1 Faith And Healing

Pastor Larry C Cobb

Redeeming Light Ministries

Houston, Texas

What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith. ( Hebrews 11:1-2 ) The word also tells us in Hebrews 11:6 that no one can please God without faith. Whoever goes to God must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who diligently seek him. James 2:26 says, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Faith without works cannot be called faith. Faith without works is dead, and a dead faith is worse than no faith at all. Faith must work; it must produce; it must be visible. Verbal faith is not enough; mental faith is insufficient. Faith must be there, but it must be more. It must inspire action. We see in Matthew 15: 22-28 the faith of a Canaanite woman. A Canaanite woman from that territory came to him and began to shout, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. Then his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away. She keeps shouting behind us.” Jesus responded, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.” She came to him, bowed down, and said, “Lord, help me!” Jesus replied, “It’s not right to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “You’re right, Lord, but even the dogs eat scraps that fall from their master's table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, you have strong faith! What you wanted will be done for you.” At that moment her daughter was cured.

This woman believed that Jesus was able to help her, and do everything she needed to heal her daughter. She did not allow anything to get in her way, The disciples came to Jesus and urged him to send her away. “She keeps shouting behind us.” But she kept coming to Jesus, bowed down, and saying, “Lord, help me!” This woman did not give up. No matter what was said this woman kept on crying out to Jesus and worshiping him. When Jesus saw her faith, he replied and said, “Woman, you have strong faith.” God must see your faith; this is how you get the things you ask God for. If you don't give up, God will show up.

2

The word tells us faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ( Roman 10: 17 ) The Scriptures say, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ( Matthew 4: 4 ) This is why we should watch over our words, so that we wont give place to the devil. We must be like Jesus. He only says, what his Father says. The word tells us we were healed by the stripes of Jesus, but the devil brings symptoms to make us think we are sick. Sickness is persecution from the devil. Never help the devil with your words. When we help the devil with our words, it will always hurt us. So when we claim sickness, we can really become sick. Satan has no power over you, unless you give it to him.

If you are in need of healing, you must allow the Holy Spirit to impart faith into your heart everyday by speaking the word of God over yourself. Proverbs 4: 20-22 says, 'My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.' God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent. He doesn’t change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it. ( Numbers 23: 19 ) Psalm 107: 19 – 20 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. 2 Corinthians 1: 20 says, God has made a great many promises. They are all “Yes” because of what Christ has done. So through Christ we say “Amen.” We want God to receive glory.

Hear are some Scriptures that will help you build your faith.

Romans 8: 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal ( natural, earthly ) bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. This scripture is talking about your body that you have now, not the one you're going to receive one day when you see Jesus. Place your faith in his word. Begin to praise Him for his promises.

1 John 5: 14 – 15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. The word of God is the will of God. Whatever you see in the word of God, then you can be assured that it is the will of God.

3

We must learn to use the power and authority, that the Lord has given to us, not only to come against sickness and disease, but to also overcome doubt and oppression that may be harassing us. Jesus tells us in Mark 11: 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, 'Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.' We must not be afraid to speak to the mountain that Satan has put into our live. Lay hands on yourself and command sickness to leave,command your body to line up with the word of God. Tell doubt and unbelief to go in the name of Jesus! You are a believer and not a doubter. Luke 9: 1 says, Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. You might say, but that was to the disciples. Romans 2: 11 says, For God does not show favoritism. God treats everyone the same. Mark 16: 17 – 18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

2 Timothy 2: 15 says, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. ( Galatians 6:9 )

Psalms 103:2 – 4 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases ; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Isaiah 53: 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

4

Healing is yours. All God's children are healed by the stripes of Jesus. The devil is the author of sickness, disease, and death. Jesus came that we might have life. There is no record of Jesus making people sick. He made them well in every case. Acts 10: 38 tells us, Jesus went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil. The devil tries to tell us that God is the one making us sick but that is a lie. He tries to tell us that God is making us sick to teach us a lesson. That is obviously not the case, because if it were we would all be geniuses in the things of God, because we have all been sick. If being sick was an advantage to God then why would he allow those stripes on Jesus to pay for our healing. The truth is that being well is an advantage to God. It shows the world that He has provided a full salvation for his children. That means everything we need.

Faith endures trials. Trials come and go, but a strong faith will face them head-on and develop endurance. Faith understands temptations. It will not allow us to consent to our lust and slide into sin. Faith obeys the word. It will not merely hear and not do. Faith produces doers.

Today, if you are in need of healing, it is of utmost importance that you make God's word the final authority in your life. You must become convinced in your heart, knowing clearly from the scriptures that healing is a purchased possession for you. Make up your mind that you will not settle for anything less.

Jesus said, “ If you can believe, all things are possible to him that believes. ( Mark 9: 23 ) Satan works overtime trying to get you not to believe these wonderful promises. He uses family members and friends and anyone he can to come between you and God's will. We have to resist the devil with the spoken word of God. When we do that, the devil will flee.

Satan cannot operate in you in the absence of fear. God will not operate in you in the absence of faith. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God, not the word of tradition. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord because he believed God. Believing God made him look foolish to the rest of the world. It found him constructing an ark when there was no water to float it. Faith believes the word of God no matter what.