"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people." Matthew 4:23.

"Jesus was teaching, preaching, and healing. These were the three main aspects of his ministry. Teaching shows Jesus' concern for understanding; preaching shows his concern for commitment, and healing shows his concern for wholeness. His miracles of healing authenticated his teaching and preaching, showing that he truly was from God. Jesus preached the Gospel - the good news - to everyone who wanted to hear it. The Gospel is that the Kingdom of heaven has come, that God is with us, and that he cares for us. He can heal us, not just of physical sickness, but of spiritual sickness as well. There's no sin or problem too great or too small for him to handle. Jesus' words were good news because they offered freedom, hope, peace of heart, and eternal life with God." - Life Application Bible, p. 1560.

"When the even was come, they brought unto him [Jesus] many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." Matthew 8:16, 17.

"Matthew continues to show Jesus' kingly nature. Through a single touch, he heals (8:3, 15); when he speaks a single word, evil spirits flee his presence (8:16). Jesus has authority over all evil powers and all earthly disease. He also has power and authority to conquer sin. Sickness and evil are consequences of living in a fallen world. But in the future, when God cleanses the earth from sin, there will be no more sickness and death. Jesus' healing miracles were a taste of what the whole world will one day experience in God's Kingdom." - Life Application Bible, p. 1573.

"And the whole multitude sought to touch him [Jesus]: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all". Luke 6:19.

"Once Jesus' healing power became known, crowds gathered just to touch him. For many, he had become a symbol of good fortune, a lucky charm, or a magician. Instead of desiring God's pardon and love, they only wanted physical healing or a chance to see spectacular events. Some people still see God as a cosmic magician and prayer as a way to get him to do his tricks. But God is not a magician - he is the Master. Prayer is not a way for us to control him; it is a way for us to put ourselves under his control." - Life Application Bible, p. 1726.

"And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." Luke 8:46-49.

"Many people surrounded Jesus as he made his way toward Jairus's house. It was virtually impossible to get through the multitude, but one woman fought her way desperately through the crowd in order to touch Jesus. As soon as she did so, she was healed. What a difference between the crowds that are curious about Jesus and the few that reach out and touch him! Many people are vaguely familiar with him, but nothing in their lives is changed or bettered by this slight acquaintance. It is only faith that releases God's healing power. Are you just curious about God, or do you reach out to him in faith, knowing that his mercy will bring healing to your body, soul, and spirit?" - Life Application Bible, p. 1736.

"The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.... When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed. Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel....And Jesus said unto the centurion; Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour." Matthew 8:8-13.

"A centurion was a career military officer in the Roman army with control over 100 soldiers. Roman soldiers, of all people, were hated by the Jews for their oppression, control, and ridicule. Yet this man's genuine faith amazed Jesus! This hated Gentile's faith put to shame the stagnant piety of many of the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus told the crowd that many religious Jews who should be in the Kingdom would be excluded because of their lack of faith. Entrenched in their religious traditions, they could not accept Christ and his new message. We must be careful not to become so set in our religious habits that we expect God to work only in specified ways. Don't limit God by your mindset and lack of faith." - Life Application Bible, p. 1572.

Disciples Ministry of Healing

"And they [disciples] departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where." Luke 9:6.

Blessings of Health

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." 3 John 1:2.

"John was concerned for Gaius's physical and spiritual well-being. This was in direct contrast to the popular heresy of the day that taught the separation of spirit and matter and despised the physical side of life. Still today, many people fall into this way of thinking. This non-Christian attitude logically leads to one of two responses; neglect of the body and physical health, or indulgence of the body's sinful desires. God is concerned for both your body and your soul. As responsible Christians, we should neither neglect nor indulge ourselves, but care for our physical needs and discipline our bodies so we are at our best for God's service." - Life Application Bible, p. 2228.

"Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward." Isaiah 58:8.

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24.

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Psalm 43:5.

"...The tongue of the wise is health." Proverbs 12:18.

Bonus To Obedience

"My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh." Proverbs 4:20-22.

"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." Malachi 4:2.

Receiving God's Gift Of Healing

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise." Jeremiah 17:14.

"Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." James 5:15.

" 'And the prayer of faith,' does not refer to the faith of the sick person, but to the faith of the church. God heals, faith doesn't, and all prayers are subject to God's will. But our prayers are part of God's healing process. That is why God often waits for our prayers of faith before intervening to heal a person." - Life Application Bible, p. 2191.

Thoughts To Ponder

The power of God's healing blessing (benefit) can be claimed only where the Will Of God is known (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Therefore, bringing ourselves into a right relationship to God's Known Will, as being right with Him, is of ultimate consequence. God's promises are only to the obedient who wills to delight themselves in the Lord as that is the initiation upon which He gives the desires of the heart (Psalm 37:4).

The blessing (benefit) of being right with God could be more numerously desirable and many times of an immense consolation than of a desired physical healing (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Job knew he was right with His Creator even though everything about Him physically was not, and his so-called friends conjectured Job's torments were from God and not from Satanic influences.

It is good to keep in mind that nothing matters as much as when God is in all that matters. Also, what comes around, goes around; but coming spiritually rounded and truthfully grounded sets the foundation of righteousness wherein everything necessary for a more abundant life is added. Providence is where God 'shows up' in our ignorance of Him, and is present in our circumstances in genuine meaningfulness and resourcefulness.

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