What prevents people from being healed today
“That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took our illnesses and bore our diseases’.” (Matt. 8:16-17 ESV)
By His wounds you are healed!
A few years ago, I was an associate pastor of a large church, and one of my jobs was to pray with anyone who came forward for prayer at the end of services. A man asked me to pray that he would be healed of a physical condition. As usual, I used Scripture as I prayed for the sick. At one point, I placed my hand on him and declared boldly, “By the wounds of Jesus on the cross, you are healed!” The senior pastor of the church was nearby and heard me, and said, “Mike, we don’t believe healing is included in Christ’s atonement, so don’t say that!” I was astounded by what he said to me, especially in front of the man I was praying for. The prayer abruptly ended, and the man left, unhealed. But, I also understood at that precise moment why no one ever got healed at that church. And I also knew why I could no longer be on staff there. So shortly after that, I left. One of the things I know is that every church that sees healing happen on a regular basis believes healing is part of Christ’s atonement, and those churches that don’t believe it, rarely see healings happen.
Scripture teaches it
The verse at top clearly states that Jesus “healed all who were sick to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took our illnesses and bore our diseases’.”
The Greek words for “saved”, which is used 108 times in the New Testament, is Sozo, which is literally translated as: saved from hell, healed, preserved, and rescued.
Two reliable Bible sources explaining the meaning of the word SAVED (sozo)
Strong’s Greek: 4982. σώζω (sózó) -- to save - Phonetic Spelling: (sode'-zo) Definition: to save Usage: save, heal, preserve, rescue.
New Testament Greek Lexicon - King James Version - Sozo. sode'-zo. Verb. to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction. one (from injury or peril) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health. to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue. to save in the technical biblical sense.
Here are just 3 examples of saved (Greek: sozo) which appears many times in the New Testament
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved (Greek: save, heal, preserve, rescue).” (Rom. 10:9 ESV)
“For by grace you have been saved (Greek: save, heal, preserve, rescue) through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9 ESV)
“And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved (Greek: save, heal, preserve, rescue), you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)