Respond to God in Faith
We need to know how to respond to God and those He uses to minister healing to us. Faith is the response we need to receive from God.
Continuing from the previous teaching on the different methods to receive healing, we see that faith must accompany receiving healing.
Even when the Gifts of Healings (1 Corinthians 12:9,11) are in operation, you still need to use your faith to reach out and take (receive) the healing through the person God has anointed, or is using as a point of contact.
Faith: The Necessary Ingredient to Receive Healing
Like bread or cakes need yeast or baking powder to rise, so healing needs faith. When released, faith activates the power of God in our lives, causing healing to come forth.
There are times when people receive without believing God. God chooses to make Himself known to them in this way, often as a sign for unbelievers. When they experience a miraculous healing, they respond by accepting Jesus as their Lord.
Personally, I believe we will see and hear of more and more people healed with the Gifts of Healings as we approach the return of Jesus.
However, rather than relying on this to receive healing, we need to learn to activate the ingredient of faith. Respond to God with faith.
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Different Responses to Jesus’ Healing Ministry
Jesus is a good example to follow. Look at how people responded to Him and how this affected their healing.
In Mark 6, we see Him ministering in his home town of Nazareth, where He grew up with His mom, dad, brothers and sisters, played with the neighbours’ children as a child Himself and did childish things.
Mark 6:1-6
:1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.
:2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!
:3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.
:4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.”
:5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
:6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
Don’t Respond with Unbelief
- Did Jesus operate under the power of the Holy Spirit as an adult?
- Were the gifts of healing working in Jesus ministry?
Definitely yes, but because the people knew Him as the carpenter and Mary and Joseph’s son, they doubted Him. They did not have faith in the works of God through Him and failed to recognise the Lord’s hand on His life and, therefore, could not receive from Him.
These people lacked confidence in His works because they did not see Him as anointed by the Father and able to heal them.
They responses to Jesus in unbelief, and this hindered them receiving from God.
No Mighty Works
The Bible says that He could not do any mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Their limited perception of Him prevented them from reaching out and taking their healing. Obviously, there must have been those who were diseased, demon possessed and with many other physical problems and disabilities, as we see people in these conditions following Jesus in the various towns and village, so that they could receive their healing.
This is an important lesson for us to learn from. How many times has the Lord brought us to a place naturally and spiritually where we can receive our needs met and yet we miss it, put obstacles in the way (like the Nazarenes) and miss our opportunities. We go away disheartened and disappointed.
It is important to understand how to respond in faith when God’s power comes our way.
The Response of Faith
At the end of the chapter, people in another town responded to Jesus in faith.
Mark 6:53-56
:53 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.
:54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him,
:55 ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.
:56 Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.
Jesus crossed over the sea of Galilee where folks recognised Him and were glad to see Him. They did not question or doubt Him, but received and honoured Him as sent by God.
These people knew Jesus was anointed by God, so, wherever He went, they brought the sick to Him, laid them down and begged to touch His clothes.
Simple, Uncomplicated Faith
In those days, the market place was not merely a place where people bought and sold goods, fresh produce and livestock. It was a place of meeting.
When Jesus passed by, sick people were placed in the marketplaces, either on stretchers or laid on the ground. It must have looked chaotic. But, what joy, dancing and shouting as people received when they touched the hem of his garment.
A stark contrast to what took place in Nazareth.
These people had faith to touch Jesus’ clothes. They reached out and took their healing.
There was no questioning or doubting, as in the previous account where the people held back because of faulty beliefs, so could not and did not want to receive.
Respond Right Today
In the same way, unbelief, doubting God, not receiving the vessel God uses to bring healing, or lack of appreciation and respect for His provision for us, will rob us of our healing. We need to guard our hearts and keep them open.
Have the right, Biblical response to those that God anoints with His healing power. Respond to the Lord with faith, rather than unbelief, if you want to receive from Him.