Divine Healing - New Wine Ministry

Divine Healing (Intro to Lessons)

There are heresies in the church today, such as the dispensational teaching that miracles and divine healing came to an end in the first century. Multitudes have come under the influence of “deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” as Paul prophesied (1 Tim 4:1). The prince of darkness Satan has beguiled entire denominations to believe healing is not part of the gospel of the kingdom preached by Jesus, despite the fact that pardon of sins and healing are united in the teachings of Christ and apostles. But unclean spirits of doubt and unbelief have deceived many that health of the body is not a fruit of salvation.

Jesus never suggested a sick person should resign himself to illness. Misguided doctrines have strayed from the fullness of the gospel, neglecting to emphasize that “the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 Jn 3:8). Even a casual reading of the gospels and book of Acts in absence of false indoctrination will leave readers clear as to the charge given the church Jesus left behind regarding divine healing. If these lessons do not clarify the matter, I’d simply ask you to be good Bereans and search the Scriptures for yourself instead of reading commentaries written by others.

The Defeat of Disease and Death

When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.' Matthew 8:16-17

My friend Skip and I are the same age, plus he broke his neck the same day I did. What's more, his diving accident also occurred in the Chesapeake Bay! I dove into the Maryland side of the bay; he, the Virginia side. You can see why I've always felt a special kinship with Skip. And my heart broke when I learned he died from complications connected with his quadriplegia. It made me angry at death and disease!

At the same time, I felt a sense of joy. Christ defeated death and disease by taking them with Him to the grave. God's judgment on the sin which ushered disease into the world was endured by Jesus when He died. The prophet Isaiah explained, "He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5). The horrible blows on Jesus' back purchased a world without disease - that world is still in the future, but it's coming soon (Romans 8:23-24). And Skip and I can't wait!