We believe that it is the Lord’s will to heal all who come to Him and ask for healing—in Jesus’ name. This belief is supported through scripture. There may, however, be hindrances in the body of the church today which block the healing of both our bodies and our spirits.
Use the following information as a checklist to review possible options as to why you may not be experiencing healing. Pray, first, that God will reveal to you any areas noted below (or perhaps others not listed) that are limiting the blessings of healing in your life.
Our image of God may not be one of a loving, forgiving Father. We, therefore, don’t think or believe we deserve His healing or His answer to prayer. We are not sure it’s acceptable to seek God’s blessings.
We don’t know (within our heart) that Christ’s Atonement has provided for our sicknesses and our sins (Is. 53).
We have a lack of knowledge. “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6)—knowledge with reference to:
- how to pray
- which prayer to use
- the works of the powers of darkness
- the need for emotional healing
- the healing gifts of the Spirit
- We have unconfessed sin in our life (Jas. 5:16, Ps. 66:18).
- We have unforgiveness toward others (Mat. 5:23-25, 6:14-15 and 18:34-35; Job 42:10-13).
- The sins of others—against us—require inner healing for our woundedness and our memories.
- We experience false diagnosis therefore, pray for the wrong kind of healing. We may be praying for an infirmity (John 5:5) when it is the spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11-12) that plagues us. Likewise, we pray for healing of our symptoms and not for the root problem (for example, praying for a headache rather than the deeper problem(s), typically dealing with the influences of the occult).
- We experience insufficient faith or unbelief, rationalism, skepticism, or doubt (Mat. 8:26, 14:31, 16:8 and 17:19-20; Mark 6:5-6, Luke 16:19-31).
- We experience insufficient power (Luke 24:49).
- We experience insufficient preparation (our situation may need prayer and fasting as identified in Mat. 17:21).
- We offer insufficient thankfulness (Ps. 149:5-9, regarding the law of gratitude).
- We experience the negative confession of our mouths, through complaining and murmuring (Num. 21:4-5, Ps. 78:18-20 and 32-33; Prov. 12:14 and 18, 15:4 and 18:20-21; refer also to the section on “Healing Your Tongue”).
- We are under a curse (Deut. 28:45-46; refer to the section on “Healing from Curses”).
- We unknowingly are under the influences of generational sin (Ex. 20:5; refer also to the section on “Healing from Generational Influences”).
- We think (believe) it is God’s will for us to be sick (identified as “redemptive suffering”).
- We may be trying to dictate to God “how” He should heal us. We may feel He will not heal us directly, or we may become impatient and rush to the medical profession for help with-out first asking for God to heal us.
- We focus on the “instrument” of healing which God uses (for example, an intercessor) more than on God Himself.
- We are lukewarm about our relationship with Christ—”I would thou wert cold or hot” (Rev. 3:15). Remember that God is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him.
- Healing takes time. Most seekers want an immediate miracle and confine God (selectively) to miracles.
- Some wax (grow) weak in the faith by watching (and focusing on) their symptoms. These individuals make their “feelings” the basis for faith rather than trusting in God’s Word.
- Poor stewardship in diet and/or health habits can impede God’s healing power (for ex-ample, obesity, lack of exercise, etc.).
- We choose to believe the doctor’s confirmation more than we believe God’s ability and desire to heal.
- Healing, though promised, revealed, and confirmed in scripture, is (regrettably) not generally sought out and accepted within the church fellowship. We are quick to accept the judgment of doctors without considering God’s will in our evaluation.
- We don’t remember to depend upon God’s previous blessings (Ps. 78:41).
- Anxiety, fear, and worry impede the process (Mat. 6:25-34, Phil. 4:6).
- Pride interferes (2 Ki. 5:10-11). We think, “We can do it ourselves.”
- We may insist God heal us directly and, therefore, refuse to enlist medical help. In doing so we exhibit a religious spirit and attitude (Mat. 11:16-17, Luke 11:54, 2 Tim. 3:5); we are not open to God’s will in the possible use of other natural means of healing—through medicines and/or doctors. We only want God to miraculously heal us.
- We exhibit the wrong motive(s) (John 6:26, Jas. 4:3, 1 John 5:14-15); we want healing for the wrong reason(s).
- We exhibit ungodly attitudes toward church leaders or toward a church organization (Num. 16:1-3 and 31-33, 12:1-2 and 9-10).
- We have a “hardened heart” (Ezek. 12:1-2, Mark 8:15-18, Ps. 78:8-11, Heb. 3:8-11).
- We ignore God’s efforts to get our attention; we refuse conviction.
- We forget the poor (Prov. 21:13, Is. 58:7-8) and “rob God” (Mal. 3:8). It is well-known among those who preach and teach on receiving God’s provision that giving alms to the poor is required in order to receive the blessings of provision: “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4; see vs. 1-4). It is little known or seldom understood that giving alms to the poor also impacts the blessings we seek for healing.
- We are angry or upset with God because He has not healed us already.
Resources
Henry W. Wright in his book A More Excellent Way, (2003) ISBN 0-9678059-2-9 lists 33 roadblocks to health and healing. Pp 242-296 which are quite good.
Peter Horrbin, Healing through Deliverance, 2008 Chapter 23 (pp 486-487)
ISBN 978 0 8007 9451 4