Contributed by VBC Student Ashley Kyle.
My journey into God’s healing power started with a simple prayer in the summer of 2014- “Lord, how come we don’t see healing the way it used to be in the New Testament?” I began reading the book of Acts immediately after that prayer, looking for keys to healing that might be found. Shortly thereafter, I enrolled in my classes at Victory Bible College for 1st quarter. The Lord continued to answer that prayer when my classes for the fall quarter ended up being Foundations of Faith and Authority of the Believer! At the start of the quarter, my belief in healing was that God could heal, but didn’t always heal. This was a belief (I’ve now come to see) that was rooted in not fully believing in the goodness of God, based on circumstances in my life that led me to accept them as truth rather than God’s Word.
In the eight weeks of taking Authority of the Believer, I wrestled. I cried because I was angry and confused. It felt like a war inside-seeing scripture after scripture that pointed to God wanting to heal and it being HIS WILL, but not seeing that in my everyday life with people, even godly people! Cancers, hereditary illnesses, even seeing both the young and old sick with what our society considers “normal” sicknesses (the flu, colds, allergies- seasonal and food-related).
I knew that sickness could not be God’s will and that it was a form of bondage the enemy wants to hold us in to keep us from experiencing the complete victory that was provided for us at the cross.
The word for salvation in the Greek is “ sozo ” and it means HEALING, DELIVERANCE, SALVATION. Sickness and disease did not enter the world until sin entered the world. When Jesus was crucified and raised to life 3 days later, He had CONQUERED death. So therefore, if He conquered death, which is the final manifestation of sickness and disease, as well as having conquered the ultimate death being spiritual death, then SURELY sickness and disease has been conquered!!! Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) says “But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
We are carriers of the presence of God-when we walk into any situation because the Holy Spirit dwells in us, He also comes into whatever situation we are in. So if Jesus was standing next to someone who had the flu, or someone who had cancer, or whatever was ailing them-what would He do?
He would command them to be well, right? This next scripture comes straight from the mouth of Jesus- “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” John 14:12 (NIV) . This is saying that we WILL DO the works He has done, and even GREATER. I so want us all to understand the power He has delegated to us as His children! This is to demonstrate the power of God, His kindness towards people. To bring heaven to earth.
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV
Or as The Voice translation reads: “manifest Your will here on earth as it is manifest in heaven”.
Sickness, disease, evil, confusion-anything that is the opposite of the fruits of the Spirit dwell on earth. We see that evidenced every day. None of those things are in heaven. That is why we, as believers, bring heaven to earth so people receive a glimpse of what their inheritance is as children of God. This isn’t just about receiving good things and not dealing with bad things-this is something our Father has placed in us to give to others to draw all of us to Himself and to walk in wholeness and freedom. He pours out love and power to demonstrate His reign over all things.
“And Jesus summoned to Him His twelve disciples and gave them power and authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to cure all kinds of disease and all kinds of weakness and infirmity.” Matthew 10:1
“Then Jesus called together the Twelve [apostles] and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases, And He sent them out to announce and preach the kingdom of God and to bring healing.” Luke 9:1-2
We are vessels that God has poured His spirit into. He has delegated power and authority through His Holy Spirit to us to bring about His purposes on the earth. Revival is here-we are just the ones that step out and bring it to people! We as the Church cannot be of the “if we build it they will come” mindset. Sure-that works to some degree, but Jesus told us to “GO! And MAKE disciples.” Disciples are followers, which implies movement- we have to get mobile and go to the hurting and bring them heaven! Can you imagine what life would look like in your daily encounters if you walked in the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in you? Rather than just praying FOR people, you can see this healing power manifest in their lives emotionally and physically. I challenge you to take action steps and see God show Himself faithful. His job is outcome, ours is obedience!
For more resources on healing, read the Gospels (Matthew is one of my faves), the book of Acts, The Supernatural Power of the Transformed Mind by Bill Johnson, and The Believer’s Authority by Kenneth Hagin. Andrew Wommack has many great resources as well. Check out his website HERE. .