The other day I had a conversation with a Grad student from ASU. She was getting her masters in Architecture and happened to be from the midwest like me - Springfiled, Illinois to be exact. We talked for a while about general stuff and then I had an opportunity to ask about her religious beliefs. She shared about being raised catholic, but was now very turned off to the things of God and came off very apathetic to anything about God. But, she still allowed me to share about the dangers of religions and I sympathized with her about how a religious spirit can be a turn off to her now considering the claims of Christianity. I even shared how Jesus was the toughest critic of the religious leaders of his day and didn’t tolerate their outward religiosity. (And as I right this I can’t understand why we have become so tolerable of this similar religious spirit in the Church today, which has caused so much hatred by the world aligning us with the pharisees of our day - which has included me in the past - Colossians 2:21-23 talks about these dangers by saying “These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.”)
I began to share with her about how Jesus has healed me both physically and spiritually, how I’ve seen His Power in so many ways. But, the comment she made in response, I will never forget.
“I don’t need to be healed.”
I was taken aback by this comment. I should have been ready to respond about her need for spiritual healing. But, I wasn’t. I should of told her about her need for a Savior. But, I didn’t.
Instead, I simply left her with a picture of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that I hope was more accurate than she has probably ever known, one that I hope she will never forget. But, even with thoughts on what else I could have said, I need to trust her to the Power of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction, show her God’s love, tear down the walls of religion, and bring her into an intimate relationship with the Living God - Jesus of Nazareth.
I’m reading a book right now about “Freedom from the Religious Spirit”, which I highly recommend, as it analyzes what this religious spirit is and how it has seeped into the church very intentionally by the Kingdom of Satan. Let’s fight against the religious spirit in our churches, our communities, and in our personal lives. It will steal our unity as a body, our love for Jesus and the world He loves so much.
My friends, Jesus is alive today and wants to move in Power through His Church and through His People. If you’re open to it, He will show you amazing things. You will be used by him in some amazing ways. But beware a religious spirit that seeks to steal the Healing Power of God from your life and your hearers.
One such demonstration of God’s Power is from an acquaintance of mine named Fabian who has a website called FreedomToCaptives.com. He shares a healing testimony in his newsletter below:
Another encouraging testimony is from a lady that we have been ministering to over the phone. She has been bed ridden and had to use a wheel chair for over 24 years. She was bound by a spirit of infirmity. Doctors named this one Fibromyalgia. She called me a few days ago excited to share with me that she is healed. She believed that Jesus took her infirmity by the stripes He took on His body. She refused to believe the devil’s lies. Now she is walking, driving her car and ministering to other sick people to be healed. - Fabian from www.FreedomToCaptives.com
Since sharing this story on my Myspace page, a few friends have responded with similar testimonies. See them below:
How have you been healed by God? Please share with the Missionary Road community how God has been moving in your life or those you’ve been privileged to minister to!
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January 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Sure, I have been healed by God. My story of healing is not as shocking as blind recieving sight or many other acts of healing God does but I was very thankful none the less.
I hurt my knee by running too far and too hard. For years it did not heal. I love to run so loss of use of my knee was very disappointing for me. I would take three months off and then go out and try to run again and every time it would hurt just the same with no evidence of healing. I went to a doctor, had a mri and was told “it looks fine, there is nothing I can do”. He was able to charge me $600 for that epiphany but his prognosis didn’t comfort me much when I tried to run.
After about two years I finally had the thought “why have I never prayed about this?”. If I believed God created us then definitely he could heal me. I prayed and the next day went for a run and was jumping and leaping when I realized the pain was gone!
Sometimes God seems to be teaching me perseverance by making me seek him for a long time before answering but in this instance I think he wanted to teach me to look to him first with my desires rather than exhausting my own solutions.
February 1st, 2008 at 6:08 am
I too have had many healings from God/Jesus/Holy Spirit - some physical & some emotional & some mental…
This statement, “I don’t need to be healed.” reminded me of one I made to a man that is gravely deceived by new age deception that lives in an area of the USA that has a powerful principality over the region - the Bay Area of CA - he expressed that I was praying that “God” would heal me back to vibrant health & I was offened by that statement from a man that is so steeped in new age deception. He had even been involved in occultic “healing” practices in the Phillipines - which was not of God but demonic.
The healing he was referring to (which he knew nothing about) was acquired by taking heed to the wisdom of God/Jesus/Holy Spirit & being obedient - that was my healing for sure. So healing can come in many different forms - one of which we can be by the agent/person by being obedient - I believe that is one of the explanations of the phrase, “Physician heal thyself.” I believe some of our ills are brought on by our own flesh/disobedience & therefore when we correct ourselves/judge ourselves - then we are healed.
flygirljc