Divine Healing
In the case of a sick person, the Bible teaches the practice of anointing the sick with oil: “Is any among you sick? 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 him that is sick, and the Lord shall raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:14, 15).
The sick person should be encouraged to ask for a special prayer service by the church leaders. The miracle of health restoration and the forgiveness of sin are to be done in the name of Jesus Christ who is the great Physician (Mark 16:17-18; Acts 3:16).
The full ceremony of the application of the oil and the offering of the prayer should be done in harmony with the will of the Lord. For this reason the sick person cannot expect God’s blessing without a sincere intention to abandon practices which may, in part, have caused his illness. The believer should realize the need to cooperate with God and live in accordance to the laws of health.
Lack of faith is a hindrance to healing (Mark 6:5), as it is a hindrance to salvation (Ephesians 2:8). A person of faith needs to trust the wisdom and love of God and determine to do God’s will. God is full of compassion and the sick person needs to trust in His mercy.
Some of the most precious lessons in life are often learned in suffering and trials (Hebrews 2:10). Though God Himself does not cause suffering (James 1:13), He may permit it to continue for a season for a very good reason. We often grow through pain, but we can be comforted knowing that God is with us through our trials (Psalms 34:18).
Furthermore, prayers should be offered in accordance to God’s will, for no man knows what is best for another person (Romans 8:26-27). Our prayers should include the phrase “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10; James 4:15). Restoration to health in answer to prayer may be immediate or may be a gradual process. In any case, we need to fully trust the wisdom of God.
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
