now the fathers are the fathers of Israel. The old patriarchs of Israel is what it means by the fathers. And the Old Testament prophets are who are being referred to and it says here, God at various times, and in various ways. Many portions in many different ways, spoke to the prophets and revealed something about himself. He revealed truth he revealed his plan, he told Israel what he was going to do, he promised the Messiah. There’s a lot of ways and a lot of things that God revealed through the prophets. But it goes on to say, “But he has in these last days”, speaking of the days that this was written, which would have been, you know, the first century, “in these last days has spoken to us by his Son. He has spoken to us by his Son whom he has appointed heir of all things through Him also he made the worlds. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of His person and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Now, there is a lot in that. But what I want to point out to you that it’s really saying is that God spoke in parts and in varuiys ways in the Old Testament through the prophets, but in the New Testament, he’s spoken definitively. He’s spoken authoritatively. He’s spoken with wholeness in His Son Jesus. Whereas the revelation of the Old Testament was partial, the revelation of Jesus himself, the revelation of God that comes through Jesus is a full revelation of God. Jesus was the Godhead in bodily form, according to Colossians. And so if we want to know anything about healing, what we need to do is examine closely what Jesus did, and what he said, to find out what God wants to do and what God has to say. Now, it doesn’t tell us anywhere that Paul can save us, doesn’t tell us anywhere that Job can save us. But it does tell us that Jesus can save us. And if we want to know what God wants to do, we have to look at Jesus. If you ever have a question about the will of God, look at Jesus. What did he do? He only did the will of his Father. And He perfectly did the will of his Father.

So if you want to know the will of God, look at Jesus and look at his ministry. What did he do when he was on earth? He came to reveal the Father. So what did he reveal? How did he feel about human suffering? What did he do about human suffering? Was there ever a time when he said, “Well, I’d like to pray for you, but my father is showing me it’s better for you to stay sick. I like to pray for you. But God has shown me that he doesn’t want to heal you.” Well, if you examine all the Gospels, you’ll find out that was never said by Jesus. In fact, anybody who came to him with a question about healing, had it immediately answered, and Jesus ministered to them. Now, the only people Jesus didn’t heal, were those who wouldn’t listen. See, they had to accept Him in His ministry, to receive healing. If they did, that, they always got it.

Now, we’ve had years of tradition, you know, but for over 300 years, there’s a continuous flow of historically documented healing and miracles in the early church. But then, when Constantine made Christianity the state religion of the Roman Empire, and multitudes of pagans thought it would be wise to be converted real quick, or die. You know, it’s kind of one of those kind of forceful conversions. You know. This is our state religion. You want to live? Become a Christian, you know. It was kind of an odd approach, I think. I don’t know that’s exactly what Jesus had in mind. But the fruit of that was they did, they came in, and it was politically astute to get converted. So it didn’t matter whether they really got converted or not, they came in with all their pagan practices, and the church entered into a time of real darkness, because the pure Christianity waned. And and the Christianity of the Middle Ages came forth, which was a mixture of paganism, superstition, and who knows what else.

And as a result, the miraculous manifestations of the Spirit in the main body of the Christian Church, which was the Roman church, began to really not be seen. Now, there are books that have been written to show that always outside of the dead traditions, there was a group somewhere who was believing God and seeing his power manifesting. And there are a number of books that document that, that there has been a steady flow of God’s healing presence and power from the time of the apostles right on through to the present. It hasn’t always been in the main portion of Christianity. But it’s always been there. And so that that really is a reality. But because of the darkness that entered the church, by the time Martin Luther came along, the church was selling indulgences, which was you could buy something from them that would keep you from doing too long in Purgatory. Which is, if you think about it, is an interesting doctrine, seeing as the Bible never mentions purgatory, and you know, it’s kind of a rough deal. So paying a lot of money to stay out of a place that doesn’t exist is not wisdom. But that gives you an idea of how much darkness was in the church.

And when Martin Luther came along, he began to proclaim the reality of the cross as the way to be saved and the way to come to God. And when he did that, the Church entered into what we call the Reformation, and people began to experience forgiveness, the love of God, and a real walk with God that they hadn’t been experiencing except in certain groups here and there within the church. Actually it’s a fascinating thing to know, because there’s the popular truth about well known Christians. And then there’s the less popular truth about well known Christians. Martin Luther, you may say he probably didn’t believe in divine healing. Well, as a matter of fact, one of the most able theologians that worked with Luther became deathly ill. And Luther said, I can’t lose this man. And he went to God, he said, God, you’ve got to raise him up. He’s got to live. In fact, Lord, I won’t be happy unless he outlives me. And guess what he did? He outlived Luther. And Luther prayed for the sick and they were healed. In fact, he became known as the man who can get anything from God.

So, you know, there’s little known truths about certain ones. For example, Billy Graham, who you wouldn’t think of as a divine healing preacher, went to India, and was preaching out of Isaiah 53, which is the great redemptive chapter of the Bible. And he was preaching through an interpreter. And just for a moment, let’s turn to Isaiah 53. We’ll come back to Psalm someday. We’ve got months of Sunday nights, so there’s no problem if we don’t. But in Isaiah, chapter 53, verse four, it says, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.” Now if you have a Bible with any kind of marginal references, there’ll be numbers there on griefs and sorrows. And if you look in the margin, it will say sicknesses and pains, which is the literal translation of Isaiah 53:4 Surely as bone our sicknesses, and carried our pains. Well, most translations in other languages besides English, translate it with their word for sickness and their word for pains. English translations, because of tradition and unbelief don’t. Because that would imply that Christ died not only for our sins, but for our sicknesses. And seeing as they don’t want to believe that then it’s better to translate it griefs and sorrows. Even though the vast majority of times in the Old Testament, those words are translated sickness and pains.

Billy Graham, was preaching in India, I believe it was. And this was recorded in his Decision Magazine, which is his monthly magazine that’s been going for 30 years or so. And he said, that he began to preach. And the translator translated Isaiah 53:4 into the language from his translation, the way it reads, sicknesses and pains. Surely is born our sicknesses and pains. Well, of course, the chapter also says he’s born our sins and iniquities and transgressions. And so when he gave his altar call, the funniest thing happened. Because nobody had ever told him God wouldn’t, they began to be healed. And Graham said, you know, there may be more to this divine healing thing then. See, all he did was preach it. And God confirmed it. When he never preached it. God didn’t confirm it. But when he preached it, it got confirmed by the Holy Spirit. That’s why we preach healing, because then God can confirm it. Because I have about as much ability to heal you as that microphone stand.

All right, let’s try Psalm 103 now. Now I wanted to say all those things, because sometimes we have to rise above tradition, sometimes we have to rise above popular thought. I have, as you know, some of you know, in the back room, in the hospitality room, we have a little sign that says, what is right is not always popular, and what is popular is not always right. And the thing about it is, you know, we’re social beings, and our tendency is to want to believe what the majority believe because that would be the safest. Right? And, you know, we don’t ever want anybody to think we’re weird. And the problem is, anybody who really gets serious about God is always considered weird even by other Christians. So, you know, at some point, you have to figure out, do I want to please God, or do I want to not appear weird? Just a little thought to meditate on as we continue here tonight. I’ll be just sharing some little thoughts.

All right, Psalm 103. “Bless the Lord, oh, my soul, and all that is within me. Bless His holy name. Bless the Lord. Oh, my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases.” How many sins will God forgive? All. How many diseases will he heal? All. Well now, most of us know that there are people who don’t receive healing. Now, our tendency, as I mentioned earlier, our tendency is to say, well, it must be because God didn’t want to, because if God wanted to he could heal anybody he wanted to. Well, that’s not strictly true. Let me just put it in other terms. Well, if God wanted to, he could save everybody he wanted to. Well, no, people have to respond to the gospel to be saved. Ah! See, God isn’t just going around pushing off salvation on people. Have you noticed that? He’s not going around cornering people and making them receive Christ as their Savior and Lord. Why? Because he wants them of their own free will, having heard the message to respond from the heart to the message.

Well, any other thing that the that the gospel provides, is on the same basis. God doesn’t want to force you and won’t force you to receive anything. But if you hear the word, and your heart is open, and you’re willing to receive, you can receive what the gospel offers. Whatever aspect of the gospel we’re talking about. For example, you can receive the new birth, you can receive salvation. If you hear it preached and the Holy Spirit shows you it’s real, you can receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. But you can also be filled with the Holy Spirit. You hear the gospel of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel of the Holy Spirit isn’t for the unsaved, it’s for the saved, and that is that God will fill us with the Spirit, anoint us with the Holy Spirit. And when we hear that, if we open our heart and receive it we can receive and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Amen?

Well, healing is the same way. There are times when God in his sovereignty, through somebody, or just when somebody somehow seems like they’re in the right place at the right time, people get healed miraculously. And they don’t know much about God. They don’t know much about healing. There are times when things just happen like that. And God does it just so we can’t get him in a box. One dangerous thing to say is, “Well, God never.” By the time you got him figured out well enough to figure out what he’ll never do. I just heard an interesting story. I can’t recall where at the moment, but this guy years ago, was working in a Pentecostal church, you know, and Pentecostals were really into being holy. And being holy at that time (it tends to change over the years), but being holy at that time was no makeup for the women. And what they were doing was they were preaching the baptism of the Spirit, and telling people that, you know, if the ladies responded, they first thing they do is take them into a room where they’d wash off all their makeup. And then they take them in another room to be filled with the Spirit. And in this particular case, the pastor had this woman, and he was leading her into the back to give her to one of the ladies to take her into the room. And he’d just preached this marvelous message, and she was a very fashionable woman, and was, you know, very expensively dressed and had expensive jewelry (of course jewelry was unholy, as well). And so he said, you know, he was going to take her back and have these, you know, ladies do a treatment on her so they can honor. On the way back, the power of God hit her and she began speaking in tongues. And he said, God, you can’t do that she’s not back there yet.

Sometimes we think we know how to get God to do something. And we kind of get our little trip and impose it on other people, because this is how it happened to us or some other thing, and God is bigger than our ideas. If God isn’t bigger than your ideas about him and my ideas about him, he isn’t fit to be worshipped if we can comprehend Him. He’s bigger. But nevertheless, God has chosen to disclose himself through the scriptures. In disclosures of his nature, disclosures of his will, disclosures of his disposition toward mankind, and even in principles that we can count on, reliable principles of God’s Word that we can operate on. Now there are times when you know you do everything you know to do and it doesn’t produce the results. Well, I would…I liked something…there was a medical doctor. We have heard books in our bookstore, Dr. Lillian B. Yeomans is her name. And in the early part of the 20th century or maybe the late 19th century, she was a medical doctor who became addicted to morphine. She was taking morphine pills, and working really long hours. And you know, the funny thing is, she knew what morphine would do. But because she was a doctor and knew what it would do, she figured she could handle it. And so she got so strung out on morphine, that a number of doctors tried to help her. She tried Christian Science, she tried all this different stuff. And she just kept getting worse. She spent all kinds of money and they referred to her as a skeleton with the devil inside. I mean, she was in bad shape.

And she went to see a man who she knew of, and she was a believer. And she went to see this man, he prayed for her, and God delivered her. And she began out of that tremendous deliverance, she and her sister opened up a home where terminally ill people could come. And they would just feed them the scriptures and pray for them until they were healed. And they saw a tremendous amount of healing. And she eventually taught healing in the Bible School of the Angeles temple in Los Angeles, the Foursquare bible school down there, she taught divine healing. In one of her books she said, If I pray for something, that’s according to the Word of God, and I don’t get it, I start changing. She said, I begin to look to God to see what’s blocking me receiving. She said, I begin to seek God and find out if there’s anything in my life, I need to change.

Now, let me tell you the danger of what I just said. Because people will say, if you tell people healing is for all, and they don’t get it, they’re gonna feel guilty and condemned, and like there’s something wrong with them. Let me just tell you the answer to that. There is something wrong with all of us. And most of it’s called unbelief. And most of us need to repent and change and grow up in God. But you see, if I tell you, Jesus will wipe away all your guilt, if you’ll just believe in his bloods’ power to cleanse you, and you don’t feel cleansed, am I mean for telling you the truth? Well, you don’t want to tell people they can live without guilt, because so many live guilty, and you’re gonna make them feel worse. Isn’t that the same reasoning? I would rather say, Well, the Bible teaches healing. It says I can have it by faith, that God offers it to me. I prayed and nothing happened. Maybe I need to learn more about it. Maybe I need to seek God more. Without condemnation, without guilt, without feeling bad about me. You see? I mean, the fact that I don’t receive something, all it might mean is I don’t know enough about it. I know all kinds of people that have tried to receive the Holy Spirit. And most of the time, they were poorly instructed, and didn’t know how to receive. And they tried, and they cried, and they wept, and they fasted, and they did everything but learn what the Bible said about it enough for faith to come.

Now let me just say something. If you ever don’t receive healing, or if you ever talked to somebody who didn’t receive healing, you know, we got no business condemning anybody. I pray for healing and not received it a lot of times. But, like what I’m saying is, I just said, okay, well, the problems not on God’s end. So I’ll seek God and find out where the problem is. I won’t do it feeling guilty and condemned and bad. I’m just so unworthy. That’s why he wouldn’t heal me. Well, if he was thinking like that, he wouldn’t have saved you because you were surely unworthy then. We’ve got to be spiritually rational, biblically rational. We need biblical uncommon sense. A lot of times we want to make spiritual things kind of Twilight Zone. Do you know what I mean by that? We like the mystery and spookiness of spiritual stuff. We like to think, for example, that there are men and women walking the earth that are so spiritual, that they don’t have any problems. And we just want to think that brother so and so who has that incredible healing ministry where people fall over the floor, obviously walks so close to God, he’s so holy, that he probably has no problems with his flesh, is never tempted by anything, and probably doesn’t have any problem handling his money, and his marriage is probably perfect. Let me just tell you, that’s likely not true. I wish it were true. I wish it were more true than it is true concerning all of the ministries around.

In the last 10 years, we’ve seen ministries that were internationally known, in many ways doing a tremendous work in a lot of parts of the world, just it be exposed, that even though they were called of God, and God’s hand was on them, they still had responsibility for their own choices and decisions. And if they didn’t do something about their choices and decisions, they could end up crashing and burning. And did, you know. Does that mean that the ministry wasn’t real, the gift wasn’t real? Not at all. It just means that the vessel had feet of clay. And there aren’t any ones that don’t. There’s only humans on this bus. And a God who’s big enough, and gracious enough to use us.

I heard a good statement the other day, that God is often pleased to pour flawless faith through flawed people. Think about it, God is often pleased to pour flawless faith through flawed people. I’m saying all of this to say God heals people because He’s God, not because of the vessel, not because of the one receiving. But if we open ourselves to His mercy and compassion, he’ll do things that are just marvelous. But we have to kind of clear away a lot of the underbrush. The underbrush is, am I holy enough? Is the minister anointed enough. All of these kinds of things that we tend to want to know really are not that relevant. What we need to answer is, is he good enough? Is he merciful enough? And is he powerful enough? And the answer is yes.

I’m counting on in these Sunday night meetings, I’m counting on Jesus the healer, showing up. Him alone. Him his ministry. See, what we want is the ministry of Jesus here. And we want to meet him. Now there are scriptural ways to meet him. Laying on of hands, anointing with oil, word of knowledge. There are biblical ways that his ministers can minister that God will use. But we have to realize that the minister and the human being receiving have a small part to play. There are things we need to do to respond to God. We need to act on his promise. I mean, the Bible does say believers will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. So you know, I noticed in my walk with God, that nobody got healed by me laying hands on them, till I started laying hands on them. That’s deep, isn’t it? That’s deep. And you know what? Nobody, God healed through me anointing them with oil till I started anointing people with oil. Now, I know that sounds really silly and simple. I know. But it’s deep and profound. But the reality here is that we can do some things in obedience to God’s Word that put us in the place where his power to flow.

One of the things we can do is we can sit and humble our hearts and listen to the Word of God preached, so faith can come. So the Holy Spirit has a chance to stir us in faith. And having stirred us in faith, our level of expectancy can rise and where we wouldn’t maybe before have thought he would heal us, all of a sudden we have faith and we think, Well, you know, it is just his mercy and grace. I’m going to have hands laid me. I’m going to be anointed with oil. I’m going to respond to that word of knowledge. I’m going to lay hold of God’s provision. You see? And the preaching of the word should be confirmed by the signs of God following. That’s the way it was. The Lord worked with them confirming the word was signs following. Amen? All right, so he forgives all our inequities and he heals all our diseases.