Divine healing refers to the supernatural healing of physical and mental illnesses, injuries, and disabilities through the power of God. While medicine and science have made incredible advances, divine healing operates outside the bounds of human capability and natural law. The Bible contains many examples and promises of God’s ability to heal miraculously.
Divine healing is often associated with the theological term “charism”, referring to gifts of grace bestowed by the Holy Spirit. The gift of healing is listed among the charisms in 1 Corinthians 12:9. Through this gift, Christians pray for God to intervene with supernatural healing. However, divine healing is not limited to those with this spiritual gift. The Bible instructs all believers to pray for healing for one another (James 5:14-16).
The Source of Divine Healing
Divine healing originates from God. The book of Psalms declares numerous times that God is the healer of our diseases and injuries (Psalm 103:2-3; 147:3). As the author of life, God has the power to mend physical bodies. Sickness is a result of living in a fallen, sinful world, but one day God will completely abolish suffering and illness (Revelation 21:4).
Jesus Christ demonstrated the scope of divine healing during His earthly ministry. He healed every kind of sickness and disability (Matthew 4:23). His compassion moved Him to heal all who came to Him in faith. Peter declared to the crowds at Pentecost that Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (Acts 10:38). The healing works of Jesus were a sign that the kingdom of God had come (Matthew 12:28).
After Christ’s ascension, His followers continued healing the sick through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Acts 3:1-10; 5:12-16; 9:32-35). God confirmed the preaching of the gospel with signs and wonders. Healing served as a means for spreading the gospel in the early church.
Therefore, divine healing originates from God the Father, is displayed through Jesus Christ, and is imparted to believers by the Holy Spirit. Healing comes through faith in God’s grace, power and sovereignty.
Purposes of Divine Healing
There are several important purposes behind divine healing:
- Manifestation of God’s love – Healing demonstrates God’s kindness, compassion and desire to alleviate suffering (Psalm 103:2-3; Matthew 14:14). It reveals His heart to restore and renew.
- Authentication of the gospel message – Healing legitimizes the preaching of the gospel by confirming it with signs and wonders (Acts 4:29-30; Romans 15:18-19; Hebrews 2:3-4).
- Defeat of the devil – Healing overcomes the works of Satan, displaying Christ’s victory over evil (Acts 10:38; 1 John 3:8).
- Foretaste of eternal life – Healing provides a glimpse of the perfect health that will one day pervade God’s eternal kingdom with no more pain, tears or death (Revelation 21:4; 22:1-3).
- Spiritual wholeness – Physical healing can lead to spiritual wholeness and restoration of relationship with God (Isaiah 53:4-5; 1 Peter 2:24).
- Glory to God – Healing magnifies God’s name, bringing Him praise, honor, and awe (Matthew 15:30-31; Acts 4:21; 1 Peter 2:9).
Means of Divine Healing
How does God impart divine healing? The Bible points to several means God uses to miraculously heal people:
Prayer of Faith
God often heals in response to prayer that is offered in faith, fully trusting in His will and power. Faith plays a key role in receiving healing from the Lord (Matthew 9:22; Mark 11:24; James 5:15). Jesus tied the effectiveness of healing prayer to faith, telling His followers “all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23).
Prayer can be combined with anointing with oil, the laying on of hands, and confession of sins (Mark 6:13; James 5:14-16). God hears the earnest prayers of the righteous (James 5:16) and acts according to His divine wisdom. Sometimes the answer is immediate and obvious. Other times healing comes gradually or through medical assistance. Regardless of the timing, divine healing is an act of God’s grace.
Healing Evangelists
Some evangelists and ministers seem to exhibit a heightened level of gifts of healing (1 Corinthians 12:28-30). The ministries of many prominent healing evangelists – like Smith Wigglesworth, Aimee Semple McPherson, and Oral Roberts – were marked by extraordinary healings that helped validate their preaching. God uses these individuals in strategic times and places to manifest healings that draw whole communities to the gospel.
Holy Spirit Empowerment
Divine healing can come through the power of the Holy Spirit, even absent a specific prayer request. The Spirit gives gifts of healing and works miracles according to His sovereign will (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). As believers walk in faith and offer compassion to the sick, the Spirit brings healing through them – sometimes without them even realizing it.
Healing by Jesus
The Bible records several instances where Jesus healed people from a distance without being in their physical presence (Matthew 8:13; Luke 7:1-10; John 4:46-54). Healing emanates from His divine authority and power which are not hindered by location or circumstance. Christ still hears and answers prayers today, even across great distances.
Word of God
The word of God is a spiritual agent that often produces healing effects. Scripture speaks of God sending His word to heal (Psalm 107:20). His living word brings life and health (Proverbs 4:20-22). As people pray God’s words back to Him, healing can manifest through the power of His word.
Types of Healing
Divine healing takes on many forms. Some examples seen throughout Scripture and church history include:
- Physical injuries (Genesis 50:2-3; Acts 3:1-10)
- Debilitating diseases (2 Kings 5:8-14; Mark 1:40-42)
- Mental disorders (Daniel 4:28-36; Mark 5:1-20)
- Birth defects (John 9:1-7)
- Resurrection from the dead (1 Kings 17:17-24; Acts 9:36-43)
- Creation of body parts (Judges 3:15-30; Luke 22:49-51)
- Renewal of youth (Genesis 18:10-14; Psalm 103:5)
- Complete healings (John 5:1-9; Acts 3:1-10)
- Gradual healings (Mark 8:22-25; John 4:46-54)
No illness, injury, or disability is too difficult for the Lord. He reminds us that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).
Divine Healing and Medicine
Does divine healing rule out medical intervention? Sometimes God heals supernaturally without any medical aid. But at other times, He works through doctors, medicine, therapy, and surgery to cure illness and repair injuries. In the Bible, Luke is called the “beloved physician” (Colossians 4:14) and is credited with helping to restore Paul’s health (2 Timothy 4:11).
God gave humans the ability to treat and heal through medical knowledge. He can work in cooperation with doctors instead of isolation from medicine. Divine healing and medicine do not have to conflict with one another. Wisdom and discernment are needed to properly balance the two approaches.
However, medicine has limits. In some cases, conditions do not respond to treatment or progressively worsen. Prayer for supernatural intervention is the only hope. God is not limited in power or solutions. He can accomplish what medical science cannot.
Hindrances to Divine Healing
If God is willing and able to heal, why do some people go without healing? Scripture warns that certain attitudes and behaviors can obstruct divine healing:
- Unconfessed sin – Holding onto sin can block healing. Repentance and confession of sin open the way for God’s grace (Isaiah 59:2; James 5:16).
- Unforgiveness – Refusing to forgive others hinders healing. Letting go of bitterness allows God’s healing (Mark 11:25; Matthew 6:14-15).
- Neglect of spiritual gifts – Ignoring gifts of healing can prevent their operation. Using them fosters divine healing (1 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Timothy 4:14).
- Lack of faith – Doubting God’s ability or willingness to heal restricts His healing work. Faith is key to receiving (Matthew 13:58; Hebrews 11:6).
- Not asking – God wishes to heal, but since He respects free will, we must ask for healing. Failure to pray can close the door (James 4:2).
- Not checking root causes – Sickness can sometimes point to spiritual issues needing attention and cleansing.
Along with these hindrances, divine timing also plays a role. We only see dimly, but God has full wisdom regarding when healing should manifest.
Key Principles about Divine Healing
In summary, some key biblical principles about divine healing include:
- God is able to heal anyone, at any time, of any sickness.
- Complete healing glorifies God the most, but gradual healing also displays His goodness.
- God works healing differently in each situation according to His divine purposes.
- Not everyone is healed or healed instantly. Lack of healing does not mean lack of faith.
- Healing can involve eliminating disease symptoms or providing the strength to endure them.
- Prayer for healing must align with God’s sovereign will: “Your will be done.”
- Healing is not always permanent in this life. Overall complete healing awaits eternity.
- Medicine has a place in God’s healing work, but prayer should be the priority.
- Inner emotional hurts are just as in need of divine healing as physical ailments.
- The grace of God can sustain and strengthen even when healing seems distant.
Divine Healing and Eternity
In this fallen world, sickness and suffering persist, but divine healing offers hope of renewal amid brokenness. Yet full deliverance from all effects of sin awaits eternity. Scripture promises that one day in the new creation God “will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
Sickness only exists because sin corrupted God’s perfect world. But God promises to completely restore the perfection of His original creation design. Disease, injury, disability, aging, and death will all cease forever. God “will swallow up death forever” and will “wipe away tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8). Until that wonderful day, believers find hope in divine healing which offers a foretaste of that eternal healing.
Divine healing serves as a reminder that God cares deeply and desires to restore wholeness. It displays His goodness and compassion. Most importantly, it points forward to the hope of eternity when all will be made new under Christ’s reign.
