In what way will healing come as a result of the laying on of hands?
The Scripture does not give any precise or detailed answer to this question. Jesus says merely, “They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” In place of the phrase “they will recover,” we might translate alternatively, “they will become well,” or more simply still, “they will be well.”
By these words of Jesus two things are still left within the sovereignty of God:
- The precise way in which healing will be manifested and,
- The precise length of time that the process of healing will take.
Side by side with this we may set the words of Paul.
“And there are diversities of activities [or operations], but it is the same God who works all in all.” (1 Cor. 12:6)
In the laying on of hands there are what Paul calls “diversities of operations”; that is, the process of healing does not always operate in the same way each time.
Sometimes complete healing is received instantly, as soon as hands are laid upon the sick person. At other times, however, healing comes only as a gradual process. In this latter case it is most important that the person seeking healing continue to exercise active faith until the process of healing is complete.
For this reason it is important to give scriptural instruction to those seeking healing through laying on of hands and to warn them in advance of the necessity of holding out in active faith until the process of healing is complete.
Experience has convinced me that in every case where genuine faith is exercised by laying hands on the sick in the name of Jesus, the process of healing begins to operate. However, if the sick person then loses faith, the healing may be either completely lost or at best never fully consummated.
There are two main ways in which a sick person may exercise active faith after hands have been laid upon him for healing. The first is by thanking God continually for the measure of healing already received. The other is by maintaining a consistent testimony of faith in the truth of God’s Word – even in the face of negative symptoms.
At this point, there is a delicate balance between faith and realism. If a person continues to experience obvious symptoms of sickness even after the laying on of hands, it is unrealistic to pretend that the symptoms are no longer there or to claim that complete healing has taken place. It is better to acknowledge the symptoms but to focus on the Word of God.
Such a person may say, “I recognise that I still have symptoms of sickness, but I believe that God’s healing has been released within my body through my obedience to His Word, and I trust Him to complete what He has begun.”
It is also perfectly reasonable for such a person to ask for continuing prayer.
There are thousands of people, alive and well today, who have received healing through these scriptural means.
Lord, thank You for teaching me how to deal honestly and realistically with faith and disease. Help me, Lord, to walk this often so delicate road. I confess that I keep my eye constantly on You; for You are Jaweh Rapha, the Lord my Healer.
