Limitations to Healing
Post-modern day beliefs which run contrary to the Gospel prevent people from receiving healing from God.
It’s difficult to imagine but it’s true that many who walk through the church doors each week believe that miracles ended in the first century--after the ministry of Jesus and his early disciples. That false doctrine is propagated by several--but not all--mainline denominations. If I may borrow a phrase from popular Bible teacher, Joyce Meyer, I’d have to say that this is “stinkin’ thinkin’.”
Others believe in God’s miracles but don’t understand that sin can limit healing and miracles. Another limiting factor is that some Christians assume that salvation takes care of all the issues and consequences they had prior to salvation.
So, if everything is taken care of at salvation, then why would Paul write in Romans 12:2 that “we will be transformed by the renewing of our mind”—a process more than a single event?
F. F. Bosworth, a powerful evangelist through whom God had bestowed a great number of healings during the course of his long ministry, certainly believed that sin restricted healing. Read several quotes from his book which was first printed in 1924:
“Many people miss healing by trying to confine God to miracles.”
- F. F. Bosworth, Christ the Healer, pg. 95
“After we hear the Gospel, and know what it offers, Jesus says Repent and believe the Gospel. Only those who are right with God can follow these instructions. When seeking healing for our bodies there should be no compromise with the Adversary of our souls, because it is he who is the author of our diseases. Jesus may but He has not promised to, destroy the works of the devil in our bodies while we are clinging to the work of the devil in our souls. It is hard to exercise faith for the removal of one part of the devil’s work while we allow a worse part to remain. Until a man squarely faces and settles the question of obedience to God, he is not on believing ground. James says, confess your faults to one and another…that you may be healed. It is God’s will that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as thy soul prosperth. If I regarded iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me.”
- F. F. Bosworth, Christ the Healer, pg 85-86
There are specific diseases mentioned in the Bible that are the result of sin (disobedience to God’s Commands).
Deuteronomy 28:1 (NLT) “If you fully obey the LORD your God by keeping all the commands I am giving you today, the LORD your God will exalt you above all the nations of the world.
Deuteronomy 28:15 (NLT) “But if you refuse to listen to the LORD your God and do not obey all the commands and laws I am giving you today, all these curses will come and overwhelm you:
Deuteronomy 28:20 (NLT) “The LORD himself will send against you curses, confusion, and disillusionment… 22 The LORD will strike you with wasting disease, fever, and inflammation…27 “The LORD will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, scurvy, and the itch, from which you cannot be cured.
28 The LORD will strike you with madness, blindness, and panic.
Very current medical science research also points to sin as being the culprit to much disease. It has been thought that our faulty genes that we inherit from mom and dad, was the cause of much disease. A new field of study, called epigenetic or epigenome is changing these long held thought that disease is largely controlled by an unchangeable gene code. Scientist has since discovered that our environment can change the expression of a gene leading to disease. In fact, it has been found that the altered gene can be inherited three to four generations. This idea is collaborated in Bible scripture. More on this in a moment—because the effects of a generation curse can be stopped and reversed!
The ACE Study (www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/ace) found that adverse child experiences (ACE) leads to disease and negative social consequences mentally, emotionally, and socially. The memories of abuse, neglect, and abandonment don’t resolve themselves. These are devastating events which result in beliefs connected to emotions of anger, fear, shame, guilt, and other negative paradigms and emotions which reside in the memories.
While childhood experiences are more tragic, adult experiences can also cause great difficulty in a person’s life. Rejection and abandonment (including the death of a loved one) or traumatic experiences that result in post traumatic stress are examples.
Unforgiven anger and fear in these memories corrupt the thinking and paradigms of a person. The reason: what we believe is the substance of our thinking! What we believe directly affects how we react to our present situations.
Titus 1:15 (NLT) Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are defiled.
God’s command regarding anger, for example, is very clear. Paul writes in Ephesians 4:26: “… don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,” Anger is just one of the things that can corrupt the mind and defile the heart.
So, in receiving God’s healing, these three areas need to be examined:
- Stinkin’ thinkin’
- God’s requirements of transformation following salvation
- Sin
Each of these roadblocks to healing can be removed as our mind is renewed in obedience to God’s Word. Briefly, here’s the way to do it:
1. Remove stinkin’ thinkin’ by getting your mind on God’s truth and deal with issues head on (such as anger, fear, unforgiveness, etc.). All the while, allow God to renew your mind with His Word—replacing our error with His truth.
2. Our point of salvation isn’t the end! But rather, our coming to Christ is the beginning of our new life where transformation and sanctification (cleansing) is ongoing. Old consequences and issues from our former life may still have a hold on us. So, it’s important to understand that transformation and freedom come both instantaneously and progressively as we surrender more of our life to Christ.
3. Regarding sin, when we come to Christ our past and present sin is taken away. Yet, as the Holy Spirit reveals specific sins, even from before our point of salvation, He is requiring our repentance to allow our heart and mind to be cleansed of all unrighteousness. It is not God’s will for us to remain in sin and disobedience to Him. If and when we sin after coming to Christ, we must still confess and repent of that sin for “God is faithful and just to forgive us of sin” according to James 1:9.
Now that these limitations to healing have been revealed and ways to overcome the roadblocks have been discussed, I encourage you to take action.
Many who go to church don’t want to acknowledge that unconfessed sin may be the reason for continued affliction. What happens next is people bypass their spiritual responsibilities. Instead they ask for prayer, get their name on the prayer list, request miracle healing, and pray that God will guide the doctors. While these are good things to do, they are not getting to the heart of the issue if we are ignoring the possibility that we may have unconfessed sin and disobedience to God.
A right relationship with God is the first key to eliminating roadblocks and limitations to healing. Check your spiritual pulse first and be open to God’s Word and guidance by the Holy Spirit.
Mark 4:22 “Everything that is now hidden or secret will eventually be brought to the light.”
Authors’ Note: Christ the Healer is still in circulation and on Kindle; I highly recommend the book to all who desire healing.
Neil Elmer is author of the book PreScriptures for Life: A Believer's Guide to Praying Scripture. His ministry helps people achieve peace in life and be set free from the bondages of sin and oppression.
PreScriptures for Life
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