Healing

Message preached at Whittlesea, and discussion notes were prepared by Shelley Ligtermoet.

Section 1: Understanding Divine Healing
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Matthew 9:35.
Divine healing is the act of God's restorative power touching the lives of individuals in physical, emotional, or spiritual dimensions. This section explores the biblical foundations of divine healing, emphasising the diversity of spiritual gifts, the role of the Holy Spirit, and the concept of the Kingdom of God as pivotal to comprehending the multifaceted nature of healing.

The Sovereignty of God
   - The Holy Spirit distributes gifts according to His will, highlighting God’s sovereignty over healing.
   - Divine healing transcends human understanding and control, reminding us of our dependence on God's grace and timing.
Diversity of Gifts and Healing
   - Healing is one of many spiritual gifts, including wisdom, knowledge, faith, and more. This diversity signifies the Church's multifaceted mission to address the varied needs of its people.
   - Divine healing encompasses more than physical restoration; it includes emotional healing and spiritual renewal, highlighting the holistic nature of God's care for humanity.
The Kingdom of God
   - Jesus' healing ministry is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God, demonstrating God's power and authority over sickness, sin, and death.
   - The healings performed by Jesus are signs pointing to the reality of God's reign, where wholeness and restoration are the ultimate goals.

Theological Implications
Healing as a Sign of the Kingdom: The miraculous healings performed by Jesus and, by extension, His disciples, serve as foretastes of the full realisation of the Kingdom of God, where there will be no more pain, suffering, or death (Revelation 21:4).
God’s Sovereignty and Human Agency: While we are encouraged to pray for healing and exercise faith, the outcome is ultimately determined by God’s sovereign will. This tension between divine sovereignty and human agency invites trust and submission to God's larger plan.

Discussion Questions
1. How does understanding healing as part of the Kingdom of God’s in-breaking influence your perspective on suffering and healing?
2. How do you reconcile the reality of unanswered prayers for healing with the sovereignty and goodness of God?

Kingdom Life in action
1. Prayer for Healing: Encourage one another to actively pray for healing, acknowledging the Holy Spirit’s role in guiding these prayers according to God’s will.

Section 2: The Role of Faith in Healing
Read: Matthew 9:1-8; 9:20-22; 8:5-13.
Matthew 9:1-8 presents the story of the paralytic, whose healing was intertwined with the forgiveness of sins, emphasising faith not just in Christ's power to heal but also in His authority to forgive sins.

Matthew 9:20-22 features the woman with the issue of blood, whose faith in merely touching Jesus' garment resulted in her healing. Her faith was commended by Jesus, signifying the personal and trusting nature of faith in action.

Matthew 8:5-13 recounts the faith of the centurion, who believed in Jesus' authoritative word alone to heal his servant. Jesus highlights the centurion's faith as exemplary, surpassing that of many in Israel.

The role of faith in divine healing is a reoccurring theme throughout the gospel accounts. This section explores the relationship between faith and healing.

Faith as Trust in Jesus' Authority and Identity
   - Faith in healing contexts often extends beyond belief in the act itself to encompass trust in Jesus' authority over physical and spiritual realms.
   - These accounts show faith directed towards Jesus' identity as the Messiah and His sovereign authority to bring about healing according to God's will.

The Communal Aspect of Faith
   - Healing stories reveal both individual and communal expressions of faith. Friends bringing the paralytic to Jesus exemplify communal faith in action.
   - The role of the community in supporting and manifesting faith for healing highlights the interconnectedness of the Body of Christ.

Theological Implications
Faith and God’s Sovereignty: The stories emphasise that while faith is important, healing's occurrence rests ultimately in God's sovereign hands. This relationship invites believers to a posture of humble dependence and trust in God's perfect will.
Healing as a Kingdom Sign: The healings performed by Jesus are not merely acts of compassion but are signposts of the Kingdom of God, where brokenness is restored. Faith in this context is a response to the in-breaking of God’s Kingdom, acknowledging Jesus as the inaugurating agent of God’s reign.

Discussion Questions
1. In what ways can we cultivate a biblical understanding of faith in relation to healing?
2. How does the understanding of faith as trust in Jesus' identity and authority challenge or encourage you in your personal journey of faith, especially in the context of seeking healing?
3. Can you share an instance where you witnessed or experienced the communal aspect of faith in relation to healing?

Kingdom Life in action
1. Encourage one another to cultivate a faith that trusts in Jesus' authority and His good and perfect will, whether or not healing occurs in the manner expected.

Section 3: Debunking Common Misconceptions
Misconceptions about divine healing can create confusion and disillusionment. This section aims to address and clarify two common misunderstandings related to healing: the notion that sin blocks healing and the belief that a lack of faith prevents healing. By exploring biblical narratives and teachings, we seek a more nuanced understanding that aligns with the broader message of the Gospel.

Read: Matthew 9:1-8, John 9:1-3
The Paralytic's Healing (Matthew 9:1-8): This account is often misinterpreted to suggest that sin can block healing. However, Jesus' act of forgiving the paralytic's sins before healing his physical ailment demonstrates His authority over both the spiritual and physical realms, not a prerequisite of sinlessness for healing.
Healing the Blind Man (John 9:1-3) This passages helps address the misconception that personal faith or sinlessness is a precondition for healing.

Misconception 1: Sin Blocks Healing
Biblical Clarification: While sin can have physical consequences, the New Testament demonstrates that Jesus heals regardless of the individual's sin status. His primary mission is to restore wholeness, which includes addressing the root cause of separation from God—sin.
Theological Implication: Jesus' healing ministry illustrates the coming of God's Kingdom, where forgiveness and healing are freely offered as signs of His grace, not conditional upon human merit.

Misconception 2: A Lack of Faith Prevents Healing
Biblical Clarification: While faith is often highlighted in healing narratives, Jesus also heals those with little or no faith, underscoring His sovereignty and mercy. The emphasis is on Jesus' power and willingness to heal, not the quantity of faith.
Theological Implication: Healing is a gift from God and a sign of the Kingdom, not a reward for strong faith. This underscores the grace-based nature of God's interactions with humanity.

Theological Implications
Sovereignty of God in Healing: Healing is ultimately under God's sovereignty. He heals out of compassion and to reveal His Kingdom, not as a direct response to human actions or faith levels.
Role of Faith: Faith is relational, focused on trust in God's character and Kingdom, rather than a means to secure a desired outcome. This invites us into a deeper relationship with God, irrespective of the immediate visible results.

Discussion Questions
1. How have the misconceptions about sin and faith in relation to healing affected your or others' perspectives on God's character and healing ministry?
2. Discuss the holistic reading of scripture and the dangers of isolating verses.
3. In what ways can the church community offer support to those who are struggling with these misconceptions, especially in the context of unanswered prayers for healing?

Kingdom Life in action
1. Encourage a pastoral approach that avoids assigning guilt or shame to individuals not experiencing healing. Emphasise God's unconditional love and the holistic nature of His care.
2. Cultivate an understanding of healing within the broader context of the Kingdom of God, encouraging believers to seek God's presence and will above specific outcomes.
3. Promote a faith that trusts in God's goodness and sovereignty, regardless of circumstances, nurturing a resilient and compassionate community that supports one another through trials.

Section 4: Responding to Healing and Miracles in Kingdom Life
This section aims to encourage believers on how to respond to and engage with the divine act of healing in a way that aligns with biblical teachings and promotes a supportive community.

Read: Matthew 11:20-24; 20:29-34; 10:1; Luke 10:1-20
Matthew 11:20-24 highlights Jesus’ expectation of repentance and transformation in response to miracles, emphasising the purpose of miracles as invitations to submit to the Kingdom of God more fully.

Matthew 20:29-34 depicts the healing of two blind men who acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah (addressing him ‘Son of David’), demonstrating their faith and subsequent decision to follow Him, illustrating a transformative response to healing.

Matthew 10:1 and Luke 10:1-20 show Jesus empowering His disciples to heal and proclaim the Kingdom, emphasising the communal and participatory aspect of God's healing work.


Transformational Response to Miracles
   - Miracles, including healing, are signs of the in-breaking Kingdom of God and invite a response of repentance, faith, and transformation.
   - Following Jesus in response to witnessing or receiving healing underscores the holistic change that the Kingdom of God envisages for individuals i.e.. Becoming FULLY ALIVE

Community Empowerment for Ministry
   - Jesus equips His followers with authority to heal and proclaim the good news, highlighting the communal and participatory nature of the Kingdom’s ministry.
   - Every believer is empowered by the Holy Spirit to partner in God’s healing work, reflecting the diverse spiritual gifts within the body of Christ.

Practical Engagement and Ministry
   - Engaging in healing ministry involves both praying for healing and actively caring for the needs of others, emphasising love, compassion, and service.
   - Faithful stewardship of spiritual gifts calls for a balance of earnestly desiring to serve others while trusting in God’s sovereignty over the outcomes.

Theological Implications
Kingdom-Centred Healing: Healing is a foretaste of the fullness of the Kingdom of God, where ultimate restoration and wholeness are fulfilled. This perspective helps believers navigate the tension between experiencing miracles and enduring suffering in the present age.
Sovereignty and Human Participation: While God is sovereign in healing, He invites believers to participate in His healing work, reflecting the relational nature of the Kingdom. This partnership emphasises dependence on the Holy Spirit and alignment with God’s will.

Discussion Questions
1. Discuss the impact of witnessing or experiencing a healing. How should it affect our faith and actions?
2. How can you personally and as a community cultivate a transformative response to witnessing or experiencing miracles?
3. How can we practically and responsibly seek and use spiritual gifts to serve others?

Kingdom Life in action
1. Encourage one another to ask God for spiritual gifts, including healing, emphasising faith as small as a mustard seed.
2. Reflect on areas of your life that need healing (physical, emotional, or spiritual) and bring them to God in prayer, trusting in His will.
3. Facilitate a ministry time for prayer, focusing on the Holy Spirit's guidance and the willingness to step out in faith.