By His Stripes

 

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

—3 John 2 (NKJV)

 

 

There is an authority in the living Word of God. It is absolute Truth. When the Word is believed and received in your heart, nothing can hinder its power. Many fight illnesses and struggle to believe in healing. The Word makes it clear that God’s desire is for us to be well. But so many have trouble believing it.  

 

“He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death” (Psalm 107:20, NLT). 

 

Do you know that Jesus is the Word? God sent His Son into the world to forgive your sins, heal your illnesses, and deliver you from oppression.  That is what the grace of Jesus purchased for you—a complete and finished work of healing.

 

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies” (Psalm 103:2-4, NLT). 

 

Yes, He forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. You are redeemed by His grace. Don’t ever forget this Truth. 

 

“Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 1:24, NKJV). 

 

By the wounds Christ took for us, we WERE healed. The finished work of His grace has healed you.

 

God sent His Word to heal us. He forgives all our sins and heals all our diseases. He redeems us from death. God sends His Word to accomplish His purpose in our lives, and that purpose is to believe and receive His Truth. 

 

“And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him” (Acts 10:38, NLT). 

 

Jesus didn’t do anything on His own. God was with Him, anointing Him with power. Jesus healed all those who were oppressed by the enemy. He never placed sickness on anyone, because illness is not of God. 

 

“Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death” (Hebrews 2:14, NLT). 

 

God is abundant life. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy life (John 10:10). But in dying for us Jesus broke the power of the enemy and of death.

 

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, NKJV). 

 

We receive healing like we receive salvation—by faith. We chose by faith to receive Jesus' gift of salvation. In the same way, we also accept His gift of healing. We believe in our hearts that God wants us to have good health.

 

Why do we have trouble believing in healing? Because it is hard to believe in what we don’t see or feel. It is hard to believe in the intangible. We often doubt, and a double-minded man will not receive from God (James 1:6-8). Sometimes God heals immediately, but most often, He heals progressively as our souls prosper in Him—as the Truth of God's Word transforms our minds (Romans 12:2). 

 

Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into God’s Word and to renew your mind (John 16:13, Romans 12:2). Hold on to God’s Truth without wavering (Hebrews 10:23). Don’t base what you believe on how you feel or what you hear or what you see. Keep on believing no matter if what you pray for is not seen or felt. Believe that "by His stripes, you were healed."

 

Have confidence when you pray that you have asked according to God's will. You know your prayer will be answered (1 John 5:14-15). Believe that you receive what you pray for and that one day it will happen. Believe that God wishes above all things that you be in health and prosper even as your soul prospers. And believe the Word instead of what you feel or see or experience. 

 

“My child,” God instructs, “pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body” (Proverbs 4:20-22, NLT).

 

© 2021 Lynn Lacher

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