What? Jesus had to follow rules?! Yup. That's how God set it up.
Just like He set up rules of gravity,
mathematics, and physics, He made rules for relationships and spirituality - to keep the world running smoothly.
Just like gravity, we break the rules at our own risk. Not to punish us, but to keep us safe and healthy.
Jesus asked some form of each of these questions in one or more of the examples of healing that He ministered in the gospels. Of the blind man in Luke 18 He asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Seeing that he was convinced that He could heal, He assured the leper in Luke 5 that He was also willing to heal. In John chapter 5, Jesus asked the man by the Pool of Bethesda if he wanted to get well.
In some cases the Holy Spirit revealed to Jesus that the person’s answer was ‘Yes! Yes! Yes! And Yes!” to all four questions, so their faith was already at the point to receive healing. In the example of the paralytic brought by his four friends and let down through a hole in the roof, it was obvious that they believed that He could (else they would not have come to the meeting), and that He would (else they would not have forced their way into His presence), and that the man desired release from his malady (or he would not have tolerated being hauled about the town), so Jesus went ahead and ministered healing to him. But unless the Spirit reveals similar answers before the questions are asked, it will be appropriate for us to actually ask the questions.
If Jesus, himself, found the answers
to these questions important enough to ask for them and to note in the gospels, we should pay attention, and follow His example.
As for the hierarchy of jurisdictions, parents have the authority to answer for their children in spiritual matters up until the child understands the meaning of these concepts. In similar fashion, a spouse has authority to answer for their incapacitated ‘other half’, a boss has limited authority in some areas of life for an employee, a pastor for parishioners, and so on. The jurisdictions among various relationships go back to hierarchies established by God in the Old Testament. In answering the four questions, jurisdictional authority is honored.
There are times, too, when authority may be temporarily bestowed
upon a person who desires to minister on behalf of others.
If a parent does not feel qualified to minister healing to a child, they may verbally authorize another to minister in their place. These are spiritual legalities that must be observed in order for us to be effective in ministering healing in our sphere of influence.
So what of us in our circle of influence? I can only offer you what I am intending to move toward in my life. I intend to continue digging into His word, both for knowledge on how healing is accomplished, and to build my own faith in ministering and receiving healing.
I intend to move more and more in the direction of boldness in going beyond the already powerful healing offered in Chiropractic and in modern medicine, and to offer healing in the name of Jesus Christ.
Let’s summarize some key principles that are indicated in scripture to make offering healing effective:
- Lines of authority and jurisdiction must be honored. Ask the four questions.
- If the questions reveal a lack of either knowledge or faith, STOP. Deal with the hindrances to healing before going on.
- Offer healing in the name of Jesus Christ. This is important, so that no confusion rises as to the source of the healing.
- Offer healing in faith, knowing that what God has promised, He will perform.
- Offer healing audibly. Again, the spoken word is powerful in spiritual matters.
- Offer healing at the leading of the Holy Spirit. Only by their answers to the four questions, and by this leading, can we know the state of the patient’s faith. How else can we know that their faith is strong enough to receive the healing that is offered?
- Offer follow-up for the patient’s continued growth and health. Satan hates to lose battles and will seek to take back what was lost in the healing. He will not give up seeking to steal their health back, to destroy their health, or to outright kill.
- With spiritual discernment, teach people the things of faith. For with hearing the Word of God, faith is built – both for salvation and for healing.
Touching and healing.
I am excited to more boldly step out into this arena of my life. Where will it lead? I trust and expect to see greater fruit, a stronger witness, and a larger investment in the kingdom of God.
Another excerpt from my book "The Rest of The Gospel"
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