Healing:crusead The Imitation

Healing In God's Plan

When we begin any ministry, we should first seek God's vision for the ministry because "without vision, the people perish" (Prv 29:18, KJV). We must see the big picture to know how we fit in. The following seven truths are part of the Father's plan for the healing ministry:

1. Healing is to accompany the proclamation of God's word and lead people to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior (Mk 16:17-18). What shall it profit a man to gain perfect physical health, but lose his soul? (see Lk 9:25) What good is it to be the healthiest person in hell? One of the Greek words for "healing" means "salvation." Jeremiah prays:

"Heal me, Lord, that I may be healed; save me, that I may be saved" (Jer 17:14).

2. Healing is a sign of God's kingdom (Matthew 10:7-8). It rallies, restores and empowers believers to build the kingdom.

3. Our heavenly Father loves His children and wants them healed. His principal motivation for healing is love.

4. Healers are to raise up and disciple other healers. The Lord wants hundreds of millions of people in this ministry.

5. Jesus heals the whole person. He wants us healed in every way — physically, mentally, psychologically, sexually and spiritually.

6. Jesus heals by families (see Ex 20:5-6). He not only sees us as individuals but as community. "If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it" (1 Cor 12:26).

7. God the Father has authorized only one healing ministry, that of His Son. Jesus continues to heal today through us, His body. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb 13:8). We should not start our own healing ministry but join the healing ministry of Jesus.

B. The Imitation Of Christ As Healer

Because Jesus has the only legitimate healing ministry, we equip Christians to heal by teaching them to imitate Christ. Jesus equipped the apostles to heal by taking them on tour with Him. They saw Him healing in many circumstances (see Mt, Chapters 8 and 9). Then Jesus sent them out with authority to heal as He healed (Mt 10:1). They simply imitated Jesus. For example, when Peter raised Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts 9:40), he made the mourners leave the room where the body was, just as Jesus had done when He raised the daughter of Jairus (Mk 5:40). Then Peter commanded Tabitha to get up; Jesus said "Talitha, get up." Peter only had to change the "l" to a "b." Healing is "the imitation of Christ."