The TRUTH about HEALING John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." THE truth CAN'T set you free, if you don't know it! CAN I GIVE YOU SOME TRUTH, THIS MORNING? Before anyone can have a steadfast faith for the healing of their body THEY HAVE TO KNOW God's will concerning healing. IT'S NOT KNOWING that God can heal. IT'S KNOWING that God will heal. That it IS His WILL. Appropriating faith cannot go beyond YOUR knowledge of God's will revealed in His WORD. Before attempting to exercise faith for healing, everyone needs to know what the scriptures plainly teach. PRAY THIS OUTLOUD!! "Father God, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. I give You glory, Honor and Praise for this day You have created for us; I rejoice and am glad in it!! Anoint this message to take root in the reader and bring forth good fruit!! I bind every devil that would get in the way, in Jesus' Name, AMEN! Paul states in Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." SINCE faith comes by hearing, I PREPARED A "FAITH PANEL" to read from God's Word so all could hear. Job 2:7, "So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown." WHO AFFLICTED JOB? Job 42:10, "And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." WHO BLESSED RESTORED JOB? Luke 13:16, "And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?" WHO BOUND UP THAT WOMAN? Luke 4:18, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised," WHO HEALS? WHO'S SPIRIT WAS SETTING PEOPLE FREE? 2 Corinthians 12:7, "And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." WHERE DID THE THORN COME FROM? Luke 4:39, "And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them." WHAT DID JESUS DO TO SICKNESS? He rebuked it! HE GOT RID OF IT! Acts 10:38, "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him." WHO DID GOOD? WHO OPPRESSED PEOPLE? I'M STARTING TO GET THE IMPRESSION, that God does good and the devil does bad! God heals, and the devil makes sick! NOW LETS LOOK AT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SIN AND SICKNESS EVERYBODY TURN WITH ME TO PSALM 103 (someone else go to Ps 107) (I'll read it) Psalms 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: AND NOW HE'S GOING TO REMIND HIMSELF ABOUT THE BENEFITS: (3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; WHO HEALS ALL YOUR DISEASES? GOD DOES! (4) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; THE THEME I WANT YOU TO SEE IS THAT GOD Heals our diseases, and Forgives our sins. THE SCRIPTURES often puts the 2 together: the FORGIVENESS of sin, and the HEALING of diseases. LET'S BE OPEN, OK? If you sin and have sex outside of marriage, what might you get? A DISEASE, RIGHT? But if you respond to an altar call and repent of your sin, and you get forgiven; what also may happen to you? YOU COULD GET HEALED!! WHY? Because your sin was taken care of, and your physical body was restored!! HOW CAN WE AS CHRISTIANS BELIEVE THAT 100% OF OUR SINS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FORGIVEN AND NOT BELIEVE THAT 100% OF OUR DISEASES HAVE ALREADY BEEN HEALED? How can ministers tell their people that sometimes GOD ALLOWS THEM TO STAY SICK so they can learn something from it or that "GOD CAN BE GLORIFIED THRU IT"? If that's true they should also teach their people that God can be glorified thru their sin and they should continue because they can learn something from it! SINCE CHRIST SAID "IT IS WRITTEN" (Man doesn't live...) AND THE DEVIL SAID "IT IS WRITTEN" (His angels have charge...) WHY CAN'T THE PREACHER SAY "IT IS WRITTEN?" Psalms 107:17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. (18) Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. (19) Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. (20) He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. WHAT HAPPENED? THEY FELL INTO SIN FROM FOOLISHNESS, AND HE CAME AND RESCUED THEM!! THEN HE SENT HIS WORD AND HE HEALED THEM!!! THAT'S YOU AND ME!! Exodus 15:26, "And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee." NOT "I WAS" the Lord... I "AM" THE LORD... PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE... CONTINUALLY... NOW, IS IT GOD'S WILL TO HEAL: EVERYBODY TURN WITH ME TO LUKE 5. Luke 5:12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. THAT'S OUR QUESTION, ISN'T IT? WE KNOW GOD CAN HEAL US; BUT IS IT HIS WILL THAT WE BE HEALED? IS HE WILLING TO HEAL US? (13) And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. John 6:38, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." Hebrews 10:9, "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second." NOW, IF JESUS WENT ABOUT HEALING ALL THOSE (ACTS 10:38)... AND JESUS CAME TO DO THE FATHER'S WILL; SO... THE FATHER'S WILL MUST BE TO HEAL ALL! Get it? No longer can the Church pray for the sick with the faith-destroying, qualifying phrase 'If it be Thy will.'" Many say "I believe in healing, but I do not believe it is for every one." If it is not, how could we pray the prayer of faith for anyone? IF HEALING were not God's will: EVERY Doctor would be sinning by even attempting to heal. Every hospital would be a house of rebellion! Nature (which God created), would be functioning against God's will. I'm filling you guys with the WORD, because He sent His Word and they were healed!! Things just may begin to pop off of you, while we're reading these scriptures. Many, instead of saying, "pray for me" should first say, "teach me God's Word, so that I can intelligently cooperate for my recovery." AMEN? You entered into the realm of faith when you confessed Jesus and that you believe in your heart "God raised Him from the dead". DID ANYONE HERE see God raise Jesus from the dead? SO then it IS by faith you have been saved thru grace. That same faith will appropriate God's promises of healing as well, because Being healed is being saved in the physical sense. (It's the SAME Greek WORD, "SOZO") LET'S TALK ABOUT FAITH: James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. WHOSE FAITH? THE PERSON PRAYING!!! Luke 8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, (44) Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. WHO HAD THE FAITH HERE? THE WOMAN AFFLICTED!! Matthew 8:8, "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed." Matthew 8:13, "And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour." WHO HAD THE FAITH HERE? THE EMPLOYER!! HOW 'BOUT THAT!! Mark 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. (5) When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. WHOSE FAITH DID JESUS SEE? THE MEN ON THE ROOF; NOT THE GUY WITH THE PALSY. BOTTOM LINE: FAITH IS REQUIRED. If you don't have it, I have! There's ALSO that connection again between sin and healing!! SIN AND SICKNESS ARE INTERWOVEN!! John 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. (6) When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? THERE'S A POOL HERE, AND AN ANGEL COMES DOWN AND STIRS UP THE WATER. THE 1ST ONE IN AFTER THE ANGEL TOUCHES THE WATER GETS HEALED. BUT EVERY TIME THE POOL GOT STIRRED UP, BECAUSE YOU WERE LAME SOMEBODY STOLE YOUR HEALING. JESUS HEALS HIM. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? LISTEN TO VERSE 14 John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. WHOA!! ANOTHER CONNECTION BETWEEN SIN AND SICKNESS! IF WE HAVE HABITUAL SIN OR CARNALITY IN OUR LIFE, do you think we're going to have continual healing in our life? Or might we leave a door open for another affliction to get thru? Or some kind of spirit of infirmity? IT WAS A NORMAL PRINCIPLE THRU the scriptures in the old testament, that when God finally got the people to repent, their lands would be restored, their families would be reconciled, and they would have the anointing to chase out their enemies. LET'S LOOK SOME MORE AT JESUS: Matthew 8:16, "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:" HE CAST OUT SPIRITS WITH WHAT? HIS WORD!!! Matthew 12:22, "Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw." Matthew 14:14, "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick." Matthew 15:30, "And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus' feet; and he healed them:" WELL, THROUGH OUT THE SCRIPTURES, WE SEE THAT JESUS HEALED, DELIVERED. EVERYBODY TURN TO JOHN 14 John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works THAT I DO shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (13) And WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (14) If ye shall ask ANY THING in my name, I will do it. MARK 16:17-18 JESUS SAID: Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (18) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. REMEMBER PS 107:20? HE SENT HIS, "WORD" AND HEALED THEM? LOOK AT MARK 16:19 in the King James Version of the Bible: Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. (20) And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. HE DIDN'T GO AND WORK WITH "THEM;" THE WORD "THEM" IS IN ITALICS. ANYBODY KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS? SO IF WE TAKE "THEM" OUT, HOW DOES IT READ? "HE WAS WORKING WITH AND CONFIRMING THE 'WORD!'" Why do you think JESUS felt compassion when he'd see a leper, a dead person and their mourner? HE FELT COMPASSION BECAUSE THESE WERE PRISONERS!! PRISONERS TO THE ENEMY!! THEY WERE LESS THAN WHAT GOD CREATED THEM TO BE, SO HE SET THEM FREE. Put that in your heart when you pray for people; it is not just some irresponsible faith doctrine, look, it is not God's will that you be sick, it is not God's will that you be infertile, it is not God's will that the enemy wins this battle AND KEEPS YOU DISCOURAGED, THOSE ARE ENEMIES THAT HAVE NO RIGHTS TO YOU THAT ARE KEEPING YOU BOUND, THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WERE CREATED TO BE. I REBUKE THAT THING, I BIND THAT THING, I COMMAND IT TO LEAVE IN JESUS' NAME!!! I PRAY FOR YOU THAT YOU BE RESTORED. What reason have you for doubting? You have no more reason for doubting that the sinner has when he repents and asks forgiveness of his sins. You have exactly the same reason for expecting to Be healed that you had for expecting to be saved. WE HAVE SEEN BLOOD diseases have been cured THE LAME walked out of here Epileptics for years are now free and rejoicing Many who were dying with cancers are now well Addictions have be eliminated Religion it hanging around The cross, Christianity it getting on it. The religious leaders were following Jesus around watching The miracles, watching The people being healed. The Woman with The issue of blood who said "If I can only touch His cloak, I'll be healed. Or Blind BARTEMAEUS who followed after Jesus, BLIND, saying Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!! Or The Centurion who said "Just speak The word and my servant will be made well. THAT'S FAITH! And those were the ones who got healed! NOTE TO THE READER: IF YOU EMAIL or Write to Me, I will send you a tape of the above service on December 2, 2001 complete with 6 testimonies of healing. You'll find 3 of the testimonies on the "testimony" page of this WEBSITE. God Bless You! Rev. John M. Kerns