Resurrection Life of Jesus Church

Sickness has been a curse upon the human race since Eve was seduced by the serpent’s enticing words. Healthcare as we know it today did not exist for the last 4,000 years. People didn’t know what caused diseases. Sanitation was poor, and infections spread easily. Depending upon the civilization, illnesses were often seen as punishments from the gods.

We can prevent diseases that once were fatal. Measles, polio, rabies, yellow fever, tuberculosis, and cholera can be prevented with vaccines. Antibiotics make deadly infections treatable. Modern medicine can replace hearts, defeat once-incurable infections, and monitor your health from a wristwatch.

This was not the case when Jesus started His earthly ministry. Most of the people with a disability (i.e. blind, lame, leper) could not work and were reduced to begging if there was no family support. Hospitals did not exist and any healing came from natural remedies. So when Jesus arrived, it was like a breath of fresh air as everyone was healed – no one was left behind.

The God-man did not use surgery or medication, He merely spoke and the power of the Holy Spirit performed the healing supernaturally. We just don’t know how the blind were made to see, the lame could walk, the lepers were cleansed, the deaf made to hear, and the maimed were made whole.

“And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:

Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.” (Matthew 15:29-31)

Jesus was aware that it would be another 1,800 years before humans understood and mastered the production and transmission of electricity to operate different tools. This opened the door for humanity to build a health care system that alleviated some diseases and made it possible to restore people who had been wounded.

Healing the sick was a vital part Jesus’ ministry and it was extended to each generation of Christians.

THE HEALING COMMISSION
During the three and a half years of Jesus’ ministry, He commissioned the twelve apostles and the seventy others to go out and heal the masses.

“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:1, 7-8)

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” (Luke 10:1-2, 9)

“And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. (Luke 10:17-22)

It is noteworthy that Jesus never asked the people being healed if they believed in Him as the Messiah, nor did He tell the apostles and the seventy others to inquire about the beliefs of the sick.

Jesus showed grace and mercy to people, regardless of their beliefs. That does not mean that Jesus was okay with people sinning. When the ungodly religious leadership brought a woman caught in adultery to Jesus, He told her to go and sin no more.

“When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)

The Jewish people saw Jesus displaying power as the Son of God and doing good to everyone He met. Meanwhile, all the Devil could offer was more lies, cheating, stealing, and murder. Satan does not have the power to heal the sick and wounded.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

I have prayed for many people to be healed during my time as an evangelist/pastor. Healing is a tool to bring people to Christ as they receive their healing from God.

THE LAME MAN
When Peter and John started to flow in the Holy Spirit after the day of Pentecost, Saul of Tarsus was not saved; in fact, he was the chief persecutor of the Christians. His teaching on the gifts of the Holy Spirit was not yet written.¹

More than likely Peter and John were ignorant of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, operating solely on the commands of Jesus when He sent them out to heal people and cast out demons.

“And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” (Matthew 10:1)

When Peter and John encountered the lame man outside the temple gate, they did not hesitate and Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him to his feet in the name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit responded and the lame man was made whole in the blink of an eye.

“Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” (Acts 3:1-8)

THE DEAD WOMAN
When Peter was informed that a Christian woman named Tabitha (Dorcas) had died as a result of sickness, he did not hesitate and went to the house where the corpse was located. Peter walked into the room, prayed, and then spoke to Tabitha and told her to rise from the bed. The Holy Spirit was there and she was instantly resurrected.

“Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.” (Acts 9:36-42)

PETER AND HEALING
Peter was operating in the gift of healing to such a degree that the sick in the street were healed when he walked by and his shadow passed over them.

“And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.” (Acts 5:14-16)

PAUL AND HEALING
Saul of Tarsus met Jesus on the road to Damascus and he was converted to believe that Jesus was the Messiah; he was baptized in the Holy Spirit and one of the gifts that manifested in his life was the gift of healing.

“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” (Acts 19:11-12)

HOLY SPIRIT STILL HERE
When the baptism of the Holy Spirit returned in power during the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles in 1906, the gifts of the Holy Spirit also started to operate just like the Book of Acts time period. Tens of thousands of men and women traveled to Azusa Street to be baptized in the Holy Spirit and they returned home and spread the good news that the Holy Spirit was present. In time, the following men and women arrived on the scene:

• Smith Wigglesworth, 1859-1947, British Pentecostal evangelist

• Aimee Semple McPherson (1890-1944), founder of the Foursquare church denomination.

• Kathryn Kuhlman, 1907-1976, Pentecostal evangelist

• A.A. Allen, 1911-1970, Pentecostal evangelist

• Oral Roberts, 1918-2009, Pentecostal evangelist and founder of Oral Roberts University

• Tommy Lee Osborn, 1923-2013, Pentecostal evangelist

KATHRYN KUHLMAN
I had the privilege of attending two meetings (San Francisco and Oakland) with Kathryn Kuhlman. Both meetings took place in the 1970s in California. At this time, I was a student at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, a Southern Baptist seminary which rejected the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.