Is it always God’s will to heal?

Recently, one of my church members asked me “Is it always God’s will to heal?” It is easy to question this, or build doctrine around experience, when you don’t see healing even in the midst of solid faith and fervent prayers. It’s easy to say “It’s not always God’s will to heal” or “God is teaching me something by this sickness” when you don’t see healing happen.

I believe that it’s ALWAYS God’s will to heal, as is revealed in His word (I will talk about some of the why/what if in another post).

First, if we look at Creation before the Fall. There was no sickness in the garden. God said that everything was GOOD. If you look at Deuteronomy 28, the “bad things” in verse 15 through the end are called “the curse”. The curse didn’t come on man and the earth until the fall in Genesis 3.

Second, we have the revelation of the Father’s will through Jesus’ teaching. If you go through the book of John, you’ll find verses like:

John 5:19-20 (NKJV) Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
John 14:7-9 (NKJV) “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Third, we have the revelation of the Father’s will through Jesus’ ministry. Jesus healed ALL that came to him. In Getting Past the Pie Mentality, I noted these verses, but they bear repeating:

Acts 10:37-38 (NKJV) that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Matthew 8:16-17 (NKJV) When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”

Next, we have healing as part of redemption. The words for salvation (soteria) and saved (sozo) not only speak to our receiving eternal life, but include deliverance, health, protection and “be whole” as well (Strong’s Concordance, G4991 and G4982).

Galatians 3:13 (NKJV) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).
Isaiah 53:4-5 (NKJV) Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

You’ll find the same thing true of the Hebrew word “shalom”, which means peace, prosperity, wholeness, well-being and success (Strong’s Concordance, H7965). Jesus is the Prince of Shalom!

Finally, we have the revelation of what heaven is like – there is no sickness there, there are no tears there, our bodies will be resurrected, transformed and whole. Jesus said:

Matthew 6:9-10 (NKJV) In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

He invites and instructs us to pray that the way things are in heaven would be so in earth as well.

I will write about some of the reasons why healing is delayed – or doesn’t come – in a future post.

Doug