Divine Healing - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

Real Healing

by Lahry Sibley

I’ve been a Christian for 40 years or so. I’ve been in lots of churches, various denominations, and listened to some great messages. I’ve also listened to a lot of religion and down right error. No subject has been preached on more than healing, no doubt. Why? Because we have lots of folks that are sick and infirmed. The other is that there is more emphasis put on physical needs than spiritual needs.

I was in a church for a time that regularly took prayer requests at the pulpit during service. 95% of what was asked for was physical healing in one form or another. Yes, we need physical healing. Yes God cares about our physical difficulties. But where is the balance. Friend, you can go straight to hell in a perfect body. You can also go straight to heaven with a sick one. Actually, you’ll leave both behind you. But a healthy body is not necessarily the key to spiritual victory and eternal good health.

No, I’m not saying that we ought to be content with our sicknesses. Yes we should pray and ask God for healing. But if that is the focus of your existence and measure of His love, I really don’t’ think your prayers will avail much.

Not even Jesus had “carte blanche” healing gifting. Some people He prayed for were not healed. It wasn’t that they lacked faith in healing. They lacked faith in Who He is. Take for instance, the man who was healed by Peter and John at the opening of the new church in the book of ACTS. This man had been there for years. He was near the temple gate. Surely Jesus must have past by him many, many times. Why didn’t’ Jesus heal him long before the day that Peter came by? Was it the Lord’s lack of compassion? Or did God have greater glory and honor to share with His children by allowing them to be part of His plan of love toward all men?

Surely it is God’s will for us to walk in good health. So what’s the problem, you ask? Well, there is no pat answer. Christianity is not a catalog of prescribed answers. It is a daily walk with God through the Son by the Holy Spirit. There is a trust that must be aligned between man and God. This trust goes beyond religious certainty. It goes beyond human wisdom and understanding. How?

Jesus said that He did not do anything unless He saw or heard His Father doing it. When the Father told Him to raise up that mother’s only son, it then became a certainty that the child would be raised. He did not have to pray the prayer of faith. He simply told the child to rise up, and the child did rise up. Jesus had all the power of heaven backing Him up. If we are His disciples, should we not do as He did? Should we not steal away to the secret place and be alone with God so that He can direct our steps rather than us going out on limbs of faith that have no objective fruit?

I’ve noticed, in my life, that 10 out of 10 people die. If a heart attack don’t’ kill you, something serious will. All will die in the flesh. No amount of faith will keep our bodies indefinitely out of the grave. I do believe we can all agree on that. This being so, then we must yield to the fact that some physical problem or problems will overtake everyone sooner or later and we will die, regardless of who is praying for us and for how long. No amount of fasting will keep us out of the grave. Does this mean we should not pray to God for healing? No. But don’t let the lack of healing after prayer crush your faith. Our blessed hope is not in our healing, but in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Don’t let some preacher steal your salvation because he claimed you lacked faith and were not healed.
Yes, again, God has our welfare at the center piece of His love. So why aren’t more people healed? I believe the biggest problem is sin. What sin? The riches and cares of this world have choked off the word and have kept it from bearing fruit. Too much compromise, and too much permissiveness in our personal lives and in our ministry. Why? Because the truth of the Bible in regards to how we should live our lives is no more popular today than it was in the day of the rich young ruler. Preach the truth regularly today, and you will have a very small amount of people to preach too.

Smith Wigglesworth saw many people healed in his ministry. But not all. Surely he was more successful than most any other modern era minister. His key to success? Seperation of world and faith. Smith couldn’t read or write. His wife taught him these skills. Then she gave him a bible. He soon decided that it was the only thing he needed to read. And He would not read anything else. He lived before the age of TV. I’m dead certain that if he would not allow a newspaper in his home, surely TV would not have made it in either. He lead a peculiar life, saints, free from attachment to worldly passions. He stayed attached to God. And God told him what to do and when to do it. He was a disciple of Jesus Christ. He did things the way Jesus did them. He talked them over with the Father, and then obeyed the Father’s leading and guiding. Alleluia.

I believe that physical healing is part of the redemption victory. Again, God is more interested in our spiritual health than He is in our physical health. Sometimes sickness or disease keeps us ever before God and dependent on Him, whereas if we were healed physically, our health might afford us the opportunity to get caught up in idolatry, that is, dependent on our personal effort and ability rather than on God. Liberty is not always good to some.

There are some animals that do not need to be fenced to keep them at home with their master. On the other hand, others have to be corralled continually, or off they go into the wide open spaces. Sickness and infirmity are often a means of getting ones’ heart turned toward God and keeping it there. Had they continued on in health, they would not have seen the need for God and they may likely have lost their soul. That is not God’s will. God’s will is that all men be saved, and He will allow most anything to enter our path, if our path is not the narrow way.

A.W. Tozer penned one of my favorite quotes. He wrote, “God crucifies without pity, those whom He wishes to raise without measure”. See God wants us molded into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. For that to happen, we must die, by faith and affirmation. We must present ourselves as living sacrifices. Flesh does not welcome death. Flesh does not welcome the cross. But if we are to live in Christ, we must die with Him. If we are to enjoy the fellowship of His victory, we must suffer death of our selves. If we labor to keep our life, we shall surely lose it.

The proverbs writer wrote, “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding”. Take everything to God in prayer, but leave how He answers that prayer to Him. I don’t have to understand how God does things to be blessed by Him. I just have to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Now, about “faith healers”? In my humble opinion, 99.9% of them are a sham, a phony, and a disgrace to God. I’ve seen too many up close and personal. The same people that are in their healing line today are in it for the same thing the next time they come to town. I’ve only seen one person get up out of a wheel chair in my life. I’ve seen hundreds leave a service in their wheel chairs, discouraged and disillusioned. Very sad.

I believe that what God wants is for His Body to come back to Him. Come back to Him in faith. Come back to Him in worship. Come back to Him in personal relationship. Come back to Him in separation from the world and all it’idolatrous passions and lusts. We need to become a holy nation once again. Then we will see more people healed. But we will see countless more saved, and filled with His Spirit. Thanks be to God. I believe that is God’s heart and design for our lives. We must repent, and turn from our wicked ways, humble ourselves in prayer. We will find God there, rest from our labors of self righteousness, and healing for our souls, and our bodies too.

Now, in closing, I don’t want to imply that I am judging anyone’s personal situation, their faith, or their battles with sickness. Each one’s walk with God is personal and unique. Take your troubles to God. Make spiritual health your number one goal, and all other things shall be added unto you. God promised. He always keeps His Word.

Comment by Lahry Sibley on September 10, 2009 at 3:59pm: Amen, I tried to read it to my wife and got all choked up again. The Bible says that faith is the presence of things hoped for. As you so well put it, we ask, and then we should begin to praise, not denying that we still have symptoms, but that our Father in Heaven loves us because your fellowship with Him has been reestablished by faith in His Son. That alone gives us access to the throne of grace. Praise and worship is pure faith because more than all else, it expresses our total confidence in God and that we believe He knows exactly how to order our lives, much better than we could ever ask or think. Wow, I feel better just saying all of that, lol.
Thank you for the kind note and sharing the joys of our God and His children. May God richly bless you today and every day with faith that leads to praise and worship.

Immersed in His love,

Lahry

Comment by Connie on September 10, 2009 at 3:45pm: I know the feelings well of the tears ! When this dear friend first sent me the e-mail of her healing, I cried. When I read the e-mail to some family members, I cried.
This is just one of the testimonies of the healing power of Yahweh that I have heard, but this one is a very powerful witness too.
In this story of her healing, there are things we can see that is note worthy.
She ask Yahweh to heal her and didn't doubt that she's be healed in HIS Timing. I think some people miss out on recieving what they ask for as they begin to doubt. Instead, once we have ask of Yahweh to heal us, we have to put action behind this and claim it as done already even if we don't see it. Yahweh's ways are not our ways, and His timing is not our timing.
Another interesting thing in her testimony is she didn't sit and complain to the one sent to her, but said, "it was one of lifes lessons for her." She took her mind off her own problem and showed compassion for the man, and gave of the very best she had.
This I believe was her final test before she recieved her complete healing, and she passed it.

Comment by Lahry Sibley on September 9, 2009 at 5:39pm: Well, go ahead and just send the tears down my cheeks. Thank you for sharing this. It blessed me so. Matthew 25:31-46 has long been a focal point of my walk with the Lord. So that made the story extra special. Thank you.

Comment by Connie on September 9, 2009 at 5:20pm: I will share this testimony with you of a friend of mine that was healed and it didn't happen over night. Yet she never lost her faith that Yahweh wouldn't heal her. This is her story.

We are told in the Scriptures
Forget not to show love unto strangers: for some have entertained angels unaware.Heb.13:2
This is the story of my healing.

I had been warned that something was going to happen to me. Yet I was not expecting the long trial that I was about to begin. Through carelessness I fell and broke my back.
To those that this has never happened to, count your blessings. A person becomes a prisoner within their own body and very limited to what you can do.
I had witnessed the death of my dearly beloved husband who dropped dead in front of me.
He was also a follower of the Torah and walked daily with Abba Yahweh. It was the shock of talking to him one minute, and the next minute he was gone, never for me to be able to tell him I loved him again in this life.
I left my home and flew to Israel where I got alone upon a mountain and allowed Abba Yahweh to heal my heart of this terrible pain I felt at the loss of my husband.
I returned to my home in Ohio about 8 months later renewed and healed of a broken heart.
Several months later I was sent a message from a friend who told me to beware, that through the Ruach he saw something was going to happen in my life.
This is when I broke my back . I had to wear a back brace most of the time. I had to have someone come in and clean my home as it was very painful for me to do much of anything.
During this time, I cried out to Yahweh for answers. He had healed me of a broken heart, and I had complete faith that He could heal me of a broken back as well.
I had suffered for about a year with this, all the time knowing that my heavenly Father was in full control of my life, and I knew it was by His tender mercies, when the pain got so bad He eased these pains.
I was healing slowly and was a little better after about 9-10 months and was able to move around a little better when one day something happened that changed my whole life.

I had, had a rough night and I ask Abba to either heal me completely or please take me out of this world. At some point I was able to fall into a painless sleep and I woke up feeling better then I had really ever felt all them months. I got up and put the water on the stove for tea and started to sit in my chair to read out of the scriptures when I heard someone knocking at the door.
I went to the door and opened it to find a man standing there with a rake in his hand, and he ask me if he could rake my yard for a few dollars to buy himself some food.
I invited him inside as it was pretty cold outside. I ask him if he would like a cup of tea in which he said yes he would. So we went to the kitchen and we got some hot tea.
He ask me about the back brace I was wearing, and I told him it was one of lifes lessons for me. I ask him after several minutes if he'd like some breakfast and he said that would be great. I had noticed he was shaking from the cold and his coat was wet, so I went to my room and got some of my husband's clothes and ask him if he'd like to change into something dry. He said yes, and if he could take a hot shower, that would really fix him up. So I showed him the guest bathroom and while he showered, I cooked him steak, potatoes, and eggs. It felt good to be cooking for someone again. He came out and sat and ate and we talked. He ask me why was I so kind to him in which I replied, isn't that what we should all do for our fellow man ? We talked about Yahweh and for at least a couple of hours. I saw in his eyes such tenderness and kindness and I couldn't help but enjoy my visit with my new friend.
Finally he stood and said he must be going, and he'd start raking my lawn. I told him I really didn't need it raked, but that I would give him a few dollars to help him. As he was putting on his coat, I saw it was still wet, and I went and got the nice warm coat that had belonged to my husband and told him he could have it, as my husband was no longer alive. He thanked me and we was walking to the door, when he suddenly turned to me and placed his hand on my arm and said to me. "You fed me when I was hungry, you clothed me when I was cold, and you gave to me of the best you had. Blessed be the name of Yahweh. Daughter be healed". He opened the door and walked out. I stood in shock at his words for a few minutes, then opened the door to call him back to give him some money, but he was no where to be found. I walked down the sidewalk and looked both ways to see if I could see him, but he wasn't anywhere.
I went back inside and was still thinking about what he had said to me and as I started to sit down, I heard a pop in my back. I began feeling tingling
sensations. There was no pain at all. I felt limber and not stiff in my back. I started moving around. I bent down, no pain ! I felt good ! I had removed the brace and was moving for the first time in almost a year as I had not been able to do.
I laughed, I cried, I jumped up and down shouting, Thank you Father, Thank you ! You have healed me, you have surely healed me.
Several days later I called the doctor and told them I was coming in. I had a surprise for him. I walked in without any back brace, and told the doctor I had been healed. He was shocked. He took x-rays and found me 100% whole, and shook my hand, and told me good bye.
Who was that man who had came to visit me that one cold morning ? I honestly believe it was one of Abba Yahweh's messengers.
All praise and honor be to Yahweh our Elohim.

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