(June 30, 2024) Robert McQuillan sincerely shares…  

Many years ago when a Pentecostal pastor whom I had never before requested me to teach his church on faith healing, I really threw him when I initially declined. When asked why, I replied that although faith is involved, godly healing is not faith healing but divine healing.

I went on to share that there had been times when I prayed for healing for those who either had no real faith or very little, even non-Christians, and by God’s grace they got relieved, either at the time – in the case of pain – or as I learned later.

Several scriptures in both Testaments shine with God’s compassion – and His Son’s. I’d simply exercised faith as I claimed God’s compassion, quoted His word and prayed in Jesus’ name.

Compassionate Divine Healing
Faith in God is tops… but even Christians can be weak in exercising of faith!

There’s an old saying – ‘Life is life… and bad things can/may happen even to Christians!’ And there’s a number of things that can result in people being sick, such as the following –  

1) Sin
Immorality, grudges, wrong thoughts/attitudes, resentments, wars, temptation, occult involvement.
2) Foolishness
Breaking natural laws… wrong actions, junk food, obesity, smoking, no exercise, drugs, alcoholism, overwork, lack of relaxation… all spell bodily harm!
3) Worry
Psycho-somatic disorder lack of sleep/rest, pressures, guilt, fear, low self-esteem, self-condemnation, suspicions, ‘stewing’, anger, bitterness, resentments, criticisms, negativity, self-destructiveness.
4) Genes
Natural causes.
5) Satan and demon forces
Gensis 3:1ff; 16-19; Job 1: 8-22; 2:4-8, Acts 10:38.

The good news is that our compassionate God is concerned for us and we can look to Jesus and ask for divine healing. But… often one’s faith can be weak so be wary of preachers who highlight faith healing. Also… some Christians depend on the pastor or guest ministry to exercise their faith. That’s not enough! We must exercise our faith, even if weak, and trust God. Otherwise we disappoint Him.

• Faith healing implies that if my faith isn’t strong enough, God won’t heal me.
• Divine healing reveals that I know God knows that I can’t make it happen on my own. That it’s all about His power and love for me and my trusting Him.

Once, when a man asked Jesus to heal his son, Jesus commented, ‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’ The father’s immediate response was: ‘I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief!’ (Mark 9:23-4).

Divine healing indicates we understand that we are to personally reach out in faith to a merciful, miracle-working God. That we’re trusting He will honour His word and respond to our asking. This is what pleases God and also honours Jesus!

Remember that God will always honour His own name of which He has several including Jehovah Rapha… ’the God who heals you.’ (See Exodus 15:26; 23:25-26; Psalm 30:2; 107:20).

Yes, we should exercise faith, even if it’s a little weak at the time. Expecting the divine touch from a caring, loving God makes the difference! In the end, our part is small and God’s is the big one. The key to divine healing is to look to God first, pray and believe. Then, if needed or the wise thing to do, see a doctor… no problem!

Leadership should always set important good examples. The Old Testament  gives us two leadership examples… one where a good king trusted God, one where a bad king didn’t.

(I) Hezekiah… 2Kings 20:1-11, especially v2,6.
Praying, believing and trusting led to restoration and longer life. Hezekiah means ‘Strengthened by God’ and he was because he (faced) looked to God!
(ii) Asa… 2Chronicles 16:12-13.
This king didn’t face God but ignored Him! Sadly Asa means ‘healing’ but he didn’t receive it. ‘Not seeking’ means ‘not worshipping’ God first. This led to premature death because he didn’t seek God’s help, only the doctors’!

Whether we’re leaders in a church or not, we all have a duty to encourage others to look to and trust our God! In the case of illness, to share our own belief in God’s word and our trusting Him to fulfil His word. That’s how testimonies help others.

Compassionate God
As mentioned above, the Bible calls God ’the God who heals you.’ His people Israel could request healing if needed… and through Jesus we can too.

Several healings in the Old Testament  confirm that God’s people trusted Him to confirm His word (Psalms 30:2; 41:4; 103:3; 147:3; Proverbs 3:7-8; Isaiah 53:5: Malachi 4:2).

Sometimes the healing actually requires a miracle as with the widow’s son through a caring leader, Elijah (1Kings 17:21-22). Lamentations 3:21-22 tells us about our compassionate God: ‘His compassions never fail.’ Compassion – racham – means ‘tender love, mercy, pity and cherishing like a mother from deep within the inner being.’

God still has compassion that rises up from within Him to bless us when healing is needed and asked for in prayer! Where do we find that deep compassion today? In God’s Son, Jesus! If healing is needed, His promise is to look after us!

Compassionate Jesus
What was Jesus’ three-fold ministry? Matthew 4:23… Teaching and preaching good news about God’s kingdom and healing the sick and releasing people from demonic forces. Kingdom good news obviously includes healing as verse 24 confirms!

Matthew’s gospel is all about the king and the kingdom: Two chapters alone tell about compassionate healings by King Jesus to…

• A leper – Matthew 8:3
• A centurion’s servant v14-15
• Peter’s mother-in-law v14-15
• Two demoniacs v28-34
• A paralysed man 9:1-8
• A ruler’s daughter v18-19, 23-26
• A woman with a bleeding problem v20-22
• Two blind men v27-31
• A dumb man v32-33.

Note the heart of Jesus and His servant ministry. Healing – therapeuo – is to wait on as a carer, a menial servant, adoring God as you do so, especially in relieving disease with a cherish.

What a precious picture of Jesus! When you ask Him for healing, rest assured that Jesus hears and will delight to be your carer, your servant as He miraculously brings healing relief because He cares. Peter’s advice was ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you’ (1Peter 5:7).

Other translations read ‘worries’… sickness can be an anxiety causing us worry. It’s great to know that we know that we know that Jesus cares for us! ‘Cares’ is melo – to be so interested in, so concerned. But do we understand that Jesus cares so deeply for us? If so, then we can leave all cares with Him, including sicknesses! This is why Peter used the word ‘cast’ in giving everything over to Jesus… that word ‘cast’ is epirrhipto – a fisherman’s strong casting his line away out in deeper waters!

Compassionate Expressed
Jesus’ compassion was the same as His Father’s, rising up from deep within. Several scriptures in the gospels tell of Jesus expressing deep compassion when healing people. ‘Compassion’ is splagchnizomai – to feel sympathetic from deep within.

I particularly love Mark 1 which speaks of Jesus’ deep and caring compassion. A person with leprosy came to Jesus and knelt in front of Him, begging to have his afflicted body healed… and be declared clean as a priest would confirm (see Matthew 8:4b).

Note this poor man’s confidence in Jesus’ authority and supernatural power – ‘If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,’ he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” He said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed’ (Mark 1:40-42NLT).

People with leprosy were classed as outcasts without hope, but this one had hope in Jesus asking prayer-like, believing and trusting.

Note the deep, positive meaning of some Greek words here – 

• ‘Knelt’… a sign of respect. Sometimes we just have to kneel when praying.
• ‘Begged’… parakaleo – connected with asking the Holy Spirit to come alongside and help.
• ‘Willing’… thelo ethelo – choose to be determined to do, inclined to do, delighted to do.
• ‘Can’… dunamai – also used in connection with the Holy Spirit expecting to see His power at work.
• ‘Compassion’… splagchnizomai – to feel sympathy from deep within, just as Jesus’ Father feels.
• ‘Touch’… haptomai – fasten, attach to; set on fire. Comforting, easing, releasing, healing touch.
• ‘Healed’ (‘Cleaned’)…katharizo – to clear, purify. This outcast from both society and the synagogue, would have been healed in several areas… socially, mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually.

You too should expect the power of God’s Spirit to meet all of your needs, just not healing. Just ask Jesus to help you! As proved to this sick man, Jesus is ready and willing to set you on fire with His healing power!

Compassionate Christians
Incidentally… it’s only natural that we who call ourselves God’s children and followers of Jesus, should all care for others, especially the sick and exercise deeply-felt compassion in doing so. Sometimes this means humbling ourselves.

Let me humbly share… without painting a wrong picture of myself (I seek no self-glory, only Jesus’). I’m reminded of the time Maureen and I were ministering way up in a country area one weekend, particularly teaching on the Holy Spirit (a non-Pentecostal church by the way).

After our Saturday session we were asked by a concerned lady to visit her dying husband on the Monday and pray over him. She explained that he was so ill from a certain disease that covered his body with scabs and that he wouldn’t go to church, particularly as his head was so covered with scabs.

We agreed of course, but as I was finishing teaching on Sunday, I happened to notice that she was coming in at the back of that small country church wheeling her distraught husband whose head was slanting awkwardly to the side. Now we normally close our meetings by praying for attenders with needs, but that moment, I sensed the Lord asking me to go straight to this poor man, not wait for our prayer line invitation or visiting him the next day.

I did so… but as I reached him I distinctly sensed Jesus commanding me to hug him and kiss that scab-covered head. I paused and looked again at that terrible head. Then I realised that Jesus was challenging me to display compassion there and then as He would.

Friends… I did so, with Holy Spirit’s grace and assistance. Bending close like Elijah did, I kissed his head and hugged him. And prayed a comforting prayer. He was unable to talk but on straightening up I saw that he now had a warm smile. I had been humbled, but he was happy. I’d like to tell you that he was healed but what he received was great comfort which enabled him to be at peace. Within a day or so he passed on peacably to heaven and home.

I’m not saying that you have do as I did back then. Just don’t let embarrassment hold you back in any way from blessing others!

Compassionate Caring
Praise God for the medical specialists, fine hospital staff and good doctors who express compassionate care! We do need them and praise God we have them… especially those who are Christians. Such as the one I discovered last Saturday who attended to me when I had to go into hospital. We both had a blessed time sharing together.

But I want to direct you to Jesus and encourage you to trust Him! Why? Because He cares so much for you in all matters, especially when you’re ill. To be open with you, I myself have been going through some concerns (still am) but as an encouragement to you, dear reader, as I cried out to God one dark night a couple of months back, I heard my Lord quietly whisper, ‘Robert, don’t be concerned about any bad news you’ll hear over the new few days. I am with you.’ Was I encouraged! I have no fears. cares or worries… they’ve been cast on Jesus!

I keep learning of some Christians – seniors, ministers and church leaders – who are ill at this time. Are you one? If so, what healing touch do you need from Jesus? I ask you to first search your heart and confess any sin and unbelief, then looking to God, pray sincerely asking in Jesus’ name and believe to receive!

And… why not ask your Christian friends to pray for you, with you, (even email us). I also encourage you to pray for others yourself and be like Jesus in your church and community for people’s sakes and His glory!

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Dr Robert and Pastor Maureen McQuillan’s links are OnlinerConnect@gmail.com and Facebook _________________________________________