TOS030 Healing Prayer with Lissa Applewhite (Part 5) for audio: TOS030: Healing Prayer – Truth of the Spirit (podcast) | Listen Notes
Our God is a God of Healing, He desires us to be whole. God provides healing in his words. In Proverbs 40:20-23, “Pay attention to what I say, turn your ear to my word, don’t let out of your sight; keep them in your heart, for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.” Lissa Applewhite suggests that various words of scripture are God’s “medicine” for our healing, our restoration, and our continued health! Reading and memorizing these scriptures allow these words to sink deep into mind and spirit but if we go a step further by proclaiming these words out loud they become action! Action speaks louder than words!
Speaking God’s words out is powerful, this takes God’s promise from internal to external, it fills our environment with his words and promise. Lissa feels that every time we stand on his word, his promises we experience healing. May not be resolution of symptoms or situation but one step closer to “total healing” which is after we are drawn eternally into God’s presence! We are also commissioned to be vessels of God’s healing by praying with others—both friends and strangers.
Our God is a God of Healing, He desires us to be whole. In Exodus 15:26 He promises the Israelites that if they listen to his words and obey his commandments he will not bring disease on them. In some of the old translations God calls himself Jehovah Rapha—or God who heals.
In my preparation I came across insight into the Scripture that tells of the woman with the hemorrhage which is included in three of the four gospels. I must give credit to this insight to a Messianic Rabbi who I know has far better understanding of the Old Testament scriptures. This was a woman who had suffered a very long time. She had spent all her money on doctors. searching for a cure. She was probably aware of the scripture in Malachi 3:20 NAB [4:2 NRSV] Now when I read this I just hear of healing. But the Rabbi explains that “wings” has multiple definitions in this scripture. One definition is that there is an area on the Jewish prayer shawl, a particular place on the shawl that is the “wings”. The woman had a lot of time over the years to ponder God’s word. So as Jesus approaches she decides to claim her healing. She took God’s word seriously. If there is a healing in the “wings” she is going to get it. She went looking for her healing and when she saw Jesus, there he was dressed in His prayer shawl. This was her opportunity for healing … her faith in God’s promise allowed her to be healed. Note that she didn’t ask for healing; she claimed it!
And Jesus reaction was he wanted to know who “touched” him, not because he was upset but because he wanted to see who had such faith as to claim healing. And that is actually what he told her. “Your faith has made you well, go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” Jesus was actually in route to the official’s daughter who was in need of healing when the healing took place but then was told, “No need; the girl has died.” But Jesus was not bothered by that. He took the parents and Peter, James and John into the room. Jesus touched her and immediately she was healed. There are many examples in the Gospels of individuals being healed.
There are many scriptures that address God’s healing power. 1 Peter 2 “He bore our sins in his body, so we might die to sin then live for righteousness.” “By his wounds you have been healed.” Isaiah 53:5 in the Old Testament proclaims the same, “he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, chastisement of our peace was upon him, by his stripes we are healed.”
There are many scriptures that describe God’s healing power that promise healing for us. Psalm 30:2, The bible also tells us of things we can do to positively impact our healing. Proverbs 16:24, “Kind words—sweet to soul and healthy for the body”. Proverbs 17:22, “Cheerful heart is good medicine but broken spirit saps your strength.” Proverbs 3:7-8, “Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord, turn from sin, this will heal your body and refresh your bones.” These scriptures guide us not only in healing but also in protection of our health.
When I was diagnosed with cancer that was a huge blow but through a lot of prayer and grace of God I was able to keep a positive attitude through the treatment. I’m not trying to point a “rosy picture” because there were many obstacles, struggles, disappointments along the way but I never lost hope; I was confident that God was with me every step of the way.
God provides healing in his words. In Proverbs 40:20-23, “Pay attention to what I say, turn your ear to my word, don’t let out of your sight; keep them in your heart, for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”
I want to suggest that these words are God’s “medicine” for our healing, our restoration, and our continued health! Reading and memorizing these scriptures allow these words to sink deep into mind and spirit but if we go a step further by proclaiming these words out loud they become action!
Action speaks louder than words! Speaking God’s words out is powerful, this takes God’s promise from internal to external, it fills our environment with his words and promise. There are witnesses to this, testimony to the power in this very room. Sheila and Jim spoke these God’s healing verses out repeatedly as Sheila battled cancer. Rick found every scripture that spoke of the “heart” as he faced possible need for a heart transplant. I also proclaimed bu healing as I journeyed. Each one of us stand here with you tonight as witness to God’s healing power! This practice of reading, memorizing, and proclaiming shouldn’t be limited to healing but to all areas of need in our lives.
New healing sometimes is swift, other times what seems to be brutally slow, but it isn’t that God picks and chooses when he wants to heal. I feel every time we stand on his word, his promises we experience healing. May not be resolution of symptoms or situation but one step closer to “total healing” which is after we are drawn eternally into God’s presence!
Jeremiah 17:14. Don’t feel that your illness, problem or situation is impossible! There are scriptures that cover that as well. In 3 of 4 Gospels Jesus tells us, “For man this is impossible but for God nothing is.” Matthew 19:26. Matthew 17:19, when the disciples failed to cast out demons, Jesus tells them it requires faith, but only as big as a tiny mustard seed!
We also are called to pray with others. Sure, we are have a list of people we pray for but we are also commissioned to be vessels of God’s healing by praying with others—both friends and strangers.
James 5:14-16
Acts 28:8
Mark 16:18
As we end tonight I would like to say a prayer in intercession for all of us. I would like you to take a deep breath and close your eyes, clear your minds and just listen to this prayer. And as I pray, if a need, a worry, a concern arises in your mind offer it up to God. My hope, my purpose is that each of us leaves tonight having received God’s healing power in our lives as well as wisdom to how to continue this healing walk.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. God, you know us so well, you created us. You know about every aspect of our lives. You know the thought conceived in our hearts before we even verbalize them. You have told us to come to you and ask for every need. You are Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals and you have the final word on my destiny, on the number of years we will live to serve you here on earth.
We come to you tonight as your children, longing to hear from you and asking for your healing touch. There is so much we don’t understand about life. But we know that one touch, one word, you can make us whole. Please forgive us our sins, cleanse us of any unrighteousness, and begin your healing from the inside out.
We don’t always know what your will is but seek your guidance in all situation, we desperately seek your will in our lives. We offer you no promises, no bargains, no deals in exchange for your healing, for your grace is not given because of anything we have done. Your grace is freely given because you love us. We just simply bow before you tonight and share the desire of our hearts. We do want to live in your fullness of life, to live in your abundance that we are able to spend our days serving you, serving others and growing every closer to you.
Lord, you are well aware of our needs, especially for healing. However you choose to provide that healing is up to you, for you know each of us better than we know ourselves. Your wisdom is beyond our human understanding.
We believe in your power to heal; your power to heal was demonstrated throughout your ministry on earth, but it hasn’t ended; it continues. We stand on your word, Lord, and reach out to touch your garment. We stand together with expectant faith. Even when our faith is weak, you are there. I know you already hold our hearts and lives in your precious hands.
Lord, send a deep down cleansing and strengthening, a whole-hearted renewal of all that you desire for my life. Lord, we trust our entire being to you that you will heal our physical, spiritual and emotional being. Lord we thank and praise you for what you have done for us and rejoice in what you are doing and will do for each and every one of us.
We ask all these things through the Holy Trinity. Amen.
References and Small Group Discussion Questions:
Healing Prayer
Exodus 15:26 And said, If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases on you, which I have brought on the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that heals you.
Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48 Women with hemorrhage/official’s daughter
Malachi 3:20 NAB [4:2 NRSV] “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.”
Mark 5:25-34 25A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— 27after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” 29Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. 30Immediately 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” 31And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” 32And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”
Healing Scriptures
1 Peter 2:24-25 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
Isaiah 53:5 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 40:29-31 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Psalm 30:2 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
Healing Advise
Proverbs 16:24 Kind words are like honey–sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.
Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person; strength.
Proverbs 3:7-8 7Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.
Proverbs 4:20-23 20 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
1. Psalm 41:3-4 3 The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.
4 I said, “Have mercy on me, LORD; heal me, for I have sinned against you”
Psalms 107:19-20 19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 20 He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
Jeremiah 30:17 I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the LORD. “For you are called an outcast-“Jerusalem for whom no one cares.”
Psalm 147:3 3 He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds.
Impossible Situations
Mark 10:27, Matthew 19:26, Luke 18:27 “what maybe impossible for man is possible for God!
Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.
Matthew 17:19 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there”, and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Praying for one another
James 5:15-16 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the LORD will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Acts 28:8 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him.
Mark 16:18 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
Cleansing Prayer Following Ministry
Lord Jesus, thank You for sharing with me Your wonderful ministry of healing and deliverance. Thank You for being present today as I prayed for others. I realize that the sickness and evil we encounter is more than our humanity can bear. So cleanse me of any sadness, negativity, or despair that I may have picked up.
If my ministry has tempted me to anger, impatience, or lust, cleanse me of those temptations and replace them with love, joy, and peace. Strengthen me where I have felt weak and clothe me with Your light.
If any evil spirits, powers, or forces, have attached themselves to me or oppress me in any way, in the name of Jesus Christ, I command them to leave right now and not return. Now come, Holy Spirit, fill all the void areas in me with Your presence and renew me with Your life, Your love, and Your strength.
And, Lord Jesus, please send Your holy angels to guard me and protect me from all harm, accidents, or illness. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.
Discussion Questions
- Have you recently prayed for someone for healing? Share.
- What physical healing need currently affects you or your family? Do you have a Spiritual or Inner Healing need?
- Have you ever experienced a spiritual or inner healing? Share.
- The Scriptures give us much advice for healing prayer. Which scriptures touched your heart tonight?
- Comment on tonight’s talk.
