The Meal That Heals

Biblical Methods Of Healing

unanswered, so do numerous questions, such as “Why hasn’t the Lord answered my prayer?” At times, mens’ prayers can fail. For example, in 2 Kings 4:28- 35, Elisha told his servant Gehazi to lay his rod upon a dead child and God would heal the lad. Gehazi followed the instructions, but there were no results. The child remained dead. Finally, Elisha lay his body over the cold corpse and life entered the boy. Why were there no results in the actions of Gehazi? If we read the chapter that follows, we find that Gehazi’s heart was not pure before God. He had lied and become greedy (2 Kings 5:20 27). At times, prayers may be hindered not because of our lack of faith, but because there are spiritual roadblocks in the lives of those who are attempting to minister to us. Of course, there are other reasons why a person may seek healing through prayer and not receive an immediate response. One minister experienced a terrible physical trauma that left him about eighty percent paralyzed. After praying a few times and asking God to touch him, a close minister friend said, “This incident has certainly changed my theological views about healing in the atonement. It is clear that God won’t heal everyone.” Although sincere, this minister was basing his theology upon a personal experience and not upon the revelation of the atonement. It would be like saying, “Many people who attend church in America are not born again; therefore, salvation must not be a free gift for everyone.” Salvation is a provision in the covenant. The grace of God does not cease to work just because some people do not accept it. The gift of salvation means nothing to people until they accept the gift by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and allowing salvation to change their hearts. In like manner, we should not judge the provisions in the Covenant based upon the lack of immediate results from a prayer that was prayed. Even Jesus had to pray twice for a blind man (Mark 8:23-25). Also, God will never go beyond a person’s free will to answer a prayer. In 1981, I recall a Christian woman who was diagnosed with cancer. The church began to pray for her recovery. As I was in prayer, the Holy Spirit impressed me that the woman had asked the Lord to take her on to heaven. The next day, she passed away. Many

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