It is time to get serious about healing. But instead of that, misguided Christians are making sick people feel even worse. Don’t let anybody make you feel guilty because you did not get healed!

The great apostle Paul was ill. He was a man full of faith, but he did not “claim his healing” as many try to do today. He says in Galatians 4:13-14 “…but you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I preached the gospel to you the first time; and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.”

His fellow workers also were stricken with sickness. “For indeed he (Epaphroditus) was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but also on me, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.” Philippians 2:27 Notice that God had mercy on Epaphroditus; it was not his right to be healed, but a favor from the Lord. “Trophimus I left sick in Miletus.” 2 Timothy 4:20. Paul, who worked so many miracles, did not heal Trophimus.

But today many suffering Christians are made to feel terrible by being told that they did not have enough faith for healing and that is why they are still sick. What depression this brings on a poor sick Christian!

Several people I know of, including Christian leaders who were strong on faith healing, ended up being healed by doctors – they did not receive a miraculous healing. They had the chemo or the operation or whatever and managed to get through, with God’s mercy and grace, but they were not instantly healed of disease. Some were not healed at all and they died.

Some Christians think we can demand to be healed and they will tell you: 'Healing is in the atonement.' This means that when the Lord Jesus died on the cross, He not only paid the price for all our sins (if we trust in HIm), but He bought our complete salvation - the total redemption of our body, soul and spirit.

In a way they are right - everything IS in the atonement - all the benfits of salvation that Jesus won for us were won at the cross of Calvary. But we do not live in the fullness of all those benefits yet.

For example, Ephesians 2 says that we are seated in heavenly places with Christ. But we are certainly not seated there at the moment; Jesus has left us down here to be His witnesses. But the day is coming when we WILL be seated there and in God's eyes, which see the future as clearly as the present, we are indeed already there.

One point to remember about healing is that we are all terminal. Unless Jesus comes first, we are all going to die. That is why it is so important to invite the Lord Jesus into our hearts NOW, while there is still time.

People, let’s get serious about healing. Let’s ask God for medical cures for the terrible scourges of mankind. Pick one or two of the worst diseases and start praying regularly for a medical cure which would benefit everyone, a cure that no one could suppress and that everyone could afford.

Think of the elation you would feel if you one day saw a headline: ‘Cure discovered for X (whatever disease you were praying for).’ Wow. Would you ever have a happy day that day! Would God ever get some glory as you just couldn’t stop thanking Him!

By all means pray for the sick and expect God to work in the sick person’s life in whatever way He, our sovereign God, chooses. And pray for a specific cure for that ailment or disease. Then we might really see what faith can do!