Holding On To Your Healing
Literally thousands of people have experienced God’s healing touch in the meetings we’ve held in cities across the nation. Yet when I’ve returned to those same cities many people were there to be prayed for again. Their symptoms had returned–often manifested to an even greater degree.
The Holy Spirit, in response to the compassion of Jesus, freed them from the clutches of sickness. But in a few months they were ensnared again. Oh, how that must grieve Him!
Why does this happen? How do believers lose their healing? And what are the secrets to keeping what God gives you?
Before we look at how to hold onto your healing, there are a few things we need to get out in the open.
First, you must admit that you can lose your healing.
Many people have an attitude toward healing that says, “once healed, always healed.” If that is true, then the Bible is full of pointless admonitions.
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).
“Prove all things; hold fast which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised)” (Hebrews 10:23).
With so many warnings, it’s obvious that we can lose our healing.
Second, it’s vital that you understand that God never places a sickness on you–or puts it back on you. Sickness is the work of the devil. It’s part of the curse. Never blame God for pain and misery in your life.
Jesus says, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
“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” (Isaiah 53:5).
“By whose stripes ye were healed” (I Peter 2:24).
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil” (I John 3:8).
The Scriptures declare that God is love. What kind of a God would make people sick, then require that His only begotten Son suffer the agony of the cross so they might be healed? Jesus suffered and died to redeem us from the curse of the law and from the power of Satan.
Third, you must understand that healing is yours on the basis of God’s word. Faith is not dependent on feelings or circumstances. The Bible says, “He sent his word, and healed them” (Psalm 107:20). The manifestation may not come immediately, but know this … healing always comes to those who hold fast to their profession of faith.
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good wrok in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
Now let’s go back and look at the miracle of healing.
God demonstrates His healing power in a variety of manifestations.
Healing comes in many forms. It may be instantaneous or gradual. It may be manifested completely or appear to be only partial. It may be received sovereignly from God through the miracle gift of healing, or come in response to your own unwavering faith. It may come through your own prayers, or come through the laying on of hands. And as the Lord so often uses me, it may come through a word of deliverance spoken by one of God’s chosen vessels.
One thing if certain … no matter how healing is administered, it covers every sickness. Nothing is too big for God!
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19).
“Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases” (Psalm 103:3).
Time and again, the writers of the gospels relate how Jesus’ compassion touched all the people.
“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).
“When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils; and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick” (Matthew 8:16).
“And whethersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole” (Mark 6:56).
God’s healing power is limited only by the believer’s capacity to receive and retain it.
So if God is willing and able to heal all of our diseases, why do so many lose their healing?
Space does not allow full discussion of the many reasons for this phenomenon, but let’s look at a few of the most common ones.
1) Many who are healed are not saved. When the miracle gift of healing is in operation, many people receive a healing touch who have not yet given their hearts to the Lord. You see, the gospel is more than salvation. It’s deliverance, healing, wholeness.
The miracle seeds of healing and deliverance require “good ground” to grow in. Matthew 13:4 says, “Some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up.”
If you’re not a born-again child of God, you are fair prey for the fowls of Satan. They will rob you of your healing.
I know this articles is not about salvation, but right now, if there’s any doubt at all where you stand with God, I challenge you to pray this prayer:
“Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus’ name. I believe Jesus is the Son of God and that through His death and resurrection I have forgiveness from all my sins. Your Word says that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, and right now I’m calling on Your name. I confess Jesus right now as my Lord. I accept His forgiveness and I believe that from this moment on I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am saved!”
You may be healed even as your read this–and I want you to hang onto His miracle gift!
2) Many who are healed are ignorant of the Word. This is probably the most frequent reason for people losing their healing. Matthew 22:29 says, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.”
Baby Christians, with the child-like faith, are so receptive to God’s healing power. But because of their lack of knowledge they cannot stand against the wiles of the devil. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosesa 4:6).
Let’s look again at the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:5,6 and we can see these people described: “Some [seed] fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.”
Satan is going to come against you with every lie and symptom he can muster. He will try to make you think you’re a fool. He’ll say, “Look, can’t you see that tumor on your body? You’re not healed!”
Your answer must be, “I don’t look at my circumstances. I look only at the Word of God. And it says in I Peter 2:24 that by His stripes I was healed. If I was, then I am!”
Discovering what God’s Word says about your situation is vital to believing for your healing.
Find out what God’s Word says about your situation. Meditate that truth until you have it down deep in your spirit. Then begin quoting the Word to the devil.
John 15:7 says: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
3) Many who are healed are unable to resist the attack of the enemy. James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Don’t let the enemy even get a toehold in your life. “Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). Knowing your enemy is a giant step toward victory. And the most important thing for you to know is that Satan has no authority over you. He has power, but he can only go as far as you allow him to go. God’s Word says, “Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8). That phrase, “whom he may devour,” is so important because it places a limit on what Satan can do. Daniel knew how far the devil could go–and he walked into the lion’s den without a fear.
Remember, we are victorious. Jesus has already purchased your healing. It’s done! Now it’s up to you to stand fast against the death struggles of the enemy.
Here are two verses that you need to remember:
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 15:57).
With Jesus on your side, you’ll never lose. Victory is a gift–like salvation. You don’t have to struggle…just reach out and accept it.
4) Many who are healed fail to keep their life in line with God’s Word. God will never put sickness back on you, but when you step out from under the Word of God–when you walk away from his will–your leave yourself unprotected and vulnerable. God has given you a free will. And His protection goes only as far as His Word will allow it to go.
“He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul” (Proverbs 16:17).
5) Many who are healed fail to see themselves as being healed. When God touched you, He sees you perfectly whole–just as He sees you already seated with Him in heavenly places. Don’t let images of the unreal physical world dim your view of the spiritual realm. That’s where reality is.
“We look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:18).
6) Many who are healed fail to speak their healing with their mouths.
“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (deliverance, health)” (Romans 10:10).
Once you’ve caught the vision of perfect healing, let your mouth be filled with God’s Word that affirms your healing. Don’t argue on your own. Always let the Word of God speak for you.
You can hold onto your healing! First, be sure you know Him as your personal Savior. Second, ground yourself in His Word. Third, resist the enemy. Fourth, get your life in line with God’s will. Fifth, see yourself as healed. And sixth, begin speaking your healing with your mouth.
Hold fast to the good things of God!