Healing And Faith: Does God Play Favorites?

The Bible offers many examples of God healing the faithful, such as the paralytic, a leper, and a woman with a 12-year bleed. However, it also provides instances of God not healing the faithful, such as Paul, who was left with a thorn in his flesh, and David, who battled depression. So, while God can and does heal, it is not always His will to do so immediately. This is because He can teach us valuable lessons through suffering and because He is more concerned with our spiritual healing.

God doesn't heal everyone all the time

Miracles of healing were primarily done through God the Son – Jesus Christ, and His Apostles. Jesus healed just one man out of a multitude of sick people at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:3-8). Jesus didn’t heal people in His hometown of Nazareth (Matthew 13:58). After a healing-spree in the district of Galilee, Jesus decided to go somewhere else to preach even though desperately sick and hurting people were looking for Him (Mark 1:38). His reasoning was simple: “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” Christ didn’t come to earth to hold a healing crusade, He came to bring salvation!

Paul the Apostle wielded miraculous gifts yet told Timothy to take wine for his stomach issues (1 Timothy 5:23). Why didn’t he wield his gift of healing? Paul also left one of his faithful ministry teammates, Trophimus, sick at Miletus. Why didn’t he heal him and bring him along (2 Timothy 4:20)?

Clearly, God heals as He wills and even sovereignly controlled the specially gifted Apostles. God’s will in healing is not a formula that man can master.

God doesn't heal based solely on faith

While God does heal the faithful, He does not heal based solely on faith. When Jesus healed the cripple at Bethesda, the man had no idea who Jesus was and therefore lacked faith. In Luke 5:17-26, Jesus healed a man's soul through salvation, not faith. In other instances, Jesus was moved by people's faith, but this does not mean that His healing touch was bound to their faith.

Jesus is the Great Physician who prioritizes healing the wayward sinner's soul over their physical body. He forgave the paralytic and the demon-possessed man, and He healed them. Jesus's healing is not a formula that can be mastered. It is not something that can be bought or coerced.

God does not always heal everyone, and the Bible provides evidence to support this. Miracles of healing were primarily done through God the Son – Jesus Christ, and His Apostles. Jesus healed just one man out of a multitude of sick people at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:3-8). Jesus didn’t heal people in His hometown of Nazareth (Matthew 13:58). After a healing spree in the district of Galilee, Jesus decided to go elsewhere to preach, even though desperately sick people were looking for Him (Mark 1:38). He said, "Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for." Christ didn’t come to earth to hold a healing crusade; He came to bring salvation!

God does heal through earthly and supernatural means. He works through medicine and doctors, or He will work supernaturally. God created our body's ability to fight sickness, and He created the men and women who become medical workers and scientists.

God doesn't heal based on giving money

God does not heal based on giving money. This is a common misconception, often perpetuated by faith healers and televangelists, who claim that people can \"buy\" healing through financial offerings. However, this notion is unbiblical and contradicts the nature of God as the Alpha and Omega.

In the Bible, Simon the Sorcerer tried to buy healing (Acts 8:9-25), but this was not successful. Instead, the Apostle Peter offered healing to a beggar for free (Acts 3:6). This act demonstrates the biblical logic that if God cannot be convinced or forced to heal by a guaranteed formula or faith, then it is unthinkable that healing can be "bought" with a bribe.

Nowhere in the Bible does it state that healing is dependent on giving money. In fact, no Apostle, New Testament writer, or even Jesus Himself ever suggested that financial offerings were necessary for healing, breakthroughs, or protection from sickness. Therefore, it is not God's will that people give money to be healed.

While God has the power to heal and does heal in some circumstances, it is not something that can be guaranteed or bought.

God doesn't heal based on positive confessions

The idea that positive confessions can bring about healing is a common belief within some Christian circles. However, this notion is not supported by Scripture and is based on a misinterpretation of certain biblical passages. While it is true that words have power, as described in Proverbs 12:14 and Hebrews 11:3, the Bible does not teach that positive confessions can guarantee physical healing.

God's Will and Healing

The Bible makes it clear that God is sovereign over healing and that it is not always His will to heal everyone during their life on earth. In some cases, God may choose to glorify Himself through an individual's suffering, sickness, or even death. This does not mean that God is unloving or uncaring; instead, it reflects His perfect plan and purpose for each person's life.

Faith and Healing

It is also important to note that healing is not based solely on faith. While faith certainly plays a role in the Christian life, it does not guarantee physical healing. Jesus healed the cripple at Bethesda, even though the man had no idea who He was and lacked faith (John 5:13). In other instances, Jesus was moved by people's faith and healed them, but this does not mean that His healing was dependent on their level of faith.

The True Source of Healing

The Bible teaches that healing ultimately comes from God and is not something that can be earned or forced through positive confessions. As Christians, our focus should not be solely on physical healing but on the greater healing that God offers through the atonement of Christ. This includes the promise of eternal life in heaven, where all sickness and death will be eradicated (Revelation 21:4).

The Role of Words

While positive confessions may not bring about physical healing, words still play a crucial role in the Christian life. Confession is a vital part of our spiritual growth as believers. It involves aligning our words with God's truth and standing firm in our faith, even in the face of challenging circumstances. However, this does not mean that we can control God's will or demand healing through our words.

In conclusion, while positive confessions may provide comfort and encouragement, they do not guarantee physical healing. God's will for healing is not dependent on our confessions or even our faith. Instead, we must trust in His perfect plan and purpose for our lives, knowing that He will bring about healing in His time and according to His sovereign will.

God sovereignly heals then and now

God is indeed the Almighty Healer, and His healing power is evident throughout the Bible. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, God has demonstrated His ability to heal the sick and afflicted. In the Old Testament, God healed the Israelites from various diseases and afflictions during their exodus from Egypt (Exodus 15:26). He also healed people through His servants, such as Moses and Elijah. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, performed numerous miracles of healing. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and cast out demons (Matthew 4:23; Luke 4:40).

However, it is important to recognize that God's healing is not limited to biblical times. Even today, God sovereignly heals those who call upon Him in faith. The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). This means that His healing power is still at work in our lives today. When we pray for healing, whether for ourselves or others, we can have confidence that God hears our prayers and can choose to heal according to His perfect will and timing.

While God does heal sovereignly, it is also important to understand that He does not always heal everyone immediately or in the way we expect. Sometimes, God allows us to go through seasons of illness or suffering to accomplish His perfect plan in our lives. As Costi Hinn, a church planter and pastor, points out, "God doesn’t heal everyone all the time, and the Bible gives irrefutable evidence to support this." For example, in John 5:3-8, Jesus healed only one man out of a multitude of sick people at the Pool of Bethesda. Additionally, Paul, one of the most prolific Apostles, dealt with a persistent problem that God chose not to remove (2 Corinthians 12:7-8).

So, what does this mean for us today? It means that while we can trust in God's sovereign power to heal, we also need to submit to His perfect will and timing. We may not always understand why God chooses to heal some and not others, but we can be confident that He loves us and wants what is best for us. As Romans 8:28 assures us, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose."

Furthermore, it is essential to recognize that God's ultimate desire is for our spiritual healing and salvation. While physical healing is important, it is temporary compared to the eternal healing that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. As the author of "If God Doesn't Heal You" on desiringGod.org writes, "The gospel offers a hope that exceeds the reparation of our bodies." Through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, we can be forgiven of our sins and reconciled to God, receiving eternal life and spiritual healing.

In conclusion, God sovereignly heals then and now. His power to heal has not diminished over time, and He is still in the business of performing miracles today. However, we must also trust His perfect plan and timing, knowing that He desires our spiritual healing above all else.

Frequently asked questions