This quarter, we focus on healing in our weekly devotional series. This week’s devotional comes from Luke 6 through 12.
As a doctor, Luke was careful to record the healing and deliverance Jesus brought to others in His day. He showed us many different ways that Jesus ministered healing; I believe there are no formulas that work every time we pray. In short, Luke taught us to refrain from putting God in a box, and instead to expect Him to heal in whatever way He chooses.
On one occasion, Jesus simply said to a man, “Stretch out your hand,” and the hand was healed (Luke 6:10, NKJV). In Luke 7, upon the centurion’s request to heal his dying servant, Jesus spoke the affirmation, “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel” (Luke 7:9), and the slave was healed. In raising the widow’s dead son (Luke 7:11-15), Jesus was overcome with compassion and touched the coffin, saying, “Arise,” and he did.
In delivering the man possessed with many demons (Luke 8:26-39), Jesus asked, “What is your name?” He answered “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. When Jesus spoke, the demons left the man immediately.
We should follow instructions from Scripture, including anointing with oil, laying on of hands, praying in the name of Jesus, agreeing together, asking boldly that we might receive from Him, and offering the prayer of faith. We do our part acknowledging that Christ’s life, death, and resurrection brought to us a new covenant in His blood as He provided atonement for sin, healing and deliverance.
We should expect nothing less than for God to perform the miraculous. Cultural change should never alter our view of Scripture. May we be bold enough to speak healing and deliverance through the power of the Holy Spirit and bring relief to those bound by the enemy and his forces.
I appreciate being part of the Foursquare family, which offers healing, wholeness and deliverance to those in need. Together we walk in faith, releasing hope and wholeness, until all the nations have heard. People are looking for those of us who will stay true to the task, to our calling and to the assignments given to us.
Thank you Dr. Luke for reminding us of the life and ministry of Jesus. May these passages of Scripture draw out of us a fresh commitment to follow Jesus’ example—stepping out in faith and impacting our world with the gospel of Jesus Christ and touching them with the power of the Holy Spirit.
By: Brent Roberson, senior pastor of Sangamon Valley Christian Center, a Foursquare church in Mahomet, Ill.
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