Jesus Didn’t Hand Out Crutches!

Dear Friends,

This headline may be familiar to you because some twenty years ago I used this headline in an article I wrote for our newsletter. I re-wrote the article to update it so it reflected what I believe is going on in our world today and I felt it important to re-emphasize the calling we have from our Lord to go out into our world and do what he did.

In the Gospels we are commanded to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. When we bring in the Kingdom of God human brokenness in all its forms is healed. The disabled jump to their feet, the deaf hear, the blind see, the dead show up for dinner. The strong message is that we are to bring in the Kingdom of God by doing exactly what Jesus did when He was here on earth.

I have come to the place in this journey where my expectations are so high when I pray for someone that I am surprised when they are not healed. Let me be quick to point out that while there are many I pray for who are healed, there are also those who are not healed. But that doesn’t stop me from praying and expecting healing. My encouragement to you would be that when you pray for people to be healed, pray expecting them to be healed. Don’t pray hoping something will happen but pray expecting something to happen. My experience has demonstrated to me that this attitude change can make a difference in what happens.

We live in a broken world where doctors can treat much of our sickness and disease. And that is often who we turn to first when sickness strikes. I have found that much of the time rather than seek prayer first, we seek medical help and if that doesn’t work then we try prayer. To me that is tragic! Should not prayer for healing be the first thought that comes to us?

Why do you suppose we seek medical care as our first response? I believe in part it is because we have easy access to medical care. If we show up at most any hospital emergency room they are required by law to treat us. But in many countries people do not have access to hospitals, doctors or medical care and so prayer for them is their only hope.

Also, what I have observed in my journey as I’ve prayed for people is that they often focus on what has not happened rather than on what has happened. I’ve conducted several healing conferences, workshops on healing, etc. Often during these workshops as part of the training and equipping we pray for the sick. If we pray for ten people and nine of them are healed the focus often turns to the one who was not healed. I always say, “I do not have an answer about the one who was not healed because I am not God. But why not rejoice and give thanks for the nine who were healed!”

We are living in an age where most of the denominational churches are shrinking in influence, power and numbers, especially among the young. Why is that? I believe it is because the young people are desperate for something that works, something that is applicable to them that is real and gives them answers for what they are facing. I have found that when you show them the power of the Holy Spirit and they see or experience His healing both physically and emotionally, they want to be involved. So, let’s don’t hand out crutches, let’s be bold and take the risk and do what we’re told to do; Go Heal The Sick!

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support. We rely on your faithfulness and continue operate aggressively in bringing healing and wholeness to a hurting world.

God bless,

Mike

“Learning To Do What Jesus Did” is available on YouTube.

In addition to the 9 DVD series being available through Wholeness Ministries you can now watch the entire series on YouTube. The book, an excellent training manual, has been taught around the world and is available in English and Spanish. You can buy the Book, CD’s or DVD’s at the Wholeness Shop.

Learning To Do What Jesus Did (9 parts)
Available on Youtube