The Power Of Faith And Its Ability To Heal

In this blog, I want to talk to you about the power of faith in Jesus and faith’s ability to heal. There are two examples of great faith in the Bible that fascinates me. One is the story of the woman with the issue of blood. The Bible does not name her, but her story verifies that she was a woman of extraordinary faith. The other is the story of Blind Bartimaeus. Despite people telling him that he did not matter, he was tenacious.

Today’s ministries teach healing, and most agree that healing comes by having faith in Jesus. But it seems that today, many believers have more trust in the power of the Healthcare Industry than trust in Jesus. I believe this is one of the reasons believers depend so much on Healthcare insurance and so little on God. Almost everyone in America uses some type of medication, including me. I believe God’s will is to heal His people through the power of faith.

The Bible says Christ was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes, we are healed. If God said He healed us, then why are we, myself included, still sick? I have asked God this question numerous times. Today, I will share with you what I believe to be a revelation from God and the answer to my question regarding why Christians are not experiencing healing on a larger scale.

The Optimism of Faith

The Holy Spirit desires that we be more aware of the awesome power of faith and its ability to heal. Consider how the woman with the issue of blood received her healing. There are two accounts of her story. We find the first account in the book of Matthew. It reads: “And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.” (Matthew 9:20-22).

I remember how I sought healing from my crack cocaine addiction. One day, I went to the cemetery to visit my brother’s grave. While at his gravesite, I thought, “If only God would hear me, me, I know He will heal me.” I had prayed for healing many times, but I didn’t think God ever heard me.

Then I remembered, as a child, how my mother would tell me that God is in all living things. And there, right in front of me, was a huge oak tree, and it was alive. Looking at the tree, I said to myself, “I’ve got You now God, and You can’t walk away. So you might as well listen to what I have to say.” I poured my heart out, not withholding anything. That very day the healing process began for me. My healing was not immediate, but my desire to smoke crack disappeared. Today, my healing has manifested. I no longer crave crack cocaine.

When You Trust God, You Believe God

Mark’s version of the story of the woman with the issue of blood is more systematic. It sheds more light on the power of faith. It reads: “Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction” (Mark 5:25-29).

The Bible does not tell us what she heard concerning Jesus. Perhaps a friend or a neighbor told her that Jesus could help her with her dilemma. One thing is certain, whatever she heard, she believed it. Her faith energized her confidence and gave her the strength to pursue her healing.

Be Tenacious

“Now they came to Jericho. As He [Jesus] went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’

Then many warned him to be quiet, but he cried out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.‘

And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ The blind man said to Him, ‘Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go your way; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road” (Mark 10:46-52).

Faith Heals

This is the kind of unshakable confidence that gets God’s attention. Bartimaeus displayed tenacious faith. It didn’t matter to Bartimaeus that he was getting in the way of others. When they told him to be quiet, the power of faith compiled Bartimaeus to yell louder. Deep within, Bartimaeus believed if he could get Jesus’ attention he would heal him. In the end, Bartimaeus received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

Blind Bartimaeus had a sight issue. Whereas the woman with the issue of blood had a life issue. When they received their healing, Jesus told them both, “Your faith has made you well.”

The woman with the issue of blood was in a predicament that affected her life in multiple ways. This woman was hemorrhaging all day, every day. She was probably cold and weak all the time from blood loss. It would have been difficult for her to walk across the street, let alone walk across town, to find someone that she heard could help her. To add to her dilemma, according to Jewish Law, the woman was unclean. The law says: “If a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her body is blood, she shall be set apart seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening. Everything that she lies on during her impurity shall be unclean; also everything that she sits on shall be unclean” (Leviticus 15:19-20).

Count the Cost

Great faith goes to great measures. Healing is a gift from God to everyone who believes. The level of healing experienced depends on the believer’s faith level. When you possess the power of great faith, nothing is impossible. When you ask God for healing, your faith must not doubt. I believe the reason we do not experience healing is that we dilute our faith with doubt.

James 1:6-8 says, “…ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let, not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” If something prevents you from receiving your healing, ask God to show you where you are doubting. Then do what the woman with the issue of blood did. That is, talk yourself into doing the impossible, and against all odds, you will accomplish the impossible. Great faith overcomes impossible odds.