CHAPTER 1 -

Points worthy of consideration

 

 

 

 

When we are seeking for healing from God, there are different issues to which we should pay attention, because they can either improve or degenerate our physical condition. Some of them are actually connected to our spiritual life and others are issues behind many illnesses. We should be aware and conscious of both of these areas, so that the healing can start. Below, we are going to study these issues.

 

GIVING UP YOUR LIFE TO GOD

 

Firstly, the most important thing for certain is that we have been saved and our whole life has been given up to God. Because even if we were never to experience healing of the body in this lifetime, each of us should turn to God with all our heart and seek to fulfil his will. Salvation of our soul and His will coming true in our life are much more important issues than our physical health - which is naturally an important issue as well.

   On the other hand, sometimes healing does not occur because one does not first seek the kingdom of God, despite the fact that Jesus advised us to do so. We must set the priorities in our life straight, and thus the assistance of God may be more concrete. Therefore, first turn with all your heart to Jesus Christ, allow Him to save yourself and seek His will. It is the most important act you can do in this lifetime:

 

- (Matt 16:26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 

- (Matt 6:33) But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

 

ABANDON BITTERNESS AND ACCUSATIONS!

 

- (Matt 18:32,33) Then his lord, after that he had called him, said to him, O you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt, because you desired me:

33  Should not you also have had compassion on your fellow servant, even as I had pity on you?

 

 The second important issue when searching for healing is forgiveness, in other words, that it is given up bitterness and accusations. Sometimes healing can be prevented simply because we refuse to forgive and continuously brood over the faults of others. In other words, if such issues as bitterness, anger, and accusations are the most important in our life, and we do not want to be freed of them, then it is no use to pray for healing. It may be that we will not experience it, because God expects that we first change our mind.

   However, forgiveness in itself already offers health in our life. As doctors have estimated that many diseases are thymogenic or based on emotions, so if we can be free of these negative feelings, this alone may lead to healing. Not always is a special prayer needed for healing: forgiveness itself may lead to a change. The basic starting point is that we in our own life recognize our wrong and negative attitudes and confess that these are sins. When we do this, the healing process may begin.

 

Nicky Cruz: Wherever I go, people continually ask me to pray that they would be healed, would get over an economic crisis or would be freed from continuous attacks of the devil. Instead of immediately praying, I now first ask whether they have forgiven.

   It is amazing how ugly issues come up to the surface when I test them a little.

   Is it useless to pray on their behalf if there is an unforgivable mind in the background. An unforgivable mind lets the devil in our life and will threaten everything we love - our family relationships, career, work, physical and mental health. (1)

 

START TO BLESS!

 

There is a good way to get rid of bitterness and an accusing mind, which is naturally the mercy of God, blessing of people, and gratitude for the present conditions. When we are faced with difficulties in life, we can always choose blessing people and being grateful for everything instead of cursing and being discontent. We can, at least to some extent, choose which of these attitudes we adopt in our life.

   It is true that making of the right choices can sometimes feel exceptionally difficult, at least without the power of God, but when we get right down to it, do we have any other alternatives? We can to a great extent affect the direction in which our life is going by these small choices. Therefore, instead of cursing, start blessing people and try to be grateful for God for the current conditions in your life:

 

- (1 Cor 10:10) Neither murmur you, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

 

- (Rom 12:14) Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

 

- (1 Thess 5:18) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

- (Eph 5:20) Giving thanks always for all things to God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

 

- (Ps 50:23) Whoever offers praise glorifies me: and to him that orders his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.

 

- (Ps 118:24) This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

 

- (Col 2:6,7) As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him:

7  Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

 

RECOGNIZE THE BACKGROUND OF ISSUES!

 

- (Hebr 12:15) Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

 

- (Matt 7:1,2) Judge not, that you be not judged.

2  For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again.

 

One aspect of forgiveness is to recognize the wrong attitudes and thoughts we have. Often the problem with bitterness, and especially with judging people, is that we have not noticed it. We may be accusing and disapproving towards others without even recognizing and realizing it. We may judge and disapprove of other people, because we have not actually been under “the light of God"and because we have not perceived this wrong attitude as a sin. This misguided attitude may also be one reason behind God being unable to properly affect our life or to heal us.

   This issue is very well depicted in the quote below: Carol Arnott speaks of the roots of judging in her life. Most people probably suffer, at least to some degree, from the same problem:

 

When I became a Christian, I understood that there was plenty of unforgiveness in my heart, and that I had to be freed of it. I worked on it, but it didn’t seem to change my feelings towards my mother. I understood that something was wrong. I tried again and again to forgive, but the feelings in my heart didn’t change a bit. Only after Paula and John Sanford taught me about judging arising from bitterness did I understand what was going on.

   The Scriptures advice us to respect our father and mother only if they are good Christians and do everything right. Or does it actually say so? No! The Bible doesn't teach this, even though we might hope so. (...)

   In those areas of life where you despise your parents, nothing goes well. Of course, we don’t blame them for everything, but usually we judge them in those areas of our life where we have been hurt or neglected.

   I thought to myself, "God, I don't understand this. I have forgiven her. What does this mean exactly?"He said, "You have loathed her. You have sinned when you have not respected your mother."God started to show me the two sides of the issue. We must forgive. But we also need to repent our own sin, our intolerant attitude.

   On one hand, I had to forgive her, and so I did. However, I still didn’t respect her in my heart. I hated her and I judged her.

   The problem was my sin, not hers. My reaction towards my mother was a sin, and this is what I understand at first. Satan, who is extremely law-minded, went to God and said, "God, Carol has sinned. She has not repented the fact that she judged her mother in her mind. I have the legal right to bring forth the law of sowing and reaping into Carol’s life."(2)

 

ALSO GIVE UP SELF-REPROACH!

 

As bitterness and judging of other people is a problem for many, there may also be similar dependencies.

   One common misguided attitude is self-reproach and self-judging that many people practice. One may have indeed forgiven others but he may still have the root of self-reproach that he has not recognized and repented. He may then continually accuse and belittle himself: "You disgusting good-for-nothing, you have no right to live..." He may also continuously blame himself for past sins and refuse to forgive himself, even though God Himself had forgiven him ages ago (in other words, we have been forgiven our sins immediately after we have turned to God through Jesus Christ). Therefore, the problem is that he does not accept the love of God in his life; instead, he wish to be the judge of himself - and this is by no means right:

 

- (Rom 8:31-37) What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifies.

34  Who is he that comdemns? It is Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36  As it is written, For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

37  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

 

If you are faced with this situation, you should immediately stop judging and blaming yourself and recognize that this is a sin. You should acknowledge the fact that this kind of an attitude is wrong, just like is judging of other people. So, confess to God this sin and also your other sins in which you have lived. You may, for example, utter the confession of sins and then command the powers of the enemy in the way described below, for example. This list also includes other ordinary sins in which people may live:

 

Lord, Father, forgive me...

 

- for my self-anger, suicidal thoughts, and my self-pity. Thank You for forgiving me and purifying me of all unrighteousness through the blood of Your Son Jesus.

 

- for my bitterness and judging of other people. Thank You for forgiving me and purifying me of all unrighteousness through the blood of Your Son Jesus.

 

- for my misguided connections to the world of evil spirits and the fact that I have taken part in spiritualism (foretelling, spirit healing, UFOs, horoscopes, hypnosis, passive meditation...). I ask for You take away from me those supernatural gifts and abilities that are not of You and that You take away from me also all such connections to the world of evil spirits that are not of You.

   Thank you for forgiving me and for purifying my body, soul, and spirit of all unrighteousness through the blood of Your Son Jesus, in the name of Jesus, amen.

 

Satan and you demons, I have confessed to God that I have judged myself, judged other people, taken part in... Now, you have no longer any legal rights in these areas, because through the blood of Jesus I have received forgiveness of these matters from God. Therefore, I command you now in the name of Jesus Christ to leave me and my surroundings, and never to return!

 

UNDERSTAND THE GRACE OF GOD!

 

One problem with the relationship between God and many people is that they do not really believe that God has forgiven them (which may lead to them confessing same sins of their past life over and over again, although God has forgiven them immediately after they turned to Him) and that they have been accepted through Jesus Christ. These people may live in state of legalism and their own wickedness, thinking that they are not fit to accept anything from God (which is indeed actually true, since we cannot earn the grace of God). They may also think that they are not good enough and their relationship with God is not just right for Him to be able to bless them or heal them. We are talking about a state in which a person measures him/herself against him/herself and always looks at him/herself only, not at what s/he will be through Christ.

   If you are faced with this condition, you should free yourself from it. Because - according to the Bible - if we have received Jesus Christ and turned to Him, we will be pardoned, accepted, our sins will be wiped away (in other words, the sins of the past or the fact that you have become ill because of  them cannot be an obstacle to the healing power of God.) and nothing can separate us from the love of God. Therefore, believe the truth of the Word considering yourself, and do not look at your own defects: look at what you can be through Christ. The following issues, for example, will be true if you have turned to God via Him. You should first understand these issues and your state in the grace of God, because then it will be much easier for you to receive healing from the hand of God:

 

You have been saved by grace:

 

- (Eph 2:8,9) For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

- (Eph 2:4,5) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,

5  Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;)

 

- (Acts 15:11) But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

 

In addition to you having been saved by grace, you are also now - in other words all the time - under grace. This means that you are as acceptable when you pray eight hours a day as when you have fallen. Your achievements or your sins do not change this in any way:

 

- (Rom 5:1,2) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 

- (Rom 6:14,15) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.

15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

 

- (Phil 1:7) Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of my grace.

 

- (1 Peter 2:10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

 

- (1 Peter 5:12) By Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein you stand.

 

You have been redeemed:

 

- (1 Cor 6:20) For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

- (Gal 3:13) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree:

 

You are as righteous as Jesus, because you are in Him. Therefore, there is no need for you to try to be righteous by yourself:

 

- (1 Cor 1:30) But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

 

God is your father just like He is the father of Jesus:

 

- (Mark 14:36) And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible to you; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what you will.

 

- (Rom 8:15) For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

 

- (Gal 4:6) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

 

You are a child of God, because you have received Jesus into your life. At the same time, you are a joint-heir with Christ:

 

- (John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

- (Gal 4:5-7) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7  Why you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

 

- (Rom 8:15-17) For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16  The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

 

- (1 John 3:1,2) Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.

2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

Jesus is your brother:

 

- (John 20:17) Jesus said to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brothers, and say to them, I ascend to my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

 

God has loved you:

 

- (Eph 2:4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us,

 

- (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

- (Rom 5:8) But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

- (1 John 4:10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

God has chosen you:

 

- (Eph 1:4) According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

 

- (1 Cor 1:28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things which are not, to bring to nothing things that are:

 

God wanted you to be born:

 

- (Rev 4:11) You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for you have created all things, and for your pleasure they are and were created.

 

You are a friend of God:

 

- (John 15:15) From now on I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known to you.

 

Nothing can separate you from the love of God:

 

- (Rom 8:38,39) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

God is with you:

 

- (Ps 23:1-4) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2  He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.

3  He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4  Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.

 

- (Hebr 13:5) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.

 

You will spend the eternity with God, who loves you:

 

- (Rev 21:3,4) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 

- (Rom 8:18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

 

- (2 Cor 4:17,18) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.