Questions & Answers
 on 
DIVINE HEALING
by Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

Theologians and religious men have debated this issue for years. Some say "Yes"; others "No". What does the Bible say? That is what counts! What I say or what other clergymen or theologians say carries no weight, especially if it conflicts with or disagrees with God's Word.

WHAT SAYETH THE SCRIPTURES ABOUT DIVINE HEALING?  The Bible is the inspired Word of God and the final authority for faith and morals. The Holy Scriptures has the final say about everything concerning life, death and eternity!

Let me ask you a question: IS JESUS FOR TODAY? If He is for today, then the forgiveness of sins is for today and divine healing is also for today. If He is not for today, then we have believed in vain and the gospel is worthless!

If Jesus Christ is "For Real" then divine healing is for real. If He is a phony, a myth, a mirage or a liar then the Bible isn't worth the paper it's written on!

HERE'S THE BOTTOM LINE: IF JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE, 
     THERE IS HOPE FOR DIVINE HEALING

St. Paul declared that, "If the dead rise not" then Christ is not raised; And if Christ is not raised, then He is still dead with no power to save, heal, deliver or bless anyone! "But, now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept!" (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Christ is alive! And because He is alive, there is hope for us with forgiveness, healing, prosperity, and abundant blessings! Praise God!

What is meant by "become the first fruits of them that slept"?

Jesus Christ is the first person in recorded history to die and rise from the dead, NEVER TO DIE AGAIN!

Lazarus died and was raised from the dead by our Lord Jesus, but he had to die again! Someone said, “I feel sorry for Lazarus; he had to die twice”! Jesus died once. He was raised from the dead. He will never die again!

JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE AND RELEVANT TO OUR NEEDS: HIS INTEREST IN US, IS TO DO US GOOD! HIS GOSPEL IS EFFECTIVE, RELIABLE AND TOTALLY VIABLE!

The gospel works! The blood is efficacious and cleanses away our sins! His stripes bring healing and there is Divine Blessing through the touch of His hand. The Bible says, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

All true Christians believe in the DEATH, BURIAL and RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST! We believe and confess that He died for us on Golgotha's hill, was buried in the Garden Tomb and rose again on the third day. We believe that He ascended into Heaven and sat down on the right hand of "The Majesty on High" and will soon return to rapture the church (1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18) and judge the quick (living) and the dead. (1 Corinthians 3:13) (Romans 20:11-12) 

YES INDEED, JESUS CHRIST IS CHANGELESS, FOR HE IS GOD, THE SON. HE IS ETERNAL AND ALWAYS CONSTANT!

The Almighty declares, "I am the Lord, I change not." (Malachi 3:6) Since He has not changed, He still has the same desires, wishes and plans for His people as He always had. Unless, He came back from the dead different; slow, with a mental block, unable to discern right from wrong or with a totally different philosophy!

HOW ABSURD! He has not changed, He will not change and He cannot change, for He is the ONE which was, which is and which is to come, the Almighty! (Revelation 1:4)

Don't for one moment believe the lies propagated by the J.W.’s and some evangelicals, saying that Jesus changed His will about divine healing, miracles & the Baptism of the Holy Ghost!

What a ridiculous, carnal, humanistic teaching these deluded people teach about the Eternal God & His changeless Word!

After His death and resurrection, our Lord Jesus emphasized, "...all power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18)

He has no mental block or speech impediment. He said what He meant and meant what He said. It’s as simple as that. His doctrine or teaching did not change with the traumatic sufferings & death on the cross!  

WHAT ABOUT THE WORD OF JESUS CHRIST?  - CAN IT 
    BE TRUSTED AND BELIEVED?

Is Divine Healing for today? Well, let me ask you another simple question: Is God's Word for today? Does His Word have any special meaning or authority for us today? Or is it only a thing of beauty, a centerpiece to adorn the coffee table or to be read for its poetic style, its prose or its fine literature?

Has His death and resurrection altered His Word or will at all? OF COURSE NOT! If He really did rise from the dead, He must of necessity, be the same in actions as well as words. He is the same. Nothing has changed! His will or wish is found in His Word and His Word is synonymous with His will or wish. You cannot separate a man from his word or a man's speech and action from his person. They are one and the same!

YOU CANNOT DIVORCE JESUS CHRIST FROM HIS WORD OR HIS POWER!

If His Word says so, we can and must believe it! Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24:35) The Bible says, "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:38,39)

The doctrine of the 'Baptism of the Holy Ghost' has been debated by Church denominations for centuries. Yet, nothing would be more plain!

Jesus said, "...for the promise (of the baptism) is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call."

WHAT DOES THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST 
    MEAN?

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost was for the generation which Jesus spoke to, their children and to us today! And unto everyone who receives the Gospel of Christ and by faith, invites the Holy Spirit into their lives..."unto us many as the Lord our God shall call."

Jesus said, "I will never leave thee, I will be with thee until the end of the world (age)." (Matthew 28:20)  "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5) In the original Greek, Jesus used a DOUBLE IMPERATIVE to strengthen His promise: "I will never, no never leave thee. I will never, no never forsake thee."

Again He declared, "Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the very work' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it.

“If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (John 14:11-18)

Anyone with an average intelligence and any common sense, can readily see - according to His own words - that Jesus Christ was expecting the Church (His body) to experience more divine supernatural power after His departure to Heaven than while He was on earth because of the coming of the Holy Spirit who would infuse believers with His power!

IF JESUS CHRIST IS FOR TODAY, THEN DIVINE HEALING IS FOR TODAY; IF THE BIBLE IS FOR TODAY, THEN IT STANDS TO REASON THAT DIVINE HEALING IS FOR TODAY! AMEN.

CHAPTER 2:

We will let the Word of God answer for itself! "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38)

Very definitely, the Scripture emphasizes that Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil! The devil oppressed the people with sin, sickness, fear and torments, but Jesus came to the people with Divine Healing, WHICH IS VERY GOOD!

The literal Greek translates this verse as follows: "...and healing all those under the dominion and lordship of Satan." (Acts 10:38)

Jesus said, "The thief (devil) cometh not but for to steal, kill and destroy. I am come that ye may have life and more abundantly." (John 10:10) Only God can give life and Jesus promised us ABUNDANT LIFE which is an overflowing of good things from the hand of our Lord!

The Bible says, "No good thing will God withhold from them that walk uprightly" (Psalms 84:11) "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1:17)

DIVINE HEALING DOES A LOT OF GOOD. As a matter of fact, Jesus called Divine Healing, THE CHILDREN'S BREAD! "But He answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." (Matthew 15:26)

Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, probably a teacher or professor of theology in the synagogue. He said, "...Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with Him." (John 3:2) Miracles of Divine Healing are a gift from God to bring blessings and deliverance to the people! In short, God is the healer of sickness & diseases!  

DIVINE HEALING COMES FROM GOD, BY THE WILL OF GOD & FOR THE BLESSING & EDIFICATION OF HIS PEOPLE!

God the Father is a Healer: He declared, "I am the Lord that healeth thee" (Exodus 15:26) This is His Healing Covenant with Israel!

God the Son is a Healer: The Bible says, "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and HEALING EVERY SICKNESS AND EVERY DISEASE AMONG THE PEOPLE." (Matthew 9:35)

God the Holy Spirit is a Healer: St. Paul emphasized, "If that same Spirit that raised up Jesus Christ from the dead, dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make life in) your mortal (earthly, human, temporal) bodies by the Spirit that dwelleth in you." (Romans 8:11)

God has blessed His people with divine health, strength, protection, blessings and enumerable miraculous interventions! When you think of the many sick people who suffer untold agony and pain, we don't need to wonder if divine healing does any good. Certainly, destroying sickness and pain is a blessing, otherwise we may as well close down all our hospitals and terminate the employment of all medical personnel.

When you consider the economic hardships imposed on families because of disease, the separations of loved ones, the greatly weakened work force and the business community that is affected by sickness and death, we don't need to ask if divine healing is a blessing! Any one with even an average intelligence would attest to that fact!  

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM ALMOST BANKRUPT BECAUSE OF INFLUX OF DISEASE & RISING HEALTH COSTS!

We constantly hear US politicians and lawmakers debating the need for and the costs of revamping their health system! All say that a new health plan is needed because of the pressing needs of the infirm. And Canadian nurses and doctors regularly decry the cuts in spending by our provincial & federal governments!

There is a very real concern that the AIDS epidemic will eventually totally bankrupt the already overstrained health systems of the world! Add to that, other new diseases together with the re-emergence of a number of deadly old viruses, germs & bacteria! And we have a major problem!

There is also a very real concern among homosexuals, bi sexual and intravenous drug addicts, that there will be an outcry and backlash against them when our hospitals are over-crowded and all "the health money" is exhausted due to AIDS victims!

May God help us all & send a revival of righteousness to head off these awful epidemics! And may we have the faith to pray for staggering miracles of healing, for those who are afflicted including AIDS sufferers!

The health & welfare of the human race is of vital concern to governments everywhere. Why should not the Christian Community - which has access to the mighty power of God, through faith and prayer - do everything within our power to bring healing to those who are suffering untold agony and pain?

WE MUST TAKE THE LEAD IN BRINGING HEALING, DELIVERANCE AND BLESSING TO THE POOR, NEEDY, SICK AND SUFFERING, FOR WE ARE EXTENSIONS OF CHRIST'S HANDS AND FEET IN THIS GENERATION!

St. James states: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

In the beginning when God created Adam & Eve, He saw that His creation "WAS GOOD". There was no sin and consequently NO SICKNESS OR DEATH in the garden of Eden! When sin entered into the world through Satan’s temptation of our first parents, Adam & Eve, death was the natural result!

SICKNESS & DISEASE IS INCIPIENT DEATH OR "DEATH 
    ON THE INSTALLMENT PLAN"!

When Jesus Christ - the Second & Last Adam - came to earth, one of His major targets was sickness and disease. He healed the sick, cleansed the lepers, cast out unclean spirits and raised the dead!

The Holy Spirit answers our question, "DOES DIVINE HEALING ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING GOOD?" Here is His answer: "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power, WHO WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD, and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38)

More and more, we read reports in medical journals that give credence to what I have written here. A number of years ago the American Medical Association sent out a questionnaire to tens of thousands of their medical doctors. One question dealt with their success in treating their patients. Their answer was quite shocking: They stated that they were able to help only 10% of their patients!

In other words, 90% received no help!

If you want to know if Divine Healing is worthwhile, ask the many who have been healed of incurable cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, insanity or a hundred other sicknesses, through faith in Jesus Christ!

Recently...Health Care etc, Healing News Reports.

Let us consider the enormous drain on the families of the sick and infirm. The pain of separation, the economic costs due to lost productivity, cost of medicine, surgery and hospital stay when someone is seriously ill or dies! Then ask any rational person if Divine Healing does any good!

ONLY A VERY DELUDED PERSON WOULD ANSWER IN THE NEGATIVE!

There are many things we do not know or understand about God. If we could understand Him, He would not be God. He would be no more powerful than ourselves and would be unable to help us, or we would be as great as He and wouldn’t need Him!

How could I possibly understand God, when I cannot even understand myself? It is therefore impossible for me to understand the One Who created me. But, we are not asked to understand God, ONLY TO BELIEVE AND TRUST IN HIM! And how do we do that? By believing & trusting His Word!

The one thing we know for certain, is that Jesus Christ didn’t turn away anyone! He healed everyone who approached Him for a spiritual or physical miracle! Please study the following true accounts of God's miracles in the lives of people who come in contact with Jesus!

NO. 1 - JESUS HEALS A BLIND MAN!

He heard the cry of a blind man just outside the city of Jericho and responded by healing Bartimaeus. ":And they came to Jericho: and as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging."

"And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."

"And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."

"And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; He calleth thee."

"And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus."

"And Jesus answered and said, unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto Him, Lord, that I might receive my sight".

"And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." (Mark 10:46-52)

NO. 2 - JESUS HEALS DEAF & DUMB EPILEPTIC!

He heard the cry of the father of a deaf and dumb epileptic boy and made him perfectly well.

"And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to Thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not."

"He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto Me."

"And they brought him unto Him: and when he saw Him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming."

"And He asked his father, How long is it since this came unto him?" And he said, "Of a child."

"And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if Thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us."

Jesus said unto him, "If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."

"And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."

"When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him."

"And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead."

"But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose." (Mark 9:17-27)

NO. 3 - JESUS HEALS WOMAN WITH ISSUE OF BLOOD

He heard the cry of a woman at the end of her rope, who had spent her life savings on medical help and her condition was unchanged. By faith, she struggled through the crowds and touched the hem of His garment and was made well.

"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment.

For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole."

"And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?"

"And His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest the multitude thronging Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me?

And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing".

"But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.

And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." (Mark 5:25-34)

No. 4 - JESUS HEALS DEMON POSSESSED GIRL

He tried to convince a Syrophenecian woman that He had been sent only to "the lost sheep of the House of Israel" but she wouldn’t take "No" for an answer. She would not be denied and began worshipping Jesus, calling Him Lord.

What was His response? He performed the miracle for the woman’s daughter! He was moved with compassion for her need and responded to her prayers, faith & worship!

Here is the answer to our problems. We must seek Him as she did and with a strong faith that does not quit, keep on asking and believing, while simultaneously giving Him praise & worship!

"For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of Him, and came and fell at His feet:

The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought Him that He would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

And she answered and said unto Him, Yea, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

And He said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed." (Mark 7:25-30)

No. 5 - I WILL - BE THOU CLEAN!

Jesus healed a leper who had broken the Jewish law which forbad our unclean persons (with leprosy) to come in contact with the general population. Jesus - contrary to local custom and regulation - laid His hand upon the head of the leper and cured him!

“When He was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.

"And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." (Matthew 8:1-4)

Jesus also healed the servant of a Roman centurion who came to Him in faith and expectancy. When told of the sick servant, Jesus said, "I WILL COME & HEAL HIM"!

"And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour." (Matthew 8:5-10,13)

No. 6 - JESUS HEALED ALL WHO WERE SICK!

Everywhere He went, Jesus brought salvation. Sinners were converted, the blind, deaf & dumb were healed and made to see, hear and speak and many evil spirits were cast out of people!

"And when Jesus entered Peter's house, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever;

And He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and served Him. That evening they brought to Him many who were possessed with demons; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, "He took our infirmities and bore our diseases." (Matthew 8:14-17)