June 2012: Healing

Our Wednesday morning “Messy Bible” has been going through Mark’s Gospel in which (Mark 6:13) the disciples healed many who were sick. This gave rise to the question of what God’s will is for us in relation to healing.

During this month we will look at a variety of texts in the bible as we seek to understand the answer to this question. I pray that God will give us wisdom and courage to be obedient to him as we seek to do His will. We recognise that healing is a gift (1 Corinthians 12), and that the power comes from God (Luke 5) who serves those He heals (Isaiah 53). While our first reaction is to cry out for healing (Numbers 12), we learn that it is necessary to put in order our attitude to others (Psalm 41), our attitude to ourselves (Confession - James 5), and our attitude to God (faith - Mark 5).

I hope and pray that we will be faithful to what God is saying in the following texts:

  • In 1 Corinthians 12 we are taught that “To one there is given through the Spirit … gifts of healing”. These gifts, like all gifts from God, arise from the Spirit’s presence in his disciples, and are for use in service for the good of all. .
  • In Numbers 12 (Thu 7 June) we hear Moses’ cry for healing when Miriam was struck down with a skin disease. .
  • In Luke 5:12-26 we focus on the power to heal. In between showing his willingness to make a leper clean, and healing a paralytic, we are told that “The power of the Lord was present for Jesus to heal the sick”.
  • In Psalm 41 (Thu 14 June) we learn about a healing attitude. “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak … the Lord will restore him from his bed of illness”
  • In Isaiah 53 (Sun 17 June) we learn about servant healing. “By his wounds we are healed”
  • In Mark 5:22-43 (Sun 24 June) we learn about healing faith. Jesus tells a woman who has just touched him “Your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free from your suffering”
  • In James 5 (Thu 28 June) we learn about healing confession. “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed”

As we pray for God’s will to be done it may be helpful to bear in mind something Billy Graham said “The most eloquent prayer is the prayer through hands that heal and bless.”