God's Healing Belongs To You

By Nick Watson

God's Healing Belongs To You will help you receive Divine physical healing, because of what Jesus did for you. It will equip you to minister physical healing to others in Jesus' Name. The book contains practical teaching on healing and faith and testimonies of people who have received God's healing. The t

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nick Watson Ministries
• Release date: Dec 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9780994301260

Nick Watson

Nick Watson is one of Australia's most experienced Illustrators and Character Designers, having been one of the few character artists approved by the world's leading animation studios, including Disney and Warner Bros). Working with the major producers gave Nick an understanding of the depth of personality that he was able to express though his art. Nick has been in constant demand for decades for developing cartoon and animated characters, for 3D Modelling, Caricatures and all kinds of design assignments. As well as his own books and characters, Nick has been the artistic hand behind Warren Warren, Emma's Ark, Tiny Ted and The Serficles'.

Book preview

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Jesus paid for your healing

Testimony

David came to the meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, USA with his hand and fingers frozen into a ball. It was as if he had been carrying an invisible baseball or tennis ball in his hand for the last 5 years. He’d had four surgeries that included having a metal plate inserted in his wrist. In one prayer, the Lord loosed him and restored full movement to all five fingers. Similarly, his hand and wrist were freed to function fully and freely. How happy he was. His mouth was filled with praise. He could resume a normal life, using both his hands and all his fingers. Hallelujah.

… the punishment that brought us peace (shalom) was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5b NIV

The broad meaning of salvation

English Bible Professor William Barclay wrote a wonderful Bible study on the meaning of salvation. Barclay concluded that salvation is the work of God which saves a person from all that would seek to ruin his spirit, soul and body both in this age and in the age to come. New Testament salvation is a total salvation, because it means saving a person’s soul, in the eternal, spiritual realm and saving a person’s body and mind, through the ministry of healing.

The German Bible teacher Paul Tillich noted that the Word Saviour also means healer and describes one who makes whole and sane, what is broken and insane, in body and mind.

John P. Baker, an English preacher, says In the Bible, forgiveness, healing, eternal life, and deliverance from evil, etc. are not separate things or parcels; they are all part and parcel of the one salvation of God in Jesus Christ for His people in the Covenant of Grace. ‘Salvation’ and ‘Healing’ are virtually interchangeable terms.

Too many Christians have narrowed the meaning of salvation to only its spiritual dimension. They think of salvation as representing only their reconciliation to God through the forgiveness of sins and faith in the sacrifice and triumph of Jesus. They limit salvation to the truth that they are now born again and Heaven-bound.

However, a study of both the Old and New Testaments reveals that the Hebrew and Greek words, which in English represent salvation, are much broader in meaning.

The words include concepts of rescue, being set free, provision, healing, restoration and victory. In other words, salvation is representative of a new relationship and partnership with God that impacts every area of our lives, including our spirit, soul, body, relationships, circumstances, finances, vocation and calling.

A New Testament example is found in Matthew 9:21-22, which refers to the healing of the bleeding woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment with her hand and touched the Heart and Hand of her Lord and ours with her faith.

Jesus used the Greek word sozo when said to her: Your faith has made you whole. This word is normally translated saved. The point is that she was saved physically. Because her healing also restored her to full social acceptability, she was also saved emotionally, mentally, relationally and spiritually in the sense that she could now participate again in corporate worship.

Here is an amazing testimony re this woman’s healing. Under Mosaic law, if an unclean person touched a clean person, the latter became unclean. In this case the unclean woman touched the clean Messiah and instead of Jesus catching her uncleanness, she caught His healing, wholeness and cleanness. Hallelujah.

The point I am making here is that when you think of the word salvation in regard to what Jesus did for you, it is important that you understand it’s not just pie in the sky when you die; it’s also steak on your plate while you wait.

In other words, Jesus not only purchased eternal life in heaven for us who believe, by saving us spiritually; but He also paid for us to enjoy an abundant life on earth, by saving us in soul, body and in every area of life. (John 10:10).

Christians must train their minds to think of salvation in whole-of-life terms, not just in the spiritual sense of being saved and therefore having a home in heaven. Narrow thinking in regard to salvation can rob us of faith for the many other benefits Jesus purchased for us by His suffering, sacrifice and triumph over sin, death and the devil. (read, for example, Psalm 103:1-5).

Don’t think that God cares about you spiritually more than He does in regard to the quality of your earthly life. Such thinking will limit your faith to receive the whole-of-life benefits, including physical healing, that belong to you, because of Jesus.

The broad meaning of shalom

In Isaiah 53:5, the Hebrew word shalom is declared to be one of the benefits of salvation. According to Strong’s Concordance of Hebrew words in The Old Testament shalom means: to be safe, well, happy, fulfilled, friendly, in good health; to have prosperity, peace, harmony, wholeness and victory.

A quick internet study of the meaning of shalom will confirm that this is another whole-of-life word. Additional descriptors of shalom include: completeness, soundness, well-being, security, tranquillity and orderliness. Some have summarised it by this phrase: nothing missing; nothing broken.

Shalom is a word that indicates it is God’s Will for us to be healed of all bodily problems, protected from sickness and to live in Divine health, strength and well-being. Refer to such Scriptures as Exodus 15:26b; 23:25-26; Psalm 91; Proverbs 4:20-23; John 10:10; 3 John 2.

Dr. Harold Taylor studied the Hebrew word shalom and determined that it has 3 inter-related meanings.

Firstly, it means general wellbeing. It’s not just the absence of sickness, but abundant wellness, ‘superoverflowing abundance’, which includes material and financial health. Shalom means your life is good. You are well in your body and you have peace of mind as well, because your life is in a good place.

Secondly, shalom means personal integrity, which describes a person who speaks and lives honestly and ethically.

Thirdly, shalom includes positive social relationships. It means there is a positive peace, an ‘Okayness’, between people and nations.

Shalom is how things should be for Christ’s people. It is God’s intended purpose for us to have God’s peace in every area of life.

Shalom includes these kinds of Peace:

Peace with God. All other blessings of God’s Peace flow from this one. We cannot have the Peace of God unless and until we first have Peace with God. This spiritual peace comes from knowing that, through Jesus, we are forgiven of our sins. Also, we are given His righteousness, so that we stand before God by faith as those with whom He is pleased and whom He is pleased to bless. Holy Spirit empowers me to live righteously in all my activities with God and people. Having a clear conscience gives me inner peace and contributes to my physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Peace with myself. I have a healthy soul with mental and emotional well-being. I think clearly and am able to make positive choices that lead to good consequences. I like who I am and I live positively, purposefully and with integrity.

Peace in my body. I have physical health and strength, not sickness and weakness. Everything is functioning as God intended for His creation, His children.

Peace in my relationships. I experience unity and harmony in my family, friendships and church. I have good and healthy spiritual, social and vocational relationships, partnerships and ministries. I am a good team player, both as a leader and follower.

Peace in my finances. I have God’s provision, so there is peace, not stress or distress, about money matters in my life. The Lord supplies all my needs out of His riches and He blesses my financial dealings that I conduct with integrity, wisdom, love and faith.

Peace in my circumstances. The Lord gives me His victory, by faith, over adversity and opposition. So, when you think of the word ‘shalom-peace’ in regard to what Jesus did for you, you must train your mind to automatically believe that Jesus was punished so you could receive God’s peace in every area of your life, including physical healing.

Often when I am ministering, especially if I am preaching in regard to Isaiah 53:5, I will get the congregation to say the following out loud after me – and I encourage you to do this now, as you are reading this page:

Jesus got what we deserved, which was punishment; so that we would get what He deserves, which is blessing, peace and healing.

When you truly believe the whole-of-life meaning of salvation and the whole-of-life meaning of the shalom-peace that Jesus was punished on our behalf to make available to us, then you can confidently say according to God’s Word:

Jesus took my sin, I receive His righteousness. (Isaiah 53:5)

Jesus took my punishment, I receive his forgiveness and peace. (Romans 3:25; 1 John 1:9; 1 John 2:2; 1 Peter 3:18)

Jesus took my diseases and pains, I receive His healing, because by His wounds I am healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17)

Jesus took my weakness, I receive His strength. (Isaiah 40:31)

Jesus took my sadness, I receive His peace and joy. (Isaiah. 61:3; John 15:11)

Jesus took my curse, I receive His blessing. (Galatians 3:13-14)

Jesus took my old sinful life, I receive His new divine life. (Galatians 2:20; John 10:10)

Jesus took my poverty, I receive His riches. (2 Corinthians 8:9; Deuteronomy 28:48; Galatians 3:13-14)

Jesus took my rejection, I receive His acceptance and adoption from God. (Mark 15:34 and 37; Ephesians 1:6)

Jesus paid for your healing

Theologians would echo this statement by saying: Healing is in the Atonement. If you can get a revelation of this Biblical fact, your healing will soon appear.

Remember Who wrote the Bible. It is not the writers whose names are associated with the different books that make up our Bible. The true Author is Holy Spirit Himself. You will see His Divine Hand as we consider the following passage.

4 Surely he has borne (nasa) our sicknesses (choli) and suffered (sabal) our pain (makob): and we considered him stricken, smitten of God, and cast down. 5 But he was wounded for our rebellions; he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement (punishment) of our peace was upon him; and by his stripes (wounds) healing was provided for us. 6 All we like sheep have become lost; we have turned each one to his own way; and the LORD transposed in him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:4-6 JUB

In the construction of these three verses, Holy Spirit has deliberately intertwined twin themes regarding our salvation, namely, the forgiveness of our sins and the healing of our bodies.

In verse 4a, He writes about the physical healing of our bodily sicknesses, weaknesses, malfunctions, breakages and pains. In verses 4b and 5a, He refers to the forgiving of our sins and the removal of both the penalty and power of sin, by the Blood of Jesus.

In verse 5b, Holy Spirit returns to the physical and soul-realm aspects of our whole-of-life salvation.

In verse 6, He goes back to the spiritual dimension of our salvation.

This style of writing deliberately unites, in an inseparable way, the concept that Jesus’ suffering, sacrifice and triumph purchased for believers both their forgiveness and healing.

Some of the translators tried to spiritualise or emotionalise the Hebrew words choli and makob in Isaiah 53:4a. They moved away from the physical nature of the meaning of these two words and used spiritual or emotional words like griefs and sorrows.

Holy Spirit made clear these words were to retain their primarily physical meaning when He wrote Matthew 8:16-17 into the Gospel record.

16 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.

Matthew 8:16-17 NIV

To linguistically reinforce the point, Holy Spirit used the very same two Hebrew verbs (nasa and sabal), found in Isaiah 53 verse 4a, again in verses 11 and 12 of that chapter.

By so doing Holy Spirit was telling us again, in a subtle way, that the very same actions which Jesus did in His passion were designed to both purchase healing for our bodies (in verse 4a), and the forgiveness of all our iniquities and sins (in verses 11 and 12).

This twin aspect of our salvation is confirmed elsewhere in the Bible.

I refer you to Psalm 103:3, James 5:14-16, 1 Peter 2:24, and the account of the forgiveness and healing of the paralysed man, who had four friends. (Mark 2:1-12).

The Passover in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-13) represents forgiveness in the sense of exclusion from Divine Judgement, because of being under the blood. It also represents healing because Psalm 105:37 says that when the Jews left Egypt there was not even one feeble (YLT) or sick (Jubilee Bible 2000) or weak (Aramaic Bible in Plain English) person among them. Hallelujah, they were all healthy and strong (GNT).

One can also see both the forgiveness of sin and the healing of the body in the account of Moses raising up the bronze serpent in the wilderness. The incident is recorded in Numbers 21:4-9. In John 3:14, Jesus explained the incident was a foreshadowing of His crucifixion and our salvation. Again, we must conclude that Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and His triumphant resurrection were for both our spiritual salvation and physical healing.

We must understand that Jesus was punished twice. Many criminals would have been mocked and scourged and then sent home. Jesus was punched, crowned with thorns, scourged and crucified. Wounding His Body was sufficient for our physical healing; but Jesus had to die, as did the animals in the Old Testament sacrifices, in order for our sins to be forgiven and for us to receive the righteousness of God.

Here is the most important consequence of believing this teaching:

If you get a revelation from God, based on what and how Holy Spirit wrote about Jesus paying for both your physical healing and the forgiveness of your sin, then, just as you used your faith to receive your spiritual salvation, so you will be able to use your faith to receive your physical salvation, which is your healing.

Here is a one sentence summary of what this chapter means in regards to the healing aspect of your whole-of-life salvation and shalom: Healing belongs to you because of Jesus.

I encourage you to stop reading right now and say as a confession of your faith 3 times:

Healing belongs to me because of Jesus

Healing belongs to me because of Jesus

Healing belongs to me because of Jesus

Think about the taking of Canaan by Joshua and the Jews. God said: I have given it to you (Joshua 1:3) before they had even set foot in the Promised Land. Your healing is like that. God says: It’s yours; I have given it to you. However, it’s then up