A Layman's Approach to Divine Healing

Introduction

This course discusses some of the approaches and experiences that I've been through in dealing with Divine Healing. I am not a minister nor an evangelist but I have read the Bible and have listened to those who have a healing ministry and I've applied this knowledge to my life, my family, and friends that I've prayed for.

I am not an expert and I still have a lot to learn, but maybe through these lessons you can identify with some of my struggles and maybe together we can learn and encourage each other in Divine Healing.

Can A Layman Pray For The Sick?

Ever since I was a child, I remember reading the Bible, family prayer, and memorizing Scripture in order to get my weekly allowance --all of 25 cents. My grandpa was an ordained minister for the Nazarene church and my mom was what they called a "P.K."--a preacher's kid. And although she grew up and rebelled against her dad's instruction, she returned to it again when she was older.

I provide this background as a backdrop in which I was raised to describe where I started and where I am now. There are several denominations that do not believe in divine healing but the Nazarene denomination is not one of them. They believe that divine healing is possible through the laying on of hands of an ordained minister.

My grandpa was a pastor for many years and he started many churches in central and upper New York area; in fact one of the churches I attended was one in which my grandpa started. Although I valued my biblical teaching I got as child, it was limited. But I didn't know this and it wasn't until I went into the military and was exposed to other denominations and their beliefs that I realized how limiting it was.

As I started going to different churches, I evaluated my teachings as a child to determine whether I needed to revise it or not. One of the biggest challenges was the area of the Holy Spirit. Although I was taught the Holy Spirit was part of the trinity, I knew little of Him as a person or what His function was in the life of a believer. Communication with and power from the Holy Spirit was to be funneled through our minister and we, as church members, normally were not "baptized" with the Holy Spirit. So for us, there was little divine healing done except in church, through a minister. The layperson was not active at all except to build up our faith through the Holy Scripture.

But as I begin to read the Bible, I started to read about what "believers" are supposed to do. For example, look at Mark 16:17-18:

17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

When I read it, I was startled by what I read, and I had to read it again, slowly and out loud. Here was a clear statement from Jesus saying that signs would follow those who believe--not people who were ministers, evangelists, or special anointed people--but everyday believers! Of course, those who were ministers, evangelists and special anointed people have a greater measure of faith and success in healing, but the here a door was open for anyone who believed.

So with that, I started reading the Bible and looking for verses that would give me deeper insights into what the Bible says. Sometimes, we as lay people tend to be a little lazy and expect our ministers and pastors to carry the burden of worship, teaching, and meeting the needs of those around us. But I believe that as Christian believers we are to carry the light of the gospel to every place we go; whether it's to school, work, or the store. We can (should) take advantage of every opportunity to touch people for Christ. One pastor said, "preach wherever you go...and use words when necessary."

In one of the poems the Lord gave to me years ago was called "The Love of Jesus." In it, Jesus tries to convey the idea that we are His body and through us (all of us), He can touch the world for Himself.

"You are My hands; reach out touch them for Me,
You are My voice; speak peace to them for Me.
You are My feet; please walk beside them for Me.
You are My heart; reach out and love them for Me."

So the place to begin is the Bible. There are truths and commands God almighty has given us to live our Christian lives, so we can make a difference in this world. We need to read the Bible and absorb into our mind and our spirits so that the word becomes a part of us. God said that His word will not return to Him void and sometimes the limiting factor is not God but us. We fail to lay hands on the sick (reach out for Me); fail to speak truth and life (speak love to them for Me); we fail to take the time to go see the sick (walk beside them for Me); and we fail to love the sick (reach out and love them for Me).

Here are several other verses that would be good to read and memorize. They all speak of healing and are meant to let you know that God does heal, it's His will to heal you, and you have His Word on it. Read them; memorize them. These verses give you God's view on divine healing. If we will make them and use them, we will see more healings.

Deuteronomy 7:15

And the Lord will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them on all those who hate you.

Exodus 15:26

"If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you."

Exodus 20:12

"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

Jeremiah 30:17

"For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds," says the Lord.

Jeremiah 33:6

Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.

Psalm 30:2

O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.

Psalm 42:11

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 103:3

Who forgives all your iniquities? Who heals all your diseases?

Psalm 107:20

He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 147:3

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 41:10; 53:4, 5; 58:8

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 53:4-5

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.

Isaiah 58:8

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

Malachi 4:2

But to you who fear My name the sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.

Matthew 8:17

...that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."

John 14:13-14

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

Acts 8:6-7

And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.

1 Peter 2:24

...who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.

James 5:14-16

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

The next lesson will discuss some experiences I've had in reaching out and pray for myself, my family, and friends.