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I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father (John 14:12, NLT).
I’ve prayed for people to be healed, and it didn’t happen. Have you been disappointed in God’s way of answering your prayers for someone to be healed?
Should we give up asking God to heal? An emphatic “No!” Let me explain why I still take every opportunity to stop and pray for the sick.
First: I want my prayers to be based on Scripture and not my experience.
The Apostle Paul teaches that as followers of Jesus, we are to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). And walking by faith applies to all aspects of our Christian path…
We don’t see heaven, but we expect it by faith; same with a resurrected Savior; same with all requested prayers.
Let’s remember that in Mark 16:14, Jesus rebuked the apostles for their unbelief when they didn’t immediately accept testimonies of His resurrection.
Second: Praying is learning.
We learn to pray for the sick. Jesus had this conversation…
The disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?” “You don’t have enough faith” (Matthew 17:19-20, NLT).
The apostles learned their lesson as the Book of Acts records many healings through their prayers. My advice: let’s all develop apostolic and enduring faith as we learn to pray powerfully.
Third: Healing never stopped.
In Matthew, sixteen percent of the passages contain miracles. In Mark, thirty percent of the passages contain miracles. In Luke, fifteen percent, and in John, twenty-three percent. Yet some theological viewpoints today try to limit the power of God to first-century Christianity (Jesus and the apostles.)
Those who doubt the power of God should read Craig Keener’s book entitled Miracles which covers two volumes and 1,172 pages with thousands of testimonies on miracles through the centuries.
Fourth: There are seasons of miracles.
Craig Keener (mentioned above) writes …
But I respond here briefly with respect to the matter at hand: if God lavishes miracles more freely at some particularly significant points in salvation history (a reasonable observation from Scripture), then we can’t argue from scripture that these significant points will not occur in the future.
Some countries and times of history have breakouts of miracles, while other countries and times lie fallow. The good news is that the Bible promises a “latter rain” which I believe indicates a great revival of miracles in the last days! (Joel 2 and James 5:7)
God still works miracles today. I’m asking God to increase the number. Pray with me!