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A Faith That Can Heal Illnesses

Rick Warren | October 25, 2020

As followers of Jesus, we don’t only care about people’s spiritual needs — we care about their physical needs, as well. In fact, a major element of Jesus’ ministry on Earth was physical healing. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren continues our study through the Book of James by explaining three mistaken views about physical healing and by describing how to pray for healing for yourself and others.

Message Action Plan

Three Essential Questions
After watching the message take some time reflect on the following three questions.

  1. What did you hear? What point in this message was most impactful for you?
  2. What do you think? How did this message challenge, change, or affirm your thinking?
  3. What will you do? How will you put into practice what you've learned today?

"Jesus went everywhere, teaching…  preaching… and healing people who had all kinds of disease and sickness."  Matthew 4:23 (TEV)

Three Mistaken Views About Divine Healing

ERROR #1:  I CAN BUY MY HEALING WITH GIVING

"There was a man named Simon who had used magic tricks for many years to pose as a miracle worker. He amazed everybody and claimed supernatural powers. He had a large following and people called him 'The Great Power'...But when Philip preached Jesus, Simon himself believed and was baptized… (Later) when Simon saw the Holy Spirit healing people through the prayers and hands of Jesus' apostles he offered them money to buy this power…But Peter said, "You and your money will end up in hell if you think God's gift can be bought! Your heart is not right before God. Turn from this wicked attitude and pray. Ask God to forgive you for trying to use God to make money."  Acts 8:9-11, 18-22

"Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity." 2 Corinthians 2:17 (NIV)

Jesus said, "On Judgment Day, many will say to me 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and drive out demons and perform many miracles in your name?' Then I will say to them 'No, I never knew you and you have never been mine. Go away from me. Your word was evil.'" Matthew 7:22 (NIV)

ACTION PLAN:In your quiet time, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any insecurity in your life where you have felt that you needed to work in order to earn God's love or receive an answer to prayer. Confess this to the Lord and receive freedom from this lie of the enemy.

ERROR #2:  IT'S NEVER GOD'S WILL FOR ME TO BE SICK

"Those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good."  1 Peter 4:19 (NIV)

Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble."  John 16:33 (NIV)

"For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him."  Philippians 1:29 (NLT)

(Paul) "There are things that Christ still suffers through his Body, the Church. I am accepting, in my body, my part of these things that must be suffered." Colossians 1:24 (NCV)

"We want no one to be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them."  1 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)

ERROR #3:  MIRACLES ENDED WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE BIBLE

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

"Are you hurting? Then you should pray. Are you happy? Then you should sing songs of praise. Are you sick? Then you should call the church elders to pray over you and anoint you with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will heal the sick person; the Lord will raise him up. And if you've sinned, you'll be forgiven. Therefore, confess your faults to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a believing person is powerful and effective. For example, Elijah was a human being just like us. Yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, so there was no rain three and a half years! Then, he prayed that it would rain, and it poured down and everything began to grow again!"  James 5:13-18

4 Questions to Ask About Healing

  1. When Should I Pray For Healing?

    • "Are you hurting? (kakopatheo) = having trouble, suffering
    • "Are you sick? (ästheneo) = feeling weak or sick
    •  "The sick person" (kamno) = weary and feel like giving up
    • "No rain for 3 ½ years" = a drought or dry spell in your life

Anytime I'm Hurting, Sick, Tired or Empty

ACTION PLAN:Healing comes through prayer. If you are hurting, sick, tired, or empty, it is time to pray for healing. Let your need for healing be known to the people in your small group and ask for prayer.

  1. Why Aren't People Healed Every Time?

    1. To Get My Attention & Redirect Me

      "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees."  Psalm 119:71 (NIV)

      "Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways."  Proverbs 20:30 (TEV)
    2. To Be A Testimony For Others

      "I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has helped spread the Good News." Philippians. 1:12 (NCV)

      "This sickness will not end in death. It is an illness for the glory of God, to bring glory to the Son of God." John 11:4 (NCV)
    3. To Take Us Into Eternity

      "God has already appointed a time that each of us will die and then our lives will be judged by God." Hebrews 9:27

      "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." 1 John 5:14 (NIV)
  1. Who Can Pray For Healing? Any Child Of God

"The earnest prayer of a believing person is powerful and effective! For example, Elijah was a human being just like us. Yet when he prayed earnestly… (miracles happened),"
James 5:16-17

Jesus: "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I've been doing. He will do even greater miracles than these because I'm going to the Father. And I'll do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father."
John 14:12-14 (NIV)

  1. How Do I Pray For Healing For Myself And Others?

1. Make Sure My Heart Is Clean From Sin

"Confess your faults to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."  James 5:16a

2.Be Specific When I Ask

"You do not have, because you do not ask God."  James 4:2

ACTION PLAN: Use a prayer journal  in your quiet time. Instead of saying your prayers out loud, write them down in your journal. As you pray for someone who has an illness, be specific about what you are asking God to do in their life. Ask God to heal them. This type of prayer increases your faith as you see God answer your prayer.

3. Ask in Faith

"When you ask, you must believe and not doubt..."  James 1:6

Weekly Action Steps
We recommit our lives to Jesus Christ. Text NEWSTART (1 word) to 83000 or email newstart@saddleback.com

We express our gratitude to God for his goodness by giving back to him. Your generosity online is feeding tens of thousands of out-of-work families and serving many other needs. Give at Saddleback.com/give

We meet in small groups online to discuss what we've heard. To join a group, text SMALLGROUP to 83000 or email SMALLGROUP@saddleback.com.

To be baptized, email mybaptism@saddleback.com.

Listen to our podcasts "Doable Discipleship" and "The Well" from our Saddleback Growth team at Saddleback.com/learn

More from this series

More from this series

A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t
March 15 - November 8, 2020