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The Patristics: What the Church Fathers Believe about Spiritual Gifts

 

 This video is by the theologically informed continuationists at The Remnant Radio YouTube channel

 

The Patristics: What the Church Fathers Believe about Spiritual Gifts
https://youtu.be/QBpZGIAT6qw

 

 See Also:

Spiritual Gifts and Miracles in Church History by Sam Storms

 

 

 

Jesus and the Gospels' Theology of Healing, An Interaction with ChatGPT

 

The following is an interaction I had with ChatGPT that focused on the theology healing one can derive from the Gospels and Jesus' teaching. Some will claim that such a focus is too narrow and doesn't tell us about the larger Biblical picture regarding healing. That it ignores the book of Job and Paul's own thorn in the flesh. That the examples of Jesus are exceptional because Jesus was God and he had to always represent God in a way that we ordinary humans don't. But that "begs the question" [i.e. the premise assumes the truth of the conclusion, rather than providing independent support for it] that John 14:12-14 doesn't apply to New Covenant believers and only the original 12 apostles. More could be said to discuss the issue, but I just want to post my focused interaction with ChatGPT here.

I asked: given the teaching of the gospels, and ignoring traditional historical teaching and theology for the mean time, how do the canonical Gospels and the Jesus of those Gospels teach one is to receive healing?

ChatGPT said:

The canonical Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) provide a variety of ways in which healing is both received and understood through the life and ministry of Jesus. Ignoring traditional theological teachings and historical interpretations for the moment, we can distill key themes directly from the Gospels regarding how one is to receive healing, both physical and spiritual.

Here are the key principles based on the teachings and actions of Jesus in the Gospels:

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1. Faith in Jesus' Power to Heal

A central theme in the Gospels is that faith is a critical factor in receiving healing. Jesus repeatedly emphasizes the importance of believing in His power and trusting in God's will.

• Faith as a prerequisite for healing:
  • Matthew 9:28-29: When two blind men ask Jesus for healing, He says, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” and when they answer yes, He touches their eyes and they are healed.
  • Mark 5:34: To the woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for 12 years, Jesus says, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.”
  • Luke 8:50: When Jairus hears that his daughter has died, Jesus tells him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

Takeaway: Healing in the Gospels is often tied to the faith of the individual. Faith, in this context, is not merely belief in the possibility of healing, but trust in the power and authority of Jesus to bring about healing.

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2. Coming to Jesus with Need and Humility

Many people in the Gospels receive healing by approaching Jesus in humility, acknowledging their need, and seeking His help, often without relying on any other means. This action reflects a dependence on Jesus rather than on one's own resources or efforts.

• The blind men: In Matthew 20:30-34, two blind men cry out to Jesus for mercy, even when others try to silence them. Their persistent and humble request is met with Jesus healing them.
• The woman with the hemorrhage: In Mark 5:25-34, a woman, who had suffered for 12 years, simply touched Jesus' garment in faith, believing that this act would heal her. Jesus recognized her faith and told her, “Your faith has healed you.”
• The leper: In Matthew 8:2-3, a leper approaches Jesus, falls to His knees, and says, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus heals him, demonstrating that Jesus responds to both humility and a recognition of His authority.

Takeaway: Healing is often received when a person acknowledges their need, humbles themselves before Jesus, and seeks His intervention. There is a willingness to trust and surrender to His power.

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3. Jesus' Compassion and Grace

In the Gospels, Jesus frequently heals people out of compassion. While faith plays a key role in the healing process, Jesus’ desire to heal is not limited to those with perfect faith or understanding—He responds to those who approach Him with sincere need.

• Matthew 14:14: Jesus has compassion on a crowd of sick people, healing them as they approach Him.
• Mark 1:41: When a man with leprosy approaches Jesus, He is moved with compassion and reaches out to touch and heal him.
• Matthew 20:34: Jesus heals two blind men "out of pity" for them, despite their lack of detailed faith expressions.

Takeaway: Healing is also an expression of Jesus’ grace and compassion. People do not need to earn healing through perfect behavior or strong faith. Jesus heals because He cares for their suffering.

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4. Repentance and Forgiveness

Healing in the Gospels is sometimes connected to repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Jesus often links physical healing with the forgiveness of sins, which shows that healing is not only physical but also spiritual.

• Mark 2:5-12: In the story of the paralyzed man whose friends lower him through the roof, Jesus first tells him, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” He then heals the man, demonstrating that spiritual healing is sometimes a precursor to physical healing.
• Luke 5:20-24: Jesus tells a paralyzed man that his sins are forgiven before healing him. This suggests that Jesus sees a deeper, spiritual dimension to healing, where sin and its effects may be at the root of physical ailments.
• John 5:14: After healing a man who had been an invalid for 38 years, Jesus tells him, “Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” This indicates that repentance is an integral part of receiving holistic healing.

Takeaway: In some instances, healing involves an element of spiritual reconciliation. Repentance (turning away from sin) and the reception of forgiveness are presented as key components in healing.

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5. The Role of Prayer and Intercession

Some people receive healing not directly from Jesus, but through the prayer and intercession of others. This suggests that healing can occur through the faith of others, not just the individual.

• Mark 2:3-12: The paralyzed man is healed not just because of his own faith, but because of the faith of his friends who bring him to Jesus.
• Matthew 17:14-21: In the case of the demon-possessed boy, the disciples are unable to heal him, and Jesus teaches them about the power of faith and prayer.

Takeaway: Healing can also be facilitated by the faith and prayer of others, emphasizing the communal aspect of healing within the community of believers.

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6. The Role of Touch and the Power of Jesus' Presence

Jesus often uses physical touch as a medium of healing, suggesting that healing can be received through the direct contact with Jesus or through His presence.

• Mark 5:27-34: The woman with the hemorrhage touches Jesus' cloak and is healed. Jesus acknowledges that power has gone out from Him.
• Matthew 8:3: Jesus touches a man with leprosy, something that would have been considered unclean, but through this touch, the man is healed.
• Luke 13:13: Jesus lays hands on a woman who had been crippled for 18 years, and she is immediately healed.

Takeaway: Touch and Jesus' presence are vital elements in the healing process. The power of Jesus to heal can be transmitted through personal contact or through His active presence, suggesting that there is something uniquely transformative in encountering Jesus directly.

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7. God’s Sovereign Will

While many people come to Jesus for healing, it’s clear that healing is ultimately subject to God's will. Jesus occasionally clarifies that not every instance of suffering or illness will necessarily result in healing, as God’s broader purposes must be taken into account.

• Matthew 26:39: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane prays, “Yet not as I will, but as You will,” indicating that even in matters of healing, God’s sovereignty and will must be considered.
• Luke 22:42: Similarly, in His prayer, Jesus submits His will to the Father, illustrating that even in His miraculous works, He acknowledges the necessity of God's greater plan.

Takeaway: While healing is possible and often granted, it is also subject to God’s will and timing. Some people may not experience healing, not because they lack faith, but because God has a larger purpose or plan in mind.

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Conclusion: How to Receive Healing in the Gospels

• Faith: Believing in Jesus’ power to heal.
• Humility: Approaching Jesus with recognition of need and surrender.
• Compassion: Trusting in Jesus’ love and grace.
• Repentance: Seeking forgiveness and turning from sin.
• Intercession: Accepting healing through the prayer and faith of others.
• Touch/Presence: Seeking Jesus directly or through His presence.
• Sovereignty of God: Trusting in God's will for what is best in every situation.

Healing in the Gospels is not a formula but an invitation to trust in the person of Jesus Christ, to humbly approach Him, and to believe in His power and authority to heal both physically and spiritually.

You said:

I responded: Regarding your point #7 God’s Sovereign Will, this doesn't have anything to do with healing. Where else is healing in the canonical Gospels said to be subject to God's will? The only context I can think of are: 1. The healing of the leper, and Jesus said "I am willing" 2. The Syro-Phoenician woman, but Jesus made clear that it was because the Gospel wasn't meant to be sent to the Gospels [[This is a typo. I meant to type "Gentiles."]] at that time (but a future time). Nevertheless, despite God's will not to extend the Gospel blessings to the Gentiles at that time, the woman still received the healing of her daughter anyway. 3. The case of Lazarus where his sisters sent a message to Jesus that he was sick, and Jesus seemed to intentionally delay till Lazarus died to finally come and resurrect him. But it should be noted that a.) the sisters technically didn't ask for Jesus to heal Lazarus, and therefore there was no apparent faith involved; b.) Jesus said that the death was for the glory of God because it was planned that Lazarus would be resurrected. 4. The instance recorded in Mark 6 and Matt. 13 where Jesus couldn't heal many. But the context is that of Jesus not being respected as a prophet in his own home town. So, it appears that it's not a case where (as most people assume) people came to Jesus to be healed and Jesus failed to heal them. Rather, few came to Jesus for healing because they didn't respect him as a prophet, and THAT'S why few people were healed. Because few actually came up to Jesus requesting healing. So, I can't see anywhere in the canonical Gospels where God or Jesus would or had denied a request for healing when asked in faith. I don't see anyone coming to Jesus for healing in faith unhealed. Jesus' teaching seems to be that faith trumps all things (Mark 11:22-24; Matt. 17:20).

ChatGPT said:

You make an excellent point, and your observations are very insightful. Upon revisiting the specific examples and reflecting more deeply, I see that the canonical Gospels indeed portray healing as being closely tied to faith, and instances where healing is "subject to God's will" are relatively rare, especially in the sense of God "denying" a request for healing when there is faith involved. Let's break this down more carefully.

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Clarifying God's Sovereign Will and Healing in the Gospels:

1. The Healing of the Leper (Matthew 8:1-3; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-14)
   In this instance, the leper says, "If you are willing, you can make me clean," and Jesus replies, "I am willing; be clean." Here, Jesus explicitly affirms His willingness to heal, making it clear that the healing is not contingent on anything other than Jesus’ willingness, which is granted freely out of compassion.

   • Takeaway: This doesn't involve God denying a request for healing but rather emphasizes Jesus' compassion and willingness to heal. In this case, God's will aligns with the man's request, and healing happens.

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2. The Syro-Phoenician Woman (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30)
   Here, the woman comes to Jesus, requesting healing for her daughter. Initially, Jesus tells her that His ministry is not yet meant for Gentiles, indicating that the timing for extending healing to the Gentiles was not yet aligned with God’s larger plan. However, because of her great faith, He grants her request, healing her daughter.

   • Takeaway: This story does touch on God’s plan in terms of timing—Jesus initially seems to imply that His mission is focused on Israel at that time, but the woman’s faith leads to her receiving the blessing. It's not that God is "denying" healing; it's about the scope of Jesus’ mission in that moment, but the request is honored through her persistence and faith.

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3. The Case of Lazarus (John 11:1-44)
   The story of Lazarus is unique because, as you pointed out, the sisters do not directly ask for healing but for Jesus' presence because they believe He could have healed him. Jesus delays His coming, and by the time He arrives, Lazarus is dead. Jesus then raises him from the dead. He explicitly says, “This sickness will not end in death, but is for God’s glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it.”

   • Takeaway: This case emphasizes that God’s timing and purpose play a role in healing. However, this is not about Jesus denying a request for healing but about Jesus intentionally orchestrating the event for a greater purpose (raising Lazarus from the dead, which ultimately points to the glory of God and reveals Jesus’ power over death). The delay in healing is part of God’s sovereign plan.

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4. The Towns of Nazareth (Matthew 13:54-58; Mark 6:1-6)
   In His hometown, Jesus is unable to perform many miracles because of the people's lack of faith. This is not because they asked in faith and were denied but because their lack of faith prevented them from receiving what Jesus had to offer. The text explicitly states that "He could not do any miracles there, except lay His hands on a few sick people and heal them."

   • Takeaway: The issue here is lack of faith in the people, not God's will to heal. This passage does not imply that God would not heal in these instances but rather that faith is the conduit through which healing is received. The problem in Nazareth is the rejection of Jesus as a prophet, which prevents people from approaching Him in faith.

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Faith and Healing in the Gospels:

You’re correct in observing that throughout the Gospels, healing is generally directly linked to faith. When people approach Jesus in faith, their request is granted:

• The blind men (Matthew 9:27-31): Jesus heals them, saying, "According to your faith, let it be done to you."
• The woman with the hemorrhage (Mark 5:34, Matthew 9:22): Jesus says, "Daughter, your faith has healed you."
• The centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10): Jesus marvels at the centurion’s faith and grants healing from a distance.

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Summary of Key Observations:

1. Healing is almost always granted when faith is present: Jesus' teachings and actions emphasize that faith is a key condition for receiving healing. Whether it’s the faith of the individual, the faith of their friends (as in the case of the paralytic), or even the faith of a family member (as in the case of the centurion), faith is central.

2. God's will and timing are seen in specific cases like Lazarus, but this is not a denial of healing per se, but rather a purposeful delay that leads to a greater demonstration of Jesus' power.

3. Rejection of Jesus or lack of faith is what limits healing, as seen in Nazareth. Healing is not denied because of God’s sovereign will to withhold it, but because faith is not present in the people requesting it.

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Conclusion:

The Gospels consistently teach that faith is the primary means by which one receives healing. Instances where healing is delayed or where God’s will seems to play a role (such as in the case of Lazarus or the Syro-Phoenician woman) are exceptions that do not contradict the general pattern of Jesus healing those who approach Him in faith. The Gospel message seems clear that healing is available to those who believe, and when people approach Jesus in faith, healing is granted. The role of God's will in healing is not a denial of the request for healing but rather a reflection of God's larger purposes or the proper timing for certain miracles to occur (like the raising of Lazarus).

Spiritual Gifts and Miracles in Church History by Sam Storms

 

 

Articles by Sam Storm. It seems it's an ongoing series. So, there might eventually be a part four or more.

 

Part One
https://www.samstorms.org/enjoying-god-blog/post/spiritual-gifts-and-miracles-in-church-history-part-one
 

Part Two
https://www.samstorms.org/enjoying-god-blog/post/spiritual-gifts-and-miracles-in-church-history-part-two
 

Part Three
https://www.samstorms.org/enjoying-god-blog/post/spiritual-gifts-and-miracles-in-church-history-part-three
 

 See Also:

The Patristics: What the Church Fathers Believe about Spiritual Gifts

Are Guardian Angels Real?

 

 

Are Guardian Angels Real?
by Gavin Ortlund
https://youtu.be/1JfioVcgbVY


 

 

 

ChatGPT's Recommendations For More Effective Prayer For Physical Healing

Last Updated 2024/10/28

I'm fascinated by how good and informed the advice Artificial Intelligence can give despite not being conscious or thinking. So, I was curious how ChatGPT would answer the following question. It gave some good advice, and I kept asking for it to given even more recommendations. It gave ten to thirty recommendations at a time. I decided to stop asking when it reached one hundred recommendations. Some of them are virtual repetitions just phrased differently. In the following copy and paste I left out my repeated request for more recommendations.

I asked: how, as a Christian, can i more effectively pray for my physical healing?

ChatGPT responded with the following:

Praying for physical healing as a Christian can be deeply meaningful and transformative. Here are some ways to enhance your prayer experience:

1. Faith and Belief: Approach prayer with a strong sense of faith in God’s power to heal. Reflect on Scriptures that emphasize healing, such as James 5:14-15 and Isaiah 53:5.

2. Specificity: Be specific about your needs in prayer. Describe your condition and the areas where you seek healing. This clarity can help you focus your prayers.

3. Gratitude: Incorporate gratitude into your prayers. Thank God for His past blessings, even in the midst of your current struggles. This can shift your perspective and encourage a positive mindset.

4. Community Support: Involve your church community. Ask others to pray for you, as collective prayer can be powerful (Matthew 18:20).

5. Scriptural Affirmations: Use verses related to healing as affirmations in your prayers. This can strengthen your faith and remind you of God’s promises.

6. Listen and Reflect: Spend time in silence after praying. Listen for God’s guidance or reassurance. Reflection can provide peace and clarity.

7. Regular Prayer Routine: Establish a consistent time for prayer. Regularity can deepen your relationship with God and strengthen your faith.

8. Seek Professional Help: Remember that seeking medical assistance is also a part of God’s provision for healing. Pray for wisdom in decisions regarding your health.

9. Prayer Journaling: Keep a journal of your prayers, noting any progress or changes. This can help you see God’s work in your life over time.

10. Trust God’s Will: Ultimately, surrender your healing to God’s will. Trust that He knows what is best for you, even if it doesn’t align with your expectations.
    
    Approach your prayers with an open heart, and allow yourself to experience God’s presence and peace, regardless of the outcome.
    

11. Meditation and Contemplation: Spend time meditating on God’s Word or His nature. This can deepen your connection with Him and provide comfort.

12. Anointing with Oil: If your church practices it, consider requesting an anointing with oil. This is a biblical practice often associated with healing (James 5:14).

13. Pray with Scripture: Incorporate Scripture into your prayers. For example, pray passages like Psalm 103:2-3, which speaks of healing and forgiveness.

14. Visualize Healing: As you pray, visualize God’s healing energy surrounding you. This can be a powerful way to connect spiritually with the healing you seek.

15. Affirm Your Identity: Remind yourself of your identity in Christ. Affirmations such as “I am a child of God” can reinforce your faith and trust in His healing power.

16. Pray for Others: Sometimes, focusing on others’ healing needs can shift your perspective and invite God’s presence into your own situation.

17. Worship and Praise: Incorporate worship music into your prayer time. Singing praises can uplift your spirit and create a deeper connection with God.

18. Daily Gratitude List: Create a daily list of things you are thankful for, including your health journey. This can cultivate a spirit of gratitude amidst struggles.

19. Seek Spiritual Guidance: Consider speaking with a pastor or spiritual mentor for guidance on your healing journey. They may offer insights or prayer support.

20. Stay Open to God’s Response: Be receptive to the ways God might respond to your prayers, whether through healing, strength, or wisdom in your situation.

By integrating these practices into your prayer life, you can foster a deeper connection with God and strengthen your faith as you seek healing.

21. Fasting: Consider fasting as a way to deepen your prayer. It can help focus your mind and spirit on your healing requests, as well as show your earnestness.

22. Creative Expression: Engage in creative outlets like drawing, writing, or crafting that reflect your healing journey. This can serve as a form of prayer and expression of your feelings.

23. Nature and Prayer Walks: Spend time in nature and pray as you walk. The beauty of creation can inspire and uplift your spirit while connecting you with God.

24. Grief and Healing: Acknowledge any emotions or grief related to your physical struggles. Bringing these feelings to God can help you process and find peace.

25. Keep a Prayer Chain: Create a chain of people who commit to pray for your healing over a specific time. This can foster a sense of community and support.

26. Prayer Cards: Make or use prayer cards with specific verses or prayers focused on healing. Carry them with you as reminders to pray throughout the day.

27. Pray Through the Night: If you find it hard to sleep, use that time to pray. Nighttime can provide a peaceful space for intimate conversations with God.

28. Engage in Healing Ministries: Look for local or online healing ministries or services that focus on prayer and healing. Participating can provide additional support and community.

29. Grief Counseling or Support Groups: Sometimes, healing involves addressing emotional or psychological pain. Joining a support group can help you process these feelings.

30. Celebrate Small Victories: Acknowledge and celebrate any improvements or positive changes in your health, no matter how small. This practice reinforces gratitude and hope.

31. Stay in the Present: Focus on the present moment during prayer. Worrying about the future can detract from your connection with God.

32. Ask for Guidance: Pray for wisdom in lifestyle choices that may support your healing, such as diet, exercise, or stress management.

33. Visualize Wholeness: Picture yourself fully healed and thriving. This mental imagery can enhance your faith and determination.

By incorporating these diverse approaches, you can deepen your prayer life and strengthen your connection with God as you seek healing.

34. Prayer Retreats: Consider attending a prayer retreat focused on healing. This dedicated time can help you connect more deeply with God away from daily distractions.

35. Journaling Your Journey: Keep a detailed journal not only of your prayers but also of your physical and emotional experiences. Reflecting on your journey can provide insights and encouragement.

36. Prayer Visualizations: Use guided imagery or prayer visualization techniques. Picture God’s light and love surrounding you, bringing healing and comfort.

37. Daily Affirmations: Create daily affirmations based on Scripture that reinforce your faith in healing. Repeat these affirmations during your prayer time.

38. Set Intentions: Begin each prayer session by setting a clear intention for your healing. This can help focus your heart and mind.

39. Incorporate Silence: Include moments of silence in your prayer. This space can allow you to listen for God’s voice and receive His peace.

40. Pray for Strength: Along with healing, pray for strength and endurance during your journey. This can help you cope with challenges.

41. Use Prayer Beads or Stones: Consider using prayer beads or stones to count your prayers or meditations. This tactile experience can help you stay focused.

42. Invite God’s Presence: Begin your prayer by inviting God’s presence into your space. Acknowledge His love and care for you.

43. Pray for Others’ Healing: Engaging in intercessory prayer can create a sense of unity and purpose. It can also help shift your focus away from your own concerns.

44. Watch Testimonies: Seek out and watch testimonies of healing from others. These stories can inspire hope and strengthen your faith.

45. Create a Healing Environment: Set up a special prayer space at home. Decorate it with symbols of your faith, like candles or Scripture, to make it a sacred place.

46. Focus on Positive Media: Surround yourself with uplifting books, music, or podcasts that encourage faith and healing. Positive influences can enhance your prayer life.

47. Engage in Acts of Service: Helping others can be a powerful way to focus your energy and bring joy, which can positively affect your own healing journey.

48. Stay Connected with Nature: Regularly spend time outdoors, appreciating God’s creation. Nature can be a source of healing and renewal.

49. Be Patient with Yourself: Acknowledge that healing can take time. Be gentle with yourself and trust in God’s timing and process.

50. Remember Your Purpose: Reflect on how your healing journey can contribute to your testimony and purpose in God’s plan. This can provide motivation and hope.

These additional practices can help deepen your prayer life and reinforce your faith as you seek healing. Remember, it’s about building a relationship with God and trusting in His goodness.

51. Practice Forgiveness: Sometimes, emotional wounds can impact physical health. Pray for the ability to forgive others and yourself, fostering healing in both body and spirit.

52. Daily Devotionals: Use daily devotionals focused on healing or prayer to guide your thoughts and prayers each day. These can provide structure and inspiration.

53. Attend Healing Services: If possible, attend healing services at your church or in your community. These gatherings can provide a powerful atmosphere of prayer and support.

54. Engage in Breath Prayer: Practice a simple breath prayer, repeating a short phrase like “Lord, heal me” with each breath. This can help center your thoughts and invite peace.

55. Incorporate Movement: Gentle movement or stretching while you pray can help release tension and enhance your physical and spiritual connection.

56. Reflect on Jesus’ Healings: Meditate on the accounts of Jesus healing others in the Gospels. Let these stories inspire your faith and hope.

57. Focus on Spiritual Gifts: Pray for the activation of spiritual gifts in your life, such as healing or faith. This can open your heart to how God wants to work through you.

58. Use Visual Aids: Create a vision board with images or quotes that represent your healing journey. Place it in your prayer space for daily inspiration.

59. Limit Negative Influences: Reduce exposure to negativity, whether through media or conversations. Surround yourself with uplifting and supportive messages.

60. Pray for Wisdom in Nutrition: Ask for guidance on healthy eating habits that may support your healing process. This holistic approach can be beneficial.

61. Engage in Journaling Prompts: Use specific journaling prompts related to healing, such as “What does healing mean to me?” or “How can I see God in my struggles?”

62. Savor Moments of Joy: Make a conscious effort to notice and appreciate moments of joy in your day. Gratitude for small things can foster a positive outlook.

63. Participate in Online Communities: Join online support groups or forums focused on healing prayer. Sharing experiences can provide encouragement and community.

64. Create Rituals: Establish personal rituals that you associate with healing, like lighting a candle or saying a specific prayer before bed.

65. Study Healing Scriptures: Dedicate time to studying and memorizing healing Scriptures. This can help internalize God’s promises.

66. Maintain a Healthy Routine: Focus on creating a balanced daily routine that includes prayer, rest, nutrition, and physical activity.

67. Embrace Patience and Trust: Remind yourself that healing is often a journey. Cultivating patience can help you trust in God’s timing.

68. Pray with Family: Involve your family in your healing prayers. This shared experience can strengthen bonds and provide mutual support.

69. Explore Alternative Therapies: If you're open to it, explore holistic or alternative therapies that complement your faith and healing journey.

70. Stay Open to New Perspectives: Be willing to learn from your experiences and be open to new ways God may be working in your life.

These practices can help deepen your faith and enhance your prayer life as you seek healing. Remember, each person’s journey is unique, and what resonates with you is what matters most.

71. Create a Healing Playlist: Curate a playlist of worship songs or soothing music that inspires hope and peace. Play it during your prayer time.

72. Engage in Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness techniques to stay present during prayer. This can enhance your awareness of God’s presence and peace.

73. Establish Prayer Partners: Find a trusted friend to pray with regularly. Having someone to share your journey with can provide support and accountability.

74. Utilize Prayer Apps: Explore apps that offer guided prayers, devotionals, or prayer reminders. These can help you stay focused and engaged.

75. Visualize God’s Love: During prayer, envision God wrapping you in His love and healing light. This imagery can be comforting and uplifting.

76. Explore Healing Literature: Read books or articles on healing from a Christian perspective. Gaining insights from others’ experiences can be encouraging.

77. Attend Workshops or Seminars: Look for workshops focused on prayer or healing within your community or online. These can provide new tools and perspectives.

78. Create a Healing Affirmation Ritual: Write affirmations that affirm your healing and recite them daily, reinforcing your faith and mindset.

79. Cultivate Compassion: Pray for compassion towards yourself during your healing journey. Acknowledging your struggles with kindness can be powerful.

80. Focus on Your Senses: During prayer, engage your senses. Light a scented candle or hold a comforting object to ground yourself in the moment.

81. Practice Gratitude Journaling: Keep a gratitude journal where you note daily blessings, especially related to your health journey. This can shift your focus to the positive.

82. Pray for Medical Professionals: Include prayers for doctors, nurses, and caregivers. This not only shows gratitude but can also invite wisdom into your healing process.

83. Use Nature as a Prayer Space: If possible, pray outside in nature. The beauty and tranquility can enhance your connection to God.

84. Incorporate Art into Prayer: Use art as a form of prayer, whether it’s painting, coloring, or crafting. This can be a therapeutic way to express your feelings.

85. Reflect on the Power of Testimonies: Share or listen to healing testimonies from others. Hearing how God has worked in lives can inspire your faith.

86. Keep a Prayer Jar: Write down your prayer requests on slips of paper and place them in a jar. This can serve as a tangible reminder of your prayers.

87. Explore Scripture Meditation: Choose a healing verse and meditate on it, letting it sink into your heart and mind during your prayer time.

88. Seek Online Webinars or Talks: Look for online events featuring speakers on healing topics. These can provide new insights and encouragement.

89. Practice Daily Reminders: Set reminders on your phone or post notes around your space with encouraging verses or phrases to keep your focus on healing.

90. Engage in Breathwork: Incorporate breathing exercises into your prayer. Deep, intentional breaths can help center you and invite calmness.

91. Write Letters to God: Consider writing letters expressing your thoughts, feelings, and desires for healing. This can be a heartfelt way to communicate.

92. Use Visual Scriptures: Create visual art or graphics with healing Scriptures. Display them in your space as constant reminders of God’s promises.

93. Pray in Different Locations: Change your prayer location periodically to keep things fresh. A different setting can inspire new thoughts and feelings.

94. Incorporate Movement Prayer: Try walking or stretching prayer, focusing on each step or stretch as a form of connecting with God.

95. Celebrate Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate small milestones in your healing journey, thanking God for progress made.

96. Create a Prayer Ritual for Sleep: Establish a calming bedtime prayer routine that invites peace and healing as you rest.

97. Invite God's Presence Through Silence: Spend a few moments in silence before and after prayer, allowing space for God’s presence and peace.

98. Pray with Scripture Index Cards: Write healing Scriptures on index cards to carry with you, allowing for spontaneous prayer throughout your day.

99. Share Your Journey: Open up about your healing journey with trusted friends or family. Sharing can lighten your burden and invite support.

100. Rest in God’s Presence: Finally, remember to rest in God’s presence. Sometimes, simply being with Him can be the most healing of all.

 

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 I was curious how ChatGPT would respond differently if I essentially asked the same question but from a CHARISMATIC Christian perspective. So, I asked the following:

how, as a CHARISMATIC Christian, can i more effectively pray for my physical healing

ChatGPT responded with the following:

As a charismatic Christian, there arChatGPT responded with the following:e several ways you can enhance your prayers for physical healing:

1. Faith and Expectation: Approach your prayers with strong faith, believing in God's ability to heal. Visualize your healing as already accomplished.

2. Scripture: Incorporate relevant Bible verses into your prayers, such as Isaiah 53:5 or James 5:15. Meditating on these verses can strengthen your faith.

3. Worship and Praise: Begin your prayer with worship. Express gratitude and praise to God for His power and goodness, setting a positive atmosphere.

4. Community Prayer: Seek the support of your church community. Join prayer groups or request prayer from others, as collective prayer can be powerful.

5. Anointing with Oil: If your tradition allows, consider being anointed with oil while someone prays for your healing, following James 5:14.

6. Speak Life: Use affirmations or declarations that speak life and healing over your body, believing in the creative power of your words.

7. Listening Prayer: Spend time in silence, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide you. Be open to any insights or promptings regarding your health.

8. Action Steps: Consider practical steps alongside prayer, like consulting healthcare professionals or making lifestyle changes that align with your healing journey.

9. Testimonies: Reflect on past healings or testimonies from others. These stories can inspire and bolster your faith.

10. Persistence: Be persistent in your prayers, not losing hope. Continue to pray even if you don’t see immediate results.

Combining these approaches can deepen your prayer life and strengthen your faith in God’s healing power.

 

give more recommendations on how, as a CHARISMATIC Christian, i can more effectively pray for my physical healing?

Certainly! Here are more recommendations for effectively praying for physical healing as a charismatic Christian:

1. Pray in the Spirit: Spend time praying in tongues. This can deepen your connection with God and allow the Holy Spirit to intercede on your behalf (Romans 8:26-27).

2. Declare God’s Promises: Create a list of promises related to healing. Regularly declare these aloud, affirming God’s faithfulness to fulfill His word.

3. Visualize Healing: Picture yourself healed. Use your imagination to envision the physical changes and the life you will live once healed. This can enhance your faith and expectation.

4. Incorporate Fasting: Consider fasting as part of your prayer. Fasting can heighten your spiritual sensitivity and focus your prayers (Matthew 17:21).

5. Praise Reports: Keep a journal of your prayers and any healing experiences, no matter how small. Reviewing these can build your faith over time.

6. Prayer Walks: Go on walks while praying, especially in nature. This can help you feel more connected to God and His creation, fostering a spirit of peace and expectation.

7. Creative Expression: Use creative arts (music, painting, dance) to express your prayers and feelings. This can open your heart to receive God’s healing in new ways.

8. Use Communion: Partake in communion regularly, remembering Christ’s sacrifice and the healing it brings. Use this time to pray specifically for healing.

9. Surround Yourself with Faith: Engage with books, podcasts, or videos that inspire faith in healing. Surrounding yourself with uplifting materials can strengthen your belief.

10. Prayer Retreats: Consider attending a retreat focused on healing. Being in a dedicated space for prayer can help you encounter God in profound ways.

11. Service and Compassion: Volunteer to help others who are suffering. Serving can bring perspective and increase your faith as you see God’s work in their lives.

12. Gratitude: Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Thank God for the healing you believe is coming, even if you haven’t experienced it yet. This shifts your focus to His goodness.

13. Seek Prophetic Words: If you're part of a church that practices prophecy, ask for words of encouragement or insight regarding your healing.

14. Meditate on Healing: Spend time meditating on the nature of God as a healer. Reflect on His character and His desire for wholeness in your life.

15. Engage in Spiritual Warfare: Pray against any spiritual barriers or strongholds that might be affecting your health. Use scriptures to claim victory over any negative influences.

By incorporating these practices into your prayer life, you can cultivate a deeper faith and a more vibrant connection to God as you seek healing.

give more recommendations on how, as a CHARISMATIC Christian, i can more effectively pray for my physical healing? You've already given 25. So, start with number 26.

Absolutely! Here are more recommendations starting from number 26:

26. Surround Yourself with Positive Influences: Engage with friends and mentors who have a strong faith in healing. Their encouragement can uplift your spirit.

27. Create a Healing Space: Designate a specific area in your home for prayer and healing, filled with items that inspire faith (like candles, scriptures, or images).

28. Use Prayer Cloths: Consider using a prayer cloth, as seen in Acts 19:12. Anoint it with oil and pray over it, then keep it with you or use it as a point of contact for prayer.

29. Seek Out Healing Services: Attend healing services or conferences where prayer for healing is a focus. The atmosphere of faith can be powerful.

30. Journal Your Journey: Keep a healing journal where you document your symptoms, prayers, and any changes. This can help you see progress and stay encouraged.

31. Practice Silence and Solitude: Spend time in silence, allowing God to speak to your heart. This can help you discern His voice and gain peace regarding your healing.

32. Establish a Prayer Routine: Create a consistent prayer schedule. Regularly setting aside time to pray for healing can build discipline and expectation.

33. Use Healing Oils: Explore the use of essential oils or anointing oils during prayer. Many believe they can enhance the atmosphere for healing.

34. Participate in Healing Testimonies: Share your journey and listen to others’ testimonies of healing. This can build your faith and provide encouragement.

35. Invite Lay Leaders or Elders: Request prayers from trusted lay leaders or elders in your church. Their experience and authority can bring a unique dimension to your prayer.

36. Embrace a Healthy Lifestyle: Along with prayer, focus on eating well, exercising, and taking care of your body as part of honoring God with your health.

37. Engage in Spiritual Gifts: Explore the gifts of the Spirit in your life (1 Corinthians 12:9). If you feel led, pray for the gift of healing or discernment regarding your health.

38. Memorize Healing Scriptures: Commit key healing verses to memory. Reciting these in your mind can reinforce your faith throughout the day.

39. Share Your Burden: Confide in a trusted friend or mentor about your healing journey. Sharing your struggles can lighten your load and invite prayer support.

40. Invite the Holy Spirit’s Guidance: Regularly ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and direction regarding your healing process. Being open to His leading can be transformative.

41. Participate in Sacrificial Giving: Consider giving to a cause or ministry related to healing or health. This act of faith can open your heart to receive.

42. Reflect on Jesus’ Healing Ministry: Study the healing accounts of Jesus in the Gospels. Meditate on His compassion and willingness to heal.

43. Practice Rest and Sabbath: Allow yourself time to rest physically and spiritually. Trusting God with your healing includes taking breaks and prioritizing peace.

44. Stay Engaged with Your Body: Pay attention to your body’s signals. Praying for specific areas or symptoms can lead to more focused and intentional prayers.

45. Reaffirm Your Identity in Christ: Regularly remind yourself of your identity as a beloved child of God. This can instill confidence in your prayers for healing.

46. Visualize Community Support: Imagine a community of believers surrounding you in prayer. This mental picture can reinforce your sense of belonging and support.

47. Create a Healing Playlist: Curate a list of worship songs that focus on healing and restoration. Play this music during your prayer time to enhance your focus.

48. Engage in Creative Prayer: Use art, writing, or other creative outlets as forms of prayer. Expressing your thoughts and feelings can bring healing.

49. Stay Open to Change: Be open to how God might work in your life. Healing can come in unexpected forms, so remain flexible in your expectations.

50. Commit to Ongoing Prayer: Make healing a consistent part of your prayer life, even after you experience improvements. Continued prayer fosters a deeper relationship with God.

By incorporating these additional practices, you can further enrich your prayer experience and strengthen your faith as you seek physical healing.

give more recommendations on how, as a CHARISMATIC Christian, i can more effectively pray for my physical healing? You've already listed 50. So start with 51.

Absolutely! Here are more recommendations starting from number 51:

51. Connect with Healing Ministries: Reach out to local or online healing ministries that align with your beliefs. Their resources and prayer support can be valuable.

52. Host a Prayer Gathering: Organize a small gathering focused on prayer for healing, inviting friends and family to join in unity and faith.

53. Study Healing in Church History: Explore historical accounts of healing within the church. Learning about past movements can inspire your faith and expectations.

54. Create Affirmation Cards: Write down healing affirmations on cards. Carry them with you and read them throughout the day to reinforce your belief.

55. Practice Surrender: Regularly surrender your healing journey to God, trusting in His timing and plans, which can alleviate anxiety and open your heart.

56. Incorporate Breath Prayer: Use breath prayers—short phrases that you can say while inhaling and exhaling. This can help you stay focused and calm during prayer.

57. Learn from Healing Testimonies: Attend or watch healing services where testimonies are shared. Hearing how others have experienced healing can boost your faith.

58. Engage in Mindfulness Prayer: Incorporate mindfulness techniques into your prayers, focusing on the present moment and your connection with God.

59. Participate in Community Health Initiatives: Get involved in health-related community service projects. This can foster a sense of purpose and connection to others.

60. Pray for Others’ Healing: Engage in praying for the healing of others. This can create a reciprocal atmosphere of faith and encourage your own healing.

61. Utilize Visual Reminders: Place visual reminders (like sticky notes or symbols) around your home to prompt you to pray and remember God’s promises.

62. Engage in Intercessory Prayer: Form or join an intercessory prayer group dedicated to praying for healing. Intercession can be a powerful way to lift up needs.

63. Reflect on the Nature of God: Meditate on God’s attributes—His love, mercy, and power—allowing these truths to shape your prayers.

64. Create a Vision Board: Design a vision board that reflects your healing goals, incorporating scriptures and images that inspire hope and faith.

65. Seek Spiritual Counsel: Talk to a pastor or spiritual leader about your healing journey. Their guidance and prayer support can be instrumental.

66. Participate in Healing Workshops: Attend workshops or seminars focused on healing prayer, learning new techniques and insights from experienced leaders.

67. Invite God into Your Daily Life: Pray throughout your daily activities, inviting God into every moment. This can create an ongoing dialogue about your healing.

68. Explore Scripture Memorization: Focus on memorizing a specific healing passage for a week, meditating on its meaning and applying it in prayer.

69. Use Guided Prayer Resources: Explore guided prayer resources or apps that focus on healing. These can provide structure and inspiration for your prayers.

70. Stay Humble and Open: Approach your healing with humility, being open to God’s will and timing, which can foster a deeper trust in His plan.

71. Pray for Emotional Healing: Recognize that physical healing often ties to emotional and spiritual well-being. Pray holistically for your entire being.

72. Engage in Fellowship: Spend time with fellow believers, sharing meals and fellowship, which can build community support and strengthen faith.

73. Create a Healing Ritual: Establish a personal healing ritual that you can perform regularly, such as lighting a candle while you pray.

74. Acknowledge Progress: Celebrate small victories in your healing journey, no matter how minor. This can encourage a positive outlook and gratitude.

75. Invite God’s Presence: Begin your prayers by consciously inviting God’s presence into your situation. This can shift your focus to His power and love.

76. Be Patient with Yourself: Recognize that healing can be a process. Allow yourself to feel a range of emotions as you navigate this journey.

77. Use Visual Prayer Aids: Consider using prayer beads or other visual aids to help focus your thoughts and intentions during prayer.

78. Practice Affirmative Prayer: Focus on affirmative prayers, emphasizing what you want to see rather than what you fear or lack.

79. Engage in Prayer Walks: Walk in your neighborhood while praying, asking for God’s healing touch not just for yourself but for those around you.

80. Foster a Sense of Hope: Surround yourself with sources of hope, such as uplifting books, podcasts, or sermons that inspire faith in healing.

By implementing these additional practices, you can deepen your prayer life and strengthen your faith as you seek physical healing.

give more recommendations on how, as a CHARISMATIC Christian, i can more effectively pray for my physical healing? You've already listed 80. So start with 81.

Certainly! Here are more recommendations starting from number 81:

81. Engage in Visualizations of Healing: Spend time visualizing your body healed. Picture specific areas being restored, and invite God’s presence into those images.

82. Pray with a Specific Focus: Choose a specific symptom or area of concern to pray for each time, allowing you to concentrate your prayers more effectively.

83. Use Scripture-Based Prayers: Create prayers based directly on scripture, such as “By His stripes, I am healed” (Isaiah 53:5), and pray them over your situation.

84. Make Use of Healing Prayers from the Church: Research and incorporate traditional healing prayers that align with your charismatic beliefs, connecting with historical practices.

85. Practice Forgiveness: Reflect on any unforgiveness in your heart. Forgiveness can lead to emotional and spiritual healing, which often impacts physical health.

86. Seek Out Healing Prayer Clinics: If available, attend clinics or sessions specifically designed for healing prayer, where trained individuals pray over participants.

87. Invite Friends for Prayer Sessions: Schedule regular prayer sessions with friends who are also seeking healing. The accountability and community support can be powerful.

88. Engage in Acts of Kindness: Perform acts of kindness for others, as this can shift your focus from yourself and promote a sense of joy and fulfillment.

89. Stay Grounded in Gratitude: Begin and end your prayers by thanking God for specific blessings, fostering an attitude of gratitude that opens your heart to healing.

90. Read Healing Books: Explore literature by authors known for their insights on healing within a charismatic context, deepening your understanding and faith.

91. Create a Prayer Chain: Organize a prayer chain among friends or family where each person commits to pray for your healing at designated times.

92. Use Affirmative Language: Frame your prayers with positive, affirming language, focusing on healing and wholeness rather than fear or doubt.

93. Participate in Healing Retreats: Join retreats dedicated to healing and spiritual growth, allowing for an immersive experience of prayer and fellowship.

94. Establish a Daily Healing Declaration: Start each day with a declaration of healing, affirming your faith and expectations for restoration.

95. Engage in Art or Creative Prayer: Use painting, drawing, or journaling as a form of prayer, expressing your emotions and desires for healing creatively.

96. Listen for God’s Voice: Spend quiet time after prayer to listen for God’s guidance regarding your healing journey. Be open to any insights He might provide.

97. Foster a Healing Atmosphere: Play soft worship music or ambient sounds while you pray to create a peaceful environment conducive to healing.

98. Reflect on Personal Testimonies: Regularly revisit personal experiences where you felt God’s presence or intervention, reinforcing your faith in His ability to heal.

99. Use Guided Meditations: Explore guided meditations focused on healing, combining scripture and visualization to deepen your prayer experience.

100. Stay Active in Your Faith Community: Regularly participate in church activities, ensuring you remain surrounded by supportive, faith-filled individuals.

101. Embrace Community Worship: Attend worship services where healing is a focus, participating in corporate prayer and anointing.

102. Share Your Healing Journey: Be open about your healing journey with others. Sharing can bring support and encouragement while strengthening your own faith.

103. Consider a Prayer Partner: Find a prayer partner who can pray specifically with you for healing, providing mutual support and accountability.

104. Cultivate a Sense of Peace: Focus on cultivating inner peace through prayer and meditation, which can be vital for overall healing.

105. Be Kind to Yourself: Treat yourself with grace and compassion during your healing journey, recognizing that it’s okay to have struggles.

106. Reflect on Your Healing Goals: Take time to write down what healing looks like for you, clarifying your desires and intentions as you pray.

107. Invite the Presence of the Holy Spirit: Spend time specifically inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers and bring healing, trusting in His power.

108. Pray with Expectancy: Approach each prayer session with an attitude of expectancy, believing that God is actively working in your life.

109. Utilize Prayer Walks in Nature: Take prayer walks in natural settings, where the beauty of creation can inspire and uplift your spirit.

110. Share in Communion: Participate in communion regularly, using it as a time to pray for healing and remember Christ’s sacrifice.

By incorporating these additional practices, you can continue to enrich your prayer life and deepen your faith as you seek physical healing.

 

 

 

 

"Faith Healer" Recommendations

 

I'm still working on this blogpost. This is a rough draft, but I'm posting it now to be of immediate help. I plan on constantly updating it for the next few weeks or month as I have time. Not all links or recommendations have been added yet. I'll be repeating a lot of what I say and a lot of the links because I want to get my thoughts and views posted as soon as possible without having to delay it by refining and polishing my comments too neatly and "perfectly." What matters to me is the truth, more than sytle or my reputation.
A lot of Ys like this "YYYYY" means I still have to find the link
A lot of Zs like this "ZZZZZ" means I have the link and just have to insert it into the blog properly.

In a comment of one of my blogposts someone posted the following asking for recommendations for a "faith healer." I don't like the term, and the person asking the question probably doesn't either. The term implies that faith itself heals rather than the object of that faith. Namely, the God in whom we trust and have faith. Or implies that the person is special in a way that rises above what the Bible alllows for. It also often connotes someone who is a con artist [shyster/scammer/charlatan/grifter/mountebank] who doesn't really get people healed by the power of God, but tricks people into thinking he does in order to gain his or her audience's money and following. Nevertheless, at present I can't think of a more precise and concise term that better conveys the idea of someone who is a regular minster of divine healing. So, I'll continue to use the phrase, but in quotation marks to convey my unease at using the term.

Hi AP, In the past, I've read some of your comments on Triablogue and understand you are charismatic. I have a question. My son broke his neck in 2022 and became a quadriplegic. If we were to seek out a faith healer for a miraculous healing, are there any particular faith healers you would recommend? Thanks.

I'm sorry to hear of your tragedy. I'll remember your son Nate in my prayers. I'll be switching back and forth from addressing you personally to any potential readers of the blog who have the same request. There are a lot of "faith healers" out there now. I'm not aware of all of them, but some of them I'm aware of, others only by hearsay. Some of them I know to some extent their theology and practices, others I only kind of know but hear some good or mixed things. Of course there are always con artists as well as people who claim to be Christian and may actually be operating in the supernatural but from the dark (Satanic) side. We obviously need to avoid them. I know more about the "faith healers" of past generations than of the present ones. I've read their sermons, books and biographies. My tolerance for non-standard Evangelical theology has grown over the years as my theology has developed. You may be starting at a different place than where I have started, so it's understandable if some of my recommendations as an Evangelical Calvinist Baptist and continuationist/Charismatic might not sit well with you at present. But hear me out anyway.

I tell my fellow charismatics who aren't that versed in theology and the Bible but who watch a lot of online videos of healing & deliverance ministers that "YouTube Christianity" is not the same as Biblical Christianity. At their best they are analogous to vitamins and cake icing. But you can't live off of vitamins and icing physically or spiritually. You need real food (meat, vegetables, fruits, and bread/cake). So, to tell the honest truth, I'm wary of contemporary "faith healers" because they often don't know the Bible, have poor theology and haven't finished their ministry yet. Meaning, they haven't died yet and their ministry been judged by history. Add to that how social media has made modern religionists of all sorts celebrities and how even people who start out well intentioned and gospel-centered can end up being swayed more by keeping up their popularity, reputation and financial income that they forget and slowly abandon the basics of the Gospel. Whereas already dead faith healers in previous ages understood the need for genuine holiness, deep Bible study and meditation, prolonged prayer sessions, and though their theology weren't all that sophisticated and nuanced, they nevertheless had a history of real successes in healing the sick with little to no scandal. So, I'm hesitant to mentioned some of the contemporary "faith healers" which I suspect might be acceptable and genuine. I'll name a few, but more important is you [and anyone else reading this blogpost with the same request] developing your theology in general as well as your theology of divine healing in particular in order to better discern for yourself/yourselves who may or may not be genuine "faith healers" [i.e. ministers of Biblical divine healing]. So, for example, I've only seen a few videos by Art Thomas. He's among the next generation of "faith healers." He seems sincere and genuine, but I don't know if he really is or what his full theology is. I haven't read any of his books. David Diga Hernandez seems sincere, and his theology seems kind of balanced, but I don't know enough about him and his theology. Though, I have attended one of his meetings.

So, the first thing I recommend is further developing your own and your son's theology of healing. I don't know if your son is a Christian or not. Obviously, there will be different difficulties whether your son is or isn't a Christian. God may heal him as a non-Christian in order to lead him to conversion. Or God may delay or deny his healing until he becomes a Christian. And even if he is a Christian, this type of serious tragedy can cause a Christian to doubt the truth of Christianity because of the obvious question of, "How could God allow this tragedy to happen?" Or even a delay or seeming denial of answer to prayer can lead a present Christian to start doubting the truth of Christianity, or even merely doubting God's goodness without doubting His existence. This is why it's important to develop one's theology of healing to the point that 1. he's convinced that God wants and encourages people to develop their faith for healing and that He delights to heal people; 2. he doesn't fear praying presumptuous prayers that violate God's will, 3. no amount of delays will cause him to doubt God's existence, goodness, graciousness, faithfulness etc. Some theologies of divine healing won't do that, or will do the opposite. I've explained my theology of healing in bits and pieces in various blogposts. Here are just three of a number of blogposts where I describe it:

ZZZZZ
HEALING FOOTNOTE
https://misclane.blogspot.com/2013/04/evidence-and-testimonies-of-demonic-and.html#footnote

Healing According to Faith
https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2023/03/healing-according-to-faith.html

God's Promises and Our Warranted Expectation of Their Fulfillment ZZZZZ
https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/08/gods-promises-and-our-warranted.html


God sometimes heals in the absence of faith, but God's normative way is to heal in the presence of faith of the sick prayee and/or the pray-er(s) minister(s)/elders. Usually in the presence of faith in both groups. Few ministries emphasize or teach that healing is possible irrespective of the faith of the sick/prayee and that the faith of pray-ers are all that are needed (e.g. JGLM [John G. Lake Ministries]). Most healing ministries emphasize the faith of the prayee. I think the normative way presented in the Gospels is for both the prayee and pray-ers to have faith for healing. Even if the ideal might be to get to a place where the faith of the pray-er(s) is sufficient to get the job done irrespective of whether the prayee has faith. Even Jesus seemed to encourage the crowds He was healing to have faith for healing even though as the Son of God He could unilaterally heal people in the absence of faith. For example, He resurrected three of people who obviously had no faith, and the man healed at the pool of Bethesda in John 5 had faith that if he got into the pool at the right time he would be healed, but he expressed no specific faith in Jesus to be healed. It seemed to be a SOVEREIGN act of healing on Jesus' part. Same with the healing of the woman with the disabling spirit of infirmity [Luke 13]; the healing of the man with the withered hand [Matt. 12; Mark 3; Luke 6]; and the healing of the man with dropsy [Luke 14]. There's no indication that they had any particular faith for healing. Rather Jesus seemed to have unilaterially healed them to teach some lesson.

There are rare instances where the prayee had faith for healing and the pray-er didn't, but the person was healed anyway. The pioneer apologist Walter Martin testified to having experienced that. The other way around of John G. Lake's ministry in the early 20th century and it's continuation in JGLM, while ideal, seems to be less "common" among ministries than the normative way of both prayee and pray-ers having faith. But commoness is no sure indicator of what's right or best. It could be that it's less common not because it's wrong or exceptional, but because people just don't have the faith they ought to have. And rather than being exceptional, it might be the ideal God requires or encourages us toward. Nevertheless, I recommend focusing on what I see to be normative and commonest way the Gospels present healing. Where both sides have faith. While at the same time striving for the ideal.

The one "faith healer" I respect the most who is still living would probably be Roger Sapp. He's Charismatic in his pneumatology and Wesleyan in his soteriology. He graduated seminary from some Wesleyan institution he called a "cemetary" rather than seminary because it was spiritually dead, but he went there anyway because he felt God called him to it. He's semi-retired and no longer does itinerant ministry as he did in the past. He does post on the topic of healing on facebook as well as kind of interacting with those who comment. He sometimes has a prayer list he'll cycle through where he'll pray for a list of people in his private daily devotionals a number of times and then move on to a new list of prayer requests after some weeks. Presumably one can be added to the list repeatedly. He's got some great DVDs and books for purchase as well as having some freely online materials I've linked to in my blog HERE ZZZZZ  https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2014/07/roger-sapp-materials.html. Roger Sapp's website is www.allnationsmin.org. Technically his views are among the extreme ones in that he believes it's always God's will to heal. I'll recommend others who are not as "extreme." Sapp has a number of protégés. The one I'm kind of aware of is his protégée Sherry Evans (www.firereach.com). She also has a facebook account I'm Facebook friends with along with Roger Sapp. I think her home church is in Ohio and they have regular healing services there. I would attend one of her meetings if I lived nearby. Because presumably she has learned a bit from Roger Sapp, it stands to reason she shares his "anointing" and "mantle" (so to speak). I spoke to her once. I think her main mentor for healing was not Roger SAPP but Roger WEBB. Webb himself recently died of kidney disease. But he fought hard and lived for a long time despite his battle. All the while getting other people healed.

I would also immediately recommend three prayer lines. Persist in praying for and getting prayer for your son. Never give up. Even if he were never to get better, pursuing healing is an act of worship pleasing to God. God likes, even loves faith. It pleases Him like nothing else. All true obedience springs from some kernel of faith. At the same time, there's always the danger of unmet expectations and disappointments which can lead to bitterness. But if the focus is seeking healing as an act of worship, such efforts will never be wasted. With God all things are possible. Healing of paralysis is just as easy for God has healing of a common cold. Even though I don't completely agree with their theology and practice, three prayer lines I can immediately recommend are the following. Call them regularly. Pester them. Call each one at least once or twice a week. Jesus didn't deny the Syro-Phoenician woman who "pestered" Him. Or the two blind men who persisted enough to follow Him into a house when He seemed to ignore them (Matt. 9:27ff.). Jesus repeatedly taught on persistence and perseverance in prayer (Luke 11:8; & 18:1-8). Here are the prayer lines:

CBN Prayer line. The Christian Broadcasting Network produces the famous The 700 Club television show:
(800) 700 - 7000
CBN is theologically a Charismatic organization.

Andrew Wommack Ministry's prayer line which last I heard is now 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
(719) 635 - 1111
Wommack's ministry is theologically a Charismatic and "Word of Faith" [WoF] ministry. There are some bad things in WoF, but I do think many of them are saved and that God does sometimes work miracles among them.

John G. Lake Ministries' TWO prayer lines. One is for Non-Emergeny and the other is for Emergency line. They don't aways pick up. They might be inundated with calls. But you can always leave a message.
This ministry is so much into COMMANDING healing that the prayers are very short. But don't let that annoy or stop you from repeatedly asking for prayer from them. Or the other recommended prayer lines.
NON-Emergency (469) 209 - 0946
Emergency (469) 343 - 8995

ASK JGLM FOR PRAYER CLOTHS. They will send prayer cloths for free. They don't accept money for healing. But understandably, they do for their products like CDs etc.

JGLM is extreme, but they take healing ministry seriously. If you can attend their meetings or Life Teams, it might help. Website: https://www.jglm.org/
Theologically their ministry builds on both Charismatic and Word of Faith theology, but focuses on authority in Christ and identity in Christ.


The following are some books & resources I CAN IMMEDIATELY RECOMMEND with the least amount of necessary qualifications and caveats. Because they are the most theologically informed and because they are on the side of the "more balanced" even though my views are now paradoxically BOTH on the "balanced" AND on the "extreme" sides, but in different senses (See for example my blog Healing According to Faith ZZZZZ  https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2023/03/healing-according-to-faith.html).

- Christian Healing: A Practical and Comprehensive Guide written by (Anglican) Mark Pearson [updated and expanded]. This is probably the number one "go to book" I would recommend because it's very balanced, thorough and not extreme. Though, I would have some disagreements with its overly enthusiastic sacramentology (especially Catholic sacraments despite being Anglican himself), and other stuff. Nevertheless, it's chock full of info and insights. MAKE SURE TO GET THE UPDATED & EXPANDED EDITION.

- Healing by (Catholic) Francis MacNutt [He's got other books on healing and deliverance, but I haven't read them yet so I can't recommend them. However, THIS BOOK is foundational and balanced (at least the original version I read). Though he died at a good old age, his website has other resources which I also am not familar with. I've read his wife's two books on Angels and there were some iffy stuff inside. Presumably the UPDATED AND EXPANDED EDITION of his book "Healing" doesn't take out any of the good of the original and only builds on it. I have both the original and updated editions, but I've only read the original. Their ministry [Francis and Judith] also goes into inner healing and other stuff which I don't always agree with and can be dangerous. Like visualizing Jesus going back to a tramatic period of one's life. Maybe in some instances it's genuinely Christ they are seeing, but sometimes it might be demonic. However, these additional approaches aren't emphasized in the original book Healing. Though they might be in the UPDATED and Expanded edition. I recommend getting a copy of both editions for comparision.

- Divine Healing by (Anglican) Herbert Pakenham-Walsh [in public domain which can read or even downloaded HERE ZZZZZ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Divine_Healing/2pAcORUjqP4C?hl=en&gbpv=0   ]

- Sam Storms' (a Calvinist and continuationist) articles on healing at his website & his books like Healing & Holiness: A Biblical Response to the Faith-Healing Phenomenon. His website: https://www.samstorms.org/

- When God Doesn't Heal Now by (Charismatic?) Larry Keefauver [Your local library may have a copy. That's how I read it.]

- Divine Healing by R.A. Torrey which I host on this blog HERE ZZZZZ  https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/10/divine-healing-does-god-perform.html. He's one of the former presidents of Moody Bible Institute and it's a bit surprising that he wrote a book on healing and practiced healing because MBI is historically a cessationist Bible school.

- The folks at the The Remnant Radio are theologically astute and operate in the charismatic gifts. Michael Miller is an Arminian, Michael Roundtree is a Calvinist. I don't know Joshua Lewis' views on predestination. But they are all theologically knowledgeable, move in the gifts of the Spirit and practice healing. They have a finger on the pulse of the modern Charismatic movement and both praise and critique the good and the bad in it. They have a yearly practice of reviewing the predictions and prophecies of various charismatic teachers and expose when they have been right and when they have been wrong. Their recommendations of healing ministers and ministries should be taken into consideration given that The Remnant Radio is headed by theologically responsible people. They too also practice healing in their respective churches. Check out their website: TheRemnantRadio.com. They have videos dealing with the topic of healing on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRemnantRadio.  Use the "Search" feature and type in "heal" and "healing". Avail yourself of their their Word & Spirit School, workshops, and their conferences, et cetera. I enjoy watching Sid Roth videos where he interviews contemporary charismatics from the 1980s to the present. But UNLIKE watching Sid Roth videos where I have to use a lot of discernment and have to wonder whether what I'm hearing is from a con artist or genuinely supernatural but from the demonic realm, I don't have to worry about that when listening to The Remnant Radio. I don't completely agree with their theology of healing, but it's definitely safer and [for the better or worse] balanced.

Craig Keener's books on miracles. The two volume Miracles: "The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts" [2011] where he documents some modern miracles. THERE'S 70% MORE in Craig Keener's more recent book, "Miracles Today: The Supernatural Work of God in the Modern World" [2021]

Steve Gregg's ministry. He's a balanced charismatic and he's got a lot of audio teaching materials freely online ZZZZ https://www.thenarrowpath.com/

Finally, I would also recommend Ken Blue's book Authority to Heal because it's a good short introduction to healing ministry. I don't recall if he believes it's always God's will to heal or not. If I recall correctly, he thinks it usually God's will, but not always. I recommend it because it's fairly balanced and short. I believe Blue is Charismatic. If you get Pearson's book, you really don't need to get this book. But it's still good to have because it's an encouraging introduction and cuts to the chase.

- Those first 10 recommendations listed above do not teach it's always God's will to heal and therefore are among the "balanced" and less "dangerous" and "extreme" ministries/resources [scare quotes intented]. These last two are on the extreme side (especially Cheung).

- The Real Faith by Charles S. Price because even though he was part of the controversial healing revivals in the early 20th century, and not as theologically balanced or informed, this book of his nevertheless encourages and inspires people to get in touch with God in asking for the gift of faith which one cannot self-generate. So there's less danger of feeling condemned or inferior for "not having enough faith" if healing is delayed or seemingly "denied" [quotation marks intended]; which some ministries and approaches are liable to cause in people with their theology of self-generated voluntary doxastic faith. I host this book on this blog HERE ZZZZZ https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-real-faith-by-charles-s-price_6338.html . I say more about this books later on in the blog.

Vincent Cheung is a very controversial author. Before reading any of his materials I highly recommend FIRST reading my disagreements with his theology HERE ZZZZZZ
https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/07/vincent-cheung-on-healing.html. But despite what I see as weaknesses in his theology, he does make some great points. ***AFTER*** reading my disagreements and warning concerning his theology, you HAVE TO read his article: Faith Override which demolishes so much of Evangelical and especially Reformed Calvinistic hesitancy for pursuing healing. I've linked to it and other articles in my blog about Cheung HERE  ZZZZZ. https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/07/vincent-cheung-on-healing.html
Then read his blogposts like The Extreme Faith Healer; All Things Are Yours and his books Contract; Fulcrum; Backstage; Trace; Hero, etc. Including his three books on Divine Healing. I've linked to all three editions of 2001, 2003 and 2012 in that blogpost. His Spotify channel where he posts high quality text-to-speech audio is HERE.

I really don't want to just list names without some theological qualifications. Depending on one's own theology, his/her tolerance for strange or aberrant or unfamiliar theology will differ. It took many years of study and prayer to come to my present conclusions on healing and it's constantly developing. Though there hasn't been a major paradigm shift in my views in a long time. But people who are desperate for healing can understandably be tempted to grasp at anything to the point of compromising their own deeply held theological convictions. And we know the Bible says in 1 Cor. 14:23 "whatever does not proceed from faith is sin" [even if one is choosing something in doubt which might in fact be actually good, right, or sufficiently within the pale of orthodoxy]. As you know I'm a Calvinist, Baptist and a continuationist. I don't mind the term Charismatic, but it can prejudice people against me given some of the crazy things some Charismatics do. I have a blog titled, "Recommended Resources on Divine Healing" but Blogger unpublished it because it violates Blogger Community Guidelines. I can re-submit it for republishing after I change it to meet the guidelines and someone in authority approves it. I never got around to doing it. I eventually will, given that there will be more people like you who want recommendations. Even in those recommendations there's not one person I agree with 100% in their theology. That includes Evangelical stalwarts like the staid Charles Spurgeon or George Mueller.

There's a lot more I could say, but I don't have the time to really organize my thoughts very well. But I'll continue trying to say something. There are many approaches, methods and emphases to divine healing by various ministries, books and other resources out there that I've encountered. Some are "more balanced" and others "more extreme." Some contradict each other. Some methods I agree with; others I reject or doubt/question; while others I de-emphasize. I've read around 60 books on healing from various traditions like Anglican, Lutheran, Catholic, Wesleyan, Presbyterian, Third Wave, Holiness Movement, Pentecostal, Neo-Pentecostal, Charismatic, Word of Faith, Fundamentalist et cetera. More books if you include ones that aren't specifically on healing but only touch on it. Some ministries and ministers have questionable and/or shallow theology & practices and others are more respectable. Because of that, some people will find (from their own current perspective) some ministries/ministers more acceptable and others perceived as being more extreme, or dangerous or heretical. Even anathema. But as people develop their theology of healing, their tolerance for less standard Evangelical theology and ministers will likely expand to some degree because the Bible's teaching on healing does clearly go beyond what's usually found among Evangelicals. A good example of the middle of the road Evangelical view would probably be Chip Ingram's three part sermon series "Does God Still Heal?" which is freely downloadable at his website: https://livingontheedge.org/product/does-god-still-heal-mp3/

Let me first address 1. various approaches, methods and emphases in healing before I get to issues of 2. theological orthodoxy and 3. individual personalities & "faith healers." I may not have have the time to address #2 and #3. Just make sure that you yourself are grounded in good Evangelical theology. For example, read Wayne Grudem's book Introduction to Systematic Theology which now has a second edition where he slightly changed/updated his theology [e.g. on Christology etc.]. Grudem is a Calvinistic continuationist Baptist like myself. He's one of the main editors/translators of the ESV translation of the Bible and of the ESV Study Bible. He's a fairly well respected theologian among Evangelicals. What's great about his systematic theology is that it's from a continuationist perspective AND a solidly Reformation perspective.

When it comes to approaches, methods and emphases, some ministries will focus on one or more of the following. Usually incorporating about 10, but only REALLY emphasizing as central no more than 5. Just because I mention a source or resource doesn't mean that I endorse everything they teach. You have to use your own discernment which I believe will grow and develop as you learn more about different theological traditions.

-Healing through the sovereignty of God whereby it's NOT ALWAYS God's will to heal ["If it be Thy Will" type of prayers].
See for example:
this video on The Healing ministry of Charles Spurgeon HERE ZZZZZ
https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-healing-ministry-of-charles-spurgeon.html

The sermon Jehovah-Rophi by Calvinist preacher Charles Spurgeon ZZZZZ https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/jehovah-rophi/#flipbook/
Some Spurgeon quotes on divine [physical] healing can be found on my blog HERE ZZZZZ   https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/07/quotes-on-divine-healing.html


- Healing through Discerning WHETHER it's God's will to heal a particular person. Examples include the famous George Mueller [see John Piper's article HERE ZZZZZ   https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/george-muller-did-not-have-the-gift-of-faith-thankfully]; G.C. Bevington's memoir (which is freely online on various cites) Remarkable Incidents and Modern Miracles Through Prayer and Faith ZZZZZ [for example here] https://godrules.net/library/bevington/bevington.htm
Audio version [poor quality] ZZZZZ
https://archive.org/details/RemarkableIncidentsAndModernMiraclesThroughPrayerAndFaithByG.C/Beavington-Chapter01.mp3
- R.A. Torrey's book on Divine Healing which is posted in this blog in its entirety HERE ZZZZZ    https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/10/divine-healing-does-god-perform.html.
Here's a collection of George Mueller Quotes on Faith
https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/07/george-mueller-quotes.html

- Healing through the view that it's ALWAYS the will of God to heal. THE classic example is F.F. Bosworth's book Christ the Healer which has inspired and informed many other healing ministries directly or indirectly. This is a foundational book on healing for some approaches. You have to read this book. You might disagree with its theology at first, but the more you read it, the more you'll likely see that there has to be some truth to his theology given his Biblical and logical arguments. I've probably read this book 15 times or more and it gradually moved my views from the standard Evangelical view on healing to a more extreme version [at least in one sense] every time I read it. The 9th edition has been modernized and the sentences broken up and simplified. In my opinion they weakened the book by doing that. I recommend getting the 8th edition if you can get a used copy. But if not, getting the 9th edition will suffice. Or get both so you can compare them and see how they slightly watered down the power and impact of the original wording.

- Healing through Prayer [petition, intercession, perseverance, persistence, collective intercessory prayer etc.]. This is a standard Evangelical approach

- Healing through Holiness, Repentance and Fellowship with God. See Andrew Murray's book Divine Healing ZZZZZ https://www.hopefaithprayer.com/books/Divine%20Healing%20-%20Andrew%20Murray.pdf  OR here ZZZZZ https://www.worldinvisible.com/library/murray/healing/index.htm  and A.B. Simpson's books like The Gospel of Healing https://cdn.cmalliance.org/wordpress/cmalliance/the-gospel-of-healing.pdf  or here   https://online.ambrose.edu/alliancestudies/simpson/gos_heal.html     & The Lord for the Body    https://online.ambrose.edu/alliancestudies/simpson/LORDBODY.HTM  or HERE https://www.hopefaithprayer.com/books/the-lord-for-the-body.pdf
A number of Simpson's books are available Here:
https://online.ambrose.edu/alliancestudies/
  See also Dr. Lilian B. Yeomans' compilation of four books titled "His Healing Power" [also alternatively titled "Healing Treasury"]. Cornelia Nuzum's book The Life of Faith

- Healing through Fasting to get prayers answered [the mechanics often explained differently]. See for example Derek Prince's books on fasting like Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting; or Franklin Hall's controversial book Fasting: Atomic Power With God [used to be freely online, but I'm not sure anymore]. Fasting can be abused as an attempt to twist God's arm to heal, or what amounts to how children sometimes hold their breath in order to get one's way. These abuses never work. But proper fasting gets one in the right attitude of healing and focuses one's purpose and resolve to get healed. Though, if one is sick, one may not be able to fast. But prayer partners can fast on behalf of the sick.

- Healing through the laying on of hands for healing. Healing "virtue" (as some call it based on the KJV's translations of Mark 5:30 KJV; Luke 6:19; 8:46 KJV) is transmitted by touch. This was the most common way Jesus healed people. By Him touching them, or them touching Him (Matt. 8:3, 15; 9:18,20-22, 25; 14:36; Mark 1:31, 41; 5:23, 27-30, 41; 6:5, 56; 7:32; 8:23, 25; 9:27; Luke 4:40; 5:13; 8:44-46, 54; 13:13). This method is so common among healing ministries that there's no point in listing any that practice it. Since most do.

- Healing as a manifestation of the arrival and in breaking of the Kingdom/Dominion/Rule of God [as in Jesus' ministry] whereby it's demonstrated that the Kingdom of God is greater than and prevailing against the Gates of Hades and the Kingdom of Darkness (Matt. 12:28; Luke 11:20). The late John Wimber's ministry is an example of this where there were "Power Encounters" between the two Kingdoms. Wimber popularized this approach and wrote a number of books on the topic. Some of which were condensed under the same title. For example, if I recall, there was the original verson of Power Healing and then the more succinct version with the same title. Or was it his book Power Evangelism? Or possibly both had two versions.

- Healing as being part of and secured by the Atonement of Christ [as per Isa. 53; Matt. 8:16-17; Ps. 103:1-4; etc.] As part of the "children's bread" [cf. Matt. 15:26; Mark 7:27]. See F.F. Bosworth's book for exhaustive documentation, as well as Bodily Healing and the Atonement by T.J. McCrossan. Some websites illegally host Bosworth's book. There's also an audio version read by his son on youtube.

- Healing through believing the Promises of healing [blessing, favor etc.] in the Bible. Many resources like Bosworth's book.

- Healing through Meditating on the promises of the Bible for faith. See F.F. Bosworth's classic book Christ the Healer and the modern ministry of Dan Downey. Downey's website: https://www.savedhealed.com/   Downey's testimony "How I Received My Healing" can be downloaded here: https://www.savedhealed.com/mp3soon.htm

- Healing through Reading the Bible voraciously because it 1. produces faith and 2. works like medicine as per Prov. 4:20-23. See Derek Prince's book God's Medicine Bottle as an example. He has a 5 part talk that's on YouTube that's based on his book HERE ZZZZZ   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9ib8-EvOq4&list=PL_L1za0tEXFWKBkDUfOo0iiXuyqwbyvos

- Healing through "Pleading the Blood [of Christ]" and/or the "Covenant" made through His shed blood. See for example Vincent Cheung's online book Contract HERE ZZZZZ     https://www.vincentcheung.com/library/. See also Derek Prince's books.

- Healing through the exercise of Spiritual Gifts [gifts of healing, or the gift of faith, or the gift of the working of miracles]. For example, The Beginner's Guide to Spiritual Gifts by Sam Storms. Many other books could be mentioned. But Storms is a good place to start because he's a seasoned Calvinistic and Charismatic theologian and pastor.

- Healing through the Combination of spiritual gifts [e.g. persons working together with various spiritual gifts like a person with the gift of discerning of spirits, working with someone with the gift of prophecy or the word of knowledge to get a person healed]. See the books by (Anglican) Mark Pearson and (Catholic) Francis MacNutt where they discuss this approach. A typical encounter might be one where a healing team minsters to a sick person and one person on the team has the gift of discernment of spirits and can tell there's a demonic source to the sickness. Another person on the team has the gift of the word of knowledge and supernaturally knows how the demonic influence entered [say, a sin, or rape, or fornication, or practicing Yoga etc]. Another person has the gift of the word of wisdom and can discern how the person needs to deal with the area that opened up a door to the demonic. While another person has the gift of prophecy and says X,Y and Z that will lead to the healing, after which the person is healed. Sometimes it's the conjunction of 2 or 3 gifts that result in the healing. Say, gift of the word of knowledge, the gift of faith, and the gift of healing.

- Healing through "The Anointing." This approach is characterized by many ministries and books in the latter half of the 20th century like the ministries of Kathryn Kuhlman and Benny Hinn who attempted to mimic Kuhlman's ministry. Or in modern times David Diga Hernandez who is more theologically responsible and balanced than Hinn] Hernandez's website: https://www.davidhernandezministries.com/

- Healing through the Baptism in the Holy Spirit for greater and more powerful results in healing. In some views this is the same as the "anointing" mentioned above. Some people have been able to get healing working prior to the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but got it exponentially more working afterwards. This touches on the issue of whether the doctrine of Subsequence is true or not. I've written an article where I explain why I lean towards the denial of the doctrine of Subsequence. Meaning, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is something that happens at the same time as conversion or is itself the same thing as regeneration. So that being "born in the Spirit" is essentially [and for all intents and purposes] the same thing as being "baptized in the Spirit." See me blog on the issue of Subsequence HERE ZZZZZZ

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Doctrine of Subsequence
https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-baptism-of-holy-spirit-and-doctrine.html

- Healing through our Authority and Position in Christ [i.e. Kingdom Authority] in commanding/ordering/enforcing healing (e.g. Matt. 12:13; Mark 3:5; Luke 6:10). See John G. Lake Ministries with Curry Blake as the premier modern example at https://www.jglm.org/

- Healing through our Identity in Christ, new creations/creatures, children of God. This is related to the one above about authority in Christ.. See John G. Lake Ministries with Curry Blake as an example ZZZZZ https://www.jglm.org/. Also So You Think Your Mind is Renewed written by Cornel Marais.

- Healing through Speaking to the sickness to leave and for the body to be healed [as Jesus spoke to the wind and waves to be still, or Jesus' teaching about speaking to mountains and mulberry trees to be moved]. See Andrew Wommack's ministry and books as an example.   https://www.awmi.net/

- Healing through the Sacraments. See the books by (Anglican) Mark Pearson and (Catholic) Francis MacNutt [which I mentioned above] as examples which teach healing through the sacraments like:

1. the Eucharist & the Lord's Supper/communion [as per 1 Cor. 11:30];

2. Anointing with Oil [as per Mark 6:13; Jam. 5:14-16];

3. Auricular Confession of sins to a minister/priest for forgiveness/absolution resulting in healing [as per James 5:16];

4. Baptism to heal and exorcise. Church history records healings and exorcisms happening simultaneous with baptism (both in modern times and throughout church history). It isn't a coincidence that the renunciation of the devil and all his works by the persons to be baptized are in some traditional baptismal rites.

- Healing through Resisting the Devil and his Works of sickness and sin. James 4:7 states, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you," and Eph. 4:27 states, "and give no opportunity to the devil." On this approach resisting the devil and his works of sickness are to parallel resisting the devil's work of temptation and sin. So, in the same way we ought to fight sin, we are also to fight, resist and oppose sickness since both are the work of the devil and demons [if not always directly demonic, then indirectly since sickness is the result of the Fall which the devil instigated].


- Healing through Faith Confessions based on the Bible. For example like in the Word of Faith Movement; E.W. Kenyon; Don Gossett et cetera. This is a form of prayer without hedging. Faith confessions are everywhere in Scripture. When we say "Amen" we're asserting that we believe such and such to be true, to be the case or will happen and be an answered prayer. When the psalmist said "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want/lack" that's a faith confession. Same with "surely goodness and mercy shall follow/hound/pursue me all the days of my life." Same with statements like "The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen" in 2 Tim. 4:18.

- Healing by getting at the spiritual Root Causes of sickness or of removing the blockages and obstacles for healing [often bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, a past trauma or past/present sin like known/unknown involvement in the occult, unrepentant sin, ingratitude/ungratefulness, despair, generational curse etc.] See the ministries & resources/books/video of Ken Fish  ZZZZ https://orbisministries.org/;  or Craig A. Miller; or Henry Wright as examples. I hear some good results from this approach, but I have doubts as to whether the results are often actually due to the approach, or whether they just removed doubts and obstacles that allowed "faith to finally operate." I'm also on the fence regarding the concept of "generational curses" and such. Roger Sapp rejects the idea of generational curses [or at least thinks they aren't a big deal and don't need to be dealt with even if they exist]. Sapp has a booklet undermining the "curses" concept and points to the lesson of Balaam that the enemies of God cannot curse what God has blessed [Num. 23].

- Healing by Casting out demons. Called "deliverance ministry" by non-Catholics or exorcism by Catholics. Though, Catholics don't consider Protestant deliverances as equivalent to exorcisms which are allegedly "more powerful" <a href="https://youtu.be/QMCx80fW2LE?t=5664">despite one prominent Catholic exorcist saying it takes an average of 75 sessions to successfully exorcise all demons</a> <grin>. That seems pretty powerless to me. This approach is an aspect of Spiritual Warfare. While some sicknesses are fundamentally demonic, not all sickness are demonic. Even those that aren't fundamentally demonic can be exacerbated by demonic influence. Some sicknesses are completely natural and biological. Even then, persistent natural sickness is often [not always] made worse by demonic influence. If not by making the sickness worse, then at the very least by breaking down people's hope and emotional/psychological health and peace which can make the sickness and symptoms worse because there's a synergistic relationship between spirit, mind and body.

- Healing by Acting in Faith one has received one's requested or commanded healing by attempting to do what one couldn't do, which often times leads to the manifestation of the healing. Or testing out the issue or body part after receiving prayer for healing. The books and ministries of F.F. Bosworth, Andrew Wommack, Curry Blake and A.B. Simpson are as examples that teach this. See also The Life of Faith by Cornelia Nuzum. Many of A.B. Simpson's book on healing are freely online as I linked to above. The book Two Hundred Genuine Instances of Divine Healing records 200 claimed cases of healing and many of them use this approach of ACTING IN FAITH that the prayers for one's healing has been and is being answered. The book is freely available HERE:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Two_Hundred_Genuine_Instances_of_Divine/r8IPAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

This approach can be dangerous in some cases as I've explained in my blog HERE. ZZZZZf [link to be added]
https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2024/10/two-hundred-genuine-instances-of-divine.html


- Healing by seeking in prayer and fellowship with God the special temporary massive endowment of the Gift of Faith like lightning or a meteorite coming down from above from God for healing. See Charles S. Price's book The Real Faith [The book in its entirety is on this blog here ZZZZZ  https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-real-faith-by-charles-s-price_6338.html. See also Price's book Spiritual and Physical Health. Price's book The Real Faith I think is mistaken in thinking all healing must or ought to be of the type of faith described in the book. Which I think, unbeknownst to Price, is actually describing "the gift of faith" which is special and temporary. I suspect that people with the spiritual GIFT of faith aren't people who have that faith all the time, but "have it" in the sense of being chosen by God to more consistently and periodically manifest and receive that special endowment of faith for miracles. So, I don't think all healing must be through "the gift of faith." Sometimes [and more commonly] it's via "the grace of faith." See my blog here on the distinction here ZZZZZ   https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2023/03/healing-according-to-faith.html

- Healing through the recitation of Testimonies of healing [or other of God's blessings] as seeds that reproduce after their kind when recounted and recited, heard and believed. See Bill Johnson's book Release the Power of Jesus.

- Healing through Strong Unwavering faith for healing Without Any Doubt. Examples include O.L. Yerty's book (online HERE https://christianoddsandends.blogspot.com/2019/06/christ-master-of-all-diseases.html      or HERE ZZZZZ   https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015071578648&view=1up&seq=1       poor quality audio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYRJB4bLu9k&list=PLN0_OV3dEFAoG4-r9IsdKdf-1zTaO1sSJ) and the controversial ministry of Thurman Scrivner who got many healed but who himself sadly died recently in sickness and great pain. Scrivner's website might be:  https://id21237.securedata.net/tlsmor/index.htm I don't recall the url being that. Maybe that's a new url, or they moved the website to another hosting company. A problem with Scrivner's theology is that it tends to be legalistic and doesn't emphasize grace as the central basis for healing. Sapp, Blake and Cheung [et al.] on the other hand DO make grace the central basis for healing.

- Healing through unwavering extraordinary Persistence, Perseverance & Tenacity in seeking healing. Modern examples include Roger Sapp, Curry Blake, Michael Yeager, Thurman Scrivner. Yeager's youtube channel :https://www.youtube.com/@JesusIsLordMin
website: https://www.jilmi.org/home

- Healing through Worship. Some people sometimes listen to worship music and even actively worship for hours a day for a number of days and often get healed in the presence of God (Ps. 100; 103 passim).

- Healing through praising God (similar to the one above about worship). See Merlin Carothers books Power in Praise and From Prison to Praise. Dr. Lilian B. Yeomans has an anecdote on this approach in her compilation book. So does Carothers [I believe in From Prison to Praise]. I highly recommend Power in Praise.

- Healing through Corporate Faith and Agreement of the congregation or those assembled to minister healing [e.g. elders in Jam. 5:14ff.] and the exclusion of those who don't have faith in order not to dilute and weaken the "atmosphere of faith" [Mark 8:23]. As our Lord said in Matt. 18:19-20 "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." This approach is mentioned in most ministries. Including both F.F. Bosworth and Roger Sapp. See also the following two approaches that are similar.

- Healing through the loving concerted praying of Husband and Wife. As 1 Pet. 3:7 says, "Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, SO THAT YOUR PRAYERS MAY NOT BE HINDERED."

- Healing by Mutual or Singular praying for Other People's Healing on the principle of reaping what one sows. According to this approach, if you sow healing in other people's lives, you reap healing in your own life. Even praying for others with the same condition you have (though not limited to it). On this approach, one interpreting one's own symptoms as if it were a word of knowledge and praying for someone else they know has the same condition or some one they don't know. Surely, there's another Christian somewhere on the planet with the same condition. Because allegedly, according to popular Charismatic teaching, some words of knowledge for healing manifests as a pain or a problem in their own body indicating the other person's affliction. Say, for example, you're praying for someone not related to healing and all of a sudden you have a pain in your elbow. That might be a word of knowledge indicating that the person you're praying for regarding her need for wisdom on which car to purchase, might actually be having an elbow problem. Then you ask if she has a problem with her elbow, and it might turn out she does. That would be an indication that God's ready to heal the elbow.  So, given this common charismatic teaching, it takes that practice and experience and actively applies it to one's own sickness. For example, on this approach, if you had a problem with diabetes, you can pray for an anonymous person somewhere in the world who only God knows has diabetes and pray that God heals the person of diabetes. As you do, you trust God to also heal you of diabetes, treating your symptoms of sickness as if it were a word of knowledge of someone else's sickness. Or pick someone you personally know has the same or some other sickness and pray for each other's healing according to James 5:16 which states, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another AND PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, THAT YOU MAY BE HEALED. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." The emphasis here is not on having the same type of sickness, but that fellow believers praying for each others' sicknesses will more likely bring about healing than for someone alone praying for his own sickness. There's exponential strength in numbers. As Eccl. 4:12 says, "And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him---a threefold cord is not quickly broken." And as Lev. 26:8 says, "Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword." Jesus always treated sickness as an enemy. In Luke 10 [see esp. v. 9]  Jesus sent 70 (or 72) disciples ahead of Him to preach, heal and exorcise demons. When they came back they told the Lord Jesus how amazed they were at what they were able to do supernaturally when preaching about the Kingdom of God in His Name.
 "17    The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!"
18    And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19    Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
20    Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."


- Healing by Listening to sermons on healing and faith. Because "...faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." The phrase "word of God" in Rom. 10:17 is one textual variant. Another is "word of Christ." The Greek word for "word" can also be translated as "message." So, if taken in that way, it means "faith comes by hearing, and that by hearing a message about Christ/Messiah."

There are many other approaches, but the ones I've mentioned above are some of the more familiar ones among modern continuationists.


Returning to the rest of this blog....

As I said above, virtually all approaches & methods acknowledge the importance of faith in getting the sick healed. Either faith by the sick person [prayee/ministeree] and/or the one(s) ministering healing [pray-er/administerer]. The ministries that don't strongly emphasize faith are often the one's which believe it's not always God's will to heal and/or who emphasize God's sovereignty and wisdom in deciding who and when to heal. Something which I've addressed before in other blogposts. Of all the different methods and emphases I mentioned above [and more could be mentioned], they can be broken down into two general categories when seen from a certain perspective. While most approaches and methods encourage faith on both the pray-ers and prayee, many of them, if push came to shove, would virtually hinge the healing on either one or the other.

An example of one that hinges it mostly on the pray-er(s) would be John G. Lake Ministries with Curry Blake. According to Blake's theology [which he believes continues the approach of Lake], the faith of the prayee shouldn't matter. It should be irrelevant. In his theology the ordinary way to get someone healed was lost by the church but that it was rediscovered by Lake and others during his time. That way was by the pray-er(s) having the faith and authority to COMMAND healing [even in the absence of the faith of the prayee]. That's how he trains his people to minister healing. While most other ministries hinge it mostly on the faith of the prayees. I suspect Blake is right when he says this approach of placing the burden of faith on the sick prayee is often because it's an excuse for the pray-ers not to get the job done. So that they aren't embarassed for failure as the pray-ers. Unfortunately, it often places undue pressure and fault on the prayees who fail to get healed. It's so easy to flippantly say, "The person isn't healed? That's because he didn't have faith." That may be true, but where was the faith of the pray-er(s)? Rather than breaking down people's faith, it's better to build them up in faith. Jesus said all one needed was a small amount of faith the size of a grain of mustard seed.

Having said that, I do think that prayees should strive to have as much faith as possible to receive their healing. Roger Sapp is someone who I think equally emphasizes the necessity of faith by both pray-ers and prayee. As I said at the beginning of this blog, "I think the normative way presented in the Gospels is for both the prayee and pray-ers to have faith for healing. This is why the first thing I recommended is developing one's theology of healing by reading books and listening/watching good materials on the topic." I think Blake's approach is ideal and extraordinary, but Sapp's approach is ordinary and normative.

I once spoke to a man who spent many thousands of dollars following various ministries to get healing working so that he could minister healing to others. He followed many ministries including Curry Blake's and Roger Sapp's. I asked him, which model of healing ministry he agreed with more, Blake's or Sapp's. According to him, he said he saw more (in number) and greater (in "amazing-ness") miracles in Roger Sapp's ministry. I should have asked him whether he observed their ministries around the same time. Maybe he hung around Blake's ministry before Blake really got healing working, and that may explain the difference in results. Nevertheless, Because of that anecdotal testimony, and (especially) the biblical data, I do think it's normative for the prayees to grow and develop their faith in receiving healing. Though, there are times when that's obviously impossible. For example, praying for an unconscious person, or an infant, or the mentally handicapped [all the more when raising the dead]. In such a situation, the "faith burden" (so to speak) will obviously be on the pray-er.

I've already linked to JGLM's website https://www.jglm.org/
Ask for prayer clothes. They will send them freely. They don't accept money for healing, but do for products like CDs. See also his Divine Healing Technician lectures. He's done a number of them throughout the years and some are on the website and others on youtube.

Here's one of the Older Divine Healing Technician lectures which are in depth. I recommend these more than the more recent DHTs because these older ones were given when Blake was at his peak of studying and teaching these things before his attention and focus was divided by leading a large church.
tapes 1-4
https://youtu.be/LJrM_b573bE
tapes 5-7
https://youtu.be/IR60h7eqWbM
tapes 8-10
https://youtu.be/iXWou5J77rQ
tapes 11-13
https://youtu.be/rDlqHOoLj8U
tapes 14-16
https://youtu.be/DVYEpJa7NZA
tapes 17-19
https://youtu.be/UX9uIkmb350

Here's a page that links to a relatively recent Divine Healing Technician Training seminar [along with other seminars like the New Man Series]. The DHT here not as in-depth as one the of the older ones. But I suppose it incorporates Blake's more mature, mellowed and refined views.
https://www.jglmmedia.com/free-to-watch

I don't completely agree with his DHT, but I have even more disagreements with some of the stuff taught in his New Man series. Some of the stuff is technically wrong, but nevertheless when believed it often removes doubts to healing. For example, I disagree with the New Man concept that in the spirit a Christian is already perfect. I think he and Wommack picked that up from E.W. Kenyon. I think that view presents an over-realized eschatology. It's bringing into the present what is only promised at glorification after death. Nevertheless, believing that erroneous concept can result in more healings [I suspect] because it inadvertantly [and unbeknownst to them] accesses the untapped benefits, realities and potentials of the doctrine of justification. For more on this, read Vincent Cheung's book Contract.

DHT [with a brick background].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbZj8Bp7daA&list=PL62F7NXKqmsuSj_Ek1Q86jXlWGT7_uqNN
OR Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvhFUfxJ2t0&list=PLhe-v-YDh74vjulSD-jewMknapuketlk2
Both of these playlist links are to poor quality videos of a DHT that was done in Australia. But it's really good and builds on his more foundational DHTs like the older ones. I recommend watching it after listening to the older DHT with tapes 1-19. I downloaded higher quality vidos of this brick background DHT from some YouTube channel that I can't find (or may have been closed). If I find time, I'll try to upload my copies onto my YouTube channel.


I want to say some more things and link to some blogposts where I discuss my theology of healing.

Here are links to some of my blogs on my doctrine of healing which I already posted.
The fourth link is not directly related to healing, but is important anyway because we have to address God's will in relation to healing. As many healing ministers have pointed out, about 90% of getting healing working is understanding God's will regarding healing. My views are paradoxically both attenuated by as well as augmented by my Calvinistic views.

HEALING FOOTNOTE
https://misclane.blogspot.com/2013/04/evidence-and-testimonies-of-demonic-and.html#footnote

Healing According to Faith
https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2023/03/healing-according-to-faith.html

God's Promises and Our Warranted Expectation of Their Fulfillment ZZZZZ
https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/08/gods-promises-and-our-warranted.html

Here's a brief restatement of my views on divine healing as it relates to the Calvinist understanding of God's Will(s). I believe there are different senses of God's will. See my blog HERE  ZZZZZ
Distinctions in God's Will from a Calvinist Perspective
https://misclane.blogspot.com/2013/11/distinctions-in-gods-will-from.html on 6 senses of God's Will that I explain there.

LISTED they include:

#1 Will of Decree
#2 Will of Device
#3 Will of Demand
#4 Will of Delight
#5 Will of Direction
#6 Will of Design


Here I'll just briefly explain three of them. Most Calvinists will distinguish between these two or three senses of God's Will. God's Will of Decree  (#1) and God's Prescriptive Will (#3) . This is also called God's preceptive will, or commanded will, or what I call "Will of Demand" [for the sake of alliteration]. God's will of decree or decretive will is what God has ordained actually will happen and must inexorably take place. We don't know what that is until it happens or unless God tells us by revelation. While God's will of Demand/prescription has to do with what God has commanded and expects of us to do or pursue. Some Calvinists like R.C. Sproul also refer to God's dispositional will (#4), or what I call Will of Delight. This refers to God's heart and what He delights in, desires and is disposed to by His good, gracious and loving nature, all things being equal. Calvinists grant that we ought to live our lives focused on following and pursuing God's will of demand or preceptive/prescriptive will. And leave up to God His will of decree. Often citing Deut. 29:29 which says, ""The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law [meaning God's written scriptural revelation]."

I believe and argue as a Calvinist that while in God's decree He hasn't purposed to heal everyone of every sickness at all times, yet according to God's will of demand (#3) and will of delight (#4) there is a real and genuine sense in which it is always God's will to heal. That God always prefers us to have faith for healing and to be healed. That that's His natural disposition and heart on this issue. And as we have faith for healing [or any other of God's blessings] we will receive it. Faith pleases God (Heb. 11:6). So there's similarity between this view and the "Health and Wealth Gospel" that many Evangelicals criticize as serious error. The difference being that as a Calvinist, I believe faith is ultimately the gift of God. While on most non-Calvinist views, faith is something we ourselves contribute and is self-generated [even though empowered or enabled by grace, as even some non-Calvinists will grant]. Therefore, on the one hand, and in one sense, if God hasn't purposed to heal you and financially prosper you today, you won't be healed or prospered today. God is still sovereign on this view. Yet, on the other hand, and in another sense, God admonishes us to strive to have faith for all His blessings, including healing and prosperity (3 John 1:2). And as we do so, we are pleasing to Him whether we succeed now or not. In His sovereignty, He may grant us the faith to receive His blessings, but we aren't supposed to focus on His decree, or whether God will grant faith to receive or not. Rather we are to focus on His promises to grant to us His blessings as we have faith for them. Or in the words and admonition of the Lord Jesus, "according to your faith be it unto you" (Matt. 9:29). If Calvinists complain, they shouldn't because this is analogous to other areas of Calvinist behavior, motivation and approach to sanctification. For example, on Calvinism only the elect will be saved. Nevertheless, Calvinists do all they can to get the lost saved. By preaching and witnessing to them, doing apologetics, beseeching them, praying for their salvation, et cetera. And all that despite God having already foreordained what will happen. Because God has not only ordained the Ends (i.e. what will happen), but also the Means (i.e. how they will happen). The classic example is if God ordains a farmer will harvest a certain crop of wheat, He [usually] also ordains that that farmer previously sowed wheat (though there can be exceptions, e.g. Jonah 4:10).

Another example is the issue of sanctification. On Calvinism God has foreordained all the sins we will ever commit. Yet, on Calvinism that's not an excuse to be careless in sanctification or an excuse to sin. Rather, Calvinists understand that they ought to focus on God's will of demand, His prescriptive/preceptive will, for us to pursue holiness. This standard Calvinistic approach to sanctification is the same approach I take, but I also apply it to the doctrine of healing. So that ALL THINGS ***CONSIDERED***", it's not always God's will of decree that we be free from sin, but ALL THINGS BEING ***EQUAL***, God always prefers and desires our holiness. In the same way, ALL THINGS BEING ***EQUAL*** God always wants to heal. Therefore there is a sense in which "It is always God's Will to heal." This is how my view on healing is paradoxically both "extreme" and  "balanced". "Extreme" in that it follows extreme Charismatics in saying [in one sense] it's always God's will to heal and you just have to have the faith to bring it to pass. So that healing is [proximately] in your hands. But yet also "Balanced" in that it acknowledges healing is [ultimately] in God's hands. Such that even the faith by which you believe for miracles is God's sovereign gift [whether in the form of the special "gift of faith" or the ordinary "grace of faith"]. Healing is just the sanctification of the body and takes seriously 1 Thess. 5:23-24 which states:

23    Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul AND BODY be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24    He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.


This view of mine is similar to that of Vincent Cheung's views on the supernatural. Again, see my agreements and disagreements with his theology HERE   ZZZZZ https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/07/vincent-cheung-on-healing.html. ONLY AFTER you read my criticisms of Cheung's theology and philosophy, do I HIGHLY encourage you to read his materials on faith and the supernatural. Start with his blog Faith Override.


Some of the books I've mentioned above and below have been turned into poor quality text-to-speech audiobooks here: https://www.youtube.com/@smithbosworth4622/playlists


Issues you might need to explore for yourself and come to growing [even changing] conclusions:

Is Cessationism or Continuationism true?

Is healing in the atonement? If so, does that mean healing is guaranteed only in the afterlife, or also in this life? Or guaranteed in the afterlife, but not guaranteed in this life, though often available?

Does having the gift(s) of healing mean a person can heal anyone at any time at will? Or is there God's will and timing involved?

Is it always God's will to heal? Yes, or no, or both in different senses?

Does God ever use sickness to punish unbelievers and disciple believers? Always, sometimes, infrequently, never?

When a Christian prays for healing, can God heal unbelievers as well as Christian?

There are many more issues, but those are some of the basic ones you ought to work through. I suspect your views will change in unexpected ways as you continue to struggle and work your way through these issues (sometimes changing and refining it over and over).

I'm now going to mention various ministries and resources with some commentary. I'm going to copy and paste much of what I wrote in my original blogpost on Divine Healing Recommendations [this is the one I said I needed to re-submit to Blogger for approval] :


Some of the following resources are not directly about divine healing. They are included because they mention healing in a relevant way or because (in my personal opinion and theology) there is some indirect or implicit connection to healing. These are just a selection of great books and resources on healing, prayer, deliverance from demonic influence and/or possession, biographies of past healing evangelists, et cetera.

I do not claim that every author included is orthodox in teaching or was/is a genuine Christian. Also, I disagree with something in every author I've included. That's mostly because I'm both a Calvinist and continuationist and most of the authors are not Calvinists. Also, some of the authors may have perceived or real stains on the record of their personal histories or theologies that in some minds disqualify them for having ever been genuinely used of God to perform miracles (e.g. Allen, Hagin, Lake, Liarsdon, McPherson). But even David who murdered Uriah was (after his repentance) still nevertheless considered by God to be "a man after God's own heart." Samson is included in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews chapter 11 even though he committed various grievous sins in his life as a believer. Using Biblical discernment is necessary whenever reading books on theology. That's especially true for any subject that deals with the supernatural. Everyone needs to learn how to "chew the meat and to spit out the bones". Outside of the Bible no book is perfect in doctrine and teaching. Heretics do exist, but just because someone doesn't have everything perfectly right in his theology doesn't necessarily mean that that person is a heretic or wasn't used by God. For example, there's no question that the doctrine of God is the most important doctrine to get right such that an error there can endanger one's soul. Yet, few question the salvation of most of the Ante-Nicene Apostolic Fathers and apologists even though their doctrines of God, Christology and Pneumatology were sometimes faulty (e.g. Justin Martyr).


Here are Some Resources to look into. I've used asterisks [ * ] to rate certain resources I'm more familiar with. So five asterisks [ * * * * * ] are better than three [ * * * ]. There are others I'll add later. But the ones already included are often older and more "classic." There are modern charismatic books and ministries I'd like to include, but as I said above, the ministries of these contemporary authors aren't finished and so can't be judged by history yet.


The Price of God's Miracle Working Power by A.A. Allen
How to Have God's Faith by A.A. Allen

God's Generals: Why They Succeeded and Why Some Failed (biographies of healing evangelists including Allen) by Roberts Liardon * * *

Divine Healing by J. Grant Anderson * * *

The Bondage Breaker by Neil T. Anderson * * * * *
Anderson's books are somewhere between Evangelical and charismatic theology and so are recommended by Evangelicals for Evangelicals and because of that are a bit controversial among Evangelicals, but I think they do much more good than harm. We can nitpick about the details, but his general approach is overall good IMHO.

Divine Healing: The Children's Bread by Keith M. Bailey * * *
A New Significance for the Doctrine of Healing in the Atonement by Keith M. Bailey

The Holy Spirit and You by Dennis and Rita Bennett * * * * *☺

Remarkable Incidents and Modern Miracles Through Prayer and Faith by G.C. Bevington * * *
Many websites host this autobiography where he also includes instances of successfully healing others through faith. His approach was to discern whether it was God's will to heal. He was in the Holiness Movement.


Authority to Heal by Ken Blue * * * * ☺
 
Johann Christoph Blumhardt was a Lutheran "faith healer" and exorcist.
 The Awakening: One Man's Battle with Darkness by Friedrich Zuendel [freely online]
Blumhardt's Battle: A Conflict With Satan by Thomas E. Lowe
Jesus is the Victor by Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt
Pastor Blumhardt: A Record of the Wonderful Spiritual and Physical Manifestations of God's Power in Healing Souls and Bodies, Through the Prayers of His Servant, Christoph Blumhardt by Capt. R. Kelso Carter
Distinguish between Johann Christoph Blumhardt (father) and Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt (son)

The Lord That Healeth Thee by W.E. Boardman * * *☺

Christ the Healer by F.F. Bosworth (or here, here, audiobook version) * * * * *☺
 
E.M. Bounds Books on Prayer and Demons * * * * *☺
ZZZZZ https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/08/em-bounds-on-prayer.html

The Suppressed Evidence: Or, Proofs of the Miraculous Faith and Experience of the Church of Christ In All Ages, From Authentic Records of the Fathers, Waldenses, Hussites, Reformers, United Brethren, &c. by Thomas Boys [freely online]

Israel's Divine Healer by Michael L. Brown * * * *
This the same Michael Brown who is a Messianic Jew and who is today's foremost expert in defending Jesus' Messiahship against Jewish objections and objectors.

The Grace of Healing by J.W. Byers

Two Hundred Genuine Instances of Divine Healing by A.L. Byers
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Two_Hundred_Genuine_Instances_of_Divine/r8IPAAAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
Again, see my caveats HERE

Divine Healing of Soul and Body by Enoch Edwin Byrum [freely online]
The Great Physician and His Power to Heal by E.E. Byrum [freely online]
Riches of Grace by E.E. Byrum  [freely online]
The Secret of Prayer: How and Why We Pray by E.E. Byrum  [freely online]
The Secret of Salvation by E. E. Byrum  [freely online]
Startling Incidents and Experiences In the Christian Life by E. E. Byrum  [freely online]


Power In Praise by Merlin Carothers * * * * *

God, the Bible and Spiritual Warfare: A Review Article by D.A. Carson (book review of Gregory Boyd's book God At War)

Divine Healing or The Atonement for Sin and Sickness by Capt. Russell Kelso Carter
"Faith Healing" Reviewed After Twenty Years by Capt. Russell Kelso Carter
[Carter modified his views to a more "moderate" and less "extreme" stance in the second book. Both books are freely online]


How to be Filled with Spiritual Power: Based on the Miracle Ministry of John G. Lake by Harold J. Chadwick  

Dorothea Trudel; or, The Prayer of Faith by unknown German author, but published by Charles Cullis  [freely online]
Faith Cures; or, Answers to Prayer in the Healing of the Sick by Charles Cullis [the 1st in the series]  [freely online]
More Faith Cures; or, Answers to Prayer in the Healing of the Sick by Charles Cullis [or Here] [the 2nd in the series]  [freely online]
Other Faith Cures; or, Answers to Prayer in the Healing of the Sick by Charles Cullis [the 3rd in the series]  [freely online]


Dan Downey Materials * * * *

Touch the World Through Prayer by Wesley L. Duewel * * * *

Gospel and Spirit in Hermeneutics by Gordon Fee

Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God by Gordon Fee
 

Smith Wigglesworth: Apostle of Faith (biography) by Stanley Howard Frodsham

Miraculous Healing by Henry W. Frost

How Can I Find Healing? by Jim Glennon * * *☺
Your Healing Is Within You by Jim Glennon * * *☺

The Ministry of Healing by A.J. Gordon  * * * * *☺  [freely online]

The Ministry of the Spirit by A.J. Gordon  [freely online]
 

Quiet Talks about the Healing Christ by S.D. Gordon  [freely online]
Quiet Talks on Prayer by S.D. Gordon  [freely online]
 


Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? editor Wayne Grudem (Book)
 

God's Medicine of Faith–The Word by Norvel Hayes
How to Live and Not Die by Norvel Hayes

Kenneth Hagin is a well known Word of Faith teacher. I think there is so bad and some good in his theology and practice.
The Believer's Authority by Kenneth E. Hagin
God's Medicine by Kenneth E. Hagin
Healing Belongs To Us by Kenneth E. Hagin
How You Can Be Led By the Holy Spirit by Kenneth E. Hagin
The Key to Scriptural Healing by Kenneth E. Hagin
Redeemed From Poverty, Sickness, and Spiritual Death by Kenneth E. Hagin
Seven Things You Should Know About Divine Healing by Kenneth E. Hagin
Zoe: The God-Kind of Life by Kenneth E. Hagin


Fasting: Atomic Power With God by Franklin Hall

The Guiding Hand, Or, Providential Direction, Illustrated by Authentic Instances by Horace Lorenzo Hastings  [freely online]
Tales of Trust by Horace Lorenzo Hastings  [freely online]
Ebenezers; Or, Records of Prevailing Prayer by Horace Lorenzo Hastings  [freely online]

Faith For Healing by William H. Hinkle  [freely online]

Systematic Theology: A Pentecostal Perspective edited by Stanley M. Horton
 

Handbook for Healing by Charles and Frances Hunter
How To Heal The Sick by Charles and Frances Hunter * * *☺

 
When Heaven Invades Earth: A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles by Bill Johnson
There are many videos of Bill Johnson on YouTube

When God Doesn't Heal Now by Larry Keefauver * * *

 
Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts by Craig S. Keener * * * * *
"The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts" [2011] where he documents some modern miracles. THERE'S 70% MORE in Craig Keener's more recent book, "Miracles Today: The Supernatural Work of God in the Modern World" [2021]

Kenyon could be said to be the grandfather of the Word of Faith Movement
The Blood Covenant by E.W. Kenyon
Claiming Our Rights by E.W. Kenyon
New Creation Realities by E.W. Kenyon
A New Type of Christianity by E.W. Kenyon  
Righteousness by E.W. Kenyon
Sign Posts on the Road to Success by E.W. Kenyon
What We Are In Christ by E.W. Kenyon


Adventures in God by John G. Lake
Adventures in Religion by John G. Lake
John G. Lake: The Complete Collection of His Life Teachings compiled by Roberts Liardon * * * *
John G. Lake on Healing compiled by Roberts Liardon
John G. Lake: His Life, His Sermons, His Boldness of Faith compiled by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland
John G. Lake Sermons on Dominion over Demons, Disease & Death compiled by Gordon Lindsay
How to be Filled with Spiritual Power: Based on the Miracle Ministry of John G. Lake by Harold J. Chadwick (or here, here, here, here)
God's Generals: Why They Succeeded and Why Some Failed (biographies of healing evangelists including Lake) by Roberts Liardon * * *
 

The Latter Rain Evangel (various)

God's Generals: Why They Succeeded and Why Some Failed (biographies of healing evangelists) by Roberts Liardon * * *

John G. Lake Sermons on Dominion over Demons, Disease & Death compiled by Gordon Lindsay
More on or by Gordon Lindsay (brief bio)

Healing and the Scriptures by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones *  *☺
The Supernatural in Medicine by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Our Physical Heritage in Christ by Kenneth Mackenzie

The Authority of the Believer by John A. MacMillan * * *☺

Healing by Francis MacNutt * * * * * ☺
Power To Heal by Francis MacNutt
MacNutt has written many books on healing from a Catholic perspective.

Administering the Children's Bread: The Basics of Healing Under the New Covenant by Cornel Marais and Simon Wilson

Divine Healing Sermons by Aimee Semple McPherson [freely online]
This is That by Aimee Semple McPherson
God's Generals: Why They Succeeded and Why Some Failed (biographies of healing evangelists including McPherson) by Roberts Liardon * * *
 

The Blessed Life by F.B. Meyer
Life Without Miracles by F.B. Meyer
The Prayer of Intercession by F.B. Meyer
Secret of Guidance by F.B. Meyer
Way Into the Holiest by F.B. Meyer
Love to the Uttermost by F.B. Meyer
John the Baptist by F.B. Meyer
Works of Meyer at CCEL
Articles and Sermons by F.B. Meyer at SermonIndex.net
More books by F.B. Meyer
Meyer books at bibleteacher.org

Answered Prayer in Missionary Service by Basil William Miller

Prevailing Prayer by D.L. Moody [freely online]

God's Will to Heal by Keith Moore [freely online]

Real Faith by George Mueller  
Answers to Prayer by George Muller (edited by A.E.C. Brooks)
The Life of Trust by George Muller [freely online]
A Narrative of some of the Lord's Dealings with George Müller  by George Müller [freely online]
George Muller of Bristol by Arthur T. Pierson [freely online]
George Muller: Man of Faith biography by Basil Miller
George Mueller's Strategy for Showing God by John Piper
George Mueller Quotes  
https://charismatamatters.blogspot.com/2013/07/george-mueller-quotes.html

All of Andrew Murray's books are terrific. Many are freely online as books or audiobooks on youtube or librivox.
The Full Blessing of Pentecost: The One Thing Needful by Andrew Murray
Divine Healing by Andrew Murray   * * * * *☺  [freely online both in book for and audio]

The Great Physician, Does Jesus Heal Today? by Lucie Newman

The Life of Faith by C. Nuzum [Cornelia? Nuzum] * * * *

Healing The Sick by T.L. Osborn
One Hundred Divine Healing Facts by T.L. Osborn
 

Divine Healing by Herbert Pakenham-Walsh [freely online]

Christian Healing: A Practical and Comprehensive Guide by Mark Pearson * * * * * ☺
 

The Pentecostal Evangel (various)

The Meaning of Faith by Charles S. Price
The Real Faith by Charles S. Price (highly recommended) * * * * *
Spiritual and Physical Health by Charles S. Price * * *
Conversion Testimony of Charles S. Price
Dr. Charles S. Price: His Life, Ministry and Influence by Tim Enloe
More on or by Charles S. Price (brief bio)
A List of All the Works of Charles S. Price
The Story of My Life by Charles S. Price * * * * *
 
Like many charismatic ministers and authors, Prince had some good and bad teaching. But mostly good.
Fasting by Derek Prince
God's Medicine Bottle by Derek Prince  
The Holy Spirit in You by Derek Prince
Prayers and Proclamations by Derek Prince
Shaping History Through Prayer and Fasting by Derek Prince
Spiritual Warfare by Derek Prince
You Shall Receive Power by Derek Prince
There are many videos of Derek Prince on YouTube

Healing: Biblical Basis and Procedure by Andy M. Reimer
A Pastoral Approach to Healing in the Alliance (Lecture) by Andy Reimer

Healing in Answer to Prayer by John R. Rice
Prayer: Asking and Receiving by John R. Rice

What God Hath Wrought [in the Life of Raymond T. Richey] by Eloise May Richey   [freely online]
More on or by Raymond T. Richey (brief bio)

A Call To Prayer by J.C. Ryle [freely online]


Roger Sapp
Is There a Conflict Between Divine Healing & Medicine? by Roger Sapp
Beyond a Shadow of a Doubt by Roger Sapp * * *
Christ Centered Healing Seminar Notebook by Roger Sapp
Performing Miracles and Healing by Roger Sapp * * *
Spiritual Treasure by Roger Sapp
Questions & Answers on Healing by Roger Sapp
A Response to Mark Stibbe's Seven Theses by Roger Sapp
Roger Sapp's Healing Hints 1-7 by Roger Sapp
Paul's Thorn in the Flesh and Related Doubts: Does God have a Reason Not to Heal? by Roger Sapp
Casting Out Evil Spirits by Roger Sapp
The Subtle Spirit of Antichrist by Roger Sapp
Gifts, Offices and Ministries by Roger Sapp
Release the Supernatural by Meditation on Christ by Roger Sapp
How to Get Your Prayers Answered by Roger Sapp
Questions and Answers on Modern Supernatural Apostolic Ministry by Roger Sapp
Christian Healing Forum Website
About Roger Sapp
Roger Sapp Bio
Free Files at Roger Sapp's Website (including audio and video)
There are many video and audio files of Roger Sapp online. I've included links to some of them at the bottom of this blog.

How To Be Healed by Julia A. Shelhamer  [freely online]

Touching Incidents and Remarkable Answers by S.B. Shaw

All of A.B. Simpson's books are terrific and MOST OF THEM ARE FREELY ONLINE
But God by A.B. Simpson  [freely online]
Danger Lines in the Deeper Life by A.B. Simpson  [freely online]
The Fourfold Gospel by A.B. Simpson  * * *
The Gospel of Healing A.B. Simpson   * * * * *☺
The Lord for the Body by A.B. Simpson   * * * * *☺
 A Larger Christian Life by A.B. Simpson  
The Life of Prayer by A.B. Simpson  * * * * *☺
The Love Life of the Lord by A.B. Simpson
Walking in the Spirit by A.B. Simpson  
Wholly Sanctified by A.B. Simpson
Divine Healing in the Atonement; How to Receive Divine Healing; Divine Healing and Medical Science by A.B. Simpson
Service for the King by A.B. Simpson  
Days of Heaven Upon Earth (Devotional) by A.B. Simpson  * * * * *
 
The Psycho-Spiritual Dynamics of Physical Healing in Alliance Spirituality by David John Smith

The God of All Comfort by Hannah Whitall Smith  [freely online]

Faith's Checkbook by Charles H. Spurgeon
Jehovah-Rophi by Charles Spurgeon
 

The Meal That Heals: Receiving Your Healing through Daily Communion by Perry Stone, Jr.

Living Faith Makes God Real by E. Faith Stewart

Convergence: Spiritual Journeys of a Charismatic Calvinist by Sam Storms * * * *
Sam Storms' Articles on Divine Healing
Sam Storms' Bibliography on Healing

A Practical Theological Evaluation of the Divine Healing Ministries of Smith Wigglesworth and John G. Lake: A Continuationist Reformed Perspective by Johanes Lilik Susanto

The Baptism With the Holy Spirit by R.A. Torrey  [freely online]
Divine Healing - Does God Perform Miracles Today? by R.A. Torrey * * * *☺
How To Pray by R.A. Torrey  [freely online]
More on or by R.A. Torrey  [freely online]

The Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer  * * * * [freely online]
Man the Dwelling Place of God by A.W. Tozer  [freely online]
Our Unclaimed Riches by A.W. Tozer * * * * *☺

The Pursuit of God by by A.W. Tozer  * * * * *☺  [freely online]
The Root of Righteousness by A.W. Tozer [freely online]

Victory in Christ by Charles G. Trumbull  [freely online]

The Supernatural Ways of Royalty by Bill Johnson & Kris Vallotton  

Divine Physical Healing Past and Present by various authors  [freely online]

Ever Increasing Faith by Smith Wigglesworth  * * * *  [freely online]
Faith That Prevails by Smith Wigglesworth  * * * *  [freely online]
The Smith Wigglesworth Blog* * *  [freely online]
Smith Wigglesworth: The Complete Collection of His Life Teachings compiled by Roberts Liardon * * * *
Smith Wigglesworth Devotional
Smith Wigglesworth On Prayer, Power, and Miracles compiled by Roberts Liardon
Smith Wigglesworth: Apostle of Faith (biography) by Stanley Howard Frodsham
Smith Wigglesworth: The Complete Story Biography by Julian Wilson * * * *
God's Generals: Why They Succeeded and Why Some Failed (biographies of healing evangelists including Wigglesworth) by Roberts Liardon * * *
 

Divine Healing: Life, Death, Illness & Healing by Lars Wilhelmsson * * * ☺

God's Healing Touch by Vernon L. Wilcox [freely online]

Renewal Theology by J. Rodman Williams

Power Evangelism by John Wimber * * * *
Power Healing by John Wimber * * * *☺
 

God Wants You Well by Andrew Wommack * * * *

His Healing Power  by Lilian B. Yeomans * * * *
(It's also titled, "Healing Treasury". It's four of her books in one. )
 

CHRIST, The Master of All Diseases by O. L. Yerty  [freely online]