Nr. 211: KEEPING YOUR HEALING

Nr. 211:

KEEPING YOUR HEALING

God has not only guaranteed to heal you, He has also guaranteed to keep you healed. But, like the rest of God's promises, this promise is conditional. God tells us in His Word how to be healed and how to stay healed. Some, who did not realize that there was more to do after they received healing, soon found that they were no better off than if they had never been healed.

First, let us remember that, while not all sickness can be attributed to demon possession or even demon oppression, God is not the author of sickness. Satan is responsible, in one way or another, for all sickness. Satan is an active, crafty, intelligent enemy. He gives up no ground except that which is actively taken from him by faith. And having given up ground, he is constantly on the watch for an opportunity to take it back again. Jesus gave not only promises and commands, but warnings as well. One warning is found in Matthew 12:43-45: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Give no place to the devil

When you have been released from the power of Satan, whether it is from sin, sickness, demon oppression, or demon possession, it is important that the house - which is your body, be not only clean, but also occupied. When Satan moves out, the Spirit of God must move in. Never let the devil find your house empty. If you have not yet been filled with the Holy Ghost, seek to be filled immediately and then stay filled. Let the Spirit of God dwell in you richly, keeping, directing, possessing, and using you for the glory of God. Then Satan cannot return.

Neither give place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27). The devil cannot move in unless we give him a place. Those who abide in Christ are safe from Satan's power. Be so filled with righteousness that there is no room for sin...so filled with faith that there is no room for doubt...so filled with the Spirit of God that there is no room for any other spirit to dwell there.

Sin and careless living on the part of one who has been healed is an open invitation for the unclean spirit to move back into the house from which he was driven. - Jesus warned one whom He had healed, instantly and miraculously, with these words: Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee (John 5:14).

The danger is not simply a matter of being no better, but of being even worse, for when the original demon returns, he may bring others with him. It is easy to see the importance of abiding in faith, feeding upon God's Word, keeping in communion with God through prayer, and resisting the devil.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

The Christian need not be in subjection to sin. Sin shall not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14). By faith, the Christian has power to refuse the temptations of Satan and his suggestions to sin. There is something more commendable than daily repentance from sin and that is daily victory over sin.

It is also possible, by faith, to refuse to give sickness a place. There is something better than being healed "many times," especially of the same affliction, and that is to get healed and stay healed.

If you ever receive healing for your body it will be by faith. You will also stay healed by faith. Faith is joyful, and the sick person who lacks faith is sorrowful because of his pain and sickness. The sick person who has faith is joyful because he realizes that victory has already been bought, paid for, promised, and is on the way. He will rejoice and praise God from his heart, regardless of what he sees or feels.

This kind of faith cannot fail to bring healing. Satan knows that faith is his enemy and constantly strives to destroy it. Whenever you feel any pain, which remotely resembles the pain of your previous disease, Satan will immediately suggest to your mind that you were never healed, were not completely healed, or that your healing didn't last.

If you haven't heard from God for some time, and His promises are dim in your mind, you may find it easier to believe Satan than to believe God. If you do, you may even agree with Satan and say in your heart, "I just thought I was healed. I am no better." Your heart will be heavy and your faith will be shattered. Fear will come into your heart, and the door will be open for Satan to afflict you again.

But if the promises of God are bright and clear in your mind and you still believe that He meant just what He said, you will answer Satan, as did our Lord when He was tempted, It is written (Matthew 4:4,7,10). By whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24). As you review the mighty promises of God, your heart will rejoice, even as it did when you claimed His promise and received healing. There will be praise in your heart to God for His mighty deliverance. Stand upon a promise in God's Word and praise God in the devil's face. This is resisting the devil. He never has and never will be able to stay in the presence of this kind of faith.

Stay in an atmosphere of faith

After you are healed, it is a mistake to go back into a church where the pastor and teachers do not believe in the miracle-working power of God. God describes these people and gives a warning concerning them in 2 Timothy 3:5, Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away. There are many good churches, where the full gospel is preached and the power of God is recognized and works for the healing of sick bodies as well as sin-sick souls. Identify yourself with one of these groups. There you will find food for your faith, and you can freely give your testimony for the encouragement of others who may also need deliverance.

Your testimony is important

As Christ entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers. They lifted up their voices and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. When Christ saw them he said, Go shew yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed (Luke 17:13-14). However, only one of the ten ever returned to give God thanks and glory for His deliverance. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks. Christ asked the one who returned, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? (Verses 15-17).

There should have been ten returning to give God glory, in-as-much as there were ten who were miraculously healed. Only one out of ten came to give glory to Jesus for His healing. What were the other nine doing? The scripture does not tell us. But this lesson does teach us what the other nine should have done! They should have returned and glorified Christ!

Many people will attend services night after night until they can go through a healing line and receive healing for their body. But then they never return to testify of the miracle so that Christ may be glorified. There may be times when it is impossible for some to return and give their testimony. If this is the case, they should write their testimony and return it to those under whose ministry they were healed. How ungrateful and unthankful many people are today. This is evidenced when they fail to give their testimony.

When Jesus healed the man at Gadara, He said to him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee (Mark 5:19).

If you have been healed by the power of God, be sure to testify in every public meeting possible. Explain your past sickness and tell how long you suffered with it. If you received medical aid, explain the doctor’s diagnosis and give all information possible to prove your healing, such as doctors’ statements, photographs, x-rays, etc. Tell whether you were healed instantly or received a gradual healing.

Your testimony is important. Not only will it bless and encourage others to trust God for their deliverance, but also it will help you to overcome the devil. We overcome him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11). As you give testimony with your lips to the truth and reality of God’s promises, your faith will increase, Satan will be driven farther back, and his chance of overcoming you again will decrease.

Resist the devil, keep full of God’s Spirit, feed on God’s Word, believe God’s promises, seek an atmosphere of faith, be faithful in testimony, and you will not only be healed, but you will stay healed by the power of God. God has promised this, and God cannot lie.