Heal the Sick

I love the fact that Jesus sent us to preach the "Good News" of the Kingdom of God.

But read more of the instruction:
"As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is [at hand].' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give" (Matt. 10: 7-8).

The command to preach the good news is only part of it.  We are also to heal the sick.  Notice it does NOT just say to "pray for the sick" but to "heal the sick."

You might argue, "Well, this instruction was given only to the apostles and only for the time of Jesus' minsitry."

In Luke we find that he also sent out another 72 with the same commission.  And then, at the end of Matthew, He gave the Great Commission to all the disciples who were present.  Part of His commission then, just prior to his ascension, was to "teach [the disciples you are making] to OBEY EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU" (Matt. 28: 20).

In other words, the command to "heal...raise...cleanse...drive out" are to be obeyed by everyone who wants to be Jesus' disciple.

But I don't have the power to heal, only God has that power.

Bingo. That is why we must be filled with the Holy Spirit.  So that we have the power, not just to say the words, but to do the works of Jesus.

When I pray for the sick, I feel totally inadequate.  And the truth is--I am totally inadequate.  But God is not.  The command to heal the sick should bring me back into a total dependence on God.  It should cause me to cry out to Him for the power to obey. And it should fill me with gratitude when He does through me what only He can do.