Join the Great Adventure!
“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”
As Christians, we know that God has the power to heal. Yet many questions arise in light of the fact that many Believers are still sick. So who is holding out, God or us?
According to the Great commission, signs and wonders should follow them that believe—that is us as Believers! These signs and wonders confirm the preaching of the Word that is taught. In the name of Jesus, Believers can now cast out devils, speak in new tongues, heal the sick and expect divine protection. What a great deal!
Mark 16:15-20:
“… And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” (KJV)
The Great Commission
These benefits were left by Jesus for those who believe, right before He was received up into Heaven. It was His final direction and charge as He left Earth. Interestingly, even those who followed Jesus in person had some challenges believing everything they had seen and heard. They needed Jesus to reassure them of their role and their purpose:
“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
We Have the Mind of Christ
Until the end of the world comes and Jesus returns, the commission has not changed for Believers. If Jesus really is the same yesterday, today and forever, we can be confident that He has not changed His mind about us or the plans He has for us. The following scripture is very clear that if Jesus were to change His mind about anything, we would know. After all, we do have the mind of Christ! As Jesus countered the doubts of the disciples, Paul clarifies the role of the Holy Spirit in revealing the things that God has freely given to us:
1 Cor 2:12-16:
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.”
His Hands and Feet
Laying hands on the sick is the duty of believers until such a time comes when Jesus returns and we meet in Heaven. Then there will be a time when all sickness and disease is non-existent and we receive our glorified bodies. God has provided healing for His children and commissioned us to appropriate it in the earth.
As Believers, we are all a part of this great adventure. Not everyone is called to the five-fold ministry, but all are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus and represent Him to the uttermost parts of the Earth. God is not holding out on us! If you desire to see lives changed through the preaching of the Gospel, with signs and wonders following, then “Go!”
If you are a Believer, then you can lay hands on the sick and expect to see them recover!