After reading this.
Reading through the thread I would like to point out a few things.
I have often heard that Isa 53 is just spiritual healing.
Major:
"He was pierced for our TRANSGRESSIONS, He was crushed for our INIQUITIES. By His scourging we are healed". Because "transgresssions and "iniquities" are the focus it is spiritual healing that is in view.
The times I heard this message the same verse was left out to make a point.
Isa 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs,(
Choliy) and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
chŏlı̂y
khol-ee'
From H2470; malady, anxiety, calamity: -
disease, grief, (is)
sick (-ness).
This is not just some spiritual sickness, but has always meant physical sickness. The word Healed is not just covering something spiritual but both.
Isa 53:4 Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, And our pains--he hath carried them, And we--we have esteemed him plagued, Smitten of God, and afflicted. YLT
Major
The sign gifts given by Christ to the apostles were only for the apostles and no one else. Actually there are no apostles today. The only way to be an apostle was to have a face to face with Jesus.
What scripture is that? Apostle means sent one. A messenger. Are you saying no more persons are sent to preach? The original Greek word never added special powers by God, just someone sent.
When Peter healed the man at Gate beautiful, He clearly stated that it had nothing to do with HIM or his standing as an apostle.
Act 3:12 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this man? or why fasten ye your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him to walk?
It was faith in the name of Jesus that made this man walk. Has the name of Jesus lost any authority?
Act 3:16 And by faith in his name hath his name made this man strong, whom ye behold and know: yea, the faith which is through him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
The apostles never gave themselves credit for any of the miracles. We do see places where God worked miracles through them and confirmed the Word with signs following. It was God, and God confirming his Word as true.
His Word has never changed, and God has never changed. Nothing has "Passed" away as we would need something called scripture to believe that.
1 Tim. 5:23....2 Tim. 4:20.....Phil. 2:25-27.....Gal. 4:13-15....2 Corin. 12:7-9....Job 1-2. These are but just a few. Remember John 11:4.....
"Jesus said, sickness could be for the glory of God".
The glory was not for the sickness, but that God healed. There seems to be a misunderstanding that all Healing is not immediate. There also seems to be a confusion on the gifts of the Spirit. The Gift of Healing is as the Spirit wills. Nobody has power in themselves to just heal when they want.
The Word of God also has the ability to Heal. It is health to all flesh, God will confirm his Word with signs following, and faith in the name of Jesus takes authority over any sickness, his Name being above all names.
Mark 16 tells us to lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Once again, this does not mean the Gift of Healing is in operation, as it is given to each man as the Spirit wills. Recover does not mean right away, as the same with the scripture in James. God shall rise them up.
I have seen the Gift of Healing in operation. I have operated in it a few times. Healing is almost instant and the power of the Holy Ghost is just awesome, but the gift was used in ministry settings like it was described in 1 Cor 12. It is normally used to turn something around, and mostly used for those new to Jesus or the unsaved.
Most miraculous healing I have experienced is by those that have stood firm on God's Word, not moving. It was a gradual process of getting better and better. These healings are just a powerful as some had been given to die.
Healing is not always in Gods plan for us.
What scripture is that?
Jesus, the Head of the church, made it very clear what his will was concerning healing. Not one time did he turn any away, tell anyone that sickness was teaching them something, and the question was even asked if it was his will to heal. HE ALREADY ANSWERED THAT QUESTION!!!!
Luk 5:12 And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities, behold, a man full of leprosy: and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying,
Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
This sounds like many prayers today!!! Some think they are praying the Garden prayer when Jesus said, Father, all things are possible, if it by thy will, take this cup from me.
Jesus already knew God's will on the matter, He did not want to go, but was obiedient unto death. Jesus was not having a healing meeting in the Garden though. We need to find the right scriptures for the right context.
Luke 5:12 A man comes to Jesus that was full of Leprosy The man says, Lord I know you can do all things. If it be your will, heal me.
That sounds a whole lot like what Christians are praying today. What did the head of the Church say? What was his will?
Luk 5:13 And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying,
I will; be thou made clean. And straightway the leprosy departed from him.
Has our Lord ever changed? Is he different somehow? Does he have a respect of persons? Has any of his power diminished or his Name lost authority?
NOT HARDLY!!!!
We are under the curse of sin and as a result we will experience pain, suffering and death.
The earth is under the curse of sin and death. It is called the curse of the Law, or man breaking God's laws and following after the author of sickness and death. Satan.
Deut 28 gives a nice list of those things under the curse, and what happens when not obeying God.
Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Pain, sickness, bad things will come to those on the earth. You can be serving God in a mighty way, or just being a sinner with the rest of the World. Things do happen.
God is not the author of these things, as we have one that came to kill, steal and destroy. (Kingdom divided will fall) Jesus came to give us life, and give it abundantly. There is more than enough power in the Word of God to heal anything, there is hope for anyone that will trust God, and know what his will is concerning healing. Nothing is impossibly broken, that standing and believing on the Word of God won't fix. NOTHING!!!
Saying it's not God's will to heal everyone, or saying sickness is for God's Glory to teach us something will make that person a throw rug for Satan. We are not to give any place to the devil. NONE!!! The last enemy that we have victory over is Death!!!! Jesus Has completely defeated our adversary.
Be blessed