Divine Healing in the Age of Corona

Introduction

• Earlier this year, we began a series called “Name it and Claim it.”
• Its purpose was to give a background on some the key tenants of the Word of Faith doctrine.
• While there are several different Christian that have influenced this church, one of the more significant ones are doctrines of The Word of Movement.
• The Word of Movement is referred to by many other terms, some of which merely describe and others that :
• • Prosperity Preachers
  • Neo-Pentecostals
  • Name It and Claim It
  • Blab It and Grab It

• Among other things, the Word of Faith Movement places an emphasis on the extension of God’s promises of material blessings from the children of Abraham to the children of Abraham.
• Those promises include, but are not limited to
• • Healing
  • Physical protection
  • Provision and financial prosperity
  • Favor
• For the purpose of this current series, the focus is on healing.
• My approach to this subject is not sensational, nor argumentative, but .
• This lesson has two objectives:

1. To demonstrate that developing faith for divine healing is biblical, practical and beneficial.
2. To foster reasonable expectations for divine intervention in the healing and recovery of your physical body.

Addressing Skeptics

• Most people on either side of this issue have an or nothing approach.
• If your knowledge of the prosperity movement comes primarily from television hype, popular catch phrases, disgruntled Christians and internet critics, you will miss the central of those most committed to it.
• My commitment to the doctrine is not just in how I’ve interpreted Scripture, but in the tangible impact I’ve seen it have on people’s lives—including my own.
• It has people’s lives. It has healed people’s bodies. It has secured people financially. It has people from physical harm.
• I know about many of these testimonies first- hand.
• But putting the prosperity doctrine in perspective is more than about highlighting the victories. It also means the disappointments.
• There is no value in skirting around the reality of disappointment and unanswered , nor in giving people false hope.
• Over the last several months, what I have provided instead is perspective: we acknowledge life’s challenges while remaining focused on the we have in Jesus.
• I’ve tried to hold two theological positions simultaneously:

1. A belief that God’s promises encompass the blessings of , which include, but are not exclusive to physical health, protection and provision.
2. Accepting that life will bring unexpected loss or unwelcomed that will not always lend itself to easy or convenient answers or explanations.

• Many of you will need some mental before hearing a pointed message on divine healing.

Looking at Divine Healing Holistically

• Holistic (Medical) – characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of a disease.
• To look at something holistically is to look at it from all the ways we are in the world.
• For Christians, this means considering the reality of our , souls and bodies. (I Thessalonians 5:23 – ²³ Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.)

Dichotomist vs. Trichotomist

• Some Christians view the human experience in parts: body and soul.
• Others view the human experience in parts: spirit, body and soul.
• Even if other terms are used, the basic idea of a trichotomist perspective is that there is a spiritual, psychological and physical aspect of the human experience.
• • Spirit = the spiritual
  • Soul = mind, will, emotions
  • Body = the physical

 © Joshua D. Smith, Ph.D., 2020